2019 - The year of settling in

Good morning :-)

I have the luxury this morning of enjoying quite a bit of quiet time.  Hubs is at work, teenagers are still asleep (almost 11am), the cat and dog have been fed and are now back to sleep... it's just me, my coffee, and Alexa playing some classical music softly in the background for me. 

While I was sitting here I started trying to think of what the highlights of 2019 were, and what the general feeling of the year has been for me... and the first thing that came to me was "settling in".  We spent time settling into our new house this year, I feel like I am settling into my job more and more (and even settling into the awful commute), and each year I think we find ourselves more and more comfortable as a family.  Overall, it was a pretty good year with lots of lovely moments! 

Apparently all of my settling in took up lots of time though - ha! (or commuting, one or the other :-)).  When I look at my log of books read, or think of craft projects never touched, or health goals not started, I do realize that perhaps my priorities or time management was a little out of whack in 2019.  So 2020 I hope will be the year of BALANCE. As I sit here, writing and just breathing and thinking, I suppose I am trying to start it a bit early :-) And Hank just appeared and I think would like me to start on a goal of petting him more 🐾🐾

I did managed to get a little reading done the last few weeks - though no where near enough to meet my 2019 goal of 52 books (I'm currently at 30 - maybe I'll hit 31 or 32 by the end of the year #goals). 

What I'm Reading:

 

I read both of these graphic novels in a day.  Very different but both excellent! I enjoy the graphic novel format quite a bit - It brings something extra to the story when it's done well and the art and text work together to tell the story, and there is such a variety within the format that I feel like there is something for everyone.  Click on the covers above for info about these two 📚.


I'm currently reading this one - I've loved reading Meg Cabot for nearly two decades now - starting with the Princess Diaries.  What can I say - I enjoy chick-lit.  It is comfort reading for me and so far this one does not disappoint. In fact, I think I will use the rest of my quiet time this morning to keep reading! 

Peace, Love, and Paw Prints, 
Camping Librarian

Time...Why Does it Escape Me?

As usual time has gotten away.  Blogging has slipped, crafting has slipped, exercising has slipped, reading has slipped, cleaning has slipped... so where did it go?  Figuring this out definitely needs to be a priority for me in the coming year.  Definitely something to think about as I embark to pick my word for 2020. 

Hoping 2019 is finishing pleasantly for all my family and friends and wishing I could take a lesson from the fur-kids... they know how to spend a snowy morning :-)

Peace, Love, and Paw Prints, 
Camping Librarian

Post Vacation Reality Check

I just finished a lovely 10 days off...it was full of sun, fun, and plenty of quality time with people I love.  We had time to take walks, hit the gym, read, swim, have meaningful conversations and to just be still in the world that often seems full of chaos. 

A few moments of relaxation:

 

 


And here we are now at Monday...and seeing how I can't retire anytime soon...my priority is going to be to try to make sure I have at least some tiny bits of vacation joy in every day.  Now just to figure out how to accomplish this... I'd love any of your ideas - please share!

What I'm Reading and Listening to:

Podcasts:

We listened to podcasts a lot while driving on vacation.  Mostly we caught up with episodes of my favorite morning radio show: The Bobby Bones Show.  It's something we both agree on and gives us plenty of good laughs.  

Books:

As usual I've read several books since I last updated this blog (because well, I'm a pretty inconsistent blogger these day ...)... you can check out everything I've read on my goodreads 2019 challenge page but here are a few highlights...

The Amazing Adventures of Diet Girl by Shauna Reid

I finished this one while on vacation.  Based on her blog - this was funny, and inspirational all in one- a pretty long read though -- at least it felt that way - I was reading on my kindle so looking back I don't really know how thick this book was.

Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

I've had this downloaded to my kindle for a while but while on vacation I was leisurely watching some morning TV and she was interviewed on one of the talk shows.  I had just finished a book so it felt like perfect timing... I'm just really getting into the book but so far I am really enjoying it... stay tuned :-)

Let me know what you're reading, watching, or listening to - or your favorite way to make everyday feel just a little like vacation!   I love recommendations! 

Peace, Love, and Paw Prints, 
Camping Librarian

Spring is here... yahooooo

Winter = yuck! Spring = yay!

I really detest winter :-) Anyone who had interaction with me between November and March probably heard me declare that.  While I do enjoy a good snow day if I definitely do not have to leave the house, in general, winter and I are not friends. At all. I am moodier in winter, I am less active in winter, I hate driving home in the dark everyday, and I obsessively watch weather apps because I'm a petrified winter weather driver.

You would think that my dislike of being OUTSIDE in the winter would mean that I am more productive INSIDE...but sadly that is an inaccurate assumption.  I am sluggish and tend to watch lots of Netflix, read, and dream of springtime. 

This year I did employ some tactics to make winter more bearable and strategically planned some self care days and I have to say that it really did make a difference and help me get through... still - I am so exited that it is SPRING!  I'm seeing my favorite flower popping up all over the place (not in my yard sadly - I should make that happen!) and it makes me feel a big lighter... ahhhh

Click the pic to learn more about Daffodils :-)

Springtime fun!

Yesterday for the first time in AGES I got out the trusty hiking boots and joined a friend for some time in the woods.  We trekked most of the trails at Oregon Ridge Park .  It was a really nice facility with some good trails, a nature center (with bathrooms - this is important to me before and after a hike!) and a really cute children's play area and story-walk (which is done by the Baltimore County Public Library - shout out to library neighbors!).  We basically hiked this hike with a few other side trails thrown in as we were finding our way.  This site lists it as easy - and we encountered lots of different types of hikers and casual walkers on the trail so that might be accurate...however, my body did not necessarily agree when we were hiking the hills.  At home last night I was thinking about this a little more and realized that of course it wasn't easy because sadly, my body is now carrying probably about 40 extra pounds around that I wasn't when I was hiking and running regularly.  So while it was certainly an eye opener - I'm also pretty proud to have lugged the extra weight up the hills.  I'm also extremely thankful for my hiking partner waiting for me to rest a few times!!  Bonus -- we crossed several water crossings and I didn't completely fall in - I have a history of sometimes falling in.. lol. 

What I'm Reading and Listening to:

Podcasts:

I've been on a kick of adding podcasts to my driving routine and one I'm liking right now is:

Not Your Average Runner - I'd love to get back to a place where I can enjoy a run.  I don't think I will ever be a fantastic runner or a runner of anything longer than a 5K and even then I'm likely to walk intervals - but the whole point of this podcast is to start where you are, that you don't have to wait to be thin, or have great endurance to start running.  Even if you run in 30 second intervals, that makes you a runner.  Lots of great tips and motivation found here. 

Books:

I've read several books since I last updated this blog (because well, it's been a while...)... you can check out everything I've read on my goodreads 2019 challenge page but here are a few highlights...

Educated by Tara Westover

This book has gotten lots of press so you've probably heard of it but if you haven't it's an amazing (and sometimes heart-breaking and hard to read) and powerful story.  Click on the link or book pic to learn more!

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

In a nutshell this is a great Children's Fiction Book (later Elementary) about an immigrant family who lives in a runs a motel. A great read for all ages though!  Click the link or book pic to learn more.

Let me know what you're reading, watching, or listening to - or your favorite springtime activity!   I love recommendations! 

Peace, Love, and Paw Prints, 
Camping Librarian

PS - camping starts next weekend!  yipppeeee!

Beating the Winter Blues

Good morning friends!

This week I enjoyed a few planned self care days off of work.  For whatever reason winter and I are not fast friends.  The cold, damp air, early darkness and the long stretch between the holidays and some kind of spring or summer vacation are enough to make me lose energy and sink into a seasonal slump.  To combat that this year I decided to take a bit of time off for just me and stay-cation time.  At first I thought I would take a whole stay-cation week but then decided to spread out those five days over a few months and give myself little nuggets to look forward to until we reach those nice warm days of spring!  

One thing I have learned on my days off is that I am not very good at the idea of relaxing days off! I had two extra days off this week (today is a normal day off because I work this weekend) and on the first day I scheduled for our vents to be cleaned.  Scheduling home repairs and maintenance on a self care day - well, not exactly the self nurturing, calm inducing day I had envisioned when first deciding on my conquering winter woes plan.  Then on day two in the morning (at 6am - another day off fail) I asked my husband if there was anything he needed me to do while I was off (as I was making a list in my head of the things I could accomplish) he chuckled and said "you really don't know how to take a day off, do you?". This was kind of a wake up call to me, so thank you husband for pointing out my constant list making mind that always has the next thing that needs to be done ready to pounce into my thoughts as soon as there is a free second. 

Finally after being forced to realize I was not doing stay-cationing correctly I got a tiny bit more in the groove.  I say a tiny bit because I still did a few chores on all of the days and this morning I actually made a list of the relaxing things I wanted to do today in my planner... hahaha... yes, I even plan relaxation.  With that said, I have also watched a lot of netflix, read a little, took some walks with the pup and have reminded myself to try to be in the moment, and to actually enjoy whatever I am doing instead of thinking about the next thing on the agenda (even when they are relaxing things!).  Baby steps.  Maybe by the time I have another day off I will have this figured out!  Wish me luck!

What I've Read Recently:

For a full list of what I've been reading check out my Goodreads page.  I've read several really awesome picture books so far this year that were award winners at the ALA Youth Media Awards.  The ALA awards are like the Oscars for books - check out this link because there is some incredible writing recognized.  The Printz winner this year (awarded to the best book for young adults) did not disappoint - I finished in one day (in fact I finished it with the Super Bowl in the background).  

The Poet X by Elizabet Acevedo

I'm Currently Reading:

 I have been reading this one for what feels like forever and I'm not sure what the hold up is because when I do pick it up I enjoy it.  Today I am dedicating an hour of uninterrupted reading time to this one. Yes- it's on my relaxation to-do list! Ha. 

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend and finds little ways to escape the winter blues if you get them (and please share with me your tips!)

Peace, Love, and Paw Prints, 
Camping Librarian

2019 - Happy #Nurture Year

So here we are - 10 days into 2019.  Time flies when you're having fun - or just in general really.  I'm not making any specific year long resolutions this year -really I should have probably given that up long ago because I am terrible at it! Instead, like last year, I've chosen a word to guide my path for the year.

In the past I have focused on words like "breathe" and "balance" but not with any real mindfulness and focus.  This year I was at a loss for a word that I felt really spoke to what I wanted out of 2019 so at the recommendation of a coworker and friend I used a 5 day email course to choose my word. Here's the link: https://www.susannahconway.com/word/

The activities for the 5 days were pretty thorough!  I shared them with Camping Husband after the fact and he was like "wow - all that to pick a word!" :-)  It had you do things like think about what you want more of, less off, your ideal day, and then narrowing it down to 5 words and exploring their meanings - lots of food for thought!  At the end of it I came up with the word NURTURE.  It really encapsulates a lot of the ideas I was throwing around into one word.

I envision all sorts of ways to make sure I am nurturing myself - focusing on healthy habits, self care, exploring meditation, essential oils and any other tools I might not know about.  I also want to nurture some hobbies and interests that have been set aside in the past few years because of busy schedules and moving and unpacking and all the things! I want to hear the whir of the sewing machine, and feel the paintbrush move across a canvas, hear the crunch of leaves under my hiking boots and get lost in my thoughts and in a good book a little more often.  Finally, and certainly not least important I hope to make a mindful effort to nurture relationships that are important to me.  I think all of this also speaks to choosing what to put energy into - in order to nurture what's important, sometimes we have to choose what not to do as well... that perhaps might be the hardest.

The other words that found their way into my top 5 were: Joy, Grace, Calm/Relax, and Healing - and I'm bound to reflect on those and look to them for guidance from time to time as well.  I'm always a fan of #choosingjoy

I've rambled on enough I think for the morning but I don't want to leave out one of my staple blog sections :-) So without further ado here is:

What I'm Reading:

If you're local (or even if you're not!) please check out my library's 2019 Reading Challenge! The theme for January is a book you've been meaning to read... and I had the perfect selection!  I have had this on on my to-be-read list FOREVER it seems...


So far I am really enjoying it!  I'm only about halfway through but there is plenty of time left in the month to keep curling up with this classic...

I'm also reading this one:


This one is for a professional book discussion I will be attending next week - I'll share any useful tidbits and take-aways when I'm finished.

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

Peace, Love, and Paw Prints, 
Camping Librarian