BOOK IT!!!

I had a conversation yesterday afternoon with my best friend today that inspired this post. Remember in elementary school when there were book fairs and those thin newspaper like pamphlets which were filled from cover to cover with reading books? Well I did, and I always wished I could afford all the books the other kids bought at the fair as I would slip my $.50 on the desk to pay for my little plastic book mark. And those pamphlets... they would either get dumped in the trash immediately or never make it home because it ended up covered in mud on the floor board our car which in turn, ended up in the trash!!! Now, they are BACK!!! My daughter is now bringing them home from her pre-school and again, they usually end up in the trash. I have a had a hard time deciding whether or not it's a good idea to ACTUALLY order a book? Maybe one of these days I will give it a shot..... when my kids learn to read! I know now that reading as a child is very important.


  I was never a reader, not then, and not in High School!!! I would find myself thinking of what I was going to have for lunch, what kind of routine we were going to perform at the game, or my strategy in blocking out in that nights basketball game during a comprehension test or reading period. It was never an interest of mine and didn't understand how anyone could sit for hours upon hours and READ!!! REALLY?? I was always more interested in being actively on the go.. ask my mom!!I guess that's why studying was a challenge for me too. Until. Craig. While we were dating, I soon learned that he was an AVID reader. I wasn't sure how that would affect our future since I hardly ever opened a book. He suggested (more like challenged me) to read "The Alchemist" stating that it was a GREAT book and that I would be amazed!! Well, of course I HAD to do it, not to mention the curiosity killed me!!! So I did. I read it, it took me a while but I read it!! AND--- I LOVED it!!! I started to slowly learn the love of reading a good book. Since I am a slow reader, it takes me longer than probably the average person to read a book. I blame it on my attention span. I love a large variety of books ranging from romance novels to bios to thrillers to financial peace. But lately, in the last couple years after becoming a wife and a mommy and a photographer, I indulge in self help books. I love, love, love to learn and love to be inspired by other people who are living the same life I am and experiencing the same trials as me.

The books I am currently reading one chapter at a time are called, "Matters of the Heart", "Humor for a Mom's Heart" and "Eat,Pray,Love". I just finished tonight a very enlightening book about being an at-home mom called "Stay Home, Stay Happy" by Rachel Campos-Duffy. Her simple tips and techniques to being that loving wife, and happy 24/7 mommy that us mom's always strive to be, are helpful ways to help balance a happy, nurtured home. I really enjoyed learning that even though we perceive fellow at home moms as "having it ALL together"... it's safe to say that no matter what, we all have our days, things aren't perfect, and with a little tender love and care, we can create healthy routines for the ones we love!!!

My hope for T&L is that we instill in them the importance of a book. They love books, books with fun pictures, and they love to listen to stories, but hopefully it won't take them as long as it took me to learn how fruitful reading a good book can be!!!! I guess we'll have to resister them for the 'Book it' club in school!! ;)

Here are some shots of some of the books that I listed above including my all time favorites, my recent reads and a few that I will be starting soon!!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Live.Laugh.Love.And Always Be YOU!!! Cheers--TLC