Tuesday, September 2

Literary Libations: Cuppa PG Tips

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I hope you had as much fun over the long weekend as I did! This weekend was Hubby and I's first wedding anniversary! I can't believe it's been an entire year, everything has just flown by.


To celebrate we went horse back riding at Broken Saddle Riding Company, which I would recommend to anyone who lives in or is visiting New Mexico. The guides were extremely knowledgeable and the horses very well cared for. Hubby and I are both beginners and they kept a good balance of making sure we weren't stepping too far outside our comfort zones while allowing us to try new speeds (we even galloped for a little bit!). The area was stunning and we learned a lot about the history of the place. I definitely want to go back sometime in the future!

Our horses were named Danvers (left) and Sonny (right).

Now, on to the drinks and books! Sometimes after a long, fun, but exhausting weekend you just need a cuppa. PG Tips is definitely a great go to when you need a tea pick-me-up. We buy our PG Tips from World Market because they are close by and less expensive, but you can also find it on Amazon.


Last week I promised you a more in depth review of Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic. Since then I not only finished Practical Magic, but I dove head first into Alice Hoffman's Green Heart, a compilation Green Angel and Green Witch. While I still prefer Practical Magic, I can say that Alice Hoffman may be working her way into becoming one of my favorite authors. The way she writes is nothing short of magical.

Practical Magic* spans three generations of Owens women. The story begins when two elderly witches, specializing in the trials and triumphs of love, suddenly become parents when their sister and brother-in-law die in a fire. A little voice, owned by Sally, calls them on the phone and demands that the aunts take in her, Sally, and her sister, Gillian, before they become wards of the state. The aunts lives turn up side down as the little girls enter. Sally and Gillian are always afraid the aunts will give them up if they are difficult, so they live their lives on tip-toes, never truly understanding how much the aunts love them. Sally and Gillian are pointed at and avoided by the other children in their little town because of their aunts occupation. Gillian is beautiful, boys stare at her from a young age, and she becomes flirtatious and independent. Gillian runs away at a young age, barely an adult. Sally on the other hand has a more brooding spirit, she is the reliable one. Sally settles in, meets a man, and has two children.

Everything turns on it's head when Sally's husband dies suddenly, leaving her a young widow with two children to raise. She doesn't want them to have the same childhood so she runs away to suburbia to start a normal life. Alas, Owens women can't be normal. After years of the normalcy Sally has fought so hard for, Gillian shows back up in her life with a dead boyfriend, whom she may or may not have murdered, and a haunted past. Burying the body in the back yard Sally and Gillian are finally reunited, but the whole family is now being stalked by a very unsettled ghost. Unable to fix the situation on their own, the aunts must be called in to right the situation. This book has a gothic finale complete with storms, ghosts, and magic.

The book is swirling with emotion, magical imagery, desperation, love, family, and mystery. There are frogs that are a little too helpful, strong emotions can be seen, and love is more complicated than you could ever imagine. Practical Magic has a little something for everyone.

*Practical Magic has adult themes throughout. Please use your own discretion to determine whether or not this is a book you should read. There is an abusive relationship as well as some non-marital relationships in the book.

24 comments:

  1. Happy Anniversary to you both and wish you both many more nice picture.
    http://tifi11.blogspot.com

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  2. Happy Anniversary! That is so awesome! Glad you and your husband had a great time. Horseback riding is so relaxing. Celebrate everyday!

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  3. Happy anniversary!! Love a good book review, can't wait to check it out!

    www.hollandsreverie.blogspot.com

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  4. Aww Happy Wedding Anniversary. Cute pictures.
    Beautetude

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  5. Horseback riding sounds like a pretty fun way to celebrate 1 year of marriage! Congrats!
    (I've only ridden a galloping horse once, I was pretty nervous!)

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  6. GORGEOUS picture. Happy anniversary!!
    www.amemoryofus.com

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  7. Happy Anniversary! You guys look so happily perfect together! Practical magic sounds good, I may have to add it to my reading list! x

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  8. Aww lovely pictures! Happy 1st anniversary! =)

    NEW POST on http://whattostyle.blogspot.com/

    xoxo,
    Jess

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  9. Happy Anniversary!
    Sara
    www.momeme.it

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  10. Happy anniversary! Horseback riding sounds like so much fun :)

    -- Michelle | MXP STYLE

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  11. Happy anniversary to the both of you! You both make such a beautiful couple!

    Reflection of Sanity | Giveaway

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  12. Happy, happy anniversary! Love the shots. :)

    -Ashley
    http://lestylorouge.com

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  13. happy anniversary! you have gorgeous hair by the way.

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  14. Lovely photos! Your dress is stunning. x

    Louise
    http://louiseplace.com

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  15. Very nice post <3

    http://sissihope.blogspot.ch
    INSTAGRAM: sissihope

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  16. oh Happy wedding birthday can't wait for own wedding, I wait for my sweet love to ask...

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  17. Happy anniversary!! <3 you two look so happy and in love, ake it last forever!

    Would you like to follow each other? Let me know!

    fashion-babel.blogpot.com

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  18. Happy anniversary to you both!! Looks like you guys had an amazing anniversary!

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  19. Happy anniversary (this is my first time on your blog, you were such a BEAUTIFUL bride!!!) xo

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  20. Congratulations!

    http://fashiionistah.blogspot.dk/

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