Looking Back on April

Got through April just fine, and focused on how things were going around the house. I had found out before that I put too many restrictions on what I wanted to do during the month, and so I made things a little more relaxed for this month. I know what I wanted to focus on: HOME. So basically I was just looking to do things around the house to make it more organized and feel more homey... mainly focusing on "The Oasis Room" upstairs.

Did pretty well, especially with the decor for upstairs. Got all of it finished, minus the trash to treasure lamps... and you can see all of the projects in previous posts. All of it is ready to go! Need to toss all of the boxes, which I had planned to do until I spent the day in front of the TV watching for Tornado Warnings... SMH. So that will be the next thing I want to get done around the house. Junk out, decor up, Oasis finished! I also need to get the closets and everything  organized for sure. So once again, this will be carrying over into months to come and I'm okay with that!

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For the Bucket List I only crossed off three items again and did small little steps towards some of the others. The ones I completed were: INFLUENCE CHANGE, BOOK CLUB, PLANT. Influencing change was the when I noticed great change with some of the kids in my room. I hope to continue influencing change, by getting my foster care license. We will be starting it off next month with my first house walk through and hopefully begin classes. The Book Club is something that I am doing with a friend with church. It is a bible study based off of a book, so I'm counting it! I barely squeaked in planting, but on the last day of the month I put in new flowers in the flower bed. Here soon some friends will be helping me plant zucchini in the backyard. I made steps with paying off credit cards, with two down! In May, I will also be doing my GRE test to start my Master's, doing a martial arts class with my step-cousin, and hope to get some other little ones done here and there!

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This month I fell a bit behind with only 8 books: all eight were from my list. That means I have one extra book for the month of May! I can do this!!  I am also switching one of my books... from one Jersy Shore cast member to another. No more Snooki, because Vinny just wrote a book! Haha. So the list below is updated with the books I have read in bold, along with the dates I read them in. Once again, see my book review site to see what I thought about each 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
- Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten

Romance:
- There’s Cake in My Future by Kim Gruenenfelder
- Overkill by Linda Castillo
- Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
- PS I Love You by Cecila Ahern 2/12-2/15
- What Came First by Carol Snow

Science:
- The Secret Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot 1/20-1/29
- Forensics and Fiction by D.P. Lyle, M.D.
- 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
- 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
*4th of July* 3/18-3/19
*5th Horseman* 4/5-4/8
*6th Target* 4/20-4/22
- 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 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
- 10 Best Days of My Life by Adena Halpern
- Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch
- 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

Day 29: List 10 people, dead or alive, you would invite to dinner. Include the dinner menu.

Dead:

1. Great-Grandpa Walker

2. Grandpa Reed

3. Grandma Reed

Alive:

4. Great-Grandma Walker

5. Grandma Chubby

6. Mom

7. Dad

8. Aunt Lea

9. My brother, Eli

10. My brother, Terry

Nothing is better than dinner with your whole family, especially if my deceased grandparents could join us again. We would of course have Grandma's meatloaf, homemade Mac n Cheese, fried okra, and homemade bread. Who needs anything crazy and over the top when you are with the ones you love?!

Little bit of happiness: Another great night at church! And a relaxing night to follow.

Daily quote: If you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for tonight, what would you have?

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra