Friday Obsessions: UNEARTHLY, Zachary Levi singing, and Chicken Soup

Everything I was obsessed with this week. 
Because I know you want to know.

1. UNEARTHLY by Cynthia Hand.
Okay. I'll say it. I don't normally go so much for the Paranormal romance. I mean, I liked Twilight just as much as the next girl, but beyond that? It's not the first book I'll pick up.

Well, my incredible critique partner Gina was so extra sweet to hook me up with a copy of UNEARTHLY after she gushed about how much she looooved it.  And I read it. In one sitting. Because she was right.
 It. Is. Awesome.

I still don't actually understand what she's doing in this dress in the forest, to be honest.
Doesn't matter.

It has a sweet, sweet romance and lots of angsty coming-of-age stuff. And here's a quote I looooved:


"What do you see in a guy like Christian Prescott?" he asked me that night when he dropped me off from prom. And what he was really saying then, what would have come through loud and clear if I hadn't been so blind was, why don't you see me?" 


*Sigh.* Just...go read it.


2. Okay. So this is directly connected to my "Tangled" obsession from last week.
But you guys? I was not exaggerating about my crush on Chuck   Zachary Levi  no, CHUCK!
I did a little YouTube sleuthing and found this: Prepare yourselves for the awesome.
Mandy Moore. And Zachary Levi. Singing the romantic song from Tangled. Together! Live! In formalwear!





I LITERALLY COULD NOT CONTAIN MYSELF when I saw this video. Serious. I was, like, giddy. (Yeah. Still am.)


3. Chicken soup. Boring, I know, but since I am sick and possibly dying now in possession of a Z-PAC! Chicken soup has been my saving grace.



4. Poor, neglected WiP. I won't burden you with paragraphs this week: Just one sentence.


I lean in to kiss him, closing my eyes, lingering there for a moment. For the first time ever, it feels less like a promise and more like a goodbye.


So. What are you obsessed with this week?

Friday Obsessions: TANGLED, Johnny Stimson, and Nutella Challah

Everything I was obsessed with this week.
Because I know you want to know.


1. Tangled. I'm really embarrassed that I had never seen this movie before, especially what with my mission to find Disney princesses with actual functioning brains in their heads. Maybe I had become too complacent with Mulan and Tiana, fabulous examples. That makes sense. 
What doesn't make sense is that, despite starring the voices of Mandy Moore, who I've loved ever since her guest stint on Scrubs, and Zachary Levi, my NUMBER ONE TELEVISION CRUSH OF ALL TIME, I still hadn't seen this thing.
I pretended I was doing my kids a big favor by letting them watch every morning this week but really? I loved every minute. The story (heartbreaking!) The princess (Smart, determined and ballsy as all getout!) The hero (*drool*) The music! The romance! The near misses! The kissing! The sheer beauty of the thing!



Go watch it. Now. Go!


2. Johnny Stimson's newest album, "All I See." This guy's music is sunshine on a CD. I knew he had a new album coming out, and I've been getting my fix watching this video:



But now you can buy the whole thing on Amazon! Worth every penny, and two of the songs are on my WiP soundtrack to boot. Amazing.


3.  This nutella-stuffed challah (Thanks, Amanda!) I whipped up for my sister-in-law, who's recovering from surgery. Of course I baked a tester loaf and heavens to Betsy! I might not share with my kids on Shabbat morning.



4. As usual, the WiP (as always, feel free to skip this part. I won't be sad. Really.)
I know we all love Elias, but there's only so much gushing you I can do in consecutive weeks.


 Meet Merrin's twin brothers, Michael and Max. 


      We spread out on our huge brown leather sectional, each of us curving against a different part of it under throw blankets. Some stupid cartoon show where the characters knock each other over the heads with stuff and make farting jokes blares on the TV. Michael sits there, snorts, sniggers, and pops cheese balls into his mouth. Max is absorbed with something on his tablet, and knowing him, there’s an equal chance that it’s a stupid game or some classic literature he’s digesting at the speed of light. 

I reach over into Michael’s bowl, grab a cheese ball, and throw it at Max’s head.

“Whatcha doin’, nerdface?” I ask.

“Reading Harry Potter,” he says, and locates the cheeseball, which bounced down and wedged itself under his leg. He pops it in his mouth for a second, takes it out, and lobs it back at me. I raise up my blanket and deflect the saliva bomb onto the floor.

“You are gross, Max,” I say, brushing fingertips over my hair to remove any drool that may have stuck there.

He shrugs and flashes a grin. “You called me nerdface. Harry would not have stood for that,” he says, and goes back to his tablet.


That's it for me! What were you obsessed with this week?