2008 Book List

Here is my 2008 book list.  I favored Nicholas Sparks, Anne Tyler and the Left Behind series.  I’ve already started the 2009 list.  We’ll see how I do this year with three kids.

Kingsolver – The Poisonwood Bible – 1/08

Giordano – I Love You Like a Tomato – 1/08 (Apparently first in a series of three.)

Binchy – London Transports – 1/08

Tyler – Patchwork Planet – 2/08

Tyler – Back When We Were Grownups – 2/08

Pezzelli – Every Sunday – 2/08

Kay – Half Price Living – 2/08

Fowler – The Jane Austen Book Club – 3/08

Tyler – Breathing Lessons – 3/08

Rice – The Edge of Winter – 3/08

Hegi – Floating in My Mother’s Palm – 3/08

Hoffman – The Ice Queen – 3/08

Lockwood – Dixieland Sushi – 3/08 (SO funny!)

Oates – We Were the Mulvanneys – 4/08

Mason – In Country – 4/08

Kingsbury – A Time to Dance – 5/08 ( I loved this… Christian Lit is growing on me!)

Harris – Five Quarters of the Orange – 5/08

The Color Purple – 5/08

Dessen – This Lullaby – 5/08

Rubio – Icy Sparks – 6/08

Keyes – Sushi for Beginners – 6/08

Green – Babyville – 6/08

Binchy – This Year It Will Be Different – 6/08

Morrison – The Bluest Eye – 07/08

Frank – Sullivan’s Island -07/08

Patchett – Bel Canto – 08/08

Empire Falls – 08/08

Allison – Bastard Out of Carolina – 8/08

Wiggs – Snowfall at Willow Lake – 8/08

Karon – Mitford Series #5

Arnold – Pieces of my Sister’s Life – 9/08

Tyler – Ladder of Years – 9/08

Sparks – The Rescue – 9/08

Sleeping Arrangements – Started reading, but quit halfway through. Didn’t like it at all.

Sparks – The Guardian – 9/08

Sparks – Nights in Rodanthe – 09/08

Sparks – The Wedding – 09/08

Sparks – True Believer-09/08

LaHaye/Jenkins – Left Behind Series (1-9) – 10/08

Rice – What Matters Most – 10/08

Binchy – Firefly Summer – 11/08

HA… not many books in Nov/Dec… we got digital TV!

Grandma’s book

I’m seriously starting on this project now… my Great Aunt sent me tons of pictures and I began scanning them last night. 

When I originally was going to start this, I had scanned in some of the photos, but there was a problem and they weren’t right for the size I needed for the book.  Now I have a better software program, and after doing a few test scans, I have the method down pat.  Unfortunately, each scan takes over 3 minutes to do, and that doesn’t include any touch up time!

I have a deadline to scan them in by the end of January (so I can return them to my patient aunt), and from there, I can retouch, type in the actual story, and format the book. 

Very exciting!

Funny Things Happen When You Work for a Mouse

My husband just published his first book through Blurb about his adventures working at Disneyland.  You can preview the book and if you’re so inclined, it is available for purchase.  Through 9/30/08, shipping is free (up to $10) with this code: shipforfree

Funny Things Happen When You Work For A Mouse

Our Garage Sale Loot

Today’s Loot: $16.50

• 45 Children’s Video Cassettes $5
• 10 Hardback Hans Christian Anderson books & 10 Left Behind books $3
• Wig, Tutu, Butterfly Wings (New) $3
• Dora Scooter $3
• …and the find of the day:  Double Stroller $2.50

Not bad, eh?

Not just another project.

Remember this post?  Well, I got through Grandma’s life story and boy, is she a hoot.  I’ve decided to type it up myself and make a book through Blurb.  I have asked my Great-Aunt and Great-Uncle to send me any photos they had growing up with GGR.  I have received some already and scanned them in, but still want more for my book.  There were some great shots like this one:

She was 18 in 1915!

and this one:

Up in a tree with a friend at 14 years old. (1912)

This will be a lengthly process as some of these photos need repairing, and I don’t really know what I’m doing.  But I am looking forward to this project!  When I’m finished, I can put it up on Blurb for the family to purchase – that way I don’t have to take orders from long lost relatives that I never see or talk to, but at least they will have the option. 

The Color Purple

I am about halfway through this book and it is SO good!  I loved the movie and would love to see the play too.   (My mom saw it last summer on Broadway!)

Has anyone else read this? What did you think?

What’s New

Well, the funeral is over.  It was a very nice service and I got to see many loved ones.  Back to normal life, I guess!  Here is my current to do list:

1. Reschedule dental appointments.  Yuck.
2. Get this house back into shape.  After first being sick, then spending time scanning photos and making boards for the funeral, I really need to catch up!
3. Call my friend and wish her a happy birthday.  I almost forgot with all of the drama going on!
4. Post some more Stampin’ Up! rubber stamp sets on Ebay.  I am really cutting down my collection.  It’s so overwhelming when you have too many supplies, and limited time to make something!  I already got rid of 50 sets last summer, and I have about 30 more that are ready to go.
5. Start on the scrapbook for my friend’s wedding present.
6. Call Subway and report their bathroom door.  We stopped by to take Katie to the bathroom last night, and when I opened the door it slammed on her head and she has a giant goose egg on her temple!
7. Finish my book… I’ve been reading it forever!
8. Actually use my Grocery Game list.  I signed up and right after my grandpa passed away, and I have yet to go through my coupons and print a list to shop with.
9. Go to a new restaurant and use my buy 1 get 1 free meal… I just got my new Entertainment Guide and there are so many restaurants around here I didn’t know about!
10. Scrub the cradle crap off baby’s head.  I’ve done this a few times with baby oil and a tooth brush, but it keeps coming back.

So there you go.  Nothing too exciting, but life goes on as usual.

Save some money now!

For all of you poor people like me money-savers out there, The 2008 Entertainment Book is on sale for only $15.00 (and FREE shipping!).  I’ve bought these in the past and they have 50% off savings at several local restaurants, fast food chains, movie theaters, theme parks, etc.  $15 is a steal at this point… for some it is the cost of one dinner!   This is a great way to take the family out for cheap or to try a new restaurant.

Dixieland Sushi

I just read this book and it made me laugh!  The main character (a Jenn like me!) was born in 1974 (like me!) and throughout the book has flashbacks to her 4th-8th grade days in the 80′s.  I am not the best book reviewer, but I will say that if you were born during that time, you will laugh at this book to her references to plastic shoes, The Karate Kid, roller-skating birthday parties, friendship bracelets, etc.

Not to mention Jen grew up in Arkansas and was the daughter of Bubba (white guy) and Vivien (Japanese) – hence the title.  Loved it!

Dixieland Sushi by Cara Lockwood.  Picked it up at the Salvation Army for $1.  Go me.

A stack of books

 

We went garage sale-ing and Salvation Army-ing today.  No good book finds at the garage sales for mommy (though Katie made out like a bandit), but I did collect 11 new books at $1.00 apiece a the SA.  YAY! More reading material for me.

Balancing Act

I’ve been married five years, and a mom for almost three of those years.  Before I was a mom, I worked full time, and since becoming one, I’ve worked part time.  I stopped working October of last year, and with the move and the new baby, we’ve had a LOT of changes going on.  It’s always been important to me to be able to stay home with my kids, and our finances changed drastically when I went from FT to PT and now to NO TIME.

I am officially a Full Time Homemaker/Mother/Wife.  And juggling these new roles is not easy!  I can be a slacker and spend lots of time on the internet, talking on the phone and/or reading books, but quite frankly, that is not what I signed up for.  Staying at home is no easy task, and making the transition is going to take some time and effort. 

I’m going to attempt to use the Flylady as a guideline for keeping house.  I’m re-reading my New Bride Guide book given to me by a friend before I got married.  And I just ordered a few books from Amazon to help me with my budgeting, living on one income and spirituality.

At some point this year, I will pick up some side work to bring in some extra money.  In the meantime, I’m going to focus on my new Full Time job and give it all I’ve got.

Cabin Fever

I ventured out today with both kids.  I WILL get the hang of this someday. 

First stop… Target.  Baby is in his carrier in the cart.  Katie is running around the store.  They do not have the item I go there for.  BLAST! That means I have to make another pit stop.

Second stop… Clothing Store.  This is right next to Target, but I put baby in the stroller and Katie is walking.  Or shall I say RUNNING… through the clothing store.  I really want to shop as I have a $100 gift certificate, a 20% off coupon AND am 30 pounds lighter.  I find a few things, try them on and try to get the heck out of there as quickly as possible.  In the meantime, my baby is crying and Katie has found the jewelry and has about 8 bracelets on each arm.  The only way to get them off without her having a total meltdown is for me to pretend we are buying them, and she takes them off to give to the saleslady.

Third stop… Grocery Store.  Again, baby in cart, Katie walking.  The store has managed to place a display of books right as you walk in.  Katie finds a book and tears through the store.  I figure it is keeping her busy as I am trying to fill my cart in record time, so I let her hang onto it.  I finally check out, load up the kids & groceries and drive home.

I get home and see that they charged me 4.99 for my 1.79 book.  That doesn’t make me happy, but am I really going to turn around to return it when baby needs to be changed and Katie needs a nap? Not a chance.  The book will be going back on my next grocery trip, mark my words. 

Now Katie is having a meltdown because there are no bracelets for her.  Ah, two year olds!

2007 Book List

Well, here is my completed 2007 book list.  Yep, I read 55 books last year.

Hoffman - Here on Earth - 2/07
Michaels - Yesterday - 2/07
Golden – Memoirs of a Geisha - 1/07
Naslund - Ahab’s Wife: Or, The Star Gazer - 1/07
Harris - Holy Fools - 1/07
Erdrich - The Painted Drum - 2/07
Urquhart -Away   started to read this and I didn’t like it
Maguire - Mirror Mirror - 3/07

Running with Scissors

I started reading Running with Scissors and got through about the first 6 chapters and decided I hated it.  Way too disturbing for me.  Good thing I didn’t rent the movie… that would have been an even bigger waste of money.

42 and counting…

So far, I’ve read 42 books this year.  Don’t ask me how I have time.  I mostly read after Katie has gone down for the night and use it as my unwind time.  That averages to about 4.2 books per month, or one a week.  Excellent! 

My goal is to find the rest of the Mitford Series (I’ve read the first four) at Salvation Army, and to catch up on the stack of Nicholas Sparks I have as well.  But with a move and a baby on the way, we’ll see how far I get.  At least I’ve kept up on my goal to keep track of the books I’ve read this year.  Isn’t follow-through wonderful?

Another Book Meme

If you only knew my life right now, you’d know why I’m posting a meme instead of stuff about me.   By the way, only 10 weeks to go before #2 is here!  Yay!

Ripped this book meme from americanmum :

Instructions:

Look at the list of books below. Bold the ones you’ve read. Italicize the ones you want to read. Leave blank the ones you aren’t interested in.

Movies don’t count!!!!!

1. The DaVinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
3. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
4. To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
5. Gone With the Wind (Margaret Mitchell)

I’ve got a new attitude.

Since my husband introduced me to the wonders of the Salvation Army, I have bought more books in the last three years than I have in my entire life.  (and that is saying a lot, because I am an avid reader.)  I used to go to Barnes and Noble, Target or even Costco to look for a bargain.   I’d usually peruse the women’s fiction section and see what I could find.  But now that I can buy a Bag of Books for about $10, I shove in as many as possible and when I get home I am quite surprised at some of the gems I’ve picked up.

I always skipped the Christian bookstores because I thought they’d all be stories like Little House on the Prairie or Christy (nothing wrong with these – I just have outgrown them).  But I have ended up with several from the SA that I REALLY enjoyed!  Thank goodness for these wonderful authors I have found and am actively seeking out.  Not all books have to have a Sex & the City theme (a show I’ve never seen and have no interest in.)  These new books of mine are good, clean reading and I don’t feel like I’m being talked down to.  I don’t know where I had this misconception of Christian books being bland, but I was sorely mistaken. 

 Amongst the favorites:

• Wingate – Tending Roses
• Karon – The Mitford Series (I just finished book #4)
• Musser – Swan House

Books for kids…

I love finding other book lovers.   If you’re a mom, check out this site to get some great book recommendations.  This particular mom and fellow book lover is compiling a book list on her blog and I thought some of them sounded really good. 

Another Book Meme

Got this one from this site.

In the list of books below, bold the ones you’ve read, italicize the ones you want to read, cross out the ones you won’t touch with a ten-foot pole, put a cross (+) in front of the ones on your book shelf, and asterisk (*) the ones you’ve never heard of.

1. +The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)

A Book Meme

I saw this meme and thought I’d fill out my own:

Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback?

I like paperbacks best.  They are easier to read.

Amazon or brick and mortar?

I don’t know that I’ve ever bought from Amazon.  I usually buy them at a store.

Barnes & Noble or Borders?

Both too expensive for me. 

Bookmark or dogear?

If it’s a book I want to keep, I use a bookmark.  If it’s a thrift store find that I’m going to pass along, I add to the other dog ears.