HURRY!!!!

Move your fingers fast and get over to my brother's website:

Phil Rood Illustration

for your copy of his new comic - Warrior Igor.

 

I was privileged to get to preview it and LOVED it!!!!!

 

Make sure you check out his other books and artwork too!

Thursday Books

Two new books by my favorite authors/illustrators are being released this week.

First, my brother illustrated a new children's book, it was released earlier this week. Here's his blog post:   THAT SNEAKY SNAKE SYDNEY. Make sure you check this out!

Second, my friend, Lauren, has a new chic lit book being released this Saturday. Here's her blog post: PIE GIRLS. I've read this,  it's fun!

New books, readers! What could be more fun?!

Travel Tuesday - Civil War Anniversary

I'm going to take a more historical note today.

 

Our family has gotten into the Civil War and its history in the past 7 or 8 years. We enjoy visiting sites and museums related to it. Some are big, some are small.

 

It is still the 150th anniversary period of the Civil War (through 2015).

The

Civil War Trust

site is an impressive website, with lots of information.

 

We are NOWHERE near completing the list of sites

(click here for the map: Civil War Discovery Trail)

but we have put a pretty good dent in it so far. We are going to try to daytrip to some of them more locally over the next year and a half.

 

Another good Civil War travel site is:

Civil War Traveler

 

I truly believe that most of these sites are worth a visit. I'd love to hear if you visit one (or several) and what you think!

I am linking up with Bonnie Rose at A Compass Rose

 

What historical sites have you visited and enjoyed?

Travel Tuesday - a "green" trip

John Deere green, that is!

We decided to play local tourist on Sunday. We went to John Deere Historic Site. It was interesting and has changed a lot since the last time I was there (in 3rd grade...).

This is Rick the Blacksmith. It was just the Mr., myself and the kids in our tour group (Patty was a great guide!). He gave us a fantastic blacksmith demostration and was SO funny and passionate about Mr. Deere and what Rick does for a living! (picture from the website)

It was $5/person over the age of 12. We thought it was worth the stop. Plan to spend about 2 hours there.

PS: We got the Deere/Reagan homes combo ticket for $7/person

 

We decided to drive on west and visit the John Deere Pavilion. We got to check out the equipment, play with the exhibits and check out all the JD merchandise.

We were a little disappointed by this but I would still like to do the JD factory tour.

 

Our next stop was the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home (our 40th President). We had taken that tour previously, but it was still fun to see where he lived and hear a little about his life. Little Miss didn't remember being there before...

It was $5/person over the age of 11. It was a worthwhile stop. You can make this stop in about an hour.

 

I did pick up a little souvenir on our 'travels' - this is steel leaf pendant made in the blacksmith shop at the JD Historic Home site. A little reminder that something as small as a plow blade made 177 years ago, has become the corporate giant it is now.  A small dream that has become something he never would have dreamed of.

A memo to...

ME!

Date: Today

To: Jen

From: Jen

Re: Goals

It has come to my attention that you have been quite neglectful of your 40 in 14 list. Perhaps you need to look at it again and pick a few goals to tackle in the next 60 days.

Also, your wonderful sister invited you to join GO MIGHTY and you have really pretty much epically failed in keeping your goals listed on there and working toward them. You might want to look into doing a little something with this site.

How are your bucket list items going this year?

My moment of glory!

Take this - Chicago Fire!

I got a mention on a podcast. Let me preface this by saying - if you are not listening to the Satellite Sisters podcast - you are missing out!  They are HILARIOUS!

I am mentioned in about the last 7 minutes of THIS PODCAST.  Seriously, check out their website here: Satellite Sisters. You can also find them on Facebook.

And to boot - in the past week...I have won: a scrapbook paper pad; two rolls of foam tape AND a book. Maybe I should head to the boat with $20 and see what happens...

I hope your week is going well - tomorrow's Friday!

Thanks for stopping by.

Scrap your Stash

Looking for a scrapbooking challenge this month? Jump in over at SCRAP YOUR STASH.

Here is my March "kit"

Come on, dig through your stash and join in.

I can't wait to make some layouts from this kit.

What are you scrapping? 

What crafty projects do you going?

10 & Stuff

Little Miss had a big birthday yesterday....

She got Bananagrams (a game), a Barbie closet carrying case and a Rainbow Loom (which she used most of the evening-pictures to come!).

Happy birthday, punkin!

*************************************

Now....

I completed this crochet square for a crochet along. (and I'm behind, as square 2 is posted).

I'm happy with it. I plan to do all the squares in blues & browns.

For my scrapping friends, feel free to jump in on a couple of challenges....

Join the ladies over at Use your Stash

Above is my "kit" I put together for February (green, yellow, gold and woodgrain), using only my stash. I am excited to put together some layouts with it.

(You can join them through Facebook and Flickr too)

Also, join Kelly and Heather at Two Midwest Girls for their color challenge.

Link up with them, show off your creation using this combo and you may win a fabulous prize!

PS: If you want a fun, informative scrapbooking podcast to listen to, chevk out Scrap Owl. Renee is great!

Get your craft on and have a great Thursday!

February

Wow! Where did January go?!

Welcome to February! Now for my public service post....

I want to remind you that February is National Heart Health Month. (Ironically, the month my heart problem was discovered last year). Please visit AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION to educate yourself and learn about your risk factors and warning signs.

I am shamelessly going to also plug GO RED FOR WOMEN. This coming Friday, February 7 is Wear Red for Women Day. I would like to encourage you and anyone you know (co-workers, neighbors, family, etc) to wear red and make a donation to the American Heart Association or the Go Red for Women organization. Spread the word!

"Wordless" Wednesday

So this month, I've been attempting to keep up with a photo a day challenge (I haven't done them ALL!) put together by Fat Mum Slim. Here are a few of mine from this month so far.

Eyes

Black & White

 Breakfast

Starts with G

Word to live by

It happens everyday...the alarm

"Old School"

So this week, besides the freaking cold weather, my scrapping inspiration came from being included in the Old School Peas over at Two Peas in a Bucket.

These are the Peas who have been on the site for a loooong time. (I'm a 10 year member). We posted a recent layout (if we are still scrapping), chatted on the MB and caught up a little. I am looking forward to catching up more with these gals and keeping my scrapping going.

If you're a long lost Pea, I hope you'll join us each Friday.

Here's what I've scrapped this week. Sorry, I don't keep track of my supplies I use....

The streets are ice covered this morning, so it's time to throw something in the crockpot, clean house and hit my scrap desk.

Happy Saturday.

Join me tomorrow for Sunday Social.

Coming "soon"

I am anxious to see this in the spring

FARMLAND

Watching the trailer made me teary eyed. 

Friday Fun

Welcome to Friday!!! 
Is it just me or has this week been a long one? Today's post is a lot of randomness.

Thank you to all of you who read, comment on and follow my blog. I love hearing from you!

Happy

I hope you'll have time to do something with your yarn today.

Here's a taste of my Instagram lately...

I had a small touch with fame this week. 

2 of the guys from Chicago Fire replied to my tweets.

Joe Minoso plays Joe Cruz

and Randy Flagler plays Capp

in reference to this photo....

(I know...not a big deal but a small thrill for me)

If you want to follow me on Instagram or Twitter, I'm cubsfan3410.

If you want to check out some awesome and entertaining writing, my brother has a writing gig here: Hooniverse

Another of my brothers can be found here: P Rood Illustration. He has artwork and books for sale.

What are your weekend plans?

Keep calm....

posted from Pinterest

Pitchers and catchers report to camp on Sunday!

PS: I'm sorry I've been bad about blog visiting - I will try to catch up with ya over the next week. I appreciate all of you who stop by and leave your comments!!!

My inner nerd

I have been LOVING catching up on the podcasts for, Stuff You Missed in History Class.   Their website is great too!

Makes you think and wonder...

Why do I do this????

I have recently started a new addiction....

Pinterest!

O-M-G!  That seriously has to be the most amazing site...EVER!!!!!!!  I've been busy pinning and haven't really done anything to MAKE any of the items I've pinned.  Perhaps...soon!?

And what's worse...there's an app for it!  Now I can sit with my ipad in my lap and browse around.  OY!!!!!  

Where and when will the insanity end? Do I want it to?
But just in case I do want to end it...

Is there a 12 step program?


PS: I have one more vacation post (yes from our trip in JUNE....) to get up and I hope to do that in the next week.  Watch for another chapter of The Tourists (see the "travel" tag)

Attention readers...

I don't know if you are like me, but I read a really good book then can't decide what my satisfy my reading appetite next.
Here's a few websites to check out to help with the decision:  Sites to Help You Decide What to Read
I myself am a little partial to the "What Should I Read Next?" site.

What have you read lately and enjoyed?
How do you pick what you're going to read?

Happy Reading!

Websites

Check out the websites of 2 of my favorite artists:

Expressions by Emily Rood
Phil Rood Illustration

Happy Halloween!

Artwork from: SWEET COMMENTS

A treasure found...

One of the perks of working at a library is the chance to see what "new" materials are coming in to be processed to go on the shelves. Or the chance to wander through the stacks to see what "treasures" there are on the shelves you may have missed in the past. (And believe me, I think I find something new every time I go "treasure hunting")

Anyway...the other night at work, I came across this gem on the "new" items cart:

artwork courtesy of amazon.com

This book is a 3 hanky book! And I don't mean for your sorrow, those hankies are for your tears of laughter!!!! I literally had tears rolling down my face while looking through this. Mr. Dovev - you are a genius!

And behold, there is a website: CRAP AT MY PARENTS HOUSE Grab a tissue and check it out! My warning disclosure: this is not for the clean minded...there are MANY suggestive narratives to go with some suggestive photos. I would love to post some examples but do not want to violate any copyrights. So - check it out!