Interview with a Girlfriend

Today our interview is with the lovely obladi oblada from the blog From 0 to 3 in 90 days.

You have to check her out, she is such a nice blogger with many posts that reflect both her professional and family life.

Tell us what is your favorite genre of books:

I like a lot of different genres so it is hard to pick a favorite. I love fiction, and non fiction both. I am not big on science fiction or romance; those are two that I seldom read. I love memoirs, true crime, and horror as well as stories about people in general and their struggles. I’m not big into historical fiction either although they are not out of the question.

Who is your favorite author:

I love Stephen King of course and he is one of my all time favorites, as is Shirley Jackson for both her hysterical tales of her children and her disturbing subtle horror tales, like “the lottery” and “we have always lived in the castle”. She also dabbled in children’s books a little and one of hers is a favorite of my family’s called “9 magic wishes”. I also like Wally Lamb and Augusten Burroughs. I like the humorous Sue Townsend “Adriaan Mole” series. There are so many great books out there and great authors that Im finding it hard to answer this question! I am sure I’m forgetting someone that I love, oh like Pat Conroy (I think that’s his name, the author of Prince of Tides and the Great Santini).

What do you think of the movies that are based on books:

Ugh. I don’t think I can think of one single movie based on a book where the movie is better. I am always somewhat disappointed in Hollywood’s version of things. Even though this is the case, I cannot stop myself from going to a movie based on a book that I read. Kind of like watching a train wreck or some other tragedy unfold.

What book have you read that has stuck with you the most:

Many books have stuck with me, so this will be another long answer. To name a few, “Bag of Bones” by Stephen King, “We have always lived in the Castle” by Shirley Jackson, “Blackbird” by Jennifer Lauck, “I know this much is true” by Wally Lamb, “Catcher in the Rye” by JD Salinger, “When Rabbit Howls” (cant remember author though), “Sybil”, “To kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, and “Glass Castle” by Jeanette Walls.

Now, tell us about your blog. What do you think might set it apart from others and why should we love you:

What?! Girls, she didn't answer this one...was it an "accidental oversight" or a technical error? Or possibly, it's just hard to sell yourself. I know. I totally understand.

So let me sell ya for you. That sounded weird.

Okay, so this sweet blogger is funny, compassionate and quirky. The name of her blog refers to the fact that she and her husband adopted 3 older children at once.

I don't know about you, but most people only want the babies. We need people like obladi oblada (i don't know if she wants me to use her real name so i'm gonna go undercover here) to take in these older children! Adoption is a very important thing to my husband and I as both he and his sister were adopted.

And that's my soapbox. I could go on and on and on, but I won't.

Go visit her! She does posts that are quirky, funny, and show her great love for her children. And she also makes fun of her boss, GICOE. If ya wanna know who GICOE is, go read her blog!

Thank you obladi oblada!!

***Remember, we're always looking for new interviews, so if you want to be featured, send us an e-mail with your interview and picture. Just answer the above questions and that's it. It's easy! Promise.***

Interview With A Girlfriend

I'm so excited to have an interview!! Have you all noticed that we've not had one for months?

This week's interview is with Mrs. Montoya from One Foot in Front of the Other.

Mrs. Montoya is the perfect answer to "Can a woman have it all?" And that answer is: YES!

She is a mom who loves her kids more than life and has a wonderful husband and a career that she successfully manages all at once!

Tell us what is your favorite genre of books:

 I prefer fiction and mysteries, mostly about politics or legal thrillers. I don't do scary, but I love suspense and elaborate political dramas. I'd really like to read some biographies, but quite honestly need pictures or some sort of scandal to hold my attention. I've really enjoyed Reading with Girlfriends because of the exposure to other authors and genres that I might not select on my own. I loved the 2009 picks Emma & Me and The Help and probably wouldn't have branched out to those on my own.

Who is your favorite author:

This question makes me think of who I walk straight to when I am buying a new book and I mostly love James Patterson, John Grisham and David Baldacci. Their content almost always gives me what I like. My stepmom is a more sophisticated reader than I am and she shared some authors with me recently that I am really loving - Diane Chamberlain and Pamela Morsi. I never lend enough credibility to authors when I like a book - I always think it's just because I like that particular book. I am finicky about everything, including reading and generally won't seek out a book just because it's a new release by an author I've enjoyed. I will read absolutely anything (besides scary) and more often that not I choose a book because I like it's cover. That's so shallow, I know - but it's true. 

What do you think of the movies that are based on books:

The only experience with this that I can think of is Grisham books that were made into movies. I liked the movies and I liked the books, but I almost don't relate the two. My favorite thing about reading is that the story allows me to create my ideal of the characters and their homes and everything else about the story. All too often, the romance of that is taken away in a movie leaving me disappointed that it didn't live up to the landscape I had created in my own mind.

What book have you read that has stuck with you the most:

The Call of the Wild, by Jack London. I've loved reading since I was a child and my Dad gave me this book when I was in elementary school. I was a little terrified of how cold it was in the story and how cruel nature could be, but was so honored that he had given me such a grown up book. I have always cherished that story and how it made me feel to read something a little beyond me. I'm really looking forward to sharing it with my son.

Now, tell us about your blog. What do you think might set it apart from others and why should

we love you:

There is not one single thing that sets me apart from other blogs outside of the fact that I am not very good at it. When I have some extra time on my hands I like to pretend that it's my segway into being a professional writer. I love to write almost as much as I love to read and like to believe that I am a literary genius on the verge of sharing my gift with the world. But here in real life, I haven't had too much time on my hands lately so it's just a random hodgepodge of my life as a working Mom trying to get it all right. I have not so interesting opinions on raising children, current events and how much I want to be a better person. You should love me because my children are darling and I am so imperfect that you will immediately feel better about yourself.

Aw, Mrs. Montoya, we love you!! Thank you for doing our interview!

Please go visit Mrs. Montoya at One Foot in Front of the Other.

**If anyone else would like to send us an interview, just answer the above questions and send em to readwithgirlfriends.blogspot.com.**

Interview With A Girlfriend

Today's Interview is with Mag from Sitting On The Moodswing At The Playground.

Mag is awesome; she has the cutest little boy who she refers to as Bug on her blog, she's a great writer and is very funny!

Tell us what is your favorite genre of books:

I mostly read fiction, mysteries and short story collections. Sometimes I'll pick up a memoir but only read non-fiction every few years (sometimes nonfiction seems too much like homework). And if I'm feeling really brave I'll read something scary...but only in the summer when the days are longer. (I know, I'm a big baby.)
Who is your favorite author:Not one favorite, but I'll race to the bookstore (or amazon) when these writers have a new book out: Alice Hoffman, Ann Patchett, Anne Tyler, Elizabeth McCracken, Laura Moriarty, Jhumpa Lahiri, Leif Enger and Brady Udall.

What do you think of the movies that are based on books:
I often think that movies from books are disappointing because they can't cover the depth of characters the way a book does. Or the ending is changed in the movie--ACK! I once heard an author say that the movie made from her book was a nice movie...but it wasn't the book she had written.

I like creating the look and feel of the characters in my head as I'm reading. Often when I hear who's playing a character in the movie I think "NO, NO, NO--she should have curly hair or he should be taller (or younger, or [insert anything here])!" because those are the physical features of the characters that I created when I read the story.

What book have you read that has stuck with you the most:
I loved Ella Minnow Pea because it was so clever and original. The characters communicate via letters and notes. As letters of the alphabet drop from a famous statue in town, the people quit using the dropped letters in their correspondence so after awhile you're reading phonetically. (That description doesn't do the book justice--trust me--it's a great, creative book and a fun read.)

One of my favorite books (and one of my favorite movies--so there--I've contradicted everything I said in the previous question) is A Room with a View. I read it 20 years ago and immediately knew that if I ever had a daughter I would name her Lucy after Lucy Honeychurch.
Now, tell us about your blog. What do you think might set it apart from others and why should we love you:
My blog doesn't have a point (is that a bad thing?). I write whatever pops into my head and sometimes that includes my husband and our two-year-old, our French bulldog, books, Bruce Springsteen, food (and by that I mean chocolate and/or wine) and grumblings about the never-ending construction on my street. Uh oh, that sounds really boring. How about this...I never know what's going to be on my blog so stop by and say hi and maybe you can come up with a reason to love me.

Thank you so much, Mag! Great Interview; I know I'll be putting these authors on my "must read" list!

Go visit Mag at Sitting On The Moodswing At The Playground!

Interview With A Girlfriend

This week our Interview is with Vivienne from The V Spot. She is hilarious and is never afraid to offer good grammar or spelling tips! Just kidding...well, not really, she really will give you tips if you need em. She offers a lot of different things on her blog, though. Crafting, decorating, money saving tips, and funny stories about her 4 (four!) boys and her Handsome Hubby. Her family is a riot, and her littlest one, Grant, usually provides the best blog fodder for his momma!

Tell us what is your favorite genre of books:
Hmm. I think it may be easier to tell you the genres that I don't like.

Definitely not a fan of the romance novel. I'm not talking about chick lit where the quirky, lovable heroine gets the guy. I'm talking about the bodice-ripping schmaltz where the heroine is always in some sort of danger and needs to be rescued. I hate that whole "Penelope Pitstop, tied to the railroad tracks, is rescued by shirtless hunk and she thanks him with her creamy thighs and heaving breast." Bleh.

I also have a really hard time with science fiction. Science and math. No thanks for that. (Although The Chronicles Of Narnia were some of my favorites as a kid {OK, even now} and I loved The Hobbit. I guess those would qualify more as Fantasy, maybe?)

While I have read books with heavier subject matter, I usually lean towards something on the lighter, more humorous side. For example, I read The Lovely Bones and The Kite Runner. Both were great stories and were well written, but I felt I had to slog my way through them because of the subject matter. Books provide an escape for me. I would like to escape to somewhere nice.

What do you think of the movies that are based on books:
For the most part, I wind up a little disappointed. I can think of only two books where the movie was as good as or better than the book, and both were written by Stephen King: The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption (based on the short story Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.) For the most part, movies based on Stephen King's books come off as pretty cheesy. He is such a gifted writer that he could make you afraid of a box of Cheerios in your pantry, should he decide to do that. A scary box of Cheerios just doesn't translate well onto the big screen.

Do I still go and see the movies based on books I've read? Of course I do. Then I bitch and complain that it wasn't true to the book. It's tradition.

What book have you read that has stuck with you the most:
There have been several that I read over and over again (almost everything by Stephen King, the Little House series, The Chronicles of Narnia...) but there are two books that have stayed with me the most:

The Egg And I by Betty MacDonald is a funny memoir and I developed some of my writing style and some of the phrasing I use in conversation as a result of reading that book as a child. I re-read it at least once a year. It is my go-to comfort book.

The other book is A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith. I can't remember when I first read it and am not sure why it sticks with me the way that it does. It may have something to do with the idea that relationships and growing up are difficult no matter the circumstances or the era. It is a must read.

Now, tell us about your blog.What do you think might set it apart from others and why should we love you:
My blog is a little bit of everything, I think, because I'm a little bit of everything. I do crafty things, I decorate my house, I yell at my kids, I cook, funny things happen, my kids do dorky things, I love my husband, I have a great family and great friends.... all of these things serve as fodder for my posts.

I have always liked to write and even enjoyed the writing process in school. (Sick, huh?)My blog provides me with an outlet for writing but also serves to chronicle the wacky things these kids do, since I am a Non-Scrapbooking Mom.

Why should you love me?

Because you'll often have opportunities to say, "Damn! I'm glad that didn't happen to me!" or "I'm glad I'm not her." etc.

That was a great Interview, thank you Viv! Go visit The V Spot and let her know you stopped by!

***Alright Girlfriends, we really, really need people to keep sending us interviews, please! Just copy and answer the questions off of any of our Interviews, the questions are all the same. Send them to readwithgirlfriends@yahoo.com.***

Interview With A Girlfriend

This week our intverview is with Lisa from One Girlie Girl.

She is a riot, her blog is one of my favorite "funny girl" blogs!

Tell us what is your favorite genre of books:
I'm not sure I have a favorite. I like a lot of different genre's. But, if I had to rank them it would probably be:
1. Chick Lit...girls gotta have a quick and funny read!
2. Mystery/Suspense {Please don't confuse this with horror...I'm having a nightmare just thinking about it}
3. Romance {Usually paired in with one of the above}
4. Series/Epic - I love a good series. Or any book that takes you through a lifetime with a character. I just feel like I made a new friend when I read these types of books.
Who is your favorite author: Oh, my! I have a few that I'm in love with right now. Jen Lancaster, whom I've recently discovered! Sophie Kinsella. Barbara Taylor Bradford. Mary Higgins Clark.

What do you think of the movies that are based on books:

Usually I find them a dissapointment. I think your own imagination is so much better than one person's vision of how they see the story. Even how you picture a character can be completely different, ya know?! One exception to this was "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry. Yes, it's a western and I read it when I was a kid. But, I remember thinking the whole time what a great movie I thought it would be. Then lo' and behold they made it into a miniseries for TV. It totally did the book justice!! Check it out!!
Also, I am looking forward to seeing "The Time Traveler's Wife" I think that could be very, very good. Don't tell me if you saw it...I'm waiting for a girlfriend get together next month to see it...hopefully it will still be in the theaters;)

What book have you read that has stuck with you the most:

Well, the most memorable ones?! There are a few. The Shell Seekers by Rosamonde Pilcher; The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough; A Woman Of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford and as mentioned above, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry.

Now, tell us about your blog.What do you think might set it apart from others and why should we love you:

Easy...because I am me. No, no, really. I started blogging for a personal reason. I lost a baby a year and a half ago and was hoping to help others that had been through it, just by relaying my personal experience. Then it evolved into just tidbits from my life. I hate to say it, but I think I'm just a mom who puts some stuff out there and hopes to meet some like minded people along the way. I must say that the blogging community out there is so wonderful that I have more fun reading blogs than I do writing :) So come by and get to know me a little better, 'cause I really would love to get to know you!!

**Note from MiMi** Thank you so much, Lisa! Is anyone else loving these interviews as much as I am? I love getting to know people better by talking about my favorite thing: books!

And it's a great way to find new authors that we may not have read before!

Please go visit Lisa at One Girlie Girl!

Interview With A Girlfriend

Today's interview is with Melissa from Nunnally Family Fun.

Tell us what is your favorite genre of books:
I don't really have a favorite. I am not a fan of harlequin romance novels and don't really do any sci-fi either, but I will read just about anything else and even if I really don't like the book I keep reading thinking that either it will get better or I just need to know how it ends. I read a ton of nonfiction anything that is going on in my life I am sure I have at least 2 books about it

Who is your favorite author:

I don't have a favorite author at all. This sounds terrible, but I usually just buy a book because either the cover looks like a good book or the inside flap story over view makes the book seem interesting. I have read several Sophie Kinsella books and Nicholas Sparks too along with things by the Dr. Sears family, & Beth Moore, but really I can't say there is a favorite or one I like over the other depends what I am reading about.

What do you think of the movies that are based on books:
Not too sure about this one. I get so attached to books...when I am reading a fiction book it is all I can think about until the book is done which is why I usually read a book in 2-3 days. So I read books and make pictures in my head of how things played out or what the person looks like, I am the person you see reading a book and laughing out loud or totally sobbing depending on the book. That being said movies never really seem as good as the book was in my head. But I still enjoy watching them mostly to just compare what I thought it should be to what the movie people made it .

What book have you read that has stuck with you the most:
Oh my gosh...I have a ton, but then I also have this problem that a lot of times I will read a book and really love what I read, but I can never remember what book it was from or even who the author was. I think for this week I will have to say Healthy Child Healthy World...only because every time I do something that was talked about in the book (like letting my child play with plastic toys) I wonder if I am poisoning my child. Of course it isn't really true, but because I just finished the book I am looking for more and more ways to be "green" and it is on my mind.

Now, tell us about your blog.What do you think might set it apart from others and why should we love you:
My blog isn't nearly as greatly written or funny as some of the others I have read. When my husband & I were struggling with fertility issues I had a website to keep our out of town family in the loop and then when I got pregnant we kept the website. But soon I was reading tons of blogs and wanted to join this community of people so I made the switch. My blog is really about my son with some bits of my husband & I thrown in the mix, but really just to keep my family involved in all that is going on down here with us. Right now my blog seems to be about looking for advice on potty training and discipline because that is the stage we are in with my son. And you should love me because...is this really a question? Hmm...just because I am nice, I really don't know what to say here.

MiMi's note: I think we must be "reading" twins. Is that possible?? I feel the same way, if a book is boring, I feel like I have to stick with it just to see how it ends if nothing else!

You can tell by reading Melissa's blog that her son is the absolute love of her life. She's dealing with the same issues that all moms of small children are dealing with, you're bound to find a kindred spirit while reading her posts on the issues that go with raising a little one.

You need to go visit her....she is so nice and has a beautiful son!

Thank you Melissa!

Interview With A Girlfriend

This week's interview is with Dawn from Must Love Tots.

Dawn was my swap partner for the Red, White and Blue Swap last month.

I am so thankful that we got partnered because she is hilarious and now I have someone I would have not known otherwise that I can call a friend!

Tell us what is your favorite genre of books:

I just love to read. I read anything from juvenile fiction to women's studies. I just finished the Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray that I found in the young adult fiction section at the library. It was great and I loved it.
Who is your favorite author:

John Sandford & Sandra Dallas are the two that I'm always guaranteed to love. And I just discovered Anita Shreve.
What do you think of the movies that are based on books:

It depends on what the director makes of it. I think the Harry Potter movies are phenomenal, especially considering there are so many little details to put in. I don't think the director needs to get every detail right, I think the main thing is getting the feel of the book.
What book have you read that has stuck with you the most:

"Desert Flower" by Waris Dirie. It's Dirie's true story of growing up in Somalia and a victim of female genital mutilation and later becoming a world-famous model. I bought it to read on a plane ride and I had the whole thing read before I got to the airport. You can actually hear Dirie's voice through the book, the language is hers. It was uplifting to read about someone who has been through so much and ultimately makes the most of her life.
Now, tell us about your blog. What do you think might set it apart from others and why should we love you:

You should love me because I'm me. ;) No, in all honesty, I'm not sure you should love me! I try to keep my blog completely honest, even if I am sometimes brutal on myself. I blog about everything from battle with depression to my son's obsession with putting half-eaten hot dogs in my purse. I also have a second blog that I use to keep my mom's friends and family updated on her battle with cancer. Both blogs are completely me. I don't sugar coat. I don't worry about what I should and I should not write. I write it all. Writing is therapeutic for me and my release.


Note from MiMi - Dawn is so real it is almost scary!

She's funny and has a beautiful family, just check out her handsome hubby in the picture!

She also has a mom who is battling cancer and she's dedicated a separate blog to that.

Go check her out, she's a little bit of everything and more!

P.S. Please, please, please forgive me for the photo, Dawn. I don't have the cool tools to make it look awesome, like Jess, so I tried to make it look right, but I'm not sure. Wednesday snuck up on me and I forgot to get it all ready yesterday when I could've bribed Jess to do it!

Interview With A Girlfriend Wednesday

It's MiMi's turn!

Tell us what is your favorite genre of books: I guess it depends on the mood I’m in. If I’m really happy, I might want to read a sad book. If I’m feeling down, the last thing I need is a book that’s gonna bring me down more.

I think I can safely say that I love most books. The only ones I don’t like are ones that are romance only. I mean, if you’re gonna give me a romance, it’s gotta have something else going on. Like a thriller, or a historical type thing.

Who is your favorite author:

Ya know? This is sort of a dorky question, huh? I mean, I probably came up with it, so I’m the dork, but really, if you like to read, it’s hard to pin down one favorite author.

I have 3 or 4 authors who I love and always buy their books.
If I wanna good Thriller or Suspense? Karin Slaughter. She’s not afraid to pull the rug out from under you. Usually you can tell where a book is going, but you never can with hers. I mean, she’ll kill off a main character, even if it’s someone you are sure can’t die. And it works!
If I want good Chick Lit? Definitely Sophie Kinsella and Jennifer Weiner. (and it’s pronounced whine-er, so ya know. Every time I see it I actually pronounce it weeeener/whine-er, just so I have all the bases covered.)
If I want something totally fluffy, that will make me laugh? Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, hands down.
I also like John Irving and I have fallen head over heals for Elizabeth Flock, who wrote a book called Me and Emma. If you have the time, definitely pick that one up. It blew me away.

What do you think of the movies that are based on books:

I love when they make movies outta books. Most of the time they chop it up and it ends up being a mess, but they’re still enjoyable. I never have high expectations.

What gets me is when they make films like Twilight. It matched the book pretty well, but what comes across on the page, looked really cheesy on film. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I still LOVED the dang movie and it makes me laugh whenever I watch it, even though it’s not supposed to be funny, and for that alone, I will keep it forever in my collection. And, I can’t wait for New Moon. I’m a Twilight Junkie.
What really bugged me was Shopaholic. That was SO different then the book. I mean, for instance, a huge part of the book? She’s English. Lives in Britain. Not New York. Sheesh. But it was still funny and I liked it a lot.

What book have you read that has stuck with you the most:

Me and Emma by Elizabeth Flock. It’s about a girl and her sister and the pain they go through growing up. I’m not gonna tell you more, cuz I think you should go pick it up and read it. It’s fantastic. Although, if you pick it up and you don’t end up liking it? I never mentioned it.

I also read a thriller by Jack Ketchum once, called The Lost. I don’t remember a lot about that book, but I remember it scared the crap outta me and I still think about it.

Now, tell us about your blog.What do you think might set it apart from others and why should we love you:

You should love me because I’m shameless and will do anything to get you to.

Uh, I don’t know. I’m funny (sometimes), I don’t get embarrassed, I will, at times, tell way too much information about myself, which it’s always fun to hear about other peoples’ weirdness, right?
I don’t know! It’s hard to brag yourself up, you try! Oh wait, you will, cuz we’re coming after all of our Girlfriends to do this same thing!

Oh! I thought of another. I also LOVE The Bell Jar. Sylvia Plath was messed up but a great writer. Her character’s transition from normal to crazy was seamless. I didn’t even catch it. How crazy does that make me?? Don't.answer.that.

---------------------------

Jessica says: MiMi's blog has caused me to: crack up so hard that my husband runs over to the computer to see what's up, gasp so hard the hubs does the same thing, squeal with gross delight about the weird things she reveals about herself, and even some sentimental crying. I count MiMi a friend and I hope you will too! Now go visit her blog--Living In France!!! (I wonder, does she actually live in France? Hmm)....

*** We need new Girlfriend Interviews! Please email them to either MiMi or me.
*** Also, we need you all to start sending us your addresses so we can send your bookmarks out in August!

Interview With A Girlfriend Wednesday

In our second Interview With A Girlfriend, we interviewed Brandy from The Nabors Baby.

Brandy is funny and she loves books! She was the very first follower of this here little book club! She followed before we even did our first post! Yay, Brandy! (all these exclamation marks make me feel like a cheerleader. gag.)
Like the first interview we did, you have to channel your inner Babwa Wawters.

Tell us what is your favorite genre of books:
Like, Jessica, I'm no book snob. There are some genres I do enjoy more than others. I love essays, biographies, nature/outdoor, non-fiction and Christian non-fiction. And as much as I hate to admit it, I do judge a book by it's cover. I know, I know. I'm awful. I prefer larger size books over trade size paperbacks and I like a nice size large font...ooooo, that sounded dirty.

Really, in the end I'm willing to give any book a try. Which is why I'm SO excited about reading other "Girlfriends" suggestions!

The only genre I'm not a tremendous fan of is romance. Hold the Fabio for me.

Who is your favorite author:
Hmmmm, that's a tough one. It's like a Lay's potato chip, I can't have just one. I love Thoreau, Jack Kerouac, Bill Bryson, Beth Moore, Nora Roberts - How's that for eclectic taste!

What do you think of the movies that are based on books:
I have no qualms with book-based movies at all. In fact, I'm guilty of seeing the movie without ever touching the book. I do, however, agree that a book can take you places and bring out emotion and imagination that a movie can not. A movie is a director's perspective on the book's characters, setting, costume, etc. which is great, but the beauty and fascination with a book is that it can be a 1,000 different things to a 1,000 different people. When I'm done with a book and have made my own "world" of it, I'll watch the movie and see how different or how similar my "world" is to the director's.

I hope that made sense, I haven't had caffeine since 2008. Can’t. Think. Straight.

What book have you read that has stuck with you the most:
On the Road by Jack Kerouac: Since reading this, I've had a strange obsession with train hopping and bums. Yes, I have dreamt of waxing poetic around a campfire, discussing where to hitchhike next while eating beans from a can with other un-showered road trippers... Okay, I’m really coming across as an oddball.

Into the Forest by Jean Hegland: Because I'm such a nature/outdoor junkie, this book will always float in my head. It's a story of two teenage sisters, alone in the woods in a day and time where electricity no longer exists and modern conveniences are a thing of the past. The sisters survive the elements, battle hunger and emotional crisis, and even an unspeakable crime committed in their own home. Hmmmmm, after re-reading that it doesn't sound like a page turner, but trust me it is. THIS is why I can’t write good book reviews.

Now, tell us about your blog. What do you think might set it apart from others and why should we love you:
You should love me because you have to, Mimi said so. No, no, no. That came out all wrong.

Take two: I'm a loveable kind of gal. Mother of one, Step-Monster to another. Betrothed to a man allergic to laundry and dishes. Daughter to a biker/bar owner and an ex-hippie Cherokee Indian....I don't care what she says, Lil Mama was totally a hippie. Sister to a crazy woman with four children that should absolutely, undoubtedly be medicated. I'm a self-professed tree-huggin'-dirt-worshipper.

I originally started blogging to keep my family in the loop about my first pregnancy. Then I figured out this whole blog thing is a big deal. Now, I usually ramble about the goings on in our daily life and share the hilarity of a first time mother. I try to keep things upbeat and humorous, but there is the occasion where I'm honest about my post-baby blues, sleep deprivation, and sausage like physique. I hope we become your new favorite "Nabors".

Well said, Brandy! Your our favorite new "Nabor" for sure!

Now go check The Nabors Baby out!

Also: Don't forget to check back tomorrow when we'll announce the winner of the necklace, and announce next months book pick!!

Interview With A Girlfriend Wednesday

Today is our very first Interview post. We wanted to show you all what it will look like when we come after you feature you for an Interview With A Girlfriend post.
Since we figured nobody would want to go first, Jessica graciously volunteered to go first. Below is her lovely picture and answers to the interview questions.
We think you can tell a lot about a person by the books they read so we thought it would be a fun way to get to know each of you and also get your blog out there for others to see!
Now -- when you read the interview questions, imagine them with the trademark Bobwa Wawters accent. It makes it better. And I'm not making fun of BW, I lurve her.

Tell us what is your favorite genre of books:
I'm not a snobby reader. I love Romance, Comedy, Horror, Mysteries, Science Fiction, Non-Fiction, Fantasy....
Who is your favorite author:
My favorite author changes with each season of my life. When I was a pre-teen I loved the Sweet Valley High Series (Francine Pascal). I remember getting into a V.C. Andrews kick for years. I love John Saul, Dean Koontz, Nora Roberts, Stephanie Meyer (yes, I'm in love with the Twilight series), Terri Blackstock and many, many more!
What do you think of the movies that are based on books:
Well, as a rule, I don't think any movie can give the book justice. There is just no way to capture YOUR imagination in the movie. Reading to me is very personal, I get lost in the words and my imagination starts to run wild. I have yet to see a movie that matched what I was expecting to see. BUT, there have been some amazing movies made from books!
What book have you read that has stuck with you the most:
I'm not sure. You know, every time I read a book/series that I really really love I don't think anything will beat that one. But then I start reading another series and get lost in that one too. The most recent series I got lost in was the Twilight series. If you haven't read them, I encourage you to! The book was better than the movie!
Now, tell us about your blog. What do you think might set it apart from others and why should we love you:
Let's see...I've been blogging for over 3 years! I've had a love-hate relationship with The Great Northwest...Sometimes I get so bored. I start Nursing School in the fall so I'm enjoying my blog right now so much! I know I won't be able to dedicate as much time to it once school starts.
Why should you love me? I don't know. MiMi...help me with this one! I like to post funny pictures of myself, tell funny stories, talk about being a mom, use it as a journal for my daily life, show pictures of my crafts...
MiMi interjects: I personally love Jessica because she's smart, funny, creative, generous and has a GREAT laugh. I wish we could record a wave file and just put her laugh on here. Cuz you all would be laughing with her for sure!

Now go visit Jessica at The Great Northwest!

By the way ladies: Don't think that not having a blog is going to keep you safe from being selected!

Also, if any of you would like to participate in the interview, feel free to copy and paste it. Fill in your own answers and send us a picture so we can put you in that cute little frame! We'll feature a new girlfriend every week. If you don't want to be interviewed send MiMi an e-mail to let us know. Or we'll be coming after you. Mwa-haha-ha-haaa.