2013 Reading List

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Welcome to my reading list for 2013! I'm terrible at remembering to do reviews in part because I read really fast. I set a goal for myself to read 40 books this year and I'm on track to possibly go even higher. I'd love to know if you've read any of these titles and how you liked the book.

In mostly chronological order:

January
At Home With the Templetons - Monica McInerney
The Shoemaker's Wife - Adriana Trigiani
The Last Time I Saw You - Elizabeth Berg

February
Divergent - Veronica Roth
The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott - Kelly O'Connor McNees
Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor
The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton

March
A Grown Up Kind of Pretty - Joshilyn Jackson
Days of Blood and Starlight - Laini Taylor 
When in Doubt Add Butter - Beth Harbison

April
Patty Jane's House of Curl - Lorna Landvik
Nearlyweds - Beth Kendrick
Sarah's Key - Tatiana de Rosnay
The View From Mount Joy - Lorna Landvik

May
The Panther - Nelson DeMille
The Lion - Nelson DeMille
Tall Pine Polka - Lorna Landvik

June 
Notorious Nineteen - Janet Evanovich 

July 
Tapestry of Fortunes - Elizabeth Berg
Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
Sisterland - Curtis Sittenfeld
Dead Ever After - Charlaine Harris 
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs

August
The Weird Sisters - Eleanor Brown
The Engagements - Courtney J Sullivan

September
Reached - Ally Condie
The Fault in Our Stars - John Green
The Tao of Martha - Jen Lancaster 
Where We Belong - Emily Giffin 

October 
Life After Life - Jill McCorkle
Let's Pretend This Never Happened - Jenny Lawson

November 
Wedding Night - Sophie Kinsella 
One Mississippi - Mark Childress

Disney California Adventure at Night: Wordless Wednesday

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

December 2012

Bedroom Makeover Project: Detroit Red Wings

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Over the summer we decided it was time to upgrade Tyler's bedroom decor from the Star Wars theme we gave it when he was five. When we asked what he wanted the new theme to be, we weren't at all surprised when it involved hockey. The Detroit Red Wings to be exact.

Our first step was to decide how much red we wanted in the room. I had the idea to do one whole wall as an accent but Phil and Tyler wanted more color. We compromised with white above and red down low where it will (hopefully) hide any scuff marks.



We went to Home Depot and used the Glidden Sports Team paint guide as inspiration. We painted the whole room white to hide the color underneath. Then we laid out the stripes and painted the red. Both paints are semi-gloss with primer.


Detroit Redwings hockey bedroom makeover ideas

We had a hard time with the striping. We tried blue painter's tape and the green Frog tape. The stripes still bled in a few spots and we had to do some manual touch ups but overall we think the paint turned out really well.

Next, we decided on the decor. That is still a work in progress, but we have put up several things that are making the room come together.
Phil made this picture frame. He used some of our old and broken street hockey sticks and a pane of glass from Michaels. The jersey is from the first team Tyler played hockey for and we included the team photo and Tyler's player card.



I bought the red sheets and pillowcase at Walmart for $14. The black backrest pillow is from Bed, Bath and Beyond ($25 before coupon). Tyler chose it because it reminded him of a hockey puck. The Red Wings comforter, pillow sham and Red Wings fleece blanket were recent birthday gifts from Tyler's grandparents.

The hanging light above the bed is from Ikea. We bought the shade, bulb and cord separately and paid about $20 for all the components. Tyler bought the Stanley Pillow Pet during a trip to Michigan. So far, the paint and supplies were the biggest expense.

We still have spaces we'd like to fill in. I want to get a valance for the window and maybe a trash can or rug, Tyler wants the Red Wings logo on the wall above his dresser and we want to figure out a way to make a headboard with hockey sticks or netting.


Detroit Redwings hockey bedroom makeover

Tyler absolutely loves his room! He shows it off to everyone and makes a bit more an an effort to keep it clean than he did before. The old Melanie might have put up a fight at the idea of painting a room red or going for broke with a theme, but since I decided years ago to be more of a 'yes mom,' I knew I had to go along with this. Paint is easy to change and Tyler's happiness is worth the multiple coats we'll have to use when it comes time to make a change. At least, it is now. Ask me again when we're re-painting.


Have you redecorated using a theme your kids chose? 
How did you keep the project budget friendly?

*Not a sponsored post. Amazon affiliate links used.

Happy Veterans Day

Monday, November 12, 2012

Last night, Tyler wrote the note below and gave it to Phil to pass along to his boss:

Dear Dennis
I am writing about the situation of Veteran's Day because my dad is in the Navy and is a veteran and does not have the day off. If you could please change that it would be very appreciated.

Thank you,
A Random Person


Thank you to all our men and women in uniform; those who have served us in the past and those serving now. Thank you to your friends and family for being your support system. Your service and sacrifice mean so much.

Happy Veterans Day!
 
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