Fun Summer Reading

Okay - some people call it "summer reading" but I'm always reading something, so I guess techinically I should call it "what I've been reading lately"

I'm not what you would call a SUPER book nerd, but I'm definitely a book nerd.  For me, there is a special kind of magic that comes with getting lost inside a good book.  I get to visit a place, often fantastical, and quite often, I'm so sad when the book is over.   

Here's a list of my accomplished summer reading.  For full reviews, feel free to go to my Goodreads page.  I'll always let you know if there's bad language, inappropriate content for young readers, etc.  

In order:

Loved this story, love the author, and I'm looking foward to reading Book #2

I had to work around the whole cliche idea of falling for the boy next door, but for whatever reason, this one worked its magic and I couldn't put it down.

YEP!  I know.

And I read it before the movie came out, which made it even more special.  I was determined not to get caught up in it, but I couldn't help it.  For me, it was just a good, sweet story with a tender heartbreak in it.

 Ugh.  One of my favorite authors….and I was completely let down with this book.  I couldn't bring myself to finish it.

And now….The Gracelilng Series…

I was doubtful…but ended up LOVING it!!  

{This is where I admit my total nerdiness, which is awkward because it conflicts with my 'cool' persona} 

I'm super picky with my sci-fi/fantasy fiction, but when I find something I like, I totally get lost in it. {Harry Potter.  Yep.}  The places, characters, and situations become real to me and when the book is over, I get sad because reality hits me and somebody inevitably wants me to cook dinner.  Or wash the crusty laundry that has accumulated over several weeks.  Whatever.

SO…after reading Graceling #1, I couldn't wait for #2.  There were some disappointing aspects for me, but overall, I LOVED reading this series!!

Love Kristin Cashore.  She's now one of my favorite authors.  I hope she writes another fantastic series!

…Now to find something else to read…

It's so hard for me to switch gears when a series is over.  It's like sending off a good friend after a fun time.  It usually takes me a LONG time to find something else I can't put down.  Most books are just okay and I feel like I have to finish them in order to find the next big thing.

Comment below and share your favorite books!!!  I'm always on the hunt!!

OR come over to Goodreads and be my friend so we can swap book ideas!!

GREAT stories.

My name is Abby and I'm a WWII history nerd.  And I love to read.   Hence, my love affair with WWII books.  This stuff fascinates me!  Every single story makes me wonder, think, reflect, and appreciate.  I like books that make me think, as well as feel gratitude.  Every year I try to squeeze in a few WWII books into my "to-do" list - and I never get bored of it!  My grandfather fought in France, so the European front has special significance for me, as well.

Currently reading this book, "Crossing the Borders of Time" and loving every second of it.  I'm learning so much about the ways France was affected by the war.  Can't wait to see how it ends. GREAT writing and historical background!

A couple of other must-reads:

"Women Heroes of WWII" is a variety of short stories, most of which are derived from other, more detailed books.  Utterly fascinating.  You can pick this up and put it down since it's full of short stories.

And my favorite so far...."Unbroken."  If you haven't read this book, you need to. I can't even begin to explain all of the incredible lessons I learned from this story.  It takes place in the Pacific theater of the war and my eyes were opened to new horrors I never knew existed during the fighting with Japan.  WOW.

I hope you get to enjoy diving into a good book - what a great gift to yourself!!

Have a happy day!!

--Abby

Strega Nona! viva Italy!

Like so many of us, I have a mixed ancestry.  My family mostly came from Wales, Great Brittain, and Ireland.  I'm almost 100% positive that there was an Italian in there somewhere because I have this unexplicable love for everything Italian.  Their deep friendships and family ties, their mass quantities of amazing food at any kind of gathering, and their love of celebrations, all resonate with me and we naturally have those things in common. My brother even married a cute Italian girl and cooks incredible Italian food.  My dream vacation would be a tour of Italy - along the sunny coastal areas, up into the countrysides, all through towns and villages, and sampling all of the Italian cuisine.  ahhhh---  There MUST be some Italian blood in us somewhere!!!

SO...you can imagine my joy upon discovering this cute little book at the library with my kids.  It's the cutest little pop-up book I've ever had my hands on!!!  We were all enthralled - and once again I am reminded how much I love Italian culture!  (not my 5-year-old, though - he hates pasta...weird-o)

Nona comes from a big family tree, where she inherited certain qualities within herself.  (love that!!)

Her big family gathering under her arbor ; everything fresh, made from scratch, I'm sure, as she was taught by her elders!

pull the door open - watch that little green hat on the roof pop up---

AHA!  How fun is that?!

...and then the last page...

This says it all!

Family, friends, good food, celebrations, and lots of love!  Brava!

(I'm definitely buying this book...if only just for me!)

Doodle Stitching---I'm in love!

 A huge thanks to Cassie over at You Go Girl for getting me hooked on these books.  They're SO easy to follow, they're exactly what I've been looking for, and who doesn't love hand-stitched cuteness?!!!

The idea is that you draw stuff and then turn it into hand-stitched amazingness.  You can either use your own doodles, or Aimee Ray has given you two entire books full of great images!  AND IT'S SO EASY.  I had no idea this would be so easy.  {And theraputic.}

This "Motif Collection" book even comes with a CD with all of these images!!! {gasp!}  This is all so truly exciting. 

I'm currently working on something that has sat like this for a couple of weeks because I'm forever having something else more important to take care of.  As you know, I'm obsessed with trees and this little tree is going to be a seasonal sampler - four big sections for the four seasons.

Patience, my little project---someday you'll be amazing... I hope...

It's all so cute, I can't stand it.

This seasonal tree in the book was my inspiration for my own.  Of course, I couldn't do something small and simple like what's in the book.  No.  I have to go get a big, honkin' piece of fabric and work the crap out of it.  What if I totally hate it in the end?!  haha!  Well...at least I'm learning in the process!!! 

It's all like candy to me.  LOVE the colors.  

Two New Books

"I'm in LOVE, I'm in LOVE and I don't care who knows it!!!"  --Buddy the Elf ....again...

For whatever reason, I've become obsessed with stitching.  It's SO beautiful and I'm finding that the things I treasure the most are hand-made.  Last year while making my beloved Advent Tree, I fell in love with stitching because it's easy, simple, mess-free, and has the potential to last through the years when done tastefully.  {meaning, it's not a fad like vinyl! haha...}

HENCE my two newest treasures, or should I say eye candy!!!

Claire Youngs and Alicia Paulson have opened the floodgates for me!

Just a peek into Clare's Book.  I am absolutely bewitched with the Scandanavian culture, colors, and handiwork.  This book captured it beautifully and I can't wait to make something from in here.

  

LOVE this...

...and these stockings...

...loook at the reindeer!!!

And Alicia's Book:

...DARLING....

...can you imagine making beautiful pillowcases like that???!!!  Alicia shows you how!!!

...and check out what I saw on her blog...

...oh...my...gosh...I think my 'peppermint tree' might have to  have a facelift this Christmas.  Especially since I have a baby in the  house - she can't break these ornaments.  Absolutely DARLING!!!

WOW.  I have no words.  I got both of my books from Amazon - great prices and they came quickly!  Go snatch yourself one of each!!

Great Book!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book, "The Last Lecture", and I can't wait to read it to my kids. It's short, sweet, and LOADED with some incredible truths about life that I needed reminding of. The author, Randy Pausch, a married father of three little kids and a university professor, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given 3-6 months to live. The way he handled this news, and everything else in his life for that matter, is completely remarkable. You have to read this. I think it's so well written, too, each segment being a short chapter on something specific, so I could easily read a chapter to my kids and I really think they'll love the stories. The book makes you want to dream BIG!

We read this for our Book Club meeting this month and discussed it at my house last night and since the book is full of "childhood dreams", we all talked about ours and how to make them happen. I remembered that one of my childhood dreams has always to be in a symphony orchestra!!! I want to be in a long, black dress, playing the violin, getting lost in the music in a sea of other talented musicians. Kinda nerdy, I know, but it's still a dream. The only hang-up is that I don't play the violin...guess I should learn, eh? Or I could pick up my clarinet - they have those in an orchestra! Nah - not as cool as a violin. This guy, Randy, would figure out a way to do it so I guess I could, too. Also, I was going to grow up to be Crystal Gayle - the country singer with hair down to her feet - I always wanted hair down to my feet. I don't think hair that long is pretty now, but that was my dream!















So I know you're reading this and I want to know some of YOUR big childhood dreams - and don't skip out on me.


HERE is the link to the You Tube video of Randy's Lecture.

Loopy Crochet Chain Flower

I recently checked out this book from the library "Teach Yourself Visually Crocheting" by Kim Werker and Cecily Keim - GREAT book with very basic instructions for beginners and MUCH better pictures than I can do!

I found this super easy crochet flower in the book that can be used to embellish all sorts of projects such as baby blankets, hats, scarves, skirts, t-shirts, baby headbands, hair clips, etc. You'd have to hand-stitch them on to things, but this flower looks so good and is so easy!





(I'm using this yarn because it's the easiest to view. I probably won't use blue flowers on anything!)

So you start by chain stitching (CH) two stitches...

...and you're going to do 4 Single Crochet (SC) into the 2nd chain from your hook. (The first chain stitch, basically.)

Here's how to SC:

Make your two chains. Put your hook through the 2nd chain from your hook.

You should have two loops now on your hook.

Yarn Over and pull yarn through one loop.

You should still have 2 loops.

Yarn Over again and pull yarn through both loops.

Like this...

And that's what a single crochet looks like. Do this 3 more times in the same spot. (4 SC total)

From there, CH 8

Slip stitch into the first SC in your loop.

Here's a Slip Stitch (sl st):

Put your hook through your loop...

Pull the yarn through both loops

Just like this

And you have a sl St into that spot.

*CH 8 more, sl st into the next SC, CH 8, and then sl st into the same SC.

Repeat from that little * to create a total of 8 loopy petals.

Sl st to join at the base of the first petal.

Then you'll cut your yarn, pull it through the loop to tie it off. You'll have to get a needle and thread your yarn tails into the needle and work them into the flower.

You don't have to work in a large tail - work the tail in for about 2 or 3 inches and then cut the yarn, making sure the last little bit gets inside the stitching to where you don't see any of the tail.