Things that make me think or simply smile

Simply stunning

Just a glimpse into the stunning magazine Kinfolk.

Being the lover of magazines that I am, I can't begin to share my excitement over the discovery of Kinfolk. This magazine is a feast for the eyes, the writings are beautiful. There is a simplicity in the pages that I find pause in, a welcoming to the celebration of food, friends and those moments in our lives that make up a greater whole.

My early mornings while the kids and hubby are still asleep have been spent with a steaming mug of coffee and the slow reading of the essays within the pages of Kinfolk. I find myself returning to certain sentences over and over again, such peace and joy in the words I read.

It's all about connection. Whether it's around a full table or enjoyed as a solitary experience, we are all connected as we nourish our bodies, savoring the pleasures of a good meal. 

Celebrating and cherishing the small things in life.

Simply stunning!

Storytime

Animal Antics A-Z by Barbara DeRubertis. A much loved series here at our house. We are on our second round of reading these, they are enjoyed that much. There is just so much goodness in each of these books, the darling illustrations with characters you just want to reach into the book and give a big hug to. They are also quite funny. Each book features one animal from Alpha Betty's class, ranging from a dog to a nandu. One of the many things I enjoy about this series is the gentle lesson each book holds within the pages. Friendship, creativity, bravery, having a nervous noggin, many  topics covered in way that kids really connect to. The back page of the book presents the reader with a few facts about the animal (I've learned some things) along with phonics practice.  I often wonder if I don't love these books more than the kids do, I don't think so but I wouldn't be surprised, they are a pure delight to read for both child and adult.

I hope you find these books as much fun as we do (the picture of my sweet peanut is pretty darn funny too, those eyes look huge!).

Happy reading.

February reads

What a great month of reading February was for me. I haven't read this many books in a month since before my little ones were born! Do you know how good it feels to look at this stack of books and know I've read and enjoyed every single one of them? Pretty darn good, I have to say!!

My very favorite book was A Discovery of Witches. Oh my, I loved this book. I'm such a sucker for books that involve the character spending a great deal of time in a library, a good romance (not the tacky kind), history (even if it's mostly fictional) and, of course, a hunky guy who just happens to be a vampire (hunkier and more suave than Edward....hello!!). I'm even happier that this is a trilogy with the second book out this Summer....yay!! I highly recommend this book, you'll be hooked.

Of course, I loved The Hunger Games. Oh my goodness, I was sucked in for a week (read all 3 in a week), returning to life after I finished the series. I'm so happy I didn't read these until they were all out, it would have driven me mad to wait for each new book to be released (no patience in this department). Dreams about the strategy of the games filled my nights, too funny! I can't wait for the movie to come out this month.

Now...on to the month of March and more good books.

What are you reading? I always love book suggestions!

Happy Friday.

Perfect

One afternoon.
A new book.
My favorite drink.
Perfect.

Quiet little corner

As I go about the final preparations for the Christmas weekend, I find my mind wandering to this quiet little corner , a bookstore that is one of my favorites. Right now, I'd love to have a few hours just sitting and reading. Of course, that's not going to happen, but a girl can dream, right? I like to call it my quiet little corner because it's located on a sort of corner and it's a quiet, peaceful place.

One can just imagine the great conversations that take place here. Let's sit and talk about Proust, Homer, the great works of Shakespeare, or the most influential book in my life has been....because...
Oh, yes, great ideas are shared in this quaint little bookstore. I'd love to be a part of those conversations.

I hope this last official day of planning and preparing leaves you with just a little room to let your mind wander to that quiet little corner in your life.

 

My Ten Minutes

There is nothing that delights me more than to come across words of wisdom when I need them most. Today was one of those days.  Reading the beautiful words of Soulemama today brought such peace and happiness to my soul. So much so that I ventured outside to take my own 10 minutes. It was lovely, it recharged me. I was firmly planted in the present moment, the place I like most to be. The place I yearn to always be yet am not always that successful in residing. I make the effort, that's the most important thing.

Being present as a mother is a priority for me, it's the ideal I strive for. When those moments arise that I feel less than present it is very real to me, I feel out of balance. I'm grateful for the awareness of what is missing and the understanding of what I need to do to get back to being present. When Zach was just a wee one, I bought Everyday Blessings, The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting
by Myla and John Kabat-Zinn. This is my guidebook to mothering my children, it's been read so many times. Each time I pick it up, I learn something new. I cherish this amazing book that helps me to be present with my children. I've read countless parenting related books and this is the only one that has a permanent place on my nightstand, it's a treasure.

I'm thankful for the inspiration of Soulemama and also for the guidance of Everyday Blessings that I needed today as I ventured outside for my 10 minute mama break. It was a good day.

Perfect

Quiet afternoon
Snow falling
Sting and Norah Jones on the stereo
Warm beverage in my hands
Fire warming my toes
One of my most favorite books opened

Perfect.

 

 

 

Book Love: Day 5

"My father put his hands on his knees and sighed..He knows what reading is.
How it takes you."

- The Thirteenth Tale 

Wishing you a lovely weekend.

Book Love: Day 4

   "Libraries are reservoirs of strength, grace, and wit, reminders of order, calm and continuity, lakes of mental energy, neither warm nor cold, light nor dark. The pleasure that they give is steady, reliable, deep, and long. In any library in the world, I am at home, unselfconscious, still and absorbed. " - Germaine Greer

Book Love : Day 2

" There is no end to his journey of the mind and of the soul, and a lot of that is in his reading. And there's no end to his growth, his evolving, nor his love of life, and love of the language."
-Nicholas Basbanes