ChelsReads: My Summer Reading List

Now I'm not going to lie, all of the summaries of these books came directly from Amazon, but I wanted to make sure that I did them justice. Now that it's officially summer time, I at least feel  like I have more time to read and relax. As a result, I have a pretty big list of things I want to read which I wanted to share my planned reading list for Summer 2015.

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

The third book in the Outlander series, I've already started this book and I'm at least 60% of the way through it right now. But I added it to the list because it's a loooooong book and I've been reviewing the books in the series as I've been reading them, so expect a ChelsReads book review when I'm finished.

The Summary

Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her... and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.

Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her...the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland... and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite—or forever doom—her timeless love.

The Dude and the Zen Master by Jeff Bridges and Bernie Glassman

Another book I've started and not finished, I'm at least close though. So far, it's really good. I'm not super into new-agey literature but I do love The Big Lebowski (also Jeff Bridges. Apparently my grandma used to babysit him when his dad was filming Sea Hunt) so when I saw this in a bookstore in Healdsburg on my birthday, I immediately ordered it on Amazon for half price. The idea that The Dude is somehow some kind of spiritual guru is a wildly interesting concept to me so I couldn't resist. This will be another ChelsReads post when I'm finished with it.

The Summary

Zen Master Bernie Glassman compares Jeff Bridges’s iconic role in The Big Lebowski to a Lamed-Vavnik: one of the men in Jewish mysticism who are “simple and unassuming,” and “so good that on account of them God lets the world go on.” Jeff puts it another way. “The wonderful thing about the Dude is that he’d always rather hug it out than slug it out.”

For more than a decade, Academy Award-winning actor Jeff Bridges and his Buddhist teacher, renowned Roshi Bernie Glassman, have been close friends. Inspiring and often hilarious, The Dude and the Zen Master captures their freewheeling dialogue and remarkable humanism in a book that reminds us of the importance of doing good in a difficult world.

What I was Doing While You were Breeding: A Memoir by Kristin Newman

I really can't remember who recommended this but I know I saw it on Instagram and was intrigued. As someone who's never been 100% into the married with kids life and also 100% interested in traveling the world, this completely appealed to me. It's going to be the perfect summertime read for me, I think.

Kristin Newman spent much of her twenties and thirties buying dresses to wear to her friends' weddings and baby showers. Not ready to settle down and in need of an escape from her fast-paced job as a sitcom writer, Kristin instead traveled the world, often alone, for several weeks each year. In addition to falling madly in love with the planet, Kristin fell for many attractive locals, men who could provide the emotional connection she wanted without costing her the freedom she desperately needed. 

Kristin introduces readers to the Israeli bartenders, Finnish poker players, sexy Bedouins, and Argentinean priests who helped her transform into "Kristin-Adjacent" on the road–a slower, softer, and, yes, sluttier version of herself at home. Equal parts laugh-out-loud storytelling, candid reflection, and wanderlust-inspiring travel tales, What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding is a compelling debut that will have readers rushing to renew their passports.

The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner

Chelsea, didn't you talk about this in a favorites post like two years ago? Yes, yes inquiring readers, I did. At that point, I'd read the first few chapters and really did like the book. However, I got sidetracked and never got around to finishing it which means that I'll be finishing it up this summer. 

Part foreign affairs discourse, part humor, and part twisted self-help guide, The Geography of Bliss takes the reader from America to Iceland to India in search of happiness, or, in the crabby author's case, moments of "un-unhappiness." The book uses a beguiling mixture of travel, psychology, science and humor to investigate not what happiness is, but where it is. Are people in Switzerland happier because it is the most democratic country in the world? Do citizens of Qatar, awash in petrodollars, find joy in all that cash? Is the King of Bhutan a visionary for his initiative to calculate Gross National Happiness? Why is Asheville, North Carolina so damn happy? With engaging wit and surprising insights, Eric Weiner answers those questions and many others, offering travelers of all moods some interesting new ideas for sunnier destinations and dispositions.

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

I read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children about two years ago and saw the second book at Sam's Club one day while shopping for snacks. Needless to say after loving the first novel as much as I did, I can't wait to give this one a try. 

September 3, 1940. Ten peculiar children flee an army of deadly monsters. And only one person can help them—but she’s trapped in the body of a bird. The extraordinary journey that began in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children continues as Jacob Portman and his newfound friends journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. There, they hope to find a cure for their beloved headmistress, Miss Peregrine. But in this war-torn city, hideous surprises lurk around every corner. And before Jacob can deliver the peculiar children to safety, he must make an important decision about his love for Emma Bloom. Like its predecessor, this second novel in the Peculiar Children series blends thrilling fantasy with vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy by L.A. Meyer

I'm not going to lie, I came across this book by accident when I was looking for Blue Tattoo the book about Olive Oatman on my local library's website, but being that I love all things piratical, I decided that this was going to definitely be worth a read. 

Life as a ship's boy aboard HMS Dolphin is a dream come true for Jacky Faber. Gone are the days of scavenging for food and fighting for survival on the streets of eighteenth-century London. Instead, Jacky is becoming a skilled and respected sailor as the crew pursues pirates on the high seas.

There's only one problem: Jacky is a girl. And she will have to use every bit of her spirit, wit, and courage to keep the crew from discovering her secret. This could be the adventure of her life--if only she doesn't get caught. . . .

I figure this will take me through the summer and at that point, I'll have a whole new reading list. What are you planning to read this summer? 

Disneyland 2015: Round 2

Well folks, I did it. I went back to Disneyland within 6 months of already going this year. It was actually a family trip that my mom earned through her Pampered Chef business this time so it's a little more justified (just like my trip in November is justified ;) ) this time than last. 

The trip that my mom earned was 3 days in the park with a stay at the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. Never having stayed in a Disney Resort Hotel (we usually stay at other hotels within walking distance of the gate), we were excited to see what it was all about. 

However, after having stayed there, I can honestly say I'll keep my hotels across the street. The staff is amazing but the Grand Californian is looking a little old and tired and the room wasn't any bigger than the other hotels we normally stay in. 

The Grand Californian has a little waiting area for kids in front of a TV that plays Mickey cartoons on a loop. We saw one of the other guests try and fail to sit in the mini chairs so I decided I had to give it a try, too. Conveniently, my butt still fits in a baby chair and I watched old school Mickey while I waited for my family to finish checking in. 

After that, we headed straight into California Adventure, which is attached to the hotel. The first thing we rode? The Little Mermaid ride, of course! It's one of my favorite rides between either park and I admittedly ride it a handful of times every time I'm there. 

After getting to the hotel and checking in, we got to the park around 9 and we wandered around for a bit before deciding we would rather be in Disneyland proper and headed across the way. 

This trip was actually the first time we're all been as a family since my younger sister started college a couple of years ago, which was nice since I had someone to go on rides with and hang out with while we were in the parks. 

Don't get me wrong, I love Tangled, but I was not happy that my sister and I stood in line for 20 minutes to meet Merida (to recreate my photo from 5 months ago), only to have Rapunzel come out as we got to the front of the line. It was super hot and there was what has to be the crankiest lady I've ever met behind us in line, so I wasn't having it. Plus, I missed the show at The Golden Horseshoe while we were in line and I've never seen it before. 

This is the view from our room. It was actually really cool to be able to see the park (and parts of World of Color) without having to brave the heat and all the maniacs with strollers. 

Day 2

The best part about staying in a Disneyland Resort hotel is Extra

Magic Hours. You get a full hour in the park before it opens to do whatever you want. Uh, way cool!

My dad and I got up early on Friday morning and hit the rides that normally have the longest lines during the day: Midway Mania and Radiator Springs Racers. Both of them we practically walked on to which I loved. 

Ran into Mater on his way to work first thing in the morning ;)

When my mom and sister finally woke up, we headed over to Disneyland to get me a Dole Whip. I have a very specific list of favorite treats that I must have when at Disneyland and Dole Whips are at the top of the list which means standing in a long line and maybe or maybe not hitting the Tiki Room afterward. 

ALL OF THE DOLE WHIPS 😍 The line was sooooooo long but so worth it. And I got to go into the Tiki Room through the hosts entrance because it took so long #besttikiroomvisitever

This was by far the best perk of our trip. If you have the Disney Chase Visa card, you get an exclusive character meet and greet in California Adventure. Shorter lines and a free 5x7 photo are definitely worth it! Plus, I've never seen Daisy in the parks before so this was actually a cool experience and Daisy is an excellent sassy pose coach. 

Day 3

Our last day in the parks was Saturday. It was a really chill day, we had Extra Magic Hours in Disneyland that day and headed over as soon as it opened. We hit the rest of the rides we wanted to see (including Matterhorn, which is still super uncomfortable post redo, FYI) and then had lunch at Cafe Orleans. 

After lunch, we went back to California Adventure because I had heard that Stitch would be at the Chase Meet and Greet area and I wanted to get a picture with him. Full disclosure: I watch Lilo and Stitch when I'm having a bad day and he's by far one of my favorite Disney characters. 

After that we went back to the hotel for naps before the Pampered Chef event that would have us in a very empty California Adventure until 1 am. 

Buuuut I got bored and met my sister in the park to hang out and then leave guest compliments for all the great cast members we had met on our trip. 

Here's the group (sans mom) on our way to the park to start our late night adventure. I grabbed a very nice Pampered Chef staffer and asked her to please take our picture. I think they turned out quite well and this one was my favorite of all the ones she took. 

We met Mike Wazowski and in fact I made a cast member let a shy little girl pose with him first because she had been waiting and our group was supposed to be the last ones to get a photo opp. 

"I just can't control my happiness (or my hair)." Kelly O'Moore

Another round of Radiator Springs Racers and Midway Mania were the highlight of the night and an exclusive showing of World of Color to top it all off. 

Obligatory Flik pic since he was standing all by himself in A Bugs Land on our way over to ride Tower of Terror for the second time that night. Flik needs to work on his posing. 

Overall it was a good trip but I much prefer going during off season. Believe it or not, I'm going back again in November to celebrate my boyfriend finishing his paramedic training course and to see it all decorated for Christmas too.