Photo Challenge Day 2--E. G. Fisher Library

I think what I'm going to love about this challenge is that the photo topics don't really have anything to do with the locations I'm going to pick. Take for example yesterday:

30 Day Photo Challenge--Day 2:

What You Wore Today

 

 

 

By an awesome coincidence, everything I'm wearing I bought in TN. :)

This photo was taken by Middle outside of the E. G. Fisher Library in Athens. Anyone that knows me, knows that a library was one of the first things I found after we moved. Confession: This is actually the THIRD library we found. The first two just didn't have enough books for us. (Yeah, that's right. Proudly raising the next generation of readers over here!)

I love that Fisher Library is more than just a library. They have classes, book groups, story time, conference rooms, an art gallery, and an arboretum.

 

See y'all tomorrow!

Much love,

 

30DPC Day 23

Day 23: A picture of your favorite book

I don't have a favorite book. I couldn't possibly choose a favorite book. I have favorite authors (Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Nicholas Sparks, Susan Mallery to name a few), but to narrow it down to just one book? Impossible. Instead, here is the book that was picked for my book club's May read:

Interested? Buy it here.

From the snippets I've read, and what I've heard from other readers, it should be pretty good.

I can't wait to start!

Happy Snapping!

It's a Fave Rave!

It's Tuesday--I like to think of it as a Tell-All Tuesday. Since my birthday was last week, a lot of people have been asking what I'd like as gifts and what some of my favorite things are. It's hard to be put on the spot and say, "Oh hey, I love this/that!" So, I sat and thought about it for awhile, and here goes:

What is your favorite book?

Please, that's like asking me to pick a favorite child! But I'm currently reading this:

The Unfinished Garden by Barbara Claypole White

and this:

Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster

What is your favorite song?

Uh, duh. Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield.

What is your favorite color?

I love the combination of Purple & Silver--so elegant!

What is your favorite destination?

I'm going to drag my husband back to Oaxaca some day. I love traipsing around in the mountains & the  ruins. :)

What is your favorite memory?

Christmas the year I was in second grade. I didn't know it then, but we were given presents from the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, & the church. I remember it as the year my teacher came for Christmas.

What is your favorite TV show?

Any show involving the acronym: NCIS

The cast of NCIS

What is your favorite movie?

Simply Irresistible. It's a little known film starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, but I watch that thing all the time--I wore out a DVD and had to get another copy! Truthfully, the movie isn't that great, but I love it. Probably because the protagonist is a total klutz that leaves all her emotions on the table and I can relate to that.

buy it here: Simply Irresistible

What is your favorite food?

I love food. Especially anything that is made with chocolate. Yum!

What is your favorite dessert?

Amazingly, as much as I crave chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, my favorite dessert is Cheesecake. Like this absolutely fabulous one made for me by Vinny D's stepdad. It was heaven from a spring form pan.

What is your favorite treat?

Since moving back to  NW Iowa, I am suffering a deficiency of Starbuck's mocha's and Sonic Cherry-Limeade slushies.

What is your favorite car?

Mercedes. Benz. E550. Cabriolet.

Some day you will be mine, my pretty...

What is your favorite piece of clothing?

This totally goes against my love of classic, preppy clothing, but I love tank tops. I have sleeve issues, so I wear a tank top almost everyday--hey the layered look is in!

Snag this super cute cowl neck UofM tank top from Meesh & Mia here.

What is your favorite fashion accessory?

Earrings. As much as my husband hates them, I love dangly earrings.

What is your favorite perfume?

Right now I'm in love with Coach Poppy & Poppy Flower

Thanks txnpolarbear for the Christmas gift!

What is your favorite leisure activity?

Reading. Uh, duh.

Who is your favorite author?

It's a three-way tie between Nicholas Sparks, Susan Elizabeth Phillips & Kristin Hannah

Who is your favorite actor/actress?

Actor:

That's another tough one, but I'm a huge fan of Ryan Reynolds.

Actress:

I'm really into Kristen Bell right now.

Who is your favorite singer?

I love the soulful sound of Adele's voice.

Who is your role model?

Easy.

My mother, by far. The courage it took to leave her home (pregnant with me!) and travel around the world to start a new life--amazing. I have issues picking up the phone if I know I'll have to talk to a live person.

Where is your favorite place to be?

Fully engulfed in a cozy blanket and a good book. Bonus points if my husband is nearby. Double bonus points if he's reading, too!

These are the things that make my heart and soul happy. Some mentally, some spiritually, and some purely superficially. What are some of your favorite things?

I Heart Reading

Since tomorrow is Dr. Seuss's birthday, today is Read Across America Day. This is an event that I can get behind 100%. I love to read. It's one of those things that goes hand in hand with loving to write.

I have always been a reader. My mother read to me often when I was little so that she could practice her english. I am so glad that she did. Not only does she speak amazing english, but I was opened up to a world of, literally, endless possibilities.

As I got older, I started to devour books. I loved Nancy Drew, the Babysitters Club, the Boxcar Children, anything by Roald Dahl--I could keep going. When I found an author I liked, I read everything by them at the library. (I still do this!) I used to fill my little red wagon with library books every week!

Choosing is so tough--reminds me of a mini-me :)

When I got to high school, the one genre I couldn't get into was classic literature--specifically British classics. That lasted until Sophomore year when our student teacher in Advanced English brought Great Expectations to life for me. He translated the wordy Olde English into terms that I understood. (It didn't hurt that he was a total babe, either!) Now, Charles Dickens is one of my favorite authors. :)

In 2004, I moved in with my, now, husband. He grew up hating reading--seriously hating it. I didn't understand. He didn't understand how I could spend ours at a time with my nose in a book. That was until we were at Camp Lejeune and he was assigned to guard duty at the ASP (ammo supply point). The men were at the duty hut for 48 to 72 hours at a time and worked 12 hour shifts.

You can only watch so many movies, and play so many video games.

The Hubbs came home one morning and told me that he had been reading.
What?!
My husband? Reading?!

I immediately interrogated him. What had he been reading? Who had he been reading? Did he like it? Why now? Did he want to continue reading?
It turned out that he was reading a novel about Marines (go figure) and he liked it because it was something that interested him. He also said he wanted to continue reading, but didn't know how to pick out more books he'd like. Using my library expertise I found a few authors he might be interested in, and chose a few for him to try.
I could see the memory of all the horrid things he was forced to read in school flash in his eyes. (He confessed he has a problem with reading comprehension.) For the first time since he shipped out to Boot Camp, my husband was nervous. I remember thinking, sheesh, they're just books! 

I told him very calmly, "It's okay, if you don't like it, don't read it. You can just try another one."

With those two sentences, I created a monster. In less than a year, he owned more books than I did! (I think he still does, actually.) The day he dragged me to the used book store in Jacksonville was one of the happiest days of my life.

the current state of our bookcase
I think it might be time for another one....

One of my proudest accomplishments is opening my husband to reading. Not only for his enjoyment, but because now I have a partner in advocating reading to our girls. It's nice to know that if I'm not around to read them a bedtime story, Daddy has no problem stepping in. (Although, Mommy is better at it I've been told.)

Reading together is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children for so many reasons, but mostly because it's time we get to spend together.


Tonight, we're finishing "Ramona the Brave" by Beverly Cleary. Happy Reading!

30 Days of Thanks: Days 21-25

We were lucky enough to have Large with us over the Thanksgiving break, so I fell tragically behind in my thanks. I have to add that I am thankful we were able to have our little family whole over the holiday. ☺

30 Days of Thanks

Day Twenty-one: A Disappointment or Fear

I think I have the same fears as any mother. I’m afraid that my children will not be well-rounded, educated, and well-mannered members of society. Jesse and I have seen some of the brats running around the schools and playgrounds, so we try as hard as we can (without being dictators) to bring our children back to the way we were raised.

You know, like back in the good ole days.

Day Twenty-two: A Book

I don’t think I could narrow it down to just one book! I love almost all of them--especially the serials that I read as a kid. I can’t wait to share them with my girls:

The Babysitters Club

Nancy Drew

The Boxcar Children

Sweet Valley High (when they get a little older)

Goosebumps

Fear Street

Anne of Green Gables

The Little House on the Prairie

And some of my favorite non-series:

Little Women

Where the Red Fern Grows

Charlotte’s Web

How to Eat Fried Worms

anything by Roald Dahl,

Beverly Cleary,

or Judy Blume

Day Twenty-three: A Feeling

I love the feeling of romantic anticipation.

Which is definitely different from sexual anticipation, mind you. I’m talking about butterflies and your heart skipping a beat.

I’m happy to say that after almost a decade together,

I still get those butterflies when I’m waiting for Jesse to come 

home to me.

Day Twenty-four: A Photograph

With my best friend being a photographer,

this is easy to answer. I actually have more than one favorite:

my favorite photo of daddy and his little princess

my favorite photo of the girls -- this totally shows their relationship

my absolute favorite picture of the Hubbs & me

Day Twenty-five: A Luxury

Anyone that knows me,
knows that I am, basically, in love with our wood-burning stove.

Shoot, it can be cold and windy with a windchill in the single digits,

but it’s a balmy 80°F in our house.

It costs more money to cool our house in the summer,

than it does to heat it in the winter.

(It’s a good thing the Hubbs is awesome with a chainsaw!)