Ten of My Favorite Reads in 2015!

If you know me you know I'm an avid reader. I fell short of my dream of 100 books this year. Probably by about half. Oy. That's bad for me. I'm usually in the 60s, at least! (Or not, it's been a slow couple of years.)

But this year was a year of amazing reads. So many that I could barely keep up with them. Below you'll find my favorite reads of 2015. Consider picking up a copy for yourself if you have not read them yet. I wouldn't steer you wrong.

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Fall and Winter Fashion and Beauty Ideas

Every now and then I miss digging through fashionable pictures and making creations that I can dream about. So tonight I decided to jump into Polyvore for a bit and make a few sets that I'd share.

Be sure to comment and let me know what you think.

Red and Black Ensemble by ace1028

Chevron infinity scarve / Black diamond solitaire ring / Kate Spade black wallet / Baggallini Big Zipper Travel Crossbody Bag / Crewneck t shirt / Vneck top / Red quilted vest / Fuzzy christmas socks / Red trousers / Mid calf combat boots

Fall/Winter Casual by ace1028

Pattern t shirt, $14 / Green parka coat, $45 / Maurices clothing / Jilsen Quality Boots block heel shoes, $280 / Avenue imitation handbag / Gemstone jewellery / White House Black Market cable knit glove / Avenue tube scarve / ASOS loop belt / Clear lipgloss

Holiday Sparkles and Pampering for you! by ace1028 

Fig Yarrow body cleanser / Philosophy bubble bath / Philosophy bubble bath / Chanel bags case / Bric s travel toiletry bag, $74 / Philosophy bubble bath / Essie nail polish / Essie nail polish / Essie nail polish / Glitter makeup / Bobbi Brown Cosmetics black mascara, $35 / Manic Panic pencil eyeliner / Moisturizing lipstick, $15 / Nyx blush

So - thoughts? Do you like the colors I've picked? Would you wear any of the outfits? Sometimes I wish it were this easy. Go online - pick things you like - have plenty of money to order them all and they arrive at your home and fit perfectly. Oh ... Santa ...

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Blog Conference Fashionista

You guys, you know I'm not a fashion blogger, and that's fine. But I seriously have to tell you that I took pictures of myself at Type-A Parent Conference a few weeks ago in Atlanta and I totally felt like I was wearing the perfect thing every.single.day.

Really.

Honestly.

I totally was.

I feel a little weird posting an entire post with pictures of myself, but I know people do it all the time.

And I think for the plus-sized girls like me it might be a nice thing to see, too.

So ... here you have it ...

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Totally TMI. In a VIDEO.

Well, it's not THAT horrible as far as the content goes - it's just lonnnng.

This is the longest shortest post of all time, because my writing is super quick and my video is super long and so - well - there you have it.

I was tagged by Alissa Enders and Kelli of Momma Needs a Beer and so I figured it was about time I got this thing recorded and underway. Of course as soon as I sat down to do so I realized that my MacBook Air's camera is not functioning or recognizable or whatever and so I wound up recording myself upstairs on my iPad. And I promise any noises you hear aren't bodily functions, but are the iPad case ... honest.

So, if you're interested in finding out 50 things about me, click the video below and watch the 10 minutes or so to hear what I have to say. And if you're even more interested in things like this? Consider yourself tagged. I'm too out of focus to figure out who hasn't done this already and so I didn't specifically tag anyone. Just cause. Instead I'll tag all of you.



And if you don't watch it or participate - it's okay. No worries. I can handle it and still adore you. Personally I just wanted to get a post up and touch base with y'all before I head off to Type-A Bootcamp in Walt Disney World. Woot! Epcot here I come.

I asked my Facebook peeps what I should eat or drink while I'm there and have a huge list I need to keep on-hand while walking around the park. What about you? When was the last time you were at Epcot and what are your suggestions? Anything I absolutely cannot skip while I'm there?

Okay, that'll be all for today. I do have a book review to get done for you guys for tomorrow, so let me run off and finish that up, a'ight? Ciao for now!

p.s. I think I'm on Bloglovin now ... Check me out.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

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Let's talk books.

Whew.

I just avoided a panic attack when my Kindle decided not to cooperate with me.

I have over 300 items on that thing and to think about losing access to them (yes, I know, I don't read 300 things at once, and I do have access via Amazon, etc.) freaked me out. I was about to up my medication. For serious.

I'm an avid reader.

Admittedly, I've fallen behind since my mind just hasn't been looking for the worlds that books provide since losing my dad. It should realistically - or perhaps stereotypically - be the opposite, but it's not. I normally set myself a goal of 100 reads as the new year approaches. I'll do the same for 2014.

The last few years I maintained a list of books I read (thanks, Goodreads!) and I have one for this year, as well. It's shorter than it has been in the past, and I'll get a post up in January with a recap.

I also often do the link-up of my year in book titles. My life in books for 2012 proved to be an interesting batch. 2011 in books was fun, too. And my Reading with Redneck: 2010 in review was the first time I participated. Throughout those posts you'll find links to the complete lists of books I've read over the years. I haven't been great at updating for 2013, which is why that'll come along in January, too.

Right now I'd like to give you a peek at a handful of books from my to-read shelves for the coming year. I'm not including anything I'm due to review, because those are more given reads, and I'd like to just include what I think I'll be picking up and diving into. Or what I plan to read, anyway!

Join me?

The Interestings



The Goldfinch

The Theory of Opposites

Soy Sauce for Beginners

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen Year Old Boy With Autism

The Book Thief

Wonder

So, that's my short list. I have loads more - for sure - I'm addicted to reading. I think it's a pretty great addiction to have, though. I will definitely be sharing more of my to-reads and wrap up 2013 by giving you some feedback on my favorite and least favorite reads. Just stick with me. I'm working my way back to my reading roots, promise!

Do you have one book that's on your MUST READ list for 2014? Share in my comments! I'd love to hear about it and add it to my Goodreads shelves.

* This post contains affiliate links. *

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Bid on a Bundle of Books for Duck Fest!

THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED! THE WINNER OF THIS RAFFLE IS #5:

DAFFY OF BATCRAP CRAZY!!!!

CONGRATS, DAFFY!!!!

So, if you know me, you know I love to read. I mean. I'm totally addicted to books. Completely.

And so as Duck Fest preparation is underway, I thought to myself, what can I possibly contribute to this cause? How can I help Daffy's family?

So I sent an e-mail over to That One Mom and said, what about books? What if I put together a bundle of books (would have been a basket, but a basket will be hard to mail!) and see if people will bid on them? I mean, it's just $1 per bid, so how hard could that be?

And she agreed with me! She was excited, which made me so psyched. I was starting to feel so lame. All these wonderful donations flowing in for various causes out there in Bloggy Land, and here I sat, on my bottom, doing zilch.

So, in an effort to help raise money for the JD Scholarship Fund, I've decided to create a bundle of books up for the charity raffle!

This Bundle of Books will include:

The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant

The Bright Side of Disaster, by Katherine Center



The Senator's Wife, by Sue Miller



The Jane Austen Book Club, by Karen Joy Fowler

I have read and enjoyed each of these books, and honestly, The Red Tent is one of my absolute favorite reads EVER! You can win over $40 worth of books for just the bid of $1. Yes, ONE SINGLE DOLLAR.

Please leave one comment for each dollar donation you make for this giveaway. Registration runs June 3rd through June 8th. Drawing will be conducted June 9th via random.org. Winners will be notified via email and shipping information will be collected at that time. Thank you for your contribution to the JD Scholarship Fund!

Just click on the ChipIn widget above to submit your monetary donation and that will confirm that you are eligible to win! Thanks so much, everyone!

We have opened the "bidding" so PLEASE post your comments here if you are interested in winning this bundle of books!!!!

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I love Sundays.

I mean, who doesn't? They're chock-full of lazy moments. Especially when the entire house is under the weather. Hubby and I are starting to think that we might have H1N1. Great fun. I'm thinking he got it from someone at work or something, and brought it home to the rest of us. Woo hoo! Could I BE any happier?

Anyway, back to loving Sundays. When I lived at home in NY, with my family, Sundays were days of bagels for a late breakfast, maybe even a potato knish, if we were lucky ... football and more bagels for lunch, and then Chinese food for dinner. Now that I live in NC I have no bagels (boo!) and little football (sometimes the Giants are on, but not often enough) and Chinese food has to be picked up if we want it. But we don't have that kind of a "traditional" weekend, yet. Maybe once my daughter gets older we'll have more of a routine on Sundays. Heck, Saturdays, too.

For now I'll settle for sitting on the couch with the laptop, while my daughter plays with Play-Doh, my husband is upstairs sleeping, and Laurie Berkner sings on our living room TV set. Not quite the NFL, but it entertains, just the same.

What are your Sunday routines? Anything you natives can suggest for a newly (okay, it's almost been 4 years, but still ...) Southern gal? I mean, we can only hit Bob Evans so many times. If I'm being honest here, I'm not really a fan. I do love me some Cracker Barrel, though, but if we don't get there early enough we wind up waiting for like an hour, and who can do that with a 2-1/2 year old in tow? So then we ride over to Dunkin' Donuts, but even those trips are few and far between of late. So I opt for frozen waffles/pancakes and say thanks to Aunt J, Eggos and any generic brand I can find. Which is fine. But I could use some Starbucks' chai tea right about now. Now there's a place I wish delivered.

Anyway, I do still love my Sundays. There's nothing quite like the Sunday paper, flipping through the fliers, clipping coupons, watching last night's SNL [only there wasn't a new one last night, boo!] and whatever trashy and old movies are on the boob tube. It just might be my favorite day of the week, despite the work week starting the next day. Maybe that's because I'm a stay-at-home-mom these days, and my "work week" never quite ends.

Happy Sunday, everyone. I hope you're enjoying yours!

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My favorite things!

I hate being sick.

I am fighting whatever my daughter has, and for me it's making me soooo tired and cranky. My hubby kind of has it, too, but with his body's way of dealing with colds he'll be better by tomorrow. She's all goopy, but hanging in there, and was up most of the night. Which was so NOT fun for Mommy. Tired. Cranky. Almost achey. Headachey. Itchy. Cranky. Scratchy. Did I mention Cranky?

Anyway, we're hanging in there. We had to cancel a playdate for today because of the goopies, and I hope we are OK enough to make it to a Trunk-or-Treat event on Sunday. Mostly because I have responsibilities at the actual event as a volunteer, and also so she can have some fun before Halloween. If she isn't up for it I'll have hubby drop me off and drive her around some so she gets a nap for a change. We shall see!

So, a few of my favorite things for the day are:

Kleenex 
Orange juice 
Dota
Purell

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My favorite things!

A new feature here on GGGR ... my favorite things!

Who am I kidding? I don't have time for an actual regular feature. That would mean I'd have to think things through and try to come up with posts way in advance and whatnot. So if you don't see this one again for months, don't yell at me or anything. Usually I forget about stuff and then go to type in a new and creative idea in the title field, and whattayaknow? It's already been used.

But I do like to talk [can you tell?] about things I like [and pretty much anything else,] so for today I'm going to post about my favorite conveniences.

* DVR
How did we ever survive without this? Can you imagine recording about 20-25 shows on a VHS tape? Or ... ACK! Beta? I am so thankful for the DVR I could sing its' praises all day long. I can record a week [and then some] of General Hospital and watch it all in one night, save a show like Rescue Me for months and months and watch it when I am emotionally ready to, and can pause the most important game of the season so I can run to the bathroom, put my daughter to bed, and take a shower if I wanted to, all before having to turn it back on so I can watch the end!

* The ice maker
I'm not actually a huge ice person. But in the heat of the summer, with a cool chai tea waiting for me, well, it needs to be iced. And when my dad is around, well, every drink needs ice, so having an ice maker is an absolute convenience. If you're still going old school and your fridge does not have one, consider it. Seriously. Join us in the current century.

* Wireless
If I could not sit downstairs and have my laptop on my lap [literally!] I would be hunched over a desk somewhere, back aching and daughter running wild somewhere else in the house. With the convenience of wireless I enjoy sitting here while she's watching her boyfriend (Diego) and I get to curl up, blanket nearby, as the morning chill leaves the house. Granted, I do often have to stand over my laptop, as my battery is a bit old and loses it's charge too quickly, but that's a whole 'nother post!

* GoGurt
Yogurt in a long container that my child can eat without making a mess. Freezes quickly, can be disguised as an ice pop. Ensures that she gets something slightly healthy during her day. Coupons are frequently in the Sunday paper. Try it. You'll like it. I swear!

* Screw top wine
It's true. I have heard that all wine-makers are going to be switching to the screw top. If it happens, will the fancy schmancy wine drinkers across the world be devastated? I know I won't be. It's so annoying when you're shimmying out the cork and afraid you'll be eating it with your relaxing beverage. And even more so when you're trying to save the unused portion of your favorite Moscato. True, I have the wine stoppers (love them!) but seriously, a screw top is just so much easier. Who cares if it seems "cheap?" That doesn't stop me from enjoying a bottle of Sterling anyway!

And there you have it. A few of my favorite things on my mind this morning. We'll see what I can come up with next time. And be sure to let me know some of yours, as well!

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