I received Someday
Reading: Someday
Author Archives: Mindy
Reading: Goodnight Nobody
I should have been reading any one of the many baby sleep books that are lining my shelves, but instead, I treated myself to Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner and I am so glad I did! I love when I come across just the right book for where I’m at in my life right now.
I know I would have liked this book even if I had read it when it first came out in 2005. But that was back before I had kids. Before I experienced walking onto a new playground and learning that some mommy circles feel like high school all over again. Before I schlepped through my neighborhood hanging reward posters when my little guy lost his special bear. Before I cried real tears of joy when I finally found that ratty old bear. Before I became the type of person, like the main character in the novel, that would hand over everything I own except my child’s lovey if I were mugged. Now that I am knee-deep in mommyhood and living in the suburbs, I appreciate the main character in Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner so much more than I would have before my own many readings of Goodnight Moon.
In addition to all the little mommy-isms I could relate to, I liked the plot and the humor. A quick run down of the book from the back cover: "When a fellow mother is murdered, Kate finds that the unsolved mystery is the most exciting thing to happen in Upchurch, Connecticut, since her neighbors broke ground for a guesthouse and cracked their septic tank. Even though the local police chief warns her that crime-fighting’s a job best left to the professionals, Kate launches an unofficial investigation — from 8:45 to 11:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, when her kids are in nursery school."
Now, let me add that I always worry just a little bit when I share that I loved a book. I get visions of folks I know reading it and then thinking I have really bad taste. But, I will say it again—I did love this read. I also like Weiner’s blog: http://jenniferweiner.blogspot.com/. I can’t wait to read her latest novel, Fly Away Home. But first I need to finish some of those books that promise to teach me how to get my kiddos to sleep.
Creating: A New Tradition
Our weekend was filled with fresh air, apple orchards and a drive in the country. We loaded my little guy’s wagon with two pecks of Royal Gala and MacIntosh apples that are destined to be slathered with peanut butter for our afternoon snacks, sprinkled with sugar for apple pies and diced up for apple puff pancakes. This was our second annual apple picking adventure, and I think it is destined to become a new tradition. Stay tuned for a few recipes as I use up these little red beauties.
Freelancing: A How-To Guide
There is a great guide to freelancing on the Writer’s Digest website—the type I would like to write for the blog if I could ever find the time! In the meantime, check out the WD article here if you’re interested in the freelance life.
Living: Bird Watching
Living: Preparing for Company
My mother-in-law, who is one of the most organized people I know, is coming for a visit tomorrow. That means I’m spending today getting the house all spiffed-up for company. The laundry is humming away, I’m digging out the fancy soaps and making my grocery list so we can pick up some of Grandma Betty’s favorites. Company is always a great excuse to tidy up and pick up a few little extras at the store.
My to-do list still has 763 things on it, so that means the long post I have already crafted in my head about our three-day trip to New York last week is going to have to wait a few more days before finding its way to the blog. In the meantime, I’ll give you this little shot of my family in Times Square as a preview of what’s to come.
Living: Simple Joys from the Weekend
-Reading bedtime stories with my little guy–who insisted on wearing his cowboy hat with his Mr. Incredible pajamas.
-Grilling outside.
-Watching my hubby’s grandma love on my baby girl.
-Having my little guy tell me he wants to marry his baby sister when he grows up.
-Buying groceries and having the checker tell me I was buying a lot of healthy food. I didn’t tell him we already had plenty of Oreos, cake and corn chips at home.
-Getting home from the grocery store, putting the veggies and fruit in the fridge and then eating two cherry turnovers.
-What were your simple joys this weekend?
A Favorite Quote
"When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I’ve never tried before." — Mae West
Living: Babies Don’t Keep
Lately my baby girl has decided that the only thing that will calm her is for me to hold her while I pace the floors in our house for hours on end. I have a sling, but she prefers my arms. I suppose I can’t blame her, but as I wander from room to room, I can’t help but notice all the things there are to do. There are books to be organized, toys to be sorted and things to be put away. As my feet wander, so does my mind. I start thinking of phone calls to make, e-mails to send and work to do. But today I read this little poem and I am going to remember it when I start thinking of everything on my to-do list:
Cleaning and scrubbing can wait for tomorrow,
For babies grow up, I’ve learned, to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs.
Dust, go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby, and babies don’t keep.
–Author Unknown
Freelancing: Now on Newsstands
I write for a lot of trade publications, so this article on new driver safety regulations that ran in June is a bit tech heavy. But, I wanted to post it for your reading pleasure! Click here to read What’s Your Safety Score: Software Helps Fleets Break Down CSA 2010 Data. It doesn’t matter how many articles I’ve written…I always love to see my byline.