tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315825832024-03-05T12:11:35.016-05:00Are We There Yet?Family, Books, Gardening, PreppingTiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-60104699438958291752014-04-02T15:25:00.001-05:002014-04-02T15:31:27.758-05:00My Square Foot Garden PlanOne of my goals this year was to pick up a few "life skills". One of the important life skills that I decided to focus on is growing food. I am a terrible gardener. We had a pretty decent herb container garden the last few years, but the only reason that survived is because herbs do better if you mostly ignore them. However, the very cold/rough winter we had this year has killed off all of our herbs. So we are starting anew completely.<br />
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The only other time I've tried to grow vegetables it has been an abysmal failure. One year my tomato plant had a grand total of two tomatoes, one of which was rotten, and the other was not very tasty.<br />
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I've done my research, planned my little heart out, and come up with the following plan. I will be following the square foot garden method. The plants were chosen based on our tastes, and space restrictions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnM0dUncd9TLjcRrYvxWKA0dpzXaTmhHBUX4nCH7zDy8k0g7vZBHaLEM1XMCeLi_YFgvEQw_tAkeYJQXII4jyNX-EjPClZwCdboRPucwgqU8ObuMCMvT8qPs5AIvpTu7BQgLj/s1600/Garden+Plan+2014.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnM0dUncd9TLjcRrYvxWKA0dpzXaTmhHBUX4nCH7zDy8k0g7vZBHaLEM1XMCeLi_YFgvEQw_tAkeYJQXII4jyNX-EjPClZwCdboRPucwgqU8ObuMCMvT8qPs5AIvpTu7BQgLj/s1600/Garden+Plan+2014.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
We will have a 4x4 raised bed. We will also have 6 large pots, and 2 extra large pots.<br />
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We will be growing the following from seeds (direct sow): marigolds, cucumbers, beans, beets, carrots, lettuce, peas, spinach, and squash. My plan is to order them from the Burpee catolog.<br />
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The following will be purchased at our local nursery, and transplanted: basil, peppers, tomatoes, sage, rosemary, dill and mint. We are also going to be ordering a blueberry plant and strawberry plant from Burpee.<br />
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The next step is to build the 4x4 raised bed. I'm still debating whether to build it myself, or to purchase one that is precut, and you just have to put it together. The cost is the main difference between the two. My husband is finishing up grad school, so I've promised not to bug him TOO much with this stuff until he is done. I will also be ordering the seeds in the next few days.<br />
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I need to get the lettuce and the peas started soon, but I don't have to wait for the raised bed to be built, since they will be in pots.<br />
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So far, I'm really enjoying myself. I told my husband I was surprised I hadn't gotten into gardening before, since there is so much planning involved, and planning makes my heart happy. Hopefully the manual labor part won't total suck the fun out of it. Or the bugs, or rabbits, or diseases, or all of the other stuff that can go wrong. I plan on spending a lot of time in our backyard this spring and summer, so hopefully neglect won't be my downfall.Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-9652963239600545042014-04-02T13:59:00.001-05:002014-04-02T13:59:12.782-05:00I'm Baaaaaccck!So, I haven't blogged in years. Lots of ideas, having a kid, new position at work, and there you go. I'd like to get back into the swing of things, if nothing more than a way to keep track of things, and go into more details that I can on facebook.<br />
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No idea really what this will look like, but odds are, I'll probably talk about my son, gardening, prepping, books, and general musings.Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-21331013787836355592010-07-20T12:52:00.000-05:002010-07-20T12:52:19.917-05:00BOOK REVIEW: Time Traveler's Wife<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14050.The_Time_Traveler_s_Wife" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Time Traveler's Wife" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1274656075m/14050.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14050.The_Time_Traveler_s_Wife">The Time Traveler's Wife</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/498072.Audrey_Niffenegger">Audrey Niffenegger</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/23296734">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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While I enjoyed the book, I found myself a little more emotionally detached than I normally would have been. I had put this book on my to-be-read pile over a year ago, and a friend contacted me and told me that I should wait. At the time, I had recently had a miscarriage, and she said that this might be a tough read. She was definitely right. I'm in a much better place in dealing with the miscarriage now, and decided to go ahead and read it with my book club. But I never really connected with the characters like I thought I would. I admit I did skim some of the tough scenes (mostly for my sake), but even then, I wasn't really connecting. Mostly I just felt very sad for the characters. It is still worth reading. I think my history kind of colored it for me.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1196845-sarah">View all my reviews </a>Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-89418900762485384352010-06-29T13:23:00.002-05:002010-06-29T13:23:40.999-05:00Book Review: The Help<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4667024-the-help" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Help" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255571691m/4667024.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4667024-the-help">The Help</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1943477.Kathryn_Stockett">Kathryn Stockett</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/109256081">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
I listened to this book on audio. Definitely one of the best books that I have read this year. This is a story set back during the beginning of the civil rights movement. It is told from three different perspectives. Two of them are maids and one is a society girl. The way the story weaves between the three of them is truly beautiful. It really got me thinking about that time in our history in a different way. But beyond that, it is just a beautifully written, heart-moving story. I definitely think that this is a book worth picking up.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1196845-sarah">View all my reviews </a>Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-35646880167354375032010-05-20T14:16:00.001-05:002010-05-20T14:17:10.022-05:00CSA Week 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gOe0kIr0gCXeu-cGSI4Dws5eX69514425SKtO39TJv7zloYM5gQQQoRJE8Og09uS_xmTM2LqAWogFcEAHMkKhylW_iUkF15zNLjM5s-8vSxs2HXscmYz94HACgNSlMzOjkFI/s1600/csa+week+1+with+labels+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gOe0kIr0gCXeu-cGSI4Dws5eX69514425SKtO39TJv7zloYM5gQQQoRJE8Og09uS_xmTM2LqAWogFcEAHMkKhylW_iUkF15zNLjM5s-8vSxs2HXscmYz94HACgNSlMzOjkFI/s400/csa+week+1+with+labels+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>So here is the haul for the first week. We got a mini tour of the farm, and it was very interesting to see all the different areas. We got to meet the owners and they were great. They said that the baskets/boxes will be bigger each week as more and more stuff starts to mature. We will split this with the other family. In our half, there will be enough for 3 nights worth of side salads, plus oregano for something (not real sure what to do with herbs yet), swiss chard as a side for a meal, and strawberries to munch on.<br />
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The boxes are setup when you get there, and you get to pick an herb, and something from the members choice table (I think it was supposed to be rhubarb, but it didn't end up being ready yet).Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-36338422577692402182010-05-19T07:51:00.000-05:002010-05-19T07:51:23.941-05:00CSA - Community Supported AgricultureIt has been awhile. So instead of trying to catch you all up, I'm just going to jump right in like I've been blogging all along.<br />
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Chris and I joined a local CSA. We have split the membership with friends of ours. I have been wanting to join one for a number of years, but the sign up time always came and went, and it didn't get done. When you join a CSA, you are essentially getting a "membership" to their farm. Depending on the agreement, you get a share of the produce during harvesting season. For our particular CSA, <a href="http://www.berriesonbryanstation.com/">Berries on Bryan Station</a> it was $400 per share, and we get 20 weeks worth of produce. Since we had never joined before, we weren't sure how much we would get each week, and if we would be able to eat it all (we aren't huge vegetable people). So we decided to split a share this first year and see how it goes. I picked this particular CSA because they offer strawberries, blackberries and raspberries throughout the season instead of just veggies.<br />
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We hope to get exposed to some new vegetables, and hopefully establish better eating habits. In the past, our regular vegetables have been potatos, corn, green beans, and squash. Generally our salads come from a bag. And more often than not, I end up throwing the salad bag away when it gets all nasty. I know that a lot of people join CSAs because they want organic vegetables, or they are concerned about buying locally to help reduce how far their veggies travel to get to them. I will be honest and say that we didn't join for those reasons. I don't have anything against organic food, and while I'm interested in sustainability, I don't really do much about that yet. However, I do like supporting the local economy, and I wanted to be exposed to a more diverse set of vegetables. My hope is that we get a little bit healthier this summer. I also hope that I can show that this is actually a good deal. I'm going to try and keep track of how much food we get, and kind of compare that to what we would spend if we bought the same stuff at the grocery store. And I'm sure there will be other benefits that we discover along the way.<br />
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I will try to post pictures each week of what we get from the CSA. If you have any questions or advice, definitely leave a coment. I know I tried to do a little research from real people before we joined, and it was hard to find.<br />
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As a side note, I've also planted a tomato plant in the topsy-turvey (the upside down growing thing), and a basil plant and sage plant. I'm not fond of gardening AT ALL. But I do think it is an important skill to have. In the past, I have had ZERO luck growing anything. I have 10 black fingers. But I'm determined to try. :)Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-14839426984524385512009-12-31T16:42:00.002-05:002009-12-31T16:51:31.482-05:00Goals for 2010It is the end of 2009. It will be interesting to see what 2010 holds for me and mine. I have hopes and dreams about what it will hold. And I have a really good feeling about 2010. I have definitely been feeling more optimistic in the last few weeks. I feel more at peace and more in control. I have some concrete goals for the next few months, and they aren't unreasonable or out of reach.<br /><br />Most of my goals are private, but I have them listed in a OneNote notebook, and have a "plan" to help implement them. <br /><br />My work goals include getting my A+ certifcation by April 1 and my Project+ certifcation by December 1. I've already had some training for the the A+ certification, so I just bought a review book, and hopefully I'll be able to bang that out quickly. That way I can focus on the project certification for the rest of the year.<br /><br />I hope that Chris and I will be able to go to Washington DC this spring on vacation.<br /><br />I'm working on a new blog that does Christmas reviews. I'll add the address later, when there is a little more content. My goal is to post to that site once a week. I am hoping to post to this site 3-4 times a week.<br /><br />Happy New Years!Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-62353788159038695822009-12-30T17:07:00.004-05:002009-12-30T17:17:02.869-05:00Thriller and Suspense Challenge 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bookchickcity.com/2009/05/thriller-suspense-challenge-2010_01.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZ8dQyiDqa1IX93Tf_QTj2lg3xs9m5NgiGjGwCSx0rjCLEwM157MhywB_-J_tM_h_u-FX-28TtMbtWEqR7O2NRZkmU3cfbOCnT5zurz39fXYEcZMJr2uBO0BaD_Aemi8mrPeP/s320/Thriller+and+Suspense.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421155346053323794" border="0" /></a>Another new challenge for me! This one is hosted by Book Chick City.<br /><br />My planned list is:<br /><br />1. Postmortem, Patricia Cornwell<br />2. Black, Ted Dekker<br />3. Chosen, Ted Dekker<br />4. City of Shadows, Ariana Franklin<br />5. And then there was none, Agatha Christie<br />6. Fantasy in Death, JD Robb<br />7. Indulgence in Death, JD Robb<br />8. Breathing Water, Timothy Hallinan<br />9. The Bourne Identity, Robert Ludlum<br />10. The Last Days, Joel Rosenberg<br />11. The Quickie, James Patterson<br />12. 4th of July, James PattersonTiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-85906305137064231182009-12-30T17:00:00.003-05:002009-12-30T17:06:02.118-05:002010 Book Blogger Recommendations<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://readingwithtequila.blogspot.com/2009/11/2010-book-blogger-recommendation.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvu59Cu17GDW77BmMg9q6tO4GEBurnurLAUReH53LvaNdMB9rF3yWO60XR8AtjD0jq3qOgiQwOFeSiCP3osLfXgaNkFWg-oYi6xoITLLfqc1MhcB_wjo92wSF8eKSlopt-3d2/s320/2010BBRC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421153111019872274" border="0" /></a>This is a new challenge for me. She has a list of the top 25 Books that were recommended by book bloggers. I had already read quite a few, but have picked five from the list to read:<br /><br />1. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins<br />2. The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCullough<br />3. Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins<br />4. The Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley<br />5. Eragon, Christopher PaoliniTiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-6057358355819389482009-12-30T16:55:00.002-05:002009-12-30T16:59:00.445-05:002010 Chick Lit Challenge<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bookaddict4life.blogspot.com/2009/11/2010-chick-lit-challenge.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwftOZIeuVzOtRWwgULVE300Cpzr8sSrlCJTcH_ss36GULVcRgViOQAOPzeNBTJ8zMIXQGlPpDAhB94D3Av3y7N658KdxdpoB98-5tiG0V9dp9L5Am0rJuok5DAkoTrVnljMR/s320/Chick+Lit+Challenge.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421151437534643074" border="0" /></a>I really enjoyed this challenge last year and found quite a few new authors that I LOVED! So hopefully I will be as successful this year. The goal is to read 8 chick lit books.<br /><br />1. Remember Me, Sophie Kinsella<br />2. Undomestic Goddess, Sophie Kinsella<br />3. The Nanny Diaries, Emma McLaughlin<br />4. My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult<br />5. In Her Shoes, Jennifer Weiner<br />6. Friday Night Knitting Club, Kate Jacobs<br />7. The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love - Jill Conner Browne<br />8. The Castaways, Elin HilderbrandTiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-40429242002360009782009-12-30T16:46:00.004-05:002009-12-30T16:54:20.873-05:002010 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://theroyalreviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/historical-reading-challenge.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPa82N8tzFPI7ttzY7MkY0cAx5A7rV8nssqBxKvqGc0JXaG3zUNoBwQZsml_Ig34wFXC0MAVBn3lGD3DKNMYgAEdgGc_MCAK-ohpxyrxSzWxRJFBgB2CSMk61yceubbsZMAug/s320/10+Historical+Fiction+Challenge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421149585132032546" border="0" /></a>Royal Reviews is hosting this challenge. Click the image to read the rules and sign up! (<span style="font-size: 78%;">psst, let me know if you sign up so I can check out your list!</span>)<br /><br />I will be doing the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Addicted </span>level of the challenge, which is to read 12 historical fiction books.<br /><br />My <span style="font-style: italic;">planned</span> list is as follows:<br /><br />1. Regency Buck, Georgette Heyer<br />2. North and South, John Jakes<br />3. Love and War, John Jakes<br />4. Heaven and Hell, John Jakes<br />5. Through a Glass Darkly, Karleen Koen<br />6. The Concubine, Norah Lofts<br />7. The Reluctant Widow, Georgette Heyer<br />8. Lady of Quality, Georgette Heyer<br />9. Sprig Muslin, Georgette Heyer<br />10. The Luxe, Anna Godbersen<br />11. David Copperfield, Charles Dicken<br />12. Rainwater, Sandra Brown<br /><br />I have a feeling I'm going to be purchasing a few of these books, because our library doesn't carry some of the Heyer books. But I always see really good reviews, so I'm guessing it will be worth the investment.Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-83916353603059484662009-12-30T16:35:00.003-05:002009-12-30T16:44:15.434-05:001st in a Series Challenge 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://theroyalreviews.blogspot.com/2009/12/1st-in-series-challenge.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQPWVMN7OWWjVQ3ntlc2_5IryZTqFZmkoKHWdU1M8kET6E0EMeeFiWjd4NAliEf-ui64vqVdr8EaFbY3ugDkSzDszAz1fTjwkk6yhpKKxXAfKslB8vR794QJIIyq0qk9DZMxZ/s320/2010+1st+in+a+Series.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421146339803847282" border="0" /></a>Royal Reviews is hosting this challenge. Click the image to read the rules and sign up! (<span style="font-size:78%;">psst, let me know if you sign up so I can check out your list!</span>)<br /><br />I will be doing the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Addicted </span>level of the challenge, which is to read 12 books (that are the first in a series).<br /><br />My <span style="font-style: italic;">planned</span> list is as follows:<br />1. North and South, John Jakes<br />2. Eyes Like Stars, Lisa Mantchev<br />3. Tomorrow, When the War Began, John Marsden<br />4. Daughter of the Forest, Juliet Marillier<br />5. Heart's Blood, Juliet Marillier<br />6. Storm Front, Jim Butcher<br />7. Postmortem, Patricia Cormwell<br />8. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer<br />9. Keeping it Real, Justina Robson<br />10. Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card<br />11. Chosen, Ted Dekker<br />12. Black, Ted Dekker<br /><br />All of these books (except Storm Front and Postmortem) have come from other blogger's lists. I checked out their lists, and then looked up the books on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/">GoodReads</a>. Hopefully I'll find some gems!Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-5973918444854450952009-12-30T16:16:00.005-05:002009-12-30T16:29:25.794-05:00Reading Challenge Sign Up TimeLast years reading challenges didn't go as well as hoped. I read (and/or listened to) 71 books in 2009. The one thing that participating in reading challenges did do was expose me to new authors and new genres. I got hung up on some of the "harder" books, and I think that is what slowed me down. Anyhow, the time has come to sign up for the new reading challenges. I will be participating in 6 challenges this year:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1st in a Series Challenge 2010</span> <br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 Historical Fiction Challenge</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />2010 Chick Lit Challenge</span> <br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 Book Blogger Recommendations Challenge</span> <br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thriller and Suspense Challenge 2010</span><br /><br />and the one challenge that encompasses EVERYTHING I read in the year, the<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 100+ Reading Challenge<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-2010-reading-challenge-100-reading.html"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbpeZqbnbnbe7MpBwXTB0uGOfJGZA1Oe78q_KCmv7homfbbxc5K6o9P2uWeJ5hieaSL3j20M72aj-LlqPFGGlEEWbClPmhhtx5VeibCoJS2UGp5d8jGM8FFCYwj7Y1d0h6CLv/s320/100_Reading_Challenge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421143649981506754" border="0" /></a><br />I will do individual posts (with lists) for the first five challenges, along with progress updates in the sidebar. I will compile my full list in the sidebar as well. To participate and/or read the rules for the challenges, please just click the image and it will take you to the host's site.Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-13716915634422412612009-12-15T07:26:00.001-05:002009-12-15T16:08:37.618-05:00Julie and Julia<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13747.Julie_and_Julia_365_Days_524_Recipes_1_Tiny_Apartment_Kitchen" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166572517m/13747.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13747.Julie_and_Julia_365_Days_524_Recipes_1_Tiny_Apartment_Kitchen">Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8546.Julie_Powell">Julie Powell</a><br /><br /><br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/65981576">3 of 5 stars</a><br />There were parts of the book that I really liked a lot. Quite a few hilarious scenes. However, there are parts in the middle that could have been edited quite a bit more. The flow seemed off, and it was hard to follow what was going on. And sometimes I felt like she was referring to things that she thought she had already mentioned, but she hadn't. I saw the movie first (it is usually the other way around for me) and I really liked the movie. There isn't as much Julia in the book as in the movie. I've read that Julie Powell just published another book, but I probably won't be reading that one. Its about infidelity and butchering. Kind of a bizarre combo.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1196845-sarah">View all my reviews >></a><br /><br /><a href="http://cymlowell.blogspot.com/2009/12/book-review-party-wednesday-starts_15.html" target="_blank"><img alt="CymLowell" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3960797566_f11cfb2f41_o.jpg" /></a>Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-31695141098140788812009-12-02T16:42:00.007-05:002009-12-02T17:29:30.734-05:00Reading Challenges Update<span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >I realize it has been awhile. And now you are getting two posts in one day :)<br /><br />Even though I haven't been blogging, I've still been keeping up with what I have been reading. Here are the additions for this year since my last update:<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">44. Fat Chance, Deborah Blumenthal - good<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">45. Finger Lickin' Fifteen, Janet Evanovich - good<br />46.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Smoke Screen, Sandra Brown - ok<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">47. Atonement, Ian McEwan - bad - I hated this book.<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">48. Drums of Autumn, Diana Gabaldon - fantastic<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">49. Bet Your Bottom Dollar, Karen Gillespie - good<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">50. Sanctuary, Nora Roberts - good<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">51. Good Grief, Lolly Winston - good<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">52. 92 Pacific Boulevard, Debbie Macomber - ok<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">53. The Fiery Cross, Diana Gabaldon- good<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">54. A Breath of Snow and Ashes, Diana Gabaldon - good<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">55. An Echo in the Bone, Diana Gabaldon - good<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">56. Bed of Roses, Nora Roberts - good<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">57. Certain Girls, Jennifer Weiner - good<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">58. Kindred in Death, JD Robb - fantastic<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">59. REREAD - Twilight, Stephenie Meyer - fantastic (yes I read them for a 2nd time this year)<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">60. REREAD - New Moon, Stephenie Meyer </span></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > - fantastic (yes I read them for a 2nd time this year)</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />61. REREAD - Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > - fantastic (yes I read them for a 2nd time this year)</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />62. REREAD - Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > - fantastic (yes I read them for a 2nd time this year)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />63. Firefly Lane, Kristin Hannah - good<br />64. Can you Keep a Secret - Sophie Kinsella - fantastic<br />65. Barefoot, Elin Hilderbrand - good</span><br /><br />So I'm definitely NOT going to make it to 100 books this year. Good thing I didn't sign up for the challenge. Not that it matters, I didn't complete some of the challenges that I DID sign up for.<br /><br /><a href="http://feelinchunky.blogspot.com/2009/01/chunkster-challenge-2009.html">Chunkster Challenge</a> - FAILED<br />Deadline: Nov 15<br />I was supposed to read 5 books by the deadline. I only read 2 from my original list. I substituted another 1 from the list because my original was to hard to find. And just ran out of time on the other two. I read the following for this challenge:<br />1. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - decent book overall, but very depressing. Took me FOREVER to get through cause I kept stopping.<br />2. The Moon Below - decent book - I think my hopes were too high<br />3. Substituted An Echo in the Bone (most recent Outlander book) for History. Couldn't find History anywhere. Echo was FABULOUS - started out slow but then the ending picks you up, throws you across the room, and then slams the book in your face. Yes it is that crazy.<br /><br />Romance Reading Challenge - COMPLETE<br />Deadline: December 31<br />1. Bridget Jones' Diary - good<br />2 Bed of Roses - good (substitue for The Reluctant Widow - our library didn't have it, but I still want to read a Georgette Heyer novel)<br />3. On a Highland Shore - good<br />4. Vision in White - good (The Awakening was nixed. Couldn't get through the first chapter)<br />5. The Princess Bride - EXACTLY like the movie - good<br /><br />Outlander Challenge - FAILED<br />Deadline: Release of An Echo in the Bone<br />Hubby and I were listening to these on audio (btw, Hubby loves the books). We were getting them from audible.com, but they didn't have the last 2 books in an unabridged version, so I had to wait for them at the library, and it just seemed to take a lot longer. I did finish the 6 book about 2 weeks after Echo came out, so that isn't too bad.<br /><br />Chick Lit Challenge - IN PROGRESS - 1 book to go<br /><br />Book Vs Movie Challenge - IN PROGRESS - 5/6 books to go<br />It doesn't look like I am going to finish. I have watched 4 of the movies, but only read 1 of the books. EEP.<br /><br />Look for my postings on the 2010 challenges that I will be signing up for soon. Here's hoping I do better next year.Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-17768093124951832322009-12-02T13:55:00.006-05:002009-12-02T14:16:30.497-05:00Book Review: Can You Keep a Secret<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33724.Can_You_Keep_a_Secret_" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Can You Keep a Secret?" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1168462713m/33724.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33724.Can_You_Keep_a_Secret_">Can You Keep a Secret?</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6160.Sophie_Kinsella">Sophie Kinsella</a><br /><br /><br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55137458">5 of 5 stars</a><br />I really really enjoyed this book. I had heard of the author before, but hadn't read any of her books. This was a pretty fast read for me. I had several literal laugh out loud moments (one was late at night and I woke up my husband, who was quite irritated). I seem to have a thing for books about British women. So far I've read several books where the main character is a British woman, and I've loved all of them. This is a fun, entertaining, captivating book. I highly recommend it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1196845-sarah">View all my reviews >></a><br /><br />I know its been awhile since I've posted, but I found some motivation. :) This blog is giving away a KINDLE if you post a book review. Go to this site for more info:<br /><br /><a href="http://cymlowell.blogspot.com/2009/11/book-review-party-wednesday-starts.html" target="_blank"><img alt="CymLowell" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3960797566_f11cfb2f41_o.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Book Supplied by: Lexington Public Library :)Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-50947916551555561272009-08-12T09:17:00.002-05:002009-08-12T09:34:26.167-05:00August is PROJECTS monthSo at the begining of the month I was looking at my long to do list and trying to think of ways to get out of it. :) I tried some mental encouragement to try and get motivated. I decided that if I looked at some of the things that I needed to get done as "projets" instead of just a long list, I might get more excited. Of course that wouldn't apply to everything on the list, but it would knock out a good chunk. So I sat down and wrote out a list of all the projects that could be done. And I added some fun projects to the list to help with the motivation.<br /><br />Here is my list:<br /><br />1. Recipe Organization (fun project)<br />2. Filing (to do project)<br />3. Clean/Organize office (to do project)<br />4. Organize scrapbook stuff (fun project)<br />5. Clean out garage (to do project)<br />6. Paint (to do and fun project)<br /><br />I have a good start on the first three projects. I decided to put all my recipes into OneNote. I have one notebook for the "Keeper" recipes and one notebook for the "Recipes to Try". This way I can get rid of all the printouts and torn magazine pages that I have. And man, I have a lot. I thought I was almost completely done with this project, and when I was looking for something by my cookbooks I found a whole new accordian file with more in it. Thankfully, a lot of these have been from the web, so I can just find them on the web and copy them. That way there hasn't been a lot of manual data entry.<br /><br />I'm also being mindful of my previous goal to get healthy. I haven't lost any more weight, but I also haven't gained. I walk with Brodie almost every night (except for recently because the poor guy has been sick with one thing or another). I've added the Wii Fit into my routine as well. It is almost embarassing to admit how sweaty I got on that thing. I don't know if it is because I don't feel like I'm excercisng, but feel like I'm playing a game, but I'm always surprised at how flipping sweaty I get. Brodie is hilarious cause he doesn't quite understand what Mama is doing, and sometimes he comes and steps on the balance board, or tries to catch my feet when I'm doing one of the excercises.Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-53227407464439178832009-07-27T15:38:00.002-05:002009-07-27T15:53:28.502-05:002009 Book Reading ProgressSo I'm playing catch up and realized it would be a good time to list the books I've read in 2009 so far. I didn't join the 100+ Reading Challenge this year, but I'm still aiming for 100 books. I don't think I'll make it. We'll see. These are books started and finished in this year. So far the list is:<br /><br />1. Suite 606, JD Robb<br />2. Trace, Patricia Cornwell<br />3. Blue Dahlia, Nora Roberts<br />4. Black Rose, Nora Roberts<br />5. Red Lily, Nora Roberts<br />6. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, Joanne Fluke<br />7. The Little Lady Agency and the Prince, Hester Browne<br />8. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, David Wroblewski<br />9. Celia Garth, Gwen Bristow<br />10. Into the Wilderness, Sara Donati<br />11. Promises in Death, JD Robb<br />12. Practical Magic, Alice Hoffman<br />13. The Constant Princess, Philippa Gregory<br />14. Cradle and All, James Patterson<br />15. Pop Goes the Weasel, James Patterson<br />16. Lost Souls, Lisa Jackson<br />17. Digital Fortress, Dan Brown<br />18. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Rebecca Wells<br />19. Outlander, Diana Gabaldon<br />20. On a Highland Shore, Kathleen Givens<br />21. The New Yorkers, Cathleen Schine<br />22. Twilight, Stephenie Meyer<br />23. New Moon, Stephenie Meyer<br />24. Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer<br />25. Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer<br />26. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding<br />27. The Summons, John Grisham<br />28. The Princess Bride, William Goldman<br />29. Dragonfly in Amber, Diana Gabaldon<br />30. Short Change, Patricia Smiley<br />31. Vision in White, Nora Roberts<br />32. The Shack, William Young<br />33. The Moon Below, Barbara Bickmore<br />34. HP and the Sorcerer's Stone, JK Rowling<br />35. HP and the Chamber of Secrets, JK Rowling<br />36. HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban, JK Rowling<br />37. HP and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling<br />38. HP and the Order of the Phoenix, JK Rowling<br />39. HP and the Half Blood Prince, JK Rowling<br />40. HP and the Deathly Hallows, JK Rowling<br />41. The Villa, Nora Roberts<br />42. Voyager, Diana Gabaldon<br />43. The Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield<br /><br />Okay, now that I have the list out, I'm not nearly as far behind as I thought. I'm not halfway through, and we are already in the second half of the year, but I should definitely be able to catch up. We have instituted NO TV MONDAYS at our house, and that should free up some reading time. Woot. I know it is pathetic, but lists make me happy.Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-83600154955937597172009-07-21T09:31:00.003-05:002009-07-21T09:42:55.392-05:00Hiya Randomness<ul><li>Things are moving along swimmingly. You can blame mafiawars and farmtown for so few posts. :) I'll try to be better.</li><li>My husband would like you to check out his <a href="http://possumstompholler.blogspot.com/">blog</a>. He is writing as a fictional character. It really can be quite hilarious. Its too hard to describe. You should just check it out. :)</li><li>We tried an experiment last night that went well. We decided no TV for the whole night (unless it was an exercise dvd or the Wii fit). I have noticed that we are both feeling kind of lethargic, and letting some stuff slide, so I thought one night a week without tv is doable. We have DVR, so if there is anything on Monday nights that we want to watch, it is being recorded. We learned how to play a new card game, cleaned the kitchen, made dinner (and actually ate it at the table instead of in front of the tv), walked the dog, did the grocery shopping, listend to music, read a little bit and played skipbo (chris is a menace at that game). The night was very enjoyable, and seemed to last a lot longer. I think we will try and continue the expermint next week.</li><li>Brodie is getting HUGE! I'll try and upload the most recent pictures later this week. Don't get me wrong, I love my cats. Baggins was the first pet that was "mine". But I'm telling you, this dog brings us so much joy (along with a bit of frustration, this is true), and we just love him like crazy.</li><li>I have a long list of projects that I need to be working on. However, the rest of the weekends of the summer are quickly filling up.</li><li>I need to blog about our trip to Wisconsin. I think we will move there one day.</li><li>The weather in KY is AMAZING. We are loving it. I hate hot weather and would be happy if it never reached above 80.</li><li>I'm horribly behind on my reading challenges. Trying to catch up. :)</li></ul>Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-32466860941994812112009-06-09T12:24:00.004-05:002009-06-09T12:31:18.028-05:00backSo I haven't updated in ages. Again, one of those things were if you put it off, it just becomes harder and harder to do.<br /><br />So here is a very brief update, with the hopes that once I get the ball rolling, I'll fill in the blanks. :)<br /><br />* We got a bulldog puppy!! Named Brodie.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345380518022142290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZj8zttypVL09vjmXHUcXZNMneZgz8LFoTogYnGuIszsxqzSqMw_LZSy7Ral0HJ2X5o2XiUx8N6HGfRAnNbL-sDz5tnpZpPYXDJ-fZgG77aSZL_LeCqHahx6aKlAIzClk28ys/s320/brodie+002.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>* Weight Loss is going well. I feel really good, and am walking (with the dog) about 3/4 of a mile to a mile everyday. We've only missed 2-3 days since we got him (begining of April).</p><p>* Emotionally, I'm in a really good place right now. Definitely had some healing in that area.</p><p>* Chris is off school for the summer. Definitely need some clarity and guidance with the whole school situation.</p><p>* Have some great FO (finished objects) to show off (a lace scarf that is amazing, if I do say so myself)</p><p>* Some book updates (but not as many as there should be)</p><p>* We are going on a road trip/vacation to Wisconsin, the Land of Cheese. :) Super excited and pumped. </p><p></p><p>Thats all for now. That way I can say that I updated. :)<br /></p>Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-71318461403414964522009-04-02T08:03:00.002-05:002009-04-02T08:09:46.357-05:00Weekly Weigh InSo I'm going to try and be accountable to posting my weekly weight loss. I'm a day late posting this, but I was down 6.5 lbs at yesterday's weigh in.<br /><br />The first few days were a little rough as I got used to following weight watchers again. Particularly because I didn't have much in the house in the way of healthy snacks. But I made it. I do feel a different sense of purpose this time around. And I succesfully made it through a wedding without any of the appetizers or wedding cake. I know that I could have if I wanted, cause I had the points. But for me it was a discipline thing. I didn't want to fall into my normal trap of "giving in" and enjoying too much because it was a special occasion. So I just removed the option to go overboard by not having any. I don't think I will always have to do that, but until I feel like I have the self discipline under control, I just have to avoid.Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-3276908434015263982009-03-31T12:48:00.013-05:002009-03-31T13:21:14.112-05:00Lunch Experiment: FlatOut PizzaI decided to try something new at lunch today, so I thought I would make it a blog post. Heh. It was kind of fun. Disclaimer. I am not a great cook. I fail more than I succeed. I'm also not a great photographer. This was strictly for my entertainment. :)<br /><br /><br />I've seen a number of people mention FlatOut breads when they are talking about low points recipes. My Kroger only had one kind (the sun-dried tomato variety), so that is what I got. Imagine pita that has been stretched out.<br /><br />First things first, the ingredients.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319410527896990546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillsVLttvDrtXut-NH2yjEueeNeQqEm8fn7DIgHG0_i1VPaBrjnD_ENmV13dPkLj27aQUZ5FpBXiTFIjy-bEx1RSDus66Io5y50u-oB541HFx2lzzawg3-ObPCNfy018MJaW4b/s320/Ingredients.JPG" border="0" /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">hmmmm, something is missing here . . . oh yeah, the cheese! For someone who is known as the cheese-eater, you wouldn't have expected me to miss the cheese. By the time I remembered, I had already started cutting up the ingredients. Too late for a re-take.</span></em><br /><br />Step 1. Bake a single piece of FlatOut bread in a preheated 350 degree oven for 7 minutes.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319410849910541634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoAoGDisx60Dh5CXqeoH2HZrqAjZfKfFzfeBT30h_RNXlYo0I1rTV_ETT1qoyCrcDGn_NJXLeLXhy33orHxbC7uB_TwPM8T6dur77mSCLUrLHCFT-W02HEQNyGS3YHZuebEWS/s320/bread.JPG" border="0" /><br />Step 2. While baking, chop up the toppings.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319411231423210306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMBtjBJmJPvJ0aGl-nUlwt5nwDdiLET_9QqsRH2UJmYYahFVOEgLXk3THIX0114_tCYejf2SWflkNd7FRSnngge8cKmwdilMS8iA0v8KGGMTcJJFPpFSNaWwClPDIbyQxSj5g/s320/toppings.JPG" border="0" /> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">There's the cheese. :) I used 1/4 cup of spaghetti sauce, 1/2 cup cheese, 1/4 of a red onion, and 1 roma tomato. I saved the rest of the toppings for tomorrow's lunch.</span></em><br /><br /><br />Step 3. After the bread has been cooked for 7 minutes, spread the spaghetti/pizza sauce over the bread as close to the edges as you can get. Sprinkle with cheese and then toppings.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319414576683980882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8QktpQGg9xsPqBrd9yPOjz2OcaKyXVEPoyvwKuaT_NIGX0Rf04HP56oBKXj0BO5wHVIz2nk6pUgtgFvDG-4D48sVoOlrNogornrK6e_THU62RRpLqj2_SyKc4c2bAOlHvhtx/s320/precooked.JPG" border="0" /> Step 4. Return to 350 degree oven and bake for 15 minutes.<br /><br /><br />This is the finished product:<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319415944964213010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwNodajftLTMfvS8u_zYnpzbm3Q8CeSZcS31oQlhXCRhmiIuIz-_-UEWfEkEtGvex94yui_envRkyes-B5T4Fq7dhRrlzJT0wFBFbOGuzX-R8YHsmHgPjGzkc0YgmCGQ4FiYN/s320/finished.JPG" border="0" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">It doesn't really look that different from the pre-cooked version because there are so many toppings.</span></em><br /><br /><br />All in all, it was quite tasty. And only 7 points for the whole thing. Which is about what my Lean Cuisine meals usually end up being. But this was a lot tastier.<br /><br /><br />Now I just have to figure out some other things to use the FlatOut bread for . . . .<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319417136465789842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggodtYupmyfK4pMAYm0Q6V4KgVPkDgTsuKQ6DZPywS-fhzXTdhSUvU-ES3AHHFtTET81G_BnIq0WYuk6bORFRWEkFgmNbCH42zeCl6YlCKP8cNLH7mgxrPYjjCrbK5SkWJCgy8/s320/lunch.JPG" border="0" />Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-88918801936150946212009-03-26T11:06:00.004-05:002009-03-26T11:26:19.450-05:00100+ Reading Challenge Completed<div><div>So I've finally finished the first <a href="http://tinyhead.blogspot.com/2008/05/100-reading-challenge.html">reading challenge</a> I ever signed up for. Unfortunately the page for the challenge is no longer functional. When I signed up I interpreted it as you have a year (from when you sign up) to read <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDN2tP3yeNrbV6RTor4dL7SrX_fZwXZWBIVW6b7pvVXWgs5qL_P5S64MlV2i1l97-Q7DtxmIkoqMLuY0AfoziEUAl33VoIM3M4DTMJzTcwW1cSThGGELDs-iD1Xb50cHOY00q6/s1600-h/100++Reading+Challenge+2008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317533511953769410" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 154px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDN2tP3yeNrbV6RTor4dL7SrX_fZwXZWBIVW6b7pvVXWgs5qL_P5S64MlV2i1l97-Q7DtxmIkoqMLuY0AfoziEUAl33VoIM3M4DTMJzTcwW1cSThGGELDs-iD1Xb50cHOY00q6/s320/100++Reading+Challenge+2008.jpg" border="0" /></a>100 books. They have recently changed it to a calendar year. Which is fine, I'll sign up soon for that one and try to finish 100 additional books by the end of 2009. But I really wanted to finish this challenge before I started calculating for another. I honestly didn't think it would be that difficult for me to finish because I love to read. However, I did struggle with it a little. I seem to read in spurts. I'll read a lot for a few weeks, and then really pull back if nothing sucks me in. So I had to really focus on finding interesting things to read. I did discover a few new genres and a few new authors that I really like. I don't feel like I'm stuck in a rut anymore with what I read. There are still a few books (usually series) that I will continue to re-read regularly, but it won't happen as much anymore. There are too many great books out there that I have yet to read. The books in <span style="color:#cc0000;">RED</span> are re-reads.<br /><br />Without further ado, here are the 100 books that I have read since April 1, 2008. I'll leave up widget on the side with the full list for a little while before I take it down to make room for the next one.<br /><br />1. Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch by Haywood Smith<br />2. Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot<br />3. Educating Caroline by Meg Cabot<br />4. Monster by Frank Peretti<br />5. No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy (audio)<br />6. Point Blank by Catherine Coutler<br />7. The Hollows by Nora Roberts<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">8. HP & the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling<br />9. HP & the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling<br />10. HP & the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling<br />11. HP & the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling<br />12. HP & the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling<br />13. HP & the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling<br />14. HP & the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling</span><br />15. Size 14 is not Fat either by Meg Cabot<br />16. Big Boned by Meg Cabot<br />17. The Woods by Harlan Coben<br />18. The Last Jihad, Joel Rosenbergl R<br />19. American Gods, Neil Gaiman<br />20. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer<br />21. New Moon by Stephanie Meyer<br />22. Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer<br />23. Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen<br />24. The Stork Reality by Malena Lott<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">25. Daring To Dream by Nora Roberts<br />26. Finding the Dream by Nora Roberts<br />27. Holding the Dream by Nora Roberts</span><br />28. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett<br />29. Eleven on Top, Janet Evanovich<br />30. The Host by Stephanie Meyer<br />31. Twelve Sharp, Janet Evanovich<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">32. Midnight in Death, JD Robb<br />33. Naked in Death, JD Robb<br />34. Survivor in Death, JD Robb<br /></span>35. Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">36. Divided in Death, JD Robb<br />37. Glory in Death, JD Robb<br /></span>38. Lean Mean Thirteen, Janet Evanovich<br />39. Good in Bed, Jennifer Weiner<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">40. Born in Death, JD Robb<br />41. Innocent in Death, JD Robb<br />42. Creation in Death, JD Robb<br />43. Strangers in Death, JD Robb<br />44. Morrigan's Cross, Nora Roberts<br />45. Dance of the Gods, Nora Roberts<br />46. Valley of Silence, Nora Roberts<br />47. Purity in Death, JD Robb<br /></span>48. High Noon, Nora Roberts<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">49. Remember When, Nora Roberts & JD Robb<br /></span>50. Devil's Own, Sandra Brown<br />51. The Little Lady Agency, Hester Browne<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">52. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell<br />53. Calico Palace by Gwen Bristow<br />54. Scarlett, Alexander Ripley<br /></span>55. The Husband, Dean Koontz<br />56. Queen of Babble, Meg Cabot<br />57. Tribute, Nora Roberts<br />58. The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, Lilian Braun<br />59. Fearless Fourteen, Janet Evanovich<br />60. Midnight, Dean Koontz<br />61. Queen of Babble in the Big City, Meg Cabot<br />62. Salvation in Death, JD Robb<br />63. Little Lady, Big Apple, Hester Brownea<br />64. Wicked<br />65. A is for Alibi, Sue Grafton<br />66. Queen of Babble Gets Hitched, Meg Cabot<br />67. The Pagan Stone, Nora Roberts<br />68. Candy Cane Murder, Joanne Fluke<br />69. The Danger of Candy Canes, Laura Levine<br />70. Candy Canes of Christmas Past, Leslie Meier<br />71. Divine Evil, Nora Roberts<br />72. Dark Tort, Diane Mott Davidson<br />73. Play Dirty, Sandra Brown<br />74. Birthright, Nora Roberts<br />75. A Murderous Yarn, Monica Ferris<br />76. Son of a Witch<br />77. Ritual in Death, JD Robb<br />78. Love Endures, Mary Blayney<br />79. Cold Case, Ruth Ryan Langan<br />80. Wayward Wizard, Mary Kay McComas<br />81. Trace, Patricia Cornwell<br />82. Blue Dahlia, Nora Roberts<br />83. Black Rose, Nora Roberts<br />84. Red Lily, Nora Roberts<br />85. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, Joanne Fluke<br />86. Candy for Christmas, Joanne Fluke<br />87. World Without End, Ken Follett<br />88. The Little Lady Agency and the Prince, Hester Browne<br />89. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, David Wroblewski<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">90. Celia Garth, Gwen Bristow</span><br />91. Into The Wilderness, Sara Donati<br />92. Promises in Death, JD Robb<br />93. Practical Magic, Alice Hoffman<br />94. The Constant Princess, Phillipa Gregory<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">95. Cradle and All, James Patterson<br />96. Pop Goes the Weasel, James Patterson<br /></span>97. Lost Souls, Lisa Jackson<br />98. Digital Fortress, Dan Brown<br />99. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Rebecca Wells<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">100. Outlander, Diana Gabaldon</span></div></div>Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-81268542738775271982009-03-24T17:28:00.003-05:002009-03-24T18:05:53.268-05:00A Vow to Myself<div>I want to have a baby. I realized shortly after my miscarriage that I needed to lose more weight before we tried to get pregnant again. Even though I am relatively healthy, I am very overweight. Even though many overweight women have babies all the time, I realized for myself that I needed to give my body the best shot possible. I know I won't be at my "ideal" weight before we try again, but I need to weigh less than I do now. However, I have struggled a great deal in the last seven months to actually lose weight. I've not been able to stick with any thing for very long. I've tried to examine my reasons (excuses) and I just can't figure it out. Is it partly because if I think that if I lose the weight and we get pregnant again, I may miscarry and have to go through this again? Therefore if I don't lose the weight, we won't try and then I won't have to deal with another miscarriage. Maybe partly, but I don't think that is it completely. Is it because maybe I really don't want to have a baby deep down inside? I don't think that is it either. Is it because I don't think I can do it? Is it because I may be depressed and don't want to admit it? Is their just one reason? What reasons do people have for not losing weight? Trust me, I've tried them all on, and no one excuse fits perfectly.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So I started to think about all the promises and goals and lists I've made. Wondering where I was going wrong. What do I need to do differently. I came to the very blunt realization that I have all the tools, I know what works, and I need to stop getting in my own way. So I decided to make a vow. I thought about one of the other "vows" that I have made, and the symbol of that vow. My wedding ring is always with me. A symbol of the vow that I made to Chris. I realized that I don't even THINK about breaking that vow. So why do I break the promises that I make to myself? So I decided to make a vow to myself. And use the same kind of symbol. And just like my wedding vows, I'm doing it publicly (here). I think there is something in making a public vow that brings an extra sense of accountability. So maybe this is corny. I feel serious about it. I got a plain band at Wal-Mart. I said the vow out loud, and I'm putting it here for people to know.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>I vow to do what it takes to get healthy. I will follow a healthy eating plan and a healthy fitness plan. No more putting it off. No more reasons to not try. No more excuses.</strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316893342969371202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikF5KoyZldaTCFjsAT52RiWmjYy8w_OGb6oV84ZdPOcDeAva1fR3P3zIjLNjWq0o9BUxY2rD8jLv_3Z9KiEbYVMo8IXfa73RCIJYnqW-fa-G8CQpbUYCzUUPLOSiLOEFvRZiO/s320/my+vow.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong></div>Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31582583.post-22619915009271892902009-03-10T10:43:00.002-05:002009-03-10T11:00:46.172-05:00Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2009 COMPLETED<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtX6mqRNFMiA5yqa0nFzKc2iVLoMbrXUUavWhe5FgCt1GRE6h4xKScKLeuFq0eVM0scd2XiXD16-dvuaA3IcJv1wgrJbeYXPWWz0nfKS9HIF9iwzK16lpu7W6HcHyrRVjsj-X/s1600-h/historical+fiction+challenge.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311587789184214530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 142px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtX6mqRNFMiA5yqa0nFzKc2iVLoMbrXUUavWhe5FgCt1GRE6h4xKScKLeuFq0eVM0scd2XiXD16-dvuaA3IcJv1wgrJbeYXPWWz0nfKS9HIF9iwzK16lpu7W6HcHyrRVjsj-X/s320/historical+fiction+challenge.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I have completed this challenge a few days earlier. I got kind of bogged down in the last book, but it finally came through. Doing this I discovered that I like historical fiction that is about an actual time period better than historical fiction about an acutal historical figure. In other words, I like the made up characters set in a real historical event/period.</div><div> </div><div>Celia Garth (5 out 5 stars) is set during the American Revolution. One of my all time favorite books. I also found out that it was recently re-released, so I went ahead and bought it instead of waiting for it from the library.</div><div> </div><div>Into the Wilderness (4 out of 5 stars) was quite good. It is set in 1792. It was a little slow to start, but once it started, it kept my attention without any problem. The begining felt a little stiff, but the kinks were worked out soon enough.</div><div> </div><div>The Constant princess (2 out of 5 stars) was okay. I've enjoyed the authors other books about Henry VIII, but this one (about Katherine of Aragorn) just didn't hold my attention like the others. She used a different format (some in first person, some in third) and when it was going back and forth between the two, it didn't feel very smooth. Plus, since I had already read the other books (The Other Boelyn Girl and The Boleyn Inheritance) I already knew the general story. </div>Tiny Headhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062828626279950916noreply@blogger.com0