How to Make More Time for Reading!

Today I'm linking up with Toronto Sam and her cohosts:   Adrienne, Dara, Jen, and Joanne,. for their monthly link-up!  This month's topic is:

Make More Time for Reading!

Read Magazines Before Bed = Instant Relaxation!

For many years (i.e. after I had kids), I did not read books.  It was too much of a commitment, and I had too little time to read.

Reading magazines allowed me to read.    Consequently, I got several magazine subscriptions.  These are the subscriptions that I have now:  Woman's Day, Real Simple, HGTV and Country Living.  Reading magazines gave me short snippets to read before bed.  Plus, I find these magazines to be very soothing and inspirational.  

Read Books on the Libby App

When I taught, I discovered Libby which is a free app offered through your public library.  I downloaded so many children's e-books to read to my class at snack on the "big screen." Fast forward:  I now have a granddaughter who takes naps.  This is a perfect time to read an e-book! (They also have audio books!)  I always have several books on hold (of course, the holds usually become available at the same time!).   The best part is you always have a book to read without remembering your book!

Here is an example from my Hold Shelf.  You can "freeze" your available books until you are ready to read them.  You won't lose your place in line so you should get them quickly after you "thaw" the hold.

Library Books

I always have "real" (hard cover) books that I get from the library or reserve through interlibrary loans.  I read these books after I finish reading my magazine.  I try to spend at least an hour reading before I go to sleep.  Now that it's winter, I'm so cold at night, I fall asleep before reading for 20 minutes!

Here are some of my holds:

As you can see, I'll be waiting for a while for these books, but I can always find another book to read at the library.  I love see book recommendations on blogs or on Instagram.  I want to make sure that I'm looking forward to reading because it's such a joy.

In addition, I'm on Goodreads if you want to follow along.  I'll follow you back, too!  If you have any must-read books, please let me know!

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Friday Favorites: Veteran's Day and Books to Check Out/Latest Amazon Purchases!

Today I'm delighted to link up for Friday Favorites with Andrea from Momfessionals and Erika from A Little Bit of Everything!      

 Friday Favorites for the First Week of November!

At school, we always had a Veteran's Day assembly.  We also learned about this holiday in class.  As part of our Morning Messages, I included this beautiful poem by Cheryl Dyson:

Check out the Veterans Day poem here too.

In addition, several students brought in family military artifacts.  Adriana even wrote a book to accompany her father's and grandfather's dog tags:

Perfect Veteran's Day Picture Book:

Last summer I read The Women by Kristin Hannah so the Vietnam War is fresh in my mind.  The Wall by Eve Bunting is a touching story of finding soldiers name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.  I remember how powerful the traveling wall was for me so I enjoy sharing this book with my students.  The Wall is a touching and memorable book that is perfect to read around Veterans Day.

A Bike Like Sergio's - a Must-Read Book!


We read this book by Maribeth Boelts:

Click on the book to read more on Amazon.

In this story, Ruben desperately wants a bike, but his family doesn't have the money to afford a new bike.  One day, while in a store, a shopper drops some money which Ruben picks up and keeps because he believes it is just a one dollar bill.  Later that night, Ruben realizes that the money is really a ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR bill.  

Well, the kids had a very strong reaction to that realization.  There's still so much more to the story, too. We had quite a lively discussion on honesty, stealing,...I am definitely reading this book again to the kids next week - that's how AMAZING this book is!

Amazon Purchases to Check Out!

1.  Shower Foot Scrubber

On Instagram, I recently watched a doctor talk about the importance of washing one's feet every day.  I also did some research on Google:

Both the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), for example, advise washing feet daily with soap and water. One reason for this meticulous care is to prevent odour. The soles of the foot contain 600 sweat glands per square centimetre of skin, more than any other region of the body.  Although sweat itself doesn't smell, it contains a nutritious broth of salts, glucose, vitamins and amino acids, which serves as an all-you-can-eat buffet for bacteria that live there. And there a lot of bacteria.

Using this information, I bought a foot scrubber mat from Amazon:

You put shower gel or liquid soap on the map.  By moving your feet on the mat, your feet get clean.  So far, I am not in love with this product.  I don't want to lean down or stand on one foot in the shower either.  If any of you have any cleaning tips for your feet, please let me know!

Right now I'm leaning toward getting an occasional pedicure.  However, you're supposed to clean your feet every day.  Who knew?

2.  Hair Brush Straightener

I have fine straight hair that I color.  Over the years, my hair tends to have a mind of its own:  cowlicks; fly-aways; frizz.   To help with the situation, I bought this straightener brush:

This brush heats up quickly and is easy to use.  I like calming down my hair, but I'm still figuring it out.  I never style my hair or use any product on it.  

From these two purchases, I have learning that I'm still figuring out life at age 65.

Best Cuticle Cream!

I have exceptionally dry cuticles that I pick at (not a good habit!).  Using this cuticle cream has been very helpful:

                                Happy Veterans Day!

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"No man is an island. Every book is a world." ~Author Gabrielle Zevin.

Happy Weekend!  If you're a teacher, and you survived Halloween (amazingly on a Friday, too!), you've reached a great milestone!  

Today I'm linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals and Erika from A Little Bit of Everything for their weekly link-up!

FRIDAY FAVORITES & MORE!

Too Good To Go App = Discounted Food = Fighting Food Waste!

One weekend, my sister visited and brought some delicious cookies that she got through the app: Too Good to Go.  Today I used the app for the first time to get a surprise box at a bakery in Melrose.  For $7.00, I got a surprise box of baked goods:  4 cupcakes, a muffin and an apple turnover.

According to their web site:

Too Good To Go is a social impact company on a mission to inspire and empower everyone to fight food waste together.

Here's a link to the app so you can help save good food from going to waste:

 https://tgtg.onelink.me/OGjG/z8zzyhjv.

If you like pandas, check out this book:  Panda Kindergarten

When I was a teacher, I needed a book to read so I peeked in my Trait Crate (3rd grade version)* and found a book called - Panda Kindergarten by Joanne Ryder:

This non-fiction books tells about a place in China that takes special care of panda moms and their cubs.  Panda moms care only care for one cub so if there are twins, one gets ignored.  Not at this place - the special people take care of the other panda while the mom tends to the other cub.  Then the people switch the cubs so that they both get what they need from the mom.  When the pandas are old enough, they go to kindergarten where they get to play outside on equipment; they even have rest time!  My students were crazy for this book!  Now they all want a turn to take it home.  You know it's a winner when that happens.

*P.S.  We only used the Trait Crate as a writing program for a few years before switching to Lucy Calkins Writing.

 

 

A Great Quote!

Now that I'm an older, retired adult, I read a lot.  Years ago, I took this picture at a book store on Nantucket, and I really loved it.  It still resonates! 

If you've read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, you might remember this line from the book:

On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage is the motto “No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World.” A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner, is about to discover just what that truly means.

Have a Happy Halloween and a wonderful week!

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Friday Favorites: My Friend Published a Book! Read All About It!

Happy Autumn and Welcome to October!

Thanks for visiting today as I link up with Andrea from Momfessionals and Erika from A Little Bit of Everything for:

                                     Friday Favorites!

Wow, My Friend, Claudette Sabbag, Published a Book!

Check out this information written by Claudette herself!

My name is Claudette Sabbag. I'm a retired teacher, like Susan, whom I worked with for many years in Woburn. I retired in 2019, just in time to miss the COVID years. I had an idea for a book in my head that I had been working on intermittently since 2011. When I retired, I had more time for writing. Then, I joined the Writers' Collaborative Learning Center in Reading, MA, and actually finished and published my first novel in May! Deer in the Road is about a young man whose life is transformed by a single random incident. Set on Cape Cod, it explores family issues, life choices, and cultural differences and features a touch of romance.  

Click here or on the book to read more about this book on Amazon!

Here is a review from Amazon:

Just finished Deer in the Road and found it to be a nice read about very likable characters and their lives over many years. It also had some very interesting culture references about the area where the story takes place. Anyone who has a loved one in a care facility will truly identify with the descriptions that are in this book. They are very accurate. it is a perfect book to sit on the beach and read and be taken into the lives of many interesting characters.

September Weather is Amazing!

Before I retired, September was a hectic and stressful month with Back to School and getting to know a new class.  I never really paid much attention to the weather (unless it rained, and we had to stay in for recess).  I have totally enjoyed the weather this month with its cooler temperatures and warm sunshine.  My sister and I went up to York Beach one day, and all the stores and the beach were empty (it was a cool and cloudy day so not ideal for the beach).  We still enjoyed our day and bought some Maine merchandise!

Our favorite shop is Whispering Sands!  Everything is now on sale including Teddy the Dog t-shirts from York Beach!

Puzzles:  An Interactive and Fun Way to Learn Geography!

In Social Studies, kids need to be able to locate where they live in the world.  We happen to live in  Massachusetts which has a distinct shape.  This week we started USA and World Map rotations.  There are 2 World Map puzzles and 3 USA Map puzzles, and the groups will rotate until they finish the puzzles.  If they finish early, they can draw a picture of the completed puzzle:

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Friday Favorites in September!

Welcome to September!  I hear people say that summer is over after Labor Day.  I say that it's still summer because I want to enjoy every last day of warm weather and blue skies.  Plus, now that it's officially September, it's time to link up with Andrea from Momfessionals and Erika from A Little Bit of Everything for:

               FRIDAY FAVORITES!

What I'm Reading

I have always loved Sophie Kinsella's books with their happy endings and fun story lines.  This book is somewhat autobiographical as the main character, Evie, has glioblastoma ~ just like Sophie Kinsella in real life.  I was heartbroken to learn this about a young person who is such a successful and intelligent woman who has an incurable form of brain cancer.  Luckily, Sophie Kinsella has survived 3 years with this condition.

 What would summer be without an Emily Henry book?  I found this book a bit slow at the beginning, but then totally enjoyed it.  The setting is Little Crescent Island which is inspired by Tybee Island in Georgia.  We were there in April so I enjoyed the coincidence!

If you haven't read this book, I recommend it because it is easy to read and takes place in the summer (more summer = more fun!).  Here's a brief intro. from Amazon:

Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: to write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the twentieth century.  

Consuming:  Hello Fresh TWICE a month!

After my husband recovered from esophageal cancer, his food preferences drastically changed.  He doesn't even like pizza any more!  Who doesn't like pizza?  Consequently, I now get a Hello Fresh box every two weeks rather than once a month.  He really enjoys the variety of the Hello Fresh meals with the tasty sauces and spices.

Every box three different meals.  I try to get one chicken, one ground turkey and one steak meal.    

I LOVE this sesame soy rice bowl which I have even made on my own with ingredients from the supermarket!

Click here to see the recipe!

 Discovering

I don't think I'll ever see enough rainbows!  The other night we had unsettled weather when the sun just magically popped out so briefly, and an amazing double rainbow appeared.  I stood outside in the rain and gazed at it until it disappeared.

Once upon a time, before I retired...

I made this most adorable sign for my classroom:

I fell in love with this safari friends themed poster at Lakeshore Learning.  Of course, there are matching products, but I limited myself to this poster ~ it took a lot of self-control...

Saving

I save too much of everything!  After I retired, I just spent so much time purging my teaching materials and papers.  I don't want to save so much "stuff" in general!  What about you?  Do you save things, forget about them, find them a year later, and wonder why you saved them in the first place?  It's a bad habit that I need to break.  In addition, it would be helpful if I started purging again.  

As we all enter the Back to School season and the meteorological fall: 

this September and into the fall!  Thank you for visiting the blog today!

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Montreal is buzzing with excitement!

Bonjour!  

                 FRIDAY FAVORITES FROM MONTREAL!

Today I am delighted to link up with   lErika from A Little Bit of Everything and Andrea from Momfessionals for their weekly Friday Favorites Link-Up!  If you want to go somewhere in North America where most people speak French, you will definitely want to visit Montreal! 

Why Montreal?

While in Savannah last April, we had Montreal Bagels at Spread Bagelry.  We loved the bagels so much that we decided to go to Montreal to eat the "real deal" bagels.  In addition, three years ago, we had been to Quebec City which we totally loved.  Plus, Montreal is five hours north of Boston so it should be cooler weather (NOT true; it was in the 90's the entire time!).  Anyway, check out some fun activities we managed to do!  

Walking Tour of Old Montreal

We first went on an excellent walking tour of Old Montreal while it was extremely hot, and it was Trash Day so we had plenty of obstacles!  Our tour guide, Carole, managed to keep us in the shade as much as possible while giving us the lowdown on the "old" part of the city.

Luckily, one stop was Montreal's World Trade Center which is indoors!  There is a section of the Berlin Wall:

Interestingly, when I did my Junior Year in Paris through Hamilton College in 1980 - 1981, I was so lucky to see the actual Berlin Wall!  

We saw the Notre Dame Basilica from the outside but did not go in as it cost over $15 to enter.  Luckily, you could see the garden outside where the clergy live.

Botanical Gardens

We took the metro to the Botanical Gardens which were outstanding.  We started in a greenhouse where we saw plenty of carnivorous plants and cacti. 

After that we visited the Chinese gardens:

Before leaving the Chinese garden, I took a picture of some bees enjoying an ancient plant:

My goal is to get this picture posted some day on the New York Times' Spelling Bees Game!

This place was outstanding!

The Biodome

This museum allows you to visit five different North American ecosystems in one place!

The first ecosystem was the Arctic where we saw penguins and puffins.  Then we visited the capybaras (my favorite):

Montreal Bagels!

We took a bus from the hotel to the Mile End neighborhood to visit Fairmount Bagel.  I thought the bagel place would have seating, but it's purely a take and leave store that is open 24 hours a day.  The bagel variety was amazing and overwhelming.  

On either side of Fairmount Bagel, there was Caffe Grazie-Mille with homemade cannoli, and on the other side, Drogheria Fine with homemade gnocchi.  If you like to eat, this is the street to visit!

Winners = the TJ Maxx/Marshall's of Canada!

One afternoon we strolled over to Winners.  A lot of the merchandise was similar to what we have around here, but I loved all the French greeting cards!

In Closing...

I loved going to Montreal that I want to go back again and see more of the city!

Remember:  If you want to read more great blogs, head here:

Happy Labor Day Weekend!  Thank you for visiting today!

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