Random Links + thoughts on ‘And the Mountains…”

Here are just some random links of good stuff I’ve seen, read about or found online recently:

– This post about blogging & motherhood from ‘All Kinds of Things’ is quite good.

– Another BEAUTIFUL blog post from Rachel of Hands free Mama. This one really spoke to me and made me think a lot about how we should be loving our children. LOVED EVERY WORD.

– I feel like the rest of this year and the whole of next year is THE season for our family to SAVE, save & save!!! This article has some good tips. I started the 52 week money challenge beginning of this year and I have 3 more months to go — so far it is going well.  Haven’t touched it yet hehe. I will write about this challenge when it finishes next year.

– Can’t believe it’s October already!!! How cute is this DIY costume?! Thinking of making it for Ada for Halloween. Hmm…will I have the time?? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see…

– These paintings by Emily Jeffords are magical.

– This one (Source) =)

 

Oh and…….I finally finished “And the Mountains Echoed”!!!

Sadly, I didn’t really enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I started off with really high expectations as I really liked his other books (The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns) but I don’t know — this one just didn’t connect with me for some reason. Maybe I’m just distracted lately? (benefit of the doubt) The storyline is reminiscent of his previous works – a family that’s torn apart, poverty, tragic loss — the works. It just didn’t hold my attention and I didn’t really feel much for the characters Also – I wasn’t into the way he kept moving back and forth into different timelines with no warning. For the most part – the book isn’t BAD but I just wasn’t excited to keep reading it and nearing the end I just couldn’t wait to finish it so I could move on to my next book. In all fairness – this book has got awesome reviews everywhere else so maybe it is just me. =)

Memorable passage/s from this book:

“….I learned that the world didn’t see the inside of you, that it didn’t care a whit about the hopes and dreams, and sorrows, that lay masked by skin and bone. It was as simple, as absurd, and as cruel as that.”

– “And the Mountains Echoed” , Khaled Hosseini

Random Links + thoughts on Mad About the Boy

Here are just some random links of good stuff I’ve seen, read about or found online recently:

• Loving this blog post (part 1 and part 2) from Oh Joy – it is an old post from last year but it is so good and it talks about goals and how you need to be pro active and stuff.
• We can’t wait to get our hands on the Honeysticks beeswax crayons. Should be arriving this week – I’m sure Ada can’t wait to get her hands (and mouth?) on them too!
• Adult coloring books? I didn’t know this existed! This would be a great gift for someone who wants to explore their creative side.
• Love these pearls of wisdom from Magda Gerber (founder of RIE parenting):

“Allow the child to be authentic, to move, to feel the way they move, appreciating them for what they are.”

“My attitude has always been: wait, wait, wait.”

“Let the child be the scriptwriter, the director and the actor in his own play.”

“Predictabilty brings about security.”

“Observe more, do less. Do less, enjoy more.”

“Earlier is not better.”

“The toy in the child’s hand is alive.”

“Focus on quality and ease of movement, not on the age a milestone is achieved.”

“This too shall pass.”

“Go slowly, and with great patience.”

 Oh and I just finished Mad About The Boy….

Bridget is back!

If you have read both the first and second Bridget Jones books and have seen the movies as well –  you might be just a little bit shocked to find that on this third installment it will already have been 5 years since Mark Darcy’s passing. Yes, you heard me right!!! How sad is that???!!! In this book Bridget is in her 50’s, has 2 kids from Mark and is a ‘singleton’ again! That being said – the book still has some very funny, endearing moments – although it has a cloud of sadness to it. I think Helen Fielding is stellar in that she was able to weave the comedy and the tender moments in this book so seamlessly. Still can’t get over Mark Darcy though!