Books I've Read Lately

Ever fascinated with prison culture, I was pretty sure I would enjoy this book. I've always been drawn to prison shows and personal accounts of life in prison, especially from women. It's fascinating to learn about a completely different culture that exists just inside our own outside of bars. That being said, everything about this book annoyed me. I did enjoy it because I find it so interesting, however the main character rubbed me the wrong way. It was the uppity attitude that seeped from her writing that made me feel as if she was happy to have gotten such a unique opportunity to write and study this culture, rather than learn from it. She described her experience as if it were a game. One of my IG friends said it best, "I was so busy being horrified and annoyed at her condescending, self-congratulatory and vapid detailing of her experience I couldn't enjoy any good in the book. She was handed life on a silver platter, received an extraordinarily light sentence due to her family's wealth and then treated her prison sentence as a fun social/cultural experience without a shred of remorse..."

I agree with that statement except that I did enjoy reading of the other womens' lives she encountered. I wasn't a fan of her, but the story was intriguing. 

I started Divergent last spring or summer, but got so caught up in raising babies that I never finished it. It wasn't because I didn't want to, I just put it down, my iPad went dead, and I spent the rest of the year occasionally visiting the story in my mind, wondering what happened. Then, when I received the subsequent books for Christmas, I picked up the trilogy again. I won't go into book by book detail, but I will say that I enjoyed these very much. All three of them (Allegiant has the reputation of being hated by many who read it, but I thought it was fitting and fairly well written.) I love the story. The romantic aspects of it are somewhat corny, but hey- I can dig corny. Anytime a series sucks me in, I'm happy about it. If you're into the whole end-of-the-world type books, I suggest these to you. If you want to read about another screwed up government apart from our own, I suggest these to you. ;)

I'm looking forward to the movie that comes out March 21st.

Up next on the agenda to read is James Patterson's Second Honeymoon.

Are you reading anything good?

Currently

Currently Feeling: Uninspired here. I haven't written much lately because I've been busy with school and looking after my sweet boys. I've just been trying to soak them up while simultaneously not losing my ever-lovin' mind. Honestly, I felt if I wrote here that negativity would spill out and I don't want that (see Matthew 12:36; Ephesians 4:29). I've just been angry following the news stories lately. This world is a scary place and I often question why I brought these two precious, innocent boys into it. If only I could protect them forever. Still, I'm trying to unplug a little more and focus on the good in my life. I need only to look around and see God's many blessings.

Currently Proud of: Getting promoted with Scentsy! Want to help me celebrate? Shop here. Speaking of Scentsy, this is how K greets me every morning- hugging his little Scentsy buddy...making monkey sounds. Cute as can be.

Currently Excited About: I hit the half way mark in this graduate class! I hope I can finish strong. My grades are great right now and I'm trying to manage my time appropriately.

Currently Reading: Don't you judge me.

Current Exercise Goals:

*I have been participating in #WallSitMonth over at MindOverMunch and I'm happy with my progress so far. My goal is to finish up this month strong by working up to a five minute wall sit!

*I can also report that I'm getting faster in my runs. I met a new friend (hooray!) who used to do marathons, but due to some health issues she had to stop training. She is just now getting back into running and was looking for a partner. I'm supposed to go running with her today! I hope I can keep up and I know she'll push me to go faster and longer. My goal is to keep logging some miles. I feel those endorphins and I love it!

Currently Pinning:

These are some of my favorite recent pins.

Source: makeabrandnewstartofit.tumblr.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

Source: someecards.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

Source: backonpointe.tumblr.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

Source: sheinside.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

I'm all about this color of green these days.

Current Mood:

Happy as a clam!

xoxo,

a fiction and a non

Happy Sunday to ya! I hope you'll step out of your wonderful world of whatever Reader you use and take a peak at the new look. Fran hooked me up with a lovely new design and I think it's pretty cute. She's wonderful to work with!

Today I thought I'd mention some books I've read lately that I enjoyed. These won't count toward my goal of 35 books in 52 weeks because I finished them before the New Year. Still, they're noteworthy if you're looking for something to read right now.

This book was recommended to me by an ole college pal and I loved it! It was right up my alley with a splash of psychology, a dash of suspense, and a bit of a love story. Don't let the cover or title fool ya- I didn't get the "chick lit" vibe as I read this.

I really liked this one, too. It's full of info about how children learn and how we as a society have gravitated toward pushing our young ones to study, study, study! The authors write about how that's not necessary to development and give examples as to how you can teach your child by playing with him or her without all the fancy toys, music lessons or flash cards. Time spent with a child in conversation and play outweighs the time he or she has trying to pack in various cultural activities that are likely creating pressure to perform. It's food for thought, anyway...

Have you set any reading goals for this year?

Princess dreams

If I happened to be a princess, I wouldn't ask for much. Just a wall full of books and loads of time to read them. Since J and I have been married, it has been an ongoing joke between us that he would never buy me shelves. I asked for them once and he said that 'Army families couldn't have shelves because they'd just get damaged or broken in the various moves we'd have to make and no one makes a good, sturdy shelf anymore so we'd just have to wait until we got out of the Army'. I'm paraphrasing here, but I'll tell ya- that's pretty spot on to what he told me.

Naturally, I thought he was joking, but as the years go by, I'm starting to believe him. The man won't buy me bookshelves.

When we arrived at Ft. Benning and began house shopping, I immediately fell in love with the built in bookshelves in the house we ended up renting. I walked in the front door, saw the lovely, tall shelves, and whispered in awe, "this is the one."

Remember them?

They were fabulous. So much room for literary geniuses (and ok, let's be honest, some delightful vampire novels)! So much room for little knick knacks.

But now I've got this:

(Not the baby bump- praise the Lord!)

Those awful little cube shaped shelves. Now, I know they have their place. I have this one because it was originally in my very own craft room that no longer exists due to lack of space. And I'm sure it will look sweet as pie when I move it to Baby K's room to organize his toys later on in life.

But really...

It's no place for books.

I mean, they need room to breathe...

Like here:

or here:

One day, when I grow up...

I'll have bookshelves.

Or maybe I'll wait until Captain J goes out in the field and sneak them in then. Either way,  "it will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine!" (Name that movie for cool points.)

Anyway, thanks pinterest, for letting this (wannabe) princess dream.

XOXO,

Mrs. K

Read, Write, Repeat

I've been writing like crazy the past few days and enjoying every minute of it! Not only have I been keeping all of you updated on this blog, but I've also begun my project of writing an entire book in the month of November! Lofty, aye? Well, it all started when I read about this project, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) a couple of months ago. I though to myself, 'What a great way to kickstart writing! I couldn't possibly be involved in something with such a ridiculous name, though.' So I went on about my day as if I hadn't read anything of the sort. I kept seeing it, though- nagging at me, bidding me to start something. I blame this girl for posting the final big sign to jump onto the bandwagon! So what if I'm moving across the country this month? So what if I have to pack? So what if I'm busy saying my goodbyes, driving for ten days, and getting settled in a new town? I'm going to do this! You know what? I've already got 9,000 words and you betcha I'm still counting. I'll be sure to let you in on this process as it develops.

In the meantime, I've been reading a lot. I have so many reviews to write, but I have a feeling those will be very late. If I'm not writing my new brilliant novel mediocre nonfiction, I'm snuggled on the couch reading another book. I was looking around at Barnes and Noble the other day and I found so many new (or new to me) books that I can't wait to read. These are on my list (although I probably won't purchase any because my birthday and Christmas are coming up!):

What a variety, huh? Lately, I've read Choosing To See, Taking Charge of Your Fertility, and Skeletons at the Feast so be sure to look for those reviews in the coming weeks. What are you reading these days?

OPEN ME

I thought about gushing over the endless Edward/Jacob debate for this post, but I suppose you Twinerds already have heard it all. I would tell you that I just can't choose...I don't know what I want anymore...but that might just be too geeky to post on my oh-so sophisticated blog.

*This is the part where I'd insert a lovely photo depicting these two fine looking gentlemen, but I'll spare you (If I must).

Seeing those movies makes me truly miss being engulfed in a story like that. There have only been two series in my reading world where I would quit with the homework and literally forget to eat because I just couldn't put down the book. Only Harry Potter and Twilight have done that for me. Both series came in the midst of important scholarly milestones in my life. I read HP as I was supposed to be finishing my thesis my senior year in college. Then Twilight came along in grad school proving it to be a dangerous combination. Luckily, I'm bloody brilliant and it wasn't a problem ;)

I have other favorite books and authors, of course, but I'm missing that feeling of wanting to do nothing but lose myself in a story. Do you know what I mean? When I read the last page of the Harry Potter books, I was seriously sad. I didn't know what I would do. I fought the urge to pick up the very first one and start all over again. I want another story like that! I need a book that screams, "OPEN ME!"

Any suggestions bloggy friends? Do you have a book or series that you're in love with?

I plan on reading a lot more. I rarely watch T.V., but I sure can waste time on the internet! Have you checked out my Book Review page? There you'll find the books that I've read this year. The number isn't what I'd like it to be, but I plan on upping that soon. I have so many books I have yet to read lying around here. I better go get started! I'm currently reading Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins. What are you reading these days?