Brooks on Bedford: 2014

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Book Challenges for 2015

Good Morning,

As the New Year approaches everybody is discussing reslutions and making changes in their life. Which I have been thinking on that some, but I was so impressed with myself this past year, I set out on a goal to read 50 books (all different sources, books, ebooks and audiobooks) and I DID IT!!! Woohoo for me. I joined a local book club and have made some amazing friends. I just want to keep on this same level for the coming year with a few challenges. Here are my 2015 challenges that I have decided to join in on!

YAY!! I love audiobook, I get joked on them so much by my friends who are traditional readers, but I think they are great!!

Here are the details about this one and any other information can be found here:

Reading Challenge Details:

Runs January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015. You can join at anytime.
The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios in 2015 than you did in 2014.
Books must be in audio format (CD, MP3, etc.)
ANY genres count.
Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, Shelfari, Booklikes, Facebook, LibraryThing, etc. – I’ve created a Goodreads Group for the challenge, feel free to join.
If you’re a blogger grab the button (on the sidebar) and do a quick post about the challenge to help spread the word. If you’re not a blogger you can help by posting on Facebook or Tweeting about the challenge.

By request, a new level (Marathoner) has been added this year for the hardcore listeners and the numbers for My Precious has been changed from 30+ to 30-50.

Levels:

Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5
Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10
Stenographer (can listen while multi-tasking) 10-15
Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30
My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30-50
Marathoner (Look Ma no hands) 50+

We’ve decided to go back to having quarterly updates to help keep everyone motivated and to snag new participants through out the year. There will be posts on the following dates for you guys to check in to let us know how your listening is going for 2015.

Update Schedule:

March 27th: 1st Quarter Update
June 19th: 2nd Quarter Update – Giveaway included
September 25th: 3rd Quarter Update
December 18th: 4th Quarter Update and Wrap – Giveaway included

I'm going to go for My Precious this year.

Yet another thing I LOVE!! I love the library! I get almost all my books from there - so I am hoping this challenge won't be too difficult!

Here are the details about this one and any other information can be found here:

Runs January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015. You can join any time.
• The goal is to read at least twelve (12) books from the library. Twelve should be easy, that’s one a month. While twelve is the minimum, there is no maximum limit. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you.
• Any format will work for this challenge (print, ebook or audio) as long as you checked it out from the library it counts.
• Books can be any genre (fiction, nonfiction, romance, fantasy, mystery, thriller, horror, etc.).
• Crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed, including re-reads. The goal is to support your local library and save money.
• To join this challenge, grab the 2015 Snagged @ The Library Reading Challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads (so as long as you have a dedicated shelf and Felicia has created a Goodreads group), Shelfari (I’ve created a Shelfari group. You can join and post your progress within the group), or BookLikes, etc., for the 2015 Snagged @ The Library Reading Challenge. The point of linking up is to have a place where people can see what you’re reading.

Levels:

Dewey Decimal: read 12 books
Thrifty Reader: read 24 books
Overdrive Junkie: read 36 books
Stalking the Bookstacks: read 50+ books

I'm going to go for Stalking the Bookstacks this year. Hopefully I can make it!

So I have my work cut out for me in 2015, heading to the library today to get things in order before the new year starts!!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Literary Junkies .September.

Hey - I'm here again to link up with Literary Junkies. Here's what's been going on since I've been kind of MIA from here lately!

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it.

I am currently reading two - almost done with The Daring Ladies of Lowell. I have loved this book so far! It is historical fiction with some trueness to it, I love the murder case that this little town and how the people are dealing with the big corporation in which most of the townspeople work at.

The Vacationers has been one I've had a hard time getting through, mainly because I got it on audio, and I can't listen to basically any of it in the car, since it is very profane and has a lot of dry witty humor that I don't want my 8-year-old to walk away with! I do like the story line. About a family who are vacationing in the Mallorca and you know when you get all your friends and family together there has to be reaching of understandings and getting to the bottom of things that you put to the side in your everyday life.

2. There are a ton of movies coming out soon that were based off of books. Are there any you’re particularly excited to see?

I am of course excited to see Gone Girl.

I am also excited about Far From the Madding Crowd!

3. With fall finally here for some of us, are there any books that you’re particularly looking forward to reading in the season of big sweaters, blankets and hot chocolate?
I am just looking forward to my couch - I just picked up the Devil in the White City, excited about this serial killer book right before Halloween time!
21996

4. We only have 3.5 months left of 2014. Did you participate in any reading challenges? How are you doing?

My goal for this year was 50 books by the end of the year and according to GoodReads I am at 42 and 7 books ahead of schedule, but that's ok, since I normally slow down during the school year, too much time writing lesson plans and grading papers!

5. What has been the best book you’ve read so far this year?
Best book I've read was probably the Husband Secret or Longbourn. Two comletely different books, I think I will always like books like Longbourn - especially when Downton isn't on the TV (I think I get withdraws).

So that's it for September. You should find me on Goodreads.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Currently 9.3.14

So the first two days back at school have not gone very smoothly. From the idea that we are going a bit later than what we did last year, and our bus situation, I am definitely pooped at the end of these days! The first of the month means it is time to link up with the one and only Currently from Farley! She did an amazing job with the camping theme - to go hand in hand with Labor Day! Ok - so here are some before and after pictures of Mr. Mason, beginning of day 1 and end of day 2...LOVE HIM...but he really needs a good night sleep!

So here is this month's Currently:

Listening: I am listening to Landline, audiobook on my kindle *finished it through this post, so onto another one while I complete lesson plans!*

Loving: My hubby has been awesome for having dinner for us when we got home from school these past two days. So amazing! Yesterday we had to race to soccer since the buses hadn't left at the moment and it was 5:30. Today, I just had my allergy shots after work, but I had a bad reaction to them, so it was a trying evening. However it was made better because I did NOT HAVE TO COOK - WOOHOO!

Thinking: I don't know about anybody else, but if you're in Virginia than you have probably heard of unpacking the standards. It is definitely a work in progress, but any step towards the end is a step in the right direction!

Wanting: I feel like there is just not enough time in the day, for activities that I have planned for my kids, or to get all of my son's needs met, I just want to do my own thing, and there isn't any time for that!

Needing: A desk - mainly because I just got my 25th kid today during one of my lessons. Seems super nice, but new students never arrive with a place to sit. I always feel so bad for them, it is always nice to have a home or a spot to place your rump!

Trips: Ok - so these are the next ones, these are the little bright lights at the end of the tunnel. Plan on taking Mr. Bedford to Biltmore for his birthday this year in October, Charleston I need just as a pick me up, and I am so blessed because the main reason I go down there is because I have the best friends a girl could ask for, and one just had a baby down there, and I DESPERATELY need to see his cuteness! Lastly, Turks and Caicos is the place we are trying to get friends and all together for a planned trip for after school gets out! So much fun traveling with our friends!

Well that's it for this month! Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, August 22, 2014

Five for Friday {Linky Party.. August 22}

So I am back to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching. I've been super busy this past week with a last minute vacation and getting my classroom ready to go and just trying to get my house in order before I go back for my first full week.

So here is my room after one day in the classroom. I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I feel like I made a dent on the surface.

I was able to have a small getaway when some friends asked us to come visit them down in the Outer Banks. It was such a nice getaway, and Mason loved every moment of it.

So I started on some Math Interactive Notes for Notebooking this year. I finished Ordinal Numbers and love them! So cute, and I really want to stick with an interactive approach this year. Something that you can really understand and stick with. Here are the ordinal numbers notes.

I am a little upset - since I was having a wonderful time in NC, I missed my monthly party with my Literary Junkies friends. However, I did link up with them and had a good time. I am super excited about the book we are reading for our next monthly link-up.

Here is my link - up here. Here is my post this past week with the Literary Junkies. (here)

Thanks for stopping by. Hopefully I can catch up on some blogging this weekend. Here's to wishful thinking! Have a good one! Happy Friday!

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Literary Junkies .August.

So I am linking up again with the Literary Junkies this month over at Girl on the Move. We are chatting this month about Lone Wolf, by Jodi Picoult. Here are the questions for this month!

1. What are you reading? Tell us about it!

Right now I am reading Girls of August By: Anne Rivers Siddons and The Daring Ladies of Lowell

2. Do you read one book at a time, or read multiple books at once?

I normally like atleast 2 going at the same time. I normally have a book on my kindle, one that I can physically hold and an audio book for the car rides.

3. What is the first book that made you fall in love with reading?

I believe it was the secret garden. Love that!

4. Do you prefer a physical copy of the book or an electronic version?

I have had 2 wrist surgeries and still need some more help in that department - so I think I'll say kindle or even audio, because it is easier for me to hold for long periods of time.

5. What are three books currently on your To Be Read list?

I really want to read the whole Outlander Series - since it just came out on the Starz channel. Can you think of any others to add to the list?

Well thanks for hanging out - I can wait for the twitter chat, I am hoping I'll be able to get on - especially since I got the times wrong last month!

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Back to School Fashion: Enchanted Story

Here we go again - Round 2 of Back to School Fashion. Here is the Enchanted Forest/Fairy Tale Trend for the upcoming Fall 2014 season. Not that I don't think the fox hooded sweater isn't absolutely adorable, I don't think we would be very well respected in our classroom if we came in rocking this frock.

Women Trends Review Fall Winter 2014 - 2015: Enchanted Forest

Link can be found here

So here is a "take" on the Enchanted Forest Trend. Love the peacock scarf!

Back to School Fashion: Enchanted Story by rachele-lynn-hirsch-brooks featuring peacock feather home decor

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Back to School Style: Swinging 60's Fashion

So there is a first time for everything! I signed up for Polyvore. Here I am! You can follow me here! So all of the Fall 2014 trends have been out for a bit, and one of the new trends for this season coming up is the 60's. So what we see on the runway and what we see in a regular store are two different things, as a teacher I wanted to make these trends something of my own, that could easily transfer over into the classroom. Here are some pictures straight off the runway.