Pinterest

I'm back with one of my newest addictions; Pinterest. I first heard of Pinterest from my mother who heard of it from Jessica who heard of it from...Yeah, you get the point. So mother describes Pinterest to me and I can't help but to think that it's a really dumb idea. I mean, all you do is "Pin" things you like on to your "boards". So basically it's like "liking" something on Facebook but instead you have pictures. But I'm not one to pass up on trying a new website, so I signed up.

Today is day two and I now have 85+ pins. I am no shamelessly addicted to Pinterest...and I still don't know why! If you're bored and would like to check out a fun (even if it does seem pointless) website, come follow me, Smurfyabs, at Pinterest!

Well Bred and Dead

Well Bred and Dead: A High Society Mystery
By Catherine O'Connell 

Pauline Cook is a widowed socialite who finds her best friend, Ethan Campbell dead in his apartment. Things aren't always what they seem and many questions quickly arise about her dear friend. Who was Ethan Campbell really?

Well Bred and Dead is well written. It was a light read filled with many twists and much suspense.

I did find it a little difficult to relate and even like Pauline Cook. The character is self centered and obsessed with money. At one point she rants about the pains of going to her expensive prep school as a child wearing brand name clothes from last season. Oh the horrors! She complains constantly throughout the book about her dwindling bank account, but yet has no qualms about buying suits that costs over $2000 just because. A simple lunch out costs her $360, but yet she's afraid of going broke? Sorry honey, Get a JOB! Stop spending! You're 49 years old, GROW UP!

That said, the book was enjoyable. One thing I learned from this book, don't read a funny book on a treadmill! I about fell on my tuckus! Worth reading if you're looking for a nice fluffy mystery novel and can look past the annoying rants of a 49 year old socialite.

Spark People

  I've been focusing on my weight loss goals pretty hard core lately. The best resource I use is Spark People . This website has everything I need and it's free!

I'm sure there are many features that I am not currently utilizing, but here's some of the features that I love.

*Nutrition Tracker. Spark People already has a great database of common foods but I can also manual add stuff if I can't find it. I can also create food groupings which is just awesome...I mean really, who wants to add each ingredient that they used to make up dinner every single time?

*Fitness Tracker. Once again they have a great database of exercises. What's awesome though, is that the calories burned it based on ME. The treadmill might tell me I only burned 50 calories but Spark People tells me the truth.

*Meal Plans. You don't have to use the meal plans, but they are pretty awesome. I set my week up all at once and then print the grocery list. If there's something I don't like I can easily swap it for something similar (they give me a list of options!).

*Spark Pages. You get your own page to customize and make your own. You can have a weight ticker, photos, blog etc. It's basically like a Myspace page, but cooler. ;) (Really who uses Myspace anymore?)

*Community. The community is what makes Spark People so amazing. They have Teams you can join based on your needs and interests, community forums, challenges...The people are so supportive! With a small amount of effort (just start yapping!) you can make lasting friendships with people who have similar goals to your own.

If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, you can check out their sister site Baby Fit. Baby Fit focuses on your health as a Mommy. They have great due date clubs and a similar atmosphere to Spark People.

If you decide to join Spark People, be sure to add me, Smurfyabs!

Little Big Planet...2

Yeah so you had to have known that this post was coming sooner or later, right? Well here it is, my humble opinion of Little Big Planet 1 and 2...

This game is AWESOME! Saw that coming? Yeah well bite me. :)

The first game was fun, so much fun that I still pop it in to play certain levels that are exclusive to that disc. My favorite level of all time? The Dangerous Descent. I could seriously play just that one level over and over for an hour without getting bored. Part of that might be that I'm really good at that level, but whatever. It's not like I was top 10 or anything, but I was proud of being in the top 600 for a minute or two.

Moving on, the second game is just incredible. The controls are all the same but with a few new toys thrown in for extra fun (I just love the grapple gun!). Story mode offers fun new levels with a creative and often funny story line. Backgrounds range from sweet and cute to dark and scary. Of course there's the bigger and better level creator. Honestly, I haven't even tried to start my own level...yet. I've had so much fun playing the Little Big Planet (1 and 2) Story Mode and the community levels, I haven't felt the need for anything else.

The best part about this series is that the gaming never ends. People are constantly creating and publishing amazing new levels for you to try. I honestly believe there's a level (or 100) for everyone. I've seen everything, classic sidescrolling games, retro arcade favorites, shooters, fighting...the only thing Little Big Planet lacks is limits. If you can dream it, you can certainly make it or find someone else that already has.

I love playing with others so being able to team up or against real people over the Playstation Network is great for me. It saves me from having to whine as much to my husband to get him to play with me.

In short, Little Big Planet is a must have for gamers of all levels. If you can't afford LBP2 (check your local Gamestop for a used copy to save a few bucks...that is if any one was dumb enough to part with their copy), pick up the first game.

Prime

Ok, this review is going to be short.

I've wanted to see Prime for a long time. The previews made it look hilarious.

Boy meets girl. Boy's Mom is girl's therapist. Girl is 14 years older than boy. Mom wants son to have a jewish wife. Comedy ensues, right?

Not quite...

I found myself doing other things while it was playing. I cooked, cleaned, worked on my blog.

It was boring. The parts that were supposed to be funny fell flat.

Oh well. At least I got this one from the library for free.

If you don't believe me and want to check it out, it's out on DVD. Just don't buy it, ok?

Ramona and Beezus

Like many kids, I grew up reading Beverly Cleary books. I still enjoy books and movies geared for kids. When I saw the previews for Ramona and Beezus, I knew I'd be getting it through Netflix as soon as it came out.

It's funny how you can tell someone's age or preferences by how the list the cast.

John Corbett plays the father...see? I totally had a thing for him in Raising Helen and My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Joey King stars as Ramona and Selena Gomez as Beezus. I actually asked my younger cousin when I first saw Beezus, "She's from that Disney stuff, right?" Yes, I'm old. I'm just not fully ready to admit it...wait I just did.

Moving on...

Ramona and Beezus is a cute little movie about family. There's a few rough topics like unemployment, losing your home and a brief cameo from death. But for the most part, it is an upbeat comedy suitable for all ages. There's even a little romance for the teen crowd and us old people too.

It's definitely worth seeing, especially if you grew up with the books, have a special kid you'd like to share the movie with or just feel like watching a feel good movie.

Available on DVD.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager...

This show is stupid. I admit it. But I love it and I can't help it.

I haven't been a teenager in a very long time and this show has more drama than a daytime soap. That said, I am completely, utterly addicted.

Honestly I think part of the draw is the fact that everyone else in my house H A T E S this show. It gives me a bit of alone time, all I have to do is switch it on and everyone runs.

The plot is simple. Sex. The end.

Amy is a 15 year old who during one night at band camp (cliche?) loses her virginity and finds herself pregnant just in time for her first year of High School. When school starts she finds out that her baby's daddy, Ricky, is a complete man whore. Amy then meets Ben, they fall in love...though I've doubted from the very start if Amy cared whatsoever for him. I think she just wants Ben to have someone to do everything for her.

There's a whole bunch of other characters and plot lines. The school slut, the jock, the geeky Asian couple, the side kick friends, the Christian virgin who is just as sex driven as the rest of the cast, and the parents who seem to not care what trouble their kids get into. I mean really? Who encourages their son to marry a girl who is pregnant with another kid's baby...in HIGH SCHOOL???

Yes, it's stupid. But it's entertaining. So there you have it, my guilty pleasure of the day.

Watch it on Netflix's Watch Instantly and DVD. Returns to ABC Family on March 28th.