On Board: Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries

I have a little bit of a TV obsession.  I drive poor Eric nuts about the DVR and making time to watch all of my Real Housewives (all cities), Gossip Girl, White Collar, Psych, the random BBC documentary, Weeds, Nurse Jackie, and, yes, True Blood.  After the first season of True Blood ended, I ran out and bought all of the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mysteries books from which the True Blook series was based.  It was a great experience being able to plow through the set of 8 books in one string of reading.  They are such a great mix of mystery, love, suspense, and of course a little violence and fantasy.  I mean, faeries don't really exist....do they??!  Anyway, the new book just came out last month and I devoured it in three sittings. (hey, I still have to make time for TV!)

The best thing about the books is that the HBO series has taken a somewhat different direction than the book series.  This means that you get Charlaine Harris' Sookie in the books and HBO's Sookie on TV.  She's the same great character in the books as well as TV.  A small town girl, a little insecure at times, self sufficient and independent, yet never willing to take anyone's crap -- not even from a Vampire!  If you're like me and like getting *ahem* suck-ed into a series, then the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mysteries is a great read.  Enjoy!

Via CharlaineHarris.com

Do you have any book series recommendations?

On Board: Matt & Kim

Most people in Dallas are Mavs fans and as a result were making plans to watch Game 6 of the NBA Finals. We, on the other hand, were super jazzed to see one of our favorite bands, Matt & Kim, live at House of Blues Dallas.  Matt runs the keyboard and vocals while Kim disrespects the drums (in a good way!) and does vocals.  Matt & Kim put on a high energy show and, since almost all their songs are Indie Rock hits, there was hardly a chance to sit.

We listened to Matt & Kim during our Tuscan road trip this spring.  All of the lyrics brought back such great memories.  Don't worry, I'll be posting about that trip soon!!  

Matt & Kim are avid users of their Tweet Machine and Facebook fan page.  They make you really feel like they are your pals and allow you to be interested in what they are up to.  It was great seeing them live and realizing that they are just as cool on stage as they are portray themselves in social media.  Here are a few pics!

Kim (L) and Matt (R)

Kim has so much energy and kept jumping on top of the drums and running around the stage.  So fun!!

They passed out balloons and had everyone toss them around.  It was very "Flaming Lips" of them!

Any good bands you've seen lately?  I'm excited for TV on the Radio this September!!

On Board: Rock of Ages

Date night last Friday included a show!  My honey is such a sport for making our night fantastic.  He thought of everything including box seats at the new Winspear Opera House to see "Rock of Ages".  I am completely on board with this fantastic show!

For those of you not in the know, Rock of Ages is a musical, but not your typical "musical".  All of the songs are 80's hair band songs set to a love story between a new to LA "actress" and a "rocker" both of whom are only qualified so much in either field that they must precede the title with "aspiring".  All of the cast members are decked out in fishnets, thigh high stockings, rocker duds, and even a few mullets.  The show provides plenty of laughs and the feeling as if you are actually at a rock concert.  I have been recommending this show to everyone I talk to.

The bonus to the evening was that we had the opportunity to see a show in the new opera house.  Neither of us had been the new venue and we were glad to have the chance to check it out in such a casual setting.

Outside the Winspear Opera House

Rock of Ages set.  So much fun!!

View of the seating tiers

A few bubbles before the show began!

Do you see musicals?  Any recommendations on shows??

On Board: Last Night at Chateau Marmont

I am on board with Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger.  I simply adore Weisberger’s ability to pen a relatable story set against fabulous circumstances.  I am by no means a professional book reviewer, but if you’re looking for a good beach read, Last Night at Chateau Marmont will certainly fit the bill!



Via Amazon.com



From the opening chapter, I knew that I would love the main character, Brooke.  Brooke is devoted to her career, husband, friends, family and even her hound dog, Walter.  Brooke struggles to keep a semblance of normalcy in her professional life as a nutritionist while her husband, Julian, a beatnik starving musician type, finally gets his big break.  Their life is turned upside down by paparazzi and gossip blogs after Julian performs live on a late night TV show.

Of course the author uses plenty of “artistic license” when Julian is suddenly launched into the spotlight.  I mean, what is the likelihood that such an unknown new artist would really play at the Grammys?  None of the more outlandish parts of the book turned me off of poor Brooke, my main focus, and her efforts to support Julian’s career while salvaging what opportunities she has been given in her own career.

What did you think of this book?  What books are you reading?  Any good “beach reads” you can recommend to me?