Two weeks till Christmas! It took me by surprise a bit this year – I kept thinking there was still lots of time. But, I did get 99% of my shopping done online this week. Only have a couple of things to pick up here in town to finish up. And my wonderful mother is doing my wrapping again this year – she loves to wrap gifts, I hate it – so that’s one stress taken off my list.
I didn’t have time to do a links post yesterday, as I was down in Spokane shopping with Natalie and her two best friends. Natalie is turning 15! (insert blood-curdling shriek here) – on Tuesday. Friday night her friends slept over, had professional grade manicures provided by one of the girl’s moms, attempted to dye their hair with Koolaid (it didn’t work), and watched Spiderman. Then yesterday morning we headed south for a day of shopping and lunch at Olive Garden. It was a lot of fun – but I am so tired this morning!
No rest till this afternoon, though, as I’m leading worship at church this morning. Hopefully, a nap will be in the cards for after lunch.
I will be doing some reading today, too – I’m about 20 pages away from finishing The Doll: The Lost Short Stories by Daphne duMaurier. I’m also halfway through The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyne Mackler – the one book I treated myself to at B&N yesterday. While the girls ran from store to store, wading through frantic Christmas shoppers, I sat at a table with my caramel brulee latte and read half of my new book. It is fantastic! I’m also two-thirds of the way through Wendell Berry’s A Place on Earth, which is beautiful.
I’m off to start waking the family. Hope this Sunday finds you all well and with lots of good things to read! And if you’re looking for challenges for 2012, click over to the sign-up posts for the ones I’m hosting:
~ 2012 Essay Challenge
~ 2012 Ireland Challenge
~ 2012 Graham Green Challenge
Twitter: Vasilly
says:
I haven’t started shopping for Christmas presents yet.
I need to get going. I’m glad you treated yourself to something at B&N. Have a great day!
Vasilly´s last post ..TSS Review: Fante by Dan Fante
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
V – isn’t it crazy how quickly the end of the year sneaked up on us?
Twitter: laurelrainsnow
says:
I want to read Du Maurier’s short story collection! The Doll is definitely on my wish list.
My two granddaughters are fourteen, and so far, no sounds or shrieks or attitudes that frighten me. When will it hit? Having gone through the teens with one daughter (much worse than the sons!), I know it is bound to happen.
Here’s MY SUNDAY SALON POST and
MY WEBSITE
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Laurel – I am finding that the teenage angst isn’t quite as inevitable as people make it sound. The shriek was from me, because I’m freaked out at how old she’s getting! Where did the time go? But she hasn’t given us too much drama – other than normal hormonal moodiness.
It sounds like you had a fun day! I still have a couple more gifts to pick up, but mainly I need to wrap… I hate wrapping!
Kailana´s last post ..This, That, and the Other Thing…
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Kelly – it’s really not fun at all. I always want to stick everything in gift bags, but Kevin says that takes the fun out of unwrapping gifts.
Twitter: Trish422
says:
I hate wrapping gifts too. I’m terrible at it which is probably why I don’t like it much, so I clearly need to find someone to wrap my gifts too!
Trisha´s last post ..Nominate Now!!!
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Trisha – maybe I could hire my mom out for some extra holiday cash? LOL
Twitter: bookjourney
says:
OOH I cant wait to read Future Of Us! Its on my wish list!
I am getting some reading done today too. I am hoping to finish Life As We Knew it today. No big plans here and did the housework yesterday so today is going to be beautiful!
Sheila (Book Journey)´s last post ..Morning Meanderings… Voice Texting Can Be… AWKWARD
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Sheila – It is soooooooooooooo good so far – I was wishing it was Saturday so I could stay home and read all day. Instead, I was so tired from Natalie’s big weekend, that I crashed after church. I did manage to finish the duMaurier, but that’s it so far – and I promised the boys we’d watch Cowboys and Aliens tonight, so won’t be getting much reading done.
Sounds like you are really busy! I’ll be interested to read your thoughts on the du Maurier book – I love her stuff!
Wendy´s last post ..Maman’s Homesick Pie – Book Review
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Wendy – her (duMaurier) writing is gorgeous, but she sure had a low opinion of romantic relationships! LOL
Congrats on getting your Christmas shopping done and Happy Birthday to Natalie!
Amy @ My Friend Amy´s last post ..Review: Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Thanks, Amy.
Twitter: hawscarlet
says:
The Future of Us looks really interesting to me. It looks like it is full of references for people of my generation, even though it is YA. I wasn’t a huge fan of 13 Reasons Why, but this one looks more up my alley.
My Sunday Salon.
Laura´s last post ..The Sunday Salon: Two Reviews for De-Slumping
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Laura – It’s a little later than my generation (I graduated in ’90), but it still sounds so familiar – I’m really enjoying it.
Twitter: BethFishReads
says:
We’re almost done with our shopping. I love Wendell Berry — enjoy!
Beth F´s last post ..Review: From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Beth – Yay – another blogger who loves Mr. Berry! I feel like he’s one of the most under-appreciated brilliant writers out there – at least in book bloggerdom.
Twitter: unfnshdprsn
says:
You forgot to mention that Natalie and her friends were playing
. How could you forget that…um…delightful detail?
unfinishedperson´s last post ..How To Sink Readers On Your Blog Like A Hole In One
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Bryan – I blocked it out of my memory. Thanks for reminding me.
Twitter: myeclecticbooks
says:
Gosh–I really need to finish my Christmas shopping and start my wrapping. I’m so behind , I don’t even have my tree up yet. Mostly b/c my fiance keeps waffling real vs. fake!
PS. I am determined to finish the lat 1/4 of Berry’s essays so I’ll have my two books read for that challenge…might not review either…but at least I’ll know they are read!!
Melissa´s last post ..Dec is NetGalley month at Books, Biscuits & Tea
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Melissa – it’s the reading that counts, right?