SO EXCITED!!

So through the Instagram thing I met Kate at The Loud Library. She started a group to review all sorts of Literature .... Children's, Middle School & YA ..... and I get to be apart of that .... to say that I am honored and excited is an UNDERSTATEMENT!!!   She makes me want to be a better reader and Librarian .. to push the envelop and think outside the box. If you get a chance pop over to her BLOG and check out some of the amazing books she has read!! 

PS - I also do some reading for NetGalley - which I love as well!!! 

Professional Development on my Own

So last summer I created an Instagram account for myself .... just for teachery and library type stuff. I am totally a visual person so I figured some fun pictures would inspire me in my teaching. Well it did ... I got ideas after ideas and found some I passed along to friends as well. I see ideas I wish I had time for , some I wish I had resources for and also simple pick me up inspiration on days I'd rather be in bed with the covers over my head. 

The one thing I found that I NEVER in my wildest dreams did I find was FRIENDS!!! Friends from around the world that face the same things I do and then some. I found people who got what I felt about being a Librarian and teacher. They understood what it was like to spend a day with amazing children and children who would need an extra push and encouragement. 

If you have not ever thought about searching out a group on Instagram to help make you a better person, mother, teacher, wife, leader, friend ..... take a minute to search out some hashtags of what inspires you. You just might find some people that make your life a little richer and FUN!!! 

Calling All Mommies ..... New Release

Jenny Hale .... she has done it again! A heartfelt, feel book, beach book that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy!!!!!

CALLING ALL MOMMIES  ...... This is the perfectly perfect written beach book! Great way to start your summer reading. If you aren't headed to the beach, maybe you'll be pool side or simply curled up during nap time ... it will leave you felling happy as a clam.

Callie and her best friend Olivia have gone and done it .... they bought the bed and breakfast that they so admired their whole lives down in the Outer Banks across from Olivia's grandmother.

Callie is too busy getting ready for their grand opening to to focus on anything else ... especially LOVE. TOO bad she has caught the attention of a local guy. Just when happiness is starting to make its way into everyone's life a little mystery arrives. Will they figure it all out and will everyone still feel the same?

BEFORE I FALL THE MOVIE

February 12th is just another ordinary day for Sam and her charmed life  .... well that is until it turns out it's actually her last one. She is stuck in a groundhog effect and relives this day over and over for more than a week. 

This story is taken from the amazing novel written by Lauren Oliver.

I just finished watching the movie .... nervously I must admit!!!!! That's due to the fact that I LOVED, LOVED the book!!!!! I was afraid that the screen writers would not be able to do the story justice in translating it to the big screen .... but they did a great job in recreating this heart warming story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3Zyy4ZXegE

A Little Saturday FUN FACTOR

So I came into work today .. yes it's Saturday, but there is always something to do. Of course no one said Saturday at work can't be fun! Right? well, a little fun is always good for the soul. 

New Author ... Adriana Mathers

Salem, Massachusetts is the site of the infamous witch trials and the new home of Samantha Mather. Recently transplanted from New York City, Sam and her stepmother are not exactly welcomed with open arms. Sam is the descendant of Cotton Mather, one of the men responsible for those trials and almost immediately, she becomes the enemy of a group of girls who call themselves The Descendants. And guess who their ancestors were?

Salem, Massachusetts is the site of the infamous witch trials and the new home of Samantha Mather. Recently transplanted from New York City, Sam and her stepmother are not exactly welcomed with open arms. Sam is the descendant of Cotton Mather, one of the men responsible for those trials and almost immediately, she becomes the enemy of a group of girls who call themselves The Descendants. And guess who their ancestors were?

This is my first read of the new year and it is definitely a 5 STAR book!!! Total Salem Witch Trials meets Mean Girls. I couldn't contain myself or read fast enough! The flow of the story is amazing and you just can't wait to see what happens on the next page!!  Adriana Mathers has amazingly cool family tree and creates an utterly fancinating fictional story for totally Nonfictional events in history. She is a true breathe of fresh air in the YA family!!!  

Ad How To Hang A Witch to your To Be Read pile!!! 

You won't be sorry! 👍🏻

New Year Word

So my friend Lodo and I in the past have picked a "word of the year." One year we picked the word SHINE and one year we picked the word BE. This year Lodo and I picked different words. 

She has picked GROW... she hopes to grow through her learning and love for technology and with her children ... cause lets face it our kiddos are growing so quickly if we blink we have missed it. Our kiddos are at the age were they are reaching amazing milestones and so involved in everything. 

My word is FOCUS .... I get distracted easily sometimes so I am hoping to be better at focusing .... on my family , my job and ME!! I plan to focus a little more on myself .... walking more, choosing healthier foods , ect. So here's to a new year and a little more FOCUS in my life .... and more greatness!!! 

Happy New Year ... What's Next?

So I am not saying it isn't a Happy New Year ... because it pretty much is!! I mean we went back to school January 3rd , had school for 4 days and now we have had 3 Snow Days! I mean I find that fun ... of course some might not due to we have had Virtual School Days while we have been out BUT that is a whole different subject!

Snow Days at my house this time have been incredibly lazy and have NOT included playing in the snow due to M having wisdom teeth removed before the storm. It has included hours of laying on the sofa, reading, cleaning out a few closets or "rat holes" as Mema calls them and a whole lotta NETFLIX!!! 

I can't wait to see what lies ahead of all of us this new year ... hoping to find my blogging mojo! 

BUSY, BUSY SUMMER

This summer was a CRAZY & BUSY summer!!!!! I spent a majority ... well all but 2 weeks of my summer break in the Library ... revamping things!!!! Moving books, going through them, painting .. you name it ... we did it this summer!!!! Stay tuned for the reveal of our new Library. I must say that it turned out fabulous!!! a little paint, a lot of sweat, a little sewing here and there and some reshelving .... not bad if I say so myself! It was definitely time for the paint to say the least ... it had been 16 years since fresh paint had hit these walls. I am so excited for the kiddos to see the new improved library.  :)

Currently!!!!

I am currently reading ........ The Isle of the Lost!!!! It's the book version on the up and coming Disney movie called the Descedents! 

The movie comes out July 31st, but I just couldn't wait till then. It's always fun to read the book first! A sweet little Raider had the book at their house this summer and the cover caught my eye!! She let me borrow it and I read the Prologue and was hooked!!! A story about all the children of every Disney Villan!!! Who wouldn't want to read that??? 

FAVORITE!!!!!

Ok so I have been working - we'll sort of - reading actually; I mean it is my job , righ? So I have been reading and lounging sinc e school got out and have finished about 5 books total. 

BUT yesterday I started Paper Towns by John Green - who I have adored since reading The fault In Our Stars last summer. Anyhow, I can't put it down so I probably won't get much done this weekend until I finish it. LOL 

I love the face it counts as 1. a book a friend Tecommended to you ( cause of one of the kiddos at school say I HAD to read it!) 2. A book being made into a movie

So I like looked up the trailer on You Tube which of course basically shows me what I have already read last night .... BUT I love adding the real life images to what I have read. 

SO ..... If you are looking for a great YA Read for your summer reading. And have not read Paper Towns .... Get a copy!!!!! 

I give it 

And I am only half way through the whole story and YES I will be hitting the theaters at the end of July to see my book come to life!!!!

A Little Summer Fun

I'd like to live in Adams Grove, VA  ...... after reading The Adams Grove Series written by Nancy Naigle. I simply have fallen in love with this fictional town ... well sort of.

 I pass the sign for Adams Grove right off the side of Route 58 heading to Emporia. Ever since I put the sign and the stories together I have wanted ... no longed to make that right hand turn off the interstate to check it out. So the other day I finally made that turn.

I was alone and on the way to Wrightsville Beach to see my favorite college buddy and her kiddos for the week. Alone, riding , singing at the top of my lungs to a mix of songs on the iPod ..... I made that turn not knowing what I'd find. 

The fictional town I had come to love ... was it there? Nope! But the landscape was beautiful. Field after field untouched ... crops growing ... beautiful scenery.  I did find a sign to stop and take a selfie with to show I was there. 

I was glad I took the time to make the turn, leave my regular beaten path and take a minute to enjoy the scenery. 

If you have NOT read any of Nancy Naigle's books .... take a minute ... you be glad you took the time to make  a right turn as well right into Adams Grove. 

Nancy Naigle  at Amazon 

Mother's Day Gift

What an excellent gift!!!! 

The year long wait was finally up for the newest Mark Kay Andrews' book BEACH TOWN! Usually I have to wait a week after school gets out for the release of her newest book, BUT this year that wait was cut short! LUCKY ME!!!!

Lucky and not so lucky! 

Mary Kay was in Raleigh right in the middle of our Book Fair at school so I couldn't sneak away and go see her at Qual Ridge Books, but a quick phone call and the girls at the shop were totally taking care of me .... Could I order an autographed book? Of course!! So my mom ordered me one for my bookshelf and of course for her to read as well. ;)

Beach Town :

Greer is one the search for the perfect place to film Hollywood's next biggest film. The perfect spot lands her in a sleepy little town on the Florida coast - Cypress Key.  It's a town that time has almost forgotten which is the charm  the director is searching for.

Greer has thought to have met her match when she goes up  the mayor of this sleepy little coastal town, Eben Thibadeaux. She wants to breathe life into this sweet town with this big budget film and Eb wants life to continue as it has for years - nice and quiet.

In their continuous battle back and forth between , they find out that love isn't just for the big screen. Is there really a happily ever after in real life too?

Summer Computer Fun

http://brainchase.com

Starts June 22nd! Sign up and sign for a summer adventure that's waiting for you right at your fingertips. :)

What Are You Reading ... I Can't Lie!

I have a HUGE stack of books sitting next to my bed, I can't lie about that! It includes ...  The Gallaher Girls Series  by Allie Carter !!! 

{that's just part of the pile , not to mention my downloads}

Yes, yes I do!!!

 A friend hooked me on them. Of course they are waiting patiently to be read. 

They are marked as Middle Grades+ , 6 grade and up.

 

The first book is called 

I'd Tell You I Love You, 

But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls)

Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies.

So what is you pile????

My downloads right now include ... 1. Blue, Lilly, Blue by Maggie Stiefavter 2. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner {I can't lie again , I watched The Maze Runner and was hooked BEFORE reading the book}  3. Never, Never by Colleen Hoover 4. Panic by Lauren Oliver 5. Barbecue and Bad News by Nancy Naigle

Currently

The school year is on its way!!

 So many awesome things have been going on at SA already!!! The last 8 days are a bit of a blur with meeting so many new students and just having a BLUE time with everyone 

Today I am linking up with my cyber teaching friend Farley!!! Check out her amazing blog 

called Oh Boy 4th Grade!!! She is super cool and has wonderful ideas!! 

Local Library Fun

Don't forget local library fun will be starting soon  ... June 23rd!!!

Make sure you stopped by and see what's going on! 

There is a children's , tween and an adult summer reading program! 

Go ahead!! See how much fun it is! :)

(click on picture above for a direct link to Blackwater Regional Library information)

Happy Book Snail Mail

I came home today and checked the mail as I usually do.  Today wasn't an ordinary day though because I found a box that contained one of the greatest things ever ..... A book! Not just any book, but a brand spanking new up opened except to be signed of course by one of my most favorite ladies ever!

 Yes! 

That's right! You guessed it! The NEW Save The Date by Mary Kay Andrews!!!!!

She was in Raleigh at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh this week!!  Unfortunately my daughter was going to be playing in a softball  tournament that kept me from going. (RATS! ) So I contacted her and as always was delighted to hook me up with a signed copy! I already had a digital copy, but my Mom still likes to read a good ol' fashion book and I love a signed copy for my bookshelf! :) 

So thank you Mary Kay Andrews a.k.a Kathy Hogan Trocheck for being as awesome as always! I look forward to the next time our paths cross and to reading Save The Date!! 

A savannah florist is about to score the wedding of a lifetime—one that will solidify her career as the go-to-girl for society nuptials. Ironically, Cara Kryzik doesn't believe in love, even though she creates beautiful flower arrangements to celebrate them. But when the bride goes missing and the wedding is in jeopardy, Cara must find the bride and figure out what she believes in.  Maybe love really does exist outside of fairy tales after all. 

Summer Reading

I will be adding the Sumer Reading 

to the Sumer Reading Page this week!!!

Watch for it!!!!!!!

What are you flipping 

through this summer???

The Fault In Our Stars

One of my high school students has bugged me all year to read The Fault In Our Stars. I kept putting it off and reading something  else , ect. Then another student started reading and RAVED about it. Ok, I said Ill get to it. Then my daughters teacher read it and said it was amazing and a "must read."

FINE ..... I'll READ IT !!!!!!! Ummm fact of the matter I wanted to read it before the movie came out ,but when I finally picked up 2 weeks before school got out I COULD NOT put it down!!!! 

You felt totally connected to each and every character in the story and even though the story line at some points  has a bleak outlook , you want more. It's a different ending and leaves you with a great feeling of appreciation for those around you in your life and that things could always be worse. 

Definitely a 5 Star read!!!

I can only say that I hope the movie does the book justice!!!

In The Fault in Our Stars, John Green has created a soulful novel that tackles big subjects--life, death, love--with the perfect blend of levity and heart-swelling emotion. Hazel is sixteen, with terminal cancer, when she meets Augustus at her kids-with-cancer support group. The two are kindred spirits, sharing an irreverent sense of humor and immense charm, and watching them fall in love even as they face universal questions of the human condition--How will I be remembered? Does my life, and will my death, have meaning?--has a raw honesty that is deeply moving.