Good morning!!! I slept well last night and the sun is out here! I’ve got a long morning to kill before my shuttle arrives to take me home sweet home.
For breakfast I went down to the café just under the hotel to pick up one of their yogurt parfaits and a cappuccino. Cue the French music!
The parfait was delicious, but it was more on the dessert end of the spectrum than I had hoped after a weekend of indulgence. The yogurt was vanilla (which I really do find too sweet) and the granola was like cookie crumbles – almost biscoff-y! Tasted great though.
I love getting fancy coffee drinks when I have breakfast by myself!
Now this is so weird: while I was at the beach, I picked up The Midwife’s Confession, which I had been planning to read for months. I didn’t realize until page one that it was set in Wilmington, miles from where I was reading. And then I got to part of the book when they went to the beach – nearly the same beach where I was reading!!
Next book in line turned out to be Fifty Shades of Grey and what do you know – it’s set in Seattle. Another strange coincidence was that in the first book during the string of emails, the dates were RIGHT NOW. I was reading an email they wrote on May 31 on May 31. AND in their June 2 email, my wedding anniversary, the time the email was sent was 10:26. Of all the times in the day and all the dates of the year, I couldn’t believe those two were combined.
As I was reading book 2 this morning, I’m moving along when they have to go to a hotel and of all the hotels in Seattle, which hotel do they go to? THE FAIRMONT OLYMPIC! Where I am sitting right now.
I kind of feel like there’s a ghost in the room… soooooo strange!!
I’m also reading Happiest Baby on the Block and have a baby in me – can I call that a coincidence as well!? 
Back to Fifty Shades, I really didn’t like it at first. The writing is quite horrible (I can’t STAND the “his mouth formed a hard line” and “my inner goddess did XYZ” <—- sooooo annoying and repeated over and over) and really the plot isn’t that great either. But I was glad when the plot went in a direction that I didn’t totally expect in book 1. But it’s an easy read and I’m moving through the books quickly and overall, enjoying them. I wouldn’t be surprised if they all turn into vampires in the end though – just seems to be where the book is headed. And other than the crazy sex scenes, I’m not really sure what the hype is all about! Probably just the sex : )
Very ready to get home to sweet summertime!!
Wow, that is such a coincidence!!! I would have loved to be a fly on the wall and a witness of the expression on your face when you were reading and noticed that!! Safe travels back, Kath! 🙂
Ha! I said the very same thing about the Fifty Shades books. The “mouth pressed into a hard line” phrase was making me cringe. SOoooo many repetitive pages. I’m almost done with the 2nd book. While I’m not in love, I keep reading. I’ll probably finish the 3rd just to know what happens. It’s mildly entertaining but wretched all at the same time. 🙂
Safe travels. My co-worker was just telling me about 50 Shades. It’s all the rage 😉
I’ve wanted to visit Seattle for as long as I can remember…your delicious weekend has just about killed me!!
I have the same problem with premade yogurt parfaits. Once you start eating plain yogurt, everything else tastes like dessert!
Those are really strange coincidences! I always get really freaked out when I’m reading and I have the radio or music on and the word that reporter or singer is saying is the same word I’m reading. It happens freakishly often.
Hahaha same here!!!
Almost done with Book 3 and I love the way its headed as well. Honestly, I am tired of the phrases “inner goddess”, “biting lips”, and what have you, lol. I love the sound of the other two books, it seems very appropriate for someone expecting.
That’s really surreal about those books and their settings….what a coincidence. Or not. Two in two weeks? Crazy!
Good luck on your trek back home!
That is quite a coincidence! Guess you were meant to read them! I’m with you on the sweet breakfasts, although your parfait looks delicious, I like my breakfasts to be more on the savory side!
I haven’t read the fifty shades books for myself yet, but I have heard from my friends that the 2nd and 3rd books only get better and a real plot develops. They love them! I’ll get to them eventually.
The 50 shades series actually originated from Twilight fan fiction – so no vampires but it is meant to be mirroring Edward/Bella. Thats the intention! 🙂
Haha I’ve heard the plot in 50 shades of grey is awful and that it’s all about the sex scenes. But crazy coincidences!!!
OMG. I literally started to count how many times his mouth ‘formed into a hard line’ and how many times he told her ‘not to bite her lip’. I think it was something like 47 times! Then I started to really think about someone’s mouth forming into a hard line and tried to do it myself. It just looks awkward and comical. I also laughed hysterically when he was naked and forlornly playing the piano. Don’t get what the fuss is!
Also (so this comment isn’t ALL about 50 shades) I am loving the lighting on your yogurt parfait pic! It looks so chic.
SO many coincidences!! LOL!! 🙂 So areyou loving 50 Shades of Grey?
I just started 50 Shades of Grey and I agree that the writing is less than amazing (to say the least). I really just wanted a light summer read that I could read at the lake or just to give my brain a little break. Enjoy your morning and have a safe trip home!
Good to know about Fifty Shades of Gray i was wondering what all the hype was. Happiest baby on the block is awesome book – i read a few baby books and that one was the most helpful and we really followed it, our little one slept 6 hours from day 4 and now sleeps 9-10 hours a night at 3 months. She had off days when she only slept 4 hours but those were few. The best advice i got was that the more they sleep the better they sleep. A tired baby will not fall asleep and will be more fuzzy. During the day we do 2 hours naps and 2 hours awak rotation and it has worked out great.
haha dannnnng that is reallly cool and eerie! So many coincidences. And if it’s breakfast or yogurt type stuff, I always prefer it to be on the more natural tasting side rather than dessert.
I’ve heard All the hype about 50 Shades of Grey, but I’m not remotely inclined to read them. They just don’t sound that interesting. Glad you’re enjoying them, though!
AGREE!
Escala is an actual condo building as well…on 4th and Virginia:) I was reading the series when we went to Portland and had already made reservations (prior to reading the book) for a room at the Heathman, I felt weird riding the elevator! I agree on the writing…”oh my” and the inner goddess thing makes me cringe! BUT, for some reason I could not tear myself away and read all 3!
Hahaha – cool!
wow…those really are some scary coincidences which would likely make me a bit paranoid. I think I’ll skip 50 shades – life is too short and my reading time too precious to waste on mediocre literature w/no redeeming value. I don’t care one lick re. the “buzz.”
Safe travels home, Kath! 🙂
Very good to know about the book. I also hated the Twilight series (I couldn’t get past the first book) and failed to see what the hype was about. I’m glad I didn’t buy this book as many people are saying it’s merely a steamy read rather than really any substance.
Crazy coincidences 🙂
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Those are quite the coincidences! My mom has the book Fifty Shades of Grey…will be interesting to see what she thinks of it after reading all your reviews! It has piqued my curiousity! I much prefer to flavour my plain yogurt with real vanilla…I agree the premade is too sweet and tastes artificial.
Those are weird but neat coincidences! Your weekend looks like it was fabulous, but I know the feeling about just wanting to get home and relax. Safe travels, Kath!
I knew from the first couple of chapters that the book wasn’t for me — sloppy writing and repetition are the quickest ways to get me to put down a book. Also, I hate that the smut is thrown in there as a way to counteract the bad writing. It’s not smut I’m opposed to; I have an aversion to badly written and unoriginal smut. 🙂
that parfait looks scrumptious! i actually just had one for lunch & it was yummy too!
WOW Kath! That is so so strange about the books! Especially since I went to Seattle and the SAME thing happened to me. I was reading a book (James Patterson) in a coffee shop and it happened to me! I was on the SAME street that the characters were. Maybe its that Seattle air.. hrmmm..
Okay that’s really strange! I’m on the 2nd book right now too…just read the Fairmont Olympic part! Kinda jealous you get to experience it…though without a Christian Grey
I FINALLY broke down and purchased 50 shades of grey.. Going to take me 10 years to finish it b/c i am so swamped but looking forward to getting to the good part, which I have heard happens somewhere around pg 45 or so. lol!
That’s a little funny about the books and locations! It’s meant to be. I have yet to read 50 Shades just because of the cheese factor I’ve heard so much about.
Safe travels!
I always love getting fancy coffee drinks – alone or not! 😉
And that really is too funny about the coincidences! I kind of love when things like that happen 🙂
Dont forget, “I peeked up at him through my lashes.” which is also repeated over and pver throughout all three 50 Shades books :-/
I usually find any yogurt other than Chobani or Stonyfield too sweet!
Eerie. Those are some strange coincidences.
I’ve heard so much about Fifty Shade of Gray, mostly negative, and I don’t think that I’m gonna read it. I’m a pretty slow book reader, and it seems like it wouldn’t be worth all the time it’d take for me to read it.
Isn’t it weird how real life can mirror what you’re reading at the time?? I’ve had that happen before and it’s pretty weird. (Cue X-Files music…)
mmmm! I’m always all about the breakfast parfaits!!! Weird coincidences with the books.
Those are crazy coincidences!!
Your description of 50 Shades of Grey made me laugh. I’ve been thinking of reading it, but bad writing drives me crazy!
Agree with your synopsis of 50 Shades of Grey. Very embarassing to read it on the train too 🙂
Haha all those coincidences are crazy! I keep hearing about 50 shades of gray but have yet to check it out. Wondering if I would like it or not after reading your review..
Yes! 50 Shades is a vacation from a real book!! Perfect mindless reading. I would have been so disappointed to have bought them……. I just borrowed all three and couldn’t get past the creepy creepy CREEPY way he’s aid “you’re mine, all mine” yuck!
Sorry, typo. Should be he said, not he’s aid 🙂
Agreed!! Hate all the implications for women submissiveness… Glad she at least rebelled somewhat
I just laughed out loud as my friends and I all talk about “his eyes grew dark” and his mouth in a hard line. I also can’t stamd that she always “mumbles”. If you ask me, every other statement from him should be “what?”
the parfait looks great.
Thank you for not just slamming 50 Shades for not being fine literature! Frankly, I don’t think anyone who reads it is reading it for its literary value! I enjoyed it for what it was, a quick read, odd story, and a way to ‘check out’ of my day. In any case, love your coincidences!!
If you don’t have time to get through Happiest Baby, consider the DVD. I had to shortcut the book that way and didn’t feel like I missed out on too much (I don’t think)
Something similar happened to me when I was reading “50 Shades of Grey”! I read it a few weeks ago, and the date in one of the earlier emails in the book matched up with the date I was reading it. Freaky.
The Happiest Baby on the Block video is amazing. I watched it in a child development grad school class years ago and it revolutionized the concept of what a baby needs in a 4th trimester. I would highly recommend the video to see in motion aspects of the 5 S’s, such as swinging. The techniques worked like magic when I used them with my little niece. My brother called me The Baby Whisperer:)
Glad to hear your report on 50 shades, every woman I know is raving about it and I just can’t jump in quite yet, trying to read a book for each country we have visited, and although it is about North Korea, I currently am stationed in South Korea with my husband, and finished “Escape from Camp 14” which I HIGHLY recommend. Hard to believe there are still concentration/prison camps in this world…let alone right up the road from where I live!
I have not read 50 shades, but I do treat myself to fiction during the summer, otherwise it is all nutrition books. I love vampire fiction, Black Dagger Brotherhood is my favorite. Talk about sex scenes…although, that is not really my cup of tea, I just love vampire romance! I find it funny how much I love vampire books, movies and tv shows, considering I am vegan! Is that twisted?
Seattle looked like so much fun. Glad to see you enjoyed yourself, thanks for sharing you whole trip.
I’m with you on the 50 shades. Not my favorite style of writing and frankly, I got to the point where I was skipping most of the sex scenes. I get that they are very key to the whole series and all but frankly, it just got a little bit gratuitous at the end. I did find myself really liking the characters and my favorite parts were their emails to each other. I didn’t skip any of those 🙂
Happiest Baby on the Block is AMAZING! My son is one month old and we use the 5 S’s all the time. It is amazing how well it works…seriously like magic! He has acid reflux and can get really worked up…the swaddling, shushing and shacking works every time.