May 2015 Wrap-up and Monthly TBR

Hop on over to Booksessed to participate.

May's TBR Pile (13/14):

1. Nonfiction: Witchcraze by Anne Barstow √
2. Fluffy romance: Seducing an Angel by Mary Balogh √
3. Book to Movie: Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz √
4. Book club selection: The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman √
5. Series pick: At Last Comes Love by Mary Balogh √
6. Random pick: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
7. Series Ender: A Secret Affair by Mary Balogh √
8. Added: Born Reading by Jason Boog √
9. Added: American Vampire Vol. 2 √
10. Added: American Vampire Vol. 3 √
11. Added: The Manhattan Projects Vol. 1 √
12. Added: Graceling by Kristin Cashore √
13. Added: Fire by Kristin Cashore √
14. Added: Geek Mom by Barroon, Ceceri, Lawson, Williams √

Picture Book Roundup:

1. One Naked Baby by Maggie Smith
2. Go, Shapes, Go by Denise Fleming
3. Captain Beastlie's Pirate Party by Lucy Coats
4. A Truck Goes Rattley-Bumpa by Jonathan London
5. Toys in Space by Mini Grey
6. Rapunzel by Trixie Belle
7. King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently
8. Belly Button Book by Sandra Boynton
9. Skippyjon Jones Color Crazy by Judy Schachner
10. Click, Clack, 1 2 3 by Doreen Cronin
11. We Go Together by Calef Brown
12. Joey and Jet by James Yang
13. The Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin
14. Tails Chasing Tails by Matthew Porter
15. We Go Together by Todd Dunn
16. City Signs by Zoran Milich
17. The Trucker by Barbara Samuels
18. The Robot Book by Heather Brown
19. Honk Honk Baa Baa by Petr Horacek
20. Cars Trucks and Planes by Gladys Rosa-Mendoza
21. Mouse's First Spring by Lauren Thompson
22. Trains Go by Steve Light
23. Trucks by Paula Hannigan
24. There was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed a Fish by Jennifer Ward
25. Hansel and Diesel by David Gordon
26. Ten Naughty Little Monkeys by Suzanne Williams
27. 100 Things That Make Me Happy by Amy Schwartz
28. Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy
29. LMNO Peas by Keith Baker
30. B is for Bulldozer by June Sobel
31. Slow Snail by Mary Murphy
32. The Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin by Sonali Fry
33. Trucks by Anne Rockwell
34. Pout Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
35. Tails Chasing Tails by Matthew Porter
36. Dig by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha

1,000,000 Page Goal

Monthly Total: 4383 pages
Pages Remaining: 795,211 pages

Current Read - Dead Wake by Erik Larson

Books Won (0)

Books I Gave Up On (0)

Challenges Completed (0)

Comments - Wow! Another awesome month of reading. The decision to read 60 minutes a day as one of my life goals really paid off. And I ended up enjoying most of my selections. I don't think I can sustain this pace through the summer, but I'm sure I'll still find time to read.

June's TBR Pile:

1. J's pick: The Martian by Andy Weir
2. Carry-over: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
3. Nonfiction: Bait and Switch by Barbara Ehrenreich
4. Classic: Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
5. Book club selection: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
6. Random pick: 666 Park Avenue by Gabriella Pierce
7. Debut Author Pick: The Night Circus by Erica Morgenstern
8. Library Book: Dead Wake by Erik Larson
9. Book Club Selection 2: TBD

101 in 1001 Update #4

What I did:

13. Pass 500 books for Arthur's 1000 Books Before Kindergarten (243/500) -- Read another 36 different books this month.

21. Make 10 non-greeting card crafts from my Pinterest boards (5/10) -- I made a chalkboard blogging calendar for the wall in my craft area. Hoping this will help me organize at least my craft blog.

25. Complete 10 Day in the Life posts (2/10) -- Just barely got this one in this quarter, but I did it!

26. Read 50 of my owned unread books (27/50) -- 13 more books read this month!

28. Read 100,000 pages toward 1,000,000 page goal (15,309/100,000) -- In April I read 4544 pages and in May I read 4383 pages. It was two amazing months of reading! Hoping to keep the momentum going through the summer.

34. Make 250 different greeting cards (39/250) -- I made 14 different designs this past month. That brings my total to 39.

45. Make 50 new recipes (16/50) -- I tried four new recipes this month.

• BBQ Beef Stuffed Potatoes -- Very yummy. Probably even better with sweet potatoes.
• BBQ Shrimp Scampi -- Not the best
• Egg Muffins -- Very easy and convenient. Need to try again with different ingredient combos.
• Stuffed Flank Steak -- I stuffed mine with sun dried tomatoes, feta, and spinach. Very yummy!

77. Cash in my piggy bank for something special and frivolous -- My piggy bank totaled $141 in change. I took that money, deposited it into my account, and went and bought some cute new shirts. Not a completely frivolous purchase, but I didn't really need the shirts.

86. Grow something from a seed -- We got some mini sunflower seeds at preschool a few weeks back. They've come up a bit... Still trying to not kill it.

Remaining goals and total:

Friends, Family, and Love 1.Send out homemade holiday cards in December 2x 2. Build a snowman 3. Complete 52 once a week photos of Arthur 4. Spend a day at the beach 5. Date nights x 20 6. Complete a Jar of Life 7. Host a tea party 8. Choose and document One Little Word 2015 and 2016 9. Write a personal manifesto 10. Take a picture of myself every first day of the month 11. Give 5 Just Because gifts 12. Give Arthur 25 pictures books in 25 days for December 2015 16. Take Arthur and twins to go see Santa

Crafting and Culture 17. Attend an opera or musical 18. Reread the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit 20. Finish one of my Perpetual Reading Challenges 22. Ask 20 friends to suggest one book, and read them all 23. Watch a meteor shower 24. Attend 5 concerts (1/5) 27. Tour a factory 29. Finish 2015 and 2016 Project Life book (family and Arthur) 30. Finish 2015 and 2016 December Daily 31. Catch up on the twins scrapbook albums 32. Watch 100  different TED Talks and do a short review/analysis on the blog (new series) 33. Watch/rewatch every Academy Awards Best Picture since the year I was born (1982) 1982: Gandhi 1983: Terms of Endearment 1984: Amadeus 1985: Out of Africa 1986: Platoon 1987: The Last Emperor 1988: Rain Man 1989: Driving Miss Daisy 1990: Dances with Wolves 1991: Silence of the Lambs 1992: Unforgiven 1993: Schindler's List 1994: Forrest Gump 1995: Braveheart 1996: The English Patient 1997: Titanic 1998: Shakespeare in Love 1999: American Beauty 2000: Gladiator 2001: A Beautiful Mind 2002: Chicago 2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 2004: Million Dollar Baby 2005: Crash 2006: The Departed 2007: No Country for Old Men 2008: Slumdog Millionaire 2009: The Hurt Locker 2010: The King's Speech 2011: The Artist 2012: Argo 2013: 12 Years a Slave 2014: TBD 2015: TBD 2016: TBD 35. See a drive-in movie 36. Listen to every song by The Beatles 37. Finish watching every Star Trek television episode and movie 38. Have a Pixar movie month 39. Complete The Artist's Way 40. Complete a year of no book buying 41. Learn Ruby on rails 42. Participate in 30 Days of Lists 2x (1/2) 43. Go to 5 tourist things in San Francisco

Food and Drink 44. Take a cooking class 46. Open a cookbook to a random page and make what ever is on it 47. Give up dining out for one month 48. Try Whole30 49. Make a pie on PI day 51. Make fresh pasta 52. Learn to make a good martini 53. Do a brewery tour 54. Try 25 new restaurants (6/25) 55. Try 5 new to me foods 56. No pop for a month

Health and Fitness 57. Lose 2 pants sizes 58. Walk a 5K 59. Get a massage 60. Take a yoga class 61. Get three pedicures (1/3) 62. Do a spa day 63. Meditate daily for a month 64. Complete a 30 miles in 30 days challenge 65. Get lasik 66. Get CPR certified again

Travel 67. Stay at a Bed and Breakfast 68. Go on a vacation with Josh 69. Visit the Redwoods (any park) 70. Travel to a new state

Philanthropic 71. Give a 100% tip 72. Donate something extra at each MVPA social x 10 (2/10) 73. Pay it forward at Starbucks/coffeeshop 74. Donate to a Kickstarter campaign I love

Financial 75. Two week money fast (starting with full gas tanks and a full pantry) 76. Open an Etsy shop

Miscellaneous 79. Get Arthur's tattoo 80. Get a passport 81. Get rid of 100 things 82. Learn how to use our DSLR 83. Take one free online class 84. Make a chalk mural on the driveway/porch 85. Finish a Soduku puzzle 87. Complete a coloring book 89. Take an IQ test 90. Play Bingo in a bingo hall 91. Go horseback riding or hiking 92. Participate in 30 Day Wardrobe Challenge 93. Unplug completely for 24 hours 95. Go to a convention (blogging, SU, etc) 96. Dye my hair purple 97.Revamp my wardrobe 98. Take real photos of me for my blogs 99. Post a vlog 100. Go apple/berry/etc picking

FF #19: Tiana Then and Now

I went with a formal look for Tiana. I love the green of her dress but decided to go with one a bit brighter. The real showpiece is her shoes. Check out those awesome peacock heels! For the accessories, I went with some basic geometric designs, but pieces that had a bit of bling.

Maticevski neon green dress

$4,550 - avenue32.com

Bordello green platform pumps

shoebuy.com

Edie Parker box clutch

$1,190 - avenue32.com

Judith leiber jewelry

tradesy.com

Kasturjewels hexagon jewelry

$150 - boticca.com

New Project: Capsule Wardrobe

I see so many bloggers do seasonal capsule wardrobes and I have envied their style and organization. Looking at my closet, I am lost in a sea of random clothing pieces. At this point in my life, I would love to create a personal style instead of grabbing random sale pieces that happen to catch my eye. Living in California and being a SAHM present a few challenges to the wardrobe. Our temperature doesn't vary much over the years, but I still need some warm weather clothing for trips back to Indiana at Christmastime. Following seasonal style trends won't necessarily work for the climate. Secondly, I am currently a stay-at-home mom which doesn't have any restrictions or qualifications. The potential pitfall is turning to tees and yoga pants all week. I don't need many dress up clothes, but I want something comfy yet styled. So this is my attempt at a capsule wardrobe.

First things first... weeding out the crap.  Turns out I still have things hanging in my closet that are worn out or just don't fit at all. It is time to do a hardcore weeding. I started with a giant mess of a closet and ended with a two bags to take to the Goodwill and a more streamlined look.

From there, I could organize my closet and take a hard look at what's left. Much much better, but now I can see exactly what's left. It's not pretty. I'm not happy at all with the lack of cohesiveness to my wardrobe. I need something better.

Next up, start to create a summer capsule wardrobe. I tried the three part method I've seen on many blogs.

1. Make three piles:

• Love it!
• Like it!
• Not right for the season.

2. Take the love it pile and tally up my pieces and outfits. Is there anything big missing? Do I want to purchase one or two pieces to round out the capsule? I think I've decided that my ideal style is a mix between casual bohemian (think flowy tops, florals) and classic pieces (navy, red, jean jacket, structured pants, etc). I don't want to pigeonhole myself into one specific look, but I think these two styles are great guidelines for want I want to buy going forward.

3. Document my capsule wardrobe throughout the season. I will attempt to do some check-ins through the season and keep a running list of pieces that work and don't work. I will also keep a Pinterest board to attempt to create my personal style. Finally I will create a shopping list of the specific pieces I definitely want for next season.

Without further ado, here are the pieces for my summer capsule wardrobe.

Tops:

Not pictured: #26 Blue and coral tee #27 White cardigan

Pants/shorts/skirts:

Dresses:

So I ended up with 27 tops, 8 bottoms, and 2 dresses. That is 37 pieces total. If you notice, I didn't include any shoes in my capsule. Truth is, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my shoes. My current plan is to just see what shoes I do wear and then go from there. I also didn't include a few camis, swimwear, pajamas, workout clothes, and a few only around the house clothes (yoga pants and tees).

After reviewing my capsule wardrobe, I have a very eclectic current wardrobe that doesn't do very well with mixing. I would love to have a more cohesive look in the future. Hopefully wearing these pieces for three months should help me decide what I really want in my closet. I have also realized that there are two items that I definitely want to buy this summer. I need a black cami to replace my old one that is stretching out. And I would like some brown gladiator style sandals to replace my broken pair.

Starting June 1st, these are the only pieces I will be wearing. Good luck to me!

Currently #8

Watching: Farscape! I'm nearing the end of the series and i'm so excited.

Reading: Dead Wake by Erik Larson. It's the fascinating story of the last crossing of the Lusitania.

Listening: Octane on Sirius XM. I usually listen to Alt Nation, but a harder song has been calling to me.

Making: Attempting to make dinner, but it's not working. Instead, I think we may just go out for dinner.

Feeling: J is fixing the dishwasher, and the smell is making be queasy.

Planning: Trying to figure out what we're going to have dinner next week.

Loving: Today was lovely weather: warm, but most importantly a cool breeze.

Top Ten Tuesday -- Beach Bag Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join.  If you can’t come up with ten, don’t worry about it—post as many as you can!

I like to be pretty eclectic when if comes to my beach bag reads. I am not afraid to tackle big or heavy books, but I also need something lighter to balance it out. Here's my grab bag list:

1. Historical Romances -- I always like to include some lighter romance fare to the bag. This summer I'm looking at some Mary Balogh and Candace Camp series.
2. Paranormal Romances -- I love love to have a bit of paranormal romance in my bag. I'm thinking about finishing Kristen Callihan's Darkest London series.
3. Nonfiction -- I have few choices for this summer. Right now I can't wait to dive into Dead Wake by Erik Larson about the last voyage of the Lusitania (yeah I'm a big history nerd) and everything by Gretchen Rubin (needing some uplifting self-help this summer.
4. Epic Fantasy -- I love falling into big fantasy worlds during the summer. I'm hoping to finish out A Song of Ice and Fire.
5. YA Fun -- I like the shorter fare of YA books. Maybe Paper Towns by John Green?
6. Comics and Graphic Novels -- These are great for short time periods. I'm wanting to catch up with The Manhattan Projects and hopefully start Saga.

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Title: Fire (Seven Kingdoms #2)

Author: Kristin Cashore

Publisher: Firebird 2009

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 461

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: NPR Teen; Top 100 YA; Mount TBR; Seriously Series; 52 Books - W21

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her. Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books.

I liked this volume even more than Graceling. There was something about Fire that just grabbed me from page one. I wanted to see her journey in its entirety. I wanted her to find peace and happiness. I wanted to see what happened in the Dells and the fate of the mysterious boy. Initially I was wary of reading a companion novel, but realized that this is a great book that happens to be set in the same world as the previous book. Such a fascinating world it is. I especially loved the inclusion of the monster animals in this volume. How different the monsters are from the gracelings in the Seven Kingdoms, and yet they have similarities. Definitely a must read!

Seven Kingdoms:

• #1 Graceling
• #2 Fire
• #3 Bitterblue

Music Monday -- iPod Shuffle

Matchbox Twenty "3 am" 

O.A.R. "Wonderful Day"

Sara Bareilles "Uncharted"

Sunday Sunset #11

Listening To: Lots of One Bad Mother episodes. I can usually only listen on the way back from South Bay but I'm slowly working through their backlog.

Book finished: The Dovekeepers; Born Reading; American Vampire Vol. 2; The Manhattan Projects Vol 1; American Vampire Vol. 3; Graceling; Geek Mom

Reading: Fire by Kristin Cashore

On the Nightstand: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin; The Martian by Andy Weir

Making Lists: Making our summer bucket list. I decided to use the same notebook as last year. We had a ton of blank pages and some of the activities we didn't get to. I added some fun new East Bay places and updated some of the old pages. Still a work in progress...

Around the house: We had to completely redo the playroom this week. Arthur learned that he could climb up the toy cases and onto the fireplace wall. I'm not a huge fan of this set-up but it's the only thing I could think of at the time. The tunnel really messes up the space in this arrangement.

From the kitchen: I tried a new BBQ Beef Stuffed Potatoes this past week. It was a great yummy dinner. I will definitely have to add it to our recipe rotation.

Crafting: Lots of fun playing with new products from SU.

Watching: We're in a big Farscape push right now. I really want to finish the series soon. We're at the end of Season 3 which means I have one season and a mini series to go!

From Nature: Overcast, a bit rainy, and sometimes chilly. Such weird weather we've been having lately. Although I'm not yearning for 85 degree temps any time soon.

Project: Working on our family calendar for summer. Between craft classes, baby events, twins' camps, and general things like grocery store visits, our summer is filling fast. I'm working on that bucket list, but also trying to confer with J about known work/play events to put on the calendar.

Picture: My photo day from the 20th. This was me sitting at the park watching Arthur play.

Photo of the Week #5

Look at the joy on his face! Someone really loves the slide.

FF #18: Merida Then and Now

Merida's outfit is very functional but hip. I kept flashing back to those scenes of her riding horses and engaged in archery. I wanted to give her an outfit that allowed her to do just that. The pants are functional yet stylish. The top is comfy without being a t-shirt and the jacket is perfect for throwing on on top. I'm especially digging her backpack. Very cool!

Anna Field sleeveless top

$38 - zalando.co.uk

VILA denim jacket

$76 - vila.com

Brave Merida Disney Princess Cosplay Costume Dress

etsy.com

Zara green pants

zara.com

Witchery high heel boots

$160 - witchery.com.au

Canvas backpack

$27 - amazon.co.uk

Banana Republic layered necklace

bananarepublic.gap.com

Michael kors bracelet

$350 - selfridges.com

Odds and Ends

Here is my randomness for the week:

• Sleep deprivation due to toddler sleep strike is the worst!
• Loving the new Stampin' Up products. Can't wait to play with them more.
• Finally got back into Farscape. Really want to finish the series now.
• I really really need this child to nap!
• Steel cut oatmeal with dried cranberries is amazing. I need to make this more often.
• My reading has been great this month. Making it a daily goal of reading 60 minutes has really helped.
• I seriously need a few hours off from the baby. He is draining me...
• Really excited about the twins coming.

Quote Wednesday -- Erdrich

I was in love with the whole world and all that lived in its rainy arms. -- Louise Erdrich

Top Ten Tuesday -- Top Bookish Products

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join.  If you can’t come up with ten, don’t worry about it—post as many as you can!

I love anything book related! Here are some of my current wish list items.

1. Check out this awesome Alice in Wonderland print with the entire novel. I love the silhouette and the black and white color scheme.

2. I have a hankering for a new bobblehead. I'm thinking of moving beyond my U.S. Presidents and maybe into authors. Poe may be the perfect place to start.

3. Who doesn't need a library card tote? The perfect choice to lug all my library books around.

4. This invisible shelf looks great. I would love to display my books like this.

5. Yes, these are books. But look how gorgeous they are. The set is like it's own work of art.

6. Personal library kit! I need this!

7. A perfect reading journal to collect all my thoughts.

8. A beautiful library charm bracelet. Must have for bibliophiles!

9. Cute little bookmarks! I always seem to be losing mine.

10. Very cute idea! I may not need to buy one, but I definitely need one in some form.

Geek Mom by Natania Barron, Corrina Lawson, Kathy Ceceri, and Jenny Williams

Title: Geek Mom: Projects, Tips, and Adventures for Moms and Their 21st Families

Author: Natania Barron, Corrina Lawson, Kathy Ceceri, and Jenny Williams

Publisher: Potter Craft 2012

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 224

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; Read Your Freebies; 52 Books - W20; OLW Home

It’s fast becoming a geek world out there, and all moms need to show off their tech smarts and superhero-like skills in order to keep their savvy kids entertained and engaged. Geek Mom: Projects, Tips, and Adventures for Moms and Their 21st-Century Families explores the many fun and interesting ways that digital-age parents and kids can get their geek on together. Imaginative ideas for all ages and budgets include thrifty Halloween costumes, homemade lava lamps, hobbit feasts, and magical role-playing games.

A random pick from the library and such a great find. I am a huge fan of the blog, but it was nice to spend some time in the physical pages. The book covers a wide range of interest areas and fun projects. My favorite section was the one about superheroes and comics. I bookmarked a few of the activities to try out this summer with the boys.

Music Monday -- Maroon 5 "Sugar"

Yep, I've got a little place in my heart for Maroon 5. 

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Title: Graceline (Seven Kingdoms #1)

Author: Kristin Cashore

Publisher: Graphia 2008

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 471

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fantasy Project; NPR Teen; Top 100 YA; Mount TBR; A to Z - G; Seriously Series; Book Blogger Recommendations

Kristin Cashore’s best-selling, award-winning fantasy Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable yet strong Katsa, a smart, beautiful teenager who lives in a world where selected people are given a Grace, a special talent that can be anything from dancing to swimming. Katsa’s is killing. As the king’s niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his thug. Along the way, Katsa must learn to decipher the true nature of her Grace . . . and how to put it to good use. A thrilling, action-packed fantasy adventure (and steamy romance!) that will resonate deeply with adolescents trying to find their way in the world.

I picked this book from random from my bookshelves. I was getting weighed down with predetermined choices and wanted a surprise selection. Glad I finally cracked this one open. I thought it would be a silly YA Fantasy, but I really go into the story of Katsa. I loved the world building of the Seven Kingdoms. And the characters were all really great. I read this book almost straight through. It definitely held my attention and made me want to read the next in the series!

Seven Kingdoms:

• #1 Graceling
• #2 Fire
• #3 Bitterblue

Bout of Books 13.0 Update #3

Progress:

• Pages Read: 114 (Geek Mom)  + 471 (Graceling)
• Total Pages Read: 1717
• Books Read: 1 1/3
• Total Books Read: 5 3/4

Goals:

• Read at least 1000 pages √
• Finish and review at least two selections √
• Participate in at least one challenge

TBR (my choices, not mandatory reads):

• The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman √
• American Vampire Vol. 2 √
• American Vampire Vol. 3 √
• The Manhattan Projects Vol. 1 √
• Geek Mom by Natania Barron, Kathy Ceceri, Corrina Lawson, and Jenny Williams (in progress)
• Creative Thursday by Marisa Anne
• Cultivating Your Creative Life by Alena Hennessy
• The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
• Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
• Born Reading by Jason Boog √
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore √

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Arthur: 19 Months

A full month back home which meant lots of baby activities and lots of enjoying the sunshine.

Likes: Swings, slides, running, animal crackers, his babies, Daniel Tiger

Dislikes: Sleeping in his crib, leaving the park, traffic, podcasts instead of music in the car.

Sleeping: Ugh! We have hit the dreaded 18 month sleep regression one month late. He is now waking up every morning at around 2am by screaming bloody murder. He then proceeds to scream and scream and not go back to sleep. We've allowed him into our bed a few times, but really trying to not make that a habit. It's so hard right now. We're going to attempt to sleep train again.

Eating: All the things! Some days he doesn't eat much in terms of amount, but he still has a varied diet. His current new favorite is calzones with pepperoni and mushrooms. And of course he loves getting the occasional treat of apple juice.

Playing: We're seeing more and interaction with other kids and adults. Currently Arthur loves playing trains, cars, and trucks.

Schedule:Our usual activities like the museum, preschool, and park playdates happen weekly. We're attempting to meet more Castro Valley families but it's not going very well so far.

Bout of Books 13.0 Update #2

Progress:n I finished two very good comic volumes. I'm hoping to keep my momentum going with a few nonfiction selections.

• Pages Read: 144 (The Manhattan Projects) + 288 (American Vampire Vol. 3)
• Total Pages Read: 1132
• Books Read: 2
• Total Books Read: 4 1/2

Goals:

• Read at least 1000 pages √
• Finish and review at least two selections √
• Participate in at least one challenge

TBR (my choices, not mandatory reads):

• The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman √
• American Vampire Vol. 2 √
• American Vampire Vol. 3 √
• The Manhattan Projects Vol. 1 √
• Geek Mom by Natania Barron, Kathy Ceceri, Corrina Lawson, and Jenny Williams
• Creative Thursday by Marisa Anne
• Cultivating Your Creative Life by Alena Hennessy
• The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
• Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
• Born Reading by Jason Boog √

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team