whatcha readin' special edition...the 2017 summary

My goal for 2017 was to read 24 books.
In all honesty, I was SURE that I was going to be able to do it
because I wasn't doing any weddings...
and yet...I still did not hit it.

but...I came pretty close...22 books!

the year before was 19 so it's a progression...
a slow one, but a progression nonetheless.

I also said I was going to re-read all of Lucy Maud Montgomery's books.
I read 2.
But that wasn't a 2017 goal.
That's an ongoing one.

I did want to read all of the Harry Potter books
and I DID IT.
Not all in 2017 but a good portion of them...and finished the
last two in 2018.
That was a bucket list item so yay!  :)

Here is how I felt about the remaining books I read in 2017:

◘  Harry Potter (I am not going to link them here because I am pretty sure you know where to find them) - I have to say...I completely loved these books.  I was re-reading the first couple but then the rest were new to me.  I loved them.   The characters, the writing, the imagination, the twists and turns...Dobby...Dumbledore...Dursleys...so many fun words to say.
♥♥♥♥♥ out of 5 ♥s

◘  Sharp Objects - Gillian Flynn:  I enjoyed this but not as much as I had liked Gone Girl.  It might have been the subject matter though.  I have a soft spot for kids. :)  Still a great read though!
♥♥♥♥ out of 5 ♥s

◘  Before You Know Kindness - Chris Bohjalian:  I really, really loved this.  His writing is beautiful and the characters always feel so real.  The story pulled me in and made me wonder what I would have done.  Great read!
♥♥♥♥ out of 5 ♥s

◘  The Mothers - Brit Bennett:  The truth is I knew nothing about this book or author.  It was right after the library took a chance and gave me a new library card and this was an e-book that was available so I read it.  And I was glad that I did. 
♥♥♥♥ out of 5 ♥s

◘  Dark Places - Gillian Flynn:  I liked this one more than Sharp Objects and slightly less than Gone Girl.  Definitely carried you along wanted to know what was going to happen. 
♥♥♥♥ out of 5 ♥s

◘  Witches of New York - Ami McKay:  I love her writing.  And the subject matter.  And the cover.  And the era it was written in.  And her characters.  All in all...I loved this book.  I want to read more by her!
♥♥♥♥♥ out of 5 ♥s

and that was what I read in 2017!  Looking forward to reading even more in 2018...
and definitely open to suggestions! 

the end of 2017 (warning: a teeny tiny bit of cursing ahead)

today marks the end of another year.
part of me wants to say good riddance
but i realize that although i struggled a little with 2017...
it was not all bad.

i planted a much too large and very active garden.
i chose ADVENTURE as my word for the year
and then went on many "friday adventures" which i LOVED doing.
i had some items for sale at the Muddy Crick Market.
i kayaked (and did not drown).
i joined a gym (and actually went).
i read 20 books...almost hitting my goal of 24.
i got to be in a 2nd play and it was so much fun getting to yell at people
and be a little "unhinged" as my character Laura.
i went to see the truck and tractor pulls in crapaud.
i drove down lots of dirt roads.
i ate ice cream sundaes every chance i got.
i drew many, many robots...not 365 yet but still working on that.

when i look back at that list,
i have to admit it was a pretty good year...
which gives me hope for 2018.

we all have rotten stuff that goes on behind the scenes.
stuff you don't want to talk about, stuff you don't want to display.
i would be lying if i said that things are always
as sweet and easy as ice cream sundaes and fluff filled doughnuts
over here in the big orange house....
but i am sure that is the same for anyone.

but i am making a conscious choice to go into 2018
with the intention to be positive...
which is why
when i thought about
what i would set for
my goals and resolutions this year,
i have decided that instead of
the usual
go to the gym/lose weight/pay the bills on time/cut out diet coke
i am going to focus on
FUN.
fuck it.
why not.

so this years resolutions will include:
boardgames
lego
friday adventures
roller coasters
puzzles
kayaking
camping
farmers markets
making new friends
spending time with old friends
live bands
building a snowman army
getting a bike
road trips
sleepovers
laughing til you almost puke and pull a muscle in your ribs
water balloons
saying yes

catch you on the flip side of a brand new year!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

 

tuesday truths...

♥  it's funny the things you learn about yourself as you get older...
    like the annoying fact that you have super fragile sensitive to cold ears.
    and that not everybody else has this.
    it's like a super power
    but in reverse.
    anyway....the other night they ached so bad after walking home
    in the wind
    that i had to heat up the magic bag and
    take turns holding it against each ear
    while whimpering
    and googling with my free hand to see
    WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME WHY DO MY EARS HURT SO BAD
    but...it's really a thing.
    it even has a name
    otalgia....
    which i was excited about until i realized
    it translates into mystery ear pain....
    that feels less than scientific
    and more like something i might have just made up.

♥    i love christmas...i really do.
     and it's funny because i think sometimes
     maybe i may come across as
     NOT loving christmas
     because i am constantly saying i don't care about it...
     but it's not christmas i don't care about...
     it's the things we sometimes get trapped into thinking we HAVE to do...
     we have to buy gifts, we have to visit, we have to be social, we have to decorate...
     well.  damn it.  no, i don't.
     i'll buy gifts but only cause i want to and i am seriously not going to stress
     about whether or not the recipient likes it because...
     wouldn't that be kind of ungrateful to not like someone's gift?
     it'd be like the time my mom got me the shirt i really really really
     wanted for easter...
     {remember those white dress shirts with the tails...
     that you wore with your stirrup pants...
     and your lace hair ties...and madonna bracelets....
     (yeah...i was an eighties kid...why do you ask?)
     and so she got me one and I WAS SO EXCITED
     and then i held it up and there was a handpainted tiger on the back.
     heh.
     an extra large handpainted tiger.
     anyway...i didn't say i didn't like but she read it on my face
     and returned it and got me a plain-white-won't-stand-out-in-a-crowd-of-
     vicious-snarly-teenage-girls
     cause-then-i'll-be-just-like-everyone-else
     and this story totally DOES NOT PROVE my point.
    
     my point is...i love christmas...i love seeing my family,
     watching every christmas show i can cram in,
     fighting with my kids & husband over who is putting the sesame street
     christmas ornaments on the tree (well...i mean really though...they are MINE)....
     telling the kids they can't come down in the morning
     until we light the furnace (it's oil)(haha)...
     car karaoke on the drive home from Ch'town Christmas Eve with the 4 of us singing
     total eclipse of the heart at the top of our lungs...
     putting plaid pajamas on the pug...sneaking meat pie with stirling while wrapping presents...
     my dad chasing me around the house with the turkey neck...

     i like the silly things....the little moments...the laugh until you think
     you are really going to throw up moments...that's how you define hallmark for me.

♥     i really shouldn't do these blog posts
       stream of conscious....
       i never know where it's going to go...
       seriously.
       i am as surprised as you are.
       heehee.
    

whatcha readin'? {2017::book 12 - goal 24}

i have always been a fan of amy tan.
i just realized now that i have read
pretty much all of her fiction books....
which actually makes me a little sad.
i was hoping there were more.

but i was excited to see that she has written
a memoir called "where the past begins; a writer's memoir"...
if there is anything i love more than a memoir
(and i do love those!)
it's a WRITER'S MEMOIR.
i'm totally going to look for that one!

plus i didn't realize she had other non-fiction books
including one about being in a band!

so...back to the book...

i loved it but you knew i was going to say that, i think.

i love books about relationships and family...
and amy tan's books tend to revolve heavily around
mother/daughter relationships.
her style of writing is full of beautiful imagery and conversation,
history and customs...some mystery, some secrets to be uncovered...
i loved this book and would totally recommend any of her books.

but right now
i have to go and find her other books
AND i just realized she did a TED talk...on creativity!
and if there is anything i love more than a TED talk
(and i do love TED talks)
it's a TED talk about creativity from a WRITER!
:)

5 out of 5 ♥♥♥♥♥'s

NEXT UP:  SHARP OBJECTS - GILLIAN FLYNN

a discovery...

(that has nothing to do with the photo above...
i just always have to start my blog posts with a photo so...)

it has been a long time
since i have found a blog
that has me so enamored...
i spent at least 4 hours last night
reading this woman's blog.
but, i mean, really...how could i not?
she writes about books
and mainly about kid's books (which i love)
and movies
and food blogs
and crafts...
and has links upon links to other cool blogs...
i felt like a total stalker
reading her blog
for hours
and checking out her instagram & facebook
and sending her messages...
(hmmmm...it sounds even worse when i type it all out).

anyway...check out this blog...
it's adorable....
even the name...Julia's Bookbag...sigh.

oh...and when i wasn't stalking,
i mean, reading her blog
i was working on a new christmas card...
i'm kind of happy with how it turned out!
:)