I would tell my 17 year old self that not everyone is looking at you and judging you. You don't need to be self-conscious and feel ugly and awkward. Try hard in school and strive for A's instead of not trying and being content with B's and C's. Not only admire Michelle for carrying around a stack of books and taking school so seriously (and now she's a dentist), but strive to be the best YOU can be. Smile more and try all the fun activities instead of passing up the adventures because you're so shy. Stay in college instead of dropping out because you can't figure out what you want to be, then feeling worthless and a loser. Don't let guys fuck you just because you want to feel loved. And when you do decide to have sex because YOU want to, use birth control. every. single. time.! You weigh 110 lbs and you are healthy and smokin' hot, so relax and play smashball and swim, and don't you dare think you look fat when you're wearing that purple bikini at the beach.

I was gifted Jessica Alba's book, The Honest Life, because I have been looking for healthier options when it comes to my newborn. So far I am really enjoying her style and advice. Does anyone else have any opinions on her company? Any other books to look into for eating organic and living a sustainable life style?

My mother didn't talk to me about anything related to adolescence and maturing. We lived on the same block as the public library and I taught myself everything that I needed to know through library books. My mother and step father both thought that urine came out of a woman's vagina. Yes, sex is when a man sticks his penis into where you pee from. Ummm, no ... that would be WRONG. I think I did a better job of teaching me then they ever would have.

I confess I do not understand my in law's obsession with cats. They could not care less about their children or spouses but treat their cats like royalty. They will buy tons of cat food yet the kids will be hungry. The cats have instagrams, facebooks, twitters. Meanwhile they just drop their kids off at random family members houses for weeks. But the cats get waited on hand and foot. My DH's immediate and extended family is like this, it's mind boggling. Most of them are really mean to their children but kind and loving to their cats. Maybe they didn't really want kids and just had them because that was the thing to do? I really do not know. My MIL used to take her cats (and once a chicken) to the vet at the slightest hint of a problem but deny her children medical and dental care even when they had insurance. I mean if you just want to have pets and not kids then go for it. I like animals and I have pets myself. But I do not get worshipping your pet while ignoring your kids. You can love both. Going over any of their houses is like entering a creepy cat kingdom. They think I'm 'mean' because I won't adopt bunch of cats- meanwhile my DD21mos has asthma and is on meds. I don't want a cat more than I want my DD to breathe. I will never understand that.

I have read The Shack. Actually only a few chapters. I didn't know it was the in thing to read at the time, I had never heard of it. I was visiting DH family and had already read through the books I took with me on the trip. His aunt gave me a couple books and The Shack was one of them. She told me it was a great read and I should read it because it was a true story. So I read it. The entire time I kept thinking WTF is this. The guy says it really happened to him but my mind kept saying NO! I researched it online and found out it did not actually happen. He thought up the story and he wrote it and told everyone it was true because that is what sells books. An entire marketing scheme to get people to read it. I thought it was the most oddly written book and it was hard to follow. Maybe it was hard for me to follow because I am not used to that type of reading or because my mind kept calling bullshit the entire time. Whichever it was, I didn't like it.

PLEASE do not give me your child's, parent's, friend's, spouse's, auntie's, grandparent's self-published book to read. PLEASE. Almost everyone knows someone who has written and self-published a book. Most of those books aren't any good. I don't want to read them. I don't want to have to make up a glowing report about how much I loved them. I read three books every week, but I want them of my own choosing.

One of my favorite books is, The People Code, by Dr. Taylor Hartman. (previously called, The Color Code). He breaks down peoples personalities into 4 different colors. I thought that book was amazingly accurate and fun to read!

Anyone else in a dinner rut? I seem to have so many recipes saved on my favorites, many cookbooks and cooking magazines yet nothing appeals to me and my family. I ask them what they want "I dunno." So far this week I made manicotti, pretzel chicken and will be making breakfast for dinner. But then what about the other days? I just hate being in a dinner rut and everyone in the house isn't making any suggestions so I have no idea what to make.

Dad I hope you find the diner of your dreams in Heaven, where the bacon is always crispy, the coffee is always fresh, the eggs always cooked to perfection. I hope the waitresses are cocky and efficient, just like you like them. I hope you have breezy days with no grass to mow, I hope you find yourself tall and strong like you used to be, may the car shows in heaven be filled with amazing chrome, may you have as many cats and dogs and rats as you could ever want. I hope you find a fresh farmer's stand with corn and tomatoes. I know your friends will be waiting, with a huge table to sit around and good cigars. May the grill be working just fine and the barbecue duck and ribs be tasty. May you find the perfect bread recipe. I know the weather will be perfect, with just enough rain to make it cool and plenty of space for gardening. May you have all your favorite music and books lined up and ready, any time you want it. May you have a peaked thatched roof in your reading room and windows open to the ocean sounds and iguanas perched on rocks, an avocado tree and armadillos, may you be able to visit when you can. Visit in our dreams.

Check your local library's website for e-books. I have read several new/popular books on my phone for FREE with my library card :)