Po(sey) Sessions

  The Christmas tree is one the most standard traditions of Christmas. Yet, it is interesting to think about all the variations that each family can make on a single tradition. There are age old questions like real or artificial? When and how to decorate? What is the right size? Growing up I had the opportunity to see a whole variety of traditions even within a single Christmas.     Christmas Tree Tradition One As a child we always had friends over while we decorated the tree. We would put on music and serve lots of great finger foods. For some people this may be more of a day spent with just family, but since it was just me and my mom we loved having everyone come over and visit.  My mom had about a million Christmas ornaments. Some I had made through various school projects over the years, some she had brought home from her travels in other countries, some were antiques, and other were gifts.  Every year we had a live tree. We would usually go to...

Today I am examining myself as a reader and book buyer. I was thinking about writing a Sunday Salon post today since it has been a while since I contributed. Even though I am in the middle of a few good books I wanted to post about something with a little more substance. I didn’t have any ideas so I pushed the post to the back of my mind and got on with my chores for the day. I am rearranging and reorganizing all the things in my family room. This room has become a bit of the junk collection room over the past few months. Also I have decided (for the first time EVER) that I have too many books and I need to get rid of at least SOME books. I already went through one book shelf on a surface level and boxed up some questionable purchases from my college years that were clearly not worth the time or effort any long. What inspired this book culling? Even though I have long been AGAINST reading ebooks, I am now faced with the fact that I have well over 5000 books with more I want ...

This holiday season there are so many reasons to be thankful. I am thankful for my two wonderful children who bring so much joy and have so much love to share with me. They are getting to an age when we can share more of our reading experiences with each other. My 6 year old is right on the verge of reading on her own and my 8 year old reluctant reader is helping me find the keys to unlock her joy of reading. Besides these wonderful moments we have reading together there are other moments of laughter and togetherness that could never be described in words. Moments, smiles, and hugs that mean more than words could every say. I am thankful for books which entertain and enrich me. This year I have not read as many books as I usually do but I still love the idea of reading them. Of talking about them. Of buying them. Of meeting authors. And sharing books with people I care about. Stories and books have such an amazing ability to transpor...

One of the reasons why I haven’t been reading or blogging is that I have way more to read than I could ever get around to and sometimes this overwhelms me. And other times LIFE overwhelms me.  After spending a little bit too much time sitting around and watching TV I decided it was time to get back to reading, and to my friends on Twitter .   But like I was saying, I am not lacking for books to read.  The thought of them definitely does something beyond overwhelm me, but after just a few days back visiting with my friends on Twitter, that TBR list is growing even more.   I have always been interested in Blood Red Road and even downloaded it from Galley Grab but I didn’t get to start it before it expired.  Of all the electronic books I didn’t get to review this past year, this on is probably the one I think I might have missed out on the most.  But when I heard @ReadingFever praising it on twitter the book quickly jumped back on my radar. I really ...

It is true. I have caught a case of the Ick, just a short while after getting over a stomach thing I now have a cold thing.  And for the past few days I have felt like death warmed over.  But whether I feel 100% or not my invalid time is almost over since soon I will have to pick up my girlies and do my ever important mommy time.  Which doesn’t particularly mix with invalid time. But don't feel too bad for me because the week was filled with book shopping and I have some author events coming up I don't plan on missing.     I love Scholastic book fairs.  I always have, and I hope I always will. In the  fall there is a regular priced fair that acts like a fund raiser for our school.  Now that I understand the workings of this better I can appreciate buying a few full priced books.  But it will not surprise many people that I love the buy one get one free fairs even more. This fair we got more books than we ever had before.  Unfortun...

I had never heard of author Julie Wright until LTUE 2010 (last year and my first time attending). She kept talking about this one book that I could not wait to read called Hazardous Universe .  I remember clearly even now Julie’s bubbly personality and I loved hearing what she had to say about writing. I knew I wanted to read a book by her.  But as it usually goes for me, I never did.  Now I am going to get my chance because Hazardous Universe will be here in just a few days.  There is even a launch party that I wish I could go to, but just because I can’t doesn’t mean YOU can’t!   The book launch is at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Murray UT. On the corner of 5300 S and State St on Wednesday, March 9th from 6-8 pm.   Julie and coauthor Kevin Wasden will be there to sign books and be part of other wonderful festivities.  I am super excited that the book is here.  It is the first in a series and I think it has a pretty fabulous cover. ...