Favorite Things

We had a great Christmas exchange this year, thanks to Heather's great idea!  We had to give each person one of our favorite things, as long as it was $5 or under.  I had alot of fun picking out mine, and went a little unconventional.  I love to read, and wanted to get everyone my favorite books, but I could not narrow it down.  Then I thought to get everyone a favorite book that matched them.  The other problem I had was cost, there aren't many new books out there $5 or less, so I had to go with used.  I hope everyone enjoyed theirs!

I am enjoying mine!  Most are gone already.  The bag of gummies was enjoyed, and the Reeses sticks were enhaled.  Can I say the Espresso Pillows from Trader Joe's are amazing?  I've never had them with toffee pieces before, and wish I had a way to get more.  The popcorn tin is almost empty, and you can tell how much I have liked it, because I need to vacuum up some pieces that have dropped on the floor.  I may need to make sure my DVD Clash of the Titans doesn't end up in Faith's bags going back to school with her.  We love that movie!  (Nothing like a young Harry Hamlin)  I also now have plenty of Sharpies for when I need them, and Faith has her own, so I won't lose those to her either!  (Who doesn't like writing down things with Sharpies?)  The shop rag will be good for cleaning, and the tools are already put away to be used, which I always seem to need but never have.  My CD is in the car and on rotation, and I love the songs Faith included that I'm not familiar with, I am enjoying it very much!

I'm glad we are doing it again next year, and have a few ideas already.  It's easy, fun, and inexpensive.  And it expresses how the simple things can bring joy to us and others.

Back to the Classics Reading List

I have narrowed down my possible reading list for the challenge I joined.  Be warned, I may choose the change a title in the future:)

19th Century:  Sense and Sensibility
20th Century:  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Reread a classic:  Tale of Two Cities
Classic Play:  Our Town
Classic Mystery/Horror/Crime Fiction:  Dracula
Classic Romance:  Wuthering Heights
Classic translated to your language:  Anna Karenina
Classic Award Winner:  Age of Innocence
Classic set in a country you would never visit:  The Good Earth

Most of these books were already on my TBR pile, so it will be fun to cross them off my list.  Some I will have to buy or check out from the library, but that's okay, because I love to shop for books or visit my local library.  Can't wait to start!!

Reading Challege

I usually don't participate in reading challenges.  There are many different types out there in the blogosphere, but I just came across one that really looks interesting.  The blog Sarah Reads Too Much has started a simple Classics challenge.  The link goes directly to rules and sign up.  I am really looking forward to this.  I have been wanting to get back to some classics, and maybe cut down my TBR pile just a little, and this will be a great way to do it.  I know I have gotten away from leaving you info on my current reads, so hopefully this will give me a jump start. 

Better yet, it starts after Christmas, which you all know is my hell season, so it's like it was meant to be!!

Creative in the Kitchen

Got your attention in the title, didn't I????  Everyone knows I don't have any creativity in the kitchen, but last week I made something out of leftovers that was GREAT.  I had made some bone in chicken breasts Sunday afternoon, baked with BBQ sauce.  To go with it, I had stuff in the cupboard to make some cornbread style baked corn (what we usually make at Thanksgiving).  It was pretty good, but after the first set of leftovers, there was still alot left, so I got to thinking...

Took shredded chicken and added the leftover cornbread baked corn and wrapped in a tortilla.  I covered the tortillas with enchilada sauce and baked to heat through, adding cheese the last 10 minutes.  It was delicious!!! (Unfortunately it made for two more sets of leftovers.   This cooking for one is worse than for two).

Fellow Book Lovers

I AM NOT ALONE!!!  I know a previous post about reading really sounded like I was the only one, but I witnessed something today that made me smile in victory.

Sitting in traffic, (which has gotten worse this past week--thanks 41st street construction) I looked over to my left to the car next to me and what do I see?????????????  A young man READING HIS PAPERBACK BOOK.  Ha!  See, I knew I wasn't wierd.  What annoyed me was that I couldn't see what he was reading (the light was red, and we were just sitting there, so don't worry).  If his windows would have been down, I would have yelled "Hey, I do the same thing!"  ***Not really, just thinking I would have.

It is also my passion to see what other people are reading when I walk by, which is another reason I don't like those electronic readers (seriously, how do you know they aren't reading a porn mag???).  I always get a smile when it is a book I have read and enjoyed.  This is another reason why I check out the other titles on the shelves in the library that are next to my holds I am picking up.  For me, it's not what you are wearing, but what you are reading.

Sidenote:  Found a GREAT saying by Louisa May Alcott that I think I need on my tombstone.  Take note, please.  “She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain.”

9/11 Tenth Anniversary

Today's anniversary is always a hard day, one filled with sorrow, but also pride in being in a country where things happen that test people, who rise above the tragedy.  I am sharing a link to Boatlift, a documentary about the evacuation of people from the island of Manhattan as the planes hit the towers and eventually fall.  Over 500,000 people were evacuated, the largest ever in the history of the world, in the course of 9 hours.  Amazing, watch it when you have time to reflect.  It got me crying.

The Bloggess

Found this one on Twitter, and started following her blog and she is hilarious!  Check it out.