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Saturday, December 31, 2016

Goodbye 2016

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Goodbye 2016. I know a lot of people are berating and moaning about this year. I agree that there were some tough times and sad losses. We lost a beloved family member earlier this year and he will be missed always.

 I'd like to focus on the positive, though. We made new friends this year and strengthened the bonds with old friends. We had a lot of wonderful family time together. My kids asked me start reading to them again each night at bedtime. For all of 2016 we spent almost every night - with only a few missed nights through the year - reading together. That is incredibly wonderful! My children are independent readers now and have been for some time. So, for them to invite me back in and ask for our nightly ritual of reading together to recommence means the world to me!

I don;t know what is in store for 2017 but I hope it is a year filled with positivity, wonderful opportunities and good health - for everyone!

Have a very happy and safe New Year's Eve!

Friday, December 30, 2016

My favorite books this year

I read quite a bit this year but then I do every year as I am definitely a bookworm! I was looking at my 2016 Challenge on GoodReads and decided I'd do a Best Of post. So here, in no particular order, are the stand out books for me that I read this year:

1. The Obsession by Nora Roberts: 

“She stood in the deep, dark woods, breath shallow and cold prickling over her skin despite the hot, heavy air. She took a step back, then two, as the urge to run fell over her.” 

Naomi Bowes lost her innocence the night she followed her father into the woods. In freeing the girl trapped in the root cellar, Naomi revealed the horrible extent of her father’s crimes and made him infamous. No matter how close she gets to happiness, she can’t outrun the sins of Thomas David Bowes.

Now a successful photographer living under the name Naomi Carson, she has found a place that calls to her, a rambling old house in need of repair, thousands of miles away from everything she’s ever known. Naomi wants to embrace the solitude, but the kindly residents of Sunrise Cove keep forcing her to open up—especially the determined Xander Keaton. 

Naomi can feel her defenses failing, and knows that the connection her new life offers is something she’s always secretly craved. But the sins of her father can become an obsession, and, as she’s learned time and again, her past is never more than a nightmare away.

I loved this book! It was creepy in parts but also so riveting and had such a wonderful love story! THis book is Nora Roberts at her best, in my opinion. 

2. The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd:

Everyone in Emma's family is special. Her ancestors include Revolutionary War spies, brilliant scientists, and famous musicians--every single one of which learned of their extraordinary destiny through a dream.

For Emma, her own dream can't come soon enough. Right before her mother died, Emma promised that she'd do whatever it took to fulfill her destiny, and she doesn't want to let her mother down.

But when Emma's dream finally arrives, it points her toward an impossible task--finding a legendary treasure hidden in her town's cemetery. If Emma fails, she'll let down generations of extraordinary ancestors . . . including her own mother. But how can she find something that's been missing for centuries and might be protected by a mysterious singing ghost?

With her signature blend of lyrical writing, quirky humor, and unforgettable characters, Natalie Lloyd's The Key to Extraordinarycements her status as one of the most original voices writing for children today.
 

This is a book I read with my kids earlier in the year. It's a wonderfully imaginative story about a girl who feels like a bit of a misfit in her own town and family. She has an amazing adventure with her best friend, a new friend and finds herself along the way. My kids have brought this story up several times this year and we've discussed it. We are looking forward to reading more by this wonderful author. 

3. Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb:

Nature versus nurture... 
 
The shots came quickly, silently, and with deadly accuracy. Within seconds, three people were dead at Central Park’s ice skating rink. The victims: a talented young skater, a doctor, and a teacher. As random as random can be.

Eve Dallas has seen a lot of killers during her time with the NYPSD, but never one like this. After reviewing security videos, it becomes clear that the victims were killed by a sniper firing a tactical laser rifle, who could have been miles away when the trigger was pulled. And though the locations where the shooter could have set up seem endless, the list of people with that particular skill set is finite: police, military, professional killer.

Eve’s husband, Roarke, has unlimited resources—and genius—at his disposal. And when his computer program leads Eve to the location of the sniper, she learns a shocking fact: There were two—one older, one younger. Someone is being trained by an expert in the science of killing, and they have an agenda. Central Park was just a warm-up. And as another sniper attack shakes the city to its core, Eve realizes that though we’re all shaped by the people around us, there are those who are just born evil...

This is the 43rd installment in the In Death series by Robb and it's still going strong! This story is one of a serial mass shooter. It made my skin crawl and freaked me out considering the abundance of mass shootongs we've experienced in the past several years. However, the story is so fantastic that it kept me flipping pages long into the night when I read it!

4. Medical Medium by Anthony William:

Anthony William, Medical Medium, has helped tens of thousands of people heal from ailments that have been misdiagnosed or ineffectively treated or that doctors can’t resolve. He’s done this by listening to a divine voice that literally speaks into his ear, telling him what lies at the root of people’s pain or illness, and what they need to do to restore their health. His methods achieve spectacular results, even for those who have spent years and many thousands of dollars on all forms of medicine before turning to him. Now, in this revolutionary book, he opens the door to all he has learned over his 25 years of bringing people’s lives back: a massive amount of healing information, much of which science won’t discover for decades and most of which has never appeared anywhere before.

Medical Medium reveals the root causes of diseases and conditions that medical communities either misunderstand or struggle to understand at all. It explores all-natural solutions for dozens of the illnesses that plague us, including Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, adrenal fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, hormonal imbalances, Hashimoto’s disease, multiple sclerosis, depression, neurological conditions, chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease, blood-sugar imbalances, colitis and other digestive disorders, and more. It also offers solutions for restoring the soul and spirit after illness has torn at our emotional fabric. Whether you’ve been given a diagnosis you don’t understand, or you have symptoms you don’t know how to name, or someone you love is sick, or you want to care for your own patients better, Medical Medium offers the answers you need. It’s also a guidebook for everyone seeking the secrets to living longer, healthier lives.

“The truth about the world, ourselves, life, purpose—it all comes down to healing,” Anthony William writes. “And the truth about healing is now in your hands.”

If you or anyone you love has had to deal with illness this is a must read. This book is informative and fantastically eye-opening. It is full of information on the root causes of a lot of illness. Anthony William shares his knowledge about food as a healing force. I've put a lot of this into practice with my family and have already seen results. We will definitely be moving forward with the healing information found in this amazing book!

5. Daughters of the Bride by Susan Mallery:

With Joy, Love and a Little Trepidation, Courtney, Sienna and Rachel Invite You to the Most Emotional Wedding of the Year… Their Mother's

Courtney

~ The Misfit ~ 


As the awkward one, Courtney Watson may not be as together as her sisters, but she excels at one thing—keeping secrets, including her white-hot affair with a sexy music producer. Planning Mom's wedding exposes her startling hidden life, changing her family's view of her—and how she views herself—forever. 

Sienna

~ The Free Spirit ~ 


When Sienna's boyfriend proposes—in front of her mom and sisters, for crying out loud—he takes her by surprise. She already has two broken engagements under her belt. Should she say "I do" even if she's not sure she does? 

Rachel

~ The Cynic ~ 


Rachel thought love would last forever…right up until her divorce. As Mom's wedding day draws near and her ex begs for a second chance, she's forced to acknowledge some uncomfortable truths about why her marriage failed, and decide if she'll let pride stand in the way of her own happily-ever-after.

I LOVE the Fool's Gold series by Mallery so decided to give this book a try when I saw it on the New Release shelf at my library! I'm so glad I did because it is wonderful! This is a story about sisters and their relationships with one another, their mom and the men in their lives. It's complex and funny and filled with love - romantic and familial. 

6. The Trouble with Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis:

If she has her way ...

Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop with frustration in his chocolate-brown eyes and a pink bedazzled cat carrier in his hand. He needs a kitty sitter, stat. But the last thing Willa needs is to rescue a guy who doesn’t even remember her ...

He’ll get nothing but coal in his stocking.

Saddled with his great-aunt’s Feline from Hell, Keane is desperate to leave her in someone else’s capable hands. But in spite of the fact that he’s sure he’s never seen the drop-dead-gorgeous pet shop owner before, she seems to be mad at him ...

Unless he tempers “naughty” with a special kind of nice ...

Willa can’t deny that Keane’s changed since high school: he’s less arrogant, for one thing—but can she trust him not to break her heart again? It’s time to throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish—and let the mistletoe do its work ...

This is the book I'm reading now. I'm almost done with it and have loved every moment of it! It's set at Christmas time but has SO MUCH going for it! I think this book could be read at any time of year and enjoyed!


Thursday, December 29, 2016

Star Crossed square

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This is the first large square I have made in a long time! It's called Star Crossed by Helen Shrimpton and I love it! I need four more of these large squares to cover our King size bed. Then I will attach all the squares before deciding if I need one more row of six before doing the border. That means I only need four to ten more squares before the body of this giant blanket is complete. I'm so excited and really ready to see it complete!

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Teaser Tuesday: The Trouble with Mistletoe



Teaser Tuesday is newly hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 116 of The Trouble with Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis:

"You don't believe in true love?"

To his credit, he didn't brush off the question or try to tease his way out of answering. Seeming to understand how much it meant to her, he shrugged. "For some people, yes."

Monday, December 26, 2016

Musing Monday's: Books as gifts

 Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by The Purple Booker that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:
  • I’m currently reading…
  • Up next I think I’ll read…
  • I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
  • I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
  • I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
  • I can’t wait to get a copy of…
  • I wish I could read ___, but…
  • I blogged about ____ this past week…
THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Did you get any good books for the holidays?

I did get good books for the holidays! I gave my husband and our kids good books, too! We're a reading family and books as gifts are always great, in my opinion! The Outsiders is actually my husband's book but I've never read it. So, once he's done with it I'm reading it! In the meantime, I'll read The Princess Diarist as my first book of 2017 in January.

Have you seen the gorgeous illustrations in the new edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets? Oh my gosh - the are AMAZING! 

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Saturday, December 24, 2016

Merry Christmas Eve

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A salty, sweet and crunchy treat for Santa when he comes later tonight! We also have peppermint triple chocolate brownies baking in the oven. They smell delicious! My youngest daughter wants to put peppermint frosting and sprinkles on them. I told her she can frost and sprinkle some of them but not all of them. It would be a bit much for me and I definitely want one of thos brownies. 

Have a wonderful, safe and jolly Christmas Eve - for those who celebrate Christmas. For all others, enjoy your holiday season and stay safe, as well. 

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Teaser Tuesday: Island of Glass by Nora Roberts



Teaser Tuesday is newly hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 47 of Island of Glass by Nora Roberts:

"Sometimes knowledge is its own reward." She said it dryly, believed it absolutely. "But if I can date this, and somehow authenticate it, we'd know when the queen was born, the stars created."

Monday, December 19, 2016

The Happy Elf

The Happy Elf is a sweet Christmas book by Harry Connick, Jr. My youngest daughter picked it out at the library yesterday and we read it together this evening. Apparently there is a Christmas special and a play based on this story. My kids and I will have to see what we can learn about these because we loved the book. Anyhow, here's a little something I found on YouTube:


Sunday, December 18, 2016

Christmas books

Do you read Christmas or holiday themed books at this time of year? I do and I read the same to my kids. Now that they are older they have started reading the holiday themed books for themselves. We normally start right them right after Thanksgiving. Not so this year, though. In fact, I've been so busy I haven't even read as much as I normal since the end of October. However, this coming week will be all about the holiday themed books around my house. In fact, my youngest daughter and I went to the library today and she picked out several holiday books for all of us to read together over this next week. I'm about to finish Island of Glass by Nora Roberts. Then I will devote the next week (possibly even two) to reading books that relate to falling in love at this magical time of year.

Saturday, December 17, 2016

The power of a word

Words can be power -

Put into Action -

They become LIFE CHANGING!

I believe this to be true. The last couple of years I have noticed a lot of people choosing one word to focus their year on. I like the idea of this a lot. I've been thinking about this for a couple of days and decided I want my word for 2017 to be MINDFUL. 

Here is the definition of Mindful: Conscious or aware of something.

There is a website I love that is called Mindful and it states: Taking time for what matters.

So yes, MINDFUL is the word I want to concentrate on for the year 2017.

Friday, December 16, 2016

Lights

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Christmas lights are beautiful, cheerful and soothing even when they're blurry.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Lemon Ginger tea

I have a new love! It is for Lemon Ginger tea. It tastes delicious and has several health benefits, too! I Googled this information and it came up in this list format so I'm not sure of its origin so I can't site it. However, I'm fairly confident that I'm okay sharing this here. So, here are some health benefits of Lemon Ginger tea:

  • Say goodbye to diabetes: ...
  • Relief from indigestion: ...
  • Soothes pain, menstrual cramps, headache and inflammation: ...
  • Prevents nausea, cold and flu: ...
  • Ovarian cyst treatment: ...
  • Smooth and flawless skin: ...
  • Strong and beautiful hair:


Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Teaser Tuesday: Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallery



Teaser Tuesday is newly hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 69 of Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallery:

Madeline knew that in a few weeks her life would return to normal and she would look back and wonder if any of this had actually happened. But until then, she would simply go with it and tell herself that washing dishes with movie star Jonny Blaze was just one in a series of memories she would bore people with when she was eighty. 

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Goal setting

I went to a writing workshop this morning. During the session we heard about goal setting and your core story. Both sections were really good but I want to focus on the goal setting. The speaker shared tips for making smart goals. Make them attainable and make them something you can control! For example, saying I will have a book published next year isn't so smart. I'm not in control of the agents, editors or publishing world in general. However, I can (and AM) say, "By March 31, 2017 I will submit two novels." I'm actually almost ready to submit one and will most likely do so by the end of December.

Another thing that was stressed during the workshop is to WRITE DOWN your goals! We are 42% more likely to achieve our goals if we have written them down! Isn't that amazing? I thought about this fact and realized that it is the absolute truth for me! Another truth - in general but also specifically for me - is to set a deadline!

I want to share three goals I have with a deadline of March 31, 2017:

1. As I said above, I will submit two novels to publishing companies.

2. I will attend the California Dreamin' Writers Conference that is taking place at the end of March.

3. I will write the first draft of a new book.

These are attainable goals that move me forward on my career path. How about you? Do you set goals and if so do you find that you are likely to achieve them?

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Teaser Tuesdays: Island of Glass by Nora Roberts

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB at Books and a Beat. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 26 of Island of Glass by Nora Roberts:

"I won't diss positive thinking. It's a good tool - as long as you're willing to back it up." Riley gestured. "We've got some room out there to train. More in the front, the forest side, but either way. We could set up a decent target range out there."

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Homemade Christmas cards



My friend came over today and showed my daughter and I how to make our own Christmas cards. It was SO MUCH fun. We can't wait to do it again!

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Pretzel hugs



A delicious, sweet and salty treat that my kids and I made tonight. We also baked a bunch of cookies for a cookie swap. It was so much fun!

Friday, December 2, 2016

Christmas crochet



I love crocheting by the glow of the Christmas tree lights. It's peaceful while also being productive.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Hello December



This is the photo from my 2016 calendar - not one I took myself. I love this photo, though! It is peaceful and festive at the same time. Even as I wonder how it came to be December so fast I am ready to enjoy this season with my family and friends. I hope you all are able to do the same!

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Teaser Tuesdays: Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB at Books and a Beat. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 25 of Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis:

She closed her eyes, sending her wish to... well, whoever collected them. The fountain fairy?

The Karma Fairy?

The Tooth Fairy?

Please, please bring Finn true love because he deserves so much more happy than he's been dealt. 

Monday, November 28, 2016

The Crown


I watched the first episode of The Crown on Netflix and loved it! Now I need to make the time to watch the rest of the available episodes! I also need to have some time to watch on my own because my husband and children are completely disinterested. LOL That's all right, though. 

Have you watched any of the episodes of The Crown? If so, what do you think? I love a lot of things that are British so I had a feeling I'd love this series when I first saw that it was being made. Now, to go back and continue watching it!

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Simple beauty



There is so much beauty at this time of year - not the least of which is all the decorations. I was out with my daughter today and really struck by how beautiful this wreath looks against the gray background of the stormy sky. We both loved it so much! It's simple but so beautiful and made us both smile!

Saturday, November 26, 2016

The Santa Clause


Here's the trailer from the 1994 movie The Santa Clause. This is what my kids and I watched together tonight. 

Friday, November 25, 2016

It begins



I LOVE the lights on our Christmas tree and the beautiful glow they give. Tomorrow we'll put on the ornaments!

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving



Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the U.S. To everyone else, Happy Thursday. I am always grateful for my family and friends. I am also grateful to the people who visit this page. I am grateful for the simple, everyday joys of life and kindness that does exist all around us.

Monday, November 21, 2016

The Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge



The Christmas Spirit reading challenge is happening once again this year. It runs from today, November 21, 2016 until January 6, 2017 (twelfth Day). This is an incredibly fun challenge based entirely on Christmas. Pretty much anything goes, too. It is required to read Christmas books but you can choose your level. I'm choosing the Mistletoe level which is to read two to four books with a Christmas theme. So far I know I will be reading The Trouble with Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis, Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallery and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - this one I'll be reading with my kids for the first time. If you wish to join in the fun go to The Christmas Spirit and sign up.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

The Rockettes



My daughters and I love The Rockettes and we have watched their Christmas special on Netflix for a few years now. It's the next best thing until we can make it to New York City at Christmas time to see the show live. So, this will be a fun piece to watch with my girls on how the famous Rockettes practice and prepare for their shows.

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Another pretty sunset


I love photography - especially nature photography. This is the beginning of tonight's sunset. 

Friday, November 18, 2016

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them



We started our Thanksgiving vacation by watching this movie tonight! It is AWESOME! J.K. Rowling is as wonderful as a screen writer as she is as a novelist! I highly recommend this movie to anyone who wants to journey back into the wizarding world of J.K. Rowling!

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Teaser Tuesday: Louisiana Saves the Library

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB at Books and a Beat. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 8 of Louisiana Saves the Library by Emily Beck Cogburn:

"Well, the library science school is tier three. Which means we might - shoot, probably will - be eliminated," Sylvia said.

"Eliminated? The library school?" Louise nearly spit out a mouthful of quiche.

"Never mind that our graduates run the public libraries, school libraries, and everything else around here. Yes, we are on the chopping block. And guess who still doesn't have tenure.

Monday, November 14, 2016

Not reading as much

I've been so, so busy for the last month or so that I am not reading as much as I normally do. It feels weird and I don't like that I haven't been reading as much. However, I have been getting a lot of other things accomplished and that is important. I'm nearly done revising a manuscript. I hope to have it completely finished and submitted by the end of the month. If I'm not ready by the end of November then it will be the beginning of December and that's a great thing!

I've also been working on Christmas presents and doing some extra work in general. It's a really busy season. I have been reading - I have to read a little each night in order to unwind - just not as much as I'm used to doing. It's all right, though. I know this is a phase and I'll get back to my reading in full force soon enough.

Friday, November 11, 2016

Thank you Veterans

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Thank you to all of the Veterans - past and present - who have served. Thank you to all of their families who sacrifice, as well!

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Sunset


I LOVE nature and photography! I took my kids to Starbucks this evening because we all have a three day weekend. Plus, it has been hot here and something cold sounded great. Anyway, after we parked and got out of the car this is the gorgeous sunset we saw! I had to have a picture of it!

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Reminder to self

Optimism is always a choice!

I've needed to remind myself of this a couple of times today. I will keep saying it as long as necessary.

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Election Day


 Enjoy this song Election Day by Arcadia.

Teaser Tuesday: Remember When

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB at Books and a Beat. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 234 of Remember When by Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb:

"You weren't stupid, you were in shock. There's a difference. When's the last time you talked to Andrea?"

Monday, November 7, 2016

Musing Mondays: Fast or slow

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:
  • I’m currently reading…
  • Up next I think I’ll read…
  • I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
  • I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
  • I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
  • I can’t wait to get a copy of…
  • I wish I could read ___, but…
  • I blogged about ____ this past week…
THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Do you prefer fast-paced novels, or slow, descriptive novels?
I generally prefer fast paced novels over slow ones. However, I have read slower paced books that were so beautifully and lushly described that I was in love with the book. One in particular is called Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger. It's a slow, stunning, emotional book. Overall I do prefer the fast-paced page turner, though. 

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Early sunset



The sunset is incredibly gorgeous this evening. I'm feeling a little melancholy over the fact that it is happening at 5:00, though. I know I'll adjust and end up being fine with it sometime this week but right now it feels weird. I do so love when it is light out until seven or eight in the evening.

However, I know that when we switch off from daylight savings - as we have today - and the sun sets early in the evening that we are at the cusp of the holidays. I love the holidays! I especially love when all the decorations are put out and the lights strug in our tree and in our windows. My kids and I LOVE all the lights. My husband does as well but our kids and I definitely love them more! The moment it is dark enough each evening we go around our home and plug in or turn on all the lights. They stay on until bedtime and we all enjoy the cozy glow of the colored lights. The lights are a combination of joyous and peaceful to me.

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Seeing stars



I've been trying out different colors for Christmas stars. I am going to make garland out of them. I want to try out blue and silver too for my friends who celebrate Hanukkah. Oh, I think the blue and silver or gold and silver could make really pretty New Year's decorations, too.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

National Novel Writing Month



National Novel Writing Month - NaNoWriMo - has begun for 2016. It's a journey that a lot of writers take in November to write fifty thousand words of a first draft of their novel. People all over the world take part - some are first time writers, some are writing their twentieth novel. There are even what is called 'NaNo Rebels' - people who rebel against the fifty thousand words and do something else writing related, like create Thirty Covers in Thirty Days. Whatever one chooses to do the NaNoWriMo experience and the camaraderie within the writing community is amazing! I highly recommend it.


Monday, October 31, 2016

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Gryffindor scarf



The Harry Potter Gryffindor scarf I made one of my daughters for Halloween. I have already started a second one because naturally now my other daughter wants one. That's all right because it was fun and easy to make. Plus, they'll be so cute when they wear their matching scarves and show their love for all things Harry Potter. I'm going to make myself a Slytherin scarf - mainly because my favorite color is green. Also, it will be fun to see their reactions to my choice.

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Never give up


"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."

- Confucius

My kids climbed a rock wall this evening. They amaze me on a regular basis with their amazing willingness to try things and persevere at others. They make me so proud and humble me at the same time. Still, I was in awe of them climbing this rock wall this evening. One made it to the top of the darn thing more than once. The other - who happens to be afraid of heights - made it half way up the wall. Both were so amazing and so happy with their accomplishment - which they should have been. They were also really supportive and excited for one another. They made me smile and they made me think about perseverance and how neither of them ever give up anything.