What's Saving My Life Right Now

Even in winter, we still get glorious sunsets out our back door.
I just don't always step out in the cold to take a photo.
This one was from October. 

Tomorrow is the half-way point of winter. I'm joining with other bloggers to knock out those winter doldrums and share what is helping me get through these gloomy, cold days of winter. Maybe one of the things listed below will be just the thing to get you through the rest of these 6-7 weeks of winter. I'll be linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy and others. Be sure to check out the link up HERE, on Friday, February 2, 2018, to see what's is saving our lives this winter.




I saw "The Greatest Showman" over Christmas break and I am OBSESSED! Oh my gosh, I had goosebumps through the whole movie. I couldn't wait to find the soundtrack on Spotify and listen to it on repeat. I've also watched all kind of making-the-movie videos. It truly is an amazing film and I'll be buying it the second it goes on sale! My favorite songs....."This is Me" and "From Now On". Hugh Jackman wowed me in Les Miserables but I was speechless after this performance.

A few years ago my husband gifted me a flower delivery every month. He has continued it and that delivery of flowers brightens my day. They usually last 1-2 weeks depending on the arrangement and make me feel special no matter what time of year it is, but especially in the winter.




Our daughter asked for this Hair Brush Straightener for Christmas and I watched it on Amazon for several weeks and the price never budged, then Ulta ran a special right before Christmas with free gifts with purchase and I snagged it. The BEST GIFT EVER. Is it terrible that I use it maybe more than she does??? I love it. I can be done straightening my hair in like 1 minute....seriously. My hair is thin so I can pretty much make one trip around my head and I'm good. Our daughter's hair is thicker and longer so it takes her a bit longer, but way shorter than if she used a straightening iron and much less frizzy. It's a win! Incidentally, it is cheaper now on Amazon than what I paid for it before Christmas.



I'm really trying to reduce my soda consumption. When I was subbing for 13 weeks, I got into a bad habit of having a 20oz soda a day. The machine was right there and it has my favorite....Cherry Pepsi...always stocked up. So, now I try to just treat myself once a week or so. Instead, I'm back to drinking La Croix or Zevia. They are perfect for that bubbly fix when you are tired of plain water. No sugar...no aspartame.

I reviewed Adagio Teas a few months ago, HERE. I loved all their flavors, but they are looseleaf teas. It was new to me and I didn't have a good set up for steeping them without the leaves and herbs slipping through into my mug. Then I found it! I love this mug set. It's perfect for steeping looseleaf tea and I have had it way more often than I would have before I found this mug.



I bought this journal for myself for my 45th birthday. I realized if I kept it every day for 5 years I would have a collection of happy moments to take me to my 50th birthday. Especially with our two sons graduating this year and next and our daughter shortly after, I knew there would be moments I wanted to be intentional about remembering. I keep it on my nightstand and have written in it every night since October 2017. It's great because there is only enough space to write a couple sentences. That's it. Every day I'm forced to find something great or some bit of happiness to remember. So, far, I've been able to find a bit of joy in every day.

Sometimes to get through winter, you gotta have a little laugh. The WTF Weather app is just that. It's snarky, rude, and crude (uses swear words often), but I love it. It makes me laugh when I check the weather. I can't wait to see what it says about our crazy spring/summer stormy weather here in Iowa.

Finally, I chose my #OneWord for 2018 and I'm really trying to keep it in the forefront of my mind. See my post HERE if you missed it earlier this year. I spent several hours last night sitting next to our Senior going through college scholarship applications. College. Scholarship. Applications. It's real and it's happening and I am focusing on EMBRACING the journey. My mom just recently gave me a bag full of "my stuff" that they found in the back of a closet. It was full of my college applications, early college visit materials, and paperwork from my first year of college. Oh, my! It made me stop and think about how my parents must have felt sending me off....the costs...the distance...all the unknowns. I wasn't their first child, but I was a late-to-the-family baby and I was the only one to go to college. So, I stopped to think about how my mom felt and then...I called her. We had a really great chat about how she felt and how I'm feeling about all the overwhelming paperwork and emotions. It was the perfect time for her to find that sack of papers and the perfect time for me to go through them.

What Was Saving My Life Last Year

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Thirteen Books I Can't Stop Talking About from 2017

I've had a hard time coming up with my favorite books from 2017. I read some really great books in 2017. As always, it's hard to narrow it down to just a small number, especially when there are so many genres, writing styles, and great authors. But, there are always books that stand out, stay with you, or that you HAVE to talk about. So, even though it is a bit late in the month, I have finally come up with a list of favorites to share with you.

Without further ado, my favorite books of 2017 are listed below. Not all of these were published in 2017, but instead, ones that I can't stop thinking or talking about with other book lovers.

Favorite Book Published in 2017

BEAR TOWN by Fredrik Backman

I wrote about it HERE. Hands down, my favorite read from 2017. I can not wait for the sequel, US AGAINST YOU to come out this summer. I now want to read all of Backman's books and hope to do so this year!

Favorite Historical Fiction

THE ORPHAN'S TALE by Pam Jenoff

I wrote about this book, HERE. This was a difficult choice, but I really loved it and found it to be a unique story about WWII that I had never heard about. The two women in this story stuck with me for a very long time.

Favorite Non-Fiction

A MOTHER'S RECKONING by Sue Klebold

I wrote about this book, HERE. Even though this wasn't published in 2017, I STILL can't stop thinking about it. Sue Klebold is no different from me or my other mom friends. The way the media portrayed the shootings at Columbine and what this mother went through in the day, weeks, months, and years after broke my heart and made me rethink my own parenting, my own view of the media, and made me look at my close circle of friends differently. I truly believe this is a MUST READ.

Favorite Children's Book

DUCK AND HIPPO IN THE RAINSTORM by Jonathan London

I wrote about this book, HERE. This sweet story of friendship will brighten anyone's day. I love the muted color scheme, the illustrations, and most of all, the story between Duck and Hippo. They are two unlikely friends who stop at nothing to help each other and brighten each other's days. This is a series and I also reviewed the second book, HERE.

Favorite Middle-Grade/YA Book

I WILL ALWAYS WRITE BACK by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda

I wrote about this book, HERE. This also wasn't published in 2017, but I read about it and knew I had to read it. It was such an inspiring true story and I am still talking and thinking about it. One simple act of generosity changed the lives of two people in such a powerful way.


Honorable Mentions

FREDDY THE FROGCASTER AND THE FLASH FLOOD by Janice Dean

I wrote about this book HERE.  One book in a series that shares important safety information in a way that isn't scary or full of sadness.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S WISE WORDS by K.M. Kostyal

I wrote about this book, HERE. I am a sucker for these types of books. I loved the quotes and then ways to live by those quotes. This book is perfect for classrooms or dinner table discussions.

A MAN CALLED OVE by Fredrik Backman

I wrote about this book, HERE. I know I already mentioned a Fredrik Backman book, but I read BEAR TOWN first and then knew I HAD to read A MAN CALLED OVE because I was so enamored with Backman's writing. I ended up listening to A MAN CALLED OVE on audio and was not disappointed. I truly loved this story of a cranky, sad, lonely man who decides to kill himself. Fortunately, too many things keep happening to stop him from going through with it. I highly recommend this book!

BENEATH A SCARLET SKY by Mark T. Sullivan

I wrote about this book, HERE. This fascinating story of WWII set in Italy was also a new look at that travesties that happened during the war. The fact that is was based on a real person and what really happened to him made it all the more heart-breaking. It's a story I won't forget. The rights have been released for this to be made into a movie. I hope it happens soon.

OF MICE AND MEN by John Steinbeck

I wrote about this book, HERE. This was a re-read for me, but it hit me differently this time through. I taught this to freshman and I think when you are reading it slowly and then having regular discussions about what friendship means and what George and Lennie were going through, the story hits you differently. It's a classic and one I would recommend again and again. The movie version is also very well done.

SISTERS FIRST by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush

I wrote about this book, HERE. I listened to it on audio and then bought the hardcover for our friends that have twin daughters. I really enjoyed listening to the stories of the girls growing up as well as how their lives are different today.

OPTION B by Sheryl Sandberg

I wrote about this book, HERE. This was another audio and even though it deals with the unexpected death of the author's husband, I still found it to be hopeful, inspiring, and thought-provoking.

THE BRIGHT HOUR by Nina Riggs

I wrote about this book, HERE. Another audiobook and again, another difficult topic. The author is diagnosed with breast cancer, at the same time as her mom, and does not survive even when in the beginning they told her this was "nothing". But, what stood out to me was the beautiful prose and uplifting moments Riggs shared. When she wrote about her children and the legacy she wanted for them, I was overcome with emotion. I just recently found out that Riggs spouse is now in a relationship with the spouse of the author of WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR (another really great read from this year). This news made me so happy for them.

My Thoughts on My Year of Reading

This list doesn't mean I didn't like the rest of the 100+ books I read last year. There wasn't a single book I didn't like. There was only one book I did not finish and that was because my library digital loan ran out and I am back on the waiting list to continue reading it. I didn't give a single book less than three stars. So, to me, that's a good reading year!

I found it interesting that I read more children's books (60%) than adult books (40%). But, I can read children's/middle grade/YA books a lot quicker and I was running a regular review of those books every week which forced me to read them. I read more female authors (70%) than male authors (30%) which actually surprised me. I had no idea the ratio was that far apart.  I'm not surprised that I read more non-fiction (55%) than fiction (45%). I have been loving all the non-fiction books lately. I have one going all the time.

I'm so glad I took a leap of faith (okay, maybe not a leap, but I stepped out of my box) and tried audiobooks. I am in LOVE! The first thing I do when I find a non-fiction book I want to read is look for the audio version. I LOVE LOVE LOVE having an audiobook going all the time. I don't even listen to the radio anymore (sorry local broadcasters) because I always want to listen to my book. I listen while getting ready in the morning, while doing dishes, and while driving. I listened to 14 books on audio this year and I expect that number to grow next year. I still prefer non-fiction on audio, but I am getting better about listing to fiction on audio as well.

If you can think of a fabulous book I should listen to on audio or maybe a book from 2017 that I missed, be sure to let me know in the comments. What was YOUR favorite book from 2017?




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The 10 Most Popular Posts from 2017

2017 was a busy year on the blog as far as visits were concerned. I think it was the year of most visits to the blog and for a variety of posts. I was surprised to see which posts were the most popular and surprisingly, not all of them were book related.

2017 was also the year the I wrote the least amount of posts, 119. The last time I had fewer posts than that was my first full year of blogging in 2008. But, I would like to think that even though I had fewer posts, my content was much improved. I can tell that my writing style has changed over the years and my posts are definitely prettier.

I'm so thrilled that I have a space to write and people that read it. Thank you to each one of you readers that take time out of your busy lives to read anything that interests you here in my tiny little corner of the internet.

So, without further ado...

Top Ten Most Popular Posts from 2017.

1- Product Review: Brazilian Hammock Chair

Every once in awhile, I have the chance to review products and this was my most popular post of 2017. I am guessing it got quite a bit of promotion from the company, but either way, it was a much-viewed post. The hammock is a great asset for readers to get cozy and read outside during the summer. Our daughter loved sitting and swinging in it. Unfortunately, I didn't get much of a chance to sit in it last summer.

2 - Product Review: Stainless Steel Water Bottle

I still use this water bottle today. I like it a lot and apparently, it got a lot of promotion from the company as well. I would still recommend this water bottle to anyone looking for a water bottle that keeps your water closed and has a no-spill lid.

3 - Children's Book Review: Two Presidential Books from Time for Kids and National Geographic Kids

I am so fortunate to be able to promote children's books and especially the quality books I frequently receive from Time Inc and National Geographic. They never disappoint.

4 - Children's Book Review: Freddy the Frogcaster and the Flash Flood

This children's book got a lot of traffic on Twitter mostly because the author is Janice Dean of Fox News. But, it was also timely due to the crazy weather that was happening all over our country. It is a well-written book that gives children important information without scaring them.

5 - Celebrating iRead Book Tours 3 Year Anniversary

I often join in on book tours to help promote a new book or author. I haven't joined in for awhile because of my schedule, but if I do join, this company is one I frequently join. The book tours with iRead are always well-organized and great books I maybe wouldn't have necessarily heard about. I was happy to help promote their 3 year anniversary. Since this was cross-promoted and had a giveaway attached, I am sure that helped my numbers.

6 - My Favorite Books of 2016

This includes a great round-up of my favorite books including fiction, thrillers, non-fiction, historical fiction, and children's books.

7 - Children's Book Review: History Series from Carole P. Roman

Roman writes a fabulous children's non-fiction series that I regularly feature on the blog. This particular post got a lot of visits and I'm not sure why this one over others except that it included three new additions to her series.

8 - Children's Book Review: Animal Bites Books

This was a giveaway post (now closed) and also part of my promotion for Children's Book Week so that may be why it received a lot of visits. But, also, this is an excellent series of non-fiction children's books from Animal Planet. It's a favorite when I take it into the classroom.

9 - New Books from March 2017

Every month I share all the books that arrived over the course of that month on the blog. I'm not sure why this particular monthly round-up of books was so popular, but I'm guessing it has to do with some sort of social media promotion. A lot of times if an author sees you posting about their book, they are likely to promote it as well. It is a great round-up of books though!

10 - Book Review: Navigating Indieworld by Julie Gerber and Carole P. Roman

This book is a must-read for writers who need help navigating the publishing process. Roman and her daughter have given all the tips for those authors who may want to look into the self-publishing route.  I'm even mentioned in the book as a go-to blogger!

Two bonus posts that were too close in numbers not to mention:

What is Saving My Life Right Now

Half-Way through the winter, it's fun to share what is helping us get through the long cold, dreary days of winter.

Currently 4.18.17

It's fun to shake it up once in awhile and write a different type of post. This one gave you a peek into what was going on in my life personally. It's fun for me to look back through the post and be reminded of what was happening 9 months ago.



Many other posts were very close in numbers to these and I'm just in awe that my posts are even read, let alone by hundreds and thousands of readers. I'm so thankful that I have a place to share about books, about things I love, my family, and any other tidbits of life I think you might enjoy. This blog brings me joy and I hope it brings a bit of joy to you as well. Thanks for reading!

Top Posts from 2016

2016 was a year where I wrote less than I had in past years. I found it hard to find time to write after finding the time to read. I think this year I'll focus a bit more on my writing and a bit less on promoting my writing. All the social media posts take time too and I would rather focus my attention here sharing the books I love.

 All of my most popular posts of 2016 were book related. Not a surprise since books are the focus of the majority of my posts. But, which bookish posts were the most popular did surprise me. There is a mix of new year posts, children's books, fiction, nonfiction, and cookbooks. In case you missed any of these hugely popular posts, here they are in Top Ten order.

FIRST BOOK OF 2016

Sheila at Book Journey offers a link up every year for us to share our First Book of the Year and why we chose it. I was so excited to read this book last year and unfortunately, it was one I did not finish. It didn't grab me like I hoped and I only got half-way through it before I decided I just wasn't pulled in enough to keep reading. A huge disappointment, but one I hope to avoid with this year's First Book. Click HERE to see my First Book ok 2017.

THE TEN BEST BOOKS I READ IN 2015

I still recommend some of these books when people ask me what to read. Both Alexandra Burt and Amanda Eyre Ward have new books coming out soon and I'm anxious to read them!

COOKBOOK REVIEW: LULU'S KITCHEN BY LUCY BUFFETT

These recipes are the perfect way to make you feel like it is summer when it is cold and blustery outside. Lucy Buffett's restaurants are a hit and obviously, her cookbook is too!

BOOK REVIEW: GUARDED BY ANGELA CORRELL

This was a great book and maybe having a giveaway attached with the review might have given it more coverage.

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: DINING WITH DINOSAURS BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS

This was one of the many books I reviewed for National Geographic. This book is hilarious and yet teaches kids about dinosaurs. I highly recommend it!

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: WELCOME TO THE SYMPHONY BY CAROLYN SLOAN

This book is a wonderful way to introduce your young children to instruments and music.

COOKBOOK REVIEW: DINNER SOLVED! BY KATIE WORKMAN

A practical cookbook for a busy family. Katie Workman uses real basic ingredients to create delicious, simple meals and offers a "Fork in the Road" for each recipe that gives you a different option for changing up the flavor of the recipe. I also share her recipe for Honey Glazed Carrots which I loved!

BOOK REVIEW: YOU'RE ALREADY AMAZING - LIFE GROWTH GUIDE BY HOLLEY GERTH

This would make a perfect study guide for the new year. It's great for women in a season of change, a way to look at your personal strengths, and finding your purpose.

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: ANIMAL ATLAS BY ANIMAL PLANET

This book covers each of the seven continents and the animals that inhabit the land there. Of course, there are gorgeous photos and lots of learning about animals that you've likely never heard of before.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

These posts were so close to making the Top Ten, I have to give them a mention:

BOOK REVIEW: ANTI AGEING FOOD AND FITNESS PLAN BY RICK HAY

Looking for a health plan for the new year? Definitely, check out Hay's plan for eating better and working out in smaller bursts.

BOOK REVIEW: GRACIE'S SONG BY MICHELLE SCHLICHER

A wonderful story of family and forgiveness from an Iowa author.

MY ONE WORD FOR 2016

I love choosing one word to focus on for the year and my word last year really worked for me. I'll be sharing about it and my new word for 2017 in a few days!

A DAY IN MY LIFE

Back in March, I joined other bloggers in chronicling a day in my life. It was fun to share my life with you and read what other's lives are like. It seems like none of my days are typical because of our schedules and my life as a substitute teacher. But, it was fun to share this day with you.


All of these posts wouldn't matter much if I didn't have readers like you stopping by. Thanks for being loyal readers and offering encouragement when I need it. I can't wait to see what posts will be popular in 2017!

Lists

I have been thinking about lists lately. We have To-Do lists, Honey-Do lists, Grocery Lists, etc that can overwhelm our days. I recently read a couple books that dealt with lists. In Twenty Wishes a group of widows create lists of wishes that they want to do or accomplish like take belly dancing lessons, fall in love again, travel to Paris, or volunteer. In The Next Thing on My List a woman finishes the list of the passenger in her car who was killed. Her's was a list of things to do before I'm 25 such as lose 100 pounds, wear sexy shoes, change someone's life, and run a 5k. Also, several years ago, Oprah got many people started on writing a gratitude journal, or list of items you are grateful for. My sister-in-law Julie started a Thankful list of things she is grateful for. So, it got me thinking, what am I thankful for, what do I want to accomplish, what do I need to get done. I went and purchased little square journals from Barnes and Noble. In one, I keep a list of the books I want to read and keep it in my purse, so if I am out and and see one, I can grab it. I also thought it would be great to write down ideas for future gifts as I see them. In another I keep next to my bed and write down the things I am thankful for. I don't do it every night, but try to do it 3-4 times a week. I used to keep a gratitude journal back in my single days and ran across it a few months ago. I enjoyed reading through it and noting how different my life is now as a mom and a wife. Then in another book I started the list of things I want to accomplish. I didn't put a time frame on it...just in my lifetime. I would like to share that list and maybe it will inspire you to work on your list of wishes as well.

1. Own a 2nd home in Colorado
2. Take our kids to see the ocean
3. Wear my wedding dress again
4. Learn to knit
5. Own and run a bakery/cafe
6. Pay back my parents for all the bills they paid for me while I was single and struggling
7. Be a Grandma

If I come up with more, I will continue to add to my list and cross them off as I accomplish them. Who knows what lies ahead of me, but I sure hope it includes a few of my wishes!