le cirque des rêves

I recently read The Night Circus for the Jazz Hands Book Club. (Hi #jhbc ladies!)  It was so good that I am going to tell you about it, including some of my fantasy casting choices for the impending (I hope) movie based on this book.

(Please, oh please, make The Night Circus into a movie. Pretty please!)

So, the general gist of the book is there are two young magicians, Celia and Marco, that have been magically bound to, and trained for, a competition that only one will walk away from.  While neither player knows how the game must end, they show off their skills within the black and white striped tents of one very unique and mysterious circus.  Over the years they fall in love, complicating the game and putting everyone involved in the circus in danger.

The Night Circus a very amazing read, especially if you are like me and fully immerse yourself in the world of the story, imagining every detail.  I had to read the book twice in a row to satisfactorily absorb all the imagery of the circus and to get the time line straight in my head.  The time line switches back and forth from the beginning of the circus to the time just before the end of the competition.  It isn't so much confusing as it is full of detail.

The Night Circus has the potential to be a really amazing movie!  With the magical nature of the story I imagine special effects akin to what we saw in the later Harry Potter movies, but with a more Tim Burton direction style.  The I have thought long and hard about my fantasy casting of these characters and here are some of my choices.  I haven't picked an actor for every character, just the ones I see the clearest.

Marco Alisdair: Tom Hiddleston

Celia Bowen: Jaimie Alexander (young Celia: Sarah Hyland)

I saw this picture on Tumblr and thought to myself, this is Marco and Celia right here! (s)

Hector Bowen: Bill Nighy

I don't know why but I can just imagine him as Prospero the Enchanter.

The Man in the Grey Suit: Alan Rickman

Herr Theissen: Michael Fassbender

Just imagine the scarf in rêveur red! (s)

Isobel Martin: Kelly Reilly

The moment Isobel entered the story Kelly Reilly from Sherlock Holmes was the first face to pop into my mind.  To me she IS Isobel. (s)

From The Night Circus:

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. 



*For the record this is just my personal review of a book I love and bought with my very own money.

My Kid Uses an iPad, What of it?

We let Ian use the iPad to play games and watch cartoons, but some people seem to find this unfathomable that we would let a three (almost four) year-old play with something so expensive.  So I thought I would write up a little something about why we let Ian use the iPad and what he is allowed to do with it.

First, I find that the benefits from carefully selected learning apps far outweighs the risk of damage my kid might do to the device.  Second, learning to handle something that is expensive and belongs to someone else is a very good lesson in respect and care.  Third, I'm no fool and put a SquareTrade warranty on the iPad from the get go, to cover any accidents.

I have spent a great deal of time hunting down (and pre-testing) the best selection of apps that will entertain Ian and also provide some manner of educational content along the way.  Yes, he does have access to some essentially mindless games, but he also has some favorites that are really advancing him and helping us prepare him for starting school next year.  We have a multitude of apps to aid with learning the alphabet, handwriting (with the help of a stylus that I got at Walgreen's for a mere five bones,) reading, puzzles, shapes, colors, following directions.  I'm amazed with how fast this kid can fly through some of these learning games!



So here are a small handful of some of, what I consider, to be the best apps out there for preschooler age kids.  All of these apps are not only approved by me but also favorites of Ian when he gets iPad time. Yes, many of them cost money but I didn't buy them all at once and they are so worth the money.  I consider it an investment in his preschool preparation.  

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox ($0.99) : Ian has grown out of this one, but it is my number one recommendation for the 2-3 year old set.  It has counting, colors, shapes, fruit, puzzles and the layout is perfect for the age group!  When your child gets questions right they can pick a sticker to put on their board as a reward.  This would be a great app to start out your preschool age child using an iPad or iPhone.  (It also happens to be available for Android.)

PBS KIDS Video (free) : Kids can access PBS Kids programming and watch videos they can select from themselves.  It is a simple and easy to use format that I am comfortable letting Ian loose to watch whatever he chooses.  (Also available on Android)

Super Why ($2.99) : This is a new one for us, and it includes four sections, one for each character from the PBS show.  They cover letter hunt, writing, rhyming words, and identifying the correct word to finish a sentence.  So far I really like this one, and Ian enjoys playing with some of his favorite characters.  (Also on Android)

Zoo Train ($1.99) : With this app Ian is in heaven with his favorite thing, trains.  He can pick from several activities: building a train or train track, music, building words, or picture puzzles.

iWrite Words ($2.99) : There is a free version of this app with three letters and three words, but it is worth every penny to buy the full version.  I LOVE that when Ian writes a word it shows it exactly how he writes it, so he can see his own handwriting.  He can pick letters (upper or lower case) and words to write along with the guide.  I like him to use the stylus for this game so he is actually practicing writing.  This is my number one recommendation for apps.  You will not be sorry!

Disney books and puzzle apps: Finding Nemo: My Puzzle Book ($1.99), Toy Story Read-Along (free), and Cars Lightning Was Here: My Puzzle Book ($0.99), Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Rally (free), and Handy Manny Workshop ($0.99).  They have interactive read-along books and puzzles.  The puzzles are great and Ian is really good at them, but I love that he is reading along with the story.  Anything to help build a love for reading is good in my book.

Stack The States ($0.99) : This one is for older kids already reading, but I like to play it with Ian.  I read him the trivia question and guide him to the right answer.  While he isn't really playing this, he is learning a little about the states along the way and enjoying himself.  The format is really fun, and I would really recommend keeping this one in mind for older school age kids to help with geography.  They have an app for countries too, but I haven't gone there yet.


Please keep in mind that I paid for all of these apps with my own, hard earned, money and that not one of these opinions is sponsored.  I just really like these learning apps for the preschool  set and wanted to share with you in the case you might find it useful.  Sorry they are mostly iTunes apps, but that is what we have so that is what we use.  Thanks for reading.

Carly's Voice

This video was linked on Twitter by a friend of mine @dpringle.  I found it so moving that I decided to post it so I should share it with all of you.  It is the story of a young girl named Carly who is autistic and found a way to communicate even though her body will not cooperate with her mind.  It is an amazing look into the mind of a girl silenced by autism and reminder to never judge a book by its cover.



Carly's Voice

Anonymity

For the past few weeks I have been struggling with myself over blogging.  Something inside me suddenly didn't feel like sharing so much with the world.  I had so many what if questions rolling in my head that I didn't know what to do anymore.  What if using my real name online invited identity theft my way?  What if my son resents me when he grows up for blogging about him using his real name?  What if I say something online that my work doesn't like and they fire me?

I decided that there are enough what if questions to prompt making some changes if I really plan to continue writing online and feeling comfortable sharing stories about my family.  So to start I changed my Twitter name to remove any connection to my real last name, and I have removed my last name from my profile on this blog.  There will likely be some more changes down the line, but I am feeling a lot more comfortable knowing that my family will be a little safer with the changes I am making.  Those who know me will still know the real me but strangers will need to earn that knowledge.

I feel badly that the changes I am making will confusing some people and make things a little difficult for a while.  Hopefully, everyone will understand why I need to make this change and will enjoy more posts from the slightly more anonymous Melinda.

Also, since several people have asked me about my new Twitter name (@Sew_Lin) I thought I would tell you a little bit about why I picked that name.  Growing up my name was shortened to Lin or Lindy often by my family, especially by my mom.  I have always really liked being called Lin and I am a little sad that my nickname never seemed to catch on with my friends or even my husband.  The "sew" part came from my recent realization that I love sewing, and creating things with my sewing machine.  I started using "Sew Lin" when I created my Tumblr account, which I named That's Sew Lin.  It is sort of a play on the phrase "that's so Melinda," as in it is very much my style.  On Tumblr I post things that catch my eye online so I thought it fit really well and was just cheesy enough to be funny.  I would have used ThatsSoLin as my Twitter name but it just seemed too long and even more confusing. 

Thank you for sticking around and as a reward, starting next week, I am going to make it a point to blog at least a few times a week again.  <3

Do It, Or Else

Dear everyone I know,

This is a public service announcement so pay attention!

Ladies, go do your self breast exam! I don't care if you did it yesterday, last week, last month, or never.  Stick your hand in your shirt and feel yourself up (don't forget under your arms)!  Know what you feel like so you know when something changes.  It might not seem like much but it is so very important.

Men, you're not left out in this!  Make sure your ladies are doing their self exams and consider checking your own chest and underarms as well.  Men can get breast cancer too!

Less than 1 in 8 women will have breast cancer at some point in their lives.  Think of 8 women you know, including yourself.  One of you could get breast cancer.  One of you could already have it!

When I think of eight women I know, who are my age (give or take a couple years), four of those women have already found a lump in their breast.  Four women have already taken their futures in their hands and made sure they are the ones in control.  Thankfully, for my friends, not all lumps are cancer but we can kick breast cancer...but only if we find it first.

So go! Go do your self breast exam.  Schedule and appointment and get a clinical breast exam or even a mammogram.  Do it or else I will punch you in the face!

Love and healthy thoughts,
Melinda

Fall Already!

It is that time of the year; the time of the year when all the trees change beautiful colors.  All the trees but ours!

For some reason I don't understand the three huge trees on our property decide to hold onto their leaves until about a week before the first good snow fall of the winter.

Then those blasted trees pretty much lose all their leaves at once leaving us about a week to rake waist deep piles of leaves to the curb in hopes of making the last city leaf pick up of the season.

Sometimes it works out that the city is running behind.  Other times the leaves remain until the first snow plow comes through and shoves them and the snow back up into our yard.

The other day I was standing in the driveway with my husband when he pointed out that if you look through our back yard you can see our green and brown trees frames is bright flaming yellow, orange and red.

While it would be a beautiful picture it just makes me mad.

Leaves would you just fall already!

Letting It All Hang Out - For a Cause

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month I am participating in Boobie Wednesday on Twitter.  Every Wednesday in the month of October I will be changing my profile picture as a reminder to every woman to do her monthly self breast exams.  Taking one minute a month to feel yourself up could save your life.

Check out Komen for the Cure for more information on doing self exams. 

Fill In The Blanks

On SRSLYLIZ, Liz created a list of some of her favorite things.  I decided to be a copycat today and do the same, because what is more then that sharing with random people around the world.  So here are a few of my favorite things.  If you want to play along here is the format from SRSLYLIZ:

Want to play along? Copy & paste the prompts below, answer each with a photo and a description if you like and leave a comment here with a link to your post so I can read your favorites. Fun!
1. Favorite hobby?
2. Favorite tv show?
3. Favorite restaurant food?
4. Favorite thing to shop for?
5. Favorite animal?
6. Favorite song?
7. Favorite word?
8. Recent favorite YouTube video?
9. Favorite movie?
10. Favorite childhood memory?


1. Favorite hobby?
My favorite hobby these days is reading: reading blogs in my Google Reader, reading books when I have time, reading magazines.  

2. Favorite tv show?
Hands down favorite show is NCIS, and I will stop everything to watch this show.  I love the cast and how the characters interact together.   I like how they solve a mystery per episode like CSI, but they manage to tie the whole season together so they are not just random mysteries each week. 

3. Favorite restaurant food?
I love breakfast foods and my favorite breakfast is blueberry pancakes.  There is no way I could have blueberry pancakes too often.  Yum!  When I make pancakes at home they turn out too thin to add blueberries to the batter.  So I reserve blueberry pancakes for going out to breakfast, which we do once every weekend.  It is our little tradition.  There is a local place that knows us and our orders by heart (sad and totally awesome at the same time.)

4. Favorite thing to shop for?
Books, Books, and more BOOKS!  We have a wellness program through work, and if you complete certain tasks like getting an annual physical, health risk assessments, working out regularly, etc. you get bonuses in the form of gift cards.  I always end up picking an Amazon gift card and use it to buy more books.  Right now I have about 8 books on the shelf I haven't read yet and I want more.  It is an addiction and I am not the least bit sorry about being an addict.  

5. Favorite animal?
Giraffes!  They are just so cute!  I have this print of a mama giraffe kissing her baby's head, and when I had my son I hung it in his room and based the whole room decor around giraffes.  The poor kid is probably going to end up hating giraffes but I don't care because his room is adorable and I love it.

6. Favorite song?
I have lots of favorite songs from various bands, but the one song that I really love from my heart is Pachelbel's Canon in D.  Yeah, I know it is a wedding song and all, but it really doesn't matter.  When those violins begin playing together it does something to me, and it feels a lot like falling in love. 

7. Favorite word?
I say "awesome" all the time!  Just ask my son, who started repeating me one day.  Every time he would do something, like build a block tower, I would say "awesome" and now he congratulates himself whenever he builds something by clapping and saying "awesome."   He sure is an awesome little kid.

8. Recent favorite youtube video?

My favorite YouTube videos are from Pomplamoose, and I think their best is the cover of Single Ladies.  I love it and it makes me smile.  Check out some of their other songs, because Pomplamoose is awesome. (Yeah I just said it again!)


9. Favorite movie?
I love movies so it was hard to pick just one favorite, but I had to go with Bride & Prejudice.   It is a fun Bollywood musical based on Pride and Prejudice.  The songs are so much fun to sing along with, and I am totally in love with all the colors of India.  Those saris are so beautiful and I would totally wear one if I could afford to get one.  I think I would want my sari to be yellow and orange. 

10. Favorite childhood memory?
Playing outside with all the other kids from the block.  We would ride our bikes up and down the suburban street, and play at each others houses.  I think that some summers we were outside the whole day from dawn until dusk.  It was awesome.

Harmony

A post today by Call Me Cate of Show My Face on Equality and Independence has me thinking a lot about my own relationship with my husband.  Cate's post talks about having equal "me" time and equal contribution on household tasks.  When I think about it, that balance and independence is really the key to making a happy relationship.  At least it is the key for my husband and I.

My husband, Chris, and I have been married for almost eight years (on June 2.)  We tend to not fight very often, if at all.  Yeah, we do get irritated with each other on occasion.  (Who doesn't have a bad day now and then?)  However, for some reason we manage to allow each other the room to be ourselves, but together.  We often marvel at how we manage to still want to be together though we like so many different things, but I think it is that difference that keeps us together. 

We have a healthy does of independent time; doing the thinks that we enjoy separately.  In fact a majority of our time is spent doing the things we each enjoy.  I read and enjoy movies while Chris likes his video games and hockey.  That alone time seems to make our together time more precious and keeps us just far enough apart to not get sick of each other.  It is a balance we came to naturally at first, by some miracle, and I hope we can work to maintain it forever.

On Sunday morning we had the longest to-do list of chores that needed to get done.  I decided to drag myself away from playing with Ian to get started, dreading that it would take most of the day to complete my tasks.  It wasn't long before I noticed that Chris was working on chores also.  He took it upon himself to pick something off the list and get going.  Working together we got that list done before lunch.  It was beautiful, and gave us the whole rainy afternoon to enjoy. 

The harmony of together and apart; it is what makes my relationship work. 

Thank you Cate for the reminder.

Ma'am

Excuse me Ma'am, are you offended when someone calls you Ma'am?

Today at Dooce the featured community question was "When do you think it is appropriate to call a woman Ma'am?"  It got me to thinking about why so many women are offended and actually correct people who call them Ma'am. 

If you look up ma'am in most dictionaries it is simply defined as "madam."  However, I was able to find a more detailed definition at Webster-dictionary.net.  "Ma'am: n. 1. Madam; my lady; - a colloquial contraction of madam often used in direct address, and sometimes as and appellation."

Please note that the definition does not in ANY WAY imply age. 

So why do so many women find Ma'am so offensive, and act as if they were being called "old lady" when someone calls them Ma'am?  At what point was an age assigned to this term?

(It would be something very interesting to research.)

I think that the use of Sir and Ma'am are signs of respect no matter the age of the person to which you are referring.

So if you are one of the women who take offense to being called Ma'am, please do me a favor.  The next time you plan to correct someone for calling you Ma'am think for a moment. What about Ma'am bothers you?  When do you think Ma'am took on an age?  What age do you think Ma'am becomes appropriate?  Enlighten me.

A Little Something Special

I had once told myself that when I was established as an adult I would buy myself jewelry.  In my mind this meant that I would be stable enough financially that I could buy myself something extravagant just for the sake of proving I could do it without going into massive debt. It would be a sign that I was successful in my life.

The other day a package arrived in the mail for me.  It was a pair of earrings that I ordered from an Etsy shop called Alibi out of Italy.  I fell in love with the simple and unique look of them months ago and decided the next time the artist posted the style it would be mine.  And so it was.
It was presented so lovely that it felt more like a gift than something I purchased for myself.

She makes her own gift boxes from recycled cardboard and paper. Amazing presentation. 

These earrings were just right for me.

As I wore them around all weekend I realized something...  I AM at a place in my life where I can feel financially secure enough to buy myself something special without going into debt.  It isn't a diamond necklace, but that wouldn't feel special to me these days.  These earrings feel special to me.  And so does the necklace I am wearing in this picture.  It is a personalized necklace from Lisa Leonard, inscribed with my son's name, Ian.  I purchased it for myself with some income tax refund money. 

We may live paycheck to paycheck some months but we are not wanting for anything that counts. 

Mom's Don't Get Sick Time

Something I have learned since becoming a mom is that mom's do not get sick time.  You don't feel well?  Tough lucky mommy!  You still have to take care of your kid, do dishes and laundry, fix meals, take out the stinky trash, make sure the bills get paid on times, and in some cases like mine still get to your full time job and be productive.

Oh, did I leave out a few dozen things on that to-do list?  Well tough luck...I'm sick remember!

So how is this fair?  Moms take care of everything!  Shouldn't there be someone to come and take care of them once in a while?

I would like to vote into exsitance a house cleaning fairy that comes to your house when you are sick and magically makes it clean and shiny so you can focus on my important things like getting well!  She could look like Giada De Laurentiis except mini and with wings, organize like Martha Stewart but with a magic wand shaped like a toilet brush, and kick cleaning butt like Mr. Clean on steroids and speed. 

Doesn't that sound like a good idea?

You can't tell me that the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny wouldn't mind another one at the table during staff parties and whatever they do when they are not being all magical.

Up and Running

I bought my new 2010 calendar today, and after Ian went to bed I worked filling it in with birthday's and other special dates I don't want to forget. It was a relief to get it up on the wall in the kitchen next to my mailing station.

I NEED my wall calendar!

My calendar is the thing that keeps me paying bills on time, if at all. Without my calendar I would never know what was going on and what was coming next since motherhood has left me scatterbrained and mind numbingly tired most days.

I have my calendar hanging on the wall next to a little mail station, which is a little metal three layer letter holder. My bills go on the top level, my loan payment booklets in the middle, and my checkbook on the bottom. Then I know where everything is and it is all right there when I need it.

The calendar holds it all together by telling me what to do when.

I am so relived to have 2010 ready to go next week so I don't miss a beat.

(Updated: added photo of my kitchen organization center.)

Shopping Fail

Did you know that as of today there are only 34 days until Christmas? How did this happen? It was just the beginning of November the other day, and now it is the 20th already. Yikes!

I had big plans for this year. I was going to get all of my Christmas gift shopping done early to avoid the crazy holiday shopping that will begin next week. As I have only acquired two gifts to give so far I have to categorize this as a very big fail. That leaves most of my family to still buy for, plus my ten students at work, and the kids at day care. Oy! At least I have ideas for most of them.

Let the crazy, madhouse shopping begin!

What Did You Do This Weekend?

I get the question, "What did you do this weekend?" often from folks at work. Mind you that most of the people I work with are younger or older than me by a decade. I am one of only two people with young kids. I don't think most of them understand or remember that when you have a baby your weekends pretty much have changed big time. There is no going out to party, or hanging out with friends until the wee hours of the morning, or going to movies or concerts. (Not that I did that before, I have always been a homebody.) It just seems to be that my lifestyle, having a baby, isn't well understood by those around me. When I say that I spent a weekend hanging out with my son, it sounds dull and boring to others. You can see the pity in their eyes when they think that it was a boring weekend for me. That is so far from the truth. I hung out with my son at a cider mill and had apple tarts with a good friend that my son loves. Then we went to a Halloween party with another family with a baby too young to trick or treat and had fun treats and a yummy dinner. On Sunday we played in the leaves and went shopping (my kid loves shopping) and played in the living room until we both fell over tired. It was by far not boring to me. It is just different.

Club Secrets

There are certain things they don't tell you until you join the club. The parenting club that is. Nervous couples contemplating first time parenthood might run the other way screaming if they knew the whole story. Well I am going to spill the beans...well at least some of them anyways.

Sleep - you can forget about it! From the moment you realize you are pregnant it starts. You loose sleep wondering and worrying about the future. Then you loose sleep because you are ridiculously uncomfortable. When the baby finally is born sleep becomes a myth. You are up every few hours (or more) doing midnight feedings. As baby grows various other issues interrupt your sleep; like crying from teething, colds and fevers, noises that disturb young sleepers. As your child grows older then they are up because of the monster under the bed or in the closet. When they are finally old enough to want to sleep until noon, then you are up worrying and wondering about the future again. It does not end!

Worrying - from the moment you are handed that newly born tiny little person the worrying is already a prominent feature of your life. How will you know what to do? Does he or she have what she needs? Will I mess this up? Then the baby grows into a toddler and you get to worry about them hurting themselves learning to walk, run and play. The worry about outside influences like someone else hurting your little precious, or illness start to take hold and make you wish you could protect your little dears with a magic bubble. Don't even get my started about the worry for the future...school, friends, peer pressure, driving! It is too much to take.

Growing up - No one prepares you for how fast your tiny baby will grow up. In the first months your baby is a snugly little lump just content to be near you all the time. By the time they can move of their own volition so many changes have happened that it is hard to even remember that cuddly little lump from a few months back. Then the walking and the talking and the attitude and the personality. It happens so fast.

Love - People tend to spill this secret all the time. The love you have for your child is unlike nothing you have ever felt or even imagined before. It is all consuming and stronger than just about anything ever. People tell you this all the time, but you don't believe them or maybe you just don't have any way of getting it until you have a baby and feel it for yourself. The moment you see that little person for the first time it hits you like a ton of the most wonderful bricks in the world. It is the most amazing feeling. The best part is that it only gets better. When your tiny darling gets big enough to show their love for you in return it melts your heart into a puddle at your feet. Your baby running across the floor into your arms for a hug, a simple hug, is the meaning of life people. That kind of love is something no one can really tell you. You have to live it to understand.

A Little More Green

I love my Pur water filter pitcher. It is one of the most useful things I have ever purchased.

Up until this spring I was one of those people who purchased water bottles. You know those ones that are bad for the environment. (No need to attempt to hide your disgust. At least we did recycle them.) The water from the tap in my home has a smell. Water should never have a smell. It was disgusting! So for a very long time we purchased water to drink but cooked from the tap.

Upon receiving a coupon for a Pur pitcher we decided to give it a try to see if it would in fact make our tap water good enough to drink. I was so shocked that it did! The filtered water tastes great and there is no more smell. Yay!

I purchased a case of water bottles about two months ago. We have used about 5 of the 24 bottles since then for road trips with our son, and when we have guests at our home. I would venture a guess that the remaining bottles will last us well into 2010 if we keep this up.

I think that our water bottle habit is cured! We are one step closer to being green. Yay for the earth!

Kitchen Decor

The best purchase I have ever made for my kitchen is this Calphalon 12 inch Jumbo Fryer pan. It is just about the most used item in my kitchen since I got it almost two years ago. We use it for making up one dish meals, skillet burgers, stir fry, pancakes, grilled cheese...etc. It is large enough to fit just about anything we desire to cook up and deep enough that things never spill over the edges. I love it and it was worth every penny.

The reason I am mentioning this today was that I recently realized that this pan has taken up permanent residence on my stove top. It is either there in use, dirty from being in use, or freshly cleaned and waiting to be used. I wash this pan at least 4 times a week, and then back on the stove top it goes. It is as much a part of my kitchen decor as the paint on the walls or the light fixture on the ceiling.

Usually I like to have everything in its place. Having things laying out, instead of put away, typically bothers me to no end but not where it comes to this pan. For some reason this pan being out feels like it is put away. It feels right to have it as part of the kitchen decor since it is so indispensable to our day to day cooking nowadays.

Life Truths According to Me

I don't really know all that much but there are a few little truths that I know for sure...

Always wear clean underwear, because you never know.

Wear sunscreen and moisturizer every day to look younger than you are.

Brush your teeth after each meal and dental cleanings will be a breeze.

Having a baby changes everything, especially your capacity for love and the amount of sleep you require to function.

There are never enough hours in the day, yet somehow everything can get done if you put your mind to it.

Organization can make your life easier, save lots of time, and make the world around you pretty.

A DVD player in the car is worth its weight in gold to keep passengers quiet and occupied during trips.

Chocolate, ice cream, or cheesecake can make just about any mood better, especially if caramel is involved.

Being polite when dealing with customer service is always a good idea no matter how frustrated you are.

Writing out what you are thinking can free the mind and ease the heart.

Keeping important things in their place makes finding important things in a hurry no problem.

Always discuss the what ifs with your loved ones, so everyone is on the same page should the unexpected happen.

If it makes you feel good about yourself it is worth doing, buying, wearing, etc.

Feeling good about yourself and confident in yourself is the key to being beautiful.

A hug or a kiss from a baby is just about the most loved a person could ever feel.


What other truths can you add to my list? Leave me a comment to add your own truths.

Judge a Book By Its Cover

Do you ever judge a book by its cover? I do all the time. It is usually how I pick books out at random when I am looking for something different to read. The title or cover art draws my attention, and if the subject seems interesting I'm sold. Probably not the best way to pick out books to read but I haven't been unhappy with my choices yet. Sometimes just going with that first impression can really pay off.


When I was engaged to be married I was wandering around a bookstore and on a display was Diary of a Mad Bride. Being a bride myself it caught my attention. The funny cover art made it look like it would be a funny book. Oh my was it a great book. Actually I would have to rank it as one of my favorite reads ever. I have also read Diary of a Mad Mom-To-Be by the same author, and loved that as well.

Recently I purchased I Was Told There'd Be Cake. The title is what got me, and I love books of essays because with a baby they are so easy to read. Finish a chapter and you can put it down without feeling like you are missing out by not reading more. I am about half way though and I am really enjoying the stories. Any book that makes me laugh is a winner in my opinion.
I had a Barnes and Noble gift card to use recently and no idea what I wanted to purchase. So I wandered the store in search of some thing that caught my eye. While perusing the humor section I happened across The Idiot Girl and The Flaming Tantrum of Death. The amusing cover art and title instantly caught my eye and made me wonder what on earth this book was about. On a whim I picked it up and I am going to take a chance that it is good because the cover conveys that it should be a funny read. I haven't starting it yet but I can't wait to see if my judgment based on the cover was correct.

Tell me, what books have you judged by their cover and was it what you expected it to be once you read the story?