A to Z Reflection

Been meaning to write this one all week...time to look back at April and see how I did.  Not as well as I had envisioned.  It was great to go and see people's blogs with my students--but I wish I had been able to comment as me. That was the biggest involvement with A to Z that I had--was with my students.  And honestly I probably shouldn't cut myself short with that. It was A LOT of work.  I ended up writing a few of the blog posts with student writings pushed together, and just full out writing one myself.  And then I had to hound students for FOREVER to get their posts.  Sometimes not getting them until the day the letter went up.

I had envisioned A to Z having everything scheduled and being able to go visit on this blog. But March got away from me and it took me FOREVER to come up with a theme. I really wanted to do a theme this year--and I did pretty well until the end of the alphabet.  I had pretty much caught up on everything by the time we got to like U. So the end of my alphabet wasn't great.

I have also gotten out of the habit of publicizing this thing. I have gotten so lazy with it after #365...I felt like everyone was done seeing me constantly post this on Facebook or Twitter.  But seriously--if you want the views you have to do it! That is one thing that I learned with this year's A to Z.

Goals for next time are to try again with scheduling and writing ahead of time.  At least having each letter planned so that I'm not doing the...ugh what do I write about today that starts with......

Those of you that have stuck around as Inspirefly spits and starts thank you---and hopefully see you soon with more posts :) And I hope to come around and see new people as I hop on the Road Trip!

Yay!!!

Bout of Books 9.0 Goals

I am so excited to be involved in the Bout of Books adventure again.  This is my third adventure--and I feel a lot more prepared for this one that I have for a long time.  I also had the great opportunity to join in with the Twitter chat today--I love how it worked out with lunch today.  I was really invigorating to feel that camaraderie through the computer screen!!

I need to make known what my goals are for this Bout of Books adventure:

1. Read everyday...not just listen to my audiobooks in the car or around the house...but actually read!

2. Participate in the Twitter chats for the first time

3. I really want to finish reading a book-which I haven't done on a Bout of Books

4. I will specifically focus on reading: Fablehaven 3 (audio), Allegiant (print), Plague Legacy: Acquisitions (Kindle), and Book of Mormon (audio and Kindle)

I will also be hopping in on the challenges each day--these are usually great fun.  And with the last read-a-thon I did with giveaway challenges I won two free books!! I felt pretty darn lucky and special :)

So the first challenge that I'm going to get to is the Mad Libs Challenge.  This was pretty fun last time. So here is the list:

character name – Tris from Divergent series by Veronica Roth
adjective1 – Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
adjective2 – Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
item – The Pelican Brief by John Grisham (wow...I haven't read this in awhile!)
occupation – The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger 
act of violence – To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
adjective3 – Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (which is high up in the TBR pile)
noun1 –Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
noun2 – Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This girl Tris ends up in the middle of a safe conspiracy. Turns out her ancestors were pirates, and she might be the key to finding the little brief. It’s a mythic artifact that disappeared centuries ago, and now a shadowy group of travelers are looking for it. No one knows what uncovering it might do, but these guys are willing to kill for it.

I won’t say anything else. But believe me, if you like thirteen stories with pride and prejudice, you have to read this one.

Ooh this didn't turn out too bad...a little funny and fitting at the same time!

The next challenge is a shopping list based on a $100 shopping spree--this is what I would buy!

This was actually kind of fun!!  Though I quickly figured out why I don't buy new books quickly :)

Thanks http://cheapthrillsbookblog.wordpress.com and http://www.bookishcomforts.com for the fun!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? August 12th Edition

So I thought I would link up with Sheila today and tell you about what I have been reading.  Last time I linked up, I told you about the books that I was reading--and sad to say that really hasn't changed much.  I finished Safe Haven (look here for my review).  But I am still kind of reading To Kill a Mockingbird and Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society along with The DaVinci Code but I got that one on audio because sometimes that helps me to actually get a book done.  If I can read and accomplish something at the same time--like driving or unpacking--then I am very likely to actually finish it.

I have also added Pride and Prejudice which I am reading as apart of Austen in August with Roofbeam Reader but I haven't gotten very far yet. It is my read until fall asleep book---which sometimes doesn't take me very long. Next week is Bout of Books...and I look forward to hopefully setting realistic goals for that week--especially since I will be spending it with family :)

I also have added way too many books to my collection in the last few days.  Saturday I up and bought a book at Wal-mart--which I didn't think I would do.  But I got A Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling--which might be my on-the-plane-non-digital-book.  And then we had a yard sale at work with the old/duplicate books from the library and gained all of the Twilight books (yes I like cheap little things to read sometimes), Whatever Happened to Goodbye (Sarah Dessen is AWESOME!), Speak (Laurie Halse Anderson), and Crime and Punishment....so like 6 books for $5.  Makes me happy! :)

Reflection on Resolutions

So today I have an interesting train of thought as I have been looking at different things on the Internet. I have become very aware of how quickly life has gone this year.  At the beginning of the year, I had a lot of great plans for the year.  The only plan that I have stuck with is this one, which shocks me.  Honestly, some of them are a little bit more important (like renewing my license which I totally am procrastinating!!). Some of them are probably a bit more productive....like I had lots of readings planned for myself--both academically, enjoyment wise, and spiritually.  I haven't even come close to doing what I had planned with that. This became apparent when I signed up for RoofBeam Reader's Austen in August.  UGH! It is almost August. I had planned to read all of the completed Austen novels this year (well at least the seven in my complete works book) and I have only read one!

But on the positive side...August will bring a great trip home to see my baby brother come home! I am so excited.  Hopefully by then I will feel like I have accomplished something...if nothing else I will be reading a little bit of Jane Austen! I hope to finish Pride and Prejudice (for the umpeth time) and Mansfield Park. Feel free to sign up too here.