Friday Five

I've had my Friday Five picks ready to go since midweek. And, I could have added many more than five things this week.  These are the highlights:

Gap Scarf - I feel like the daisies make the scarf look spring-like, yet I love the color combo, which isn't the traditional yellow. I'm still waiting for this to go on sale.

Bat Wing Top - from Dress Lily.  I ended up ordering this top, which cost me all of $11 including shipping. I love how it looks on the model, and am hoping I like it as much when I have my own.  At least since I only have $11 invested, I won't be totally upset if this gets handed down to someone else.

Athleta Top - I like the bright color of this top, which is now marked down to $34.99.  I'm not sure yellow is my color, since I am more pale than not, but it would definitely perk my exercise wardrobe up.

Pendant necklace - If there is one item I would buy from this Friday's Five, this pendant necklace from Nordstrom, is my choice hands down. It's not super expensive, and I could wear it with nearly everything.

Brianna Knight Dress from Garnet Hill - I told my mom I liked this dress and wanted her to see it.  She texted back that it was very dotty and had a low cut neckline. So.....I still like this dress, but would like it better if I had a different body. I bought a great navy blue dress years ago now that is pretty standard. I think it is perhaps the only dress I own, and would like to update this a bit.  I'm just going to have to keep my eyes open for a good replacement.

What things have caught your eye this week?

More Than Happy: The Wisdom of Amish Parenting

After hearing my youngest daughter carry on this morning about wanting more Shopkins, More Than Happy: The Wisdom of Amish Parenting by Serena Miller
has been a very timely read.

Serena Miller is not Amish, but has Amish friends and has close ties with the Amish community near where she lives.  In her interactions with them, she often marveled at how well behaved the Amish children were, and also how happy.

After talking with a variety of Amish parents, there are a few things that stick out:


* The Amish are taught to think of others first.  Their own happiness is secondary, and grow up seeing their parents put others' needs before their own.

* The Amish don't focus on material possessions, and the absence of television helps in freeing them of the desire to want for things. They are happy spending time together and can find ways to entertain themselves.

*The Amish children Miller observed ate whatever was served at meal times.  The parents also eat whatever is served, without criticizing or expressing their dislike for any food. They are also a part of daily food preparation, and as I have noticed with my own children, if they help fix the food, are more likely to eat it themselves.

* Amish children understand that they are expected to obey their parents.  Parents are firm in their discipline, and expect their children to do what they say.

* There is a lot of good, common sense advice in this book. There are several little tips that I wish I had known years ago when my children were younger.  And, unfortunately, there are no "do-overs" in parenting.  I loved Amy Chua's Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, but More Than Happy by Serena Miller is more applicable to my own life and child-rearing philosophies. This is a parenting book that every parent needs to read.

Read Alikes: 
Bringing up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman

Cleaning House: A Mom's Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week's pick:  The Cherry Harvest by Lucy Sanna
Due out: June 2, 2015

Product Description taken from Amazon:

A memorable coming-of-age story and love story, laced with suspense, which explores a hidden side of the home front during World War II, when German POWs were put to work in a Wisconsin farm community . . . with dark and unexpected consequences

The war has taken a toll on the Christiansen family. With food rationed and money scarce, Charlotte struggles to keep her family well fed. Her teenage daughter, Kate, raises rabbits to earn money for college and dreams of becoming a writer. Her husband, Thomas, struggles to keep the farm going while their son, and most of the other local men, are fighting in Europe.

When their upcoming cherry harvest is threatened, strong-willed Charlotte helps persuade local authorities to allow German war prisoners from a nearby camp to pick the fruit.

But when Thomas befriends one of the prisoners, a teacher named Karl, and invites him to tutor Kate, the implications of Charlotte’s decision become apparent—especially when she finds herself unexpectedly drawn to Karl. So busy are they with the prisoners that Charlotte and Thomas fail to see that Kate is becoming a young woman, with dreams and temptations of her own—including a secret romance with the son of a wealthy, war-profiteering senator. And when their beloved Ben returns home, bitter and injured, bearing an intense hatred of Germans, Charlotte’s secrets threaten to explode their world.

Her

This past weekend I was hunkered down on the top bleacher of an all day volleyball tournament for Middle Sister.  Usually I sit with the other parents, but I had brought along a few books to read, and once I started Her by Harriet Lane, I didn't need anyone else around.  I was totally entertained.

Emma and Nina take turns narrating this story.  Emma's life centers around her chidren, both still toddlers, which at times seems overwhelming.

Nina has one daughter, Sophie, from her first marriage, and presents herself as fashionable, a bit above Emma's social class.

And yet, Nina continues to watch Emma from afar, insinuating herself into Emma's life.  

Her intentions appear good on the surface, but there is more to Nina than what we initially see.  It is obvious that Nina knows Emma from years ago, but while Nina recognizes Emma, Emma has no idea at all that she has once met Nina.

One of my friends suggested that Emma is perhaps a bit self-absorbed, which I at first attributed to her status as a young mother, but after a few days of thinking about these characters, feel that Emma's self absorption has always been a part of her character.

It seems that Nina is always there to help out - when Emma loses her wallet, she finds it and returns it. She stands in for her daughter and babysits for Emma's children so Emma and her husband can have a night out together.

And yet, there is always something a bit sinister and devious that lies just underneath everything Nina does.

I had been warned prior to reading Her that the last three pages were infuriating.  However, I didn't find them that way at all.  I was wishing for more resolution than what is given, yet there is a certain skill to creating a novel that ends with such a question mark that readers are eager to discuss what each of them envisions the ending to be.

And, as I thought a bit about this novel, I couldn't find any ending more appropriate than the one Lane chose to write.

This is a good book club selection and will provide plenty of talking points to start a discussion.

Read Alikes:  Until You're Mine by Samantha Hayes

Happiness For Beginners

Katherine Center's novels are some of my favorite kinds - women's fiction with a few chick lit moments thrown in.

Helen, divorced for just a year, and trying to put her life back together, signs up for a wilderness survival course at the suggestion of her younger brother Duncan, who enjoys tormenting his big sister a little.

As she sets off, she discovers that her brother's best friend, Jake, is also going on the same survival course.  Helen agrees to give Jake a ride, and she ends up enjoying Jake's company more than she ever imagined.  

Over the course of the next three weeks, Helen does her best to stay alive, dealing with blisters, elk, and the many other hazards that become part of her daily life.  And, she is forced to watch Jake, whose happy personality draws everyone to him, become a magnet for every girl in the group.

And Helen realizes she is jealous.  And possibly in love.  

Except even when she and Jake seem to be getting close, he tells her that a relationship isn't possible.

I kept reading as quickly as I could to see if Helen would finally find happiness with Jake, but Happiness For Beginners provides more than just a simple love story.  Both Helen and Jake have their own tragedies to deal with from their past, and Center's latest novel is a great way to spend an afternoon.

As always, I am anxiously awaiting her next novel.

Sunday Salon

This weekend has been a rare (and much needed) two days full of reading and finishing up some books.

Yesterday's volleyball tournament provided time to do quite a bit of leisure reading. And, today, in between grocery shopping and laundry, I have again been able to sit down and enjoy some time to read.

Part of this is because my girls all decided to hang out with my mom this afternoon, and the house has been quiet and peaceful. That is a rare occurrence.

Yesterday was my mom's 69th birthday. We surprised her with an ice cream cake, and she surprised me with a pillow that she had specially made to include important places in our lives.

We have already tested it out on our couch, where it works quite well.  

This upcoming week is full of busyness: two late nights of conferences, a doctor appointment for two of my daughters, a mid-week Lenten service and meal I am organizing and serving, a class I am taking, and the regular piano lessons and volleyball practice.  This past weekend was the state wrestling tournament, and despite the fact that my husband is currently sick and sleeping on the couch, I am glad he will be able to help out with some of the craziness.

And, just as I was about to post this, my mom got the news that her second brother, Loren, passed away after a three year battle with cancer.

The girls and I are remembering our trip to southern Colorado to visit him in June of 2011.  I'm glad they have happy memories of him.

Here we are on a gator ride in the high desert.  Probably the highlight of our trip, and something we will always remember. I'm also thankful that Loren is not suffering, and is now home with his Savior.

Friday Five

This week's Friday Five seems pretty focused on shirts.  I will admit that since it's almost March (amazing!), I am thinking a little bit about spring clothes.  There are plenty of cute things to drool over.  Here's five highlights of my week of internet browsing:

I already have too many t-shirts, but most of them I wear to exercise. I need just a few nice t-shirts I can wear out in public.  This Nelson Mandela T-Shirt at the Gap right now is one I think would be fun to own.

I've been sitting at volleyball games watching Middle Sister's team, but what I've been noticing is the Spyder Jacket that seems to be a staple for us moms.  Every mom there who owns one raves about it.  They come in a variety of colors, and seem to be "the thing" right now - often replacing a heavy winter coat.  At this point of winter, I'd love to replace a heavy winter coat.

This shirt is at Garnet Hill right now. I don't think the picture really does it justice - especially pairing it with those shorts- but there are a few more colors to choose from, and since I'm in the mood for spring clothing right about now, would love to add this to my wardrobe.

I am loving this color green, and since spring is right around the corner (I hope), feel this vest just calling my name.  However, it's a little pricey, so I will just love it from afar.  

This top might not seem exciting, but I love navy and white together, and the combination just seems to be a staple for spring and summer.  

I'm looking forward to seeing more cute spring clothes in the upcoming weeks.  There are some great outfits!

Honey

Sarah Weeks So B. It is a go-to novel that I recommend to many students.  I was lucky enough to get to hear her speak, so I am always anxious to read what she publishes.

Honey is Weeks' latest novel.  Although short in length she packs in a good story for fourth-sixth grade readers.

Melody and her father live in a small town in Indiana.  Although Melody's mother died right after she was born and it has always been just her and her father, Melody wishes she knew more about her mom.

When Melody overhears her father calling someone honey, she and her friend, Nick, decide to figure out who the mystery woman is.

A dog named Mo also narrates part of this story, as he recalls part of his life as a puppy.  What he most remembers is the happiness he felt with the couple who adopted him, and how he was taken away by someone else.  Now Mo is in Royal himself, living with the owner of the brand new beauty shop.

Weeks' novel weaves many strands together into one good story.  As an adult, I could find a few questions I had and a few criticisms about the story line which I felt didn't stand up to my scrutiny, yet my fifth grade daughter absolutely devoured  Honey, loving every word. Since Weeks' intended audience is children, I will defer to my daughter's assessment.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week's pick: The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell
Due out: June 9, 2015

Product Information taken from Amazon:

For fans of Liane Moriarty and Jojo Moyes comes a riveting family drama with a dark mystery at its core, from the internationally bestselling author of The House We Grew Up In.

In the early hours of a summer morning, a young woman steps into the path of an oncoming bus. A tragic accident? Or suicide?

At the center of this puzzle is Adrian Wolfe, a successful architect and grief-stricken widower, who, a year after his third wife’s death, begins to investigate the cause. As Adrian looks back on their brief but seemingly happy marriage, disturbing secrets begin to surface. The divorces from his two previous wives had been amicable, or so it seemed; his children, all five of them, were resilient as ever, or so he thought. But something, or someone, must have pushed Maya over the edge…

With psychological nuance that gets into the heart of its characters, The Third Wife is a gripping story about a man seeking the truth behind his seemingly perfect marriage and the broken pieces left behind.

Golden State

Natalie Askedahl appears to have a picture-perfect life.  Her childhood was one of affluence, having grown up in one of California's prominent political families.  Now as a married mother of two, she teaches third grade while her husband is an attorney.

Natalie's oldest daughter, Julia, is at a local college the day a terrorist's bomb goes off on campus. Although Julia is unhurt, Natalie begins to look in to the bombings - which have increased in number- and question if the bomber's words sound like something her older brother, Bobby, would write.

Bobby was one of Natalie's role models as a child.  He was always patient with her, and she has continued to look up to him, not fully aware of what caused him to drop out of Princeton and return home. Bobby now lives in a shack, and has lost touch with the family by his own choosing and although mental illness hasn't been openly discussed, is what must be wrong with her brother.

Natalie and her husband decide they will contact the FBI who will then determine how to proceed with the information they give them regarding Bobby. And what they discover is that this one meeting forever changes their lives.  No longer is anything private and Natalie and her husband react in different ways to protect their children.

Meanwhile, Bobby's guilt or innocence is under question as Natalie looks more closely into her childhood and what happened to her brother to cause him to become the man he is now.

Stephanie Kegan's novel was so engrossing, I abandoned everything else I was reading until I had read this entire book.  Definitely worth every moment I spent curled up reading.

Finding Jake

A few years ago I read Defending Jacob by William Landay and loved it, and even before that I read Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult and loved it.  Now, I just finished up Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon, and will happily be recommending this book to friends.

Simon is a stay at home dad, raising two teens, Jake and Laney.  Where Jake is introverted and finds social situations difficult, Laney is outgoing and exuberant.  Simon sees Jake struggle, wishing he could be more like his sister, and does a lot of reflecting on his parenting and if he is doing a good job.  

When there is a high school shooting where both kids attend, Simon rushes to the school just like all the parents do. But as all of them are reunited with their children, or given devastating news, Simon hears nothing, until the police approach him wanting to have access to Jake's fingerprints which are on file at school.  It seems that Jake and a friend are suspected of having killed thirteen students, and instantly Simon and his family are under attack from the media and other parents who believe that he and his wife Rachel haven't done their job in properly raising their child.

Although Rachel never waivers in believing Jake is innocent, Simon reflects on any signs he should have acted on throughout Jake's childhood.  The novel moves seamlessly between the present time as they hunt for Jake who is missing to the past, where bits and pieces of Jake's childhood are revealed.  

And when Jake's role in the shooting are revealed, the suspense in getting there is well worth it.

I had pretty much determined how this novel was going to end, yet knowing ahead of time didn't decrease my enjoyment while reading.  Finding Jake is a novel that provides plenty to discuss, suspense, and characters that are well developed.

Sunday Salon: California Dreaming

Today I'm doing a little dreaming of warm weather because it is definitely still winter in Iowa.  And yet I can't complain too much because we are not receiving the blizzards that the northeast is.

The Beach Boys- view from our nosebleed seats

On Thursday the girls (ladies) in our family took my mom to see The Beach Boys for her upcoming birthday.  I'm not sure my daughters appreciate the fact that they were able to see these music legends, but I have hope that someday they will think back with a little more appreciation than they have right now.
My mother enjoyed the show as did my sister and I.

Yesterday I spent another Saturday in a gym watching fifth grade volleyball.  Middle Sister's team is still really good, and for the second time this season won the tournament.  

Middle Sister (front far right) and her volleyball team

Today I am going to attempt to do some cooking for the week. I already whipped up a batch of puppy chow for the girls to snack on, and will soon throw a loaf of beer bread in the oven.

Little Sister with the chicken and wild rice soup served in a bread bowl I made thanks to Pinterest

I also need to hit the treadmill and try and get a few blog posts written for the week. There is never a lack of things to do and I have barely had time to think about sitting down and reading for pleasure.  

My other thought for this Sunday is going through my clothes in the closet and getting rid of things. I rarely make time for watching television, but did watch a documentary on Netflix last night about the tiny home movement. I know I could never go to that extreme, but it does make me realize how much extra junk I have hanging around.  I really want to do better and have a few quality items I enjoy wearing in my collection instead of a whole bunch of things I don't really like.  We'll see how this works out.

I hope everyone is keeping warm out there, enjoying their Valentine weekend.

Friday Five

Another Friday already!  There have been quite a few things I've enjoyed online this week.  Here are the highlights:

 A co-worker was looking at buying a pair of these Lucky Booties from Nordstrom - she was eyeing the black ones. Well, I could tell there was also an animal print selection, something I am in love with.  We're both waiting for our respective pairs to go on sale.  

My mom's waffle iron is sitting on my counter right now since she rarely uses it, I borrow it when I'm in the mood for making waffles, except now I might need it all the time because these waffle hacks are amazing. I already served my girls the cinnamon roll waffles.  They were skeptical at first, but did gobble them up.  Plus, I am all about a breakfast that can be made in under five minutes.

And, while I am trying to maximize my time, I've been listening to Stuff You've Missed in History Class, the podcasts, on my way to and from work. Since my high school teacher spent our class time cutting his toenails and reading Louie L'amour novels in the back of the classroom, I missed a lot in history class. I am enjoying learning some great tidbits from the past.

Modcloth is a retailer I keep hearing about - and seeing on my Facebook feed - although I have yet to order anything from them. I am loving this chevron top and think a bright sweater over it would be perfect for work.

My girls have a slight Starbucks obsession right now. I usually don't order anything - especially after I've seen the caloric content in one of their frapuccinos.  However, I can be persuaded to drink some of my daughters' especially if they get the Snickers frappuccino, my new (and only) favorite.

Sharing the Love

With Valentines quickly approaching, the kids at school have been eagerly asking for any Valentine's Day books I might have.   Although I have some, I really wish there were to offer my students for this holiday.

Happily, this year there are three new titles I have added to my collection:

Crankenstein Valentine by Samantha Berger is the second book about this little monster. In this installment, Crankenstein is definitely not excited to be celebrating this holiday that focuses on love.  The illustration by Dan Santat are cute and colorful bringing this story to life.  I read this one a while ago as a bedtime story to my youngest daughter and we had a great time with it - laughing a few time as Crankenstein tries to avoid showing that he enjoys Valentines Day at all.

Clark The Shark Takes Heart by Bruce Hale adds another installment in the growing collection of Clark the Shark books.  My four year old nephew absolutely loves Clark and I can hardly wait to see him this weekend and share this newest book.  Clark likes Anna Angelfish, so when he looks for a birthday present for her, he wants the gift to be perfect.  No matter what he finds, things don't work out for Clark, and Anna doesn't notice all his efforts. Eventually Clark determines he must tell Anna how he feels.

Did You Know that I Love You by Christa Pierce is a sweet little love story as Bird asks Fox if he knows how much she loves him.  The text is rhyming, with speech bubbles for both Bird and Fox, as Bird asks Fox if he knows of her love.  This book would be a perfect little story for young children who will appreciate the bird's constant love.

These three Valentine's Day books have been fun to read with my children. Although I still love Diane de Groat's Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink and The Ballad of Lucy Valentine by Alison Jackson, I am happy to have this collection of holiday books increase.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week's pick: The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
Due out: June 26, 2015

Product Information taken from Amazon:

There are books that are suitable for a million people, others for only a hundred. There are even remedies—I mean books—that were written for one person only…A book is both medic and medicine at once. It makes a diagnosis as well as offering therapy. Putting the right novels to the appropriate ailments: that’s how I sell books.”
 
Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can't seem to heal through literature is himself; he's still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened.

After Perdu is finally tempted to read the letter, he hauls anchor and departs on a mission to the south of France, hoping to make peace with his loss and discover the end of the story. Joined by a bestselling but blocked author and a lovelorn Italian chef, Perdu travels along the country’s rivers, dispensing his wisdom and his books, showing that the literary world can take the human soul on a journey to heal itself.

Migratory Animals

Migratory Animals by Mary Helen Specht is a literary debut worth the time it takes to read.

Although Specht's novel focuses on a group of eight friends, Flannery and her sister Molly were the two characters it centered around.

Flannery has spent the past five years in Nigeria, where her fiance is still living, but has returned home to Texas for a while.  While at home she notices that Molly seems to have symptoms of Huntington's Disease, which also killed their mother.

The other friends have their own issues and challenges. Alyce has asked her husband and children for time away from them as she apparently struggles with depression.  Santiago, Flannery's former boyfriend, would like to be in a relationship with her again. As Flannery spends time at home with her friends, she must decide whether she will return to Africa to pursue her own life, or to stay in Texas, where life is comfortable and she can be of help to her sister.

Most of the struggles these friends face will be recognized as the normal daily challenges that people encounter as they go through life.  Their support comes from each other.

Migratory Animals is a novel to be enjoyed, savored.  Specht's characters are multi-faceted and feel real. Although their decisions frustrated me, I enjoyed the story and how Specht was able to develop it.

Thanks to TCL Books for letting me be a part of this blog tour.

More Love, Less Panic: 7 Lessons I Learned About Life, Love and Parenting After We Adopted Our Son From Ethiopia

More Love, Less Panic: 7 Lessons I Learned About Life, Love and Parenting After We Adopted Our Son From Ethiopia is a must read for parents.  

Initially I was interested in this book because I love adoption stories. My brother is adopted from El Salvador and his addition to our family is one of the happiest memories of my childhood.  Yet, Knobler doesn't just write about things that will pertain to parents of adopted children.  I found his lessons very applicable to my own parenting.

Each chapter focuses on something Knobler learned about parenting because of the addition of Nati, the child he and his wife adopted from Ethiopia. Yet, I could find myself in these lessons with my own biological children.

In one lesson Knobler writes about wanting to change Nati, to trade in his exuberance and joy for some of Knobler's own Jewish worry.  Until he realized that he should appreciate Nati for who he is, not try to change him into what he is not.  Learning that lesson has helped Knobler enjoy Nati and delight in his son's happiness.  What a good lesson for all parents - me included!

Nati was five years old when he was adopted, and had to say goodbye to his biological parents.  Knobler met Nati's mother briefly, but his father had already died after becoming sick from a blood transfusion.  I believe that every single day Knobler realizes the enormity of what these people gave up and can appreciate the role he now plays in Nati's life.

Reading this book, I took away more than seven lessons.  Knobler's underlying theme about the importance of parenting and shaping a life are front and center from beginning to end.

When things start to get a little hairy at home, when I'm feeling impatient and am short with my children, I hope I remember to reach for More Love, Less Panic and remind myself what is really important in parenting my children.

Sunday Salon

I've just returned home from the grocery store and will soon be getting things ready so I can make up some meals for the week.  It's nice to have this done ahead of time, and honestly, I almost don't know what to do with myself some nights, since there is less time I have to devote to cooking.

This weekend was a bit of a mixed bag of activities.  Yesterday Big Sister was in a spelling bee. It was the first time she had tried something like that, and despite the fact that no one from her school did well, I am glad they all participated.  (Back when I was in middle school I participated in several spelling bees and loved it - I was sitting in the back of the room yesterday with my notebook, spelling the words that were given to the contestants).

My husband is still busy with wrestling.  Yesterday was the beginning of the tournaments to determine who will eventually compete at the state tournament.  As of now, six wrestlers will continue on.

And while wrestling seems to dominate our house, I went to the UNI Men's basketball game last night with a friend.  They are ranked 15th in the nation right now, and it was fun to see them play.

Today we've been to church, grocery shopping, and will eventually get to my mom's house for a bit.  

Then time to prepare for a busy week ahead!  Enjoy what's left of your weekend!

Friday Five

This Friday Five was fairly easy to come up with.  So many great things I've seen this week while wasting time online.  Enjoy!

Dr. Seuss' birthday is coming up.  Love these Thing 1 Thing 2 sheets out now at Target along with lots of other Seuss stuff.  I am thinking my husband would not be too enthusiastic about these showing up on our bed.

I was at the post office the other day sending a package back, and needed stamps.  Although my husband wasn't excited about my purchase of Wilt Chamberlain stamps, I was.  Chamberlain was one of my dad's favorite players, and I love these stamps honoring this basketball legend.

This Scarf from Garnet Hill!! You can never have too many scarves, right?  Right now I'm just looking at these scarves, but I don't know how I could select just one of them. I like all three colors.

I absolutely don't need this, but love the color of this sweatshirt.  I'm waiting for a sale at Gap to justify this.  I am thinking it would be great to throw on for spring, or after a work-out.

As a librarian I love this date due shirt.  I'm thinking I could get away with wearing this one to work with a pair of black pants.  Or just with a pair of sweats or jeans at home.