Abraham Lincoln sites - President's Day

 Anyone who knows me, knows I L-O-V-E Abraham Lincoln.  My students know just how obsessed I am considering my classroom was covered with his picture, witty remarks and wisdom.  I have a continually growing set of books and movies dedicated to him and his role as our 16th president.

And since I love to travel and visit historic sites you can bet your bottom dollar I seize any opportunities to see sites relating to Lincoln.  Hoping to add the monument and museum in Springfield Illinois to my list. These sites are extremely popular, and I hope families get the chance to see these monuments dedicated to one of the most loved presidents that's served our great country.

"History is not history unless it is the truth."

"Bad promises are better broken than kept."

"Broken eggs cannot be mended."

"My father taught me to work, but not to love it.  I never did like to work, and I don't deny it. I'd rather read, tell stories, crack jokes, talk and laugh - anything but work."

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park - Kentucky

On our family RV trip we planned to make a stop at Lincoln's birthplace.  Since I was doing most of the event planning this was definitely going to be stop on our loop.  What added to the experience was the fact that we almost missed the whole thing!  If you've ever dealt with time zone change then you know the line isn't a straight line, but in fact curves in and out. So the closing time for the historic park was actually an hour earlier, and by the time we realized it, we were booking that RV down those side roads faster then was probably safe and flew into the park just in time.

Picked up this miniature bust of Lincoln as a small token of our visit. Makes a perfect item for my teacher desk.

Battle of Gettysburg - Pennsylvania

One of Abraham Lincoln's most famous speeches was his Gettysburg Address in 1863 after the three day July battle.  Lincoln delivered his classic speech at the dedication of a national cemetery at Gettysburg to commemorate all the lives on both the union and confederacy side that had been sacrificed.  It was one of the greatest expressions of democracy in American history.   

Even back when my family visited the battle site in my early school years I still remember that feeling when driving through the park and stopping at the Minnesota memorial.  My love of learning about the Civil War has only continued to grow. In college I was lucky to have taken a class just on the Civil War my freshman year.  I was completely in my element in that class.  I was able to read so many great books on the subject and we even memorized the Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

I hope that I'll be able to venture over to the site again next time I'm in Ohio, since I know that it would certainly mean even more to me today.

Mount Rushmore - South Dakota

One of my favorite monuments honoring our past presidents, carved into the side of the Black Hills of South Dakota is Mount Rushmore.  This National Memorial is visited by nearly 3 million people a year who wish to marvel at the astounding man-made creation carved into nature’s creation.  When you stand at the base of this gigantic memorial it is hard not to be amazed.

"The purpose of the memorial is to communicate the founding, expansion, preservation, and unification of the United States with colossal statues of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt."
Gutzon Borglum

Clearly I was not the only one to think that these were the best of the best in regards to our presidential leaders.  Even back in grade school when I visited this memorial on a family vacation I was captivated.  I'm looking forward to returning with my own family one day.  And since some of my students have been, I always love teaching about Mount Rushmore's construction in my U.S. History class.

 Lincoln Memorial - Washington D.C.

Before starting my history teaching job, my husband and I took a spontaneous trip to D.C. over the summer.  I haven't been to D.C. since I visited in sixth grade with my family, so I've been dying for another opportunity.  It was great to tour all the memorials again, especially with a friend that's a D.C. native.  Make sure you have your walking shoes if you visit, cause boy did we get our exercise over those 3 days.

Although I value all the memorials, my most anticipated was of course the Lincoln Memorial!!!

KEEP collective jewelry

I love basic everyday jewelry!  For me a bracelet that can go with everything because it can be dressed up or down, is a worthwhile investment.  Always a fan for items of sentimentality KEEP collective has found a special place on my wrist.

How did I discover these great pieces?  It's all thanks to my best friend Melanie who became a KEEP consultant and introduced me and has gotten me addicted.  But instead of me raving about it, figured she could more accurately share just what makes KEEP so special.

First here is a peek into one of my latest obsessions!
 

 Little note about what these mean to me and why I love wearing them!!!

 - Mrs : for my hubby and me,

 - Stacked Hearts: for my most valued relationships (hubby and I, best friend Melanie and I, my parents, my brother and I, etc..)

 - Mrs W : I'm a teacher

 - U.S. Map : US History teacher, Geography teacher, goal to travel to all 50 states

 - Blessed : constant reminder of how blessed I am in all facets of my life, God looking out for me

 - Arrow : goals to attain, journeying ahead

























Hi everyone! My name is Melanie, and as Marie said above I am a KEEP consultant.  Today I want to share with you more about why Marie and I both love KEEP, and why we think you'll love this arm candy too! 

The idea behind KEEP is that YOU get to create YOUR jewelry.  KEEP what matters to you close at hand. Share who or what you love. What's YOUR story?

The reason I joined KEEP is because I love their mission to spread happy.  I was first drawn in because of the amazing jewelry (I had a wish list that was a mile long!).  I wanted to earn some free product and commission to help fund my new-found obsession.  As I began to design pieces, I heard stories from women about the things that were most precious to them.  It is so inspiring and such a privilege to have conversations about aspirations, loss, and family. It's a dream that I get paid to help people tell the stories of their one-of-a-kind

lives!  There is so much cruelty and tragedy in the world, and I want to be part of something that helps people keep their joy and happiness close at hand.  KEEP helps remind us of what's most important in life and that each of us is truly blessed.


Just like Marie, I have a few favorite KEEP keys I wanted to share.

- Palm leaf : represents growth and honor. I wear it to remind me that life is a process and to find lessons in each day.

 - Hearts bar : I wear this to represent my two daughters.

 - Knot : represents my marriage and "tying the knot."  It helps me remember that when things get tough, our bond only gets tighter.

 - Arrow : I wear this one just about every single day! for me, it represents moving forward and the quote, "When life seems to be pulling you back, it means you will soon be launched into something great."

 - Color bar : I wear the blue bar for the thin blue line in support of my husband as a policy officer.

 - Key : when I wear the key, it helps me to think about the "keys to my heart and happiness" and to keep those things at the forefront of everything I do.

Steps to creating your KEEP story.

Step 1 - Check out my online catalog here: www.keepcollective.com/with/melaniegriffith

Step 2 - Choose your keeper! Bracelet or necklace? Metal or leather? Single or double? Silver, gold, or rose gold?

Step 3 - Choose your keys! Keys are charms that tell your story. They slide on and off your keeper and fit snugly so they stay in place while you move.

Step 4 - Place your order or ask me to make a mock-up of your design so you can see it before purchasing. Your beautiful package will arrive at your doorstep in 4-7 days!

If you are new to KEEP and want to learn more, this is a great video to watch:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Xcy0afOrE 

Join the fun and design your own KEEP bracelet today.  It's time to share your story.

Fire & Ice Gift Box

Themed gift boxes are my thing!

Shopping and making these make me a happy girl.  So I try and find any excuse to think up a theme and run with it.  Good for birthday parties, baby showers, and church auction donations.  Even thought up some for work promotions, get well baskets etc so stay tuned.

These snack boxes are perfect for those salty or sweet snack lovers.

Can be especially easy gifts for those people who are hard to buy for or if you want to show you're thinking of them for a mere $20-$30. Plus this is one of those boxes that you know will be appreciated!

Who doesn't LOVE a box full of treats?!

This FIRE & ICE box is full of fiery freshness!
For someone who likes spicy this snack box will have their mouth singing.
And then help them cool it down with some minty freshness.

FIRE & ICE Box

Fiery Item options:

 

Cheetos
   * Flamin' hot,   cheddar jalapeno,    flamin' hot limon,    xxtra flamin' hot
Fritos flamin' hot
Doritos
   * flamas,    spicy sweet chili,    spicy nacho,    spicy street taco,    ranch dipped hot wings
Doritos Dinamita
   * chile limon,    fiery habanero,    nacho picoso
Funyuns
   *  flamin' hot,    chile limon
Lays
   * flamin' hot,    chile limon
Lays Stax
   * buffalo wing,    chile limon,    flamas,    xtra flamin' hot
Hot Sauce / Tabasco
Cinnamon Bears
Cinnamon Hard Candy
Red Hots
Hot Tamales

Icy / Fresh Item options:

Orbit gum
Lifesavers Mints
Mentos
Andes Mints
Tic Tacs
Junior Mints
Altoids
York Peppermint
Gatorade Frost

See previous post on:  
 
Building a Baby Basket


Coming soon:

Sending some Sunshine

"You're on Fire" Box
     - work promotion
     - report card
     - graduation

Sweet & Sour Box
     - someone sweet in a sour situation

Faery Fantasy : MyReads2016

I've been on a Faerie book kick recently.  Midway through February I found some great series in this new popular world that so many authors have created for us readers.  Seemed fitting for the month of March to be focusing on the world of faery what with St. Patrick's Day.  I can get into most stories, but it's not often that I rate them a 5. And this month I had MANY!Already know some of these will be re-reads for me, they were that good!

ACOTAR Series - Sarah Maas  ( 5 / 5 )
* 1 : A Court of Thorns and Roses
   2 : A Court of Mist and Fury (May 2016)

Sarah Maas is one of my favorite YA authors! Her Throne of Glass Series is addictive and a favorite of many readers.  It's no surprise I LOVED this book, since it has many similarities to the familiar story of Beauty and the Beast.  This was a stay up all night until I finished it book, I truly didn't have another choice when I had read the first few chapters. 

Summary: Feyre hates faeries.  Behind the wall the humans live impoverished, but in relative safety from the dangerous immortal faeries.  That is until Feyre is accused of killing a faerie.  In retribution she must live with a deadly faery, Tamlin, to pay off the life debt.  Faeries are irrestible, but Feyre refuses to fall for her captor.  She waits, learning about the faeries and their weaknesses, and yet it's hard to fight her growing concern for Tamlin and those on the estate.  Searching for the truth about the fae and the well being of the humans, Feyre finds herself in the middle of a dangerous world.

Winterspell - Claire Legrand ( 5 / 5 )

A re-telling of the Nutcracker made this one of my favorites.  I love when stories are reshaped, but stay true enough to the primary story to see the connection.  Honestly before reading this I never was able to get into the story of the Nutcracker, partly because I don't think I truly understood all the characters and world of the fae.  Needless to say it exceeded expectations.

It's not often that I read stand alone novels. This book though, it's fabulous. It's a little dark. I've realized books that take place in faery tend to be on a spectrum of darkness. Always was scared of the rat king in the play, and this novel brings us into the magical world of the Nutcracker.  

The Iron Fey - Julie Kagawa ( 5 / 5 )

* 1 : The Iron King
* 1.5 : Winters Passage
* 2 : The Iron Daughter
* 3 : The Iron Queen
* 3.5 : Summer's Crossing
* 4 : The Iron Knight
* 4.5 : Iron's Prophecy
* 5 :  The Lost Prince
* 6 :  The Iron Traitor

One of my favorite series I read last year! This iron fey series had me on the lookout for other faery fantasy books.  The main character Meghan Chase, is the daughter of a mythical faery king, and one of the reasons I love the books.  The other characters in the book will make you laugh out loud, and have you falling in love right along with them.  And of course there's a young prince, and just like any "faery" tale you find yourself wrapped up in this dangerous love story. Lighter reading, it's appropriate for many audiences, and more lightheartedness than other faery stories.

Fever Series - Karen Marie Moning ( 4.5 / 5 )

* 1 : Darkfever
* 2 : Bloodfever
* 3 : Faefever
* 4 : Dream fever
* 5 : Shadowfever
* 5.5 : Fevermoon
* 6 : Iced
* 7 : Burned
* 8 : Feverborn
   9 : (coming soon)

This series took me completely by surprise. Definitely not a read for teens.  Books 1-3 were relatively tame, but by the end of 3 and from then on the books turn even darker (hadn't thought it was possible) and more graphic in detail or R rated.  And yet I still found myself unable to stop halfway through the series, I just had to know how everything would work out.  It's one of those things that once the characters go through so much, you just need that ending for some closure. Whelp I'm still waiting, since the series just keeps going.  What I like is the empowerment and transformation of the main character as she comes into her own. And the challenges faced along the way, wow!  Everytime I think I know what's going to happen I'm wrong! Or suddenly BAM! something unexpected happens. Can't tell you how often I dropped my book in shock just absorbing what transpired.

Wicked Lovely Series - Melissa Marr ( 4 / 5 )

* 1 : Wicked Lovely
* 2 : Ink Exchange
* 3 :  Fragile Eternity
* 4 : Radiant Shadows
*  5 : Darkest Mercy 

 If you can guess it was the covers that aught my attention for this series. And then once I found out it was about the magical world of faery, I knew I had to put it on my to read list for March. After finishing this series, thought it was going to be good reads for teens.

Summary: Aislinn has always seen faeries.  She  hides her sight so well they have no idea she can see them.  But now one is following her.  Keenan, the devastatingly handsome Summer king is searching for his queen, and he thinks Aislinn is it. At least he hopes she is. Otherwise, like every other girl that has come before her, if she's not her fate will be sealed as a faery forever succumbed to winters cold. Will she take the risk to save the summer kingdom? Or is there another way to protect her best friend Seth and everyone else she holds dear?


Kanin Chronicles - Amanda Hocking ( 3 / 5 )


* 1 : Frostfire
* 2 : Ice Kissed
* 3: Crystal Kingdom


This series might not be about fairies but there were a lot of similarities.  The Kanin Chronicles is about trolls, good looking trolls apparently. There are different kingdoms beyond the human world, and yet the trolls will sometimes plant themselves among the humans.  Important royal mystical children are planted in place of a "normal" baby so that they might be brought up safe, until their families reclaim them when they come of age.  You've probably heard the term changeling before, it's not a new idea.  Good series for a teen audience!

Summary: Bryn Aven stands out with her blond hair blue eyes among the darker Kanins.  She wants to be a part of the elite royal guard, which sets her on the path of tailing a traitor to the King and Queen.  It's too bad the traitor used to be her biggest crush, but that won't stop her from doing whatever she must to achieve a ranking within the guard. But when the decision comes is she willing to risk everything to protect a kingdom that truly doesn't even accept her?

 

 

My running total since the start of the new year is now  25 / 100 !

A Year of Books 2016

I love to read.
I love to read A LOT!
And so this year I decided that I would keep track of my books in monthly posts.  On average I'd say I read anywheres between 50 and 75 books a year.  So my ambitious goal is to read 100 books in a year! That's right, 100 books!

You can probably guess that I'd be broke if I bought that many books every year.  So unless I win the lottery I won't be planning on any big personal library anytime soon.  As much as I love the physical copy of the book with its cover art and page smell, I've really depended on borrowing books from the library on my kindle and in person when I get that itch to hold a book.

Since I read so many it's been hard to share them on the blog and this way I can list them all, but really feature those worth reading.  If you have any recommendations for reads I always make a TBR (to be read) list and am continually adding to it.  When I took job placement surveys back in high school they always came back that I should be a librarian, no surprise since I love books, discussing books and organization.  This is my way to satisfy that desire of mine to bring books to the forefront of my life.  Listed in order by favorites here is my book tally for January and half February.

Orphan Queen Series - Jodi Meadows

* 1 : The Orphan Queen
  1.5 : Novellas: 1) The Hidden Prince 2) The Glowing Knight 3) The Burning Hand 4) The Black Knife
  2 : The Mirror King

A fantasy world of intrigue, magic, romance, and dangerous liaisons I was hooked from the start.  Wilhelmina is an escaped princess hiding amongst her enemies, and she's become the perfect spy.  Determined to regain her kingdom she must tread carefully and hide her identity, but there are many key people in play, the Prince,  the vigilante Black Knife, her fellow fallen nobility named the Ospreys, and of course a growing threat of wraith.

Young Elites Series - Marie Lu

* 1 : Young Elites
* 2 : Rose Society

This newest series by Marie Lu is being commonly disputed against her well known Legend trilogy.  I read the Legend series last year, and in my opinion the Young Elites shows great growth and character development in her writing.  Reminded me of X-men, where the children all have a variety of powers and of course are perceived as threats to the general good of society. 

Jewel Series - Amy Ewing

* 1 : The Jewel
   1.5 : The House of the Stone
* 2 : The White Rose

If you enjoyed the Selection Series, haven't heard of anyone yet who read it that didn't like it, this has some similarities.  The Jewel is the wealthy inner circle, of whom the elite are dependent on the poor to bear their children due to a genetic rarity they offer.  Violet is sold into the hands of a duchess and ends up in the middle of political intrigue and a play for power.  Subjected to a life of servitude she falls for the one boy she cannot, and must make the decision about whether he is worth risking everything. 

The Darkest Minds Series : Alexandra Bracken

* 1 : The Darkest Minds
   1.5 : In Time
   2: Never Fade
   2.5 : Sparks Rise
   3 : In the After Light
   3.5 : Through the Dark ( In Time, Sparks Rise, Beyond the Night)

Another series on genetic mutations, the darkest minds tells the tale of a society that underwent severe losses in children lives after a epidemic wipes out portions of the U.S. population.  Those children who survived are rounded up, as their powers are a threat.  Given a color based on their skill, they're either killed or forced to work in camps, the truth of it all hidden from society.  Ruby has kept herself alive by flying under the radar, but eventually must escape in order to live, and along the way meets a group of misfits also with frightening abilities.

After Series :  Anna Todd  (4/5)

* 1 : After
* 2 : After We Collided
* 3 : After We Fell
   4 : After Ever Happy
   5 :  Before

A series about a college romance, it's gained lots of attention and remains a popular read amongst young adult females, especially fangirls.  Due to the graphic descriptions and situations the characters find themselves in, especially those regarding drinking, sexual acts and language, readers should minimally be college aged.  It may be a realistic telling of college experiences for some students, but the drama and rollercoaster of this volatile story relationship is definitely not for everyone.

Newsoul Series - Jodi Meadows (3/5)

* 1 :  Incarnate
* 2 : Asunder
   2.5 : Phoenix Overture
* 3 : Infinite

 This series is based on the premise of reincarnation.  For thousands of years the same souls have continued to be always be reborn, able to keep their previous lives memories intact even when starting a new life.  Everyone knows everyone.   Until one day a new soul appeared, Ana.  She replaced another one, and no one knows the reason.  Was she a mistake?  Would new souls continue to replace the old ones? And if so, how, and why? On the search to figure out her life's meaning Ana meets Sam, he's different, and for the first time maybe someone actually sees Ana for who she is and who she could be. 

Leigh Bardugo (2 / 5)

* 1 : Six of Crows
   2 : Crooked Kingdom (Sept 2016)

Gaining huge momentum amongst readers lately, I thought this was one book worth skipping.  I fought the entire way through to finish it.  I enjoy a little more focus on character relationships and their development, which was extremely lacking. Also, the book didn't have any "surprises", it was pretty easy to see where it was going next.  The premise had potential, 6 outcasts with their only purpose being to survive in a world of magic, but unlike the Young Elites or Darkest Minds series this rag tag group just didn't work.

TOTAL BOOKS READ : 13 / 100

Creating Beach Mementos

As the winter cold finally hits us here in Minnesota I find myself dreaming of a day at the beach, or even better, a whole week! Below zero temperatures make short weather seem so very far away. So with no ocean in sight here in the midwest, and all the lakes frozen over, I savor my beach memories and decor that I've collected over the years. Here are some of the very simple ideas to incorporate the beach into your home.

Beach Scene

A great way to recreate your time at the beach is by gathering an assortment of beach items and them placing them in a display.  Our best friend Charlie lived in the Bahamas for a year, and although we were unable to go visit him he brought the beach to us. 

Some great items to secure for the display:
-Seashell or glass platter
-Sand
-Seashell Candles (seashells filled with wax & wick)
-Seashell variety
-Capsule of the ocean water

Shadowbox with Sand Filler

Using a scenic picture from your trip, place it in a shadowbox.  Add the sand as filler from the beach you visited so that the real sand covers the sandy part of the picture. You'll get a really cool effect.

Shadowbox with Seashells & Sea glass

 Using shells and sea glass you've collected fill a small shadowbox. Perfect for a shelf or wall display.

Seashells with Candles

I've accumulated many shells from my visits around the country. An easy way for me to add them to my collection is toss them on a glass plate around a pair of candles.  Easy to clean if dusty, and allows anyone to pick up a shell and examine it if they're curious.

Bottle of Sand

A glass bottle to display the sand from our trip to Cape Cod became a fun honeymoon memento for us to remember all the time we spent at the beach.

Seashell Lamp

 
Growing up, Lisa and my grandparents lived in Florida for a good many years.  When they moved back to MN one decoration that always was a conversation starter was my grandma's seashell lamp.  The lamp base was glass and filled with seashells they'd collected.  Talk about a unique piece!

Lisa and her mother decided with our grandma's help to make one for themselves. The petite lamp really makes a statement.

Sand Dollar Ornament

Find your own sand dollar on the beach or find one in a nearby seashell store to hang on the Christmas tree.  Write the year and vacation spot on the sand dollar to forever spark memories of your trip.

They also make great gifts. Besides the created "Beach Scene", Charlie brought us back a sand dollar ornament from the Bahamas. It was a very thoughtful gift he gave to all our friends and reasonably priced too.

Collage of Beach Memories

My apartment is filled with photos, but I've been setting aside a plan for a beach collage wall for years.  And after 3 years I made the time to print our honeymoon photos and hang those beauties on the wall.  Our pictures from Cape Cod made the perfect arrangement in my new coastal frames! And to accompany them on a separate wall, I have other beachy items that make me smile every time I walk into the room.

I definitely see other beachy projects in my future, but for now, I'll have to wait until summer .