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Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Hey! Get back here you little Scooter Toot!
I've never been a pet name kind of gal. Shane and I call each other, well, Shane and Natalie. Occasionally we call each other something like "sweetheart", but it is so rare that it really does come across as a noticeable term of endearment. I always thought that couples who are calling each other "honey" or "babe" in the midst of a heated argument may be at the point of overuse. But that's just me. Shane has a few other nicknames for me, but they're...um...private. :)
As soon as I had kids, that pet name policy went at the window. With Lydia every other word from my mouth was "sweetie", " sweet baby", "munchkin", "cutie pie", "sweetheart", "Liddy Bitty". From the day Collin was born I started calling him my little "scooter toot". It just seemed to fit. I found out recently that my mom called me that as well, so I guess it makes sense. Now he is actually crawling and I get to see that little toot scooting around the house. I hope he doesn't walk too soon. I like this stage.
What nicknames do you use in your family?
By the way, I've added my summer reading recommendations and summer reading list to Monday's post. Sorry I didn't think to include them earlier. Enjoy!
Monday, April 26, 2010
The Updated Book Club
Speaking of summer reading, I have a great idea for you ladies. (Do any men actually read this blog?)
Book clubs are fun, but it can be really difficult to agree on a book that everyone wants to read, and then of course, to find the time to read the book. A couple months ago I had an idea to have a "Summer Reading List" party. Instead of having one specific book to read, get a bunch of friends together to discuss summer reading recommendations. Everyone make a list of books that they think others would enjoy. Bring food and spend an evening talking about favorite reads. Everyone goes home with their own new list.
My friend Jessica was nice enough to host our "Summer Reading List Party" at her gorgeous home. Everyone brought delicious food and their book recommendations. Jessica set up a "swap table" for any one who wanted to bring books to trade. (Four of the guests are weeks away from giving birth. I'm so glad in not pregnant.)
It was a great time and I have a list of 10 books I want to have done by September. Thanks ladies!
Book clubs are fun, but it can be really difficult to agree on a book that everyone wants to read, and then of course, to find the time to read the book. A couple months ago I had an idea to have a "Summer Reading List" party. Instead of having one specific book to read, get a bunch of friends together to discuss summer reading recommendations. Everyone make a list of books that they think others would enjoy. Bring food and spend an evening talking about favorite reads. Everyone goes home with their own new list.
My friend Jessica was nice enough to host our "Summer Reading List Party" at her gorgeous home. Everyone brought delicious food and their book recommendations. Jessica set up a "swap table" for any one who wanted to bring books to trade. (Four of the guests are weeks away from giving birth. I'm so glad in not pregnant.)
It was a great time and I have a list of 10 books I want to have done by September. Thanks ladies!
What books would you recommend for a summer reading list???
Update- I probably should have thought to do this earlier, but here are the books I recommended. Not necessarily my favorite books of all time, but books I really enjoyed reading - I did star (****) my very favorite reads in the list.
The Fountainhead Rand, Ayn (****)
The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club: True Tales from a Magnificent and Clumsy Life Notaro, Laurie
French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure
The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate Chapman, Gary
Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder - Wells (****)
Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder - Wells (****)
These are the books I am planning on reading this summer-
Right now I'm reading On Folly Beach. I'll review it next month. It hasn't been released yet... (ah the perks of blogging!) but you can pick it up on May 4th. Read it and we can discuss! It's great so far. I read for an hour and a half in the bath last night. With chocolate. Bliss.
18 PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY:
- Whatever Dee-Dee wants said...
- Fun idea! I want to see your new list :) I am always looking for a new book to read.
- APRIL 26, 2010 12:24 AM
- Brit said...
- I'd love to hear a few titles! I have a book club with some of my friends and we're always interested in what's out there that moms enjoy. Please post or e-mail me! :) blelmer22@yahoo.com
- APRIL 26, 2010 9:30 AM
- S Club Mama said...
- Water for Elephants Hunger Games triology (the 3rd book is due out in Sept.) Plan B Run Like a Mother Will you do a post with your recommendations?
- APRIL 26, 2010 11:56 AM
- Life With the Crazies said...
- The Help by Kathryn Sockett... I couldn't put it down, even though it is super long, I loved it!!!
- APRIL 26, 2010 1:16 PM
- Kytsmom said...
- French Women don't get Fat. I read it every summertime. It gets me excited for Farmer's Markets and having friends over for fresh food!
- APRIL 27, 2010 11:30 AM
- Natalie Jane said...
- LOVE that book! It was on my list of recommendations! Makes me want to bake a baguette....
- APRIL 27, 2010 12:10 PM
- Modern Crush said...
- I spy THE HOST!!! Ahh, I do love that book... happy reading! xo
- APRIL 27, 2010 4:23 PM
- Nickie said...
- I love reading in the bath....Sometimes if I am finishing a book I could be in the for hours. My daughter loves the Hunger Games. She keeps begging me to read it. I just might have to read it on vacation this year. Thanks for the list.
- APRIL 28, 2010 12:24 AM
- Stacy said...
- I'd definitely recommend The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, and Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster.
- APRIL 28, 2010 11:42 AM
- Nama said...
- Thanks for putting up this list! I love that you included a Laurie Nataro book...she's hilarious, and I love her books as fun, light reads that you can pick up randomly when you need a good laugh. :) Also, I love Ender's Game. Have you read Speaker for the Dead? I absolutely love that book, and you should totally read it!
- APRIL 28, 2010 12:04 PM
- sara said...
- I love LOVE this idea!!! Whenever I can get my act together and plan a party, that's the one for sure! It might be lame at this point, but The Time Traveler's Wife is on my top five books of all time list. Perfect read for any season, especially summer! Currently, I'm reading Let The Great World Spin by, Colum McCann. It's good so far.
- APRIL 28, 2010 1:46 PM
- Natalie Jane said...
- Nama - I've read the entire Ender's series several times. Have you read the one that came out a couple years ago? I thought it was just so so. The rest I LOVED!
- APRIL 28, 2010 1:56 PM
- Gilbert Family said...
- Please tell me that you plan on reading Catching Fire (second book to Hunger Games)! I love those books...so entertaining!
- APRIL 29, 2010 10:48 PM
- Natalie Jane said...
- LOVED Catching Fire! Can't wait for the next one!!!!
- APRIL 29, 2010 10:50 PM
- Nickie said...
- I just ordered the third Hunger Games. It comes out August 24th.
- APRIL 30, 2010 12:47 AM
- kanishk said...
- I am always looking for a new book to read. post free classified ads
- MAY 1, 2010 11:40 AM
- Heileson Family said...
- I am a huge reader. I read 8 books in April. I love to read. I have read most of your titles. A few were harder to get into than others. Oh I have so many I loved though. You should go to www.goodreads.com and set up an account and then all of your friends can see what you are reading and they are reading. You can make tons of comments on the books too. I love it because I can see what people are reading and then mark that I want to read the books as well. It is a nice way to find out about new books. Check it out. I love it and then when you sign up we can be reading friends too.
- MAY 2, 2010 1:53 AM
- Natalie Jane said...
- I'm on Goodreads and I will make sure to look you up!
- MAY 2, 2010 7:31 AM
Thursday, April 22, 2010
My Next Move Towards Becoming Green
I'm happy to report our family has made some good strides towards becoming green. We are now using cloth napkins almost exclusively along with reusable snack bags. I have curbed my driving so that instead of filling up my gas tank every 3 weeks, it is every 5 weeks. We finally have recycling pick up offered in our area and that has cut our trash in half. I love to give Lydia cereal boxes to jump on to crush and then walk her out to the recycle bin. I recently found out that you use 8 times as much water to wash dishes by hand as in the dishwasher, so that was a freebee. I hate washing dishes by hand.
My next move it to get rid of the plastic store sacks. Did you know that the average American family consumes over 2,500 plastic sacks a year! Yikes! That can't be good. My goal is to stock up on those $1 grocery totes and actually take them with me to the store. Along with that, I want a really stylish tote to always have with me when I am running errands. I'm loving the "Bag Envy" tote from Green Eyed Monster. Stylish, practical and gets the point across. Also, the simple "live enviably" tote is on sale for $10!! I saw on Twitter and facebook that you can win a Bag Envy tote for yourself. I know, leave it to me to see Earth Day as a reason to go purse shopping. But hey, it's for the planet!
What are you doing to go more green?
Monday, April 19, 2010
Yellow Springtime
It is a gorgeous Monday morning here in Tennessee. A day to get out and play!
85 Degrees in April? Guess it's time to pull out the pillowcase dresses and spend some serious time in the backyard.
While Lydia was swinging, she looked towards the sun and closed her eyes. She yelled "everything looks yellow!" I remember that childhood sensation perfectly.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Springtime Lovelies
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