GIVING THANKS

I love how we have a holiday where the purpose of it is just to give thanks! Last year I started a gratitude journal and for the whole month of November I had to write at least one thing I was thankful for. So I am making myself write again every day this month and I think it helps me to look for the good in things every day. I was reading some of the entries I did last year and there were experiences I had completely forgotten about. I am so blessed and I don't always realize it. Last night I was feeling sorry for myself but I felt better after I forced myself to find something to be thankful for.

OCTOBER BOOK CLUB

I can not believe how fast book club comes and goes. For the month of October we read Crow Lake by Mary Lawson. I can't say I loved the book but we had some great deep discussions while snacking on pumpkin pie. What I love about book club is that I go out of my reading comfort zone. I probably wouldn't have given Crow Lake a fair chance but of course I will read whatever I am supposed to for book club. It's nice to get together with the other ladies (and baby nephew) and have great discussions that I wouldn't have on an ordinary day.
November book will be the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis-I better not wait until the last minute on this one!

SEPTEMBER BOOK CLUB

I am still here, if anyone out there reads this blog. It's been awhile..... Last night we had our September book club and discussed The Shape of Mercy. It was a good read that I happened to pick up at the library's reader's choice table. It's basically about a girl who gets hired to transcribe the journal of a young lady who was hung during the time of the Salem witch trials. We agreed we all learned a lesson from this story but I won't say what it is. I really didn't know much about the witch trials but because of this book I was able to learn more.

JUNE BOOK CLUB

On Thursday we had our monthly book club hosted by Lizzy. As we ate yummy homemade chocolate chip cookies and sipped lemonade we discussed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It is written as a series of letters and is about the German occupation in the British Isles. We all agreed that this book was a great choice!

GOOD QUOTE

I think I should start carrying around a little notebook to write down all of the good quotes from books I read or write down thoughts or questions I have. Here is a really good one that stuck out to me last night-it's from the book Summer of the Midnight Sun, by Tracie Peterson.
"I can't right the wrongs of yesterday, but maybe I can make the tomorrows better."
What a great quote. There are so many things about the past that I dwell on but this helps me realize that what we really should do is look to tomorrow and improve and learn from our mistakes or regrets. No matter how bad of a day I have sometimes tomorrow is another day and it can be better and I can move on.

Book Club News

Tonight for Book Club we reviewed the book we had read this past month. It is called "Hatte Big Sky." I loved this book. It was fun to read and I think everyone in the book group liked it as well.

BOOK CLUB

I am so happy because I am officially in a book club! We had our first meeting at my sister-in-law's house and as we ate the most delicious scones which she made, we discussed the book, The Thirteenth Tale. We were a small group but that's O.K. because it made for easier conversation. The time went so fast and I really enjoyed talking to others and hearing their great insights. We picked out books and meeting places for the rest of the year and I am so excited. Book club is something I will look forward to every month!

INSPIRING BOOK

I just finished a very inspiring book by Pamela Hansen, Running with Angels. The story is about her struggles and her 100 pound weight loss. In the end Pamela actually runs in the Salt Lake Marathon. Throughout the story Pamela relates running a marathon to facing life's challenges. I loved this book and found it so motivating. Pamela has set such a good example it makes me want to be better. Today I went on a really long walk. I'm not running yet, but it's a start.

"We will not succeed if we quit trying. Just because we have failed countless times before is no reason to ever give up!"
(One of the many great quotes from Running with Angels.)

KNOW WHEN TO QUIT

So Three Cups of Tea was not exactly my cup of tea. It was on my list of books to read for a long time and many people have enjoyed this book so I felt almost obligated to read it. I forced myself through several pages before I finally decided to just take this book back to the library. I just couldn't get into the story. Maybe it was a little to "deep" for me and there were so many long confusing names of people to read which made it a little boring. Everyone is different therefore everyone is entitled to their own opinion on what is a good book. What I did learn is that there are so many thousands of books out there to read, why waste my time on one that I don't enjoy?

BOOK REVIEW:A BRIDE MOST BEGRUDGING

I am such a sucker for romance novels, but I love taking a break from the world and getting lost in one. I just finished A Bride Most Begrudging, by Deeanne Gist. It takes place in the 1600's which first surprised me as I wondered if they even had romance back then. The story line starts off with a young lady in England who gets kidnapped on a ship heading to the Colonies to be sold as a bride. That is all I will say since I don't want to ruin anything. Once I started reading book it was hard to put down. I am so grateful I do not live in the 1600's. It sounded like a horrible time period! Most people did not even name their children until they were three years old because they had such a low survival rate. Anyway I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was a nice clean romance too!

WHITE CHIP ISLAND BLONDIES

"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island." ~Walt Disney

Last week I made some white chip island blondies that turned out to be pretty tasty. Here's the recipe:

• 1 cup plus 2T flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup butter
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
• 1/2 cup toasted coconut

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease 8 or 9 inch square baking pan.
COMBINE flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar, butter and vanilla in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in egg. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels, nuts and coconut. Press into pan.
BAKE for 20-25 min. or until golden brown. Cool in pan. Cut into bars, makes 16.
ENJOY! I'm also going to try these bars with semi-sweet chocolate chips or even mini M and M's.

VALENTINE'S READING

Last night, as I was making some cupcakes to bring to my family, I thought of one of my favorite
picture books, "Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch," by Eileen Spinelli. In this sweet story, Mr. Hatch was a lonely man who kept to himself until one Valentine's Day when the mailman brought a giant box of chocolates with a note that stated, "somebody loves you." Mr. Hatch is thrilled that someone cares about him and this act of kindness transforms Mr. Hatch into a much happier person and one who wants to help other people. I won't ruin the end of the story, but this is one that teaches a great lesson about service and how one small act of kindness can really brighten someone else's day.

THE WRITING DIET

I love to write and journal so I was so excited when I found The Writing Diet, by Julia Cameron. Over years of teaching creative writing Julia found that students in her class started to lose weight. Unlike any "diet" book out there, this one shows that creativity can block over eating. In every chapter there is a different assignment for you to write about. Julia also recommends something called "morning pages" where you just write whatever is flowing through your mind. It's difficult to explain the connection with writing and losing weight, but if you enjoy writing as much as I do, this book is for you. I believe it has really helped me.

MAGAZINES

Does magazineholics anonymous exist? If so, I think I need to join because I can't stop buying magazines! I can't resist those tempting covers. Maybe it's the pictures they put on the cover or reading about how to find the secret go a great marriage, make easy healthy recipes, health secrets everyone should know, lose 10 lbs. in seven days or beat stress. I just love sitting down in a cozy chair and devouring a great magazine. I love clipping all of the recipes, even if I don't end up cooking them. I can't help myself! Maybe I should shop at a grocery store that doesn't have long lines so I won't have to stare at the covers calling my name until I put them in the shopping cart. I guess there are worse addictions in life. I still haven't found the secret to marriage and I still have a lot of weight to lose! I better keep reading!

20 WISHES

I am a little sad and disappointed with myself. Back in June, I made a list of twenty wishes (well, actually only 18) and I have not completed a single one! Some of them were so simple too. One of my wishes almost came true in December, but it did not work out for me since I wanted to go on a carriage ride but I didn't know how expensive they are. Anyway, with the start of a new year I hope that I can actually accomplish something. I won't kick myself because none of my wishes have come true yet, I will just look to the future and hopefully I can cross something off my list.