A Couple of Recent Finds at the Library

A book for me and a book for you.

This is what goes through my mind when I'm at the library. I gush over all of the recent titles for me to read and gather as many as I can. Then, I make my way over to the children's section and select another ten books for my daughter.

This is one that she absolutely loves, Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson and Illustrated by Sophie Blackall

It's about a little girl having mixed feelings concerning the baby that will soon arrive.`My favorite part of the book was, "Some days I sat on my stoop thinking about all the years it had been just me and Mama." The wardrobe of the children were so stylish, I wish I had it when I was a kid!

The book for me, that I couldn't put down was Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style by Kate Betts. It was the perfect book to read while the rain poured outside and you just wanted to lay around the house. Betts writing style is very flowery and descriptive. A quick read and fashion eye candy that contained pictures and sketches of Michelle Obama's wardrobe.

Christine

Two Indie Publishing Children's Books I Want To Include In My Library

Same Difference by C.G Rawles

and

I Love My Cotton Candy Hair by Nicole Updegraff

The Idealistic Look At The Past

Have you ever seen your life flash before your eyes? I know sometimes when you hear of one's life flashing before their eyes, we think of a pending death. But lately I have been having flashes of different segments of my life. Getting ready for my first day of tenth grade, coming home from college, leaving to New York after college, meeting my husband, meeting my daughter. It's strange because it leaves you in a state of reflection. You think of what may have gone right or wrong. I also see a lot of faces that were once major parts of my life, fade into the background. I stop and wonder about their whereabouts and also wonder what made us lose touch with each other. I think, "Man, she was a good friend. I need to give her a call."

Life has a way of going lightening fast. One day you're a gawky thirteen year old battling pimples and the next day you're managing a household. Somehow I do feel like that thirteen year old, except the pimples aren't there but managing a household does feel like pimples. The problems stare at your face and you're looking for a solution to make you're world that more peaceful.

The past is also good to remind you why you changed your careers. Like myself. On my sometimes worst day as an entrepreneur I find myself looking longingly at my corporate job and thinking to myself, 'Well, at least I got a guaranteed paycheck every two weeks.' Somehow in those moments, I also conveniently forget how miserable I was and that my spirit was slowly dying. It reminds me of the children of Israel when they were in the wilderness and started to fantasize about their Egyptian lives as slaves. "Well, at least we ate well!"

Do you find yourself reflecting of the past?

Christine

We've Become Quite Cultural

I'm pretty excited to share with you a new project my friend Aisha and I have been working on over the past months. We created a children's book publishing company, Hartlyn Kids that helps children learn about the world around them through reading books.

Each of our books are written by a local author and illustrated by a top-notch artist that makes me want to frame the pictures and hang them up in my home. It's been a lot of fun to publish our first two books and to work with various writers and the illustrator, Lisa Butler. I think I found the perfect job.

Just thought, I'll show you our book trailer. After all, I think the trailer provides you with a better description than I can render!