Happy Homey Holidays
I am currently reading A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg, I thought it would be a nice holiday book that has nothing to do with the holidays. Instead, it’s about the warmth of family and the joys of a well-used kitchen. However, I’m not very far into it, and that’s not really what this post is about.
I adore homey, cozy things. A thick homemade quilt, a pie, a dog, a cup of coffee, a good book (like the one mentioned above), these are all things that make my home feel like the kind of home I want people to remember. A big part of my home, too, is Scentsy.
I adore Scentsy mostly because candles got way too expensive for how quickly I go through them, and a wickless candle lasts much, much longer. There’s all the familiar smells: Hazelnut Latte, Baked Apple Pie, the usual suspects in my candle purchases, but instead of a $5 candle that lasts a few days, I can get a $5 bar of wax that lasts months.
I’m sharing this with you for several reasons:
1. It has truly helped me maintain an affordable good smelling home. Glade plugins and candles were becoming way too much in this economy, and my house smelling good is too high of a priority (for me with 3 dogs and a kid) to just stop buying those kinds of things that help me feel relaxed. Although those old school gel cones from Wally World are awesome, I also like being able to have my things out in sight of visitors, something that produces ambiance.
2. It is Christmas and they make great gifts. Order online and get it shipped straight to the intended person.
3. Money is much tighter than usual, and being a stay at home Mom/ part time Event Coordinator/ Writer/ Scentsy Consultant /Kung Fu Instructor without a solid and dependable source of income of my own, I could really use the cash. Ha! There, I said it, this post is in part a ploy to get you to open your wallet.
So all pride aside, I present in a link My Scentsy Site and offer a heartfelt thank you to my followers for reading my blog, whether you are a Scentsy shopper or not, I truly appreciate you all and hope you’ll forgive my groveling.
When We’re Not Reading – It’s Texas, It’s Friday, What do you think?
Growing up in Texas, one thing is supposed to be as gold as the Gospel, and that’s what’s happening on Friday Night at high schools all over the state. I was surrounded by this my whole life, but managed to only attend one game, and pretty much missed the whole extravaganza. I never participated in the Homecoming business, never went to a dance, got one of those mums the south is famous for from a friend, but was just never into it. Several times I showed up for a game, sang the national anthem with the choir, and then high tailed it out of there. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to stay – I was just so damn busy.
I don’t want the kiddo to miss it. Well, she can miss it if she wants, but I want her to at least have a chance to choose to not miss it. But I also plan to home school. So where does home school and good old fashion Texas High School Football have a chance to collide? In Andi-land, that’s where. Also in many school districts where they allow home school students to try out for teams and be a part of the school’s organizations.
So… There’s a high school right down the road from our house, it’s Friday Night, my husband was out for the evening, and I found out there was a home game. What do you think I decided to do?
General Admission Ticket: $7.00
Chili Cheese Nachos: $3.50
Watching Your 2 Yr. Old at Her First Football Game Ever: Priceless
(Actually, she stood in awe of the cheerleaders and then opted to color princesses while I tried to watch the game.)
St. Denis
Click to visit Kate’s Library
My thoughts on Part Four of Les Miserables
Maybe it is a bit shallow and unliterary of me to come away from St. Denis and only have the story of my own marriage on my mind, but that’s the truth of it. How can you read what has become a nearly epic love story and not think of your own? Call it what Hugo does, The Stupefaction of Complete Happiness, and then maybe you can forgive me for getting wrapped up in the romance of it all and not caring for the extensive history, the depth of the literature, and all the rest of it.
“From time to time Marius’ knee touched Cossette’s knee, which gave them both a thrill.” – Book Fifth
Do you remember that? That feeling like a shock, but so much gentler, when the object of your affection makes contact; the feeling incredibly enhanced when that person loves you back… Do you remember?
I met my husband when I was fourteen, my freshman year of high school. He was old for our grade and already fifteen. By the time I was fifteen too, I was sitting next to him at lunch our sophomore year, just friends but wondering desperately if he would ever want more. In those days, I thought a knee knock or a hand graze was everything. Come to find out, it was nothing compared to him taking my hand to walk me down the hall later that year. Or even much later – years later – when he would hold just my pinky finger under a blanket in college because we were under orders from my then boyfriend not to hold hands. We were best friends by then and the idea of not holding hands with my best friends was excruciating. That same evening he leaned in and whispered in my ear, “I’ll always love you,” and then some blithering nonsense about my boyfriend and the direction of our lives.
Things changed then. Obviously that (very awesome and dear to me) boyfriend didn’t last as a boyfriend, and I finally knew what I had wanted to know all along: my best friend was my truest love.
Our first year as a couple at my 3rd degree black belt test.
The innocent but thrilling touches didn’t end there, we spent an entire summer trying to ease my parents into the idea that he was around. I neither confirmed nor denied that he was my boyfriend – at twenty I didn’t think it was any of their business – but during the school term we were in different cities so we wanted to take advantage of the time we did have. It was like a Jane Austen novel in my head, something like Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill: catching glances across the room, brushing knuckles and fingertips in the hall. Sneaking a whisper and a kiss when no one was in the room.
“What passed between these two beings? Nothing. They were adoring each other.” – Book Eighth
Apparently, I have thing for secrets, because that was nearly the entirety of all my relationships, relishing in the act of not letting anyone know. The difference this time is I was dying to scream it from the roof tops: One day I will be Mrs. Jonathan Klemm!
As for complete happiness, it is still had. We fight and argue – after all, we are married- but at the end of the day, at the end of it all, I can snuggle up in the crook of my love’s arm and hold his hand. He will rub his thumb against mine, lean down and kiss my forehead, and all is well again. The thrill of the small and innocent touches still there – after all, we are married.
Skip to my next Les Miserables post.
A Day With a Klemm
Klemm. When I looked up the meaning of my married name, I found a definition somewhat like this one:
German: from Middle High German klem ‘narrow’, ‘tight’, ‘scarce’, hence a
nickname for a thin or inhibited person, or alternatively a topographic name for
someone living in a narrow, precipitous place, from the Middle High German noun
form klemme ‘constriction’.Read more on FamilyEducation: http://genealogy.familyeducation.com/surname-origin/klemm#ixzz26eR2FcGy
So it should come as no surprise that we have some very interesting daily habits that coincide with being a small, introverted, hobbit-like soul, that does not emerge from the house for days at a time. First of all, we eat like hobbits:
- Breakfast – 7am
- Second breakfast – 9 am
- Elevenses – 11 am
- Lunch – 1 pm
- Afternoon tea – 3pm
- Dinner – 6 pm
- Supper – 9 pm
In between all these meal times is a whole lot of coffee, a morning cleaning ritual, and lots of reading.
I get really into my books and the characters involved. And with that engagement comes an intense need to invite them in my home the same way I would a welcomed but unknown guest. I prepare coffee, make sure we have had our meals and have later meals prepared, clean the house (sweep, mop, vacuum, do the dishes and wipe down counters) and then I am ready to sit down with my future new friends – the lovely people portrayed in books.
So, I’m writing this blog post in between Elevenses and mopping the floor. My coffee is ready (more than ready, I’m on cup two – and my cups are overly large mugs that fit about half a French press in each serving) thinking about Louise de la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere and how we are going to enjoy some afternoon sandwiches together. That’s crazy book nerd talk for: I am going to be reading more of Karleen Koen’s Before Versailles while I munch on chicken salad sandwiches (I’m addicted to HEB’s Rotisserie Chicken Salad) and sip even more coffee.
I do the same thing before I write. Which is probably why I’ve been working on the same novel since I was 14 years old. Karleen said yesterday that it takes her a long time to complete a book, and all I could think was: Thank God, I am not alone, because I am taking forever. If my debut novel is half as good as hers (Through a Glass Darkly) I feel as though I will have accomplished something in life. I just want to finish it, get it in print, and have a completed work that someone – anyone – will remember.
I spend days on end reading and writing and eating with my daughter. It is only for events, planned activities for her benefit, and my random extreme extrovert days that get me out of the house. (One day, my daughter will probably tell you her mother was a bit wacky, as when I take personality tests I come out equally extroverted and introverted depending on the day. Some have misused the term bipolar on me, but I got that checked out and I’m not.) Yesterday I spent the whole day at Half Price Books running around and giving things away… today I will huddle up with Louise and Louis XIV and whoever my daughter interupts me with (LadyBug Girl a constant play friend in our house).
The Sorting Hat
… told me I was a Ravenclaw.
Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?
I’ve always been a big fan of The Sorting Hat, it was actually one of my favorite parts of the Harry Potter series, and I think they carried it over into the movies quite well. Would not have labeled myself a Ravenclaw, but I suppose everyone imagines themselves to be a Gryffindor when reading the books. Except a handful of self-proclaimed Slytherins I know. If you haven’t seen the music video Wizard Love, it’s fun, give it a go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjUb4Pr2HnY&feature=relmfu
Work Like Steinbeck… Journaling My Novels
When I first started reading Working Days
Although I find the East of Eden Letters to be more intriguing, a representation of a more beautiful life; Working Days is more inspirational. Working Days takes you step by step through the trials of being a diligent writer, of actively being purposeful, of learning a routine. The act of learning dedication to the craft was refreshing and encouraging, Working Days reminded me “See, even Steinbeck had to work for it.” Where as East of Eden Letters just seemed like a magical dream, the routine having already been discovered and maintained properly.
Although I would never dream to compare my work to Steinbeck’s, I found pleasure and familiarity from his entry:
“This must be a good book. It simply must. I haven’t any choice. It must be far and away the best thing I have ever attempted – slow but sure, piling detail on detail until a picture and experience emerge. Until the whole throbbing thing emerges.”
Is that not what we writers say to ourselves every day?
This picture features about half my journal collection.
Although I have always kept journals, both personal and story related, more often than not a mixture of the two; reading Working Days has put me in a new mindset. My first novel is in a place where I feel comfortable with putting an absolute deadline in motion. Sure, I’ve said this before, but I mean it more now than I have in the past. I’ve written about 1500 to 3000 words a day my whole life, on various different stories, some for my novel, many for writing warm ups. AJ and Ivy’s Bookshop Hotel, link found on the right, is one of my many writing warm-ups. The problem with many of my warm-ups is that I find them easy and cozy and their stories have no direction so sometimes I opt to linger there rather than get real work done.
So now I have a plan.
From now until December 12th, my deadline of choice, I am going to write one journal entry page per one page of work dedicated to completing my debut novel. Parts One and Two of my novel are currently in the editing process, and Part Three will be complete in time for this deadline. Copies will then be made and submitted to a selection of friends and family to read over. This time next year, I plan to be published. This time next year, I plan to be making a new plan to complete my next novel, many are half written in one of those journals you see on display to the left of the screen. Smashwords, here I come. Dutton, look out, I want you.
My Life in Literature Meme
A fun little exercise, taken from Becky’s Book Reviews, as well as A Room of Ones Own.
Using only books you have read this year (2012), answer these questions. Try not to repeat a book title.
Describe yourself: Treasure
How do you feel: Human Happiness
Describe where you currently live: The House of Mirth
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Planets
Your favorite form of transportation: The Mystery of the Blue Train
Your best friend is: Voice of Conscience
You and your friends are: Of Mice and Men
What is the best advice you have to give: How to Buy a Love of Reading
What’s the weather like:City of Ashes
You fear: The Map of Time
Thought for the day: Just Breathe
How I would like to die:Roast Mortem
My soul’s present condition: Dragonfly in Amber
“I can always live by my pen.”
The above quote is from the infamous Jane Austen. And although I don’t get paid for my writing (yet!), I’d like to think that I too live by my pen.
Journaling has always been such a huge part of my reading experience. So I don’t know why I haven’t thought of it before, but I was reading through the blogs I follow this morning and discovered a new one: The Journal Keepers. Immediately, I thought that it was about time I had a post about journaling.
Journaling is a crucial part of the learning experience. When you read, listen, or are shown anything its so important to take note of new information. After your notes, discuss how it affects you, and make plans for its use in the future.
Journaling keeps your brain active, keeps you on your toes. Its also good for documentation – keeping tabs on all you’ve discovered and how you’ve changed over the years. Its how you avoid repeating history and all the bad things of your past, see your progress, revel in your accomplishments.
There are so many different ways to journal. Some people keep strict notes or outlines. Some people make lists, tell stories, or merely share their day. I’ve seen journals full of poetry, and journals full of nothing but sketches and other art work. I’ve heard of people who only journal using prompts either from websites, magazines, books, or sometimes simply from the journal.
Mine? A combination of all of the above, but the prompts I usually come up with myself or get from close friends.
There are so many different ways to partake in this enriching activity, and it doesn’t really matter how you do it, the important thing is the doing itself. I can’t imagine writing a useful review with out sitting down with my journal at some point while reading the book, or at least immediately after finishing the book. I don’t know how I would effectively sort through my TBR pile without my beloved notebooks. My entire life is chronicled, book after book, with messy, sprawling ink from my pen – years and years of thoughts, events, emotions, lists, notes, quotes, and more.
Do you journal while you read? How do you journal?
Anakalian Whims 