January in review

Thanks to everyone who has read, commented and shared my blog this month. I really appreciate it. I’m looking forward to February, but first, take a look at what else I’ve been up to:

Books

“How Carrots Won the Trojan War, Curious (but True) Stories of Common Vegetables” by Rebecca Rupp. I picked this up at our company book sale based on the title alone. It turned out to be a really fun read. Spoiler alert: Every edible thing, at one time or another, was considered an aphrodisiac.

“The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien. This one was my book club’s January selection, which we chose because we were excited about the new movie. I’ve never read any Tolkien stuff, but I have seen (and own and love) all the LOTR movies. I seem to remember some people in high school having to read this for English class. One of my book clubbers is a high school English teacher. I have many questions for her.

“Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline. Holy crap, this is a great book! It’s “The Hunger Games” meets “The Matrix” meets every ’80s book, movie, TV show or game you’ve ever heard of. I’m so impressed by the amount of work it must have taken to write it. Plus, Cline lives in Austin, so I feel like he’s my neighbor.

“Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)” by Mindy Kaling. Kaling is a writer on “The Office” and the book is about basically everything that leads to her landing that gig. I love reading about people who make things happen for themselves, and she is one of them. It’s inspiring. Also, I love the part about her choosing an outfit for a dance audition. Poor, poor thing.

Movies

“Mission: Impossible 4, Ghost Protocol” Guns, fights, explosions and lots of Jeremy Renner. Works for me.

“The Artist” Basically the exact opposite of “M:I 4 GP” in every way. This movie is just gorgeous. I love everything about it. I hope it wins Best Picture.

Internet Highlights

“In Your Arms” by Kina Grannis on YouTube. Watch the making of video, too. I love creativity!

Why we need to let kids be creative on CNN.com

Mila’s Daydreams and this article on MSN.com about it. So cute!!

How to Live a Creative Life flow chart on FastCompany.com

Coming up in February

I’m participating in Mary Robinette Kowal’s Month of Letters Challenge. Do it with me!

A new page; Quote of the Week

Check out my new Links page if you haven’t already. It has a list of blogs and sites that I like and will be updated on the regular. If you have suggestions for other blogs and sites, please let me know with a comment on that page. Also, I’ve added a StumbleUpon button as a sharing option for posts. Stumble me!

This week’s quote comes from a woman who defined my idea of character. Hers was the first book series I ever read, and I still have my original set of paperbacks with the creased spines and yellowed pages. She and her main character are the reason why I’ll name my daughter Laura, if and when I ever have one. (Middle name will be Jo. Can you guess why?)

“If enough people think of a thing and work hard enough at it, I guess it’s pretty nearly bound to happen, wind and weather permitting.”

~ Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the Little House series

 

I hope everyone has beautiful weather this weekend! Be creative!

~Stef

Photo Prompt Two

Who lives in the mansion on the corner?

Galveston, Texas 2007

Ms. Wilson hobbles from room to room, remembering the days of glittering gowns, crisp tuxedos, brass bands and flowing champagne. They called her Miss Amelia back then, and she had her choice of any one of them. Her father liked the banker because he came from a suitable family and would properly manage their wealth. Her mother preferred the actor, who was handsome and sure to be a star. Her best friend since childhood, poor, plain Mariam, said to choose her heart’s desire.

Nobody could understand how Amelia Wilson, THE Amelia Wilson, ended up alone. They knew that Mrs. Wilson ran off with the actor and Mr. Wilson drank himself to death. They knew that Miss Amelia, that generous, grieving soul, offered poor Mariam Fairchild a living within the residence. Years passed. Amelia and Mariam became Ms. Wilson and Ms. Fairchild, the spinsters in the mansion on the corner.

Amelia hobbles to the kitchen table where Mariam is pouring tea with a shaky hand. Amelia sits by the window that overlooks the terrace. Sometimes a few of the folks from those days come by. They point to the mansion and remember everything they knew. What they never knew never crossed their minds. What they never knew was that all those years ago, Amelia chose Mariam.