With a dreamy, far-off look and her nose stuck in a book

I have always loved to read. I remember often getting trouble at school because I would hide the book I was reading behind the text book I was supposed to be reading. The teacher would either figure it out, or they would ask me a question and I would be totally oblivious. That was a little embarassing. While I don't read as much as I used to, I still thought I read quite a bit. Since I tracked all of my books from last year, I was able to count how many I had actually read. It was an eye opener. I only read 53 books. Now that may sound like a lot, but that's only roughly 1 a week. That doesn't seem like alot to me. I was actually really disappointed when I counted them up. My husband pointed out that I do have 5 kids, work 24 hours a week and spend another 5 hours a week running another business. Frankly, I don't think those are valid excuses.

I started thinking of a goal I could set this year-100 books? Although I seamlessly fit in 53 books, I actually think it might disrupt my life a little if I doubled that number. I also think it might put a little bit of strain on my marriage. Why is it that husbands feel like a good book is competition to them? Aah, but I digress....maybe 60 is a reasonable goal? That would still only be like 1.15 books a week. I think I will do 75. That will be a better challenge. I am also going to try and read some more "intelligent" books. Sometimes I feel like the books I read are like fast food, quick, easy and disposable. I am going to try and be more selective and not just read something because it is there. There you go-a new goal for a new year. Help me out and send me recommendations, please!

(Lyrics in title are from "Belle" in Beauty and the Beast)

Just another manic monday

Here we go. It's early monday morning before the kids head back to school. While the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas were packed with preparations, parties and performances, we did manage to create some wonderful memories with friends and family. We got in many hours of game playing, enjoyed relaxing and watching the christmas lights and laughed together about silly things. Even though it drove me crazy that my house was in a constant state of mess, I loved being able to stay up late with the kids and then sleep in. I loved not sticking to a schedule and not having to worry about homework and practices and projects. It all starts again tomorrow. I'm not sure I am ready.

(featured lyrics from Manic Monday by the Bangles)

Goody two shoes, goody goody two shoes

When I was a teenager I had a keychain that read"I only look sweet and innocent". I felt like that phrase fit me to a tee. It made me feel dangerous and mysterious. While I really wasn't all that dangerous and I was pretty naive, I did NOT want to be classified as "sweet and innocent". Ewww!

So, in an attempt to be less sweet and more ummm, something; I did some pretty stupid things. Nothing that would cause lifelong consequences but nothing that I would want my kids to do either. As I reflect back on that time in my life I wonder why I thought it was so awful to be thought of as "good". I guess I thought it was boring and that interesting people would never look past the good girl image.

Fast forward about 10 years. After some hard lessons and soul searching I realize that I should want to be good. That having skeletons in the closet is not always something that makes you more interesting. Sometimes it is better to have just done things the right way.

Fast forward to now. Most people would probably classify me as nice and sweet. I really do want to be that transparent, childlike person that you can always count on to do what is right but I still get a thrill when people learn something about me and are a little shocked. I still like to think of myself as mysterious and multi faceted but I also have a sincere desire to stay on the straight and narrow path.

I guess the reason I have been thinking about this at all is that I look at my kids and I want them to want to be good. I don't want to force them, I want them to realize that happiness comes from making right choices even if other people consider you a "goody two shoes". I don't want them to struggle with what other people might think, I want them to have a strong enough sense of self that other's opinions don't matter. Isn't that what being a parent is about? Wanting more for your kids than what you had? I guess the catch is just trying to help them get somewhere you haven't been.

(Featured lyrics from Goody Two Shoes by Adam Ant)