Loving these silly flash cards Dan gave me for Valentine’s Day. He’s such a romantic.
Detoxing from the sugar coma that came from eating numerous sugar cookies. Honestly? I’ve been avoiding sugar since January. Last weekend, it was a bit, how does one say, overkill?
Working on the Spring issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today and feeling that magazine production groove. Long live print!
Struggling with my responses of late to my teen-aged son. Knowing I can do better but choosing ones that are less than stellar.
Wishing I could take a trip to sunny Southern Cali to see my girl, Tara. Realizing that’s what credit cards are for, right? Tara? Anyone?
Admiring my new print from Andrea Lauren. I follow her on Instagram and adore her little masterpieces. It looks so good on my paprika-colored kitchen walls.
Procrastinating on finishing up work on some class stuff, plus getting going on some new ideas. I think I only procrastinate when I’m afraid of the outcome because the outcome is unknown. This is pretty neurotic behavior, so I should probably knock that shit off.
Looking for a new book to read, one that will suck me and and make me count down the hours until I can just sit and read again. (Suggestions are welcome!)
Owning Guardians of the Galaxy. The other night, me, Aidan and Boy Aidan decided to buy it and watch it, even though they had already seen it twice and I had already seen it once. I adore this movie. #IAmGroot
So what are you doing?
49 Comments on “The Present Participle List for February”
Read The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion! It’s hilarious and endearing.
And the last book I read that made me count down the hours until I could read again? Strangely enough: The life changing magic of tidying up, by Marie Kondo. Ha.
Plus one on The Rosie Project. There is also a sequel, The Rosie Effect. I have it but haven’t started reading it yet.
The Rosie Project and The Rosie Effect are both excellent reads! If you are looking for something more somber, try Still Alice. It is heartbreaking.
Have you read ‘Me Before You’ or ‘The One Plus One’ by JoJo Moyes? If not – I highly recommend them!
Love those therapy cards, cool. Also yes, long live SCT. I’m going through much of the same with my boys, and feeling much like you. Thanks for sharing. Michelle t
I went on a cupcake and carbo binge this week. I can relate to your sugar coma.
I recently realized that I’d fallen badly out of my reading habit because I fell in love with reading on the Kindle app on my iPad. But reading on the iPad leaves me too tempted to do other things and I wind up reading only a page or two before an IM Orr notification sends me clicking away.
So, I bought 3 physical books this weekend and am currently ripping through “The Department of Speculation” by Jenny Offil. I am loving it. It’s full of ennui and angst, but I’ve never given up on being a navel-gazing teenager. I’ve just gotten older.
The Rosie Project is awesome! I have also read those recommended Moyes and enjoyed those. I am currently reading What Alice Forgot and really into it. One that I would recommend!
Oh my gosh–just finished “Bird Box”–so haunting and fabulous (a scary page-turner). “The Department of Speculation” is wonderful. As is “The Magician’s Lie.”
We are GROOT!!!!! OMG! That is just the best movie! It hasn’t been over-watched yet, but sure has the potential!
If you are a mystery/suspense/thriller junkie, here is what is on my nightstand:
1. I am Pilgrim. Just started it and I’m already loving it
2. The Girl on the Train. Highly recommended by my local mystery bookstore
3. The Good Girl. Same here
4. An Early Wake. Same here…see a pattern? 🙂
5. Seven Up. Janet Evanovich…need I say more?
I just finished reading “I thought You Were Dead” by Pete Nelson, just a random book I picked up in the library. I thought it was wonderful–the title comes from what the main character’s dog says to him (because if he’s not with his dog, he must be dead and gone forever, right?). It’s very sweet about how a grown man finally “matures” thanks to help from his dog.
Totally self-promety but I used your name in my recently published book: Raising the Hardy Boys: They Said There Would be Bon-Bons.
Basically saluting your awesomeness 🙂
Gah! I can’t delete my comment 🙂 That column about scrapbooking was held for the next collection! Never mind … I mean I still think it’s a good book but the part about you isn’t until the next one 🙂 I can send you a link to the column though if you want. Love the running from self-awareness cards. Also … hate sugar detox. Hate. It. (Doing it now).
You wrote a book? Damn, girl. Just clicked around to find it. Congrats! Link me up when you have that column about scrapbooking published!
Station Eleven or The Martian…. both of which I could not put down!
Oh, yes! I have The Martian in my iPad book samples. Thanks for the reminder.
I fell into Station Eleven on a snow day and read it on one sitting. It was awesome. And strange. Strangely awesome? Awesomely strange? 🙂
I am reading a tween novel called “Counting By 7s” by Holly Sloan. It’s a good one.
🙂
Finished reading “Summer of 1927” by Bill Bryson. Although I have a few minor nits (mainly baseball related), it was and is a rather engrossing book – if you like history. His other book, In a Sunburnt Country, about OZ is also pretty good.
Watching the Batman TV series (lovin’ sharing that with my teenage boy – though he’d rather Mum didn’t watch it with him, thankyouverymuch); I forgot that every single blessed thing was labeled (Bat Poles – Dick and Bruce; Bat Emergency Turn Lever) & just how amazingly fun the show was. 🙂
Being frustrated by my own teenage boy – who is seemingly constantly “teenagering” currently – which pushes my own buttons. Remembering to take a breath, step back, and recall that my own teenagehood wasn’t a walk in the park helps some … so does sending him out on many a walk to give us time away from each other! [living where there’s no snow rather helps with that, huh?]
Cathy, I will go see Tara with you! I think that is just what I need. I trip out of the house to get me out of the rut I am in and the blues. It sucks! I know I need some girl time! Let me know and then I will check my credit limit. 🙂 I jump all over the place in reading books but the latest one I picked up is called “Angels Walking” by Karen Kingsbury. A couple weeks ago I was reading a Sandra Brown one. Wow, huh? I am lil Groot is sitting on the side table. Hubby got it for me for Valentines day! 🙂 Enjoy your day!
Have you read Mr. Penumbra’s 24 hour book store? It was our book club book this month and a really good read.
LOVE Kelly Corrigan (Lift, the Middle Place, and Glitter and Glue)
Becky Higgins had a post which has helped mr rethink my responses to my challenging child.
No offense, but I thought the Christmas cookies were a gift! I can’t wait to try the recipe. Sounds like a great snow-day activity for the girls.
FYI in my Pre-k classroom we have two Kadens; their classmates refer to them as the boy Kaden and the girl Kaydyn
No book recommendations, sorry.
Love the VDay gift. I went to look at it on Amazon and look what I found:
http://www.amazon.com/Knock-Your-Shit-Together-Note/dp/B00LQAZ026/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y
please excuse the s word in the address!
Couldn’t help but think of you!
Ha! Cheeky. I love it.
hhmmmm, the link is not what I thought it would be – you need to go six in to get to the one I was thinking of.
I just dogsat for my son and dil, and for the first time also had the two granddaughters, age 13 (next week) and 15.5. Both are very good girls but I also knew they were on pretty much best behavior for Nana. I would not like to be the mother of teenagers again! btdt, and my mouth was hard to tame back in those years. 🙁 But that’s pretty normal for all of us some of the time.
I too just finished “The Girl on the Train” and one of the first Sophie Hannah books, “Little Face”. Both are great psychological thrillers.
I’m also a fan of the Jojo Moyes books. One of the best I’ve read in the past year was The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern.
I just finished reading The Storied Life of AJ Fikry and am suggesting it to anyone I can. Also, I second the recommendation for The Night Circus, an amazing book that I won’t forget.
Totally agree with The Storied Life of AJ Fikry – just loved it and recommending it to everyone!
” I think I only procrastinate when I’m afraid of the outcome because the outcome is unknown. ” Oh, my gosh! That’s it!! I have a terrible time finishing my scrapbook projects and this is exactly it! I don’t know how it’s going to end— will it be as good as my other pages? Am I leaving anything out that needs to be in the album? Could I do something better?
I spend a LOT of time talking myself into picking up my projects and just finishing. I can get down to the last 2 or 3 layouts, then I won’t go near the projects for months, even years! I have such a fear. I’ve done the “you’re not leaving this table ’til you finish” thing, but most times it’s less than successful. How do you do it?
Read Gone Girl and the Divergent series this year. Good reads. My goal this year is one book a month. I miss reading.
Read “The Roundhouse” by Louise Erdrich, or better yet, go back and read “Love Medicine” and follow the characters from the beginning. My goal this year is to stop reading so much and do more scrapbooking!
Perhaps you could try a 50:50 split of reading and scrapbooking? Shame to give up one for the other …
All the Lee Child books!
I will respond to my children more thoughtfully. Thank you for the reminder!
I just started reading “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain. I’m about a third of the way through and am really enjoying it. I find it liberating to the idea that we have to be an extrovert to have purpose, meaning and be successful.
Here’s a link to it if you’re interested:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_13?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=quiet+the+power+of+introverts+in+a+world+that+can%27t+stop+talking&sprefix=quiet+the+pow%2Caps%2C219
*liberating “from” the idea that we have to be an extrovert….
Try Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett ~ a weighty tome so not one for reading in bed, unless you have the Kindle version. Who knew that a story surrounding the building of a cathedral could be so engrossing. It’s a great read, I love it!
One of my friends told me to read “Me before you”. I’m currently recommending “What Alice Forgot” to everyone. It’s fluffy, but not.
Since books and teenage children are both topics here, I loved the book “The Blessing of a B Minus,” all about raising teens. I read it a few years ago, (and have since lent it out, so I don’t remember all the details) but I do remember that it made me laugh and cry and feel good about being the parent of a teen. She re-frames teen behavior in a way that helped me see the big picture, and therefore, not to sweat the small stuff. And the basic message at the end, is the “the kids are going to be alright.”
I wrote down several of the other book suggestions in the comments here to add to my list too.
Love your list Cathy.
I finished Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects last week and loved it. I thought it was better than Gone Girl. 🙂
As a New Englander caught in the clutches of 6 degree weather, yes go to Southern California! Take lots of pictures. Bask in the sun. Feel the warmth. (Sorry, that’s all I could focus on).
How about one of your neighbor’s books? William Kent Krueger’s Ordinary Grace. It won an Edgar. He also has a mystery series that is good as well. But Ordinary Grace took my breath away. Also Louise Penny’s mystery series starting with Still Life. For pure fun The Phryne Fisher series which is also on netflix as well as being books. PS I aspire to be Phryne.
I’m buried in Game of Thrones. Totally can’t wait for my opportunities to read – ! Book 3 almost done, then on to Book 4. And then…we wait.
Looooove Guardians of the Galaxy – such a good movie! So great when everything comes together – story, characters, soundtrack… Can’t wait to see it again and again.
Currently reading “Eleanor and Park”, and so far it has me hooked like no other book in recent history. Love seeing all these recommendations.
Life in Outer Space http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16119664-life-in-outer-space
Think you might love the wit/humor in this one.
I’m reading the Kate Burkholder books by Linda Castillo. And I’m not a big science-fiction fan, but The Martian is fantastic. Gonna be a Matt Damon movie, so I wanted to check it out and now I can’t put it down.
I Love Guardians of the Galaxy too!! Me and my boys watch it all the time and downloaded the soundtrack 🙂
Just finished Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. It was R.E.A.L.L.Y. good!!!
I’m reading “Station 11” right now…it’s good…can’t wait to get back to it (after work!). I also recommend the following: “Goodnight June” or “The Look of Love” by Sarah Jio. I also LOVED “The Sweetness of Forgetting” by Kristin Harmel.
Oh, book recommendations – so many!
The Goldfinch
The Luminaries
All the Light We Cannot See
Gone Girl
The Time Traveller’s Wife
Anything by Ruth Rendell/PD James/Patricia Cornwell (mystery/detective series)
Big LIttle Lies – not as great as the hype here in Australia but still a good read
One Plus One
Love all of these ….