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6.27.2014

"The Fault in Our Stars" Book Club Discussion


I have finally gotten my neighborhood book club off the ground and we have chosen a book to read for July.  

I am the host and chose The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green after reading about it on Wendy's blog

After reading the book, I have prepared a few questions to get us rolling when we meet on Tuesday and I thought I'd share.  Can you think of any good discussion questions?  Add them in the comments and I will bring them to my meeting!

I feel that as a mother, sometimes I approach this genre of book from a different perspective than a younger person, so I tried to gear the questions toward that line of thinking for my particular group.

I am also working on a small party favor to hand out to the girls at the meeting - an "okay" bracelet or bookmark, perhaps?

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The Fault in Our Stars Book Club Discussion
John Green


1.         Did you like the book or not / why?

2.         What do you think about a 36 year old man writing in the voice of a 16 yr old girl? 

3.         Did you read the book from the young adult perspective as an adult voyeur?

4.         Did you find the book sad & depressing or uplifting, in a way?

5.         Did you agree or disagree with some of Hazel's/Gus’ parents parenting choices? Which ones – the clinginess or the permissiveness? Do you think their choices were affected by her diagnosis? Could you see yourself doing the same under similar circumstances?

6.         Thoughts on Peter Van Houten?

7.         Thoughts on Gus' cigarette?

8.         Did you want to read An Imperial Affliction after reading Hazel's description of it? (I actually Googled it to see if I could find it mid book!)

My Favorite Quotes: (I have started noting favorite book quotes after seeing it on Tara's blog a while back)

*As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.

*Some people don't understand the promises they're making when they make them," I said.

*"Right, of course. But you keep the promise anyway. That's what love is. Love is keeping the promise anyway.

*Grief does not change you, Hazel. It reveals you.

*Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth it is a city of freedom. And in freedom, most people find sin.

*But I believe in true love, you know? I don't believe that everybody gets to keep their eyes or not get sick or whatever, but everybody should have true love, and it should last at least as long as your life does.

*"'Swing Set Needs Home,'" I said.
"'Desperately Lonely Swing Set Needs Loving Home,'" he said.
"'Lonely, Vaguely Pedophilic Swing Set Seeks the Butts of Children,'" I said.

*You have a choice in this world, I believe, about how to tell sad stories, and we made the funny choice.


*(My) diagnosis came three months after I got my first period. Like: Congratulations! You’re a woman. Now die.

*And I wondered if hurdlers ever thought, you know, 'This would go faster if we just got rid of the hurdles.

*The weird thing about houses is that they almost always look like nothing is happening inside of them, even though they contain most of our lives.

*The risen sun too bright in her losing eyes.

*Our fearlessness shall be our secret weapon.

*Not to one-up you or anything, but my body is made out of cancer.'

*Even cancer isn't a bad guy really: Cancer just wants to be alive.

**So dawn goes down today... Nothing gold can stay.

-- Robert Frost

6.24.2014

Tutorial Tuesday!

Wall Stencil:


How to Pick and Prep Tropical Fruit:


 Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 

address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!




Hope Studios



6.23.2014

Workin' on my Fitness


We just got home from the world's most exhausting vacation to Universal Studios in Orlando and I wanted to share my vacation work out for when I'm traveling!

If I know there will be a gym at my destination I use the free weights, but if not, I bring along an exercise band and use more body weight (triceps dips rather than raises, etc...)

This is a good 1 hour, full body work out that will keep you ready for your bathing suit later in the afternoon!  Happy travels this summer!

6.17.2014

Tutorial Tuesday!

Toilet Paper Roll Wreath:
 

Cloud Dough:


 Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 

address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!




Hope Studios



6.12.2014

13 Year Old Registered Sex Offender?






So this is the latest controversy in my son's school...

A 13 year old, 7th grade female student sent a naked photo (via text) to another 13 year old 7th grade male student.

The male student showed the photo (maybe even forwarded via text) to another male friend (possibly more than one friend) and someone told either a parent or a teacher.

The female student was suspended for one day.

The male student was suspended for several days.  Rumor has it, the police got involved, and now he is required to register as a sex offender for a certain amount of time for receiving and sending child pornography.

*did you ever think you would read the words "sex offender" and "child pornography" on this blog??? Geesh!"

Is it possible that this child really had to register as a sex offender?

I found this post about the consequences of sexting on the FBI.gov website when I Googled this issue.

Any other thoughts?

ps (this incident sparked a lengthy (uncomfortable) discussion with my 3 boys about inappropriate texts)

6.10.2014

Tutorial Tuesday!

Scrap Wood American Flag:


Preschool Teacher Gift:


Pallet Gardening:


Last Week's Most Clicked Link:



 Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 

address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!




Hope Studios




6.09.2014

Here Be Monsters and My Fave Podcasts






Have I ever shared with you my obsession with podcasts?

About two years ago I leaped into the world of all things iPhone and with that came iTunes.  The world of free podcasts was at my fingertips to help housecleaning, jogging, and driving pass in the blink of an eye!  I started with all the usuals...

This American Life

Pop Culture Happy Hour

All Things Considered

Then I started to discover some cool new shows I hadn't heard of before.

Snap Judgement ("Stories...with a beat") was mentioned on Pop Culture Happy Hour so I downloaded a few and loved the combination of short stories all glued together with music to punctuate each one.

Snap Judgement mentioned my newest obsession, Here Be Monsters ("The podcast about the unknown").  I binge listened (is that a thing??) to the first 20 or so episodes while spreading 12 yards of mulch last week.  I really dig the trippy sound experiments and music that accompanies each strange story.  They even dub in different voices when dialog occurs in a story.  It is so weirdly fascinating to listen to and the host's voice is hypnotic to me...I might actually be in a trance right now...

Here and there, I sprinkle in some Joy the Baker for some girlfriend silliness, or Ask Me Another quiz shows for car rides with the family.

Do you listen to podcasts?  Any suggestions for something I should try?

6.06.2014

Cute Teacher's Gift


Last school year, I found a gift card to the local supermarket covered in M&M's and remembered the thank you poem.  A perfect fit for a quick teacher thank you!

Fill your jar with candy, print out the poem on cardstock and attach a gift card with some ribbon and you're good to go!

6.04.2014

Get Twiggy Wit It - Part II


It doesn't take a huge budget to get a spring time punch into your decor.  Remember our "icy" silver branch we used to decorate the mantle in January?

Let's give it a beachy makeover with some teal spray paint.  Reuse. Recycle. Repurpose.
 

6.03.2014

Tutorial Tuesday!

 The Shirt Skirt:


 Unique Teachers Gift:


 Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 

address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!




Hope Studios




6.02.2014

Picnic-for-Two Basket - Anthro Knock-Off


I came across this Anthropologie Picnic-for-Two Basket a few weeks ago and pinned it into my "gift ideas" file for a birthday gift for a friend.

I loved the idea, but $128 was a little steep for me!

Fast forward a few weeks later as I was browsing the Target Dollar Aisle (more my budget), I spied this straw bag ($3) that resembled the Anthropologie bag and inspiration hit me!  I found most of what I needed in that dollar aisle that day.


Picnic-for-Two Basket

Supplies:

Large straw bag
Plates
Wine glasses
Mason jars
Plastic utensils
Straws
Tablecloth
Napkins

+ any other "picnic-y" item you can think of!

Directions:

Pack it all up into the bag for a compact last minute picnic on the go!


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