November ran away!

November is over? What?!?! How'd I miss that? Being out of town, working on a ton of birthday boards, and other things kept me from reading a lot last month. And something tells me this month is going to be the same. Which is sad, because I miss reading.

But here's what I did get to:

1. Crossed by Ally Condie: The sequel to Matched. To be honest, I didn't love it. But it wasn't bad. I prefer Matched. I was talking with my sister about it and it's one of those series where the story continues from book to book, rather than there being a definite ending (like the HP series, where each book ends). And I kind of wish each book had a more definite ending.

2. Mastiff by Tamora Pierce: I really enjoyed this one. It was long (like the others in the series) but I liked that it was long. It was never boring. Tamora Pierce has a knack for blending description into her writing so that you don't even realize it and everything just feels like action. Also, I like Farmer, the new main character introduced in this trilogy finale. He's very likable and quirky and fun.



3. Entralled by numerous people: This book is a collection of paranormal short stories. I had the chance to read a few of them but not all. I wasn't overly impressed. But I think that had to do with the medium. The only other short stories I've read were in high school and college, and then they pick out the very best ones. So I had in my mind that each of these stories would be nuggets of awesomeness, when really they turned out to be like chapters from a book and you're left wondering where's the rest of the book.

Thanksgiving in Kentucky

Caleb and I went home to Kentucky for Thanksgiving and it was SO wonderful! It was great to spend time with family, not have to go to work and enjoy good food. We did so many fun things while we were there, too. Like ice skating, laser tag, bowling, seeing the Christmas lights at the horse park, fishing, and a hayride.

In this video Caleb and I are helping our 3 year old nephew try to ice skate. He was so funny. He kept trying to do it by himself, but never really got the hang of it. But he did great for a 3 year old!! He would hold on to the side and then mostly be alright.

On the wagon, getting ready for our hayride! I don't think Caleb was quite ready for the camera. (Dad's a pro at driving the tractor after giving hayrides for the corn maze crowd this fall)

I was out running errands with my mom and sister and Caleb called to say he caught a fish! But not just any fish, a 23 inch catfish! He was so proud. I joined him at our pond when I got home and caught a fish too, but it was only 5 inches and not worth keeping.

Caleb frying up his catfish!

We didn't get a ton of pictures because we brought our camera but left the SD card in our computer at home. Thankfully my mom took some and sent them to me. Now we're back at home and counting down the days until our Christmas break when we'll be in Washington with Caleb's family.

I think my reading addiction is under control

Actually I'm not sure that's accurate. I think the real reason I didn't read as many books in October is because I was busy. Working extra hours at work and other activities kept me from reading as much as I'd like to. But it didn't stop me altogether. Here's what I read in October.

1. Generation Dead: Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters: Remember in my last book review post I mentioned reading this, as it's a sequel to Generation Dead? Well, I tried really really hard to finish it, but I just couldn't do it. For some reason I lost interest. Maybe it was the pacing. Anyway I treat books like food sometimes. With food, if I don't like I don't eat it. Why would I? I'm just wasting calories on something that I'm not even enjoying. If I'm not enjoying a book, why continue wasting my time reading it when there's another book out there that I WILL enjoy?

2. Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce: Rereading can be fun. Remembering all the parts you forgot, etc. I enjoyed Bloodhound and am excited to pick up the newly released sequel number two from the library. (What do you call the third book in a series?)



3. The Death Cure by James Dashner: I really liked The Maze Runner and Scorch Trials wasn't bad either and I liked the The Death Cure, but it wasn't as strong as its predecessors. However, it was still a good read and overall an interesting series.



4. Room by Emma Donoghue: I imagine this book was a struggle to write. And I also wonder if she actually talked to people that have been in this situation. Thinking about it I should have looked to see if there was an intro or conclusion that maybe says so or not. It's heart wrenching in places (most places actually) and told from a five year-old's perspective. Check it out.

5. Variant by Robinson Wells: This book was interesting. Although I don't think it's too well known. Published in early October this dystopian young adult novel reminds me of The Maze Runner a little bit. It's not perfect (but what is?) but definitely worth checking out if you like this genre.

Halloween fun!

If you read my post from last Halloween you'll know that Halloween is BIG where I work. Every year there's a costume contest as well with potential to get some money. In 2009, I went to work as the house from UP and won 1st place in the creative category. In 2010, I was the witch from Snow White and won 1st place in the spooky category. This year I went as a decayed mummy.



And I won 1st place in the spooky category again! Although I think I won because there were only 4 other competitors in my category, which is a lot less than in years past. I guess nobody wanted to be spooky this year.

The Countdown Begins!

Is it too early for one of these?

I love the holidays. Mostly because I associate them with no work and lots of time spent with family. And the festiveness surrounding the holidays can't be beat. SO...to get in the spirit and do something crafty I made a countdown chain. My sisters and I used to make these when we were little. You just use strips of paper and tape or glue, it doesn't get much easier. The yellow and brown is the countdown to Thanksgiving then it transitions to red and green for the continued countdown until Christmas.

In addition to the chain I've had these countdowns up on my computer at work for awhile now. The times aren't exact but it gives me something to look forward to. If you have windows 7 it's a really easy gadget to add.

Halloween decor in less than 90 minutes!

I made these yesterday during my lunch break. Now I need to get some lights to put in them. I got this idea here and here. For more pictures see here.

Sunday Drive

Every fall Caleb and I take a scenic drive on the first Sunday in October. We love to see the leaves changing color and it's a chance to relax and enjoy each others company. This year we took the opportunity to get some photos as well. I think they're pretty good considering we used our point and shoot and the self timer. Caleb was really good at pressing the trigger button then getting in place. Most of the time we hung our camera from a tree limb.

Pin What?

Do you know what Pinterest is? I didn't. Everyone kept commenting on blogs, "Pinning it," and "Definitely Pinning." And I kept hearing people refer to Pinterest. And I had NO clue what they were talking about.

What is it? A virtual pinboard. At first I thought, WHY? But it makes total sense. I have a word document on my computer with pages and pages of links and photos of craft ideas and recipes, things I want to try one day but don't want to forget where I saw them in the first place. And Pinterest is simply an avenue to do just that. So I signed up a few days ago. And I'm enjoying it.

In fact, here is a product of my Pinterest love.

Someone I follow pinned a photo of Pumpkin Butter (originally recipe and photo found here). And I thought it'd be fun to try. I made it last night but I haven't tried it yet (as it needed to chill in the refrigerator). My fingers are crossed that it tastes good. I altered the recipe slightly (leaving out the "optional" whiskey and adding a bit of pumpkin pie spice, just for fun). I'll let you know if it's worth a try.

Two Thirds is Better than One

I'm excited. Why am I excited? Because the third novels in two series I love are coming out in October. One is The Death Cure by James Dashner. I really liked the first one in this series (The Maze Runner), the second was okay too (The Scorch Trials). But I've been waiting to find out how things end. And on October 11, 2011 I'm going to find out because my wonderful sister pre-ordered it for me. Next, are books by Tamora Pierce. I'm not sure why I love this series so much. The first one, Beka Cooper, Terrier (I listened to the audio this month, anticipating the arrival of number three) is as good as I remembered. The novel is set in the kingdom of Tortall in the year 246. And Beka is a cop in training (in the book they're called Dogs). The second installment is called Bloodhound. And on October 25, 2011 Mastiff comes out. And I'm first on the hold list at my local library. Woohoo!

1. Enclave by Ann Aguirre: Another dystopian young adult, shocking isn't it? I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I can't remember how I heard about it but at some point I put it on hold at the library. I thought the writing was well done and the plot well developed. The book follows the life of Deuce, a girl living in an underground community where in your late 20's you're declared an elder. The only thing I didn't like about the book was the ending, I wanted there to be more of a "wrap-up," to the ending. The good news? There's a sequel where I hope to have more of an ending. The bad news? It's release is tentatively Fall 2012. Boo.

2. The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama: My older sister recommended this book to me several months ago and I was able to check it out via ILL (Inter Library Loan). I love ILL because it allows you to rent almost everything. Your library doesn't have the book you're looking for? They will get it from another library. Fabulous. This book is set in India and as its title suggests talks a lot about the marriage customs etc. At first it was a little difficult getting past the things that are culturally different in a setting that's halfway across the world, but after about 50-70 pages it's quite entertaining.

3. The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg: What girl hasn't been fed up by a boy at some point? Did you ever do anything about it? Penny Lane decides to start a club, The Lonely Hearts Club. I like the premise of the club, and how the characters decide to love and support one another in their different pursuits. It's important to have friends and this novel gives that message loud and clear.

4. Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony: Set a couple decades in the future, this novel explores what our nation might be like after an economic collapse due to oil shortage. I enjoyed reading it. I like the main character and her fiddle. This makes me wonder, what if we could only travel a short distance away? When you think about it's not until the last century that extensive travel was made possible and you lived in one place your entire life.

5. The Witness by Dee Henderson: Dee Henderson is what I would call a Christian Romance author, but the fun thing is most of the her novels (maybe all) deal with some sort of thriller mystery. I particularly like her O'Malley series (the prequel to this series is Danger in the Shadows). This new novel is full of intrigue and suspense. And connections where you least expect them. Not as good as some of her previous novels, but an engaging read.

6. The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June by Robin Benway: A fun young adult novel, although I must say, I think curse words and other topics (drinking, sex, etc) are appearing way too frequently in young adult literature these days. Yes, I think there is a place for it, because let's face it the language in high school hallways is anything but clean and the topics even worse, so I can see wanting to keep novels "real" and true to life. But I also think curse words can be eliminated in most circumstances, especially if you're a writer and have an expansive vocabulary. Just my thoughts. I loved the sibling interaction in this book.

7. Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard: I was under the impression that this novel would be a Pride and Prejudice knock-off, and although the main character (Callie) does end up in the year 1815 at a large estate, it didn't follow the P&P plot line. Disappointing. But if you continue to read past the first 100 pages the book does get more amusing. To it's downfall it has a few awkward moments (I can't stand awkward moments in plots, they make me cringe) and some of the character interactions could also be improved.

8. Miss Match by Wendy Toliver: Young adult romantic comedy type novel. It was exactly what I expected it would be.

9. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford: This novel was slow-paced in sections but it's one of those novels where the slow pace is part of the characters and story and it unfolds exactly how it supposed to. It switches back and forth between 1942 and 1986 and sometimes it makes you want to skip ahead to catch up in the year you just read about. The story follows Henry as a young Chinese boy and later in life when he's middle-aged. By the end I felt like I knew him fairly well and it was interesting to see how events and situations influenced him. Enjoyable story overall, sad and frustrating in some parts.

10. Generation Dead by Daniel Waters: Teenagers are coming back to life...or existence...in this teen novel. All of them function differently and more slowly than other teenagers and it's difficult for them to show emotion. Phoebe, the main character, is curious and wants to learn more about them, especially as one of them used to be one of her best friends. The part I didn't like? And I don't think it's just exclusive to this novel, but sometimes I really don't like the one girl, two guys, she has to pick one scenario. I feel like it's a prevalent theme throughout YA literature (Twilight series, Matched, Hunger Games, etc). And sometimes I wish it was just one guy. I'm reading the sequel to this one right now...

Hiking Nebo

On Saturday, we went hiking. Hiking is not my favorite activity but it is DEFINITELY a good workout. Especially this hike. There were some lengthy steep sections.

Caleb in the lead. His cousin Josh came with us. Most of the trip was Caleb and Josh up front with me trailing a healthy 50 feet (and sometimes more) behind. Let's just say I like to move at my own pace.

This gives you a little idea of how high we were. Check out that valley down there. The pink blob is me. And yes there was a little snow on top. Talk about CHILLY.

Climbing down the ridges. The end portion of this hike was climbing over rocks and stuff. I don't really like that kind of hiking/climbing and I was perfectly content to stop about 500 feet from the top and wait for Caleb and Josh. (When I can look to both sides of me and there are sheer drops I'm going to stop right there and not go any further. Me and heights, we're not friends.)

Someone else graciously took their picture on top.

Caleb in his classic hiker pose.

The view.

Me and Caleb on the mountain. When Caleb first saw this picture he said, "man, your legs are white." Yes, yes they are, but winter is coming and I'm not going to worry about it.

Amusement Park Fun! and a Birthday

For my work's summer party we went to a nearby amusement park and it was SO much fun.

Me and one of my co-workers!

By far, one of the funnest rides. Caleb did not agree.

This was more Caleb's style. Thankfully Caleb's cousin Josh came along so I didn't have to go on these kinds of rides.

In other news, I'm now a quarter of a century old. And I decided it's an excellent time to start making changes. Sometimes birthdays are like your own personal "New Years." You can make resolutions and goals to make the next year of your life different and better. One of my goals is to continually learn new things. I think since graduating from school I've been stagnant in the learning department. Maybe it had something to do with being in school for 17 years and needing a break. But no more! First off, I'm learning about business...with many more things to come.

Pretty flowers my mom and dad sent me.

Some of the bling decorating my work cubicle.

The full picture.

My New Hobby

I finally did it. I got a new hobby. Don't worry I'll still post about the books I read each month (I think I'm at eight for this month) and other fun and exciting things. But I felt like I needed to be more productive with some of my time and do something that challenged me in multiple ways.

SO...

I decided to start a business. Surprised? I'm kind of surprised. It's a little intimidating to start something so new and different and risky. But I'm going to try it nevertheless. What am I going to do? I'm going to make and sell wooden home decor items. It's a creative outlet that I need...so if it suits your fancy you can visit my new blog, "Wooden Parlor." Let me know what you think. I'll also be doing a giveaway on the Wooden Parlor blog soon if you're interested.

Meet Evelyn!

On August 19, 2011 I met Evelyn, my adorable new niece! She came a couple weeks before her scheduled due date (which was Labor Day). I was lucky enough to take the day off and spent it with Amanda. Our mom flew in that night to help out, with my dad coming a week later. Everyone was very excited to meet this new little one.

My first look

Amanda, looking good for just having surgery
She finally got to hold her after four hours
Holding baby Evelyn
I love this picture of her
Uncle Caleb holding Evelyn (she looks so tiny when he holds her)
Happy family!