I recently watched the movie Coco Avant Chanel featuring Audrey Tautou as Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. In the past I have read a few biographies on Coco Chanel and was surprised by her many quirks. One that particularly stands out in my mind is that she often fabricated her life story in a way that gave her the power to leave out the parts that just didn’t quite fit into the vision she wanted for herself. One has to admire that she was a woman that came from nothing and carved out her own successful path in life, not to mention her genius sense of fashion.

Ever have a dream that you can’t get out of your head. What could it mean? If you have ever wondered how to interpret your dreams, the library has books that can help. Even if you don’t believe in that sort of thing it can be fun discovering the various meanings behind dreams. I once dreamt that a wasp’s nest was lodged in my car door panel and I have always wondered what it could mean besides my obvious fear of wasps. Have you had any dreams that you later wondered about?

As a fan of the “Millionaire Matchmaker” TV series, I am always curious to see how Patti Stanger handles situations with her straight forward approach. Many have criticized her tactics, but she always gets the job done. Since Patti (a third generation matchmaker) only specializes in finding love for millionaires, those looking for love on a budget can read her book Become Your Own Matchmaker to gain insight into the art of dating.

The “Super Bowl” is this Sunday evening and as a native of Louisiana I am beyond thrilled that the Saints will be playing. Who wouldn’t be a little excited, it took 42 years for this team to make it this far. This is going to be a tough game to predict with the Saints up against the Colts. No matter which team takes home the rings, this game is definitely not going to disappoint viewers that tune in. Be sure to check out HCPL’s selection of books on the game of football. You can learn about the rules of the game, get facts about players, or play football trivia.

Lately, I have been hearing about the awesome special effects used in the theater released movie "Avatar". It seems like every day someone new is raving about it and though I have not see it yet myself I began to think of all the times a movie has captured our attention with some new state-of-the-art special effects. So let’s take a journey back in time to movies that amazed us.

This past weekend, I was recruited to bake for an annual bake sale. While I like to bake a few dozen cookies here and there, I discovered as the big day got closer that I was going to need a little extra motivation to become a super baker.

Looking for new hair and makeup ideas for the holidays? If you’re feeling both ambitious and trying to save money, there are books that can provide tips from salon experts on hair styling, coloring, and cutting. Also, the legendary makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin has several beauty books featuring makeup application techniques. Whether the look you’re going for is glamorous or simplistic Kevyn’s books explain it all with step by step instructions.

There are several food bloggers that have leaped into the world of publishing. Ree Drummond,The Pioneer Women, has recently published The Pioneer Women Cooks: recipes from an accidental country girl. She has stated on her blog that it took a year and a half to create this cookbook and describes it as a reflection of her blog. Two additional food bloggers, Stephanie O'Dea and Molly Wizenberg, have also authored recipe books.

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is only a week away. I am already daydreaming of all the goodies that my family will be cooking for the big day. And what’s the perfect remedy for overindulgence of sweet potato casserole? Sitting on the couch watching movies!

There are many great Turkey Day movies. Let’s start with the timeless classic A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

Last spring, I visited Italy for a few weeks. Since my trip I have become fascinated with the Italian culture. I am always searching for books to read that can transport me back to that beautiful country so far away. Recently, I discovered Marlena De Blasi’s series based on true life events: A thousand days in Venice : an unexpected romance , The lady in the palazzo : at home in Umbria, and That summer in Sicily : a love story.