Last week, I finished The Penny Pinchers Club by Sarah Strohmeyer. I was surprised by how much I liked this book. I initially thought the book would highlight penny-pinching techniques, but the main plot surrounding a married couple became far more intriguing. The story was easy to read and interesting; the author opened with a flash forward, offering the reader a nugget of what was to come. The technique definitely encouraged me to read the story quickly. Oh and I did pick up a few penny pinching ideas too!

Books of 2010 total: 3

Reading Memoirs of a Geisha was a real delight. I had seen the movie before, so I was looking forward to reading the original story. I enjoyed it as much as I had expected to. Some of the abrupt scenes in the movie made a lot more sense with the full story laid out. As always, a story in full detail is better than one missing some key points. Memoirs book versus movie was just that way.

I also enjoyed Arthur Golden’s eloquent language. The story was very beautiful and little details were often highlighted, such as the details of each kimono. I thought that was pretty amazing considering how many different kimono were worn and how each one was different from the last. It’s a shame that Sayuri wasn’t a real geisha, but the research involved to craft the book definitely paid off to paint a realistic and amazing story.

Books of 2010 total: 2

My first book of 2010 is a cookbook! I know, it sounds a little silly, but with the exception of reading the steps in each recipe in detail, I really did flip through The Pioneer Woman Cooks from cover to cover. Received as a birthday gift, I spent some time over the Christmas holiday experimenting with some of the breakfast items. Then I wanted to read all of Ree Drummond’s anecdotes, stories and recipe explanations. I made my way through the whole book, lightly skimming the recipe instructions, enjoying stories similar to those I have read on her blog.

If you haven’t checked out The Pioneer Woman, I highly recommend that you do. Witty, funny and always with pizzazz, she approaches life in full color. She also have giveaways, so check back often!

Books of 2010 total: 1

taking a look back

Last year I set out to have realistic and attainable goals I could track. Although I didn’t cross everything off my list, the long-term goals were accomplished, including reading at least 12 books, running in a 5k and knitting at least 52 projects..

• Take digital photos of all the valuable in each room for insurance purposes. This is mostly done.
• Create a “best of 2008″ tally. Whoops, forgot to do this altogether.
• Restack tupperware and sort through items. Completed 01/14/2009.
• Work up to running three times a week. After getting sick in the spring, I got a little off task with this one.
• Pay off bills completely. I’m still working on some of my bills, but a good deal of them are taken care of, including my car payment. Yay!
• Read 12 books from my bookshelf. Completed 10/23/2009.
  
• Run a 5k. Completed 9/26/2009.
• Create an emergency slush fund of four months of expenses. With all my bills, this didn’t happen either but there’s always this year.
• Participate in Stash Knit Down 2009’s 52 projects by December 31, 2009. Completed 12/21/2009.

resolutions for 2010

Just like last year, I will be challenging myself with a few resolutions.

books of 2010. This year I’m upping the ante to 17 books for 2010. This gives me about three weeks per book, which is generally how quickly I can get through a novel if I stay focused. Because I read 14 books last year, three more shouldn’t be unattainable.

stash knit down 2010. For my knitting challenge, I am still striving to reduce my stash but instead of targeting 52 projects, I’m doing something different. Again I don’t want to add to my stash, so I will remain on my yarn diet unless it is necessary for a particular project I need to make as a gift.

The first part of my goal will be to tackle my hibernating WIPs. I have three: Flower Back Sweater, Icarus Shawl and Amigurumi doll. I also have three active projects on the needles: dishcloths, My So-Called Scarf and the Stash Afghan (which is excluded from this challenge). Once these are all finished, I will go through my stash and work on knitting up the skeins I have bought for various projects.

fitness. Workout regularly at least three times a week. An ongoing goal, but this year I’d really like to get back into this. Again, I’ll sign up for 5ks. This year, I’d like to at least do two.

financial. Finish paying off my bills and begin aggressively saving. One goal here is to save up enough money to go to Europe.

explore more of chicago. I’ve lived in the city for about three years and feel like I haven’t really seen it. This year, I want to explore a neighborhood a month. So 12 neighborhoods in the year. I have a few books to use as a reference and I’ll document my explorations.

Here’s to a happy and successful 2010!

Knit the Season, the last edition to the Friday Night Knitting Club series is probably my favorite of the lot, although I enjoyed each book. The story interlaces friends, family, life and knitting into one overlapping string of plots. I love each and every character and love how Kate Jacobs weaves them together. I don’t want to say too much in case my knitterly friends are interested in reading the series. I give it a hearty thumbs up.

I’m also proud to have reached a total of 14 books this year, which is more than I had set out to do in 2009. That probably doesn’t seem like a lot; I know of friends who have read 52 books in a year—one each week. But for me who spends most of her day reading and editing, and reading emails, making time for reading for pleasure can be very difficult. I plan to set the same goal for 2010 and have a bunch of books lined up.

Books of 2009 total: 14

I zipped through Knit Two, by Kate Jacobs. The second in The Friday Night Knitting Club series, I enjoyed checking in with the characters I fell in love with. The sequel was well crafted, weaving in the main characters lives and the impact of the events from the first book and how they lingered on. I don’t want to divulge too much for anyone interested in reading the series.

I am glad this was such a fast read because the third in the series, Knit the Season, just came out. So I’ll get that from the library and read through it (probably before the Christmas holiday).

Books of 2009 total: 13

Today I underwent a retreatment for a root canal. If one can have a bad dental year, I’ve experienced that in 2009. I have had five separate teeth needing varying degrees of work from fillings to onlays to crowns. And with one thing after another happening to tooth #18 (yes, I now know the official tooth number), it has been a long road traveled filled with potholes and pain, to say the least. However, despite my frustration, anger and exasperation associated with this tooth, I finally feel optimistic that I am on the road to recovery.

The reason why we had to retreat this tooth is because the original dentist who performed the work missed a canal altogether. This resulted in months of pain and the inability to chew on that side of the mouth for a good six months. Although some of my family and friends have suggested that I blame my dentist, it isn’t entirely her fault, since she didn’t perform the original root canal. Her associate, however, better cross the street if he sees me coming!

While I waited for the numbing effects to take hold and prep me for the dental service to come, I plowed through the last few chapters of my latest book, The Friday Night Knitting Club, by Kate Jacobs. This book really was a delight to read, despite my obvious fascination with knitting clubs. It does start off a little slow to start, but becomes a speed read about a third of the way through. This is because there are quite a few main characters that Jacobs needs to fill in with backstory and history to really get the story moving.

The basic premise of the story centers around Georgia Walker and her daughter Dakota, and their little knit shop Walker and Daughter. All of the characters weave in and out of their lives to build this core group of interesting personalities.

I really enjoyed the story and actually want to read the sequel Knit Two, but I have to wait for it to come in from the library. Instead, I’ve decided to start The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters, which I’ve read a chapter in already. I’m not sure where all this reading gusto has come from, but I’m going to ride the wave as long as I can.

Speaking of reading gusto, The Friday Night Knitting Club makes No. 12 on the Books of 2009 resolution goal. I have completed my goal, and it isn’t even November!

Books of 2009 total: 12

This year I read:

• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
• Twilight
• New Moon
• Eclipse
• Breaking Dawn
• Free-Range Knitter
• Practicing the Power of Now
• The Green Book
• Bad Cat
• Emma
• Lifehacker
• The Friday Night Knitting Club

I am giving myself a Resolutions Trophy for my accomplishment. Now doesn’t that feel nice! I still have two more months to continue with my reading goal, so who knows how many books I’ll close out with for the year.

I also have additional resolutions to complete, including the Stash Knit Down 2009, which is going well—I am still a week ahead of schedule.

Since my last update of the resolutions post, I have run a 5k, which I forgot to officially write about here. Some of the other resolutions, like run three times a week, has been a difficult goal to meet considering my varying illnesses and work schedule. This will be a goal to continue next year.

I also never did get around to a best of 2008 post, which at this point, seems like a silly topic to discuss so late in the year. I’ve decided to shoot for a best of 2009 post, which I may need so I think more positively about the past year.

Paying bills and saving is an ongoing process, which has also been delayed due to some health issues that have come up. Again, next year should be more promising.

All in all, I am pleased that I met my reading goal and that I’m still going strong. I don’t ever anticipate reading a great deal more than I have this year considering my job as an magazine editor has me reading 24/7, but I’m glad I got in some really good fiction books that I enjoyed.