whatcha reading wednesday.

Shatter Me
By: Tahereh Mafi
This book is about a girl who has a blessing/curse of not being able to touch people. If she makes physical contact with another person, she electrocutes and kills them. I know, I know... it sounds weird. Trust me on this one. A certain corrupt government found out about her gift when she killed a small child while trying to save him from his abusive mother, and threw her in to prison. They offer her the chance for freedom from the prison walls if she cooperates and acts as their weapon. She breaks free and spends the remainder of the book on the run trying to hide, while also trying to figure out how to be in a romantic relationship. The story line is intense, but the thing about this book that I loved the most is the way it is written. The pages are loaded with words that have a strike through in them, as if you were watching the girl having an internal debate. It is an amazing thematic element the author uses, and totally adds to the intensity and character development in the story. This is the first book in the series, and I loved all three. Buckle up for the wildest love triangle you've ever seen, and be aware that it gets a little steamy!

You Are a Badass
By: Jen Sincero

This is another of my favorite self help books! As you might have guessed, the book contains some language, so if that is something that offends you please steer clear. This book is all about gaining all the confidence. She talks about using things like faith, energy, and affirmations to improve where you need to improve and recognize that you are stronger than you think. Her one liners are my favorite. "Feed fear a suck-it sandwich!" She kills me. This is a book I will read again and again, and if you are into audio books I recommend this one ten times more. Jen Sincero reads the book, and for some reason when the author reads I am so much more intrigued.

For Everyone
By: Jason Reynolds

This book is a super fast read. Like I'm talking you can finish it in 30 minutes max. The entire book is written as a poem, which sounds weird but is super awesome if you give it a try. The idea is all about following your dreams and being courageous. It is an awesome feel good book for when you're feeling a little down and need a pick me up. I want to keep a copy of it in my car for that exact reason. This would be an awesome book to read with kids occasionally to help boost their ability to dream big. "Dreams don't have timelines, deadlines, and aren't always in straight lines. Jump anyway."

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home tour part 1

You've all been begging for it--and by all I mean like 3 of you--so here it is. We love our home, and one post wouldn't do it justice, so here is part one. Say hello to the heart of the Hodges' home--the kitchen, dining, and pantry spaces. When we were designing the kitchen, the original plan was quite a bit different than the end result. For example, I originally wanted a copper apron sink, but since I didn't have $4,000 to throw in that direction, we had to adapt. The other day, Dewy and I were talking and he said, "Amber, face it. You get whatever you want. Just admit it." Although I knew he wasn't wrong, I didn't want to admit that I knew he spoke gospel truth here. If I want it, I get it. Sometimes it's because Dewy wants it too. Sometimes it's because Dewy doesn't care, and sometimes it's because I knew he would hate it so I didn't ask before hand but went ahead and made eyes at him

knock it right off

Working in the junior high means I get to see a lot of things--some good, some bad. Lots of ugly and lots of smelly. One thing I see repeatedly, however, is people being mean to each other. And I'm not just talking about the students. Parents are mean to each other. Parents are mean to staff and teachers. Teachers are mean to each other. Teachers are mean to parents and students. Students are mean to staff and teachers. I want to strap a Go-Pro to my head and let the world see exactly what I see, because I think the majority of society would be appalled. And this morning I realized that I have had enough. The problem is, I don't feel like this behavior is strictly found inside the walls of this school. In fact, if we are being honest with ourselves, I think the same behavior is found literally everywhere. People are mean. And right now "bullying" is a buzz word. Now, I'm not going to point the finger at everyone else. I'm the meanest human I kn

well that was awkward

A long time ago I learned that if you were going to be the fat kid in school you had to be funny. Otherwise you had no friends. You can thank that epiphany for the countless hours of laughing I have provided you over the years. All joking aside, I'm naturally witty and funny, but I'm also naturally overweight. Always have been. I can remember the first time I recognized my fat rolls. It was fourth grade, and I was in a grey ROXY tshirt that had a stripe of orange flowers across the chest. I was in my bedroom sitting at my desk to do homework, when I glanced up and caught sight of myself in my full body mirror and there they were. I'd been teased and called fat countless times before--even by members of my own family, but it was that moment when I recognized it in myself. That was the first time I told myself I was fat. Once I tried to pay attention to how often I said that or something similar to myself. I gave myself three hours, and had to stop because I lost c

Lipstick and Legos

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