Books, books, books.

I love reading. I think to read in front of your children is doing them such an amazing service by installing a love of books in them as well. From the time Andrew was a little baby and ask through his early childhood, I read to him each and every night. Now he adores getting lost in a good book as well, reading way past his age level. That makes a mom so darn proud. :)

I adore the library as well. We make it a habit to go to the library at least once a week. Andrew loves being able to go pick out a few books and movies, and so do I. It is comforting to know that you can read anything there and take it right back if you aren't clicking with the story line, no harm done and no money spent on a book you'll never finish! :)

However, my reading has sure taken a dip in the past few months and I have been ignoring one of my favorite pastimes. I need a new book to read though! And that means I need a little help from you all!

 

What have you been reading lately? What book can you not put down? Here is a little hint about what I like to read...

I love teen fiction books. Twilight and Harry Potter top that list. The Hunger Games series was fantastic as well. I have read Divergent and Insurgent and loved both. What else can I move into? I'll take any recommendations from you all. :) I am open to reading something different as well, maybe something that doesn't normally fit the regular teen fiction mold. ;)

Ok, recommendations....GO!!! Ill be sharing my latest book finds with you soon as well. :)
Thanks friends, and xo.

  

  

check this out! - "organic and chic"

If you've happened to peruse the books at Anthropologie lately, you might have stumbled upon this book already. I always love to pour over the beautiful books that are scattered around that favorite shop of mine. However, nothing so far compares to

Organic and Chic

by Sarah Magid

I mean, it might be one of the most beautiful baking books I've ever come across.

Gorgeous.

The cakes are gorgeous, the photography is gorgeous, the author's kids are gorgeous for goodness sake! I am seriously in love with this book. SO in love.

Sarah Magis is an all-organic baker, and she makes this seem so darn easy. With an introduction that is to the point, but still extremely informative, she makes eating organic seem understandable and manageable.

I mean, who doesn't want to bake a cake like this? And she tells you exactly how to do it! Flowers and all, eek! :)

{Not to say mine would turn out like this one, but it's worth a shot, right}

Pop over to your local library and check this one out.

You will want to bake everything in it.

OK, or you can just drool over the pictures. :)

xo!

PS.

Andrew is in his very first school program today!

His teacher chose him to greet the audience and I couldn't be more proud!!

Pictures will follow soon, I promise!

check this out! - let's play baddies!

Andrew and I are library junkies.

We get everything there.

The library is just such an amazing resource! I know I've said it before, but I will repeat myself again: If you haven't discovered the joys of the library (checking out endless books, movies, cds, etc, etc, etc!) you are so missing out.

OK, I'll hop off my "use your local library resource" soapbox and move on. :)

You and your kids are going to crack up at this one.

Poochie-Poo by Helen Stephens

is the cutest and silliest little children's story.

About two little puppies (one nice, one not-so-nice!), they decide that they don't want to "play nicely" but instead they want to "play baddies."

"Baddies don't eat doggy biscuits,"

said Butch.

"They eat table legs!"

{insert hysterical laughter from Andrew here}

EEEK! I can't stand it. This book is SO cute and funny. Check it out from your local library to save a few bucks and enjoy a good book together with your family, xo!

check these out - two valentine faves!

Valentine's Day might be my favorite holiday. Nothing extreme, yet it's about showing people that you care. I love that. So here are Andrew & my absolute favorite books for Valentine's! You can check them both out from the library... don't have a library card?? Screw your head back on and go get one!!! :)

Free books?

Unlimited choices??

Your kids excited to read???

Need I say more?!! :)

Go check these two books out and enjoy the weeks before this simple, yet fabulous holiday!

The Best Thing About Valentines

by Eleanor Hudson

The Day It Rained Hearts

by Felicia Bond

Happy Valentine's reading, xo!

PS.

The Valentine Kid's Swap will close TONIGHT... if you haven't signed up already, please email me today to be included. Partners will be emailed by tomorrow night!

check these out!

We utilize our library to the fullest extent. I am such an advocate of getting whatever I can there... children's books, my books, movies, TV shows on DVD, anything! It also helps that we live down the street from our beautiful local library, it is on the neighboring block next to Andrew's elementary school, and it is such a happy place for us! We go to Barnes and Noble frequently and browse the books, and when Andrew sees something he wants to read, he runs up and tells me.. "Mommy, write this book down so we can get it at the library!" Do you know how proud I am of that little boy???? And I do the same thing... that way, if I am not into a book a few chapters in, I have no qualms about not finishing.. I didn't spend money on the book and I just drop it back off at the library! SO rewarding. I know a lot of you already are huge library go-ers, but I encourage ALL of you to visit the library yourself, and with your kids. It is an amazing resource that we all have available to us!

Now onto my favorite books to read with Andrew at the moment... all found by browsing the children's shelves at the library, yay! :)

The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg

If you and your children haven't found this book yet, you are seriously missing out. It is amazing. I grabbed it last minute when we were leaving the library a few days ago because the cover looked so cute. (We are big on cute illustrations here at our house haha!) I cannot say enough about this book... it has humor, gorgeous illustrations, is such a sweet story, and it really transcends modern time. It seems like a book that was written long ago, it seems so very intelligent, and instantly has become one of my favorite children's book of all time! A must check out for you all!!

Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! by Mo Willems

I seriously hope you all know about Mo Willems, the funniest children's writer there is. And if you haven't, you will be in for such a treat when you finally read the pigeon books!!! Andrew and I read these all the time, and each time we read through one of them, no matter how many times we've read it and even though Andrew has memorized the stories, we crack ourselves up... I mean, the can't-even-speak-we-are-laughing-so-hard kind of laughing. We love Mo. Can't get enough of that silly pigeon! :) These books are good for all ages as well... easy for the little ones to understand and perfect for kids around Andrew's age to learn to read themselves. And it doesn't hurt that the pigeon is super cute. There is even a stuffed animal version of Pigeon available at Barnes and Noble who now reads the books with us! :) (I was thinking about making a t-shirt for Andrew with the pigeon face on it... think he would like it?!)

House for a Mouse by Jean-Come Nogues
This is one of our recent finds. Andrew liked the title of the book, so of course we checked it out. It seemed like one Andrew wouldn't be hugely into, but no! This sweet book has the prettiest illustrations and Andrew fell in love with this sweet little mouse girl who is looking for a new house. And let me tell you, I want to move right into her house as well! Andrew even drafted my sister the artist to draw him a copy of her house... it is hanging on his wall now haha!! You will love this darling story, believe me! :)


Penguin by Polly Dunbar
Another hilarious one, let me tell you! The funny and simplistic illustrations make this book so fun. A boy receives a present and inside is a... penguin! But the problem with the penguin is that he doesn't ever speak, so of course, the little boy gets extremely frustrated. :) It had Andrew rolling on the floor laughing, which is always indicative of a fabulous story!


Now that I have shared my favorites of the moment, what are yours?? What should Andrew and I check out at the library? Off to do some cleaning before Andrew gets home, (he is definitely feeling better today after a restful day spent yesterday!) and then we are off to the library again... of course! :) xo!