Karen’s Opinion

In an effort to get to know fellow bloggers a bit better, I am participating in Meet Me on Monday. It is a fun way to see what the rest of the blogging world is up to. There are a few surprises and funny answers. Want to participate? Click on the Meet Me on Monday button.

Questions:

1. Tomorrow I’m going to _________?
Do the end of the month of November’s book work for our business. I have put it off so long that it will soon be time to do December’s books.

2. Pudding or Jello? I love jello fixed with orange sherbert and mandarin oranges. Yummy!

3. What book are you currently reading? None at the moment. I just finished reading The Choice.

4. What is the first concert you went to see? Barry Manilow! Oh my gosh, does that date me!

5. What is your current weather? Brrr, it is 18 degrees outside. I have to wear my gloves or my hands will start to crack and bleed. I hate winter.

Questions:

1. I really need to clean my _________?
Quilt books and patterns. They have been thrown in a pile and look very messy.
2. What food makes you think of Christmas?eggnog

3. If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be? 25, that is when my first child was born. I would love to have kept her a baby forever.
4. What was your first paying job?I drove an ice cream truck.
5. Have you read the Twilight series?Yes, I have. I worry about the effect the latest movie will have on teen pregnancy. I haven’t seen Breaking Dawn yet so I am hoping it is dealt with in a good way since so many impressionable young people will watch this movie.

This winter seems to have stretched out over a lifetime! I cannot remember reading as many books as I have this past winter. I suppose, I should look at that as a good thing. Janet Evanovich has kept me entertained with her books about Stephanie Plum, the crazy bounty hunter. I have also finished many quilts and purse projects this year.

If there is anything we have learned this winter, it is to be prepared. We were fortunate but others who lost power this winter found themselves going to a shelter to get warm. Our power never stayed off for long but if it does, we have a Genset generators as a backup to run our electricity. Generators are a Godsend! Some people use them all year round to run a heater or air conditioner in a cabin way back in the woods. Friends, that live south of us, have such a cabin. They can get away it all and are, actually, only 3 minutes from home. This year, their beautiful pond has attracted eagles. That would be my dream spot. I can see myself sitting beside the pond, feet up on a cooler and reading another Janet Evanovich book!

This is a sponsored guest post written by Jason Harvey on behalf of Achieve Anything In Just One Year. Post powered by Sponzai.

On January 1, more than 100 million Americans will make a New Year’s resolution, according to a University of Washington survey. By March, however, most resolution-makers will already have broken their newly minted promises. 

In his new book, Achieve Anything in Just One Year: Be Inspired Daily to Live Your Dreams and Accomplish Your Goals (Amazing Life Press, $29.95, http://www.amazinglifepress.com/), Jason Harvey provides a blueprint for personal success that can make 2010 the year that resolutions become reality. 

Most resolutions fail because people try to change too fast and accomplish too much all at once,” said Harvey, a Certified Life Coach. “My book is about learning how to make small daily changes and be your own personal life coach.”

The most common resolutions – to quit smoking, lose weight, exercise more, spend more quality time with family, etc. – are also the easiest to break. “The truth is, we set ourselves up to fail by making resolutions that are sweeping and unrealistic,” explained Harvey. 

The resulting cycle of making and breaking promises is self-defeating – so how can individuals make resolutions stick? Achieve Anything in Just One Year equips readers with the tools to: 

• Be truly committed.Don’t just go through the motions – act like you’re making a promise to your company, or to your best friend. 
• Be specific. A resolution like “I want to lose weight” is easier to ignore than “I want to lose five pounds by March.” 
• Set a deadline. A timeframe equals commitment and helps quantify success. 
• Avoid overwhelming yourself. You may want to lose weight, quit smoking, achieve moderation with martinis and cut up your credit cards all at once, but let’s get real. Focus on a limited set of goals and plan on taking stock mid-year. 
• Change one thing at a time. Recognize that change is hard. Wait to achieve one goal before starting on the next. 
• Be realistic. Taking charge of a fitness regimen is a realistic goal, while exercising seven days a week may not be. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment with lofty goals. 

The idea is to take daily action that creates a ripple effect in your life,” said Harvey. “By transforming your life with small steps, you can stay motivated, focused and balanced. Best of all, you’ll feel happier about pursuing your personal success.” 

Achieve Anything in Just One Year is available to BUY NOW at Amazon.com.

I was so surprised to see an old blogging buddy of mine drop her entrecard on mine. Hi Tina! I caught up with what she has been doing and saw this fun meme on her blog The Creative Nerd.

1) If you don’t frequent your local library, why not?

I love to go to our library!

2) If you do visit the library, how often do you go?

I used to go a couple times a week. I haven’t been in a year or more.

3) Do you have a favorite section that you always head to first, or do you just randomly peruse the shelves?

I look for books that other bloggers have recommended.

4) How many books are you allowed to check out at one time? Do you take advantage of this?

I think ten books. I probably check out three at a time.

5) How long are you allowed to have the books checked out?

Two weeks.

6) How many times are you allowed to renew your check-outs, if at all?

I am not sure we can renew without letting someone else have a chance to check them out first.

7) What do you love best about your particular library?

It is an old Carnegie library and has a lot of history.

What is one thing you wish your library did differently?

I wish they had more current books.

9) Do you request your books via an online catalog, or through the librarian at your branch?

We don’t have an online option so I rely on the librarian.

10) Have you ever chosen a book on impulse (from the online catalog OR the shelves) and had it turn out to be totally amazing? If so, what book was it, and why did you love it?

Sad to say, I don’t think any books have been that powerful for me.