Book Review: Perfect By Rachel Joyce

PERFECT
A Novel

By: Rachel Joyce

Published:  January 14, 2013

Fiction




The British author of THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY has written her newest novel, PERFECT. In PERFECT, we are taken to an English village in 1972, and an 11-year old boy finds out from a friend that the government is adding two seconds to a day, therefore altering time.  Byron and his friend James become so wrapped up in the idea and when it is going to happen, that it ends up encompassing their lives.  One morning, on the way to school, Byron notices his watch is adding the two seconds. He leans over and shows his mom, who is driving at the time, and she ends up hitting a little girl on a bicycle and then driving off.  Even though it is foggy and Byron is sure that he saw the accident, he can't believe his mom would just drive off.  Byron and James are so horrified and worried about the girl that "Operation Perfect" is enacted to protect Byron's mother from facing the consequences.  

At the same time, another story is being told in alternating chapters. This story is sent in the present time in the same English village. An adult man, Jim, lives a life confined by his daily rituals and past demons.  At first we don't know the connection between the two stories, but as the story goes on, you begin to make assumptions about who this adult man is.  Then, when you find out the true connection between the two stories, you want to go back and read everything again. 

Byron is so caught up in the idea of the "supposed" adding of the two seconds that it consumes his daily thoughts and activities.  He can't understand why no one else is upset about it and why there is nothing in the news about it.  His father is gone during the week and only home on weekends and when he is, he has no time for his family, except to tell them what they are doing wrong.  So, Byron is left to discuss the two seconds only with his friend, James, whom he sees at school.  Byron is so concerned because he believes it is the difference between something happening and something not happening.  Unfortunately, because of these two seconds something does happen and changes all of their lives forever.  After the accident, Byron struggles with asking his mom about it, wondering if someone can be guilty without knowing they were guilty. He worries about the little girl and wonders if she was hurt. He constantly checks the car for damage and the newspapers for stories on the accident.  As you read along, you begin to feel the overwhelming anxiety that both Byron and James are feeling.  You become frustrated with the submissiveness of Diana, the mother and the absence of Seymour, the controlling father.  As Diana carries on with her daily routine, you wonder if Byron imagined the accident or Diana is that afraid of the consequences or of her husband.  Then you meet the society ladies, friends of Diana.  Byron tries to listen in to their conversations to see if others are talking about the accident.  The ladies remind me more of 1950's ladies than women of the 1970's, but maybe America was farther ahead than the English in the feminist movement at that time.

As you get wrapped up in Byron's story, and then start a new chapter, you wonder why we are learning about this other character. Jim lives in a van, is socially awkward, and is overwhelmed by his OCD characteristics. His story was mostly uninteresting to me until the end of the book. Jim has had a disturbing history and his co-workers try to help him. His years at the psychiatric hospital keep coming back in his mind and you wonder if his psychosis is due to his past or his electric shock treatment that he received.  His story opens your eyes to the horrors of psychiatric hospitals and the patient's life after discharge.

PERFECT wasn't the "perfect" book for me, but saying that, there were many parts of it that I did love.  Her writing was poetic and there were many thought-provoking lines that caused me to pause and consider the statement.  Joyce was frequently able to paint a picture in my mind of Byron's house and their land near the Moor or Jim's van, that was his home.  I loved this description of an evening:

Apart from the buffeting wind, the lack of sound up here is breathtaking. For awhile neither of them speaks. They just push slowly against the wind. It charges at their bodies and whistles through the long grasses with the rage of the sea. There are many stars sprinkled like embers over the sky....the horizon is rimed with orange light. It is streetlamps, but you might think it was a fire, somewhere very far away. Page 253

I think this story would work well for book clubs.  Mothers will find themselves struggling with the weight on Byron's shoulders and then unable to comprehend the lack of intuition by his mother.  There could be much discussion on the marriage between Seymour and Diana, Jim's hospital care, the society ladies and their views on life, and how you realized the two stories are connected. PERFECT will likely appeal to many readers.  I found I liked the beginning and the ending the most, but the middle was a struggle for me.  For those who appreciate literary prose and a deeply rooted storyline, PERFECT could be just the "perfect" read.

Rachel Joyce - source

Rachel Joyce has written over 20 original afternoon plays for BBC Radio 4, and major adaptations for both the Classic Series, Woman's Hour and also a TV drama adaptation for BBC 2. She started writing after a 20-year acting career in which she won many awards.  Rachel Joyce lives with her family on a Gloucestershire Farm. For more on Rachel Joyce, visit her website, http://www.racheljoycebooks.com/.

This review is my honest opinion.  I received a paperback copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  I was not compensated in any other way for this review.  If you choose to purchase the book through the Amazon link above, I will receive a small percentage of that purchase without you having to pay a cent more.  Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com.

Page A Day Calendars - I Just Love Them!

I just love calendars that offer you something on each page.  I can start my days with a quote, a laugh, a fact, a cute picture, pretty much anything you want in any category you are interested in.

I usually have one in my bathroom so I can see it every morning and then the kids have theirs either in their bathroom or their bedroom.

This year, I found some new ones to try out and so far I am loving them!

Patrick got the Minnesota Vikings Page a Day Calendar as a gift for Christmas as we are big Vikings fans!

The calendar is full of Vikings related material including player stats, historical information about the team, and game/season statistics. 

I got the kids the Google A Day calendar as well as sent it to my cousin's children.  Reagan has been the most interested in this calendar.  

Each day has a different question.  With the information in the question, you then need to do google searches to find the answer.  So far the questions have been interesting and we have learned something each day. There have been a couple that we weren't able to figure out the answer, but so far, it has been a lot of fun. We like to look it up during supper and with our devices we can search pretty easily and then everyone can engage in the conversation. It is a fun and educational calender and I highly recommend it!

I chose the Today is Going to Be A Great Day Calendar for my bathroom. 

I wanted something fun and bright and positive.  This definitely fits the bill.  It is colorful and each day features a positive quote in a fun artistic form.  Each day features a different artist and offers their website if you really like their artwork.  I love this calendar!

We gave the boys the Sports Center Calendar for Christmas.

Every day one or both of the boys can be heard telling us something sports related either about a player injury, a coaching change or some game that was won or lost.  They are definitely into their sports.  This calendar encompasses all sports and gives them the facts they love!

There are so many other calendars that intrigued me this year too.  I considered the Book Lovers Calendar, but since I hear about so many great books through my various contacts I decided to go with something different. I also considered getting the Someecards calendadr since they so often say just what I am thinking and almost always make me laugh.  But, I was worried it wouldn't be "kid appropriate".  There are so many great calendars, there is certainly one for everybody!  You can find calendars on cooking, wine, quotes, animals, shoes, every sports team/type you can imagine, travel, TV shows, celebrities, crafts, quilting, educational, puzzles, cartoon characters, inspirational and Bible verses.

This is a great time of year to get the calendars as they are usually at least half off by now.  Your local stores may have them or you can find a great number of them on Amazon - Page A Day Calendars  Add a little joy to your day with a daily calendar!

Celebrating Nine!

Today our sweet daughter, Reagan turns 9. 

Yesterday, she celebrated with her friends.  

I had so much fun putting all the party ideas together.  

The girls first decorated their treat bags.

Then they each painted their own letter.  They were all so creative and original!

The roller skate cookies were made by my friend, Emily.  Click HERE for her Facebook Page and check out her awesome work! 

I had her design roller skate cookies because we were going to go roller skating that evening, but the roads got very icy and we ended up just staying here.  Reagan was born in an ice storm 9 years ago and every year since, her birthday has had some sort of weather issue.  Oh well, the girls had plenty of fun and even a few got to spend the night due to the bad roads.

We played Bingo and the girls couldn't wait to say "BINGO" and choose a prize.  I found these fun prizes in the Michael's dollar spot and the Target "One Spot". 

These cupcakes were so fun to make! I love the liners that I found on Pick Your Plum!

This white cupcake with the pretty sugar was my favorite.

She has some great friends and they had so much fun together!

These WHO IS/WAS books are her favorite. 

 She actually asked me to buy these for her.  I will never turn down a request for books! 

She loves all the Lego Friends sets and Santa brought her the Dolphin Cruiser for Christmas.   Today she got Heartlake High and had it together in an hour.  There were so many neat little pieces.  A guitar, bike, basketball hoop, microscope, and chemistry tube. 

Happy Birthday to our creative, artistic, funny, smart, pretty, and kind little girl who isn't so little anymore.  I want to slow down time and continue those days of snuggling and reading books and watching Disney movies.  *Sigh* Instead we will find new memories and special moments to share and I can't wait! 

Love You Lots, Reagan! 

Book Review: The Calorie Myth By Jonathan Bailor

THE CALORIE MYTH
How to Eat More, Exercise Less, Lose Weight, and Live Better

By: Jonathan Bailor

Published: December 31, 2013

Nonfiction



Johnathan Bailor has written a diet book unlike the others.  He changes the myths of dieting that include eating less, exercising more, and counting your carbs, your sugars,and your calories and changes it to eating more and exercising less.  I was skeptical and couldn't wait to see what Bailor had to say.

In THE CALORIE MYTH, Bailor spends much of the first third of the book giving you study after study of both humans and rodents that prove the fact that calorie counting doesn't work, but what does work is SANE eating and changing your set point.  SANE stands for Satiety, Aggression, Nutrition and Efficiency. By categorizing food and how they are digested in your body into these characteristics, you will find that foods high in protein, low in fat/sugars, and non-starchy vegetables meet the SANE eating requirements.  By eating these foods, you change your set point or metabolism and only then, can you begin lose weight.  You can eat these SANE foods until you are full thereby not leaving room for other fat-causing foods.  He gives you study after study that shows the benefits of SANE eating and how counting calories like other diet plans have you do, just don't work.

After I began reading THE CALORIE MYTH, I found the first few studies interesting, but after that, they began to get a bit boring and I just wanted to get to the meat of the book.  Since I read this on my Kindle, it was harder for me to skip ahead of all the studies.  If I had read a physical copy, I would have likely jumped ahead a lot quicker.  I understand that the author wanted you to see the science behind his research, but I think he could have presented it with less studies.

Once I got to the actual part of the book where Bailor shares his plan for eating more and exercising less, I was quite interested.  His tips aren't new to us: eat more lean meats and protein, more leafy, green vegetables and less of the starchy, carbohydrates and sweets and you will see results.  I know all this, but it is certainly difficult in our culture to turn away from pizza, fried foods, and sweets. I found his explanation of calorie counting to make a lot of sense.  He stated:

More water and fiber means bigger food, more stretch and getting fuller and staying fuller longer. That is why 200 calories of wet, fibrous celery is more filling than 200 calories of dry, fiber-free gummy bears. Calorie for calorie, celery is about thirty times the size of gummy bears, stretches our stomach and other digestive organs much more, and is therefore much more satisfying. In the same way, 250 calories of Twinkies are not the same as 250 calories of broccoli. 

Throughout the book, Bailor also addresses the political and financial motivation of our government, agri-business and major food corporations.  Really, if we can't pronounce the name of the ingredient on the box, should we be eating that...no matter how many grams of protein or fiber it has or how low-fat or few calories it has?  Bailor states, if you can grow it or hunt it, those are your best food choices.

In regards to exercise, Bailor explains how exercising less can actually increase your metabolism.  By intensifying your workout, you can shorten the duration and because your muscles will be so taxed, you will need to have more rest days in between.  Smarter interval training and intensity of effort will go a lot farther in your weight loss journey than daily workouts, according to Bailor.

Bailor ends his book with numerous recipes and lists of foods that he recommends.  I am anxious to try his version of Cinnamon "Rice" Pudding.  He also offers exercises that you can do at home or in a gym.

When you have a broken metabolism, it is going to take time to heal, just like a broken ankle. As with any diet, you won't see changes overnight, but adding these changes to your daily routine and beginning to swap your high starchy/sweet foods for vegetables or high protein foods will begin to change your metabolism. By smarter exercise, you will begin to change your body's reaction to foods, and your body will be able to burn more fat and the slimming process will happen naturally.  Obviously, none of us are perfect, and we can't say no to every dessert that comes along, but by changing the majority of your eating, and focusing on getting it right most of the time, you will see a change in your body. Eating the right foods, SANE foods, are your keys to success.

For more on Jonathan Bailor and his book THE CALORIE MYTH, check out the website TheCalorieMythBook.com.

Jonathan Bailor shares about his book in this Fox and Friends interview:




THE CALORIE MYTH is available in hard cover or as an eBook.  You can purchase it at various locations including, Amazon by clicking the photo below.

This review is my honest opinion.  I was given an eBook version of this book for free, but was not compensated in any other way for this review.  If you chose to purchase from the above Amazon link, I will receive a very small percentage of your purchase without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.  Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie's book reviews. 

Books I'm Excited to Read in 2014

My To-Read list is long and ever growing.  I have numerous books waiting to be reviewed as well as numerous books I have purchased and are waiting to be read.  The following books are the ones that I am most excited about. As always, the Amazon links will take you to my affiliate page and if you make a purchase I will get a few cents back without you spending a penny more for the item.

TRACKS - I was contacted by the author to read this book.  It sounds similar to WILD by Cheryl Strayed and is coming out in a movie on March 6, 2014.

A must for fans of Cheryl Strayed's WILD, and a cult classic in its own right, Tracks is the brilliantly written and frequently hilarious account of a young woman's odyssey through the deserts of Australia, with no one but her dog and four camels as companions. Davidson emerges as a heroine who combines extraordinary courage with exquisite sensitivity. One map.

THE BOOK THIEF - I've been wanting to read this book for awhile.  With the movie out now, I want to read the book before seeing the movie.

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. 

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

SWEETEST HALLELUJAH - This is one I purchased for my own enjoyment.  My friend, Tammy, says I need to read it.  

An unforgettable story of two courageous women brought together by one extraordinary little girl. 

Betty Jewel Hughes was once the hottest black jazz singer in Memphis. But when she finds herself pregnant and alone, she gives up her dream of being a star to raise her beautiful daughter, Billie, in Shakerag, Mississippi. Now, ten years later, in 1955, Betty Jewel is dying of cancer and looking for someone to care for Billie when she's gone. With no one she can count on, Betty Jewel does the unthinkable: she takes out a want ad seeking a loving mother for her daughter. 

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, recently widowed Cassie Malone is an outspoken housewife insulated by her wealth and privileged white society. Working part-time at a newspaper, she is drawn to Betty Jewel through her mysterious ad. With racial tension in the South brewing, the women forge a bond as deep as it is forbidden. But neither woman could have imagined the gifts they would find in each other, and in the sweet young girl they both love with all their hearts. Deeply moving and richly evocative, The Sweetest Hallelujah is a remarkable tale about finding hope in a time of turmoil, and about the transcendent and transformative power of friendship.

WAKE - A review book that comes out in February. I think it sounds like a fascinating novel.

Wake: 1) Emerge or cause to emerge from sleep 2) Ritual for the dead 3) Consequence or aftermath.

Hettie, a dance instructress at the Palais, lives at home with her mother and her brother, mute and lost after his return from the war. One night, at work, she meets a wealthy, educated man and has reason to think he is as smitten with her as she is with him. Still there is something distracted about him, something she cannot reach...Evelyn works at the Pensions Exchange through which thousands of men have claimed benefits from wounds or debilitating distress. Embittered by her own loss, more and more estranged from her posh parents, she looks for solace in her adored brother who has not been the same since he returned from the front...Ada is beset by visions of her son on every street, convinced he is still alive. Helpless, her loving husband of 25 years has withdrawn from her. Then one day a young man appears at her door with notions to peddle, like hundreds of out of work veterans. But when he shows signs of being seriously disturbed-she recognizes the symptoms of "shell shock"-and utters the name of her son she is jolted to the core...

The lives of these three women are braided together, their stories gathering tremendous power as the ties that bind them become clear, and the body of the unknown soldier moves closer and closer to its final resting place.

FALLEN BEAUTY - A review book that comes out in March.  History and drama make for an intriguing story and this one I'm sure will not disappoint.

Upstate New York, 1928. Laura Kelley and the man she loves sneak away from their judgmental town to attend a performance of the scandalous Ziegfeld Follies. But the dark consequences of their night of daring and delight reach far into the future.…

That same evening, Bohemian poet Edna St. Vincent Millay and her indulgent husband hold a wild party in their remote mountain estate, hoping to inspire her muse. Millay declares her wish for a new lover who will take her to unparalleled heights of passion and poetry, but for the first time, the man who responds will not bend completely to her will.…

Two years later, Laura, an unwed seamstress struggling to support her daughter, and Millay, a woman fighting the passage of time, work together secretly to create costumes for Millay’s next grand tour. As their complex, often uneasy friendship develops amid growing local condemnation, each woman is forced to confront what it means to be a fallen woman…and to decide for herself what price she is willing to pay to live a full life.

THE OTHER TYPIST - One that has been on my shelf and received  rave reviews last year.

New York City, 1924: the height of Prohibition and the whole city swims in bathtub gin.

Rose Baker is an orphaned young woman working for her bread as a typist in a police precinct on the lower East Side. Every day Rose transcribes the confessions of the gangsters and murderers that pass through the precinct. While she may disapprove of the details, she prides herself on typing up the goriest of crimes without batting an eyelid.

But when the captivating Odalie begins work at the precinct Rose finds herself falling under the new typist's spell. As do her bosses, the buttoned up Lieutenant Detective and the fatherly Sergeant. As the two girls' friendship blossoms and they flit between the sparkling underworld of speakeasies by night, and their work at the precinct by day, it is not long before Rose's fascination for her new colleague turns to obsession.

But just who is the real Odalie, and how far will Rose go to find out?

WHAT THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DO BEFORE BREAKFAST - I've been a follower of Laura Vanderkam's blog and am anxious to actually read one of her books.  My husband read 168 HOURS: YOU HAVE MORE TIME THAN YOU THINK and got some great tips from it.

Mornings are a madcap time for many of us. We wake up in a haze—often after hitting snooze a few times. Then we rush around to get ready and out the door so we can officially start the day. Before we know it, hours have slipped by without us accomplishing anything beyond downing a cup of coffee, dashing off a few emails, and dishing with our coworkers around the water cooler. By the time the workday wraps up, we’re so exhausted and defeated that any motivation to accomplish something in the evening has vanished.

But according to time management expert Laura Vanderkam, mornings hold the key to taking control of our schedules. If we use them wisely, we can build habits that will allow us to lead happier, more productive lives.

Drawing on real-life anecdotes and scientific research that shows why the early hours of the day are so important, Vanderkam reveals how successful people use mornings to help them accomplish things that are often impossible to take care of later in the day. While many of us are still in bed, these folks are scoring daily victories to improve their health, careers, and personal lives without sacrificing their sanity. For instance, former PepsiCo chairman and CEO Steve Reinemund would rise at 5:00 a.m., run four miles, pray, and eat breakfast with his family before heading to work to run a Fortune 500 company.

What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast is a fun, practical guide that will inspire you to rethink your morning routine and jump-start your life before the day has even begun.

THE SISTER SEASON - A review book I'm really looking forward to. As one of three sisters, I'm always interested in sister stories and this one sounds right up my alley.

From an award-winning young adult author comes a touching women’s fiction debut featuring three sisters who discover that coming home for the holidays isn’t as easy as it seems…
Sometimes coming home for the holidays isn’t as easy as it seems….

It’s December 21, and the Yancey sisters have been called home. When the girls were young, holidays at their family farm meant a tinsel-garnished tree, the scent of simmering food, and laughter ringing through the house. But as the years unfolded, family bonds fractured, and the three sisters scattered and settled into separate lives. Until now. The Yancey sisters are coming to spend the holidays with their mother. They’re also coming to bury their father.

Claire, the youngest, a free spirit who journeyed to California, returns first. Then comes Julia, the eldest, a college professor with a teenage son of her own. And finally there’s Maya, the middle child, who works so hard to be the perfect mother and wife. 

During the sisters’ week together, old conflicts surface, new secrets emerge, and the limits and definitions of family are tested. And as the longest night of the year slips by and brightening days beckon, the sisters will have to answer one question: When you’re a sister, aren’t you a sister forever?

THE LIFE LIST - A review book I have heard great things about and am anxious to read. Both my friend, Tammy, and my sister, Elaine, read it and said it was a must read.

In this utterly charming debut — one woman sets out to complete her old list of childhood goals, and finds that her lifelong dreams lead her down a path she never expects.

1. Go to Paris
2. Perform live, on a super big stage
3. Have a baby, maybe two
4. Fall in love 

Brett Bohlinger has forgotten all about the list of life goals she’d written as a naïve teenager. In fact, at thirty-four, Brett seems to have it all—a plum job at her family’s multimillion-dollar company and a spacious loft with her irresistibly handsome boyfriend. But when her beloved mother, Elizabeth, dies, Brett’s world is turned upside down. Rather than simply naming her daughter the new CEO of Bohlinger Cosmetics, Elizabeth’s will comes with one big stipulation: Brett must fulfill the list of childhood dreams she made so long ago. 

Grief-stricken, Brett can barely make sense of her mother’s decision. Some of her old hopes seem impossible. How can she possibly have a relationship with a father who died seven years ago? Other dreams (Be an awesome teacher!) would require her to reinvent her entire future. For each goal attempted, her mother has left behind a bittersweet letter, offering words of wisdom, warmth, and—just when Brett needs it—tough love. 

As Brett struggles to complete her abandoned life list, one thing becomes clear: Sometimes life’s sweetest gifts can be found in the most unexpected places.

THE DINNER - I hope to choose this for our book club. It isn't my usual type of book but the premise is so intriguing, it is like a car accident, you can't turn away from it.

Over one meal, two families struggle with the hardest decision of their lives. On an Amsterdam summer evening, two couples are united by their sons, aged 15, their horrific joint deed. Behind banal polite discourse in a restaurant, knives are sharpened, friendship disintegrates. How far will adults go to protect those they love?

DEFENDING JACOB - From what I hear, once you start this one, you will read it all the way through.  I looking for a good snow day to dive into this one!

Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: His fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student.

Every parental instinct Andy has rallies to protect his boy. Jacob insists that he is innocent, and Andy believes him. Andy must. He’s his father. But as damning facts and shocking revelations surface, as a marriage threatens to crumble and the trial intensifies, as the crisis reveals how little a father knows about his son, Andy will face a trial of his own—between loyalty and justice, between truth and allegation, between a past he’s tried to bury and a future he cannot conceive.

Award-winning author William Landay has written the consummate novel of an embattled family in crisis—a suspenseful, character-driven mystery that is also a spellbinding tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying speed at which our lives can spin out of control.

AT MY GRANDMOTHER'S TABLE - I love cookbooks and especially ones that tell a story and remind me of my childhood.  I want to curl up and savor over the pages and dream up meals using the recipes.

What would you give for an afternoon in your grandmother's kitchen?

Leaning over the countertop, you watched as she added the flour just a little at a time to the bowl of her old, yellow Sunbeam stand mixer. To her, cooking may have been as second nature as setting the table. To you, it seemed almost like magic the way she skillfully put things together to create the mouthwatering meals and one-of-a-kind desserts you enjoyed at her table. Likely, it's her culinary delights that have set the bar for everything you've eaten since. And let's face it, her pan fried pork chops and home-baked banana bread make anyone else's versions pale in comparison. If you find yourself wishing for just a little more time in your grandmother's kitchen complete with her stories and the memories of the comforting favorites she lovingly made for you you're sure to embrace this celebration of grandmother's cooking. She'd be proud!

ROXY'S RECIPES - My husband gave me this cookbook for Christmas.  It is a fundraiser for Roxanne Russell Roundtree, a mom diagnosed with ALS.  All of the recipes in the book are quintessential "family recipes" and ones I am looking forward to trying out. For more on Roxanne and her family or to order your own cookbook, check out http://www.roxanneroundtreecookbook.org/.

SIX SISTERS STUFF- I've followed their blog for awhile now and every single recipe I have tried is simple and delicious and perfect for our busy family.  I am anxious to read through it and try out some of their ideas.

Cook, craft, and create with recipes, projects, and ideas from the blog SixSistersStuff.com. Camille, Kristen, Elyse, Stephanie, Lauren, and Kendra are six sisters who share their easy, affordable recipes and crafts in this collection of family favorites. These pages contain more than 90 tried-and-true recipes that use ingredients commonly found in your pantry, with easy-to-follow instructions and photographs of each dish. Charming do-it-yourself projects, such as stained Mason Jars and a Ruffles and Yarn Wreath, are fun to create and require little time or money. Suggestions for indoor activities for kids, healthy snack ideas, or an inexpensive night out are among the many lists included in the book.

DANCING SHOES - We gave this to our daughter for Christmas.  I've been wanting to check out this series of books since I watched YOU'VE GOT MAIL for the first time.  I'm looking forward to reading this with our daughter and then checking out the other shoe books.

Aunt Cora is determined to turn two orphans, perky Hilary and sullen Rachel, into members of her dance troupe. But Rachel wants to keep Hilary from being one of Wintle’s Little Wonders—is it selfishness or something else? Misunderstandings and a spoiled cousin come together for a tale full of high drama. Originally published in 1957.

All of these books and dozens of others are patiently waiting on my shelves to be read.  I'm looking forward to a year of learning, crying, laughing, and experiencing wonderful stories and then, of course, sharing them with you. 

2013 Wrap Up and Plans for 2014

What a blessedly hectic year this has been.  By offering my views on 2013, I can gauge how 2014 is going to go, where I can improve, what I need to change, and what is going well.  I am focusing on my reading/reviewing, my fitness/health, and my personal life with areas of success and areas where I can improve.

Reading/Reviewing

I read 65 books this last year.  That is a lot but 8 of them were children's books.  So that still leaves me with about a book/week.  Which was my ultimate goal.  I realize there are people that read a lot more than that, but with my busy schedule I think that is pretty darn good.  Every month consisted of a book club book and one or two review books as well as once in a while a book that I wanted to read.  That is what I want to change for this year.  My bookshelves are overflowing with books that I WANT TO READ.  But, they always get tossed aside for review books.  So, even though I appreciate all the great books that have arrived from authors and publishers, I'm going to be really, really picky this year about the books I choose to review. I am currently sitting on 44 review books that I have either committed to reading and reviewing or just showed up in my mailbox.  That is clearly most of my reading for this year.  I don't even want to mention the number of other books on my shelf that I purchased because I wanted to read them.  This doesn't even include all the new books yet to be published that I will get requests for. *SIGH* So, needless to say, I really want to do some reading for myself, continue with my book club, and read those books that sound really great and I want to promote.  I must say, if a book wasn't resonating with me and it was difficult to read, I stopped reading it.  That was something I hadn't done before.  I use to feel like I HAD to finish a book.  But, I realized there are way too many great books out there to waste my time on a dud.  That doesn't mean it is a dud for everyone, but just that it was for me.  I don't feel guilty about leaving a book unfinished anymore.  That was a huge revelation for me.

I am touched by all the great authors that asked me to read their books this last year.  I even got one of my reviews quoted in a National New York Times ad for SWEET SALT AIR by Barbara Delinsky.  My reviews have been published in our Sunday edition of the Cedar Rapids Gazette.  I'm getting more review requests on a daily basis than I can keep up with.  I feel blessed.  But, at times I am also stressed.  I don't ever want to feel stressed about reading, so will definitely be changing my approach to review requests and commitments this year.  I am hoping to read 75 books this year and get a chunk of my personal to-reads off my shelf!

Fitness/Health

I did a better job of keeping track of my fitness this year.  Every time I ran, walked, biked, or worked out, I wrote it down.  I got a bike for my birthday this year.  I rode a bike for this first time in nearly 20 years.  I'm looking forward to more bike rides with our family this spring/summer.  I finished two 5K run/walks this summer, beating my time for the June race from the previous year. I can run longer and faster than previous years and feel like running is getting easier.  I want to do more weightlifting this year and really strengthen my muscles, especially those core muscles like my back and arms.  I didn't see really any change in my weight this year, so I am looking for ways to change up my metabolism and really seem some improvement on the scale.  Overall, I ran/walked/biked 141.46 miles this year.  I can honestly say, this is the most I have ever done in my life.  I know it isn't a lot when you break it out into days or weeks, but still more than I have ever done.  My most active months were January and August. My least active months were March, May and November.  I am hoping in 2014 to show consistent activity across all the months and to at least double my number of miles in 2014.  

Personal Life

There are days and weeks where I feel like I am doing too much.  But, most everything I am involved in, it is because I want to be.  Finding time to do what I WANT TO DO is a challenge and I imagine it is a challenge for most people.  I want to find more time to have fun with the kids, more time to read, more time to be spontaneous, and more time to go out with my husband.  But, there are only 24 hours in day and this girl can't sacrifice sleep! 

There are commitments that I plan to continue:  Running the After School JAMS program at our church, giving Storytime at our library, Subbing at the school, Secretary of our church circle, community member of the school communication team, 

There are commitments that I am giving up:  Planning/Organizing our city-wide garage sales. 

I want to have more personal quiet time studying the Bible.  I gave up attending a weekly Bible Study and even though it was time-consuming and the schedule no longer worked for me, I miss it.  I want to finish reading the whole Bible.  I got as far as Jeremiah and haven't gotten back to it.  

I want to be a better housekeeper.  That is always the first to go when my schedule gets busy and I need to make that more of a priority.

There is always room for personal growth...always striving to be a more loving, caring and generous person to those who need it most.  

I'm certainly excited for 2014.  In the coming year my mom will turn 75, our son will turn 14 and become a driver, our other son will enter the teen years, our daughter will get her ears pierced at age 9 (I had to wait until I was 16), and my husband and I will celebrate 15 years of marriage.  All moments that I look forward to and will cherish. It's going to be a great year!

Best of 2013 - Books, Apps, Music, Movies

I am sharing with you some of my "Best Of" from this past year.  Not all of them are things that actually came out in 2013, but instead experienced by me in 2013.  Links will take you to my posted review. Amazon links will take you to my affiliate page and if you purchase, I will get a small kick back without you paying a penny more for the item.

Favorite Book Club Book

I couldn't choose one.  Both of these books were full of discussion and were liked by all of us in book club.  I also have thought back to both of these books several times and still wonder about the characters 

(Yes, I know they aren't real).  This is the mark of a good story, one I can't forget about. 

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline 

Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

Favorite Book Published in 2013

This was also a book club choice, but one I couldn't forget about. 

I would have read it if it we hadn't chosen it for book club. 

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

Favorite Book I Read for My Own Enjoyment

I chose this book because I wanted to read it.  I had heard so much about it and it sounded like a book I would enjoy and I did.  A perfect beach read with history, drama, and romance.  One you can read anytime of year! It also helps if you read it with a friend so you can dish about all the drama.

A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams

Favorite Non Fiction

I really love Memoirs and WILD was a really interesting and inspiring read.  

I am anxious to see the movie version! 

REPLENISH is a book I took a lot of insight from and one I still refer to.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Replenish by Lisa Grace Byrne

Favorite Children's Book

I've been getting more children's books to review and am really enjoying it.  Since I give Storytime once a month at our local library, it is nice to be introduced to new children's books.  This pick was not a review book, but one I read during Storytime.  It is a new one this year and was a cute, funny story about a sly fox, some smart ducklings, and an even smarter mama goose. 

That is Not a Good Idea by Mo Willems

Best Apps

Once Google removed their feedreader, I needed to find a new one and Feedly has been just the perfect fit for me.  I can use it from my computer or from the app on my iPhone or Kindle.  It is the easiest way for me to stay up to date on all the blogs and websites I want to say connected to.  Since it shows me the title of the post, I can decide if I want to read it or not, read it, and if I want more I can access the website from there.  It also allows me to put them into categories so I can access all those great book blogs in one visit.  

Feedly

At first glance, you might think Words of Wonder is an app for kids, but you will be surprised that it is challenging and fun for adults.  Words of Wonder is a cross between Boggle and Candy Crush.  So for all of you addicted to Candy Crush out there, you may want to check this game out.  For wordy's like me, this is the perfect challenge.  You play by making words from the image on the screen.  But sometimes you have to make words in certain areas to make feathers fall, make ink or ribbons disappear, or make words in a short time frame.  You do all this while traveling through a map and achieving levels.  

It is addictive, challenging, and keeps your brain active.  

Words of Wonder

Everyone else in my family is addicted to Dots.  They all have it on their devices and can be heard connecting the dots during their spare time.  In the game, you connect the same colored dots in a straight line and earn extra points by connecting them in boxes.  I've played it, but I'm not as addicted as the rest of my family is.  It encourages strategic planning to get your certain colored dots to line up and create a large box.  Even our daughter who is 8 likes to play it. 

Dots 

Best Movie

I saw this in the theater and I was transfixed throughout the whole movie.  

It angered me, shocked me, saddened me and ultimately, showed me that love can prevail.  

The actors were amazing and I bought the DVD (even though I haven't watched it yet) the day it came out. 

 I want to watch it again soon and hopefully get my husband to watch it with me.  

Les Miserables

Best Song

I'm just really loving Katy Perry right now and every time this song comes on the radio,

 I just have to turn it up.  I think we've all had our moments where we needed to 

ROAR and Katy Perry says just what we are thinking! 

Roar by Katy Perry

I hope you enjoyed my list of favorites from this year.  

If you have a favorite I should know about, let me know if the comments! 

Happy New Year!