Banned Books Week 2011

Posted in Books by

This year I am participating in banned book week by re-reading Brave New World hoping that you are standing up against censorship and joining in. More than 11,000 books have been challenged since 1982! For more information on Banned Books Week, click here.

The 10 most challenged titles of 2010 were:

1. And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
 Reasons: homosexuality, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group

2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: offensive language, racism, religious viewpoint, sex education, sexually
explicit, violence, unsuited to age group

3. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
 Reasons: insensitivity, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit

4. Crank, by Ellen Hopkins
 Reasons: drugs, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit

5. The Hunger Games (series), by Suzanne Collins
 Reasons: sexually explicit, violence, unsuited to age group

6. Lush, by Natasha Friend
 Reasons: drugs, sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group

7. What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones
 Reasons: sexism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

8. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America, by Barbara Ehrenreich
 Reasons: drugs, inaccurate, offensive language, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint

9. Revolutionary Voices edited by Amy Sonnie
 Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit

10. Twilight (series), by Stephenie Meyer
 Reasons: sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence, unsuited to age group

Made Right Here

Posted in Noble County Gold by

I want to share with you something pretty exciting from my friends Joe Gannon and Max Wastler. The amazing duo behind, Buckshot Sonny’s, they’ve decided to share their passion with all things American Made with the world by creating Made Right Here, a show about how things are crafted in the United States. Here’s an explanation from Max on the reasoning behind the show:

“It’s our desire to not only show how it’s made, not only where it’s made, but to also show the people who make it. We want to tell their stories. We also asked them to show Joe and I how to make one of their signature items. We made six pairs of carpenter jeans at Pointer. We made a chambray western shirt at Imogene + Willie, and we made belts and buckles with Billy Moore.

I say we made… really, we tried and failed to make all these things. This is part of the story, too. These people are craftspeople who’ve dedicated their lives to mastering a skill, a skill that is really tough to do.”

I cannot say enough how important it is to shine a light on the heritage of craft here in the America and how important it is to support and celebrate those that continue to create products for our nation. Shawn and I try to support US companies whenever possible, however I know how hard it can be to find those options. Luckily, we have Max and Joe to help up light the way.

(Please check out the full post to check our their fantastic pilot!)

Reliving my youth

Posted in Fashion by

I’ve decided to relive my youth, well part of it anyways. I had a pair of these iconic Eastland Falmouth camp moc that I wore all through high school. I literally wore the bottoms out of them! With everyone on the boat shoe band wagon, it made me lovingly remember my cam mocs and decided that I needed to bring them back into my wardrobe.

Luckily, the four-eyelet oxford never goes out of style and they are still available. Actually, I must not have been the only one trying to recapture my glory days because they seem to be coming quite popular again. Maybe a boat shoe back lash?

I order a pair last week and received them yesterday. I must say that they are every bit as comfortable as I remember – right out of the box! After a few months wear, I’m sure they’ll be like slippers and will also start to get that gorgeous leather patina that my originals had. Now I just need to decide, should I Eastland knot or not? 







Craving

Posted in What's Cookin' by

Good Lord, I’d give my right arm right now for an apple cider slushie! Oh that nectar of the gods haunts me now. Sadly going to miss apple picking this year at Sunrise Apple Farm and the sweet heaven that is the Gays Mills Apple Festival. Hoping that I’ll be able to find a place here in Ohio that has Honeycrisp apples. So good!.

Cerclage Success

Posted in Oh Baby by

First off, thank you everyone of the congratulations and well wishes. Being able to share our joy has been amazing.

Wednesday, I was admitted to the hospital to have my cerclage put in. It was a fairly simple procedure, and I was released that evening. I had to have an epidural, so that kinda sucked, but otherwise it was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I’m a little achy and sore and REALLY tired, but otherwise not too bad. I’ve been on bed rest at home the past couple days as a precaution, but I should be able to get back to normal by the end of the weekend. Shawn has been absolutely amazing through all of this. He took off of work to stay here with me and has been beyond attentive . . . thank you, my wonderful husband.

I have to say that I’m much relieved now that the cerclage is in place. It gives me a little extra reassurance that things will go better this time around. I know that we still have a long way to go until March, but I feel like we have a great plan in place to get us there. I am looking forward to sharing more of the journey with you all.

Big News Day

Posted in Oh Baby by

I wish that I could do a flashy announcement like Beyonce at the VMAs, but I am a TERRIBLE singer, and well, sequins aren’t my thing. Yes, Shawn and I are delighted to say that I’m pregnant again!

After the tragedy of losing the twins, we weren’t sure at first how soon we wanted to try again, but at the summer progressed, we felt like it was time. It took us quite a while before, so we thought that it might take a while. . . . uh, not this time. I’m currently at 12 weeks and due on March 15th. Yes, the Ides of March. . . no, I’m not going to name the baby Brutus, Caesar, etc.

My OB/GYN has recommended that I have a cerclage put in as a precautionary measure due to the issues I had before with an incompetent/funneled cervix. I will have the procedure on Wednesday. It is to be an out-patient procedure with me being on bed rest for the next few days at home. After that, I will be going to the doctor’s often -he jokes that we’ll become best friends- to keep tabs on things. Hopefully, it will be a normal pregnancy, however there is a chance that I’d have to go on home or hospital bed rest if the the situation changes. We are cautiously optimistic about things and are going to celebrate this pregnancy and not let fear or anxiety take away from our joy.

Family time and home again.

Posted in Travel by

Shawn and I spent the past couple of weeks traveling about the Midwest to visit our families. It was great to log some much much needed family time with everyone, but we are also glad to be back at home.

We’ve been very fortunate with the weather the past few weeks (wishing everyone well, East Coast!) bright sunny days with no humidity and cool summer nights. Couldn’t ask for more. This is the weather I dream about all winter long. I’m going to try to savor it as much as I can before it fades away.

My Legacy

Posted in Fashion by

Shawn, my wonderful hubby, came home from his trip to NYC with a present for me. The J.W. Hulme Co. Legacy Shoulder Bag! I’ve been coveting this bag ever since our trip to NorthernGrade last year. Last November, I was lucky enough to get one of their limited-edition Awning totes – which I love, love love! – and it made me want this handbag even more.

I have to say that the bag is more beautiful than I remember. Modeled after a classic saddle bag, it is beautifully crafted in American Heritage brown leather. The leather is gently distressed, carefully hand-buffed and antiqued, giving it a satiny patina that will just get better with age. I can personalize it with complimentary embossed monogram, but that means that I’d have to send it to the company and I don’t want to part with it! I know that this bag is going to be a staple of my wardrobe for years to come. Thank you, Shawn, for a gift that will keep on giving!

101 Things: 52. Go to an Indians Game

Posted in 101 Things, Travel by

Shawn and I have been together for over a decade and we have never been to a Cleveland Indians game together. We’ve gone to countless Cubs games, so this made me feel a little bad to never go see his team together. Well, last night we finally made that happen. My sister and nephew were in town for the week, so Shawn decided to get tickets for the four of us for last nights game.

Even though the Tribe lost to Detroit 4-3, we had a fantastic time. The weather was spot on perfect and we had some AMAZING seats. (good job, honey!) There really isn’t anything else like an evening at the ball park with family. America at it’s finest. Hope you all can catch a game before the summer is over!

(for more photos, see the full post)

Plus 9 Throws

Posted in Homey Goodness by

It is the beginning of August and we still have many hot days ahead, but I am already dreaming of fall. These gorgeous wool throws from DWR would be so perfect for wrapping up in on those chilly autumn evenings either on the couch or out on the patio. A bit pricy, but they look as if they would be heirloom-worthy additions to the home.