TTT~ Books I Read in 2013

Brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish

Last Top Ten Tuesday of the year! Crazy that the year is over but I am looking forward to 2014!
Looking back over my year of books, I was a little disappointed. It started at our book club Christmas party where we vote on our favorite book of the year and the person who picks it wins a present. No one really liked many of the books we read. Sadly, looking back at my list, I had the same thoughts. There were a few that I enjoyed, but some that I don't ever even want to admit that I read! Many of the ones that I did end up liking were jFic books that I read with my students or read in hopes to recommend them to my students.

Here is how things shook out for the year:

• Dragonfly in Amber/Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
• Anne of Windy Poplars and Anne's House of Dreams by Lucy Maude Montgomery 
• The Dark Zone/ Cosmic Storm by Dom Testa
• A Year Down Yonder/ A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck
• So B. It by Sarah Weeks
• Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech
• Dead End in Norvel by Jack Gantos
• Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
• Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
• Soup on Ice by Robert Newton Peck

The books that I really did not like were:

• Forever by Judy Blume 
• Poisonwood Bible by Barbra Kingsglover
• State of Wonder by Ann Pachett

I really like how Goodreads keeps track of books that I have read and they did a handy "Books of 2013."

What were a few of the books you read in 2013? Favorite? Worst?

New Year's Resolution

It is that time of year again, the time when you reflect on the past year and look forward to the upcoming year. Although I sometimes think that New Year’s Eve is a rather pointless thing to celebrate (all depends if I have plans or not.) I do enjoy the excitement of starting a new year. Ok let’s face it, I like the beginning of a new month too!

As many people do, they make New Year’s resolutions. I don’t know anyone who actually keeps theirs the whole year. Is that even possible? I am not exempt from this group of people. I have made them, and have given up on them just as quickly.

This year I want to say it is going to be different, but I do have that small fear that it isn’t going to happen. The difference this year, I REALLY want to keep my resolution.

I have thought and searched Pintrest and the Internet for some creative resolutions, but most of them are healthy/weight loss and even though I do need to get some work done in these areas, I didn’t want to have that as a resolution. I wanted something more *heart fluttery*

I kept coming across this quote every time I searched:

 

I took the quote and made my own "picture" of it.

So I got to thinking that maybe I wanted this to be my resolution.  What does this look like? How do I “measure” if I am still keeping up with my resolution? I suppose this can be shown in loads of ways, but I have picked one way that I want to focus on. Random Acts of Kindness.

Earlier this year I made big plans to do RAOKs every month and even wrote out a plan with ideas. Didn’t happen.

2014 is going to be different. On the 14^th of every month, I am going to perform one RAOK, NO MATTER WHAT! There isn’t any good reason or excuse of why I couldn’t accomplish this task.

So please join me and hold me accountable to this resolution. Some the recipients will know that it was me, and others they will not. I will most likely blog about each one, unless it is to be anonymous and that person may read my blog.

I am pretty excited about my new motto and also for the fun of blessing others.

Two questions for you today:

•   Do you make New Year’s resolutions? If so, what do you do and how do you do?
•   Any ideas of RAOK I could do? I would love some creative fun ones.

Weekly Plans

It's me again! Eager to blog and say something, but slightly lacking a topic. I decided that not only do teachers and students take two weeks off for the holiday season, so does the blog world! I have missed "Finish the Sentence Friday" and reading other people's blogs that appear to be either busy or taking it easy. Thankfully Top Ten Tuesday is still up and running!

I have enjoyed my first week of break thus far and am looking forward to the second half. I seem to have been pretty busy the first week getting ready for Christmas, traveling and Christmas itself. Thankfully the second half is still pretty open.

Here are a few things I plan to do in the up coming week:

This year I have had a lot of my classroom books fall completely apart (sadly some of them have been my favorite books!) and while I am sad about this, it gives me some crafting supplies that I would feel really bad about throwing away! I am going to cover an old coffee table with said book pages and put it in my classroom in the reading area. Thanks to Mod Podge Rocks for the constant inspiration.

Get started on my Sweet Summer Fling with the first book of the year followed by the movie. It has been torture for me to not get started already, but I am holding strong and waiting for January 1st!

Host the first book club of the year! Book club is probably one of my all time favorite things I have in my life! It was the first social thing I did when I moved to this little town on the plains! I have been the youngest member of this club for the past six years and have learned so much! I hold all of the people in the club close to my heart and look forward to seeing them all each month! Hosting it  at my house is a great reason to get my house cleaned!

How about you? Are you off this week? Are you working? What are your plans?

Sometimes You Just Have to Write

I have an urge to blog and had a topic to blog about, but can't get the pictures off of my phone, so that will just have to wait. I couldn't think of anything to blog about so I made my way over to one of my favorite writing prompt sites that I use in class and picked a random number. So here it is.

Write a mini-story (100-250 words) that begins with, "They had nothing to say to each other."

They had nothing to say to each other, everything had already been said. He turned to leave as the snow softly drifted down upon them. It was so silent except the faint, almost non-audible sound of snow falling. She knew that this is what was best for both of them. She loved him and knew that he loved her, but the cycle was unhealthy for both of them. She finally had to be strong and make the choice for both of them.

 His footsteps in the snow were almost deafening as he walked away with his head hung. She watched him climb into his truck, drive away and herself turned and walked away. Knowing that the pain would eventually subside, she let the cleansing tears run down her cheeks. It was all part of the process.

 Once she arrived home, she put the tea kettle on the stove and waited for it to sing. The house was almost as quiet as outside, but this silence she found comfortable. Grabbing her well loved Bible, she sat down at the kitchen table with her cup of tea and opened her heart asking to be held by her Heavenly Father. She knew that He truly was the only one who could bring her comfort. He wasn’t going to take away the pain instantly, but she knew that He wouldn’t leave her alone. He loved her and would hold her until the pain went away.

Just a random quick write without any pre-thought or plan, but got my writing bug out. I think it would be fun to revisit this prompt again another time and see what comes out! 

Top Ten Tuesday~ Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me

Dear Santa,
     I feel that I have been fairly good this year. There were a few times that I wasn't, but I hope that you can turn a blind eye just this once. I don't ask for much, but this year, I hope you might place some of these top ten books into your big, red sack.


From Norvelt to Nowhere by Jack Gantos

I really enjoyed the first book and have high hopes for the second one. Our school library doesn't have this one yet, which is why it is on my list.

The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech


LOVE. LOVE. LOVE Sharon Creech. It is my goal to read all of her books.

The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech


See note above.

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham

Gilmore Girls fan? I know that there were writers that wrote Lorelai Gilmore's humor, but I am hoping that there is some of that humor in this book.

Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

I have enjoyed every book of Kate DiCamillo's that I have read. My students really enjoyed "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" and hopefully this one doesn't disappoint!

More Like Her by Liza Palmer

Liza Palmer cracks me up! "Conversations with a Fat Girl" and" Seeing Me Naked" made me giggle and "Field Guide to Burying Your Parents" made me think. I don't even know what this book is about, but it has Liza's name on it so I am sold!

Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech

Sharon Creech again! This one I have read. You can read my review here. I want to add this book to my collection since it is one that I will read again.

The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham

I read this book years ago and enjoyed it. I recommend it to everyone (even though NO ONE has ever taken my suggestion.) This makes me wonder if it really is all I remembered it to be. I worry that if I read it again, it might not be good. I mean there has to be a reason no one picks it up after I tell them about it. I enjoyed the movie and have seen that a few times, so I think I might be safe!



4,000 Questions for Getting to Know Anyone and Everyone by Barbra Ann Kipfer

Super random book. Found it at a cute little shop but didn't want to spend the money to get it. I think it would be fun to use with friends and family but I also feel that I could use it in my classroom.

Wolf Story by William McCleery

It has been YEARS since I have read this book. I was thinking today that I am pretty sure that this is the one and only book that my dad has ever given me. We (mainly he and my sister) have a wolf thing going on and he gave me this book. I recently found a copy (no idea where mine is) but gave it to him. I have only seen it in the stores the one time. Also one that would be reread and put on the to keep pile.



What books would you like to have Santa leave under the tree for you? Have you been naughty or nice?

Top Ten Tuesdays brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish

Pomegranates and Roller Derby

This time of year I sometimes have to look really hard for *heart flutters* to keep me going. This year seems to be especially tough for some reason. So I am making it a point to blog more this week in hopes of pushing me through to the other side!

This last weekend was full of firsts for me and I had a blast experiencing each one! This is just Saturday with Sunday to come soon.

I celebrated Christmas with my sisters (minus one since she had to work, and we missed her tons), dad and the nephews. I love to see those little guys and see how much they have grown since the last time I saw them. The oldest one is about to turn six and I just can't believe how big he is getting! Anyway...I like to bring him a little something each time I see him and this time I brought him a pomegranate. He was excited to get a gift but wasn't sure what to do with it once I handed it to him. I remember my Grandmother teaching me how to open one up and how to peel it apart to get the juicy ruby like seeds from the inside. So Grandpa and I taught Marcus how to do just that!

I think he enjoyed pulling it apart but he didn't eat too much of it. I think part of it was his attention was more on the presents in the other room other than the strange fruit in the kitchen. It was also a good thing that he had on an old undershirt since I forgot how juicy it can be and that it does stain! I don't care if he enjoyed it or not, I did and I opened his world just a little bit more!

That night we went to see Ali in her roller derby bout. OH. MY. GOODNESS! I want to go back!! It was probably one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I knew NOTHING about roller derby walking in to it and still don't know much, but loved every minute of it!

Ali was on team Ho Ho Hos and rocked the number 714 (for her mom and my step-mom) and her name was "Mistle Toes." I loved the names of the girls and some of their outfits. Sadly the Grinches slaughtered the Ho Ho Hos but they never gave up and rolled hard!

I am very proud of Ali for getting out there and trying new things. Of all four girls, she would be the last one you would think to participate in roller derby but she rocked it! I can't wait for the next bout this spring!

How was your weekend? Did you try anything new?

Top Ten Tuesday

I should be sleeping, but I am too excited about Top Ten Tuesday to make myself go to bed. I am sure that this post could wait until tomorrow and will I grumble about being tired at some point tomorrow? Probably.

I figure that this is going to be a long week. The kids know that Christmas break is so close they can taste it. They know that there are three days of school left. Down fall of teaching them how to read a calendar. So why not find something that makes my *heart flutter* and have that little moment, even if it is past my bedtime.

Brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish

I have been waiting for this Top Ten topic for three weeks now! It is "Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2013" and I had a pretty good list! Some I will read more books from, and others...not so much.  

•  Kathrine Applegate – The One and Only Ivan (could any sweeter book be written?)
• Claire Vanderpool – Navigating Early
•  Diana Gabaldon – Outlander
• Ivan Doig – Whistling Season
•  Ann Patchett- State of Wonder
•   Stephen Chbosky – The Perks of Being a Wallflower
•   Jack Gantos - Dead End in Norvelt (Please put my name on the hold list for book two)
•   Richard Newton Peck – Soup on Ice (Dear Publishing Company, start printing these books again!)
•  Robert Peck – The Grandma Dowdell Series (would LOVE some more adventures with Grandma)
• John Boyne – Boy in the Striped Pajamas 

I just realized that 50% of my list are YA/Jfic authors and that excites me. I am then able to share with my students books that I think they should read!

     Have you read any new-to-you authors this year?