We’re two weeks into the school year and slowly finding our rhythm. BB has adjusted to life as a kindergarten girl like a champ and MM is slowly getting used to the heftier workload that 3rd grade at a private school demands of him and I’m slowly accepting that my son is horridly unorganized and absent minded. We’ve got a long weekend ahead of us to enjoy all of the things we love when we’re not doing the weekday grind. Hopefully it recharges us and leaves us ready for another week!

I’m linking up again with the lovely Leigh Kramer to share the things I’ve been into this month: like books, tv, music, and great online reads.

BOOKS I READ:

1. ***** One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde – Finished August 10, 2014 – I was absolutely blown away by this book which is impressive when you consider it is 6th in a series. The fact that the author was able to surprise and delight me in book six is really rather remarkable. There are so many elements to this book (and this series) that it seems impossible to describe but I particularly loved the descriptions of Bookworld and also the description of experiencing the real world for the first time through a Bookworld character’s eyes.
2. **** Girl Walks Into a Bar by Rachel Dratch – Finished August 27, 2014 – I really enjoyed this one. I didn’t know much about Rachel Dratch before reading this aside from “that funny girl on SNL” but her stories both made me laugh and truly resonated with me. From the cool tidbits about her time on SNL to stories about her dating life and family life, this had a little bit of everything.
3. *** Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon – Finished August 28, 2014 – The artwork in this graphic novel is beautiful and of course I enjoyed getting a glimpse into what happens to all the main characters after the series finale, but the overall storyline was very difficult to follow and overall I just felt it didn’t compare to the television show, not that this is surprising really.

Right now I’m reading I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai which my book club will be reading at the end of September. It’s actually the UW Go Big Read selection so I’m just one of an enormous amount of Wisconinites reading it right now. If you haven’t heard of this book here is a description from goodreads.com:

“When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education.

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive.

Instead, Malala’s miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize.

I AM MALALA is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls’ education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons.”

TV SHOWS I’M MARATHONING:

We’ve been watching Scandal on Netflix this month – totally late to the party but loving it. We just watched the first episode of Season 2 today and I’m SOOOOOOO anxious to find out what happens next!

I’m also watching Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model and we’re still loving The Colbert Report and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson who we will miss a lot when he leaves the show at the end of the year. ::sobs:: We’re at a lull right now otherwise as we wait for the Fall season to begin which will really be any minute now.

MUSIC I’M JAMMING TO:

Lots of girl power music this month. These are three songs I’ve been listening to borderline obsessively.

LINKS I’M LOVING:

9 Signs Your Daughter Might Be a Mean Girl: I was relieved to see that my daughter seems to be in the clear so far.

Back to School: The 70’s vs. Today: So I’m not quite this bad but I totally busted out the bento boxes this year.

I thought age 4 would be better. I was wrong. I seriously could have written this one.

Building Your Own Pergola: Part One. The hubby and I are kinda sorta talking about doing this.

What are you into lately?