I’m signing up for the 2013 Immigrant Stories Challenge hosted by Colleen at Books in the City. This is the third year for the challenge and the third year I’ve signed up. I did really well in 2011 but did horribly last year. So hopefully this year will be much better!
Anyone else signing up for this challenge? Any recommendations?
2012 was not the best reading year for me. I didn’t even make it halfway to my goal – actually I barely hit a quarter of my goal. But, if history is any indication, 2013 should be much better. The last 4 years have been a trend – good year, bad year, good year, bad year – so next year should be a good year.
But, while I didn’t read a lot I did read some very good books. So here, in no particular order, are my favorites of the books I read over the last 12 months. They didn’t all come out in 2012 (I’m so bad about reading new books) but I did read them this year – so they’re going on the list.
Sultry With a Twist and A Shot of Sultry by Macy Beckett – I loved Sultry with a Twist when I read it and was lucky enough to win an ARC of A Shot of Sultry (which comes out 3/1/13). I’ve never really read anything from the romance genre but these are just so good! I totally got sucked into the stories in both books and fell in love with the characters. Macy has a third book coming out in this series and I cannot wait!!
Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson – I adored this book. It was by far one of the funniest books I have ever read. And had some of the most touching sections too. This book seemed to take the blog and book world by storm when it came out and I think that happened for good reason. This will definitely be one of those books I read over and over.
Jeneration X by Jen Lancaster – I love Jen Lancaster. I will pre-order every book she writes from now on (I pre-ordered this one). I totally think Jen and I could be bff – she says the things I think and I love her for it. This book was fantastic. As someone who has sort of grown up kicking and screaming the last few years I could totally relate to the premise of this book.
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain – This may be one of the most recommended books I’ve ever read. So many people said to read this and I’m glad I listened! I loved the story, the setting, and the time period. I didn’t know much about Hemingway going in to this but I really want to learn more since finishing this.
Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran – This book was recommended by some of my book club friends and as soon as I heard what it was about I knew I’d love it. I adore everything about Marie Antoinette and that time period so I knew this would be a hit. And it was! I found this fascinating and could barely put it down. I definitely recommend this!
Bossypants by Tina Fey – I really like Tina Fey – she’s funny, smart, and not afraid to play with the boys – and she kicks ass doing it. This book was funny and so enjoyable to read. I’m really glad I picked this one up.
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is an opportunity to share any books I have received this week in my mailbox, on my nook or in my hands.
This weekend was the used book sale at my local library, though I didn’t know this until late Saturday morning. I had actually convinced myself I didn’t need to go but then I drove by while running errands and there was a parking spot and next thing I knew I was walking in. I had no luck in the room with the regular books but did score a few things from the kids/young adult room.
So here’s what I got:
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; The Silver Chair – C.S. Lewis
I was somehow not aware that there were multiple books with this although I swear I read this as a kid. I didn’t get the whole series (just books 1, 2, 3 & 6) so I’ll need to fill in but for $0.50 a book I couldn’t resist. I’m excited to read them and they’ll be great to have in any future little bookworm’s library.
Just as Long as We’re Together – Judy Blume
I adored Judy Blume as a kid. I’ve read all of her books, many multiple times. I actually remember reading and having this book but I’m not sure if it is still in a box somewhere or not so I decided to grab it. If nothing else I may pass it on to the bestie’s daughter when she’s older
sloppy firsts – Megan McCafferty
I adore this series. I read them originally as library books (except the last one) so when I saw this in a box I stood there debating whether or not I had this. I finally decided that I didn’t *think* I had it and, if I did, oh well, it was $0.50. Well, turns out I do have this. So, anyone need a copy of this?
Not a bad haul for $3.00, right?
I saw this on my friend Jessica’s blog and thought it sounded like fun and I immediately wanted to play.
loving
Just like Jessica I’m currently loving something music related – Away From the World by Dave Matthews Band. This came out on the 11th and I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve listened to it since then. It is so good. These two songs are currently fighting it out to be my favorite:
If you watch college football you might recognize Rooftop; I know they were playing parts of it going into commercials during the Notre Dame/Michigan State game.
reading
I’m currently re-reading Eat Pray Love. Again. I pretty much read this once a year. I adore this book and when I’m in a reading funk or just can’t find something that interests me I put this out. Sadly the Italy section is my favorite (shocker) so I find myself losing interest during India and Indonesia this time.
I have decided that I’m going to finally face my fear and tackle IT as my scary read for the fall/Halloween season. It’s pretty big and I’ve been a slow reader lately so I’ll probably start it soon.
watching
I’m loving Go On. It was one of the few new shows I’m interested in this year and so far it isn’t disappointing. I hope it does well because I’ll be sad if it gets cancelled. I love Matthew Perry; Chandler was my favorite Friend and I really liked Fools Rush In when I was a kid (I was strange). I think he’s really great in this role and I love the supporting characters. If you haven’t watched it yet give it a try!
thinking about
November! We’re hosting Thanksgiving for the first time so I’ve already started planning and thinking about numerous things – do I have the right dishes? what sides should we make? where can I find more cute placemats? do we have enough chairs? what sweets should I make? etc. Thankfully Doug is just as excited/nervous about this as I am so he’s right there with me making tons of lists and excel charts… ok, only I make excel sheets.
Also, I think I’m doing NaNoWriMo again this year. I tried a couple of years ago and failed horribly. But a lot of m friends have been writing lately so I have a ton of support and I have a few ideas floating around in my head. So I think I’m going for it.
Finally, November means my birthday. I’m not nearly as excited about birthdays as I used to be but my loved ones insist on acknowledging the day still ;P so what can I do? Originally I had told Doug that I wanted to go see DMB for my birthday. There was a rumor that they were going to be touring this fall and that they’d be very close to us a few weeks before my birthday. But now it seems that isn’t actually happening so I’m going to have to come up with something else. Oh, and Grux’s birthday is in November too, so we’ll have to celebrate that too.
anticipating
Putting out my fall decorations. A few houses in the ‘hood already have pumpkins, mums, scarecrows, etc out but my summer flowers are still hanging in there so it feels wrong to bust out the fall stuff yet. Plus I spent enough on those dang flowers I want to get my money’s worth.
wishing
For a change. I’m a little sick of the day to day thing I’ve got going on. I want a challenge, something that really requires me to use my brain. Some days I honestly think a monkey could do my job.
making me happy
My boys. Seriously, my husband and my dog are the best things to ever happen to me. My husband can make me laugh no matter what’s going on. He’s totally my partner in crime. Last night I stumbled on the Rolling Stone list of the top 100 artists and was reading it to him and cracking up at some of the comments we were both making. And Grux is just as good at making me feel better. I came home at lunch the other day totally stressed out and on the verge of a breakdown and he just went nuts. Running all over the place, flinging his toys around, getting in to his “I’m going to get you” crouch and then giving me this big goofy grin with his tongue hanging out. All I could do was stand in the kitchen doorway and try not to fall over from laughing so hard. So, yeah, my guys make me happy.
Also, my book club girls. Someone stumbled on to yet another fanfic that was made into a book and how much the author made so I announced that I was going to start writing fanfic (no, not really). Well, this lead to a bunch of us tweeting fake fanfic relating to a certain vampire series. In the confines of a tweet no less. I was cracking up so hard. It was fantastic. I adore my friends.
Have a great weekend!
From Goodreads:
For fans of Tina Fey and David Sedaris-Internet star Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, makes her literary debut.
When Jenny Lawson was little, all she ever wanted was to fit in. That dream was cut short by her fantastically unbalanced father (a professional taxidermist who created dead-animal hand puppets) and a childhood of wearing winter shoes made out of used bread sacks. It did, however, open up an opportunity for Lawson to find the humor in the strange shame spiral that is her life, and we are all the better for it.
Lawson's long-suffering husband and sweet daughter are the perfect comedic foils to her absurdities, and help her to uncover the surprising discovery that the most terribly human moments-the ones we want to pretend never happened-are the very same moments that make us the people we are today.
Let's Pretend This Never Happened is a poignantly disturbing, yet darkly hysterical tome for every intellectual misfit who thought they were the only ones to think the things that Lawson dares to say out loud. Like laughing at a funeral, this book is both irreverent and impossible to hold back once you get started.
My Thoughts:
I have to admit something: I had never read Lawson’s blog before I read this book. I’d heard of the blog and knew of some stories from other blogs and Twitter but I’d never actually checked out the blog. I now realize this was a horrible mistake and am working to correct this.
This book, much like Lawson’s blog, is amazing. I laughed; I came close to crying; I decided I wanted to be bff’s with Lawson. This book had me cracking up multiple times. I even read “the funny parts” to Doug, which means I read him almost the entire book. The only parts that aren’t funny aren’t really supposed to be funny.
Lawson touches on some mental health issues, health issues, and a few other no-so-funny issues (I don’t want to give anything away) but yet she’s able to come right back and be funny again – usually in the same paragraph.
I was able to relate a lot to Lawson, especially when she talked about not being popular and learning to embrace her weirdness. Topics I definitely have dealt with. But she did it with such humor and there was definitely a feeling of laughing with her and not at her.
This is definitely in the top 5 as far as books I’ve read this year and up there on the best books I’ve read, period. Doug has really enjoyed the parts I’ve read to him and has been cracking up right along with me. I definitely recommend this book – and Lawson’s blog! Just be careful that your tears of laughter don’t get on your e-reader.
Image from Goodreads
So the summer Target Beauty Bag came the other day and I have to say that is a great way to cheer up a rather crappy day. Cute beauty products for free? Yes please!
This is my second ever beauty bag as I did get the spring one a couple months ago. I loved that one too.
I’ve seen posts about these bags on Facebook and some blogs and I’ve seen people asking about what is in them so I thought I would show you all what was in the bag I got.
The bag is a cute blue printed bag. I’m not sure what it is made of but it is more of a linen feel.
At the top is a booklet of Target coupons for beauty products. Then the samples are:
Aveeno Living Color Color Preserving Shampoo and Conditioner
Garnier Fructis Color Shield Shampoo and Condition
Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait
TRESemme Split Remedy Shampoo (black bottle)
Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry Touch Sunblock in SPF 70
I don’t have colored hair so I may give those samples to my mom or mother in law but I’m really excited to try the Split Remedy Shampoo. I’m also really excited to try the lip butter because I’ve heard really good things about that product. And the sunblock will definitely get used because I got a horrible sunburn in Milwaukee a couple weeks ago and definitely got a reminder about the importance of sunblock.
So did anyone else get a beauty bag? Anyone planning to try to get the fall one if there is one? I know I will!
