2013 Reading List

Ok so I didn't reach my goal in 2012.

Whatever.

I'm trying again in 2013.  This time I'm going for a whole 20 books! 

And I'm gonna do it this time!  So come back to this post (the link will be in the sidebar) or friend me on Goodreads to see my progress. 

1. Playing For Pizza, John Grisham (12/21/12-1/25/13)

2.  A Walk to Remember, Nicholas Sparks (1/25/13-1/31/13)

3. Cosmopolis, Don DeLillo (2/1/13-did not finish) I just couldn't get into it

4. Northern Lights, Nora Roberts (2/7/13-3/11/13)

5. Beautiful Creatures, Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl (3/11/13-3/25/13)

6. Clockwork Princess, Cassandra Clare (3/26/13-4/24/13)

7. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky (4/24/13-4/28/13)

8. Beautiful Darkness, Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl (4/29/13-5/15/13)

Currently Reading:

Beautiful Chaos, Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl (5/24/13-

One month, 23 Letters

 

I've decided to join the Month of Letters

 

 

It's a challenge for the month of February to mail at least one item for every day the mail runs.  A letter, a postcard, an article...whatever.

 

 

Let me know if you'd like to receive something from me. 

You can find my email on my blogger profile, connect with me on lettermo or input your info on my postable account 

Pictures, pictures, everywhere!

 

Even before taking photography seriously I loved taking photos and looking through old family photos. 

 

Back in the day when we used film or Polaroids before that, we'd take them, have them printed, throw them in a drawer or box where they'd sit until we dug through them looking for something.

 

 

 

The last time we moved which was about 12 years ago I decided to take on the project of organizing all the prints along with all the ones my mom had laying around. 

 

 

I was going to put them in chronological order and get them all in albums and labeled like the ones you see here:
 

 

 

Then when my grandmother passed away in 2004 and we were going through some of her stuff I ended up taking a trunk full of family photos home to go through.

 

 

Problem is, these photos I have posted here.....they were just taken today.  Yeah, that's how far I've gotten on my project over the past 12 years!!

Not to mention the fact that all the 100's of prints I have in these boxes only date through about mid 2004.  That's when I went digital. 
I'd say I've taken thousands since then.  I didn't have to worry about wasting film.  Now all those sit on my hard drive waiting for something to be done with them.

I always figured I'd have a selection of them printed for each year and add them to the rest so we'd have something to physically hold and look at. 

Now I just feel overwhelmed! 
But I hate that they are just sitting around in boxes!

I'm thinking about getting some of these cases to make it quicker and easier to store them rather than trying to get them all in albums.




I'll feel much better when I dig myself out of this hole.  IF I ever dig myself out!




Going Postal

I know I've mentioned this before but I haven't blogged in so long it bears repeating......I love snail mail!!!

In the past couple of months my love for it has been rekindled.  I'm a member of Postcrossing and have been increasing my activity there, exchanging more postcards, especially in the forum. 

Here are a few I've recently sent out:

And a few I've recently received:

 

I've also found a renewed interest in pen paling.  I've been writing a few women that I found through Postcrossing.  There's also a few other sites I'm thinking about joining. 

Months ago I wrote to someone whose blog about mail I found and I received a letter from her this past week!

My daughter had gotten me a gift card to a local bookstore for my birthday in November and I finally got around to spending it.  I bought this cool book about mail art.

My mail is a bit boring compared to some stuff I've been seeing so I wanted to try my hand at sprucing it up a little.

Project 366 completed!

Over the past few years I've tried variety of photography projects with no success.  Either I'd get bored or just didn't take the time for it. 

I attempted a Project 365 in 2010 and I think I made it until about March before I decided it was too much pressure to come up with a good photo each day.  Plus, as much as I love photography I've never been able to get in the habit of having my camera with me all the time so it's available when the mood strikes or the perfect photo opp presents itself.

I've tried a couple 52 week projects and they fizzled out.  I also started a Scavenger Hunt of 101 things and a 100 possibilities project (100 different photos of the same item).  For some reason I just couldn't get into the habit of thinking about it and working on them regularly.  Though I would like to try to pick back up at least on the 100 possibilities one.

Each time I didn't finish I'd feel like a complete failure.  But for some reason I'd try my hand at another. 

But in 2012 I finally finished one!!

I decided to try another 365 project, well 366 since it was a leap year.  But this time I used my phone because I always have that with me!  And I did it.  Some of the photos kinda suck because I'd wait until the last minute or it was just a non eventful day.  Some of my favorites are in the collage. 

If you're interested seeing more check out my Instagram feed

It's actually felt a little weird the past couple days not doing a daily photo.  But I need the break.  I was getting to the point where I was having to "force" myself to come up with something and then its starts getting to be no fun. 

Hello......Is this thing on?

**clears throat**  Ahem. 

So, is there anyone still out there? 

Wow, I've been gone 11 months. 

Never planned that, it just happened.  Not that I have anything to hide but, I won't go into it all right now.  Let's just say 2012 was a rough year for me mentally and emotionally. 

I'm looking forward to what 2013 has to offer and to getting back to blogging and many other things I've "let go" of for so long. 

Hope you'll join me!