Just Do It.

Summer is still kicking it hard here in North Carolina.

The temperature is beastly.

The sun is shining beyond brightly. It's literally (fine, I know. It's figuratively, but that's so much less fun to write!) melting us at sun to skin contact.

And me?

I'm finding my way through each transition of my life. One day at a time.

This post is more of a 'let's touch base about this one particular matter' and I'll tell you things that have been on my mind, than an actual, 'here's a piece about something heavy,' kinda post.

Y'all.

Let me start off saying one single word.

Swoosh.

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Seasons of Change

I've been kind of quiet around here lately.

It's not been my intention, but when things happen in my personal life I tend to put other things on hold to navigate through them. The blog becomes one of those things.

The blog.

My blog.

I'm not sure why I used that term. Maybe I'm growing out of blogging, but I doubt it.

I'm actually in the process of a much needed redesign. I'm close to having it completed but - alas - life has gotten in the way.

How dare it do so, right?

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5 Reasons You Haven't Been Writing and What To Do Next

It can be hard to be a blogger these days.

We write because we love to write. We write because we want to write.

And then, well, we write for so many other reasons.

And sometimes we just don't write at all.

Here are five reasons you (fine, maybe *I*) haven't been writing and how to take them on.

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How Much Do You Love Yourself?

I just bought this little pouch for myself. It's an important reminder I've been carrying with me and I love that I can now SEE it when I need to. #doALLthethings

A photo posted by Andrea Bates (@goodgirlgonered) on Oct 16, 2016 at 11:40am PDT

Some days the world just seems so intense. Emotions are heightened. 

People say things that trigger a thought process we thought we'd escaped from long ago. 

Loving ourselves is an interesting challenge. It's a way of life. It's important for living. So very important. 

It can be a rough go, though. A tough thing to do consistently. Most of the time I think I'm on the right side of it - the side that loves who I am and where I am in my life. I recently posted the following status update on Facebook and thought to myself - wow - I really am there. 

"Sometimes you do your work and you walk away, or hang up the phone, or save the file and you breathe deeply and truly feel like you're meant to be here. In this place. Working with and for these particular people. And you recognize that although sometimes you forget it? This is the work you're meant to do." 

And when I share things like this I recognize how far I've come. I am proud of me - of who I am - of what I do. And I wouldn't change a thing. 

And then, there are days that I think about how much more I could be doing. 

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Help Light The Night For Kids with Cancer! #LLSLTN

* This post is a part of the Light The Night campaign. I have been hired as an ambassador for this campaign. All expressed content in this post is strictly my own. * 

Have you heard of Light The Night? It's an event that is coordinated by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) in support of raising money to help eradicate cancer. More specifically, blood cancers.

One aspect of this campaign is maintaining a focus on children's cancers. LLS states that Leukemia is the most common cancer impacting children and adolescents aged 20 and younger.

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Amazing Reads. Yes. Again.

I've been off-track with my amazing reads postings of late, but hey, it's the new year, so let's start 'em up again, okay? 

Here's one I just shared on FB because it made me laugh so hard. I don't know the author and have never been to the website before, but it's worth a read anyway. Snowstorms, Then and Now.  Seriously. I cried with laughter. 

A beautiful post that I saw being shared a few times comes from over at BlogHer. The title? My Online Friendships are Real. I think many of my friends have written that very same post at some point in their blogging lives. And I agree. And love it. These connections ARE real. Just ask anyone. 

And this one is making the rounds, as well. Allison Slater-Tate is over at ScaryMommy talking about her age in This is 39. It's hilarious. And true. And holds true for 41, also. #justsayin

On a heavier note, I finally got around to reading this beautiful post by Ashley over at The Dose of Reality. Making the Cut is a tough read, but an important reminder that so many of us are not alone. After losing our loved ones there are always the tiniest of reminders that they're gone. These jabs of what they're missing. And they hurt. But we're here to support one another as we make our way through it. Together.

And one of the latest "trends" that I hope sticks around this year is the #365FeministSelfie movement. It looks and sounds odd, no doubt, but basically it's a reminder that you're beautiful, and you're entitled to share that beauty with everyone. Selfies rock and there's no shame in sharing them. So take that picture and share it wherever you'd like with that hashtag and you're good to go. Viva la Feminista has the right idea, IMO. And if you doubt my belief in the selfie, here's a recap of 2013 ... 

So - go on - snap a picture of yourself and share it! Let me know in the comments where it is if you want. Or don't. Just get out there and see yourself the way others see you. In all your beauty and realness. And rock on, my friend. Here's to a beautiful 2014. 

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I'm doing it right. Right Now.

You know I often try to link up with Shell's Pour Your Heart Out on Wednesdays. This week I'm linking up with James & Jax, as well. She's got a new linky that encourages us to remind ourselves of the good things we've been up to. Good things are good reminders that we're worth it. Worth all of it. Every single second. 

So, for me there's a lot of good going on. 

Even though this past week has been a bit of a crap-fest food-wise, I'm working my way back to being back on track. I'm trudging my way through Couch to 5K. Again. 

Yes. Again. 

I started it back in January of last year. And then I hit week 7 and I stopped. 

The heat. My mindset. All of it. Changed and challenged. So I stopped. 

But not now. 

Not this time. 

This time I'm doing it. 

And I'm doing it right. 

Because I have so many reasons to move. 

And I'd like to start my Weekly Updates again. Did anyone read those? I think so. I think it'd be cool to get those going and share the ups and downs. And the ups. But not the ones on the scale. Those should be downs, right? 

But I'm doing this. 

Yesterday (Tuesday) I completed Week 3, Day 2 of the C25K workout. 

Today (Wednesday) I went walking with a friend for 40 minutes. And we beat that wind out there! 

Thursday I should finish Week 3 and by the weekend Week 4 will be in my sights. 

Weekends are rough, but either way I've been tracking my calories on my phone with the LoseIt app. It's been pretty easy to do and helps me see where I'm failing or flailing, AND where I'm successful, too. 

source

So while I'm struggling this week with a few things that might show up on the scale, (they did, I'm up .8 today - but I'm okay, I'm moving forward and shaking it off!) and I've been going over my calories for the past few days, I am also moving and running like a motha! Whenever I can. As best I can. You know how it is, right? *Please humor me if you don't. I need the love!

And I'm checking in with my peeps over at the New Year, No Excuses challenge in our private facebook group where we support and motivate one another. And it's fabulous. Seriously. The non-judgmental environment. The unconditional support and understanding. All the things you need to keep you going. Even when or if you backslide a little bit. Even if you weigh WAY more than some of these ladies. Or only a little bit more or just a little bit less. 

All of that matters none. 

You're in this together. We are. Completely. And so we keep going. Together. Not quite side by side, but it feels that way anyway. 

And so I keep moving. 

I keep going so that girl of yesteryear doesn't show up again. Because she's not welcome here anymore.

Because me? I'm pushing through. I'm breaking a sweat. I'm on the ball. 

I'm lacing up my fairly new and absolutely pricey kicks so I can head on out and hit the pavement. 

I remember that I CAN do it, and so I continue on and I DO. 

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Dream a little dream

Today's optional prompt for Stream of Consciousness Sunday is dreams.

Today we went to an orientation for Kindergarten for the little miss. A sort of seminar type set-up in the library of what will be her school. It was hectic. Hot. Chaotic.

Slightly disorganized. But enjoyable, kind of sort of.

We had ice cream after the talk part, so that was nice.

And then I realized that - wow - in a few weeks I'll be the mom of a kindergartener. Is that a word? I suppose it is. It looks funny, but it is a word.

Will she be nervous? Will she be motivated? Will she love it? Will she even remember it when she's older? Do any of us actually remember K?

I found my best friend that year of school. I lost her and then found her again in junior high school. We're still best friends today.

Do I wish for that for my daughter? Do I hope she finds that now and makes that lifelong connection that carries her through each school, through college? Her future college roommate? The one she tosses her cap into the air and reaches over, smiling, hair flying behind her, shouts of "We did it!" in unison. One of the many who will stand beside her on her wedding day?

I dream that she finds that connection somehow. Whether it be this year or next. Or many down the line.

But right now I just dream that she listens to me for a change and allows me a chance to drop the worries that she is going to go off to Kindergarten and be the child in class who doesn't stop talking, has their parents called in during the first few weeks and cannot turn off the sass.

And at this point I have no idea how long I've been typing - as my dogs wanted in - my child wanted food and she is refusing to stop a new and annoying habit of echoing her own words. So I suppose my first dream is that she will STOP that behavior and NOT carry it to K with her. So yeah, there's that.

And then, after that dream comes true, then I'm sure that I'll continue to dream about seeing her like this, just a much more grown-up version.

Perhaps for the time being it's easier on me to just think about the simpler stuff. The stuff that gets under my skin and makes me dream hard and fast with hopes for tomorrow, instead of way down the line. I can tolerate those dreams. They're way less scary for a mom like me.

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Playdates ... @ShotatLife

Isn't it easy and fun for us to plan a playdate in today's world?

All we have to do is text a mom-friend, call them, find them on Facebook or any other online social media method of connecting and we set something up in no time at all.

Our kids are healthy. Playdates spread germs. It's not the worst thing. A snotty nose? Yeah - us, too. Is it clear? Yep. Alright - let's get together.

Hit the park? Playground? Sure - I'll bring the wipes. Antibacterial hand sanitizer. We'll head to the splash-grounds after. Run home and pop them into the bath or shower. Easy clean-up.

See this little boy? See his runny nose? He's adorable, and he's happy, but is he healthy? Is he healthy enough that you'd let your little ones run around and play with him?

I'd love to think that we'd all say yes, of course! But ...

1 in 5 children around the world lack access to life-saving vaccines. 

Your typical playdate in other areas of the world?  Surely different than those we have here.

And yet ... look at these children.

They're happy. You can see how happy they are. 

But how well are they? 

How much disease is being spread from child to child across these kinds of playdates? 

Every year, 1.5 million children die from vaccine-preventable diseases in developing countries. 

Why are these children not vaccinated? 

What can we do to help? 

How can we ensure that children all across the world have a Shot At Life? 

A shot at ...

Their first baseball game.
Their first school trip.
Their first ice cream cone.
Their first airplane ride.
Their first swim with dolphins.

Trip to Disney. High School prom. Training bras. Basketball games. Bus rides. Baking a cake. Licking the frosting. Cookie cutters. Running barefoot through the grass. Finger painting. Kiss from a dog.

The first time someone holds their hand.

Looks into their eyes.

Tells them they love them.

All of these things are amazing. Incredible. Emotional.

But what I really wish for for these kids?

Is a shot at their next birthday.

I am participating in a blogging carnival to promote awareness as coordinated by Shot@Life. I received no compensation for this post and am truly hoping to help educate and inform my readers - and myself - on all that is happening outside the immediate communities that surround us. And help support children all across this tremendous world. Because without us - what do many of them truly have? Please help.

All images were provided by Shot@Life. 

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Writer's Workshop: What Have I Done?

I didn't get to play last week, but I will eventually follow up with a What Have I Not Yet Done kind of post, but I decided to partake in this week's prompt #1:

Last week we wrote about what we have never done…this week write a list of 22 things you HAVE done. I'm linking up with Mama Kat and her weekly writer's workshop today with my list:

I've been parasailing.

I've taken a boat ride on the Rhine.
I've been held up at gunpoint.

I've been to the top of the World Trade Center.

I've been to the Cliffs of Moher and stood as close to the edge as was possibly permitted.

I've made my dad pull his car over to the side of the parkway so I could throw up. (Fabulous, no?)

I pledged a sorority. (Those two totally go together, if you haven't guessed.)

I've worn the same clothes to work two days in a row.

I dated some co-workers in my time, and ultimately married one.

I've seen Barry Manilow in concert - - MORE than once!

I've danced on top of a bar.

I've kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year's Eve.

I've smoked cigars.

I've donated my hair (many times).

I've tried skiing - - ONCE.

I've sledded down snowy hills on cafeteria trays.

I've been to the rain forest in Puerto Rico.

I've been on an airplane when people were smoking ON it -- as in IN flight!

I've been to the tree lighting in Rockerfeller Center in NYC.

I've had only one major surgery, my C-Section.

I've had my ears pierced 6 times.

I've eaten alligator.
And there you have it. 22 things I HAVE done.

Hope you enjoy and feel like you now know me better. And if you're up to the challenge of sharing yours, be sure to link up with Mama Kat if you do.

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Reading with Redneck in 2011!

If you know me you know I'm a reader. If you don't, well, guess what? I am.

Instead of signing up for someone else's challenge this year, I've decided to set up my own. Now, it's nothing critical, I promise you that. You don't have to read 100 books in 30 days, or 6 months, or even an entire year. All I am doing is inviting anyone who is interested in increasing their reading time throughout the year to take a pledge right here. Say, sure, I'm in. I would love to read more than I normally do.

Two years ago I finished up the year at 40-something books. This year I hit 60 (or fell one shy, depends on which challenge you're looking at, I was involved in two!). So next year I'd like to beat that. Worth a shot, right?

What do you have to do to participate - you ask? Not much. I don't have a button for this event, nor do I have a linky set up (I'm terrified nobody would join. In fact, I don't think I have EVER had a linky on my own before. Hmmn ...), or anything super official like that.

Just leave me a comment letting me know that you're interested in the self-challenge tossed at you by Reading with Redneck. Hmmn. Anyone smell a second blog in the works? As if I would have the time for THAT!

And if you want to make it more official and post about it, go for it. Link back to me, don't, I'm cool with whatever you decide. Honestly, I just want to encourage more people to take some time to crack open a book or two, or ten, flip a few pages on that eReader of yours, or heck, remind yourself that as much as you read to or with your children is as often as you should read a page or two, too!

Heck, maybe I'll get that swap of mine I wanted to do months ago underway.

Or ---

-- - wait for it - --

Maybe I'll find a great prize to give to the person who surprises themselves the most during this challenge. Yeah, I kind of like that idea.

Anywho -- are you with me? Are you in? What do you think?

Hello?

Hello? Is this thing on?

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Reading With Redneck ...

Check out the title of this post for my reading-related posts ... Reading With Redneck. Whatcha' think? Do you like it? Yes? No? Maybe? Eh? Lemme know. I even created an extra page for my blog with some book related posts I do elsewhere, I figured it'd be nice to always have them to hold onto, and nice to share with anyone interested in knowing more about what I like to read. As if you don't get enough of that already! So, here was my list for this summer's reading challenge over at my friend Julie's blog My Book Retreat:

 True Colors, Kristin Hannah

 

Between Sisters, Kristin Hannah [read!]

Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart, Beth Patillo

The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown

The Last Girls, Lee Smith

Best Friends Forever, Jennifer Weiner [read!] 

Finding Marco, Kenneth C. Cancellara [reviewed]

Freedom's Call, John Walker [read!]

Seven Year Switch, Claire Cook [read!]

A Wild Ride Up The Cupboards, Ann Bauer

Life's a Beach, Claire Cook

The Center of Everything, Laura Moriarty 

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Aimee Bender

The Price of Revenge, Dennis Vaughan

The Whole World Over, Julia Glass

Men and Dogs, Katie Crouch [read!] 

My Summer of Southern Discomfort, Stephanie Gayle [read]

Dreaming in Hindi, Katherine Russell Rich [still reading]

I didn't get through as many as I thought I might, but I kind of shifted gears a bit and wound up reading some other stuff, too:

The Pocket Therapist, Therese J. Borchard

Please Excuse My Daughter, Julie Klam

Gerry Tales, Gerry Boylan

Spooky Little Girl, Laurie Notaro

This Little Mommy Stayed Home, Samantha Wilde

To Your Dog's Health!

Handle With Care, Jodi Picoult

The Ice Cream Theory, Steff Deschenes

Healing With Words: A Writer's Cancer Journey, Diana M. Raab

 So stay tuned for my list of the books I hope to read this winter. I've heard there is a fall (or is it through winter? I forget ...) challenge, and since this is my last shot at getting up to 100 books (HA!) for the full year I'm going to have to charge full steam ahead.

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Books, books and more books!

So I was writing up a list for someone this morning and figured why not just post a small book-related summary of faves here?

Some of my ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOKS EVER:
The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant
Good in Bed, by Jennifer Weiner
My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
The Middle Place, by Kelly Corrigan

And more recent faves:
Firefly Lane, by Kirstin Hannah
The Girl Who Stopped Swimming, by Joshilyn Jackson
On Folly Beach, by Karen White
The Help, by Kathryn Stockett

Authors I totally love almost everything they've written:
Jennifer Weiner
Jodi Picoult
Sarah Addison Allen

Also, today is the last day of the Spring Reading Thing that I posted about here.



I did not read all of the books on my list for the challenge, but I did read some of them, and many others that I hadn't even considered reading at the time this challenge began. I have marked those from my list that I did complete and then some ... My completed list for the Spring Reading Thing 2010:

1. When you Eat at the Refrigerator Pull Up a Chair, Geneen Roth
2. No Dress Rehearsal, Marian Keyes [from list]
3. You Can't Drink All Day If You Don't Start In The Morning, Celia Rivenbark
4. Knit Two, Kate Jacobs [from list]
5. On Folly Beach, Karen White [from list]
6. Our Promised Land, Michael T. Darkow [from list]
7. Inconsolable: How I Threw My Mental Health Out With the Diapers, Marrit Ingman [from list]
8. The Accidental Mother, Rowan Coleman [from list]
9. Jane Austen Ruined My Life, Beth Pattillo
10. Skinny is Overrated, Dr. Danielle Milano
11. Saving Max, Antoinette van Heugten
12. The Imperfect Mom, Therese J. Borchard
13. Never Let You Go, Erin Healy
14. The Help, Kathryn Stockett
15. The Second Nine Months, Vicki Glembocki
16. The Girl Who Chased the Moon, Sarah Addison Allen
17. Deep Dish, Mary Kay Andrews
18. The No-Cry Potty Training Solution, Elizabeth Pantley

And those from my list I didn't get to ... YET!
** Belong to Me/When Love Walked In, marisa de los santos
** The Whole World Over, Julia Glass
** True Colors, Kristin Hannah
** Further Under the Duvet, Marian Keyes [Still working on it!]

But maybe I'll carry those over to my friend Julie's Summer Reading Challenge:




Here's my list of TO-READS for this summer:
** True Colors, Kristin Hannah
** Between Sisters, Kristin Hannah [read!]
** Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart, Beth Patillo
** The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown
** The Last Girls, Lee Smith
** Best Friends Forever, Jennifer Weiner [read!]
** Dreaming in Hindi, Katherine Russell Rich [still reading]
** Finding Marco, Kenneth C. Cancellara [reviewed]
** Freedom's Call, John Walker [read!]
** Seven Year Switch, Claire Cook [read!]
** A Wild Ride Up The Cupboards, Ann Bauer
** Life's a Beach, Claire Cook
** My Summer of Southern Discomfort, Stephanie Gayle [read]
** The Center of Everything, Laura Moriarty
** The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Aimee Bender
** The Price of Revenge, Dennis Vaughan
** The Whole World Over, Julia Glass
** Men and Dogs, Katie Crouch [read!]

And on top of all of that I hope to get my book swap going this summer, as well. Stay tuned for more details. And please come on by, comment, etc. Tweet me! Whatever it takes. LET'S TALK BOOKS!

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Things I Never Thought I'd Have to Say

* The kitchen is not really a place for pooping.

* It's not very nice to have your finger in your nose.

* Can you PLEASE say hi to (fill in the blank) ... your cousin? Nana? Meme?

* Bugs are not for breakfast. Bugs are for snack time.

* I don't have Shark Boy and Lava Girl. Let's watch something else.

* Did you poop? Are you pooping?
Or any variation of this as many times daily as I do.

* Don't sit down, you'll squish it!

* You cannot have another yogurt!

* You don't need to wear contacts (you're only three, enjoy this time, would you!?! Because if you end up with eyes like mine it won't be long now ...)

* You CAN do it yourself. Yes. You CAN.

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My 100 Books for 2010!

So some of you may know that I have been tracking my books for this year for a challenge with my fellow TriangleMommies that we're doing over at Goodreads.com. Too lazy to link that, if you don't know what it is check out my bookshelf on the right-hand side of my blog! 

Anyway, I found this challenge again, I think it's the same host as last year, so I figured what the heck, I'll post the info, and link up, and eventually track all my books for 2010 on there, aside from on my shelf. Make sense? Good -- let's roll!

Here are the "rules" for the 100 books challenge:

1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.

What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible.

3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.

6. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to your post where your books will be listed. Include the URL to this post so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. Again, so viewers can join the challenge too.

And my list so far: 

1. The Bright Side of Disaster, Katherine Center
2. How Starbucks Saved My Life, Michael Gates Gill
3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
4. The Good Body, Eve Ensler
5. Things I Want my Daughters to Know, Elizabeth Noble
6. 1003 Great Things About Moms, Lisa Birnbach, Ann Hodgman and Patricia Marx
7. The Beach House, Jane Green
8. Project Daddy, Kate Perry
9. Til We Eat Again, Confessions of a Diet Dropout, Judy Gruen
10. Glory Days, Irene Peterson
11. The Bright Forever, Lee Martin
12. Why We Suck, Dr. Denis Leary
13. Confessions Of A Slacker Wife, Muffy Mead-Ferro
14. Confessions Of A Slacker Mom, Muffy Mead-Ferro
15. When you Eat at the Refrigerator Pull Up a Chair, Geneen Roth
16. No Dress Rehearsal, Marian Keyes
17. You Can't Drink All Day If You Don't Start In The Morning, Celia Rivenbark
18. Knit Two, Kate Jacobs
19. On Folly Beach, Karen White
20. Our Promised Land, Michael T. Darkow
21. Inconsolable: How I Threw My Mental Health Out With the Diapers, Marrit Ingman
22. The Accidental Mother, Rowan Coleman
23. Jane Austen Ruined My Life, Beth Pattillo
24. Skinny is Overrated, Dr. Danielle Milano
25. Saving Max, Antoinette van Heugten
26. The Imperfect Mom, Therese J. Borchard
27. Never Let You Go, Erin Healy
28. The Help, Kathryn Stockett
29. The Second Nine Months, Vicki Glembocki
30. The Girl Who Chased the Moon, Sarah Addison Allen
31. Deep Dish, Mary Kay Andrews
32. The No-Cry Potty Training Solution, Elizabeth Pantley
33. Freedom's Call, John Walker
34. Best Friends Forever, Jennifer Weiner
35. The Pocket Therapist, Therese J. Borchard
36. Seven Year Switch, Claire Cook
37. Healing With Words: A Writer's Cancer Journey, Diana M. Raab
38. My Summer of Southern Discomfort, Stephanie Gayle
39. Please Excuse My Daughter, Julie Klam
40. Gerry Tales, Gerry Boylan
41. Between Sisters, Kirstin Hannah
42. Spooky Little Girl, Laurie Notaro
43. This Little Mommy Stayed Home, Samantha Wilde
44. To Your Dog's Health! Mark Poveromo
45. Handle With Care, Jodi Picoult
46. The Ice Cream Theory, Steff Deschenes
47. Men and Dogs, Katie Crouch
48. The Truth About Delilah Blue, Tish Cohen
49. What's Up Down There? Lissa Rankin
50. The Twisted Path Home, Fae Bidgoli
51. Shelter Me, Juliette Fay
52. Pieces of Happily Ever After, Irene Zutell
53. A Secret Kept, Tatiana de Rosnay54. Driving Sideways, Jess Riley
55. Girl Time, Laura Jensen Walker
56. The Price of Revenge, Dennis Vaughan
57. You're Not The Boss of Me, Erika Shickel
58. The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown
59. Not Tonight Honey, Wait Til I'm a Size Six, Susan Reinhardt

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Another reading challenge?

As you may know already, I'm participating in a 100 books in 2010 challenge with some friends from my mommies' group here in the Triangle (hence, the name, TriangleMommies!) over on Goodreads.com.

Anyway, I'm tracking the books I read in my sidebar through a Goodreads widget, so it's all fun and easy and inspiring. And yet, it's not enough!

So I found out about this challenge on my friend Julie's blog: My Book Retreat, and I decided to jump into the fray!



So, basically all I have to do is create a small list of books that I plan to read/finish from now until the end of spring (June 21st, I believe) and post them here, and then try to read them all. And if you know me, you know that I certainly have a nice batch of books waiting for me, so I figured I'd pull some titles out, and move ahead from there:

** Belong to Me/When Love Walked In, marisa de los santos
** The Whole World Over, Julia Glass
** True Colors, Kristin Hannah
** On Folly Beach, Karen White
** Our Promised Land, Michael T. Darkow
** No Dress Rehearsal, Marian Keyes
** Knit Two, Kate Jacobs
** The Accidental Mother, Rowan Coleman

And I would like to finish reading the following books, as well:

** Inconsolable: How I Threw My Mental Health Out With the Diapers, Marrit Ingman
** Further Under the Duvet, Marian Keyes

So, if you're interested, click the button for this challenge to head on over to Callapidder Days for more info! See you there!!!

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Help For Haiti

If you have not yet seen the incredible list of blogs on Money Saving Mom who are working to raise money for disaster relief for Haiti, please check HERE as soon as possible.

All you have to do is link up your blog posts about helping support the relief efforts, or make a few comments and these bloggers will be contributing varying amounts per link/comment they receive towards many different causes.

It's absolutely worth taking the time to do this, and think of how quickly you'll be able to link up and help raise extra money without having to donate more yourself. We know these times are rough, so help them help others. I know I'm in the middle of the list right now, and am truly impressed by their efforts!

So go ahead. I challenge you to post your link on EACH blog listed. GO FOR IT. You'll feel incredible if you do.

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I'll never make it ...

Well, I finished #47! So that would mean there are 3 more to go for me to hit 50 books for 2009!

Yesterday I completed Mrs. Miracle, by Debbie Macomber. Today I am reading Christmas Wishes, by the same author. I would LOVE to say I'll hit 50 for the year, but hey, if I can finish 48 that isn't TOO bad, right?

I've already started a "new" challenge. It was supposed to be for 2010, but we started a wee bit early. Some friends and I are doing a 100 book challenge on Goodreads.com. We started on 12/17 (I think) and have a year from that date to reach the total of 100. I'll probably continue tracking my reads here, but I will hold off on starting fresh until tomorrow. It'll be a confusing thing having two lists, but hey, what the heck!

So, as we journey through the last day of 2009 together, what has been your favorite read of the year? I'm quite sure I have too many to list, but I'll peek back at my previous reviews and let you know!

And what books are on your "to-read" list for the coming months? I'm hoping that this link to my Goodreads to-read list works:

my to-read shelf:


Come and join me, if you'd like. Just find me on there and I'll help you join the challenge group once you do. The more the merrier when it comes to talking books, I think.

HAPPY READING!

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