2015 Reading Challenge - CATCH UP, part two

Two books I've recently read....

Mind of a Molester, by Kenneth Quinn

 

 

This book is written by a friend of mine. It is presented in a very informative and interesting way. It showcases and highlights a raw and open account of addiction and healing. He shares the story of his past and how he worked through it...and beyond it.

 

 

Why I Married a Murderer and How I Survived the Divorce, by Teresa Roberts.

 



 

You know... sometimes you just end up with a book in your collection...with no rhyme or reason for it being there. So you read it. That's what happened...and that's what I did.  Not impressed. This book was basically a run down of the ups and downs of dating and all the bad relationships this lady ended up in.......almost a "poor pitiful me" type thing. 



2015 Reading Challenge - Catch UP!

This past month or so has been BUSY for me.... school has just about done me in this semester. I was taking 3 classes - one of which was Biology and the teacher in that class was rough-stuff! BUT --- here it is...the week of finals... and I'm actually able to take a small breath and a quick sigh of relief as I play catch up on several things.  My hope and plan is to get back in the blogging groove now that this semester is essentially done with.

First things first.... well... easy things first, how's that.  Somehow I have managed to read during all of this semester crazy-ness!  Six books, I think... is what I need to update on. Impressive, huh? Some of them were quick reads...so it's not as daunting and impressive as it sounds.

"A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit" --- For this category I chose a book off my overstuffed bookshelf:

Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend Of Betrayal, Courage And Survival is a novel by Velma Wallis, set in northeastern Alaska.
The basic summary of this story is two old women spend the winter abandoned by their tribe in the wilderness. They survive...and thrive. It was a quick read...and not overly impressive. I suppose Alaskan legends aren't really my thing. But, this little book has been on my shelf for a little while now - so it was time to read it and move on. I will find it a new home soon...
I chose this category...because I think Alaska is someplace I'd like to visit....maybe in the form of an Alaskan cruise?

Under One Roof: Lessons I learned from a Tough Old Woman in a Little Old House. by Barry Martin. This is a heartwarming story of an unlikely friendship between the superintendent of a massive construction project and the old woman who refuses to sell her tiny house that sits in the way of the project. I'm not sure if this is the exact story that the movie 'Up' was coined after.... but, it's a VERY similar tale. I was expecting to shed a few tears with this book.... but surprisingly I didn't. It was a sweet story. 
I put this book under the "book based on a true story" category.....and passed it on to my sis.

Fixed Trilogy: Fixed on You, Found in You, Forever with You. by Laurelin Paige. Similar to the whole 50 Shades storyline, but without a lot of the physical BDSM stuff. I LOVED this trilogy. I listed to the first two via audio book then read the third one on Kindle. If you liked 50Shades.... then I'd suggest you check this trilogy out.
I, of course, put this under my "Trilogy" category.

Hudson by Laurelin Paige. This is book 4 of the "Fixed Trilogy". I could've done just fine without this one. Take it or leave it --- it didn't really add much to the other three. It was just "ok" and provided a little backstory to Hudson, the main male character in the Fixed Trilogy. I read this via Kindle. 
I put this under the "Book with one-word title" category.

There ya have it.... the handful of books I've recently read. Not sure what I'll start on next......

As for the 2015 Reading Challenge --- I've read 14 books...leaving 38 more to read!

January Twenty Fifteen Recap

So... I'm one month into Twenty Fifteen. What has been accomplished thus far? What's been going on? Let's see....

I started the year with big plans to try new recipes. I'd say things are going good with this. I prepared 7 freezer meals - all new recipes. So far we've tried two. We had orange chicken the other night and it wasn't very good. Tonight we tried Cilantro Lime Chicken. It was pretty good. I was a little unsure on how to eat this --- the recipe ended up making quite a bit of the corn, black bean, onion mix --- so, we weren't sure if we were supposed to eat this over rice or wrapped in a tortilla or what. What'd we do? We shredded it a bit and wrapped it up in a tortilla...with rice. It was good. We'll have it again. And, for the most part, I think it's a meal that's good for you. All fresh ingredients....veggies, and chicken.... Other than the freezer meals, we've tried a few other recipes -- kale chips, which are DE-LISH right out of the oven.... but the following day, they've lost their crisp and are a bit soggy. So -- that's a recipe we'll have again.... but with plans to have no leftovers - because they don't keep well.  We also tried ranch pork chops and a few other chicken dishes. Those were all successes. We did have another FAIL - cheeseburger soup. It just wasn't as good as it appeared to be. So... trying new recipes is going well. I got my Pinterest board organized and that helped TREMENDOUSLY!! Em seems somewhat excited - and interested - that we're trying new recipes. I'm glad she's enjoying this new adventure.

My other big plan was to participate in a Reading Challenge that I came across. It's a total of 52 books - to read throughout the year. I chatted with my sis and with a friend of ours, Jen.... and we decided on New Years Eve to do this!! Jen created a facebook page for the challenge. .... and we've actually got a few other folks joining us on this challenge. How am I doing on it so far? I've completed 6 books. And I'm currently in the middle of 4 other ones. I'm impressed that I've been able to stick with this one. I enjoy reading but hardly ever have time, it seems. But - sticking to this challenge, I've had to get creative (audio books) and pay attention to my "free" time and utilize it the best I can.... reading when I'm waiting for class to start, etc... and I've made it a point to go to bed at a decent time so I'll have a few minutes to read before I drift off to sleep. I've found though, that audiobooks at bedtime doesn't work well. I fall asleep and the audiobook continues --- so I have to find my place again the next day.

I chose a "word" for the year --- REDUCE. How's that going? Well.... the ONE thing I wanted to really focus on reducing ...was my commute to work. Of course, when I chose my word -- I didn't make a huge deal about that focus .... because I didn't want folks I work with to know I was looking for something in Conway. BUT --- a great thing happened. A position became available in the Conway office -- and so I jumped on it. I started in the Conway office this week. I'm now driving 3 miles to work....instead of 30. REDUCE, I did!!  This will in turn reduce my spending ... on gas...and on food. I'm close enough now to come home for lunch - which will eliminate the many days I ate out for lunch...which is expensive.   What else have I reduced? I've reduced my soda intake....drinking water during the day at work and I figured out how to make tea, so Em and I have tea in the evenings with dinner. I've reduced my weight ... somehow....  maybe by watching what I eat?? I've reduced my food intake ... not going back for seconds as I used to, not fixing a big plate of food, etc.  I've also reduced my "idle" time. I disconnected my cable tv... which also reduced my spending by $45 a month... but, I'm limited to 4-5 channels, so I don't spend my idle time watching hours of Food Network anymore. If nothing is on tv.... news, BigBang, SharkTank.... then Pandora music is on and I'm busy doing something else or all is quiet and I'm reading (textbooks and books for the reading challenge).

Oh...and one more "thing" I started for this year... was the 52 weeks savings plan. I've been able to stick with this so far. The only problem I have .... is that I don't carry cash on me. So, "saving" the money each week... tucking it away in my piggy bank... has been a bit of a chore, to go to the bank and get the cash... but... they don't call it a challenge for nothing, right?

Spring semester started....we're 3 weeks in. This semester I'm taking online Gender Studies, hybrid (part online and part lab in class) Biology, and also one evening a week of Criminal Justice. So far things are shaping up well. The Gender Studies class is super simple.... reading articles and participating in online discussions. The Criminal Justice class...is....well... so far... a JOKE. I'm not impressed. That's another story for another post. But, let's just say ...it's not stressful or taxing. And then we come to Biology... Ehhh Gads!  I'm covered up with this class. The textbook reading is over my head, the online work (quizzes, powerpoints, lecture notes) are over my head....but I'm muddling through it. The labs in class on Saturday mornings aren't too bad. I'm not overly impressed with my teacher. But... we're only 3 weeks in --- maybe things will smooth out soon!

So... I'm feeling like this year is off to a good start. I'm organized... I'm paying attention to my spending...and my eating... and ready for a good productive year. I came across a quote the other day.... and it sums up my thoughts for this year. Happy Twenty Fifteen!!

2015 Reading Challenge: The Omnivore's Dilemma

 

 

THE SECRETS BEHIND WHAT YOU EAT

“What’s for dinner?” seems like a simple question. But do you really know…

- What happens to a field of potatoes destined to become french fries … or
- In how many disguises corn sneaks into your food? (Hint: it’s in your soda, your burger, and that Twinkie!)

- Do you know what that “organic” sticker on your banana actually means … or
- Where the chicken in your nugget grew up?

Do you know the secrets behind what you eat?

In this book, you’ll go undercover at the supermarket. You’ll delve behind the scenes of your dinner, and by the time you’ve digested the last page you’ll have put together the fascinating (and sometimes disturbing) puzzle of what’s on your plate and how it got there.

This young readers edition of Michael Pollan’s bestseller The Omnivore’s Dilemma includes a brand-new introduction and afterword, an exclusive author Q&A, and a variety of fresh visual “evidence.”

MY REVIEW:: I loved this book!! It was soooo interesting and informative. It certainly opened my eyes and has inspired me to really pay attention to the foods that I'm eating ...and how I do my shopping at the grocery store. It's even got me interested in shopping the local farmers markets and such. I've got to check into that ... I think there's one that goes on in Conway - but I know there's one that goes on in Little Rock. Maybe I can work that into a Saturday routine. I was just simply fascinated with this book and highly recommend it to anyone interested to know more about the foods we eat and where they come from.

OneWord 365 - new word

 

 

I don't think it's part of the game.... to change your word after a couple of weeks --- BUT --- rules are meant to be broken, right?....wait... is it a rule?

 

Anyways.... after the first few days of the year and being so productive around the house .... cleaning and organizing and all that.... I found myself saying a different word than "verve" ---- so I decided I needed to shift my focus to another word, before the year got good and started.

 

I am changing my word to "reduce".

 

Sounds a little .... off.... BUT.... so far this week, it's been oddly amazing. I've continually had this word in my brain....incorporating it into my every day.... and almost my every thought. Here's a few of my thoughts on this.....REDUCE....

 

 ~ clutter and stuff lingering around the house. If not used, then recycle or rid.

 ~ spending on frivolous things. If no real purpose, then don’t spend/purchase.

 ~ waistline by eating healthier foods.

 ~ dr. pepper/soda intake….by drinking more water.

 ~ junk food intake.

 ~ health risk by taking better care of myself – eating better, being more active/proactive.

 ~ stress.

 ~ idle time....tv time....

 

The list seems to go on and on and on..... so, I think this will be a better word for me to actively focus on and who knows --- I may even accomplish something with it. 

2015 Reading Challenge: three little words

"three little words"  - a memoir by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

An inspiring true story of the tumultuous nine years Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent in the foster care system, and how she triumphed over painful memories and real-life horrors to ultimately find her own voice. - Amazon blurb

This book was one tucked away in my bookcase....and I decided to read it for the challenge under the memoir category.  This ended up being a quick and easy read. It was a touching story with a great ending.

Finished in just a couple days and marked it off my list. I placed the book on bookmooch.com and have already gotten a request for it.

2015 Reading Challenge: Murder in Little Rock

 

 

"A book that takes place in your hometown" is the category for this one on the Reading Challenge. This book was a fairly quick read. I found it interesting...and actually quite fascinating to read the names of people I know or have heard of as well as places around central Arkansas that I'm familiar with. I'd vaguely heard of this story and a few random rumors and comments made over the years - but never really knew the story...so this was a brief Arkansas history lesson as well.

I'm marking this DONE on my list!  50 books to go!

One Word 365

One Word 365

This is an interesting little ...challenge. Sounds simple enough...

Chose ONE WORD.

One word to focus on every day, all year long.
One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live.

Make a commitment ... and focus. BUT - if you stick to it, then it will shape your year...
...and potentially your life.

How big of an impact can ONE WORD make in your life?

I'm interested to see how this will work in mine. After some thought and a little research, I've decided to accept this challenge and chose ONE WORD.

The word I have chosen is:

VERVE

Definition: creative enthusiasm; the spirit and enthusiasm animating artistic composition or performance. Energy, vitality.

I want a year full of energy, full spirit and enthusiasm into everything I chose to do....and with this new focused energy, I feel this will open doors for me to do even more...
learn more things, explore new things, etc.

So, with this word in focus now, I'm interested to see what will become of it and how I will incorporate this word into my world. I do plan to incorporate this word into my "twentyfifteen". Below is the link to the website and more information.
Forget New Year’s
http://oneword365.com/

New Year, New Challenges!

#GRATEFUL 2015.

http://benandme.com/2015/01/2015-grateful-challenge-free-grateful-journal.html

This challenge seems quite simple... write down one thing for which you are grateful each day. At the end of the year, you'll have 365 blessings, some that you may have forgotten about through the year.

I have printed off this challenge and will tuck it into my calendar (aka my life) and will work through this through out the year. 

I'll be charting the progress...the blessings... here!

New Year, New Challenges! - NewRecipes

I'm no chef when it comes to cooking... .BUT... I'm addicted to Pinterest and then TONS of yummy looking recipes there. I'm always open to trying new foods and new recipes --- but can't seem to be diligent or disciplined about it --- so 2015, I plan to try some new recipes...new crockpot, easy cooking, quick fixing meals. I'll be charting my progress --- the good eats and the not-so-good eats -- here!

New Year, New Challenges!

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.” ~ Neil Gaiman

1. Write a handwritten note and post it to someone you haven’t been in touch with for a while.
2. Make someone a Birthday or celebration cake.
3. Volunteer for the day, a local dog shelter, home for the elderly or at a soup kitchen for the homeless.
4. Take a bus or train to a town, village or city that you’ve never visited. Just go to the station and get on the next one that comes in.
5. Learn meditation, yoga, Pilates or something new that you’ve never tried.
6. Make a scrapbook, print out photographs, emails and attach keepsakes.
7. Go to an outdoor weekend music festival. And sleep under the stars.
8. Learn to play a musical instrument.
9. Spend a whole day in bed watching movies, reading books and snuggling with a loved one.
10. Look up your family tree and find out what you can learn about your ancestors.
11. Sign up for a local community class, learn something new and meet other people who live in your area at the same time.
12. Forgive someone who has hurt you. And maybe let them know.
13. Plant seeds and grow something in a window box or the garden. If possible start a small vegetable garden.
14. Compliment a stranger, it will possibly make their day.
15. Read an old classic. Choose one that’s always caught your attention and be patient if you don’t get into it straight away.
16. Start your own or join a book club.
17. Go to a museum, the cinema or a restaurant alone. Enjoy your own company.
18. Bake cookies and share them at work, when visiting friends or give them to a neighbour that may be on their own.
19. Make your own birthday, anniversary, valentines or celebration cards.
20. Go mountain climbing, hiking, or a long forest walk.
21. Eat lunch outdoors, pack a picnic in a hamper, sit by a lake, the sea, go to a local park or lay out a blanket in the garden.
22. Roller skate. Hire or buy a pair and have fun while toning up.
23. Let someone else order for you in a restaurant. Or cook something you would never normally try.
24. Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while and make plans to visit.
25. For a period of time, a week, a month or all year, only shop locally. Purchase free-range, ethical and fair-trade goods, buy from independent retailers, at farmer’s markets and give handcrafted creations as presents.
26. Invent your own cocktail, purchase your favourite ingredients and try out something new. Adorn it with umbrellas, fancy stirrers and edible glitter.
27. Play a board game with friends or family. Scrabble, Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit sadly get forgotten due to technology. They are timeless classics and a great way to spend quality time together.
28. Swap the car for a bike for the day. So much more can be absorbed when cycling, plus it’s great exercise.
29. Attend an open mic night. Great entertainment and can be the perfect way to meet new people too.
30. Donate to charity, whether it’s clothes you no longer wear, blankets to the local dog shelter or a sack of carrots to donkeys in India. There are charities everywhere grateful for anything. Even if it’s a $1 donation—it all helps.
31. Make homemade bread. It’s very simple and completely delicious.
32. Switch off all phones, laptops and technology devices. Find different ways to communicate with those close to us and spend quality time with yourself or with others.
33. Have a major clear out. De-clutter, if it’s not pretty, useful or it hasn’t been used in the last 6 months, be ruthless, let it go.
34. Write out a will, a little morbid to think about but it will give you great peace of mind.
35. Take all old books and magazines to a local waiting room, for others to read. Write a note in the front of a book and leave in a public place for others to take on and enjoy and then they can do the same when they’ve finished.
36. Take your camera with you for a whole day and capture everything and anything that takes your interest.
37. Attend a food or wine tasting festival. Most cities hold these events and they are usually free to attend and a great way to try new tastes.
38. Hold a mini movie festival at home. Invite your best friends, tell them to bring a movie they love and spend a whole afternoon and evening together curled up chatting, eating and drinking and sharing old favourites.
39. Organise a clean up with neighbours. Choose a particular hot spot that has turned into an eyesore and get a few people involved to help out. It won’t take long, will be enjoyable working together and you’ll be amazed at the difference a few hours teamwork can make.
40. Get a few friends together and take a ball to the park. Play soccer, rounders, cricket or basketball and ask everyone to bring something to add to a small outdoor snack/picnic afterwards.
41. Make your own soup—nothing tastes better. Especially if you add your homemade bread.
42. Learn a new language, especially if it’s of a country you plan to visit.
43. Go for a swim (if you don’t already.) Or try a brand new water-based activity, water/jet skiing, surfing, canoeing, sailing, kayaking.
44. Skip! It’s free, burns a heap of calories and can be done anywhere.
45. Take a road trip—pack a few necessities, take a map and set out on adventure with no set destination. Explore and investigate different places along the way.
46. Camp out—choose a time when the weather is good, take a barbeque set and sleeping bags and a portable radio. Relax with nature and leave all technology behind.
47. Read the community newsletter or noticeboards. Find out what’s going on locally and get involved in a new activity.
48. Try a new look—choose a new hairstyle or try wearing clothes that you like but wouldn’t normally wear.
49. Write a list of everything we appreciate. Sometimes things can go unnoticed and it’s a great way of becoming more aware and then passing on the gratitude.
50. Watch a sunset, sunrise or both. Find a spot with a good view and settle down with a friend or loved one and enjoy.
51. Write down your life plan. It doesn’t have to be specific, or even achievable. Just a guide for all the things you would like to do and then you can tick and cross off the ones that you want to work towards.
52. Take time out to let those around you know they are loved. Call up, write letters, visit and send the message out strong and clear to those that are most important to you.

 

I will be blogging about THIS as well. This will be the main "meat" of this blog... I do believe.

New Year, New Challenges! - Money Saving

Saving Money!!   I suck at this! Maybe this will help... although I wonder if it should be flip-flopped -- I tend to have more money at the beginning of the year than I do at the end.  Which, I guess, is where the "CHALLENGE" part comes in to play!!  I plan to chart my progress here on this blog.