2018 I returned to one of my greatest loves, reading. Once I started there was no stopping me!
I've been trying to keep track of them on Pinterest in hopes I could rememeber to share them with other book lovers. I also finally converted to a kindle and that has been a game changer, as much as I love the smell and feel of books my kindle goes everywhere with me. Plus I discovered through prime I get a free book a month!
Here's a few of this years favorites (I will say I got really caught up in WWII historical fictions and couldn't get enough).
These three were my favorites:
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn Bracht
Nightingale by Kristen Hannah (this is a MUST read, one of these most beautiful stories I have ever read). I am currently on the wait list for The Great Alone by Kristen Hannah so we will see if that makes the 2019 list.
Other well worth mentionables:
The Orphans Tale by Pam Jenoff
Love and Ruin by Paula Mclain (if you read the Paris Wife this is about Hemingway 3rd wife)
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
The Woman in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
In all I think I finished close to 20 books this year. I have always been an avid reader, then social media was created, or more so I finally joined. I got sidetracked with life (and social media), and just forget how much joy reading brings me. However with work being so busy, instead of catching up on social media I hop in bed between 8-9 (the joys of having older kids, I get to go to bed early again) and read! The pure joy of reading is back!
I am almost done with The Boat People by Sharon Bala and Born Survivors by Wendy Holden (because everyone reads two books at once right?!?!) I would add both on the worth reading list!
Monday, December 31, 2018
New Years
I love the beginning of each New Year. It's the time to take a moment and reflect on what was. My heart is always filled with gratitude, for the good people in my life, mine and my families health, the experiences we have shared, and the ability to have been present.
2018 brought mostly all good and I am so grateful for that. The year started with my son starting his junior year at WSU, my daughter getting her license (ok that was scary). My son made the Presidents honor roll at WSU! We got the jeep set up and set out on a 4 state road trip camping in some of the most beautiful places on earth. I worked a lot this past summer, running the logistics of summer camps for symphony, chamber music, theater, film and acting camps, while throwing in two major concerts in there. It was madness at times but got to work with some of my favorite people ever. Lo and I took the jeep and escaped the smoke and camped at Deception Pass (how I had not been there before is beyond me). The jeep brought on this new sense of freedom and independence to travel in a new way (planes and hotels had always been my preferred method), with my dog! Lo and I returned to NYC for our 5th time together in September, and possibly one of the most fun times I have had there. We navigated the subway like champs, toured Columbia and NYU (oh to be that young again). I introduced her to Canal street shopping, somehow back in my 20's being lured into a warehouse to buy Kate Spade knockoffs seemed like a good idea. At 40 with my daughter, we chickened out, much to my husband at homes relief. Opted instead for shopping through SOHO. She talked me into doing the stand by line for Jimmy Fallon and sure enough we got into the taping of his show in Central Park! Broadway binged like always. We are addicts that only buy from TKTS and see as much as we can. Randomly met Nikki Reed.
Came back and Lo started her junior year of high school and then her freshman year of college (doing running start), and back to dancing. Rick and I celebrated my birthday with a fabulous 5 days in Bend, hiking, and eating our way through, again with our dog!
The common theme is experiences. For me this sums up my years. I still have the couches I bought used off of a friend 8 years ago, the bar stools from the previous owner of this house, the dining table found from a friend selling it on FB and the coffee table from my sister. Quite honestly with the exception of a roof over our heads and reliable transportation the material things in life are not me, nor have they ever been or do I pretend for them to be. My life is about the people I share it with, the love that comes from and is given to those around me. I don't love the term "blessed" because I've seen it shared so randomly for things throughout social media. So lets just go with my heart is content. I am happy, I am grateful. I honor every bit of my past as I welcome in a new year. Cheers to you all!
2018 brought mostly all good and I am so grateful for that. The year started with my son starting his junior year at WSU, my daughter getting her license (ok that was scary). My son made the Presidents honor roll at WSU! We got the jeep set up and set out on a 4 state road trip camping in some of the most beautiful places on earth. I worked a lot this past summer, running the logistics of summer camps for symphony, chamber music, theater, film and acting camps, while throwing in two major concerts in there. It was madness at times but got to work with some of my favorite people ever. Lo and I took the jeep and escaped the smoke and camped at Deception Pass (how I had not been there before is beyond me). The jeep brought on this new sense of freedom and independence to travel in a new way (planes and hotels had always been my preferred method), with my dog! Lo and I returned to NYC for our 5th time together in September, and possibly one of the most fun times I have had there. We navigated the subway like champs, toured Columbia and NYU (oh to be that young again). I introduced her to Canal street shopping, somehow back in my 20's being lured into a warehouse to buy Kate Spade knockoffs seemed like a good idea. At 40 with my daughter, we chickened out, much to my husband at homes relief. Opted instead for shopping through SOHO. She talked me into doing the stand by line for Jimmy Fallon and sure enough we got into the taping of his show in Central Park! Broadway binged like always. We are addicts that only buy from TKTS and see as much as we can. Randomly met Nikki Reed.
Came back and Lo started her junior year of high school and then her freshman year of college (doing running start), and back to dancing. Rick and I celebrated my birthday with a fabulous 5 days in Bend, hiking, and eating our way through, again with our dog!
The common theme is experiences. For me this sums up my years. I still have the couches I bought used off of a friend 8 years ago, the bar stools from the previous owner of this house, the dining table found from a friend selling it on FB and the coffee table from my sister. Quite honestly with the exception of a roof over our heads and reliable transportation the material things in life are not me, nor have they ever been or do I pretend for them to be. My life is about the people I share it with, the love that comes from and is given to those around me. I don't love the term "blessed" because I've seen it shared so randomly for things throughout social media. So lets just go with my heart is content. I am happy, I am grateful. I honor every bit of my past as I welcome in a new year. Cheers to you all!
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