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