Friday, November 14, 2008

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac


Most Recently Read Book:

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

By Gabrielle Zevin

I have to say that when I checked this book out from the library I was thinking it was about an insomniac...and then I realized the whole time that I had mistaken insomniac for amnesiac.  So, this book ended up being about a girl who gets amnesia and can't remember the last four years of her life instead of a girl who can't sleep.  I was a little wary starting this book because I just read Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella and that book is about a girl who loses her memory.  Both books are completely different, Kinsella's was very funny and romantic.  This book wasn't really funny, but it was romantic.  It's hard to describe this book, it's one of those books that you finish and you just want to hug it.  I'm not sure how to explain it.  It did start off about a girl who loses her memory, but halfway through she gets her memory back and then it becomes more about a girl finding herself and finding love.  It kind of had me reminiscing because the girl is in high school and my ten year high school reunion is coming up on two weeks.  It's interesting to think back of all the things I thought were so important back then and to think of how they are mere memories now...and that's okay. 

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Christmas Cards?


Okay, I'm sure everyone who reads this is going to think I'm crazy and off my rocker and all that stuff...but really, I've just been completely inspired and motivated lately!  Are you ready...here it is...I have started my Christmas cards!  I always make my Christmas cards.  So far I have the base cards cut, the greetings and our little "signatures" cut.  I also started to cut a little border I am going to put at the top.  I'm still working on some of the embellishments, we'll see what I end up with.  I'm hoping to get them pretty much done and then just have to add our picture when we get that taken.  This year the card count is about 60 so that's another reason I have to start early.  I love this time of year and this craftiness is really making it a lot of fun.  

Secret Paper Mache Project

I feel like a mad crafter working on all these hush-hush projects but I don't want to give any Christmas presents away.  Tuesday afternoon I spent doing the first layer for my paper mache bowls.  They are mostly dry now and I'm going to do at least another layer or two so they are pretty sturdy before I paint them.  I love Color Me Mine, a pottery place where you can paint your own pottery, but it's waaaaaay too expensive, so here's my wallet-friendly alternative!

Secret Knitting Project

I have been talking about getting crafty again...because it's been a while since I did anything really creative.  Finally, I took the plunge.  I got inspired by Kathy's blog and by a blog I saw that she reads.  I realized that I could make some pretty cool Christmas presents this year.  I love homemade/handmade gifts.  I feel like they are really special.  And, hopefully, we can save some money by making gifts this year.  

On Tuesday, when we were off from school, I made a stop at Hobby Lobby for a few supplies.  I was on a mission for some really pretty yarn.  I wanted a really thin yarn and the kind that changes colors as you go so you don't have to do anything to get a really fun design.  I found a great color mix and I am so excited.  I can't tell you what this is for but I love it already!

Those Who Save Us


Most Recently Read Book:

Those Who Save Us

By Jenna Blum

Wow, this was a great book.  We chose this book for book club this month but it wasn't the book that I voted for.  Quite frankly, I have read a lot of WWII historical fiction lately and I was kind of not in the mood for another one, but this book was well written and the characters were very interesting so I easily got into this book.  There are two main characters, Anna and Trudy.  Anna is the mother who is a German in Nazi Germany who does what she has to in order to protect herself and her daughter. Trudy, is her daughter, who only remembers a few things from her first few years when she was growing up in Germany.  Anna has never talked to her daughter about what it was like during the war and it creates a huge distance between them.  In the book we get to see both of their perspectives.  It is well written, heart-wrenching, and unbelievable like only WWII books can be.  I am eager to talk about this book at book club!