July 2010

Why I Love Social Media #247

by oh amanda on July 30, 2010

in books

Last night I had this urge to read a book. Actually, I wanted a new audiobook for my walks. So, I did what any normal person would do. I asked my social media networks. First facebook:

book suggestions

Then twitter:

book suggestions

And did yall come through or what?! Here is the current list of suggestions (it’s still growing!):

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain (apparently a recommendation from a recommendation!)

The Princess by Lori Wick

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philipa Gregory (I must have missed the bandwagon on this one.)

Just Between You and Me by Jenny B. Jones

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (I have picked this one up at the library about 400 times. I must read it!)

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (This one is set in a circus. And for some reason that totally intrigues me!)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett (This was THE most recommended book. I’ve already got it on hold at the library!)

The Girls by Lori Lansen

Maid to Match by Deeanna Gist (also some recommendations for ANYTHING by Deeanna Gist!)

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

Pride and Prescience: Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged by Carrie Bebris

Zion Chronicles by Bodie & Brock Thoene (Uhm. They are my heroes.)

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

The Pillars of the Earthby Ken Follett (This one looks so good but do you know how long the audiobook is? 40 hours!)

Thorn in My Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs (This is the first in a series. I’ve actually read it but it was such a literal thorn in my heart I couldn’t read the second one. SO GOOD.)

Moon Tide or Season of Open Water by Dawn Clifton Tripp

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Fancy Pants by Cathy Marie Hake

Anything by Tracie Peterson

Her Mother’s Hope by Francine Rivers (Already read this one! Waiting for the sequel!)

Kent Family Chronicles by John Jakes (Oooh, this looks good, too. I love generational family stories!)

The Heretic Queen: A Novel by Michelle Moran

The Greatest Knight: The Unsung Story of the Queen’s Champion by Elizabeth Chadwick

Are you even believing that list?!

Got one you’d care to add? Or second one of the above? Let me know, I’m going to the library TODAY!

{ 19 comments }

Morning.

by oh amanda on July 29, 2010

in me

alarm clocks are stupid

We don’t set alarms around here. I can usually make myself wake up whenever I need to be up. My son wakes up at 6:30, so we usually don’t NEED to get up any earlier than that anyway. But this morning my husband set his alarm for 5:30. He is playing golf (which he never does) and had to be there at 6:15. Yikes. Regardless, I figured I’d get a few minutes of lovely early morning sleep alone in my bed. (What? You know that’s good sleep!)

Anyway, I was awake at 5:24. (See, I knew he had to get up at 5:30 and woke up on my own.) I was hoping he’d just get up and not let that infernal alarm go off. But he didn’t. And I think that alarm clocks have got to be the WORST invention in the world. Ugh. Nothing puts me in a worse mood than being awoken by that horrific sound.

Well, of course, he didn’t get up right away. He pressed snooze. Meaning I was going to have to listen to that alarm again. I begged him to turn it off but I could never quite tell if he did it or not. Apparently he did AND wouldn’t you know he actually fell asleep again and got up late? While I’m laying in the bed with my eyes open.

Finally, after he gets dressed, packs a bag, knocks down some chairs, throws a big blue ox through the living room and who knows what other loud things, he leaves. I was thinking, “Well, at least I’ll get 15 minutes to myself before Asa wakes up.” There is nothing like laying in your bed alone knowing you don’t have to get up yet. And I was planning to revel in it.

So, I hear my husband’s truck drive away, I nestle down in the blankets, close my eyes and hope for sleep. But as soon as my body relaxes, what do I hear?

“Mooommmyyy!”

photo by DanielJames

{ 13 comments }

Four Generations. A Retro Photo.

by oh amanda on July 28, 2010

in wordless wednesday

four generations

Four generations. 1977.

This is my great-grandfather, my grandmother, my dad and me. And even if it wasn’t adorable to see me as a baby, or think about my great-grandfather getting his picture taken as the patriarch of the family or see my grandmother so young and sweet–this picture would be worth MY DAD’S HAIR. Oh lovely day. Daddy is awesome. That is all.


linked to wordless wednesday, 5minutesformom and a daily dose of toni.

{ 9 comments }

Seven Links Challenge: Top Ten {Tuesday}

July 26, 2010 blogging

A few days ago (maybe weeks?) Darren at ProBlogger posted a little blogging exercise: The Seven Links Challenge. He gave seven prompts about your blog–links to find out more about yourself and your blog. I starred it in my reader and decided to give it a whirl…of course, I had to add #8-10. So, hopefully [...]

Read the full article →

I Have a Confession To Make

July 26, 2010 parenting

Asa is halfway through his cast-wearing adventure. He’s got crawling and scooting down pat. He’s only mentioned the possibility of getting the cast off twice. And he still says he doesn’t like his doctors. But the whole reason he has a broken leg is not because I let an almost 2 year old go down [...]

Read the full article →

My New Favorite

July 24, 2010 linky love

Picture :: :: :: Lydia eating off her purple plate in celebration of her NOT SUCKING HER THUMB for the past month! Post I Need To Read Almost Every Day :: :: :: Clutter Control For Any Space by Mandi Ehman Parenting Series :: :: :: Have a New Kid By Friday at Impress Your [...]

Read the full article →

Random Fun Giveaway Day! {A Modern Eden iPhone App & More!}

July 23, 2010 giveaway

I was going to give you a big intro paragraph. But let’s just jump into this cuteness: Maybe cute is the wrong word. How ’bout chic? Modern? Design-a-licious? Well, the point is the same: I likey. Also. This bag. These are just two of the delicious offerings from a  little company called A Modern Eden. [...]

Read the full article →