Dang!!

Yes, this is my Napoleon Dynamite sweatband.  Why do you ask? Some days,you just need to break out the Napoleons.  Usually, it is in its place of honor...uh...under the bed somewhere.  Actually, I am not sure where Henry found it but it seemed appropriate for the day.

Okay, so I don't mean Dang!  in a cranky way, like Dang, I just stepped in a puddle!  I mean it more in a Dang, it'st been quite a day! kind of way.  A good kind of dang, I suppose.

Anyway, I went to B and N tonight to see some author friends who were signing books: the wonderful  Shannon Messenger, Kiersten White, and Natalie Whipple  and I found this!!

The first Trinket paperback Ever!!!

I know it's probably cheesy to buy your own book in a store, but if Matt de la Pena can do it, (and admit to it!!) so can I.  (Boy, I am really dropping the names tonight!)

And then there is this from today's Publisher's Weekly:

Sarah Zhang at Boyds Mills Press has acquired two picture books by Shelley Moore Thomas: Kitten Wants a Puppy and There Are No Dragons in This Book. In the first book, a kitten can't understand why she isn't allowed to have a puppy and a few other not so cat-like things, and in Dragons, an interactive book, readers search for dragons that aren't there (or are they?). Publication of Kitten is set for fall 2015; Joanna Volpe of New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the deal for world rights. 

Yeah, so I have been kind of busy. And I can't wait to share Kitten and Dragons with you! 

Quite a day.

Dang.

hrh

Looking Ahead Part 2

So, I've got several things coming up in the next few months I thought I'd let you know about:

January 22-Ashley Fall Elementary--Stories and Slippers night.

February 7-Mission Meadows Bookfair at Barnes and Noble Oceanside (hopefully we can get the new Trinket paperback!!! It is a few days early, but we are going to try!!)

February 8-California State Library Association Conference Dinner (I am giving the keynote--on a BOAT!!)

February 25th-San Diego County Professional Growth Day for Librarians (Giving a lunch-speech and a workshop)

March 22nd- American Pediatrics Association READ AND ROMP--a great festival of literacy.

April 7-St.James Elementary School Visit--Montgomery Alabama!

I am so excited about everything!!

hrh

Looking Ahead

Usually I make some New Year's resolutions but I kind of don't feel like it.

Lame. I know.

Instead, I am thinking in very simple terms of doing two things a little differently, and seeing how this simple shift brings about positive changes.

1.  Bring less crap into my house.  I suppose this could be thought of in both literal and figurative terms (and perhaps I shall keep thinking of it that way!) However, when I first thought of this idea, it was focused on the very literal STUFF that I bring into my house that I have little need for. For example, how many pairs of emerald green shoes does a person require?  Answer:  1.  How many pairs of emerald green shoes reside in my closet?  Answer: 2.  Seriously.  So, I am going to try and be less of a consumer, having read a few articles by the folks at Patagonia about how we are in danger of leaving NOTHING on our planet for future generations.  My house is not giant and I am tired to trying to cram more junk into it.  STUFF MUST GO!  (And not just to make a place for new stuff!!)  So, less stuff*.

2. Be more aware of the little things. I remember reading a book a few years ago about not sweating the small stuff but really, I think they have the wrong idea. The little stuff is important. What brought it home to me was last week when I was shopping with Cali for a vintage desk for her room.  (Okay, my kids still need some stuff, it's just ME who doesn't!) We were in an antique mall in the village when she held up a little inspirational sign and said, "Isn't this cute?"

ENJOY THE LITTLE THINGS FOR YOU WILL 

 FIND SOMEDAY THEY WERE THE BIG THINGS.

And then Cali said, "Mom are your crying?"  And I said, 'No."

But I kind of was.  Because even though I had tried hard not to let it happen, I let the rush of the Fall chew me up and spit me out.  

It happens to us all.  

But I need to make more of an effort to focus on the small, beautiful gifts that life gives us every day.  That is my goal.

So, two small shifts in my life.  We will see how they shape my 2014.

Oh, and my husband says that I have to eat more vegetables.  Personally, I don't think that anyone can make that decision for someone else, but whatever.

hrh

*So, the one thing I am allowing myself to buy as much of as I want to is BOOKS!!  Because I NEED them!