Every Life Is a Story

I gobbled up A Million Miles in a Thousand Years like a dish of my favorite candy.  I was hooked as Miller writes about how he edits his life into a great story.  His writing is real and honest and I feel like he's in a conversation with me. 

Here's an excerpt I liked: 

"Here's the truth about telling stories with your life.  It's going to sound like a great idea, and you are going to get excited about it, and then when it comes time to do the work, you're not going to want to do it.  It's like that with writing books, and it's like that with life.  People love to have lived a great story, but few people like the work it takes to make it happen.  But joy costs pain.  

A general rule in creating great stories is that characters don't want to change.  They must be forced to change.  Nobody wakes up and starts chasing a bad guy or dismantling a bomb unless something forces them to do so.  The bad guys just robbed your house and are running off with your last roll of toilet paper, or the bomb is strapped to your favorite cat.  It's that sort of thing that gets a character moving.  The rule exists in story because it's a true thing about people.  Humans are designed to seek comfort and order, and so it they have comfort and order, they tend to plant themselves, even if their comfort isn't all that comfortable.  And even if they secretly want for something better."  

~Kate 

My Debut with Coupons

Last night you could have found me at the Pick 'n Save .  It's turning out to be an enjoyable Wednesday evening routine.  Me, the hubster and Addie.  I think you could almost call it a date with only one child in tow.  So, a few weeks back, a friend mentioned to me that Wednesday is "double coupon day".  I decided this would be the week for my debut.  

Step one, bring home Sunday paper.  Step two, snip, snip.  I only cut coupons for things we would normally buy.  I learned there are manufacturer's coupons and in-store coupons.  Who knew?  Everyone except me?  This week there was a Pick 'n Save flier so I had their coupons in addition to the manufacturer's coupons.  

An example of one of my purchases, TAZO herbal tea was on sale for $3.59.  I had a manufacturer's coupon for $1.00 off and with the doubling of the coupon I paid $1.59.  Sweet because I drink tea almost every day. Another, Azteca ultragrain tortillas on sale for $1.54, with doubled coupon only $.64.  We can hardly keep tortillas in the house, especially now that we've gone crazy 
for my dad's black bean salsa recipe. 
   
With very minimal effort and time (I only used the coupons in the Sunday paper and my store's discount card for the savings), my savings total was $34.11.  No kidding.  

I'm off to make a cup of tea.  

~Kate 

Magical Adventures with Mary Poppins

We are reading nearly every day.

Grace (age 9) and I are cruising through Mary Poppins .  She reads a page and then I do and then back to her.  She enjoys reading and reminds me we should read. 
The book is delightful and I smiled at this part: 
"Mr. Banks said to Mrs. Banks that she could have either a nice, clean, comfortable house or four children.  But not both, for he couldn't afford it." 

It's a little difficult to get Jude to sit for reading.  Jude (age 5) is a boy in motion.  
He does not walk through the house instead he hops, spins, rolls, skips 
("it's not running, mom") and in the midst of all the movement he is swinging his imaginary light saber.  I tell him he really will like the books and after we're done he usually tells me, sounding surprised, that I do pick out good books.  
His faves this week were Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent and The House that Jack Built.

Addie (age 1) loves repetition.  This week it's The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss which is progress because we were stuck on The Eye Book for months.

~Kate

Hello, 2012 !

I love the hope of a new year.  This year I found some disillusionment as I sat to write my goals because I have the memory of goals I've penned in previous years that have been 
a complete fail.  I vaguely remember my "9 for 2009". 

This year's list is maybe the simplest to date.  It's much less about doing and more about being.  I'm determined to make small changes but yet I don't want to give up the bigger dreams.  For now, I have a rather eclectic list of things for this new year.  

I will frequent the library.  I will read aloud to the littles every day.  I will drink more water.  
And among other things, I will blog.

~Kate