Christmas Coziness

Girls, I’ve completely embraced the coziness of Christmas break and it has been entirely lovely. As much as I love being at school, I’m loving this month of rest and relaxation…

Waking up slowly. Sipping on cup(s) of coffee. Studying the Word in my pajamas. Wearing comfy clothes all day long. Writing and receiving handwritten letters. Watching television classics. Lots and lots of reading…I’m currently on my sixth book within the last three weeks.

I Love Lucy makes me laugh every single time and I just adore watching The Dick Van Dyke Show with the young Mary Tyler Moore. Ah! These are the best.

 

Pure coziness being in a t-shirt wrapped in a throw blanket.

 

I spent a majority of the afternoon reading yesterday. If you haven’t checked out this book yet, you should! It’s a little lengthy (624 pages), but I couldn’t recommend it more.

 

One last thing, my friend Jasmine just started a blog! She will be completing an internship at an art museum in LONDON next semester. How exciting is that?! Go check her out here and tell her I sent you over...

 

Wishing all of you a cozy weekend as well!

Books Galore! {2012 Reading List}

Good morning, sweet ladies! At the beginning of the year I set a goal of reading at least 20 books this year and I surpassed that goal (yay!). I definitely read a wide variety of genres…children’s literature, Christian fiction and nonfiction, young adult, memoirs, literary classics,etc. I wanted to share with you what I pulled off my bookshelf throughout the year. Maybe there will even be a book or two you will want to add to your own bookshelf…

1. Crossing Jordan by Adrian Fogelin

2. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

3. Quest for Love: True Stories of Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot

4. Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin

5. Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis

6-8. The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

9. The Cafe Book by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser

10. The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz

11. Inklings (The Oxford Chronicles) by Melanie Jeschke

12. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

13. The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner

14. The Jewel of His Heart by Maggie Brendan

15. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

16. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

17.Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

18. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

19. Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit: A Son Remembers by Sean Hepburn Ferrer

20. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

21. Bloom by Kelle Hampton

22. Fame by Karen Kingsbury

23. Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes

24. Love Worth the Wait by Sandy Weyeneth

25. Front of the Class by Brad Cohen

27. Little Bee by Chris Cleave

28. The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

29. Rekindled by Tamara Alexander

30-32. Cool Beans, Latte Daze, and Double Shot by Erynn Mangum

33. The Journals of Jim Elliot by Jim and Elisabeth Elliot

34. Beautifully Gifted by Angela M. Bisignano

35. Chasing the Dragon by Jackie Pullinger

My favorites: Kisses From Katie (a must read!), The Hunger Games series, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and Rekindled

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I’d love to know your favorite reads from this year! Any that I need to put on my reading list for 2013? Bring on the suggestions!

Reading Recap {July}

Book: Front of the Class
Brad Cohen relates what it was like to grow up with Tourette Syndrome during a time when most people weren't familiar with it. He was bullied and mocked by other kids and even his own family was unsure how to act around him. At the time, people didn't understand that he had no control over the tics and twitches that he made. These "disruptions" made school a constant struggle for him and his outbursts frustrated teachers. In middle school, he was given the opportunity to teach his classmates about Tourette Syndrome and realized the power of education. He decided he wanted to become a teacher to provide his students with the encouragement and acceptance he failed to receive from his teachers. I loved this book from the very start! Cohen's passion for teaching is evident and was an inspiration. I would recommend this memoir...especially if you're in the education field.

They made a Hallmark movie about Brad Cohen's life that was phenomenal! It's apart of the Hallmark Hall of Fame and I highly recommend it.

Book: Mama's Bank Account
This a tale of a Norwegian immigrant family living in San Francisco at the beginning of the 20th century. The story is centered around "mama" as her character is developed through family anecdotes. It's difficult to describe "mama" to someone who hasn't read the book, but you'll grow to love this resourceful matriarch. She raises her family with love and wisdom and the book is an ode to old-fashioned family values. The book is reminiscent of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn which may be why I enjoyed it so much. It's a quick read and I would recommend it.

Book: Mentor Texts
If you're a teacher or a future teacher this book is a must read! The premise of this book is to utilize classic children's literature as mentor texts to teach students how to write. In order for students to develop their writing they need to be immersed in children's literature that models the strategies you want them to grasp.  Each chapter contains plenty of strategies and ideas on how to implement them. I know that I'll refer to this book many times in the future! I would highly recommend this one to elementary school teachers.

Any book suggestions for August?

Reading Recap {June}

Book: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
This is a classic coming-of-age novel about a young girl living in the tenements of Brooklyn. The story is set at the turn of the century (1902-1919) and contains many historical elements of that time period. However, it has a message that transcends the ages. The first part of the book was slow moving and hard to get through, but I was hooked after I got over that hurdle. I came to love the main character, Francie Nolan. She is one of those characters that you remember long after you’ve finished the book. Betty Smith writes in a way that you live life with Francie and I felt like I was transported to the streets of Brooklyn while reading. I loved this classic and would highly recommend it.

Book: Gilead
This is not a book that I would have picked out on my own. I read about it on a blog that I follow, so when I found it at a local thrift store I immediately bought it. It is a fictional autobiography of a minister living in Iowa during the 1950s. The preacher is in his mid-seventies and writes to his son a collection of thoughts and memories in the form of journal entries. It truly is a father’s dedication of love to his son. He covers topics like faith, love, jealousy, etc. in a contemplative yet simple way. There are no chapters and the storyline moves slowly. I liked this book, but I didn’t love it.


Book: Like Water for Chocolate
This story takes place in turn-of-the-century Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. Tita De la Garza is the youngest daughter of a well-known rancher and is destined to remain single in order to care for her aging mother. The plot heightens as she falls in love with a man who is forced to marry her older sister. The story became stranger with each chapter as it incorporated more and more fantasy. It seemed like a mystical soap opera. I wanted to like this acclaimed classic, but I struggled to connect. I wouldn’t recommend it.


Book: The Glass Castle
Jeannette Walls recounts the very unconventional way that she was raised in this memoir. Her father was brilliant and energetic, but was also an alcoholic. Her mother didn’t want to be responsible for her children, and devoted most of her time to her art. They lived like nomads in the southwestern desert towns, and would move on to a new town whenever bill collectors came or a problem arose. She tells shocking stories of fires, hunger, injuries, cold, neglect, and taunts from her peers that she faced along with her siblings while growing up. There were a few times while reading that I had to remind myself that this was real and not fiction!  She tells her story without an ounce of pity in tone. I was captivated from the first page and would highly recommend this memoir.


Book: Bloom
Kelle Hampton was ecstatic about the birth of her second child. She had everything planned to welcome her second baby girl in the world, so she was shocked to the core when her daughter, Nella, was born with down syndrome. In this memoir, Kelle recounts how she worked through her initial grief and denial  to acceptance. I was in tears as she told the story of Nella’s birth. She is completely honest and doesn’t gloss over anything to make it sound better. The memoir shows her progression from a heartbroken mama to a mama utterly in love with her baby girl. Kelle is a passionate writer and I felt like she captured every detail perfectly. Also, this is one of the most beautifully designed books I’ve ever read. She included photographs all throughout the book. I would recommend this one. {Check out Kelle’s blog here.}

What have you read this month?