Menu Plan January 27-February 2, 2015

Tuesday:  Warm Orzo Salad with Black Beans, Parmesan Pita Chips

Wednesday:  Margarita Chicken, Couscous, Broccoli

Thursday:  Mexican Rarebit over Cornbread

Friday:  Fluffy Oat Bran Pancakes, Fruit Salad

Saturday:  Ham & Mac Bake, Peas, Maple Walnut Cake

Sunday:  Meatball Hero Sandwiches, Maple Walnut Cake

Monday:  do-it-yourself dinner

Fortune Cookie Wisdom

You see the beauty in ordinary things.
Do not lose this ability.

2015 Ultimate Reading Challenge

Year-End Result:
I was excited as the year started, but in the end, I think the challenge actually made my reading harder and more of a chore then enjoyable.  I was picking books not because I really wanted to read them, but merely because they would fit an unfinished category.  That made me resent my reading and I did not enjoy the books as much as I would have if I had not felt required to read them.  It was an interesting experiment, but I do not think I am going to participate in any more reading challenges.  I think I read enough without them and I definitely enjoy my reading more without them.

As for the books I read, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Around the World in 80 Days, and how little I enjoyed Nineteen Eighty-Four, which definitely ranks among my least favorite books ever.

                                                                                                                               

I found this challenge when a poster on a message board suggested it.  Then a Facebook friend suggested trying it out.  Looking it over, I figured I'd give it a shot.  The purpose of the challenge is really to read as many varied and different books as possible, but I think I am going to tweak that a bit and see how many books I can tick off using books I already own.  Other than the book published this year, I think I can make it without buying any new books.  

Check back for my progress, I'll update as I finish books.

1. [✓] A book with 500 pages: Women's Devotional Bible 1 -- New International Version
2. [✓] A classic romance: The Potter's Hands -- Fisher, Rebekah
3. [✓] A book that became a movie: Mama's Bank Account -- Forbes, Kathryn
4. [✓] A book published this year: All the President's Menus -- Hyzy, Julie
5. [✓] A book with a number in the title: Around the World in 80 Days -- Verne, Jules
6. [✓] A book written by someone under 30: The Mysterious Affair at Styles -- Christie, Agatha
7. [✓] A book with nonhuman characters: The Litter of the Law -- Brown, Rita Mae & Sneaky Pie Brown
8. [✓] A funny book: Monsieur Pamplemousse Afloat
9. [✓] A book with a female author: Snake in the Glass -- Atwell, Sarah
10. [✓] A mystery or thriller: An Old Betrayal -- Charles Finch
11. [✓] A book with a one-word title: Johnno -- Malouf, David
12. [✓] A book of short stories: Death Dines at 8:30 -- Bishop, Claudia and Nick DiChario
13. [✓] A book set in a different country: Emily Goes to Exeter -- Beaton, M.C.
14. [✓] A nonfiction book: No Land's Man -- Mandvi, Aasif
15. [✓] A popular author's first book: Murder Past Due -- James, Miranda
16. [✓] A book from an author you love that you have not read yet: Nine Lives to Die -- Brown, Rita Mae & Sneaky Pie Brown
17. [✓] A book a friend recommended: The Professor and the Madman -- Winchester, Simon
18. [✓] A Pulitzer Prize winning book: Our Town -- Wilder, Thornton
19. [✓] A book based on a true story: The Secret of Sarah Revere -- Rinaldi, Ann
20. [✓] A book at the bottom of your to-read list: Surprised by Hope -- Fisher, Rebekah
21. [✓] A book your mom loves: Murder By the Book -- Stout, Rex
22. [✓] A book that scares you: Vampires, Bones, and Treacle Scones -- Dunnett, Kaitlyn
23. [✓] A book more than 100 years old: A Little Princess -- Burnett, Frances Hodgson
24. [✓] A book based entirely on its cover: The Clockwork Teddy -- Lamb, John J.
25. [✓] A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't: Rebecca -- duMaurier, Daphne
26. [✓] A memoir: Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography -- Harris, Neil Patrick
27. [✓] A book you can finish in a day: Belinda Goes to Bath -- Beaton, M.C.
28. [✓] A book with antonyms in the title: What the Deaf-Mute Heard -- Gearino, G.D.
29. [✓] A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit: Double Take -- Carlson, Melody
30. [✓] A book that came out the year you were born: A Proud Taste for Scarlet & Miniver -- Konigsburg, E.L.
31. [✓] A book with bad reviews: The Grave Gourmet -- Campion, Alexander
32. [✓] A trilogy -- part 1: Death at Buckingham Palace -- Benison, C.C.
33. [✓] A trilogy -- part 2: Death at Sandringham House -- Benison, C.C.
34. [✓] A trilogy -- part 3: Death at Windsor Castle -- Benison, C.C.
35. [✓] A book from your childhood: Annie Oakley: Little Sure Shot -- Wilson, Ellen
36. [✓] A book with a love triangle: Huckleberry Spring -- Beckstrand, Jennifer
37. [✓] A book set in the future: Nineteen Eighty-Four -- Orwell, George
38. [✓] A book set in high school: Good-bye, Mr. Chips -- Hilton, James
39. [✓] A book with a color in the title: The Orchid Affair -- Willig, Lauren
40. [✓] A book that made you cry: Love in Sight -- Gilliatt, Holly
41. [✓] A book with magic: A Fatal Twist of Lemon -- Greenwood, Patrice
42. [✓] A graphic novel: Henri, Le Chat Noir -- Braden, William
43. [✓] A book by an author you've never read before: A Reader's Book of Days -- Nissley, Thomas
44. [✓] A book you own but have never read: Love Still Stands -- Irvin, Kelly
45. [✓] A book that takes place in your hometown (or close to where you live): Something Fishy -- Maloney, Shane
46. [✓] A book originally written in a different language: The Coronation -- Akunin, Boris
47. [✓] A book set during Christmas: Miracle on 34th Street -- Davies, Valentine
48. [✓] A book written by an author with your same initials: Bite the Biscuit -- Johnston, Linda O.
49. [✓] A play: The Happiest Millionaire -- Carothers, A.J.
50. [✓] A banned book: Anastasia, Ask Your Analyst -- Lowry, Lois
51. [✓] A book based on or turned into a TV show: Sidney Chambers and The Shadow of Death -- Runcie, James
52. [✓] A book you started but never finished: The Little Girls -- Bowen, Elizabeth