Book Smiles!!

I've got lots of Book Smiles today! I've got a post up again, so that is two times in one week!!! And more importantly, I'm out of my reading rut!!

Read my post from yesterday about the books that dragged me out of my reading rut. Once I finished with all of those I started on three picture books. All three of the picture books were sent to me by Penguin Young Readers. 

The first picture book I read was Dewey Bob by Judy Schachner. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. I love this book! The story is so sweet and the illustrations are beautiful!! I read the story and then had to go back and start at the beginning to just take in the illustrations. This is not one that you want to pass up. I can't wait to share this book with my kids!

The next picture book was The Greatest Game Ever Played by Phil Bildner. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. This book is all about the 1958 NFL Championship Game between the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts. I am a huge football, so this book totally appealed to me. I love how the story of the boy and his dad was intertwined with the story of the New York Giants baseball team leaving New York. The illustrations by Zachary Pullen added so much to the flow of the story. The expressions on the crowds faces made me feel all the excitement that those who were actually attending the game must have felt. This one will soon be going in my football display.

The last picture book I read was An A From Miss Keller by Patricia Polacco. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. I should know better than to read a book having to do with teachers by Patricia Polacco without a tissue handy. I think my favorite books written by Patricia Polacco are when she writes about her teachers. I didn't think I could ever love a book as much as I loved Thank You, Mr. Falker, but I love this one just as much. With both of these stories I think back to my 4th Grade teacher, Mrs. Newton, who made such a difference if my life. She truly turned my views of school around and made me see that school didn't have to be a negative place. Even though I was the daughter of a teacher and principal, I had some very bad school experiences. Mrs. Newton changed my world and I wish that I could find her again to say thank you.

I also have started another chapter book, Chasing Secrets by Gennifer Choldenko. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. After reading the summary on the book flap, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. But by page 15 I was hooked! I'll post more once I finish it!

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

It's Monday!! What Are You Reading?

This meme was started by Sheila at Book Journey. The kid's version was started by Jen at Teach Mentor Text and Kellee at Unleashing Readers. 

I have really struggled with posting to my blogs. One reason is that school has started and I am beyond busy! I'm mentoring two new Media Specialists and unofficially mentoring another. I have a new assistant that I'm having to train as well. All of this has lead me to being in a HUGE reading rut. I have really struggled to even finish picture books. Usually when I'm in a reading rut I rely on my go to books (the Harry Potter series) to get me out of it. But this time I couldn't even focus on reading any of the series!! 

I think this weekend I have finally broken through my reading rut! I finished seven books! Only three of the seven were picture books. The weather here this weekend was rainy, windy, and just plan gray. It made me not want to do anything. So I picked up a chapter book that I had received from Penguin Young Readers, The Odds of Getting Even by Sheila Turnage. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. This is a Mo and Dale mystery. It is the third book in series that started with Three Times Lucky. In my opinion, this series keeps getting better with each book. I loved that Dale took on a bigger role in this book. He really came into is own. I hope that Sheila Turnage will continue with Mo, Dale, and all the others in Tupelo Landing for a few more books because I'm not ready to say good-bye to them yet!

Once I finished The Odds of Getting Even, I picked up another book from Penguin Young Readers. This time it was Harriet the Invincible by Ursula Vernon. She is the creator of the Dragonbreath series. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. This is such a great story because it is not your typical princess story. I love when books/stories take a bit of a left turn from where you think the story might go based on the cover. I can really identify with Harriet because I am not a girly girl either. I would not make a good princess at all! I can't wait to share this book with my kids.

I was on roll with having finished two books. I then moved on to nonfiction. It is no secret I am a huge fan of the Who Is, Who Was series. I was sent, from Penguin Young Readers, two of the newest in the Who Is series: Who Is Jeff Kinney (Click here for a summary on Goodreads) and Who Is Malala Yousafzai (Click here for a summary on Goodreads). I learned so much about both of these individuals. Both are very interesting people who have led very different lives. I now want to read I Am Malala Yousafzai to find out more about this very brave girl. I know that that the Jeff Kinney book is going to be a huge hit at the book fair in a few weeks. I just loved how Jeff Kinney's younger brother Patrick was the author for this biography.

With four books under my belt, I then moved on to three picture books and began another chapter book. I'll post about them tomorrow. My goal is to get back posting and being a presence on Twitter. I miss the friends that I've made there and I need to connect again. I've been feeling rather adrift and alone lately and I need to start making connections again.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libaryjo92)

Has It Really Been Five Months???

Looking back, I can't believe it has been five months since I last posted anything on this blog! I don't know where the time has gone! I got so overwhelmed at the end of last year and was too busy over the summer to post. I have a lot to post. I've been reading some, not as much as I would have hoped! My summer was fun filled and super busy and I can't believe that I'm back in school. Consider this post a huge update on my #nerdlution!

Since January, I have been really working on making some changes in my life. I've written about the quote that my principal posted on Facebook in January that really hit home and started me on my journey. The quote is: "I just woke up one day and decided I didn't want to feel like that anymore or ever again. So I changed." This quote put into words what I have been feeling for a while. When it was right in front of me, I couldn't ignore the feelings anymore. I had been gaining weight over the past few years and in January I was the heaviest I had ever been. I knew what I was eating and that I needed to change, but wasn't ready to make in until January.

Since January I have lost 57 pounds!!! I didn't do a program or special drinks or special food. I put my Fitbit and the Fitbit app to good use. I really focused on portion control by using the app to set about how many calories I should be eating. I used the app to journal all that I ate. I even tried my hardest to journal my mistakes. Having to keep a journal was the most important part for me. It helped hold me accountable and having it on my phone made it so easy for me. I had those "cheat" days when I didn't write down anything. But I made sure that I got right back on track the next day. I also made sure I was getting at least 10,000 or more steps in each day. Most days I stayed after school and walked for at least a half hour. This helped make sure that I hit my step goal.

You can really see the difference in the two pictures below. The first picture was taken in 2013 at the entrance to the Crystal Cave in California. I was still about 10 pounds from my heaviest in that picture. I'm on the left and my parents are on the right. The second picture was taken this summer in the Badlands. I really enjoyed my vacation this summer. I was able to complete the 3 mile round trip hike to Delicate Arch without a lot of trouble and I wouldn't have been able to do it as easily 50 pounds heavier.

I'm enjoying starting this year feeling healthy and happier. Now I just have to get back to Tweeting and Blogging again. I'll be posting some updates to my reading soon! Thanks if you have read this to the end!

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)