February Reads

One star = did not like it at all

Two stars = eh, it was okay

Three stars = liked it

Four stars = really, really liked it

Five stars = absolutely loved it

1-Star (0)

2-Stars (4)

**Daily Rituals (Non-Fiction, Mason Curry)
I had high hopes for this book because it seems that everyone in the bookstagram/blogging world raves about it.  But….I was bored.  The book chronicles the daily rituals of ‘artists’ (mostly authors).  However, I had never heard of 75% of the artists in the book.  And honestly….their daily rituals were pretty boring.  (I’m not quite sure what I was expecting ha ha)

(Book, donated to LFL)

**Goodbye, Things (Non-Fiction, Fumio Sasaki)

Minimalism is HUGE right now.  And while I agree with some of the aspects of it, some people take it to the extreme (like this guy).  Not for me.

(FREE Hoopla audio book)

**The Great Gatsby (Fiction, F. Scott Fitzgerald)

Hmm.  This was a re-read.  I remember reading it in high school and really enjoying it.  I think I even read it a couple of times!  But this time….I was soooooo bored.  Nick (the narrator) was the only likeable character in the story, however the story is not about Nick.  It is about the mysterious Jay Gatsby and his obsession with his neighbor, Daisy Buchanan.  Who are both incredibly unlikable characters (in my opinion).  So while Nick was an actual character (Daisy’s cousin), he felt just completely like, well, a narrator.  A boring one at that.  I do plan to watch the movie though.  I have a couple other Fitzgerald novels on my shelf, now I’m afraid to read them!  I need to stop comparing Fitzgerald to Hemingway (who I love).  

(Book, donated to LFL)

**Magic Hour (Fiction, Kristin Hannah)

The OLD Kristin Hannah used to write mostly 'fluff', although I had heard that this one was more substantial than her other fluffy books (remember, these were all BEFORE 'The Nightengale' and 'The Great Alone').  The story was okay, but just...missing a lot.  And the ending was very abrupt.  However, I still LOVE Kristin Hannah and am glad she is not writing fluff anymore.

(Book, donated to LFL)

3-Stars (5)

***Sleep Revolution (Non-Fiction, Arianna Huffington)

This book was mostly aimed at people who get less than 7-8 hours of sleep each night BY CHOICE.  At least, that’s what I thought.  You know, people who work late, stay up late, and then get up for a 5:00 a.m. workout.  It doesn’t focus so much on people like me, who STRIVE to get 7 – 8 hours of sleep per night, but struggle to get 6 (not by choice).  However, this book still gets 3 stars because it is a wealth of information on the subject and it does contain very helpful advice about healthy sleep habits and interesting tidbits (did you know that Tom Brady goes to bed every night at 8:30?)  I look forward to reading her other book on my shelf (Thrive).

(Book, donated to LFL)

***I Let You Go (Fiction, Claire Mackintosh)

I picked up this book at the Dallas Airport on my way to Memphis in December.  This is one of those books where halfway through you’re hit with a ‘WHATTTTTTT’ moment.  And I like that.  It’s a mystery, but not like a ‘who done it’ kind of mystery.  A little fluffy at times, but I still enjoyed it.

(Book, donated to LFL)

***Brain on Fire (Non-Fiction, Susannah Cahalan)

This one was good.  What I got from it is that you MUST be your own advocate when it comes to your health.  And if you don’t have the mental capacity to do so, then your family must step up.  Susannah’s parents fought for her and would not just ‘accept’ the countless misdiagnoses she had been given.  And because they did, she got the correct diagnosis and the correct treatment.

(Book, donated to LFL)

***The Year of Less (Non-Fiction, Cait Flanders)

This is a memoir of sorts about a Canadian woman who stopped shopping, gave away 70% of her stuff, lived on less than half of her income, and basically changed her whole life in one year.  But it was substantial…she had a big drinking problem (that’s where most of her money was going) and she tackles that, eating, relationship issues, etc.  I enjoyed it, she was very REAL about her struggles.

(FREE Hoopla audio book)

***Commonwealth (Fiction, Ann Patchett)

Ann Patchett is just an EXCELLENT writer.  Bel Canto, Run, State of Wonder….oh….State of Wonder was SO GOOD.  Commonwealth….not my favorite by her.  However, I still gave it 3 stars just for the writing and for the first chapter alone.  In the first chapter she describes a party in Southern California in 1964 so incredibly vividly that I could almost taste the oranges and gin.  But…..the story was kind of all over the place for me and there were a LOT of people to keep track of.  Basically, the book follows 6 adult children that are step-siblings as a result of a single incident that happened at the above mentioned party.  So while I wasn’t captivated by this book (as I was her others), it’s still a three star read for me because of her phenomenal story-telling skills.

(Book, donated to LFL)

4-Stars (2)

 ****Beartown (Fiction, Fredrik Backman)

I've only ever read one other book by Backman, A Man Called Ove.  I liked it okay, but it was nothing earth-shattering.  I've heard the same about his other books as well, with one exception:  Beartown.  Now....I'll just say this now....this book has some swearing.  And some other things (think....high school boys locker room talk).  Triggers galore.  Which is why I didn't give it five stars.  The whole time I was reading it, I just kept thinking, this CAN'T be the same author that wrote A Man Called Ove!  His writing is AMAZING.  There were so many times that I wish I had my highlighter on me so I could highlight some passages.  

The premise of the book is a small Norwegian or Danish town (it doesn't really specify) that lives/breathes/dies hockey.  And then a tragedy occurs that puts everything and everyone in jeopardy.  There is LOADS of hockey stuff in the book, but you do NOT have to know a lot about hockey to enjoy this book.  I am a 'hockey wife' (meaning...we subscribe to the NHL Network and when the Blackhawks are playing, they trump all other television programs.)  I know more about hockey than I ever thought I would.  But, again, you don't need to know about hockey to enjoy this book.  It was amazing.  I look forward to his next one.

(Book, keeper)

****A Simplified Life (Non-Fiction, Emily Ley)

I enjoy books about housekeeping, simplifying, etc.  This one was nice because it's actually kind of a workbook as well.  Although I didn't fill anything in, I did highlight some things that I thought were great tips.  It's a very easy read.

(Book, keeper)

5-Stars (2)

*****I Could Chew On This (Non-Fiction, Francesco Marciuliano)

This was a fantastically quirky book that my brother and sister-in-law sent me.  It's a book of poems written from a dog's perspective.  It was laugh out loud funny.  The poems would start off all serious and you would think that they were going to make you cry and be sad, but then all of the sudden they took a turn and were hilarious.  It was brilliant!

(Book, keeper)

*****The Little Grumpy Cat That Wouldn't (Fiction, Little Golden Book)

This one was one that my sister sent me.  It was fantastic because the Little Grumpy Cat was of course grumpy throughout the whole thing and you think that by the end she will become happy or something but she doesn't!  Which makes it fantastic.  The Little Grumpy Cat remains the Little Grumpy Cat.  Awesome!

(Book, keeper)

Total Books Read:  13 (6 fiction, 7 non-fiction)

Formats

E-Books: 0

Audio Hoopla: 2

Audio CD: 0

Real Books:  11 

Abandoned books: 0

I was actually surprised that I didn't get through more books this month, especially because of my surgery and down-time.  But it turns out that the first week and a half after my surgery I was still taking my pain killers and I was drowsy and just wanted to watch TV.  I actually think that next month my count will be higher.  I am off work the rest of this week and all of next week as well, so I plan to make a dent in that library stack I picked up!

How to Make a Dry Erase Menu Board

Last week I got a little board and decided to do something kind of crafty.

I made a dry erase menu board for our kitchen counter.  It was extremely easy and took about 15 minutes.

I picked up an 8x10 picture frame from Home Goods.  Then I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up some patterned paper.  I wanted something pretty, but not too dark.  I also got two different kind of stickers...one package of capital letters, and one package of lowercase letters.

Patterned paper usually comes in 12x12 size, so I had to cut it down to fit the frame.  I just took the paper that comes with the frame to use as a template.

Then I added the stickers.  I just put 'Dinner' across the top and SMTWTFS down the left side.  I didn't make it too difficult, I just eyeballed it.

Then I just slipped it into the frame.

All that was left was getting a dry erase marker.  Dry-erase markers work perfectly on glass!

I chose this one (Target) that came with a little eraser on the tip.

I would suggest only using black.  On glass, other colors won't show up very well.

And then I filled in my menu for the week!  Last week was different because we had 3 meals delivered to us by different people.  But it was still helpful because I knew what family was coming on what night.  And as you can see, the black marker worked great!

Super easy project....total cost was $20.  $10 for the frame and $10 for the stickers and paper.  It could be hung on the wall too I suppose, but I just set it on our countertop.

That's it!

How to Glue a Puzzle

My sister sent me this great puzzle of book covers a couple of weeks ago.  After I finished putting it together, I didn't want to take it apart!  I wanted to keep it!

So I did.

First, put together your puzzle (yes, I'm captain obvious).

Once your puzzle is finished, you'll need some wax paper and tape.  Cut strips of wax paper and tape them together...enough to slide underneath your puzzle. I used three sheets for mine:

Carefully move your puzzle to a 'safe' surface if it isn't on one already.  Ours was originally on our wooden writing desk, so my husband and I moved it to the island in the kitchen.  Depending on the size of the puzzle, this may be a two person job.

Take a dusting cloth and wipe off the puzzle.  Puzzles can be very dusty, so wiping it off will help the Mod Podge go on smoother.

Now it's time for Mod Podge.

I think that any Mod Podge will work, but I got the 'Puzzle Saver' kind.  It looks just like white glue.  All you do is brush a layer over the whole puzzle.  It may be hard to see in some spots.  It goes on white (but don't worry, it dries clear).

Once the Mod Podge is dry (I let mine dry about 20-30 minutes), flip the puzzle over, and wipe off the back with a dust cloth.

Then brush the back side with Mod Podge as well.

Let it dry for 30 minutes.  And then it's done!  I wanted to hang it in the library, because, well, BOOKS!

I just added some Command strips to the back and slapped it up on the wall.

(I spy ears)

I love it!

And can I just say that I love our little library.  It's just an odd little room full of odd angles and slanted walls and mis-matched furniture, but I still love it.

It's an easy project and I love the end result!

What Helps

I am 12 days post-op.  The first couple of days were rough, pain wise.  I didn't get out of bed much.  But since then, I've felt a lot better.  I still have 'off' days (especially mentally), but for the most part I'm doing pretty good.  I did some research and even when you still have your ovaries, having a hysterectomy can still mess with your emotions for a while.  And it has.

Here is what has been helping me tremendously:

1.  My family.  I could not have done this without their help and support!  My husband and mother-in-law have been taking care of me every day.  And the constant texts and phone calls from my family have been wonderful.

2.  Cards and treats from family and friends.  It brings such a smile to my face!

3.  Outings.  I have only been out a couple of times, but each time it felt SO GOOD!

4.  Tea.  I LOVE hot tea and it has been so much comfort to me.  There's just nothing like a hot cup of fresh tea!

5.  Books.  One of my outings was to the library and books have been a phenomenal distraction.

6.  Puzzles.  I NEVER would have thought I would enjoy doing puzzles so much. The first one I did was one that my sister sent me.  I worked on it for a few days and the night before my surgery I worked on it for HOURS and it was the BEST distraction ever.  So I got another one at Target that I just finished.  And then I ordered one from Amazon (an antique world map!) that is supposed to be arriving today.  They're kind of addicting!

7.  Johnson's Baby Wash.  I know this seems like an odd thing to have on my list, but the first shower I took when I came home was painful because I used my own body wash on my incisions and other areas.  Not good.  So I dug through the stuff the hospital sent home with me and found this.  Then my mother-in-law went out and bought me a giant bottle of it.  It so gentle, I love it!

8.  Meals.  My surgery was on a Monday.  We had meals delivered that Wednesday and Friday and the following week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  We had so many delicious dinners brought by our friends!  My friend from Massachusetts brought New England Chicken Pot Pie (her mother's recipe).  It had mashed potatoes AND stuffing in it.  It was delicious.  And it was soooo nice to not have to worry about cooking/meal planning for a while.  Plus we had lots of leftovers too.

9.  Pets.  Their presence is just nice and always welcome.

Well I think that's it!  I have two more weeks off of work.  :)

Surgery

I had surgery February 12th.  It was scheduled at 2:45, but my surgeon was running late, so I didn't have it until 5:00.  It was a long wait.  But it all went very, very well.  I had a laparoscopic robot assisted hysterectomy.  So basically, my surgeon removed my uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes, and a cyst on my ovary.  I was able to keep both of my ovaries, which I was VERY happy about.  I won't have to deal with hormone replacement therapy.

I had 4 incisions (well...externally...by the way, some of this may be TMI, but this is my diary of sorts so....oh well).  One of the incisions is in my belly button (which they put the camera in).  I have one incision on my left side and two on my right.  And one on the inside.  They used the robot to disconnect everything inside, then they pulled out my uterus through...well, use your imagination.  

When I woke up I wasn't in any pain (thanks to the meds), then they wheeled me to my recovery room, where I stayed the night.

The two biggest issues I had after surgery really had nothing to do with the procedure.  The first was my catheter, which they put in AFTER I was under general anesthesia.  It was HORRIBLE.  I felt like my bladder was ready to burst.  Which I could not understand because the whole point of a catheter is to keep your bladder empty.  It's all I could focus on.  I did not get any sleep that night, because honestly, who can sleep with the feeling of a full bladder?!?

And the next issue was the gas.  Sorry.  But anytime they do laparoscopic abdominal surgery, they fill up your abdomen with carbon dioxide gas so that they have better visualization of your organs.  Well....when I got out of surgery I looked as if I was about 9 months pregnant.  And my abdomen was as hard as a rock.  

Well, the gas has to come out somehow.  And it did.  But VERY slowly.  So the first two days I was extremely uncomfortable.  I didn't get much sleep after I got home for the first two nights.

But it got MUCH better.  Once I got rid of the gas and all of the water they pump into you via the IV, I felt way better and was able to get comfortable and get some sleep.

So I am doing VERY well.  I am taking it easy and letting my body heal.  My pain is manageable.  In fact, for the past two days I've taken just Advil.  Nothing else.  My incisions are healing nicely (although they still look gross).  I am watching what I lift (nothing heavier than a gallon of milk).  Drinking plenty of water.  

And, most importantly, I FEEL BETTER.  No more pain from years of endometriosis and fibroids.  No more periods!  Ever!  

Addition

In the last week of January, the addition started on our house.  The first part was knocking down an outer wall so that the workers could have access to the correct part of the house.

But then, the more they dug, they found some plumbing issues.  Unfortunately, they were major.  And we had to fix them.  

Our house looked like this for a few days:

There used to be a wall here.  Her kitchen will go in the 'box' below...so two of her kitchen walls will be brick.  The white door will be removed, the doorway widened, and that will be her little hallway that leads to her living room.  She'll have a sliding glass patio door along one of the new walls, and on the other new wall (facing the front) will be her front door and also another window.  And then we'll put back up a wall or fence for privacy.

So the plumbing issue has been fixed at least.  It set us back a couple of weeks and a lot of $.  But, our house is 50 years old and we knew we would have some setbacks.  So it's okay.  I'm glad it's fixed.  And I'm so excited for my mother-in-law to get her new kitchen!