If we were having tea

 

I'm trying to be a little more personal on the blog, so for the second time in a month, let's chat honestly.

I'm still deep in Summer Reading. The summer is half over and it's been really busy. But it's also been full of meaningful moments and getting to see some favorite families now that they have more time. It's nice to catch up with everyone. Who do you need to catch up with?

It's the family reunion week and because of work obligations and being down a full-time person, I'm not attending this year. I will miss the ocean and catching up with all the people and the ice cream. Guess it's time to take a trip to Mel's! What's your favorite ice cream flavor?

It's almost Christmas in July and that makes me want to get started on crafting ideas for the holidays and making Christmas cards. I might have listened to a few Christmas songs recently. I make my Christmas cards, and I send out a lot to family and friends and author friends, so I get started early because they can take a long time. I just bought some new stickers/washi tape and I'm eager to play with them. When do you start holiday crafting?

I've also started reading Christmas romance books - from Netgalley and I'm pretty excited about all the ones coming out this year, especially the number of YA books. I'm not trying to rush over fall (which is my favorite season), but Christmas in July does hit me. Plus, there are so many great looking ones, I never get a chance to read them all. Do you read Christmas romances books all year round or save them for the holiday season?

The produce scare has been changing up my eating habits. I did pick blueberries from a local orchard last weekend. And I used the last of them to bake blueberry buckle (a favorite treat my grandmother used to bake for me). I'm not sure regular berries are safe and I love having berries in my cereal in the mornings. It's also rough because this is the best time of the year for fresh produce. I love strawberries and blueberries in cereal, raspberries in baked goods, and melons. What kind of fruit is your favorite?

I would ask, what's new with you. What do you want to share?

* This idea was taken many years ago from Jamie over at The Perpetual Page Turner

If We Were Having Tea

 

I haven't done one of these since last year. Maybe I need to start writing these posts once a month. 

I will tell you this year has been similar to last year. We just got back from a trip to Acadia. Summer reading is almost here. I'm nervous and excited about all the programs and all the people. It is the best of time and the hardest of times. It's going to be harder this year because of budget issues and being down a full time person. I would ask, what adventures do you have planned for this summer?

Because of some health reasons, I'm watching certain things I eat and I hate it. I don't bake as much and it's really hard. I miss baking. If you were baking something fun this week, what would it be?

I'm starting to post more bookish posts on instagram. If you're on there - maybe give me a follow? I'm trying to build up my profile. I would ask what types of posts you like to see bookish photos, pictures of my life, or bookish creations with canva? Do you like to take pictures too?

After the article last year in SLJ, I created a YA Romance Book Trope database. You can read more about it here. You can view it here. It's a work in progress, but I hope it's helpful for librarians for displays and whatnot. I would ask, do you like tropes in romance? What's your favorite one?

My blog has gotten many more hits this last year. I'm grateful for you all reading it. I'd ask, what brings you here? Have you read any books I talk about? What book would recommend to me?

I haven't been good at different crafts lately. I was hoping to get back into paper quilling this year, but honestly, I've spent the majority of my crafting time painting. Here are a few paintings:

I would ask, what have you crafted lately?

I would ask, what's new with you. What do you want to share?

* This idea was taken many years ago from Jamie over at The Perpetual Page Turner

Board Books

Just a few new to me/the library board books:

I love this series. There's lots of vocabulary and things to talk about.

I love the soft illustrations. But careful, this book will make you want to make (and eat!)

Perfect for Women's History Month - this book celebrates women and lets young readers know they too can make a difference. Each spread becomes a mask, allowing readers to become that person - making it interactive. Each spread also has a mini biography. 

This is a book about colors and how it relates to Persuasion - really it's for grown-ups but it's fun to read! 

If your child likes cars, this is for you - a great transportation book. The illustrations are great and I love the foil on the illustrations.

A version of wheels on the bus in a barn setting with cute illustrations. I can't wait to read this one at storytimes. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Non-bookish Hobbies

 This week's topic is non-bookish hobbies.

We did this topic 5 years ago, I confess my answers haven't changed much since then...

Besides reading and blogging which to be honest takes up most of my free time, my hobbies include:

Painting:

I haven't done much lately.

Puzzles:

I haven't done much lately

Writing:

I wrote an article in SLJ about Teen Summer Romance books that came out this year.

Hiking

Another hiking year: Grand Canyon (rim to rim) and Acadia 

Traveling:

Nantucket

Bar Harbor, Maine

Grand Canyon

Snoqualmie, WA

Vermont

Florida

Hanging with Friends:

Lots of friendship moments this year. 

Hanging out with my dogs - on the porch or walking

Taking Pictures 

Baking:

Recent bakes: apple crisp, pumpkin chocolate chip bread, and applesauce.

I love fall baking! 

Watching Movies/TV to relax 

I do a fair amount of knitting to keep my hands busy while watching TV.

What do you like to do outside of reading/talking about books?

Picture Book Review: Dad Bakes

Happy Father's Day!

Here's a book that reminds me of my dad.

Dad wakes up early each morning for work at the bakery. Then at home, he hangs out with his daughter - reading and playing and of course baking!

This is a sweet story about spending time together and of course baking together.

It reminds me of my dad because we both have a giant sweet tooth. We both like baking. My dad bakes great muffins and cookies. He makes bread and pizza crust. Of course, we played when I was a kid. Now we read and talk about books. And we still bake together and eat our delicious goodies. 

The Great British Baking Show

For the past two weeks, I've fallen down the rabbit hole of The Great British Baking Show (seasons 2 and 3). And it makes me want to bake...Everything.

It also makes me realize I could never be a baker on the show. And here's why:

I'm a traditional baker

 I don't play around and experiment with baking

When I do change a recipes, it's mostly because of spices I don't like

 I don't make up my own recipes

 I don't recognize many of the desserts they make

 I would lose it under that intense pressure

 They shoot the show in Britain (different measuring system)

I wouldn't want baking not to be fun anymore

I don't think I could handle Paul's criticism 

Clearly I wouldn't measure up, but it's fun to think about. 

But now I'm also critical of baking - in a Paul and Mary sort of way. But only just for fun.

Here's my most recent bake:

Blueberry Buckle:

About Me: Baking

One of my resolutions this year (and to be honest almost every year) is to talk more about myself on the blog. Me in a nutshell: I'm a Librarian. I'm a blogger. I'm a reader. Here's a little bit about me outside the bookish world.

If you follow me on Instagram - I post a LOT of pictures of food. First because it's easy to snap a picture. And second because I like to eat - a Lot. 

I don't mind cooking but my real love is baking. 

Most of the time, I find it relaxing. Although sometimes I don't read the recipe all the way through and that causes issues. 

I have a Good Eats board on Pinterest - mostly filled with desserts with over 1200 pins. Some of it is more substantial food. Lots of bread too! Yes I'm addicted to Pinterest.

I love tasting desserts in restaurants, but often I'm disappointed.

I think I could make it better. Or more the way I would like it.

I'm not crazy about fancy desserts. I'm more of a brownie - cookie - cake kind of girl. 

How did I get this way?

Well, both my Grandfather and my Father have the same sweet tooth. My parents like to bake and it just seemed natural to me. I would get care packages in college with homemade cookies from my dad. It was the best! Having a homemade baked good makes me happy. Plus it's one of the ways I show people I care.

So what kinds of things are my specialty?

Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes 

Lemon Rolls

Apple Crisp

Chocolate Peanut Butter Whoopie pie

Not Pictured: Brownies, S'more Rocky Road Brownies, cookies, Blueberry Cake, donuts...you get the idea.

Do you have a favorite dessert?

If You Like Cooking, Baking, and Candy Making

If You Like… is a feature highlighting blogger recommendations for books, authors, TV shows, movies, and music based on the things you already know and love. This week’s post features recommendations for books, movies, tv shows, and music about food and the people who make it, as well as some favorite recipes.

---

If you like cooking, baking, and candy making…