tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48025224888447253482024-03-04T20:17:59.368-08:00Books and DirtAdventures in books, crafts, nature, and sometimes parenting.Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-10817443272648589592015-05-28T12:32:00.000-07:002015-05-28T12:32:00.508-07:00My First Cinderella Retelling and First Steampunk StoryI was nervous about this one. I requested the e-ARC for it and waited. And waited, and then decided it wasn't one I'd get to read before it came out, but that maybe I'd read it when it released. Then I got the email saying I could download it! But what if I'd built up my hopes and it wasn't that great and I'd been waiting and anxious for nothing??<br />
I'm happy to announce: this one did not disappoint.<br />
I downloaded this one and read the first quarter of it. Then I had to deal with reality, but being able to finish a book in a week for me is actually saying something huge. I didn't put this one down and pick up anything else. I didn't get bored.<br />
This was the first Cinderella story I tried and it was almost perfect. This was also the first book I've read that would classify as "steampunk" because I was a little worried about how I'd feel about it. My worries were in vain. It was a great twist to be added.<br />
What I loved:<br />
- Mechanica was not named Ella! At all!<br />
- While Nick usually didn't cause waves and was kind, she fought back when she could/when she really reached a breaking point. This was more realistic, I felt, than the Cinderella who never, ever complains.<br />
- She did not need a man to make her dreams come true. She built her dreams from the ground up, on her own terms. She had help from some bugs, but who doesn't need a little assistance when you're in such a crappy place?<br />
- The ending was damn near perfect. Not a typical happily ever after, but was exactly the kind of ending I love.<br />
- The story is really more about friendship than romantic love and I think we need more of that in the teen genre.<br />
- This book very briefly touches on the ideas behind other types of relationships, as opposed to just a monogamous heterosexual relationship.<br />
- It's clean so I have no worries if I recommend it to anyone, regardless of which age of teen they fall into.<br />
<br />
What I didn't love:<br />
- There were a couple elements that were never explained.<br />
- Some of the writing felt like fluff. Basically, the same sentences, or similarly written ones, were repeated throughout when it wasn't entirely necessary.<br />
<br />
I would definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a new, and very different, very feminist twist on Cinderella.<br />
<br />
**I'd like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing an advanced reading copy of this text in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my review in any way.**Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-52228976368510664372015-05-11T09:52:00.000-07:002015-05-11T09:52:00.201-07:00Why I Won't Be Reading The Rainbow Fish to My Daughter <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I guess I should preface this by
saying, that I know at some point T will read The Rainbow Fish,
either at school or daycare or on her own. I won't stop her from
reading anything, unless it's something too mature for her (probably
not too many restrictions there either), but I won't encourage this
one.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I also want to say that I have not read
any of the follow up stories of all the adventures Rainbow Fish goes
on so maybe it gets better, but I just don't know about it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When you work in a bookstore, people
ask you all the time “how do you take home a paycheck?” Well,
because this is my living, I have to pay my bills and feed my child
so I don't have a lot of choice. At the same time, I understand the
question and I do have a very difficult time talking myself out of
buying all of the books. Due to a small apartment, I've gotten much
better, but there are still times when I buy impulse books, then
realize that I maybe shouldn't have.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Rainbow Fish was one of these. I
remember that I read this as a kid. It's a classic, after all. Who
doesn't love Rainbow Fish?? I bought it as soon as I saw a used copy
come through because I thought, “I have to read this to T.” Then
I did. All I could think after I re-read this book was that I think
I'm missing something.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Maybe the board book version of Rainbow
Fish leaves too much out of the story, maybe the regular version has
something more to it. But in the version I read, I was left with a
feeling of “I don't want to fill my daughter's head with this.” I
understand the point of him learning to share, I really do. What I
don't love is that he has to give away everything he loves to have
friends. I don't love that he gives up who he is, that he can't be
beautiful and have friends. I don't love that no one will be friends
with him unless he gives them things. Maybe I just read too much into
this one, maybe I'm overly cynical. Either way, this was not the
lesson in sharing that I wanted to teach T. So I'm getting it back
out of the house.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I would like to suggest another of
Pfister's books, though. I know most people only know Rainbow Fish
from him because it's the biggest/most popular one, but I also picked
up <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Milo-Magical-Stones-Marcus-Pfister/dp/0735822530/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431276367&sr=1-1&keywords=pfister+in+books" target="_blank">Milo and the Magical Stones </a>and really loved it. This is a story
of a mouse who realizes that the only way to save his world is by
working together with the others in his community to find a solution.
There are two endings, a happy one and a not happy one. I think this
one teaches a great lesson about working together and I will
definitely read this one to T. Although, she'll probably have to be a
little older since there are a lot of words, which requires a lot
longer attention span than she currently has. If she's anything like
me, though, she'll intentionally pick out the longest bedtime story
possible when she's a little older. </div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-54533170073028513112015-04-04T09:41:00.000-07:002015-04-04T09:43:13.476-07:00Another Fairy Tale I Loved<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Thorns-Stacey-Jay/dp/038574322X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428165684&sr=8-1&keywords=princess+of+thorns" target="_blank">Princess of Thorns</a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
by Stacey Jay</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Rating: 5 out of 5
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I almost didn't read this
book. And that would have been a tragedy, though of course I wouldn't
have known it. I judge books almost solely by their covers, but
sometimes will just go off of what people recommend to me. This one
was different. I read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beast-Beauty-Stacey-Jay-ebook/dp/B00B6OVOJK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1428165729&sr=1-1&keywords=of+beast+and+beauty" target="_blank">Of Beast and Beauty</a> and loved it so much. I
started Juliet Immortal because it was already on my TBR list, but I
just couldn't really get into it. I like modern stories sometimes,
but can't read many in the young adult area, mostly because there are
too many pop references and it makes me crazy.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So when I saw this one come
out, I was a little torn. I didn't love the cover (or the tagline:
Sometimes you have to fight for happily-ever-after). But I read the
synopsis and decided I'd want to try it so it was added to my TBR and
then forgotten. I picked it up when I went back through my list for
my next pick and headed up to the library to find something new. Of
course, I found several other things, too, and I'd forgotten what it
was about this one that made me want to read it. I brought it home
anyway, but was on a graphic novel kick and ended up setting this one
to the side before I even started it. I checked my due dates though,
and saw that this one was due and had no renewals left. I think it
was actually because someone else wants it, not that I had it for 9
weeks already... surely. Seeing that I had less than a week, I picked
it up to start it to make my final decision and either read it or
not. Three days later, it's in the Read and Loved It stack.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What I loved:</div>
<ul>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The characters. There
was magic and there was some of the teen angst, but for the most
part these seemed like very realistic portrayals of how these people
would have felt about their circumstances.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The relationships. Man,
I'd love to go into detail about this, but I don't want to spoil
anything. I will say that Aurora and Niklaas's relationship was one
of my favorites in a YA book (and possibly in just any book).</div>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The premise of the
story. I think maybe somewhere I read that this was a retelling of
Sleeping Beauty, but it's not at all. The Sleeping Beauty background
is from the original, not the Disney version, but really this is
about her daughter. There are many borrowed ideas from other
stories, but the way they are used and tied together worked well for
me.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The point of view. I
really like first person. The only thing I (usually) like even more
is when there are multiple first person accounts. I like knowing
what everyone is thinking, but not from a third person viewpoint.
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My favorite quotes (there
were so many, but I wanted to pick the ones that summed up the
reasons I loved the book and also that didn't accidentally spoil
anything):</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Why should any woman
learn how wretched this world can be if they don't have to?”<br />
“Because
they are strong enough to know the truth, and proving that to
themselves will make them stronger. And perhaps, if men were brought
up to be gentler people, women wouldn't have need of protectors.”</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Maybe together we'll
prove that prophecies, and curses, and kings and queens with nothing
but evil in their souls aren't as powerful as people helping each
other. People tying their hearts and minds together and telling fate
to go stuff itself.”</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As a general rule, I try
really hard to think of “Things I Didn't Love.” Honestly, I can't
for this one. Some of the reasons I loved the book are reasons other
people will hate it. So if by those, it doesn't sound like it's for
you, then maybe it's not. But this may be my favorite book I've read
this year, and I can't believe I almost missed it. I really hope Stacey Jay keeps writing this fairy tale setting type books because she's amazing at it.</div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-78430341741422212552015-03-30T22:28:00.001-07:002015-03-30T22:28:35.561-07:00She Don't Need No Stinking Man<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21570318-crimson-bound" target="_blank">Crimson Bound by RosamundHodge</a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Release Date: 5/5/15</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
First, thank you to
HarperCollins Publishers for providing an e-ARC of this book in
exchange for an honest review. I'm excited to say that this is the
first book I've requested and that I received it and now I get to
review it before it releases. Too often, I put books on the back
burner and don't get a chance to read them until much later. I knew I
wanted this one, though, after Cruel Beauty which I read last year. I
actually paid for that one on my Kindle (as opposed to getting it
from the library) because I started the sample and was so sucked in.
So, here are my lists for what I did and didn't love so you can be so
excited to read this yourself when it comes out in a month. (Also, I linked to GoodReads instead of Amazon in the title since it hasn't released any way.)</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />What I loved:</div>
<ul>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The world building.
Hodge is fantastic at this. You forget about your own world and are
brought into a new place where new rules exist. Never been to the
Great Forest, read this book and you will bring it home with you.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The characters. I love
all of them. Everyone. Even the villains. No one was perfect and
that itself was perfect. I think my favorite was Am<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">é</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">lie.
Maybe, if I really needed to pick for some reason.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
women. They are the heroes of the story. It's a women's story,
without ever man-bashing which is awesome.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The blend of
supernatural with the real world. I like having a foot in the real
world when I read stories of people with supernatural abilities.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The ending. Everything
is wrapped up in one way or another. Man, I love closure. That being
said, there's enough leeway left to where a sequel would be
possible/I can imagine the characters' lives after the book's
ending. So, Hodge, if you want to write another, I'll read it!</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What I Didn't Love:</div>
<ul>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Talking in circles. I
felt like there were times when there was more writing than was
necessary. A little repetitive at times.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Third person voice. I
just hate it all the time, nothing really to do with the book, but
letting future readers know that it's written this way.
</div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Didn't live up to Cruel
Beauty. Then again, that was a phenomenal, world shaking, mind
blowing book based on my all time favorite story so it's acceptable
that not everything from this author would fall into the same
category.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Little Red Riding Hood?
Maybe not so much. I can kind of see it *very* loosely based on the
tale, but most of it is pure imagination from Hodge or borrowing
from other ideas (especially religion). I think it maybe marketing
should focus more on what a twist it is than saying it's really a
retelling?</div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I'm not sure if it fits
here exactly, but this was a very, very dark tale. Not that I
minded, but it did catch me off guard at times, and I thought I
should throw it out there in case anyone is squeamish.
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Either way, if you liked
Cruel Beauty, you'll very likely enjoy this one because the world
building is still present, the strong heroine is here, and the love
of all characters is here.</div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-13004452276320878822015-03-22T00:22:00.003-07:002015-03-22T00:22:50.329-07:00Feminist Reading Challenge<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People
told me so many times, “Having a child will change you.” “It'll
change your whole life and who you are.” And I think that in some
ways this is both true and not true. Having T has brought out the
somewhat dormant interests in me and has made them full blown
passions. The biggest one is my feminist side. I want my daughter to
be raised knowing she can be anything and anyone. She can do any job
she wants, she can help anyone she wants, she can love anyone she
wants. I want to know that men and women are equal, or would be in the ideal world. As far as our home life goes, I think we do a pretty
good job of demonstrating this balance. We both work, we both clean
and J is trying so hard to learn to cook (well, I'm still learning
too so I guess she'll grow up knowing neither of us can cook).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This
has been translated into my reading as well, as so many aspects of my
life often are. I tend to go through ups and downs with my reading
habits and tend to burn myself out on a genre and then have to make a
dramatic shift. Something I've started lately is asking myself,
“Would I want my daughter to read this?” Not in a “is this
appropriate for a child?” way (because I'm an adult and am capable
of reading foul language, and about sex and drugs and don't care if
she does when she's much older) but in a “Is there a strong female
role model in this book?” way.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Because
I'm also working toward my teaching license for elementary school, I
apply the same concept to kids' books I've been reading. “Would I
want my students to read this? Would they learn to treat one another
better and more equally from this?” Maybe this is too much thinking
about the purpose of a book, but I'm tired of books with weak women.
I'm tired of all the male writers (though it's not their fault), and
I'm tired of stereotypical women.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> So
my new challenge? I have been reading a lot more kids books (and
really enjoying them!) and some teen as well (and there are some
awesome feminist teen books that I should write a post about at some
point). But my “thing” if you will, right now is about graphic
novels. I am such a huge Batman fan. Well, I love the other
characters from Batman more than Batman himself if I'm honest
(Nightwing, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and lately the Birds of Prey).
But I've also noticed that when I read these graphic novels,
specifically from DC, I only see male names for the writers. The last
time I looked it up, there was exactly one female writer on staff for
DC. One. Supposedly they are working toward being more diverse and
will soon have six female writers. Yes, you read that right, six
would be a step in the right direction for them.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> So
I thought, “I think I need to actively look for more women in
comics.” So that's what I'm doing. And I am truly loving what I'm
finding (when I find things). Currently, I'm reading the new Ms.
Marvel, written by G. Willow Wilson (after a little research, I found
this is a female writer). I have also started accumulating a stack of
books from the library. Damn them and their bad ass collection of
graphic novels and their easy hold system (request on the computer,
get an email, it's right there waiting for you!). Next up on the list
are Rat Queens, Y: The Last Man, Saga, and Earth's Mightiest Hero:
Captain Marvel. The criteria for what I'm looking for are either
comics written by women or ones that can be written by a man but
feature a bad ass woman (more points if she's not drawn as a
stereotypical comic lady). Once I read a few, I'm sure I'll write
another post about some awesome (and perhaps not awesome if I come
across them) graphic novels that fit these criteria.
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any
suggestions for what else I should read? Looking for teen, kids or
graphic novels!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11024598_10204247187602759_3819423004957200879_n.jpg?oh=f1e15d766bcfc74f080d8029269b0628&oe=55B12EF5&__gda__=1437711242_5c0a755200078160fc7f41717be518d5" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And may we read about them.</span></div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-76188459097053510312015-02-24T19:05:00.002-08:002015-02-24T19:51:18.430-08:00A Year of Feminist ReadingMaybe that is what I should have called this year's reading goals. While that isn't all I've read thus far, it does encompass many (7 out of 11) of the books I've read so far. This leads me to the latest one I finished (read it today). So, here's the review.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poisoned-Apples-Poems-You-Pretty-ebook/dp/B00HLIVXPA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1424833066&sr=1-1&keywords=poisoned+apples" target="_blank">Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty by Christine Heppermann</a><br />
4 out of 5 Stars<br />
<br />
What I Loved:<br />
The Cover. Seriously, a good cover can just suck you in. And this one is just lovely.<br />
The photos throughout: While some of the photos were strange beyond what I could understand, many made you rethink what you had just read, which had already made you think.<br />
The length. Heppermann didn't try to stretch this out past what she could write well. It was a short book, readable in an hour or two and she didn't use anything as filler, aside from the aforementioned photos.<br />
The style. This is a collection of poetry that is easy to read.<br />
The ending. Without giving anything away, you're left basically where you were in the beginning. Feminism is still struggling, it doesn't resolve.<br />
The poems directly relating to fairy tales.<br />
The author's note in the end. It makes me want to read other literature about the women of fairy tales.<br />
<br />
What I didn't Love:<br />
The lack of character development. While I could feel for the women (or girls) as they were, I wanted to feel a deeper connection with someone. Although, that would probably have been a depressing story if it had been all one person's story.<br />
The disconnect. Some of the poems were difficult to connect to the theme and none actually tie together.<br />
<br />
Overall, I'd recommend this to someone who likes fairy tale retellings because it provides a fresh look at fairy tales, but also at how young girls are often facing their every day lives.Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-79839730900687346002015-02-15T13:00:00.000-08:002015-02-15T13:00:01.123-08:00How I'm Going To Read More This Year<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
I read an incredibly
relevant article last year about "not enough time to read." Ok, I read multiple articles about this, all found on Book Riot. The
one that really hit me the most though was <a href="http://bookriot.com/2014/06/18/babies-keep-reading-rant/" target="_blank">this one</a> from a mom (of twins) who talked
about when she read, how and why. This really hit me hard, especially the part about how important it is to keep doing what you love. </div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And so I started to think of
the hows and whens of my own life for me to read. We have a super
unorthodox schedule in our home due to both of us working retail
management shifts. These include potentially leaving the house at 8
am or coming home up until 11 pm. The schedule is also different
every week so I can't just schedule reading time every Tuesday, or
even every other Tuesday. Little Goose also doesn't really have a set
schedule, other than a general bedtime and general time she gets up.
She naps when she's tired and she eats when she's hungry or when I
think she should probably eat again. Maybe when she goes to school
there will be more regularity with her, but until I'm out of retail
this is how my life works and it's okay with me (for the time being).
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Anyway, I still wanted to be
able to read so much more this year. And not necessarily more books,
but I didn't want to be at the end of the year looking for short
books that still “count” as legitimate. (For the record, some of
my favorite books have been these short books.) More importantly, I
want to be reading more, spending more of my time that I may not
realize is being otherwise wasted on what used to be my all time
favorite pastime.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So I've worked out a system,
kind of. It's based loosely on tips I've read for how to read more,
but also on me as a person and my own schedule. This would also not
likely work for people who can only read one book at a time, unless
you tweaked it, a lot.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My System for Reading Lots
of Books</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I keep 4 books going at all
times. (Sometimes more if I'm honest)</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1. An audio book for the
car. I don't spend a lot of time in the car at a time, but it is
about 15-20 minutes to and from work each way. That in a week means I
have about 2 hours of potential listening time just for work, not
including time to take Little Goose to and from daycare or any other
errands I may have to run (no matter how hard I try to avoid them). I
usually keep this as a humor book for a few reasons. a. I'm going to
and from work and need to be happy when I get there and want to
de-stress when I get back in the car. b. I hate stopping in an
awkward spot. Humor books tend to have shorter chapters from what
I've found and also have more logical stopping places than a lot of
my fiction audio books.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2. An audio book for at
home. I have been trying to get myself in the habit of cleaning on a
regular basis, and then maybe I'll try working out as well. So for
these times, I have a lighter, usually fiction, audio book to listen
to. I give myself about 2 hours of solid cleaning time (during a nap
or after I drop Little Goose at daycare) and also use the book when
I'm just doing basic chores that get done every day or when I'm
cooking (on the rare occasion).
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
3. A book on my Kindle/Kobo
for anywhere I go. I've finally figured out how outstanding the
Denver Public Library is. So I can get e-books from them! I keep
either the Kindle or Kobo (whichever I'm currently reading a book on)
with me so that if I get stuck in traffic or have a few minutes
between when I get to work/have to go into work or if I decide to
take a lunch break, I have my book with me. I also read this at home
depending on my mood and how engrossed I am in the book. (You could
also use your phone for this one, but reading on my phone is not real
reading for me.)</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
4. A book to read at home.
This one is usually shorter and easier to finish or maybe a graphic
novel. This is for days when Little Goose takes a lot of naps or when
I want to stay up late/get up early to read.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I try to have a “next
book” picked out before I finish any of these so that there isn't a
standstill for any of them once I finish. And sometimes they cross
over, like if I'm in a really good chapter of my home audio book and
need to go somewhere, I just take the Zune with me.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The first year I started
tracking how much I read (out of sheer curiosity) was 2013. I read 23
books that year. Last year I read 28. This year, it's only February,
and I've already read 8. I set my goal for 25 this year, but maybe I
could do 30 or 40? I only compete with myself when it comes to
reading goals and I only want to make sure I don't lose something I
love just because my life is different than it was in high school
when all I did was read. </div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-31395142115749032862015-02-08T22:59:00.002-08:002015-02-08T22:59:59.400-08:00An Incredible Young Adult Novel<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wildlife-Fiona-Wood-ebook/dp/B00HQ2MXSC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423464731&sr=1-1&keywords=wildlife+in+books" target="_blank">Wildlife by Fiona Wood</a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I almost didn't read this
book. That would have been tragic because it turns out it's an
incredible story. Before I started to read Wildlife, I sent out a
silent wish to the universe, saying “Give me something I can't put
down, something that sucks me in and doesn't let me go.” Then I
picked up this book because I had it from the library and hadn't
started it and had no expectations.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Usually, a book gets 50
pages to grip me hard enough and for me to make a decision about
whether I'll finish it. This time, I made it 5 pages in and thought,
“I'm not going to read this...” Then I got to page 7. This story
is told from multiple perspectives (add one point!) and handles each
of them so very well (add another point!). I really thought this
would turn out to be “just another teen book” even though I'd
read it on a<a href="http://bookriot.com/2015/01/21/2015-year-feminist-ya-novel/" target="_blank"> Book Riot list of top feminist teen novels</a>. It was so
much more than what I expected.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I haven't read “Six
Impossible Things” since it hasn't been released in the US yet, but
I don't feel like I missed anything by not reading it before this
one.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So here's what I loved:</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is not a love story.
There is a romance, like in almost every YA book, but this story is
not focused on that. This is a book about teenage girls'
relationships with each other, both the good and the bad.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This was an incredibly
believable book. I love some good paranormal YA every now and again,
but when I read a realistic book, I want it to be that: realistic.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There was no teenage anst.
Teenage drama, yes. But not crying in my room over a boy I talked to
that one time and why doesn't he love me kind of junk.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There are strong feminist
characters. And there are hidden, subtle lessons about how to become
a strong feminist female in your own life.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The ending. It was perfect.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What I didn't love:</div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
… I honestly can't think
of anything. And I always try really hard to give both the pros and
the cons of books so that people can weigh them to make an informed
decision. I would recommend this one to anyone, though. Anyone who
loves teen literature, or even coming of age stories that are perhaps
not necessarily directed toward teens. Because that's what this book
is, it's learning who your friends are, but more importantly, it's
struggling with who you are and who you want to become. And it's
beautiful.</div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-84247419392693773002015-01-11T13:37:00.004-08:002015-01-11T13:37:50.607-08:00Types of Readers<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Segoe Print;">I have a
review coming very very soon. But the book was so incredible that I
don't want to submit the review until it's at least sufficient (I
don't think words can do it justice; you'll just have to read the
book to get the actual full effect). </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Segoe Print;">But because I
really want to keep writing more often, I was thinking of other
things to write about while I was trying to decide what to read next.
</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';">Have you seen this picture of the “Types of Readers?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdV76L4xtXEKww3rtxigkXVryuuGyUnXrasTvWqMhOAsEZwcIrmkU-GyT5YfgYzXMBrfDUhFhWtC9S-89a0oabOKembHBUQDasWoR0tzBlc34OXnPR0gWOs47q28accYvGq8Hf_TCQz6k/s1600/Reader+Types.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdV76L4xtXEKww3rtxigkXVryuuGyUnXrasTvWqMhOAsEZwcIrmkU-GyT5YfgYzXMBrfDUhFhWtC9S-89a0oabOKembHBUQDasWoR0tzBlc34OXnPR0gWOs47q28accYvGq8Hf_TCQz6k/s1600/Reader+Types.png" height="320" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print';">It comes across my
Facebook newsfeed probably at least once a month from one source or
another. It came across again recently, and I got to thinking about
how I've changed within the past 2 years or so from an Introvert
Reader to somewhere between a Polygamist and Neurotic Reader. So
here's that story and also a guide to what it's like for me in
between books.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Segoe Print;">I remember in
school, all the way back through elementary, I would find one author
I liked and read everything they wrote. And then I would find another
author, usually pretty similar to the last and read everything from
them as well. This went on through the first couple years of college
too, and after. Sometimes, if I find the right author or series, I
will still read a lot of their work. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Segoe Print;">Over the past
couple years, though, especially while working in a bookstore, I've
realized how narrow my scope of reading has been. I don't want to
only read chick lit and teen (which is most of what I read
previously). I was pretty sure I'd never read a complete nonfiction
work of any kind. Ever. And I was 23. So I've been trying to expand
my reading to other genres. (There are still some genres I just can't
read: history, sports, most sci-fi.) Around the same time, I came to
the very sad realization that I will never finish all the books I
want to read. So at this point, I won't finish books that I don't
enjoy. I give it around 50-100 pages (depending on how long it is
total), and at that point if I just can't do it anymore, I don't. And
I've given up the guilt. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Segoe Print;">The main time
I'm a Polygamist/Neurotic reader is between books. Once I finish the
“main” book I'm reading, the one that really holds my attention
and makes me want to finish it, I get a little lost. I'll start
probably 5-10 books trying to find the next “one” to actually get
through. I read a couple pages, then think about something else I'd
rather do. Eventually I find the right one though and read it, then
go back to some of the others I started. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Segoe Print;">I still binge
on genres, though. I'll get sucked into humor biographies, or fairy
tale retellings, or something else pretty specific and really want to
read a ton of that until I get burnt out. And then it's time to start
my insane process again.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Segoe Print;">This year, I'm
attempting the <a href="http://bookriot.com/2014/12/15/book-riot-2015-read-harder-challenge/" target="_blank">Book Riot Read Harder Challenge</a> to broaden my reading
even more. If you want to join in, now's the time! There's even a <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/152441-book-riot-s-read-harder-challenge" target="_blank">Goodreads Group</a> for it, and speaking of that, I'd love to see what you're reading so <a href="http://goodreads.com/booksanddirt" target="_blank">add me</a> on there!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Segoe Print;">What kind of
reader are you? Have you always been that kind or has it changed over
time?</span></div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-67366295931495549692015-01-07T19:43:00.001-08:002015-01-07T19:43:58.130-08:00Resolutions. That dirty, dirty word.<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Resolutions:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I mentioned in my “First Review of
the Year” that I have several goals for myself that aren't exactly
the standard (at least from what I know about usual resolutions –
losing weight, better finances, get organized etc – since
originally writing this, it turns out my resolutions are pretty
common, but oh well). So I wanted to actually write my goals for
myself this year and put them somewhere I can revisit them toward the
end of the year to see how I did.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>I want to find a new career.</i>
As much as I love working with books, retail isn't satisfying for
me. Life is short and I want to spend it doing something that
matters. Even if it's working in a library instead of a bookstore, I
want to start myself on a path toward something new that will do
more than pay the bills.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Read and Write More.</i>
This is a tricky one. I want to broaden my reading horizons. I want
to read more quality than quantity this year. I am semi taking the
Read Harder Challenge from Book Riot. The goal is to gain new
perspectives. I think this is crucial to living well. At the same
time, I want to give myself the time I need to write. I haven't
written a lot since school ended almost 2 years ago and even if it's
not something personal, it's something I need to be able to unwind.
Without writing, I lose sleep and don't focus or function as well as
I know I can. I am going to try to schedule time for myself this
year to write something, no matter what it is, each week. I am also
enrolling in free classes on a site called edX.org (the first starts
today!). I want to learn this year and really push myself to see
what I am capable of. I can also get certificates to maybe use on
applications to show that I'm willing and able to learn.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Use a Schedule and Slow Down</i>.
This is the most important one to me for this year. I want to
practice better time management. I want to better plan out my days
so I can feel like I'm accomplishing what I need to, but at the same
time, I want this to better my family time. I want to make sure I
take care of what I need to do so that when I have time to spend
with the ones I love, I am not worried about work or anything else
so I can just enjoy them.
</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This
is the first year I've actually admitted to making resolutions in a
long time, probably since high school. But I think these are doable.
If I'm not exactly where I think I should be when 2016 rolls around,
I am going to follow the 4<sup>th</sup>
resolution and stop worrying about things that don't need it.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Do you
make resolutions? What are your goals and plans for this year?</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-79200409345494189242015-01-01T11:58:00.000-08:002015-01-01T11:58:04.355-08:00New Year, New ReviewIs it naive and ridiculous to think: "This will be the year I review more books!"? Yes, yes it is. But maybe I'll review a few more than last year and that will be sufficient. I have several goals this year that have nothing to do with reading or writing (or weight loss or the other usual suspects), but maybe I'll write a little more often while I'm at it. Either way, here's the first review of the year.<br />
(Disclaimer about this book: While I thoroughly enjoyed it, that does not mean everyone would. This is not one I'd recommend to just anyone, but for a select group of people that I think would actually find it fascinating. Also, it doesn't release until February 3. Sorry)<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Heroine-Learned-Original/dp/1101872098/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top#customerReviews" target="_blank">How to Be a Heroine by Samantha Ellis</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 Stars</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not sure what I thought this book would be. But it wasn't
anything I expected. And I can’t say I've read anything like it before. (Not
that there isn't something like it, but I just hadn't picked it up.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The best way to describe this book is that it is a
biographical literary criticism. This is the story of Samantha Ellis re-reading
her way through her old favorites, but with a more feminist eye after she
engages in a debate with her best friend over who is the best heroine. While
she’s re-reading these books, she is also trying to find herself: her career,
love, and who she is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I loved:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*It was fascinating to read the feminist side of so many
well known books and to see how reading books at different times in your life
will change how you see them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*It was fun to read a literary critic without feeling like
you were caught up in the terminology, but instead you get to see how it
actually applies to someone’s life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Ellis never got bogged down by the issues she faced. She
used books to get her through some very tough times and showed what an
important role books can play.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*The end. It was a realistic ending, but at the same time a
lovely one.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*I’ve got a long list of books I need to read now. Books
with strong women that I would like to learn more from. Unfortunately, that
also means that I just have more books to read in a never ending list of books
to read.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I would have liked more:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*I know it wasn’t the point of the book, but I would have
liked to have had more of Ellis’s story. It felt that while we glimpsed her,
the book focused more on the other heroines, instead of Ellis. Maybe there will
be a follow up. (That is a very personal thing to ask of someone, though.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Overall, I would say that it may be a rather smaller
audience that would really love this book, but for anyone who is interested in
literary theory (without so much technical aspect), this was a fascinating and
fun read.</div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-43801676676507954192014-04-16T09:00:00.000-07:002014-04-16T09:00:04.204-07:00Dorothy Must Die Review<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062280678/ref=amb_link_411109682_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=auto-sparkle&pf_rd_r=0JC6839M3788TZZT7580&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=1773228442&pf_rd_i=dorothy%20must%20die" target="_blank">Dorothy Must Die</a> by Danielle Paige</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5 of 5 stars</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was one of those books I was anxiously awaiting and
when the store I work in got it in, I was so excited to check it out, but was
also nervous that it would fall short. It did not disappoint.. I finished it in
3 days. I couldn’t put it down. And I didn’t know it was part of a series. I
don’t read books that have a sequel until all of the books are published.
Because it makes me crazy to get to the end of a book and know that there’s
more and have to wait for it. This was definitely a great example of this. I’m
going to try to be as descriptive as possible without giving anything away.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I liked:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*I love the new take on the Wizard of Oz. I love that
Dorothy and her friends are the villains. I love that the lines of Good and
Wicked have been blurred. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*The world building was beautiful. The descriptions of Oz
itself were fantastic, but the descriptions of everything else going on were
also lovely. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*I liked the development of most of the characters.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*This was a <very> dark twist on the original story
and it works well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*There is a lot of action going on. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Even though she was a stereotype a lot of the time, Amy was
clever and witty.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*There was very little romance. While I’m usually all about
romance, it’s often a frustrating subject in teen books. There was some very
minor romantic interest, but no one is making decisions based on the love of
their life that they just met. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I didn’t like:<br />
*I hate pop culture references and they tend to be all over the place in teen
fiction. Fortunately, like many other books, the references stop after a short
while.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*There was a lot of angst going on. I wanted to slap Amy
during about ¼ of the book.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Some of the foreshadowing was way too overt, but it never
led to anything.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*You can tell that the writing is from a new author, but it wasn’t
awful. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*This is a series. How did I not know this was a series???
It felt like the book just stopped. I understand cliffhangers, but ugh. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes
retellings, but I would probably suggest to wait until the next book is out, if
not all 3.</div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-73113979993177245882014-04-10T18:51:00.002-07:002014-04-10T18:55:49.273-07:00Peter Pan was kind of a butt.<div class="MsoNormal">
So I know that last post was kind of a downer. So here is another book review. I've been using books as a kind of therapy and it's working really well. And I'm reading a lot more now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Lily-Jodi-Lynn-Anderson-ebook/dp/B006VE7KHK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top" target="_blank">Tiger Lily</a> by Jodi Lynn Andersen</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3.75/5 Stars</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m sure anyone reading my book reviews has noticed the
fairy tale retelling kick I’ve been on. I’m still not sorry and now there’s
another. (In my defense, I have read two religion books –even though they were
both pretty short – amidst these novels.) I knew I needed more of these types
of stories to keep my reading level high, and then I stumbled onto <a href="http://www.epicreads.com/blog/an-epic-chart-of-162-young-adult-retellings/" target="_blank">this gem</a>.
This chart is amazing. I found a ton of books I need to read now, and I got it
into my head that I should read a Peter Pan story. I went through the ones on
the list and this seemed like the best new perspective.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I liked:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Minor characters: Tik Tok and Pine Sap were my favorite
characters in the book. I think all of the minor characters were well developed
though. I liked having Hook and Smee’s back stories. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Plot premise: This was the first rewriting of Peter Pan
I’ve read and really the only one I could find that wasn’t a little kids’ book.
I loved the focus being about Tiger Lily. I often imagined Peter as kind of a
jerk and this book finally openly admits that he really is. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Point of View: I liked seeing Tinkerbell not being a brat
and actually caring about someone </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*It doesn’t even kind of matter for the story itself, but
the cover is beautiful.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*I don’t care whether a book has a happy or sad ending, but
I do like closure. I got that with this book.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Drawbacks:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*While it was a really good story, nothing really ever
grabbed my attention and drove me to finish. I finished it because I had nothing
better to read at the time, but it could have been easily put to the side and
forgotten about it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*I felt more attached to the secondary characters than the
main ones. I didn't like Peter Pan and didn't want him to be with Tiger Lily. A lot of times I felt detached from her as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*There were a few parts of the plot that seemed a little
rushed/awkward. I don’t want to give anything away, but this happens only a few
times.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*There were also a few things about Tiger Lily that are
never explained but were set up like they should have been.</div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-84973640196214248672014-03-27T05:39:00.001-07:002014-03-27T05:43:41.659-07:00Because sometimes reality gets the best of you and you just need to write about it.<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We interrupt your
not-so-regularly scheduled programming for a bit of my real life. This is where
I write so it’s where I’m putting this. I have some other posts to write up
still too, but for now, this is what I have. (If this is the first or only time you've read anything I've written, I usually don't write this stuff so whether you want to read more like this or not, it's not something to expect.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So I guess this will be real
talk time, and it’s hard for me to write but I feel like it’s necessary (more
so for me than for anyone else). Why am I writing something so incredibly
personal where anyone can see? 1. Because I need to get it out of my head where
the words swirl around constantly. 2. If someone does see it and feels the
same, I really want them to know they’re not alone because this can be a very
lonely place. Even if you have people around you, it’s a little easier knowing
someone else has felt the same (while at the same time you wouldn’t wish it on
anyone). And I also want anyone who feels like this to know that reaching out to someone is the best thing you can do for yourself right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A few days ago I had my 6
week postpartum appointment with my midwife. I knew before the appointment that
I’ve been struggling, and I was finally ready to admit that I needed some help.
The biggest thing was the roller coaster I’ve been on with my hormones. And
it’s just not stopping. I have to fill out this questionnaire thing about how
I’ve been feeling every time I go to the pediatrician’s office for my little
giraffe. The problem is that I know what they want me to say to be able to tell
me I’m normal and fine and everything is going great. Unfortunately, that means
that none of the doctors have known that I haven’t been fine lately and everything
has not felt great. This time, I answered the questions more honestly. I
admitted that I would like to run away from my life at times, and that I’m
terrified everything I’m doing is wrong, and I can’t stand hearing my kid cry.
all. the. time. And then I got to hear what I was dreading. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“You have postpartum
depression.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This was followed by the
doctor telling me that I’m one of the ones that often get missed. The type of
person who has dealt with depression without wanting to take medicine so she
learns how to still get up and go to her responsible adult life things. The
kind who can still get dressed and look presentable, who can still make eye
contact and look like I’m fine. Because I can shut everything out for most of
the day so that I can function.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Until night begins, and then
I just want to scream. Every time I hear the giraffe cry. Every time I hear her
start to fuss and I start to panic it’s going to turn into a complete meltdown.
And I’m changing a diaper with my eyes half shut hoping I put a diaper on her
and not the cat. And I’m mad that I’m not getting any sleep. And I feel like a
terrible parent because I don’t like this screaming person right now. She’s
taking away my sleep. She’s stealing my husband’s attention. And damnit, I want
to cuddle with him now that I don’t have a giant pregnant belly or heartburn
lying between us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And then it shifts. And I’m
not angry any more. I’m so upset with myself for feeling like this. I start to
think “I can’t believe my baby doesn’t like me, and I’m not fond of her
myself.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I’m told I’m not alone in
this. I’m told that a lot of people feel this way, and a lot of them don’t
admit it. I hope this gets better with the suggestions of the doctor. I hope
that soon I feel loving towards the sweet girl I’m holding more often than
frustrated. Because part of my brain recognizes how lovely her tiny smiles are.
Part of me knows that I’m missing out on these weeks that I’m actually able to
spend at home with her. The biggest part of me, though, realizes that I am
incredibly lucky to have my husband taking care of her and me and going to work
while I try to keep just myself put together. And that part of me really wants
to give him his wife back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-10218274044370539962014-03-16T15:04:00.001-07:002014-03-16T15:56:28.328-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cruel-Beauty-Rosamund-Hodge/dp/0062224735/ref=cm_rdp_product" target="_blank">Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My
Rating: 5 out of 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m
finally writing this review after a week and a half of sitting on it. I’ve been
a little busy with the gosling (this is her new name since she’s a silly goose
like her daddy, who may be called Goose henceforth), but mostly it’s just
incredibly hard for me to write a review for a book that I love this much. I
try hard not to write gushing reviews often, mostly because there are very few
books that deserve it, and I think that people use reviews to get fair opinions
of a book before delving in and spending so much of their time reading it. This
is an exception, however. Much like <a href="http://starshineincolorado.blogspot.com/2013/05/one-of-those-books-you-get-stuck-in.html" target="_blank">this one</a> (which also happens to be a Beauty
and the Beast retelling, perhaps not a coincidence).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m
in the midst of a fairy tale retelling kick and this was the second one I read
in a week’s time (there are 3 more sitting on my shelf and several on my Kindle
that will be part of this adventure into once-upon-a-time land). This was the
better of the two for that week, but was also one of my new favorite books.
Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite stories to begin with, and I was not
let down by this one. I feel like I should also admit that this was a book that I actually paid for, which has not happened for a while since I usually check them out at work or get an advanced reader. Even paying for it, it was worth the $9.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So,
per usual, we’ll go with the good and the not so good (well, I’ll try to come
up with what I didn’t love about it, though it will be hard).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What
I loved:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*The
characters. They were realistic and flawed and beautiful. I loved Nyx and
Ignifex together. I loved Nyx and Shade together. I loved that no one was
perfect, but at the same time they were.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*The
plot/mythology. I loved the back story of the Gentle Lord and how it unfolded.
The twist on the classic was a nice one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*The
setting. I’ve found that my favorite retellings tend to be set essentially in
“once upon a time.” These places could be anywhere, and something about this
really appeals to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*The
ending. I like books to have closure at the end, but you can still walk away
thinking about where the characters would be now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What
I didn’t love so much:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*The
father. It irritated me that he was never remorseful. Though, he was still
well-written as this character.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*At
times I got really frustrated with Nyx. Even though she was believable, I still
got irritated with her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*The
ending. It shouldn’t have had one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I should put this in the not so good column, I guess. I would classify this as mature teen. There weren't sex scenes, but there were implications about it. I would recommend that parents read this first if their younger teen (13-15) wants to read it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a whole, I would recommend this to pretty much anyone that I could. If you like fairy tales, if you like romance or fantasy, if you like books at all. Okay, maybe not for everyone, but I really do think a wide variety of people would enjoy this, and I loved it.</span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-26769346944066753052014-03-11T00:41:00.003-07:002014-03-16T15:56:47.283-07:00Review for the first book I finished after having a baby<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/While-Beauty-Slept-Elizabeth-Blackwell-ebook/dp/B00DGZKHNG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395004743&sr=1-1&keywords=while+beauty+slept" target="_blank">While Beauty Sleptby Elizabeth Blackwell</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">My rating: 3.75 of
5 (the more I think about the story, the closer it gets to 4)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">Fairytale
retellings are one of my favorite types of books. I love to see what authors
can do with a classic story to make it their own new fascinating tale. So when
I found this book while looking through the list of e-advanced readers I could
download, it stood out. This story was to be different from other fairy tales
or even their revised versions. This one was said to be the “true” story of
Sleeping Beauty, not of magic or witches, but of a curse brought on by events
that could have actually taken place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">This was written as
historical fiction, rather than fantasy. Usually I’m not a fan of historical
fiction, but I’ve been in a reading slump and thought maybe I should give it a
try since it was still a fairy tale. It took me a while to read since I started
it before I had little miss ma’am and it took me a little while to adjust to a
newborn. (I finally learned that feeding her/rocking her was the perfect time
for reading – though not so great for trying to write. Though, I recently found
that I may be able to write while wearing her in the Moby Wrap we finally got!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">I wanted to love
this book, but it wasn’t what I thought it would be. It did get me through the
reading rut I’d been in though and I read 2 more books in the 3 days following
finishing this one up so I give it credit for that. I’m still honestly a little
torn on how I feel about the whole thing. I fluctuate between a 3 and 4
star depending on which part of the book
I think of. But as a whole, I would recommend this to anyone who likes fairy
tale retellings or possibly even if they just like historical fiction. (Though,
full disclosure, as I’m not a reader of it, I can’t vouch for whether it’s
historically accurate to any time period.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">Anyway, here’s what
I liked and what I did not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">The Good:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">*Very well written
descriptions and most of the characters were well developed. Many of them I
missed once the book was over, and those are the good kind. The villains were
well developed too, but I can’t say I miss them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">*Elise’s love
story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">*Even though it was
written as a historical version of the story, it still felt like “once upon a
time” was the setting. I’m not sure if that was intentional, but I liked it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">The Not So Good<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">*The pacing was by
far my biggest issue. It felt like there were pieces of the story that were
dragged out far too long, but then the ending felt rushed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">*The foreshadowing
was kind of awful. It seemed like almost every page had a line something like
this: “If only we knew then what this would truly mean.” It was all. the. time.
And it got really redundant. We get it, something terrible is going to happen,
and you didn’t see some of the signs (or sometimes you did, and pointed that
out as well).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">*So as not to say
any spoilers, I just want to say that I really didn’t like some of the events
that played out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">The “It’s not
really bad, but this made it not what I expected”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">*There was very
little about Rose herself. This was not her story until almost the very end,
she was barely <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">in it. She was a
driving force behind some of the story, but it was really Elise’s story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">*I still haven’t
decided how I feel about the ending.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-41777437550741578472014-02-04T10:42:00.005-08:002014-02-04T10:42:37.302-08:00My BeliefsI wrote this back when I was writing more often.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
I hate the assumption made that I don’t believe in anything. I believe in a lot more than I ever have before, and I think that should be put out there in the open.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
I believe in people. I believe in humanity and that we can be better than we are. Not that we should progress and keep building more and more inventions, but that we know how to take care of one another and that most of us will. I believe that people are a kind species and that we are born innately good (for the most part). I think that people look to God and religion to show them a way to do good for others because they feel a need to help their fellow man. This alone proves to me that we can get better. Unfortunately, a nasty side effect of religion is war. Controversies have led to bloodshed over the years. But I think this is greed for power brought on by a sense of righteousness that was brought out by gods.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
I believe in science. I believe that science is making progress toward explaining so many questions that many of us haven’t even thought up yet.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
We are an amazing species, but instead of looking to ourselves and the world around us, we argue that there has to be something more. We cannot even come close to understanding what’s right here in front of us. Why do we need to invent gods to explain as well? It gives us a crutch. It gives people a reason for why things happen. It also gives some people a way to escape responsibility. If God says it’s okay in the Bible to judge and to be hateful toward someone not like you, that makes it okay, right? If that’s the reason to believe in a god, I’d rather believe in humanity. There are miraculous things happening all around us and we are the ones doing them.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
I believe in love. I believe in the power of music. I believe in the power of the human mind and the human heart and the human body. And I believe these are more powerful than any god that any organization would have us believe in.</div>
</div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-50071676369674256202014-02-01T15:45:00.001-08:002014-03-16T15:58:07.880-07:00Looks Like I've Still Got TimeSo I guess since baby girl has decided she's never going to come out, I still have time to write something. I have been incredibly slack looking at my past posts. Can I blame this on pregnancy and exhaustion? I'm probably going to. I haven't managed to do much worth writing about thus not writing.<br />
For the record, I have tried to convince TM that it's time to go. Every old wive's tale that wouldn't hurt her has been tried:<br />
~Hot showers<br />
~Rolling around on an exercise ball<br />
~Walking<br />
~Spicy food<br />
~Foot Massage<br />
~Evening Primrose Oil<br />
~Clary Sage Essential Oil<br />
<br />
She's just not ready to see the snow I guess. So for now, under doctor's orders, I've stopped trying to convince her. The midwife told me for my own health and sanity (not so much for TM's sake) that I need to stop stressing and just let her hang out there until she's ready. Today was day 2 of not trying anything. And I guess it was nice to just relax a little. And I guess writing is good for stress.<br />
<br />
Not sure where this post is going to be completely honest, but I felt like I needed to write one more time before she comes. Which she will. One way or another.<br />
<br />
I guess I could give you a heads up on what future posts I may eventually write. I've started a few of them, but either haven't completed the project or haven't felt like writing the post itself. Let's see.<br />
Things you have to look forward to reading about from me when I get around to doing/writing about them:<br />
*Cloth diapering. This is a hard one because TM isn't here yet. The idea though is to write about how cost effective it turns out to be and how much of a pain it may be. I've got everything I need to do this and I'm lucky that my apartment has a washer and dryer so hopefully it won't be so bad.<br />
*Using a Moby-Wrap. I don't know what I'm going to say about that. I'm sure once I'm using it, I'll have some great story about how I tried to wear her out to dinner and dropped a taco on her face or something.<br />
*I'm crocheting things. Well, I'm starting them. And I'm pinning lots of ideas on Pinterest. (You can follow me if you want <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/starshineinco/" target="_blank">*click here for my Pinterest*</a> -I'll try to get it up in the sidebar too!) I think I'm kind of understanding how patterns work and the idea is to eventually get an Etsy shop opened up. I actually created one. And a PayPal for it. But I have no items to put in the shop so I have to work on that part still.<br />
*Maybe I'll write mine and J's wedding story. Man, it's been almost 2 months, and I have totally not written that. I really am slack.<br />
*I'll probably write a really great birth story for you all to read. I'm sure it'll involve us going into the hospital while it snows. Because I should have her within a week or they'll induce and it shows no sign of the snow stopping. Ever.<br />
*I also learned how to use my Crock Pot (it's amazing!) so I'll have to link some recipes in. Or, maybe I'll even make up some of my own and share those. Okay, they'll probably be links to someone's from Pinterest.<br />
<br />
Man, and I haven't written up any of those. I guess I did have something to write about, if I had just not been so incredibly lazy. I'll work on that. Maybe. Well, I'll think about it while I'm laying in bed.<br />
<br />
<br />Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-1683373664205742652013-10-04T00:10:00.001-07:002014-03-16T15:58:24.776-07:00Evolution Baby(Disclaimer: May not be suitable for those of a strong Christian persuasion. You have been warned.)<br />
<br />
What if my daughter is not a miracle? What if she was an "Oh sh*t" moment in a Wal-Mart bathroom stall when that second line showed up. What if she was the hardest decision I ever had to make. What if I knew I never wanted kids and here I am having one and trying to figure out how that's going to work out.<br />
<br />
On the flip side. What if my daughter was the hardest struggle I've ever had to face trying to conceive. What if she's the product of some amazing medicines, scientific processes, and trackers to be able to get pregnant. What if she is the tears of joy and the endless thanks given to the doctors who made her possible.<br />
<br />
Would either situation mean I'm any less grateful or excited for her? I don't think so. I'll never tell her she's my miracle or my blessing. Instead, I'm so in awe of what my body is capable of. I am growing a freaking human! And whether I cried of joy or of fear, that is something pretty incredible. After so many years of evolution, we have come from single cells to cells that reproduce and can reproduce another tiny version of our mixed DNA.<br />
<br />
I'll tell her instead that she is one of the most wonderful things to happen to me, something that I didn't think would ever happen. I'll tell her she's the product of love and of some really awesome biology. I'll tell her she's loved immensely and infinitely by both her parents. And I think that that is enough.Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-9306770637853848452013-09-30T15:54:00.003-07:002013-09-30T15:54:48.457-07:00I have lost my notebook.This is going to be a very "me being real" post, not very helpful (as in no tutorial) and not funny. So if you're looking for a tutorial or a book review please see the very few posts to the right. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Losing a notebook should not be the end of the world. And I understand (somewhere in my mind) that it's really really truly not. Right now, though, it feels like it. I am very much a list person. It's how I keep myself focused (even just a little bit) and how I figure difficult things out. This notebook had all of my lists. Not to mention, I realized after a few days of it being missing that it also has my pregnancy insurance information in it. I have searched everywhere I can think of in my house, at work, and in my car. These are all places where I take it on a regular basis just so I can function. It's not in any of them. I've called Hobby Lobby and Walmart as a last ditch effort wondering if they had found it. If they did, I'm sure they threw it away. </div>
<div>
The longer I go without it, the more upset I get. It is an almost crippling feeling to have it missing. I did buy a very cheap replacement for it, but that was when I thought I simply wasn't looking hard enough. I'm trying to use the new one. Really really trying. But thus far it is not being the sanity I need and what the other one was.</div>
<div>
With this pregnancy, I got "pregnancy brain." (I think that's the technical term.) I joke about how it makes me feel stupid, but I legitimately feel stupid. I can't remember anything for more than a few minutes, much less a full day. I go into a store without a list and forget at least 3/4 of what I needed. So I wrote everything I needed down as I realized I needed it so I wouldn't have to struggle with even making a list. </div>
<div>
I struggle with anxiety. I worry about what's going to happen in 4 months when I have a child. I need to find a daycare and we will need to move when this lease is up. I need to find a doctor for her, and I need to get both of us on some kind of insurance. This is the stuff I can remember right now. None of this is terribly urgent yet. So I write it down. I keep a list of "Figure Out Today," "Figure Out Tomorrow," "Figure Out This Week," "Figure Out This Month," etc. Then I gradually edit the lists as I figure things out. I had lists of apartments to call/not call/already called. </div>
<div>
There were basic to do lists. I have so many projects I'd like to tackle, and I also get very distracted when I try to clean. So I write down what I'd like to accomplish in a day and in a week and how I think I can make it happen. </div>
<div>
Without this notebook, I'm so very unorganized and therefore unproductive. Before I lost it, I finished a craft, but never got around to writing up the tutorial. I will at some point. It's probably half way done. Right now, though, I'm just so very drained from searching and then crying that I couldn't find it. I need to end this on a positive note, and I was/am so proud of myself so here's the picture for now.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLx8HRVMHC2Bu6huGMT-D6Cd9AZO1_RTkM1bc3BBxBzWtYGBK48pHI4_cKmbH7xEyqiiSW2aj4lq98cZoYpOhtji-hlD-p7epvVbVu_XWaafGKRkF5jGtBkxUlRh2h1g8Iet3q8n1Nnc/s1600/pillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLx8HRVMHC2Bu6huGMT-D6Cd9AZO1_RTkM1bc3BBxBzWtYGBK48pHI4_cKmbH7xEyqiiSW2aj4lq98cZoYpOhtji-hlD-p7epvVbVu_XWaafGKRkF5jGtBkxUlRh2h1g8Iet3q8n1Nnc/s320/pillow.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I actually sewed something!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-8976037979115727662013-09-02T23:51:00.001-07:002013-09-02T23:54:07.849-07:00Toilet Paper Tree Headboard - DIY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I had been wanting to make one of the toilet paper roll art
things for a while now, but I couldn’t make up my mind about what I wanted to
make. I was going to make stars (with a black background and silver pieces) or
maybe flowers (with a white background and pink pieces), or maybe a vine
(similar to what I actually came up with). My attention lately, though, has
been drawn to trees so it seemed natural to make a depiction of this. I also
wasn't sure what I wanted to do with the piece when I finished it, but then I
was reading in a book of crafts about making headboards. So, now we have a
headboard with a tree made of toilet paper rolls above our bed. And I just have
to say it looks pretty fantastic. So here’s how to do it!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Total Cost:<br />Time: Around 3 hours if you're being picky, probably 1 1/2 - 2 if you're not.<br />
Money: $10 because you shouldn't be paying for that big piece of cardboard (you can take any box you want from the stockers at Walmart in the middle of the night, or so they told me) or the toilet paper rolls separately. You have to use it anyway. I'm only counting cost for paint and a Sharpie marker, assuming you don't already have either of these things.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Materials needed: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 Paper towel rolls and 1 toilet paper roll (or 6-8 toilet
paper rolls)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sharpie</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Piece of Cardboard (I used the side of a really tall box.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Spray Paint (Green, and Brown)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpk_6iusW8kAQiZHmigMIAYUzZeiNUH8nSwP1vvUJj-RPJzRI5vbIEVdQtuQ3cWes5D8M954fm_DnEm8AKjNBnpY9Ef11PQRFXQ9lMDLpvTQLXLrlCU3b5pp0uSyzWAXLIyLJ8jYoFEI/s1600/Materials.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpk_6iusW8kAQiZHmigMIAYUzZeiNUH8nSwP1vvUJj-RPJzRI5vbIEVdQtuQ3cWes5D8M954fm_DnEm8AKjNBnpY9Ef11PQRFXQ9lMDLpvTQLXLrlCU3b5pp0uSyzWAXLIyLJ8jYoFEI/s320/Materials.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Materials, other than the piece of cardboard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0DBrKzYfbKolaYcAOXT7YPJM5fseJ8wp5Ny_LYw-tfh-Dtko3nGUpUaC6UxTRqPFgnDkRo7gNWMJpb8Ff9WNJnXY6_8_5jJSGlFe5sF1YZSWJBcN21zjds6Eup906TqDSpAfuNEOgl4/s1600/back+piece+not+painted.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0DBrKzYfbKolaYcAOXT7YPJM5fseJ8wp5Ny_LYw-tfh-Dtko3nGUpUaC6UxTRqPFgnDkRo7gNWMJpb8Ff9WNJnXY6_8_5jJSGlFe5sF1YZSWJBcN21zjds6Eup906TqDSpAfuNEOgl4/s320/back+piece+not+painted.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piece of cardboard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
First thing you'll do is get your paper towel rolls and flatten them out, then mark it every 1/2 inch with a marker. You can see in the pictures that I did this the other way around and well, it was much more difficult that way. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0nuRufmI8Lv5ehT5NuzTqL7Nx2pWcxBBGuwO-Gz_CHcFMhwtAKi14DJ470TdEGBuCHLC8iVZMqs36-oUe0xdzwdXh6RPO-sOjXAoZVMQUHIQUP1h03ny8sbsXgj0gVyr7FefPx__8KA/s1600/Flatten.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0nuRufmI8Lv5ehT5NuzTqL7Nx2pWcxBBGuwO-Gz_CHcFMhwtAKi14DJ470TdEGBuCHLC8iVZMqs36-oUe0xdzwdXh6RPO-sOjXAoZVMQUHIQUP1h03ny8sbsXgj0gVyr7FefPx__8KA/s320/Flatten.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Definitely flatten first.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQv2mfqtVM6GeOM1g0LGLzJCHOKAoBwnVX61BqitsczI4A0wKhFCyH0dJQxTfV_b-NPbtHYg1kJLXmX0KmBQM23fzMOcLal8lGV0Ry_k6ALkIrCDgC29ehfgOxDeNEIc9lf_x74qGbOI/s1600/Mark+it.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQv2mfqtVM6GeOM1g0LGLzJCHOKAoBwnVX61BqitsczI4A0wKhFCyH0dJQxTfV_b-NPbtHYg1kJLXmX0KmBQM23fzMOcLal8lGV0Ry_k6ALkIrCDgC29ehfgOxDeNEIc9lf_x74qGbOI/s320/Mark+it.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is way harder to mark on. And you'll need it flat to cut anyway. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then you want to cut on the marked lines.<br />
I did this with 3 rolls so I ended up with probably 30-40 pieces at the end. Again, you could use all toilet paper rolls, you'll just need more of them.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JcKz6a9HmmZ8HVQlAX4TvdpPndUg0Ni9Uo0-zMZ2gvObvDHGa4J74mEdIHQUB8k5_Y9bHYu_TE0huFnmy0WQ5_fib-_dPa3Ldq4l6ovCfBlfb3vTDWe9dKvCPBeOhHLhVhHFFh8eq1I/s1600/Cut+it.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JcKz6a9HmmZ8HVQlAX4TvdpPndUg0Ni9Uo0-zMZ2gvObvDHGa4J74mEdIHQUB8k5_Y9bHYu_TE0huFnmy0WQ5_fib-_dPa3Ldq4l6ovCfBlfb3vTDWe9dKvCPBeOhHLhVhHFFh8eq1I/s320/Cut+it.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are just the ones from one roll because they were kind of everywhere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Go ahead and take these outside. It's time to paint them!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEIu9KXlFBll9KJQaoDBIoOZ2cU6QnHJHJfhHhIPX4GnYJUFQuMr-quWRryO4Lz3mWfdyNdP4JcHvU5e-SsrEJoVKt0Akj9nNhrEFAGShltGpyAYi56XUPyzg_rS791huNFrThweIqUw/s1600/Painting+Leaves.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEIu9KXlFBll9KJQaoDBIoOZ2cU6QnHJHJfhHhIPX4GnYJUFQuMr-quWRryO4Lz3mWfdyNdP4JcHvU5e-SsrEJoVKt0Akj9nNhrEFAGShltGpyAYi56XUPyzg_rS791huNFrThweIqUw/s320/Painting+Leaves.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I did this outside my front door so my neighbor's dogs were having a fit. She annoyed me so this was the ideal situation. Also, there was less wind out front instead of out back. </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This made a mess on my hands. Make sure you turn them every way to get all of them the same color all over, inside and out. I used spray paint and had to hold onto them to make sure they didn't fly away. I made sure one side was dry before turning to do another. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now go back inside and get your remaining toilet paper roll (I hope you still have one left!). Cut it down the side. And then cut the sides of this to make a shape like a tree trunk, like shown. I don't know how else to describe it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCc6LQ-c8y-VrZhW7NUEe3vbtSfMU48IWJC5SoM8UBYVYZZB5uWVkRBUW-TiDA4aGEJMXTtCb7Z71IQhWho8XeWQOxvIBSyoL34VcNF4Vj1JGHwTo_QXpujbwJFi0XWGgC3TAJy7Eob0/s1600/cut+trunk+in+half.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCc6LQ-c8y-VrZhW7NUEe3vbtSfMU48IWJC5SoM8UBYVYZZB5uWVkRBUW-TiDA4aGEJMXTtCb7Z71IQhWho8XeWQOxvIBSyoL34VcNF4Vj1JGHwTo_QXpujbwJFi0XWGgC3TAJy7Eob0/s320/cut+trunk+in+half.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWtO-ecXdwZgYmXJacXPEQYRdbAgpO6HY3hq6463ISUQ2-6Gl8EO5EmUh5xswD-MnWo7uGzBzQ8d2hPwZSvsHonWGnNovOI7ppmWoGaiI8f9L7WbDiUEszELxnGE1nxQ7o-MtUBganbE/s1600/shape+trunk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWtO-ecXdwZgYmXJacXPEQYRdbAgpO6HY3hq6463ISUQ2-6Gl8EO5EmUh5xswD-MnWo7uGzBzQ8d2hPwZSvsHonWGnNovOI7ppmWoGaiI8f9L7WbDiUEszELxnGE1nxQ7o-MtUBganbE/s320/shape+trunk.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">I forgot to take a picture of the first step so I had to go back to do it again and didn't have the same color roll. Oops. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now you want to flatten this out, preferably with the biggest book you have. </div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwu-b3U0xa0CmHqQuTQOpwmNo5_PpTn_8NTpoxh9VFWS62kXRmtqUluxLt9_kiVZeVAXcM2gyKGut6ivWr6r6SyVarCMMurLDfQ1fVBpqt5gbXdaTZNfM4kM9OwCQZGHDbXfN76i49z0/s1600/Flatten+trunk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwu-b3U0xa0CmHqQuTQOpwmNo5_PpTn_8NTpoxh9VFWS62kXRmtqUluxLt9_kiVZeVAXcM2gyKGut6ivWr6r6SyVarCMMurLDfQ1fVBpqt5gbXdaTZNfM4kM9OwCQZGHDbXfN76i49z0/s320/Flatten+trunk.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you study English, you'll have lots of giant books laying around and finally they can serve a useful purpose. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now take your big piece of cardboard outside to paint it. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9qlzLsIoKNxtZIB64LvBlGTvHPrmgQcKcmx0cRWl5B0xEwnUtazTBzG0bxy_wTupUs58oAvF06AlWoSx-IDsZm40ulNasmj3VuRQtdd-jnC4Ibk12EUulnQEOIcxOPRDdSJNAFw1Guo/s1600/Back+painted.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9qlzLsIoKNxtZIB64LvBlGTvHPrmgQcKcmx0cRWl5B0xEwnUtazTBzG0bxy_wTupUs58oAvF06AlWoSx-IDsZm40ulNasmj3VuRQtdd-jnC4Ibk12EUulnQEOIcxOPRDdSJNAFw1Guo/s320/Back+painted.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely, and complete with a glare. (I didn't even have to paint that part on.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Go back inside and get that tree trunk toilet paper roll you made so you can paint it too.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisc8E6aXp0U5d2U5AGfcJfwpdWISBO7qFZD2zwh18fPIBxsBFgd1l5ZPQ0RW0bgkO8A63Do0yqH5kWrfU1vlPb_4MRja9bBIiqlsaOjSkrXmke5w8d64x1zo-1ok4L4WoLi1nRDZKSLuY/s1600/Painting+Trunk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisc8E6aXp0U5d2U5AGfcJfwpdWISBO7qFZD2zwh18fPIBxsBFgd1l5ZPQ0RW0bgkO8A63Do0yqH5kWrfU1vlPb_4MRja9bBIiqlsaOjSkrXmke5w8d64x1zo-1ok4L4WoLi1nRDZKSLuY/s320/Painting+Trunk.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fortunately, this is a different shade of brown from the background because it was a different color cardboard to start with. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now organize the pieces on the background in the shape you want. Go ahead and lay out all of the pieces so you can move them around and make sure they're just right. Leave them in place and glue on one at a time with the glue gun. Then wipe off all the excess glue that is probably all over the place, if your projects go anything like mine. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is my final tree that now hangs out over our bed! Well, it would if I hadn't packed it up when we moved and then never decided to decorate once we got here. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9wQAOqgIlmVmhEEGY6PEHdPo0yuHXyZLM-18m17fMeuWdVPP8G0Nicci_iN-OMLd49eEOJrjHIScz3HxYsqDaY8LI6v4VUnix0SKQLEzcfEhf4WAbfO6cqr8aFjkLH2EykA9EAm_2cA/s1600/Finished.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9wQAOqgIlmVmhEEGY6PEHdPo0yuHXyZLM-18m17fMeuWdVPP8G0Nicci_iN-OMLd49eEOJrjHIScz3HxYsqDaY8LI6v4VUnix0SKQLEzcfEhf4WAbfO6cqr8aFjkLH2EykA9EAm_2cA/s400/Finished.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
This post has been in the works for months now. I finally finished it tonight. The night before I go back to work from my mini vacation. Pretty proud of myself. </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-85199616933667772462013-08-19T13:18:00.005-07:002013-08-19T13:20:51.717-07:00Confession. Why I haven't written in forever, again.<div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
So lately, I've been in a major reading slump. (Okay, a major slump in general.) I haven't wanted to start or finish anything. I read articles online, but a book just sounds like too much. I think part of it is the pregnancy. I'm exhausted and don't feel like doing much of anything when I get home from work or on my day off or, well, ever. I come home and eat something and watch television just to turn my brain off. It's awful, though, and I don't want to have excuses for not reading. I feel terrible for it. I do still love books, and I keep adding to my "to be read" pile, but haven't put a dent in it in months. This is a terrible feeling, though. I've been so ashamed of not doing what I thought made me me. So I didn't really mention it to anyone. Well, except a few friends who asked what good books I'd read lately. Then I had to admit that I finished the last one in May and it took me months to do so. </div>
<div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
Today, though, I read this: <a href="http://bookprince.tumblr.com/post/58710440017/bookprinces-how-to-get-out-of-a-reading-slump" target="_blank">Book Slump</a>. (Remember, I said that I can handle articles.)<br />
<div style="padding: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4802522488844725348" title="Link: null"><br /></a></div>
<div style="padding: 0px;">
Thank you, Book Prince, whoever you are. I needed to hear that it's okay to not be a reader right now. I needed to be reminded that I will read again and I'm not a fraud now. This also gave me good tips for how to get back to reading. Short books are the key I've found when this has happened to a lesser degree in the past. I can feel like I've accomplished something. Anthologies are also good for me because I can finish a story quickly. I can't reread books, but oh how I wish I could. I find myself wishing I'd never read a few books because they make too many others pale in comparison. </div>
<div style="padding: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4802522488844725348"><br /></a></div>
<div style="padding: 0px;">
I am happy to announce, too, that I checked out a book from work yesterday and have so far read the first 100 pages. I'm hoping to finish it before Wednesday. It's not the best book I've ever picked up but it's decent and keeping my attention. And it's easy. Very easy and light to read, which right now is what I need in my life. I wish it was pulling me in and making me forget everything that stresses me out, but for now, I'll take what I can get. And I'll try to get a review up of it (or of the one I finished in May) sometime soon.</div>
<div style="padding: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
Maybe I'll make something crafty again soon, too. Maybe.</div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-82240182838502122912013-07-18T20:54:00.001-07:002014-03-16T15:57:51.773-07:00Uncle EllieI've been wanting to make this post for a while now. And I'm making it without posting it at least a week before I can. Just because I'm about to explode. So, if you know me in real life and know my views on a lot of things, please don't read this while you're driving. Please be sitting down, because this may be shocking. Seriously, sit down. Please. I don't want to be responsible for injuries.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So J has started calling Ellie, Uncle Ellie. Want to know why?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEgdRPbfo0nLxL2QXrC09Rze9_iFGR9gwiHUMH3Oh9-O6Qtv0PiSYtKjCR7ri8eAURz4GI2o320m-E3gHO8ENiuYfOpvdRLpxz-KkddcSldnMNMKhEARO9uvLq_CchWu9QAaPN6kyLRg/s1600/ellie+mae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEgdRPbfo0nLxL2QXrC09Rze9_iFGR9gwiHUMH3Oh9-O6Qtv0PiSYtKjCR7ri8eAURz4GI2o320m-E3gHO8ENiuYfOpvdRLpxz-KkddcSldnMNMKhEARO9uvLq_CchWu9QAaPN6kyLRg/s640/ellie+mae.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because Ellie Mae is going to be....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgLh9BvEaeX_BPF2dUQK74G9qUBx8QAXyqNXtUDwWdJU08FKMfbarWaybH56DQWG_rZDtYg4LGBa4t1znOJZf6EeuUk_oHH1OBSdKGqgkJYaX-JmRMKvpw4zR5eCwLNwABlT5Bk8AFkE/s1600/batman+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgLh9BvEaeX_BPF2dUQK74G9qUBx8QAXyqNXtUDwWdJU08FKMfbarWaybH56DQWG_rZDtYg4LGBa4t1znOJZf6EeuUk_oHH1OBSdKGqgkJYaX-JmRMKvpw4zR5eCwLNwABlT5Bk8AFkE/s640/batman+baby.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... an uncle!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />I'm not sure how we decided she'd be an uncle and not a sister or an aunt, but that will be her new title. And we haven't decided about Harley's role. Probably the baby's puppy. She's good at being a puppy. <div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I could answer all the questions that I think are probably coming, but for now, I'm just going to say, the baby is due end of January/beginning of February (right around the time that I'm sure we'll be getting a nice blizzard).<br />
We are very nervous, but also super excited about this newest adventure.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-51601251721632944722013-07-12T23:21:00.002-07:002013-07-12T23:21:24.694-07:00Conversations with My Other Half<i>Scene: Both of us leaving to go to work</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Me: Drive safely. Have a good day. I love you.<br />
Other Half: I love you. Have a good day.<br />
Me: Why do you never tell me to drive safely??<br />
Other Half: Well, you wouldn't tell Dale Earnhardt to drive safely, would you?<br />Me: Maybe someone should have. Wasn't he the one who died in a car crash?<br />
Other Half: Bad example. You're like Richard Petty. He's a great driver.<br />
Me: Did he die too?<br />
<br />
So apparently I should be driving a race car. Which I already knew, but I think you should still be safe, even when driving fast.Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802522488844725348.post-49312721162854199232013-05-16T23:52:00.002-07:002013-05-16T23:55:04.066-07:00One of those books you get stuck in your head that you hope will never leave.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, I think I left the book I really wanted to read tonight at work so I wrote up a blog post for you guys. I know it's been quite a while. I still haven't decided what to write about our big move so I went with the easier option and did a book review. It's one I've been trying to get finished for a while so here it is!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Of-Beast-Beauty-Stacey-Jay/dp/0385743203/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368773184&sr=8-1&keywords=of+beast+and+beauty" target="_blank">Of Beast and Beauty</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Stacey Jay</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> **Disclaimer: I received a free E-ARC of this book from the publishers due to my employment with a bookstore. No compensation was received for this review (although, I am seriously gushing over it and I'm fully aware that I may sound ridiculous)**</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the first book I’ve read by Stacey Jay, although I
have a copy of both <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Juliet-Immortal-Stacey-Jay/dp/0385740174/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368773397&sr=1-1&keywords=juliet+immortal" target="_blank">Juliet Immortal</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Romeo-Redeemed-Stacey-Jay/dp/0385740182/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y" target="_blank">Romeo Redeemed</a> to read at some point.
This has to be one of my all time favorite books now, and I do believe it has
ruined any chance of my finding another book I love this year. I read it right
before we moved and it’s still stuck with me. This is a retelling of “Beauty
and the Beast.” Well, kind of. For starters, it’s the beast who is trapped with
Beauty. The curse is much more elaborate as well. I was devastated in the best
possible way when this one was over.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So before I ruin the entire story, I’ll just cut to my
highlights.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I loved (there was no like here, I swear I loved it
all): </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The setting was so beautifully done. I’m usually
not such a big fan of fantasy worlds, I like my novels in the real world with
some magical elements. This world painting was so well done, though, that I
lived in this land for the two days it took me to read the book.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The curse was mythological and I loved it. So I
don’t ruin anything, I’ll stop there.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The characters. I love them both. They were
realistic and wonderful.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The narration went back and forth between the
two main characters which I very much enjoyed. I liked seeing both perspectives.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The ending. I cried. Both at the fact that this
book was over and for the loveliness that was the end of this tale.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Things that maybe annoyed me but I didn’t care:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">There were a few questions I felt were left
unanswered with the curse’s back story. Maybe I’ll have to reread the book to
see if I just missed something.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I didn’t like some of the minor characters. One
in particular was supposed to be a bad guy but was kind of a waffle about how
he would behave each day.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">400 pages just wasn’t enough. Okay, if it had
been longer, it probably would have felt like filler, but I just wanted to live
in this world a little longer.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys teen novels,
anyone who enjoys romance (clean romance), anyone who likes to read. This book
comes out in July so be ready for it!</div>
Mandiyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081798357458702008noreply@blogger.com1