Summer reading, gladiator-style

The Aurora Public Library, like many libraries, has a summer reading program for kids. You know how this goes, right?  Kids read a certain number of books (or in the case of non-readers, kids are read to for a certain number of hours) and they receive a prize when they meet the reading requirement. 

Last year, I signed the Little Guy up for this and we had a good time.  Prizes included pencils, bookmarks and coupons for free dinner items at local restaurants.  It was nice.   

This year, I learned that the APL also has a summer reading program for adults.  Adults have to read six books for an entry into a Grand Prize drawing, and there's something in there about receiving a free book.  Each person can enter the Grand Prize drawing up to four times.  

Now, I don't know what the Grand Prize is nor do I care. I do know that the adult summer reading program gives me the chance to read (which I like to do anyways) on a competitive level.  Competitive reading...isn't that awesome?

Finally, a sport at which I can excel.

The contest, er...reading program, started on June 4 so I am a little behind.  Here's my first stack:

First up is Jenny Lawson's Let's Pretend This Never Happened.  Jenny Lawson is The Bloggess, and if you don't read her blog I suggest you start immediately. 

The Aurora Public Library is having a book discussion for The Zookeeper's Wife in mid-July.  I am thinking of going not to discuss the book, but to check out my competition. I'm hoping to intimidate my fellow reading gladiators by convincing them that not only am I a better/faster/more awesome reader, but that I will win this competition OR ELSE.  My intimidation plan so far includes bringing a huge stack of books to the discussion group, opening them all and reading a bit from each before switching over to another.  I will occasionally, randomly and dramatically slam one shut and scream at my competitors "Another book bites the dust. IN YOUR FACE!"

That sounds intimidating, right? I just don't want to be too over the top and scare someone out of the competition.  When I win, I want my victory to be over thousands of fellow area readers, not just a few people who didn't attend the discussion that day and weren't able to witness my gladiator-level reading skills. Please let me know if this intimidation plan seems like too much.

Candy Construction, while on my reading list, will not be used in my intimidation plan.  Can you imagine how embarrassing it would be to be screaming "IN YOUR FACE" and then someone would be all "But you're reading about candy construction!?" 

How can I intimidate competitors with a book featuring edible crafts including this totally adorable rice krispie treat pirate ship (which is perfect for the Little Guy's 5th birthday, by the way)?  The answer: I can't.  And that's why Candy Construction will be read in the privacy of my own home.

So that's my Phase One reading for the Adult Reading Program: Literate Gladiator competition.  Though I have yet to log a book, I feel really confident in my ability to kick ass in this contest. Wish me luck, dear readers!

Unless you are a competitor, in which case....IN YOUR FACE!

Have a book suggestion for me?  I'd love to know what's on your summer reading list! Let me know in the comments.  Happy reading!

Martha Monday--Martha's Entertaining

I finally got my hands on Martha Stewart's Martha's Entertaining: A Year of Celebrations.  And it's amazing. 

Martha's Entertaining is an inside look at a year's worth of celebrations as planned, coordinated and executed by Martha Stewart.  All celebrations were authentic: they were done for that particular holiday/occasion, and nothing was staged.  What a refreshing change from the usual magazine schedule...for magazine layouts, they often shoot a feature or story 6-8 months in advance (such as a Christmas scene staged in the month of June). But for this book, the parties and soirees were real events hosted by Martha throughout the year.  Awesome!

The book is divided into times of day: Mornings, Afternoons and Evenings. Every single holiday was given its due, from Easter to Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas. Several dinner parties, cocktail hours, family breakfasts and picnics are also included, and formats ranged from very formal to completely relaxed.

Martha's Entertaining contains a ton of beautiful pictures about every aspect of each event: the food, guests, decorations, preparations, setting, etc. 

A large section at the end of the book contains recipes and how-to instructions.  No matter what you are planning, this book is sure to provide an invigorating dose of inspiration.

Have you seen this book? If so, what did you think?  I love the glimpse it gave into Martha's life.  Everything is so beautiful and it seems totally effortless to make it happen.  Though I know better--events are a ton of work, and Martha has an entire staff to do that work for her. 

Now, more so than ever, I want to live her life.  Or maybe be reincarnated as one of her dogs.  Either way, that's a win-win.

Martha Monday--Pies & Tarts

I've been hearing about this book for months now, and it's finally out.  You can buy it here.

If Pies & Tarts is anything like Cookies, then I have to get my hands on this.  Now.

Martha Monday--Win the book, courtesy of Singer Sewing Company!

Last Monday, I wrote about Martha's new book, The Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts.  As it turns out, you can win your very own copy of this book courtesy of the Singer Sewing Company.  They're giving away a copy of the Encyclopedia each day in April.

Here's how to enter:  become a Fan of Singer on facebook here, and/or become a follower of Singer on Twitter here.  On each odd-numbered day, a winner will be chosen from the fans on facebook.  On even-numbered days, they'll choose a name from their Twitter followers.  You can find the official rules here. 

While you're signing up to follow Singer on Twitter, go ahead and follow Martha, and me.  Yeah, I'm listed as "miniMartha" on Twitter--that's how I roll.  Happy Monday!

Martha Monday--sewing crafts and chickens

Last week, Martha introduced her 71st craft book, Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts. 

First of all, 71 craft books?!? Holy cow. That is amazing!

Secondly, I need to suggest this book to the Big Guy for a Mother's Day gift, being as I recently birthed our second child and all. 

Third, just looking at the preview of the book on Martha's website and blog are getting me excited to break out my own sewing machine, which hasn't seen the light of day in years.  That, my dear readers, is a good thing. 

In other Martha news, she recently posted this video on her blog, and my Little Guy cannot get enough of it.  She is demonstrating how to put a chicken to sleep...sleep as in a snooze, not as in beheading, so the video is just fine for the kids. Enjoy!

Martha on the cheap

Yesterday, I spent all morning hitting the local garage sales with My Big Martha and sister. I got a stack of three books at one sale.

"How much for these three books?" I asked.

"Oh, fifty cents," was the reply.

I gave that woman two quarters and ran....you'll see why in a second.

The first book is Grover's I Can Dress Myself. Fitting, since the Little Guy is in his ME/MINE phase now, and is working on dressing himself. And by dressing myself, I mean he tries to put on shoes and ends up wearing them on his hands. Just so I'm clear on that.

The second book is Richard Scarry's Naughty Bunny. Seriously, that bunny looks a little deranged. He's holding a saw! What kind of child/bunny wields a saw? I should have investigated more before I bought it.

But I didn't do enough recon, and it's all because of the third book:

I got Martha's Handmade Christmas (1995).

What a find! It's Martha...

Martha....

Martha...

...for the low, low price of $0.166. What a deal! I ran from that sale because had the woman realized what she had done--given away a vintage Martha book for only sixteen cents--she would be chasing me down to get it back.

Bonus! There's a picture of me and Martha canning brandied pears to give as gifts for our friends and neighbors. It's on page 89.

Just kidding. That's not me with Martha. But wouldn't it be awesome if it was?

Sigh. I just love a good garage sale.