Sick Week

The past seven days have been very chaotic. Hours after coming home from school last Tuesday, I became very tired and went to sleep early, hoping that all I needed was some rest. Wrong! I ended up with a fever of 104 and unable to go to the doctor because I was too sick to get myself there. Soon everyone in the Vasillis household was sick. From Grandma to the baby, all of us except my oldest were coughing, feverish, miserable lumps.

Today is the first day I felt okay. Everyone else has felt better for days but every time I thought I was getting better I would later end up exhausted and in bed again. I couldn't even read while I was sick which is a first in my life. I want to thank everyone for their get-well wishes. I really appreciate it.

February Update
February turned out to be a horrible month for reading. I read a total of nine books:

1. Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile - Bill Willingham
2. Fables Vol. 6: Arabian Nights - Bill Willingham
3. The Poet Slave of Cuba - Margarita Engle
4. Daphne's Book - Mary Downing Hahn
5. Ziggy's Blue-Ribbon Day - Claudia Mills
6. Chicken Feathers - Joy Crowley
7. Potato Joe - Keith Baker
8. A Couple of Boys have the Best Week Ever - Marla Frazee
9. A Child's Day - Ida Pearle

I enjoyed every book but I can't believe that I only read two adult reads. Let's hope March will be a better reading month. Now I'm off to sleep. I'm exhausted still.

Ten Things That Start with "F"

It's my turn! The lovely Cornflower gave me the letter "F" weeks ago. Surprising enough it took me less than ten minutes to come up with my ten.

French Vanilla Ice Cream. It's plain but tastes great with a waffle bowl.

French Vanilla CoffeeMate in my coffee. I've tried other flavors, but vanilla is the one for me.

Feist. Listening to her puts me in the best mood.

First, Body: stories by Melanie Rae Thon. I read this haunting collection of short stories many years ago and have not been able to get it out of my mind since. I have only one book left of Thon's to read.

Fridays. Not because there's no school for me, but because it's one of the few days I get my mother to myself for a couple of hours.

Family. That's not cheating. Their last name starts with "F" also.

Fables series by Bill Willingham. This series is so addictive.

Fresh Flowers. I try to buy fresh flowers just once a month. Even if I'm broke, I know I can buy some baby breath for two or three bucks.

Four weddings and a Funeral. I just love great movies.

Folgers Coffee. I'm a zombie until I get this stuff into my system.

A book for journal writers

How to be an explorer of the world (2008)
Keri Smith
208 pages

When I was eleven years old my mother gave me a diary to write my thoughts in. It was small, white, and one of those diaries you're supposed to write in every day. I remember being in sixth grade and writing in that small book often about crushes, school, and family life. I don't know what made my mother give me a diary but I'm glad she did.

Since then I've kept diaries. Over the years those diaries have changed in size, shape, and purpose. Currently I write in large sketchbooks that can handle glue, paint, different kinds of pens, and whatever else I feel like using. My journal is more than just an account of my everyday life; it's a commonplace book filled with quotes, prayers, collages, blog entries, book reviews, lists, pictures, newspaper clippings, recipes. . . I've always thought of my journal as a field guide to my life. You can pick up any of the many journals I have and know who I was at that time.

So you can imagine my excitement when I found out about Keri Smith's latest book, How to Be An Explorer of the World. Keri, if you don't know, is the genius behind Wreck this Journal, a book that is suppose to help readers start or finish their journals with creative prompts. I bought How to be an explorer and decided to test it out. The goal of the book is to get you to notice your surroundings, savor the moment, and to focus on who you are.

Two of my favorite prompts were to describe in detail my favorite street and the library exploration prompt:

Choose a subject, theme, or item. Go to a library. Conduct research on your chosen item. Collect as many different materials as you can to display later, such as sketches, notes, drawings, and photos. . .

My problem with the book is that I didn't realize it's for beginners. A lot of the prompts are great but are things I've done many times before like the consumer prompt which asks for you to keep track of all the things you consume for a week. It's a great prompt for someone who hasn't used it before. Overall it's a great read and perfect for anyone who wishes to start journaling.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year has been a pretty challenging one with me going back to college and learning through experience how to balance school, kids, and free time for myself. Right now as I look around, I see only blessings.

I am so thankful for my family who supports me as I deal with homework, tests, and late-night studying.

I am thankful for finally having the opportunity to go back to school.

For every book I get my hands on.

The four walls around us and the roof above our heads. There are so many who don't have that.

For decent health.

Our love for each other.

Now it's time to go back to cooking. How are you spending Thanksgiving and what are you thankful for?

For the love of books

"The appeal of reading, she thought, lay in its indifference: there was something undefering about literature. Books did not care who was reading them or whether one read them or not. All readers were equal, herself included. Literature, she thought, is a commonwealth; letters a republic." -Alan Bennett, The Uncommon Reader