Book List Update

So as you've probably noticed I am no longer following the schedule I began at the beginning of the year. Especially when it comes to picking an area of life to focus on... because I think maybe it's better to be satisfied in all areas at the same time. I do have some things to catch up on though, and the first one will be the Book List, no surprise there! :)

 

I haven't read as many of the books on my challenge list as I was hoping, because I'm reading others. Which I've decided is okay because the books that aren't on my list are actually some of my top reads. When it comes time to make my favorite list of the year I have a feeling 80% will be books that weren't on my challenge list. Another thing I need to get up to date is my book review blog, which I am working on. So check there too if you need a good read!

(The New) Variety Book Challenge 2012

Animals:
- Stay by Allie Larkin 1/09-1/11
- I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in this Relationship by Stephanie Klein
- The Purpose of Dogs by W. Bruce Cameron 2/01-2/22
- Cesar’s Way by Cesar Millan
- Walking in Circles Before Lying Down by Merrill Markoe

Celebrities:
- High Voltage Tattoo by Kat VonD 3/13
- Control the Crazy by Vinny Guadagnino 5/10-5/20
- The Fame Game by Lauren Conrad 4/16-4/19
- Sliding Into Home by Kendra Wilkinson 1/12-1/15
- Elixir by Hilary Duff

Comedians:
- Life As I Blow It by Sarah Calonna
- Don’t Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings by Tyler Perry
- Seriously, I’m Kidding by Ellen Degeneres 2/11-2/12
- I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max 1/20-1/26
- Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey 1/04-1/07

Controversial:
- I am J by Cris Beam 7/27-7/31
- Unplanned by Abby Johnson
- The Chosen One by Carol Williams 2/05
- Tweak by Nic Sheff
- Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult 3/13-3/17

Cultural:
- Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Sold by Patricia McCormick 4/22
- The Secret Daughter by Shilipi Somaya Gowda 6/18-6/24
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie 1/04
- A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah

Historical Fiction:
- True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy 1/07-1/08
- The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew
- Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
- One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus

Inspirational:
- 5 Love Languages, Singles Edition by Gary Chapman 6/12-6/14
- How Did My Life Become a Game of Twister? by Mary Pierce
- 20 Someone by Craig Dunham & Doug Serven
- Worn Out Woman by Dr. Steve Stephens & Alice Gray
- Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst

Living Life:
- Full Frontal Feminism by Jessica Valenti
- No Regrets by Sarah Ivens 4/23-5/29- Life After College by Jenny Blake
- twentysomething by Margaret Feinberg
- Life is a Verb by Patti Digh

Memoirs:
- Year of Yes by Maria Dahvana Headley
- Sickened by Julie Gregory 7/22-7/24
- White Girl Problems by Babe Walker 2/16-2/20
- Save Karyn by Karyn Bosnak 2/23-2/27
- Happy Accidents by Jane Lynch

Overcoming Odds:
- The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon 2/20-2/26
- Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine 4/1-4/4
- Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper 7/20-7/21
- A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass 7/09-7/11
- Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten 6/12-6/17

Romance:
- There’s Cake in My Future by Kim Gruenenfelder 5/30-5/31- Overkill by Linda Castillo 7/18-7/19
- Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks 8/07-8/10
- PS I Love You by Cecila Ahern 2/12-2/15
- What Came First by Carol Snow 5/2-5/7

Science:
- The Secret Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot 1/20-1/29
- Forensics and Fiction by D.P. Lyle, M.D. 8/05-8/07
- Babies by Design by Ronald M. Green
- Bonk by Mary Roach
- Death’s Acre by William M. Bass

Self-Help:
- Single by Jody Ford
- Why Mean Love Bitches by Sherry Argov 7/11-7/12
- Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey 3/19-4/30
- Make Peace with Your Thighs by Dr. Linda Mintle
- On My Own Two Feet by Manisha Thakor

Series:
- Women’s Murder Club by James Patterson FINISHED!
*4th of July* 3/18-3/19
*5th Horseman* 4/5-4/8
*6th Target* 4/20-4/22
*7th Heaven* 5/1-5/2
*8th Confession* 5/8-5/10
*9th Judgement* 5/21-5/24
*10th Anniversary* 5/25-5/29
*11th Hour* 6/01
- Chelsea Handler Comedy Books
*Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang* 1/17-1/19
- Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins FINISHED!
*Hunger Games* 2/08-2/11
*Catching Fire* 2/26-2/28
*Mockingjay* 3/7-3/13
- Kay Scarpettta Novels by Patricia Cornwell
*From Potter's Field* -1/03
*Cause of Death* 2/05-2/08
*Unnatural Exposure* 3/3-3/7
*Point of Origin* 3/19-3/22
*Black Notice* 4/09-4/15
*The Last Precinct* 6/01-6/26
*Blow Fly* 7/12-7/17
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy by Stieg Larsson
*The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* 3/4-3/27 AB
*The Girl who Played with Fire* 4/16-4/30 AB

Teaching:
- Choice Words by Peter H. Johnston
- Teaching with Love and Logic by Jim Fay & David Funk
- 32 Third Graders & One Class Bunny by Phillip Done
- 3 Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin
- Freedom Writers by Erin Gruwell

Time/Realms:- My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares
- The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger 7/01-7/08 
- 10 Best Days of My Life by Adena Halpern 2/29-3/03
- Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch 6/08-6/11
- Radiance by Alyson Noel 1/23-1/26

Extras:

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner 1/15-1/17
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 1/26-2/04
Unwind by Neal Shusterman 3/27-3/30
Defending Jacob by William Landay 5/12-5/16
Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samath Van Leer 6/27-6/30
50 Shades of Gray by EL James 3/30-7/27
50 Shades Darker by EL James 7/31-8/04
Total Forgiveness by RT Kendall 9/12-9/23
Choke by Chuck Palahniuk 9/22-9/29
50 Shades Freed by EL James 9/09-10/04
The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom 10/04-10/05
The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner 10/06-10/14
Every Day by David Levithan 10/15-10/20
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan 10/21-10/28
The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

Little bit of happiness: Just a regular day... pretty uneventful for a Monday, which I am very thankful for!

Daily quote: "Read the best books first, otherwise you will find you do not have the time." -Henry David Thoreau

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

To Sleep, Perchance To Dream (ft. Camila Recchio)

To Sleep, Perchance To Dream (ft. Camila Recchio)

Ideal Inking

So I've been thinking about getting a tattoo for a while to celebrate my joy for life now. This is what I had found on Pinterest (of course) and was pretty set on it. 

 

Until people kept asking me if I had came up with it myself. So I figured I would create my own and include everything that is currently important to me. Now I only have to get one tattoo instead of three different ones!

 

I love dreamcatchers and one of my favorite quotes is "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." -Henry David Thoreau. The love life in the infinity sign is a very important reminder to me to live life to the fullest. And the Proverbs 31:25 says "She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future." I've overcome a lot of personal issues in the last two years and this is a celebratory tattoo. My brother will be going with me and maybe even getting something similar. Rachel will probably be there too. Can't wait!!

Little bit of happiness: My college roommate, Allison, finally got engaged today!! About time! So happy for her and excited for all of the planning to begin. :)I have a feeling it's not going to be easy giving away two of the most important people in my life in the same year.

Daily quote: "I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see." - John Burroughs

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Stop the Slacking

Wow, I've been slacking with this by far. Definitely not what I was expecting of myself. But it's time to get back on the grind because there is a lot to do before the end of the year, in a little over two months! YIKES! I am going to try  my hardest to get as much as a can done. Everything with work, Master's classes, and volleyball has gotten the best of me. However I do think I have mastered the following 30-Day Challenge:

Haha! Yep, for sure.

So once volleyball is over in the next week or two I'm getting down to business. Starting with getting a workout in  my schedule and getting everything, mainly my house, organized!

Little bit of happiness: Did our first arts and crafts project with my third graders! It was definitely a process, but I think we did pretty well over all... here is our positive and negative symmetry pumpkin art:

 

Daily quote: "Keep your face always towards the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind you." -Walt Whitman

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Skyfall

New Adele song... love as always!!

Little bit of happiness: Started Mitch Albom's new book called The Timekeeper. It's a story about Father Time and the creation of time as we know it. So hooked! May be another one day read.

Daily quote: Those who do not believe in magic will never find it.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Let You Go

Haha, so true. I know a few people that should read this!!

Little bit of happiness: Talked on the phone with my childhood friend, Rachel. It had been waaaay too long so it was great to catch up on everything, especially her wedding plans!

Daily quote: "The secret of happiness... is not found in seeking more, but developing the capacity to enjoy less." -Socrates

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Peaks, Pits, Praises, and Prayers

 

This evening I started a daily journal for the "peaks, pits, praises, and prayers" to do each evening. I'm excited for a chance to reflect upon my day and I like this much better than the other journaling I have seen done like the one sentence a day for five years. This is much more involved and focuses on a God centered life. (This is not the picture of my particular journal)

Little bit of happiness: Talked on the phone with my childhood friend, Rachel. It had been waaaay too long so it was great to catch up on everything, especially her wedding plans!

Daily quote: The naked truth is always better than a best-dressed lie.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

LOL

From my Happiness Project calendar last week:

 

"A great way to boost happiness: Laught out loud. A typical young child laughs more that 400 times a day, a typical adult, 15 times. Laughter is healthy: It lowers blood pressure and cortisol levels and boosts immunity. It strengthens social bonds and helps ease difficult situations. And it's fun. Make an effort to laugh out loud."

 

Couldn't agree more!

Little bit of happiness: After a long day at work and practice, I gave in to a nap. I LOVE naps!! However, I will have to pay for it later because I need to clean my kitchen, shower, and do two class assignments still. Oh well, it was worth the chance to nap. How I missed naps.

Daily quote: Joy is different then a temporary feeling of happiness; it's a condition of the heart.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

For the Love of Buttons

Give me 20 minutes and I'll give you 10 new pairs of earrings... whoop whoop!

Lovin' me some buttons right now!

Little bit of happiness: Spent the majority of the day just relaxing at mom and dad's house... mixed in with reading, jewelry making, and a little class work. Getting ready to head back to my house in a few hours, after devouring dad's BBQ ribs.  

Daily quote: "Every good and perfect gift comes from above." -James 1:17

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Mid-life Motors

When I came back home after my weekend in Topeka, this is what I saw in my parent's garage:

 

 

At least they are going through a mid-life crisis together. :)

Little bit of happiness: It was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, saying goodbye to Allison. Even though she will be moving to Kentucky in a matter of days, I know we will still be best of friends. I'm happy that she has been given this amazing opportunity and I know she will do great! 

Daily quote: Worrying will never change the outcome.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Break It Down

Found a new song to jam to... all the way home from the volleyball games actually. I don't get the purpose of the video, but I like the groove of the chorus. I can Break It Down!

Little bit of happiness: Had our second outing with the volleyball team... once again went well! Three wins for the varsity, and two for my JV girls.  

Daily quote: "Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see." -Mark Twain

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Number One

  

Little bit of happiness: My JV girls started off the season right with winning first place in the Satanta Tournament. They defintely earned it and I'm looking forward to the rest of the season! Go Lady Lancers!   

Daily quote: One kind word can change someone's entire day.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Official Grad. Student

Little bit of happiness: My Master's classes started today! Excited to see where this road takes me.

Daily quote: "If you judge people, you have no time to love them." -Mother Teresa

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Blind or Blonde?

 

Little bit of happiness: Epic Fail of the Day... yes, it was one of thooose days. Apparently when I tried to hurry and cut letters I thought my desk was the size of a billboard and my students are all legally blind?! Well, guess I won't be hearing "Teacher, teacher" very long into the year.

Daily quote: "Embrace the current season of your life." -Gabrielle Blair

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Cross It Off.

Yep, guilty. Did that today...

Little bit of happiness: Today was the last day before a new school year. Started it off with church, little bit of work in the classroom, and a back to school kick off BBQ! Now looking forward to 2 a day practices and work this week!  

Daily quote: "Smoking doesn't send you to hell, it just makes you smell like you came from there." -Pastor Mike

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Whoa...

Definitely thought that looking around my classroom today.



Little bit of happiness: Literally spent about 7 hours working in my classroom... but soooo glad it's coming together.

Daily quote: Forget the risk and take the fall, if it's what you want then it's worth it all.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

It's Like a Radar

Amen! Couldn't have said it better... NEVER fails.

P.S. Gotta love Laguna Beach/The Hills rerun marathons.

Little bit of happiness: Had a quick visit for foster care at my house, just have a couple more things to fill out and then wait for licensing to go through.

Daily quote: "Srround yourself with only people who are going to life you higher." -Oprah

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Ahhh.

Amen! Nothing like your own bed after being gone for a week... ahhhh.

Little bit of happiness: Got to Skype with my old roomie... always good to see her face, even if it isn't with the best news.

Daily quote: "If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you." -Fred Devito

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Hakuna Matata

Just got home from my last little road trip before school and this little beauty was in my mailbox waiting for me:

A ring that says "hakuna matata".... if you've never seen Lion King, it means no worries - in Swahili. Just a little reminder for me to keep with me throughout this school year.

Little bit of happiness: On the way back from Southeast Kansas I had lunch with one of my best friends in Wichita. When I got back to Dodge, I went to my last foster care class... got a little certificate. And to top off the day, I just found out that my cousin is pregnant with her first baby! Can't be more excited for March!!

Daily quote: "Surround yourself with only people who are going to life you higher." -Oprah

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

The Meaning of Audra

On the radio I heard about this site that analyzes what your name means for your personality. So of course I had to look it up and I was suprised that it is actually pretty spot on! Here's what it said:

The name of Audra contains within it an intense emotional power that could drive you to put forth great effort to accomplish your ambitions and to do something noteworthy and worthwhile.

There are humanitarian ideals in this name, making you feel the urge to champion the cause of the downtrodden, the victims of circumstances and injustices.

However, it is difficult for you to materialize your ideals because of a restless, unsettled feeling which causes you never to know just what it is that you should be working toward, and the very intensity of your nature makes systematic concentration and application a challenge.

You can have intensely contrasting feelings toward people, either you are fiercely loyal or extremely intolerant.

Although the name Audra creates an active mind and a restless urge to explore new ideas, we emphasize that it causes an emotional intensity that is hard to control.

This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success, as well as cause health weaknesses in the solar plexus, and nervous system.

Little bit of happiness: Started off the day with the funniest e-mail I've read in a while from my parents saying that Disney called and they had to move our seats over a couple for the Lion King show because they had to make way for a rhino! Ha... I've heard everything now. Later in the day I went to the casino with my grandma (big surprise, I know) and actually won $100! Woohoo!!

Daily quote: "Rejection doesn't mean you aren't good enough; it means the other person failed to notice what you have to offer." -Mark Amend

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Taken 2

Late last night I found out through my brother (through Twitter of course) that they have made a second movie for Taken, one of my favorite movies. You know the one that makes Liam Nelson's voice haunt you in your dreams... "I will find you and I will kill you." So I'm really excited because it comes out October 5th, now all I need is someone to drag along with me!! Here's the trailer... in the words of my brother, "Wear a blanket.... it gives you the chills."



Little bit of happiness: Today I drove to Parsons to have lunch with one aunt and then went over to another one's house and had a good visit! Much needed family time before going back to the west.

Daily quote: "Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts." -Charles Dickens

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Proverbs 31:25

Recently I came across this verse and I absolutely love it! Even though it is in the passage about being a wife, it easily my favorite for where I am at with life right now!

Little bit of happiness: After finishing my mom's last lamp shade, I made the trip down to Pittsburg to see my grandma's. Nothing like being at grandma's house!

Daily quote: "Don't let your happiness depend on something you may lose." -C.S. Lewis

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Can You Feel The Love Tonight

Today I was blessed to watch on my good friends from back in the day marry her high school sweet heart. Her day was absolutely perfect, and it rang true to her, through and through. The wedding was on the golf course and the entrance music was played by two baritones. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" was played for the grandparents entrance, before they played the wedding march. After the ceremony we headed back inside for a beautiful reception and dinner. And to top it all off, Kailyn and her mom did a tap dance routine on the dance floor! It was a great time, and a perfect way to celebrate the happy couple. :)

 

Here are some pictures from all the wedding festivities:

 

Dinner with all the girls at the Steakhouse in Wichita! YUMMY!

 

Back to the Willse's house for Spa/Movie Night

 

Whitney and I with the beautiful bride, Kailyn! (post tapdance routine)

 

It was great to see Whitney again too! Definitely hope to reconnect again with these girls.

Little bit of happiness: Of course the wedding! It was perfect for Kailyn and Mitch, and it was great to see high school friends I hadn't seen in three years.

Daily quote: "Can you feel the love tonight..." -Lion King

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Lamps for JoJo

Sooooo true :)

The last few days mom and I have been working on doing the 2 lamps for her newly redecorated living room. Who would have thought she would be an excellent petal tracer and petal gluer. Haha. Here are some pictures of our finished flowers and one of the lamps... one more to go before I leave Buhler!

Little bit of happiness: Since I'm in Buhler, I paid a much needed visit to my chiropractor. Let's just say I was waaaay out of place and will be returning back next week on my way back through! He's a life saver!

Daily quote: "The best is yet to come."

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Photo Friends

This cracks me up... I was next to the same two guys from 7th grade to Senior Year, and actually one was all the way from Kindergarten. We should have totally done this at some point!

Little bit of happiness: Slept in and then got some work done at school... plus its always good to catch up with old friends!

Daily quote: Even the nicest people have their limits.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

My Name is Audra...

and I'm addicted to books.

Amen, sister. Today I ordered my course textbooks off Amazon, but not before I found 5 novels by one of my new favorite authors for diiiiirt cheap... YAY!

Little bit of happiness: I had a lot of fun today with my good friends here! Went to the parade in the morning and then we went to the concert at night and hung out in the beer garden. GIRLS' NIGHT!!

Daily quote: "The happiness of your life depends on the quailty of your thoughts." -Marcus Aurelius

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

50 Shades of Funny

So I finally finished getting through the first book of 50 Shades and thought I would share some e-card humor about the quickly imfamous trilogy...

Little bit of happiness: Spent the evening at the park hanging out with everyone while the guys did their favorite thing, BBQ. Good food as always, and it was relaxing to just sit around and shoot the breeze.

Daily quote: Try not to take things personally; what they say about you is a reflection of them, not you.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Mmhmm

mmmhmmm.

Little bit of happiness: Finally got around to watching 21 Jump Street today... not only did it have the most gorgeous actor, but it pretty funny too!

Daily quote: "If you don't know where you're going any road will get you there." -Lewis Carroll

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Trash to Treasure

One of my co-workers gave me old lamps to up-cycle.

So... after spray painting the base,

spending 2+ hours hot gluing hemp rope around the shade,

and then a few hours on making felt flowers from scratch,

here is the finished product....

And here is a close-up of the flowers: 



 Even though this project was super time consuming, I loved every minute of it and actually willing to say that I am proud of this one. Plus, I found a new craft I love making now, felt flowers!!

Little bit of happiness: We had the normal Wednesday routine of going to the Learning Center and then to lunch. Then tonight, we all got together for another yummy dinner! Always a great time spending time with friends.

Daily quote: "Art is anything you can get away with." -Andy Warhol  

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra