Slinky-It!

As previously shared, I am a big fan of Post-It's. Given that fact, it would be ridiculous of me to not share this wonderful video! It combines my love of moving Slinky's back and forth and Post-It's! What's not to love?

Hesitate

I've started and stopped a new post a half dozen times over the past couple weeks. I seem to have many things on my mind recently but I haven't thought through most of them enough to compile a coherent post. My guess is that I'll end up creating two or three posts within a matter of a day and a half. However, today is not that day so you'll just have to be patient.

The In-Betweens

As the first snow falls outside my tiny windows, I am reminded of my favorite season. It's not fall or winter. It's not even the ever popular season summer. My favorite season is the in-betweens.

My favorite season is the time between the seasons. When fall is just about here and the air acquires a certain crispness. When spring is just on the horizon and you begin to glimpse sprigs of green grass peaking through the snow. The times during the year when you feel like the weather is just about to turn a corner-those times are my favorite.

I'm not sure if it's anticipation of something new or the milder version of the season that is to come that appeals to me. But every year, when I see those first snowflakes fall, I take a deep breath and savour the in-between.

Story Hour

There are many reasons I love children's books. They take me back to a time where going to the library was so exciting(You mean we can just TAKE these books home?). When people read to me-my parents, my teachers, any one. I remember loving being read to. It was so relaxing and I can still see myself braiding my friends hair as we sat and listening to our teacher read us a story.

I've been working at Chapters for a little over a month now and my love for children's books has been renewed. I work mostly in the Children's Department(the department almost every other employee hates) and I am loving it. It's the most colorful part of the store, I can hear children of all ages exclaiming over books and, perhaps my favorite part, I get to talk to kids about the books I love. Over the past weeks, I have discovered some fantastic books that I am coming to love and some that I have loved for a while now.

I thought it'd be nice to share some of my favorites and maybe hear from you as to what your favorite childhood books are, either for you or, if you have them, your own kids.

1. Lost and Found-Oliver Jeffers

Oliver Jeffers is a favorite author of mine and this is the first book of his that I fell in love with. It's a lovely story of friendship and the illustrations are as beautiful as they are charming. Jeffers is the author of The Way Back Home, How To Catch a Star, The Incredible Book Eating Boy and most recently The Great Paper Caper.

2. The OK Book-Amy Krouse Rosenthal

This is the first book of two from Rosenthal that made my list. This book encourages kids that it's okay not to be the best at everything. The little stick boy shares about all the things that he tries that he's just "ok" at(sharing, drawing, somersaults, etc.) and how he knows that one day he'll be great at something! Now that I write it out it kind of sounds like the kid has low self esteem, but I assure you, it's not like that. It's quickly becoming a favorite!

3. Arnie The Doughnut-Laurie Keller

This is one of those books that both kids and adults find funny. Arnie has lived at the bakery with the belief that when people buy a doughnut they are, essentially, adopting that doughnut. So, understandably, he is thrilled when a gentleman purchases him and takes him home. He is horrified when he finds out the man's true intentions! This book made me laugh more than twice!

4. Little Oink-Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Little Oink is the third in a collection of three books that I love! Little Pea and Little Hoot are its predecessors. All three focus on a little animal (or veggie) that are not typical. Little Pea has to eat his candy so he can get spinach for dessert, Little Hoot's parents have to convince him to stay up really late when all he wants to do is go to bed at a reasonable hour and Little Oink just wants to tidy up. They are the cutest little books that come in hardcover and in a pack of board books!

A Sporting Good Time

When I come upon a group of people talking about sports I have a quick conversation with myself. It usually goes a little something like "...*sigh*...okay, well I have nothing to contribute to this conversation so I'll just be on my way." or sometimes "Can they not talk about anything else?" but even still there's something very appealing about it to me. A group of people, who may not have much else in common, come together around this team of people, around a sport that they love and support it whole heartedly!

I usually enjoy sports the most when I'm with at least one other person who really loves that sport. One Sunday afternoon I watched Phil Mickelson win the Masters with my brother in-law who loves golf! It was such a great afternoon and it's days like that that make me want to really get into a sport.

Now I've tried to commit to following a sport enough to actually have a conversation with someone. I thought "Ya know, I'd like to have an opinion on whether I think that player or team has a chance of going all the way....maybe I should educate myself!" But inevitably something gets in the way. Usually, that something is time. Following a sport takes such a time commitment and I'm just not sure I want it that bad.

M.I.A.

Early yesterday morning, I set aside what I was planning on wearing that day-jeans with two layered tank tops. I pulled on the jeans and one of the tank tops, leaving the other one for later(don't ask me why I didn't just put the other one on right away, I can't explain it). I go on with my day. Send a couple e-mails, work on my puzzle, check a couple things off my To-Do List and, generally, enjoy my morning.

Sometime in the early afternoon, I think to myself, "I should put on that other shirt now." I go into my room to retrieve said shirt and come out empty handed. The shirt has vacated the spot I assumed it was in. I try to recall where I put the shirt down, but to no avail. Now, this is not an unusual event in my household. I misplace a variety of things at a variety of times for a variety of reasons. Sometimes I get distracted by something else(the phone rings, I discover something that needs to be put away, I realize the dishes have been soaking a bit too long and if I don't do them now the water will soon be that disgusting tepid temperature you never want). Sometimes I put something down in an odd place with the thought that the obscurity of the location will help me remember where I put it(ie. Where's my brush? Oh right! I put it in the flour canister-that was weird!). But usually, I just end up racking my brain trying to think of the obscure location. So on this Wednesday afternoon, the missing tank top was not an extraordinary event. I'd find it eventually...right?

After searching half-heartedly for a time, I gave up, thinking I would find it sooner or later. However, the fact that my place isn't that big and I still hadn't found it started it eat at me so I resumed my search. This time, I methodically made my way through each room in my small basement suite: the living room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. Even after looking in strange places that I would never have thought to put it(the freezer), I came up empty. I've looked in every reasonable and unreasonable nook and cranny in my place. The shirt is lost. Gone. A victim of my forgetfulness.

This forgetfulness has plagued me my entire life. It was rare that I wouldn't unintentionally leave something behind after a sleepover. Even in my college years, I would often leave possessions behind after visiting with my friend's family's during the holidays. This affliction has a couple possible explanations.

1. I have so many important things going on in my life that I can't be bothered by menial facts like where my shampoo is. I would like to think this one is true but I know how much time I spend on useless tasks such as searching the internet for a song I heard on some random commercial. Unfortunately, I can't claim this one as truth.
2. It's been suggested by my mother that I have a iron deficiency. I may have actually believed this one had this problem not been lifelong. It's not like I go through periods of forgetfulness. This is not a phase, this is my life.
3. Subconsciously, I want to forget things. Maybe I think that it's a conversation starter? "Hey, how ya doin'? Have you seen my glasses?" I must not trust my conversational skills. This one casts me in a slightly pathetic light, so let's just dismiss this one.

I don't know the reason for my forgetfulness. But I vow, for the sake of the my lonely tank top, wherever it is, that I will not stop looking until it has been returned to it's rightful place on the top of my dresser.



**I should say that the brush-in-the-flour-canister was merely an example. I have never, nor would I ever, put my brush in my flour canister. So if you've ever eaten one of my cookies, put your mind at ease.

What Is Life Without...

...cookies! I don't know what it is about baking cookies that I find so cathartic. I put my music on, get my recipes out and fill my house with the delicious smell of baked goods. I had a baking day today. With a bit of help from my friend, I baked chocolate chip cookies. I made peanut blossoms next, and I'll cap off my day with some banana chip bread. So delicious!