Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Midnight at the Oasis...

I have this love-affair with antiques (mostly from the MCM era). My friend had a whole slew of Franciscan Oasis in blue. I wanted it. She was selling. I told Chris. Lo, and behold, it arrived on Christmas. I was ecstatic, I was jubilant! I said, "I can't believe you actually bought me all of the pieces." He said, "I wouldn't have if I didn't think they were cool." Who knew we both have a love for all things mid-century?

Don't mind the mess or the sleeping kid in the background,
it's Christmas day! I'm not sure what my excuse is the other
days of the year...

Saucer
Round Cereal Bowls - set of 2
Oval Vegetable Bowls - set of 2 
Dinner Plates - set of 4 
Gravy Boat 
Bread Plates - set of 2

I shall spend the rest of my days looking for all of the pieces I don't have. Oh, and we haven't used them yet. I just touch them and look at them in their cabinet.





Monday, December 31, 2012

50 Books in a Year: Book #56 Mare's War #59 Dark Water #60 The List #63 Let It Snow

So, the above four books are pretty amazing and I'm kind of sorry that I'll be speed reviewing them. I hope you'll  get the idea of how much I love them, although they are all quite different. I'll be putting up full reviews on Teen Text Talk and will link to those as I complete them...which, um, may be the 12th of Never....we'll see.

Dark Water 
(edited from a conversation on YA Reads for Adults...where you too can join and I love that this was our guest author selection and Laura McNeal was there to talk with us about her book)

I love the ending so much. It's so hopeful and romantic and uplifting that I was willing to accept that even her cousin's, who is truly much weaker than she, hatred couldn't deter her from the goal of finding Amiel. 

I suppose I just see the whole book as being uplifting. I see it as a struggle for a girl to find her own identity, who is forced to find it faster than most because of what happens, and in the end she knows exactly who she is, what she wants and how she's going to get it. Pearl is much more than just a girl of divorced parents, much more than a poor girl et cetera, and while Amiel helped her on this road in the end she did this alone and I can take comfort in that. To me she is more alone than lonely and alone isn't all that bad. I don't think she was lonely just a little bit lost and I could/can/will identify with that.  All the people are experiencing  something that so real that at times it's painful. 

 I totally remember those times in my life when I felt like I was changing, and the world around me was staying the same...I think that's one of the many steps towards maturity. I also lived in my head a lot, um, er, still do and could be that extroverted cheerleader, but was also the person who thought about everything too much. I had to learn to balance those two me's a little better and in the process I grew up and realized that it's OK to be quiet sometimes and sometimes it's OK to yell. I think that Pearl is that the beginning of that journey.

Finally, this discussion has reminded me of this poem:

Song by Adrienne Rich http://southerncrossreview.org/41/ric...

We're all just diamonds and wood after all. 


The List 

Although I was a black girl in a pretty much all white school, I mean I was the first African-American to graduate from Lebanon High School and that was 1994 (you can read more about that here). Aside from my early years of school, I wasn't really teased. And in high school I wasn't blacklisted or whatever it is teens do to other teens. I do remember being in a clique that would rival that one in Mean Girls and reading this book reminded me so much of those, what I thought were harmless, lists of pretty girls and boys. I never thought about what it meant to be on those lists or to write those lists or to even see those lists floating around.

Popularity contest are not cool.

I love how this book shows this, but doesn't really tie up any of the loose ends...the ending is neither happy nor sad. Everyone learns lessons and everyone suffers. How could you win when the list is so horrible and intrinsic to the very backbone of the school. Vivian really has shown us every example of the teenage boy and girl. I'm pretty sure every adult will see him or herself in the characters and be glad that time is over. I hope teenagers read this book (yes, I bought it for my classroom in hard-cover) and see themselves and use it as a tool to change.

Mare's War 

This book was first introduced to me during our Missouri Reading Initiative meetings. Our presenter Kae read a couple of really great descriptive passages from the book and then we used them as writing assignments. Those passages really made me want to read the book.

This book is quite lovely as it encompasses historical fiction, Mare is a African-American girl fighting in WWII, strong females, and it shows how African-Americans were discriminated against even in the face of war. The book is told alternately through flashbacks in Mare's voice and in the voice of Mare's youngest grand-daughter. It's important to appreciate your heritage and to not take for granted any member of your family.

Let It Snow

Super cute stories centered around a small town and the teenagers who get snowed in on Christmas and Christmas Eve. There are three stories that interweave the characters and each story is written by a prominent YA author.

The Jubilee Express by Maureen Johnson
I love this story. I enjoy a good meet cute. Stuart sounds just too perfect. I could go on, but I'd just feel like some sort of moron. Is it wrong that I want to collect little Christmas themed knick-knacks one day...with a train running through the whole town? I don't think so.

A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle by John Green
This story is kind of like Road Trip meets Pineapple Express meets Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist. I loved. I rooted for the good guy. I wanted there to be cheerleaders. I wished I had a cool nickname like The Duke.

The Patron Saint of Pigs by Lauren Myracle
I'd been reading about how this one wasn't as good as the other two. At first I totally agreed the main character is a whiny, selfish girl who doesn't really deserve to have friends let alone a boyfriend. Despite my dislike of her I really thought she acted like many of the teen girls I see today and in the end she learns some really valuable lessons from her guardian angel and the only entirely tea-cup pig thing was adorable.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Christmas Part II: Christmas RETURNS

So, we're having Christmas with another part of our family today...I'll be doing more catching up on blogging and, helping the Tiny Tot open more presents...God Bless Winter Break!!! Hope you all have a lovely day doing whatever it is you're doing!!!

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Saturday, December 24, 2011

Have a Wonderful Christmas Eve...

Some excellent subway art I found on Pinterest...both are for personal use only please...

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I framed them and I'm using them as decoration and they will be part of my table centerpiece...

Pinterest. Making Martha Stewart/Rachel Ray/Sandra Lee/Insert your favorite here...out of all of us. Sigh.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Christmas Card Awesomeness...

So, I received my Christmas card from the Card Exchange like 3 days ago (obviously, somebody mailed their card on the appropriate December 13th deadline) and just now have a chance to write about it.

Before I start talking about my card...you should take a moment or two or ten to check out, her lovely non-fiction focused reading blog, Sophisticated Dorkiness:

Clever title, cute South Park version of herself!

I appreciate that in the card that I received there were comments about me and my reading habits that my partner in the exchange could have only received my checking out my little blog.

I have read Cinderella Ate My Daughter and loved it, even if I don't necessarily agree with all of it. I owned Barbies growing up and just bought my daughter some Disney Princess dolls for Christmas. She loves Tangled, we watch it all the time, and I thought she needed the dolls.

I'll reply to the rest of the card in an email...I love receiving real email almost as much as I love receiving Christmas cards!!!

I'm definitely doing this exchange next year!

Thanks Kim for the card, I put yours in the mail on the 19th...just a few days late...

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Six Word Saturday #27

My life in six words
Our Christmas party is this evening!

Here's what I'm bringing...

Candy Cane Cake

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Hope you have a lovely Saturday everyone!!! :D





Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. The full list and linky can be found here. And, here's where I found it.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Top 20 Christmas Songs

I love list, I love Christmas, I love Christmas list!!!

I make Christmas CDs for my friends and family...it's my homage to the mix tape of the 80s. Here's my list of the top 20 (10 is too few) Christmas songs...

1. White Christmas by Bing Crosby
2. White Christmas by Otis Redding...seriously, I love them both!
3. This Christmas by Donnie Hathaway
4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Colbie Caillat
5. Baby It's Cold Outside by The Glee Cast
6. Little Drummer Boy by Jars of Clay
7. The Christmas Song by Nat "King" Cole
8. Carol of the Bells by The Bird and The Bee
9. Snowfall Kind of Love by Ingrid Michaelson
10. Believe by Josh Groban
11. Silver Bells by Johnny Mathis
12. Step Into Christmas by The Puppini Sisters
13. Christmas This Year by Toby Mac and Leah Nash
14. Sleigh Ride by Ella Fitzgerald
15. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams
16. Do You Hear What I Hear by Destiny's Child
17. Winter Weather by Benny Goodman
18. Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer by Burl Ives
19. All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
20. Christmas Can Can by Straight No Chaser


What songs would you include? And, Merry Christmas Everyone!!!



Saturday, November 26, 2011

Paper Crafts For the Holidays...

In looking for a craft to make for Christmas presents for my department I found these lovely gems...

d.Sharp Journal
*Santa Beard
*Paper Angel
*Snowman Garland
*Paper Bird Ornament

Holiday Paper Star Ornament from It's A Gift
Holiday decorating using left over wrapping paper from Frugal Design Girl
Paper Snowflakes from ellinee
Bird Tree Trimming from Living the Swell Life
Cardboard Star from Sitting At Your Kitchen Table
Framed Ornaments from Country Living

I chose...

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Thursday, November 3, 2011

Because I love cheesy, Christmas cheer!





It’s that time of the year! I’m hosting the Book Bloggers Holiday Card Exchange once more (see the 2010 post here) and I’m hoping this year will go much more smoothly. Last year was fun but it took me forever to come up with partners; this year I’ve simplified things so hopefully I won’t have people getting more cards than they send out again.

Info

1. Sign up for the exchange by November 30, 2011.
2. Partners go out December 3, 2011.
3. You have until December 13, 2011 to send your card(s).
4. Since it’s a book-lovers card exchange you have to include something book-related in your card. Some ideas:
    a. Write about a book you’ve read recently.
    b. Give a few book recommendations to your partner.
    c. Tell a book-related story.
    d. Something else book-related that you think up yourself.
5. Since this is a book blogger holiday card exchange, you need to be a blogger who blogs at least sometimes about books to participate.
6. The swap is open internationally. Since last year I got a big headache trying to pair up people who did/did not want to send internationally, this year everyone must be willing to send internationally. Okay? Okay.
7. You can exchange up to five cards. You won’t always get a card from the same people you send your cards to. It will nevertheless be an awesome thing.

Some Things to Remember

1. You HAVE to send a card. A card is something like this. You can make it yourself or buy it at the store. Everything you write must be contained in the card itself. Letters are not cards. The card doesn’t have to be book-themed OR holiday themed (but it might be nice if it was). I would personally refrain from sending specifically religious-themed cards, because that sort of thing tends to offend people, even if you didn’t mean to offend them.
2. You HAVE to write something book-related in your card (see above). You can’t just say “happy holidays.” You COULD just write a list of books and that’s all, but I don’t think that’d be a lot of fun, do you?
3. You DON’T have to send anything else but the card, but if you want to stick in something else that’d be fine. A bookmark, for instance, would be really nice. Whatever you send: it has to be flat enough to fit in the envelope– no upgrading into package territory, here.
4. The most you should spend is $5. The point of the exchange is that it’s cheap enough for us money-less people to participate in, so everything should cost $5 and under. I don’t know if you can even buy a card that costs more than $5. Can you?

Quickie Privacy Policy

I’m doing this by myself, so I’m the only one who will see ALL the information. You partner(s) will be the only ones besides me who will see your address/email/etc. After the exchange is over all the info will be deleted.

Questions/Comments

If you have any questions, please feel free to comment here or email me about them! I’m sure I’ve forgotten something.
Also, please do spread around the link for this post! Feel free to take the graphic at the top of the post (if you click it there’s a bigger version) and post it on your blog, etc. The more people know about the BBHCE the more fun it’ll be!

Sign Up

Come join the fun here.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge: Day Three

Day Three: A song that makes you happy
          I've been telling everyone I know about kindie rock. Kindie rock is kid friendly indie rock and encompasses such bands as The Scribble Monsters, They Might Be Giants, The Not-Its and, my favorite, The Jimmies
         I found The Jimmies quite by accident at B&N, I was looking for something to entertain the tiny tot. I'd been playing kiddie music and Fisher Price lullabies when I took her to school when I have to do work on the weekends and was actually looking for the lullabies when I stumbled upon their cd and recognized them from some of the videos we'd been watching on youtube. The cover kind of grabs you (their stuff is sold exclusively at Barnes and Noble and on their website) and I bought their cd instead. At Christmas I bought the dvd and introduced my whole family to Ashley and the guys in ties. We especially like Taddy, Spanimals and Bedhead. The latter is the song that makes me happy.
          I loved the song when it was just Lila and I dancing around at school or bopping around in the car on the way home. I love the song even more now that I have Christmas memories of the kidlets bopping around to the song as their older cousin rolls her eyes and laughs and we're entertained by watching kindie videos...sigh...good times!

Side note: One way to make Lila excited or distracted is to pop in the 'ole video of this song, her head starts bopping up and down, she shakes and shimmies about, she raises the roof (still not sure where she learned that one) and she sings.

"It's Cool to be Uncool"
Feel free to join in by commenting below (I really do love comments, on fb or here), or doing this challenge on your own blog.

The 30 Day Song Challenge
Day 01 – Your favorite song
Day 02 -- Your least favorite song

Day 03 – A song that makes you happy
Day 04 – A song that makes you sad
Day 05 – A song that reminds you of someone
Day 06 – A song that reminds of you of somewhere
Day 07 – A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 08 – A song that you know all the words to
Day 09 – A song that you can dance to
Day 10 – A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11 – A song from your favorite band
Day 12 – A song from a band you hate
Day 13 – A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14 – A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15 – A song that describes you
Day 16 – A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17 – A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18 – A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19 – A song from your favorite album
Day 20 – A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21 – A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22 – A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23 – A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24 – A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25 – A song that makes you laugh
Day 26 – A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27 – A song that you wish you could play
Day 28 – A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29 – A song from your childhood
Day 30 – Your favorite song at this time last year

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Sparkles

Ok, so my kiddo is really into sparkly things ("What 14 month old girl isn't?", I'm told. I'll just have to take everyones word for it). She is also a voracious reader...ok, ok, I know she doesn't really read, but she does point to words and babble and then looks over or up at me to make sure that I'm paying attention. She'll read a page, I'll read the whole book, she goes back to the pages that she likes, and, the pages that she goes back to always have sparkles and bright colors. Yesterday, I finally got out all the board books for the holidays and we started reading those...there's one about an angel, one about the baby Jesus that plays "Silent Night" and one about a special star...the one that she's most drawn to, however, is one that got into the pile on accident...it's called Happy Sparkling Halloween, and she can't get enough of it!!!

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

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