2014 in review

And here it is, New Year's Eve! Another year is ending and I have been a bit remiss with my reading - and everything really. However, let me review the year, because it has not been bad really. It was just very, very busy.

My year in general was really good. It was also so incredibly busy! I am still studying and I have a toddler who started walking rather early (in May, at 9.5 months).

I spent a good chunk of my time between May and July walking around with a bent back, as he wanted (not necessarily needed) company on all his adventures. My back is now slowly recovering, but I'm still busy chasing him because he loves to run all over the place and make the biggest mess possible. To give you a tiny idea: As I am typing this, he is tearing up a a leaflet and throws each piece on the floor. As fast as the walking came, teeth-wise, we're currently at 5, so there's still a lot waiting to happen. He has been in daycare for four months and loves it a lot. There are days he will come say hello when we get there to pick him up at around noon and then he will disappear again to play some more. It is great to see him interact with other kids and he is in general a happier kid. For him, it is different to play at daycare versus home, where he is the only one under 25 (the cat excluded). At now 17 months, he is slowly learning to speak, but it's just a word here or there, which is quite natural for a child growing up bilingual. What I have noticed, however, is that he will say words either in one or the other language. Hello is the only word he says in both languages, but they are so close to each other, it might just be a coincidence. Much more fun was his first word, the German word for light! It is not an easy word to day with the German "ch" sound. His first English word was kitty. Now, you can guess whom he loves (and maybe, what that poor thing has to endure, as a toddler's affectionate behavior is not always gentle!). As this is mostly a bookish blog, let me end this on a suitable note: My son looooooves books! He hates having his diaper changed (laying down? blech!), but give him a book and most likely he is happy. He also loves to look at books (at his pace, skipping pages, and going back and forth). He received a stack of books (ten, I believe?!) for Christmas and we keep them in a separate stack in the kitchen which is the place where we all get together during the day. He frequently runs up to that stack, pulls out a book and brings it back so one of us reads it to him.

Now, I'm also still a student, even though it's slowly, but certainly coming to an end. After the upcoming summer semester it should be all exams and "big paper" aka masters thesis for me. Yikes! I took a bunch of classes this year and I am slowly but certainly working on finishing everything. The current semester ends in February and I have to finish two papers in January and another one between February and March. Additionally, I have an exam in Spanish, and two (??) presentations. I am having so much fun at the moment. It is not always easy, juggling a toddler and university, but it is well worth it. With all the papers I have to work on getting a good, manageable schedule together, so that I will finish both ideally with some time left.

Luckily, this year I also got acquainted with the broad planner enthusiast and planning community online. I have used books and the likes to write down tasks, appointments etc in the past, but with technology taking over, I moved there and it was a red hot mess for me. I cannot plan using technology and I lose track of appointments and tasks so fast! I am now back using paper and I am happy with it. I did not touch my planner for the past week and a half (I was sick and then, you know, the holidays happened!), but I will be back with it after the upcoming weekend.

Now, on to the main show: Books!
I read a whooping 34 books in 2014! Am I good or what? Pardon the sarcasm here! I used to read over 100 books per year, you know, so...
Broken up by my rating that means nine books received five stars, 19 books received four stars, I read three books that I rated three stars, one book received two stars and two books I did not finish.

The ratings make my Top Ten rather easy..(The following list is in no particular order!)

1) The Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse is a great classic, a short story collection and a lough-out-loud read! Some of you may know the TV show starring Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry. This is the original, and I can tell you the show sticks very close to the original. I love those stories and my goal is to read them all by 2016.

2) Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey is a sweet romance with lovers who are reunited. I loved how the MCs were thrown in a situation and had to make the best of it. I loved the jokes and I enjoyed how the minor characters were introduced (there are more installments in this series!).

3) Something Like Normal by Trish Doller is a wonderful story with less than perfect characters that are nonetheless loveable! This is not a sweet love story, let me tell you this, but you really want to read this!

4) Pawn by Aimée Carter is a great dystopian novel! Kitty lives in a world where everyone studies to pass one test that determines it all. Their future depends on it as you will have a job based off your score. Unfortuately, she has a learning disability, so her test does not show her results to its fullest. She is offered a way out by standing in for a member of the country's wealthiest family. Along with the latter choice comes intrigue, backstabbing and mystery (and it's the first in a short series)!

5) Rescue my Heart by Jill Shalvis - what can I say? I looooove Jill Shalvis. She is one of the few auto-buy authors for me. Her romance novels are not just adorable, but her writing transports me right to the towns the stories are set in and there are so many laugh out loud moments! (Yes, it can get embarrassing when you read these books on public transport!)

6) Under the Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis is a novella by said favorite author. 'Nuffsaid!

It 7) Double Digit by Annabel Monaghan is the second installment in a series I absolutely love. Digit is the nickname of Farah, a math genius who first stumbled across a conspiracy that left her in the focus of a criminal mastermind (or lunatic - your choice here!). Digit is now in college and everything seems to be quiet. You probably have to suspend some disbelief with some aspects here, but I found this book to be laugh out loud hilarious and action-packed. Oh, and be prepared for some parental headshaking.

8) The Sketchnote Handbook by Mike Rohde is a non-fiction guide-style book that explains what sketchnotes are in detail and a number of sketchnoters all over the world hand out their tipps and advice in the form of sketchnotes. The idea behind a sketchnote is to gather all the information of a class, meeting etc in one sketchnote and to make it visual as most people remember visuals better.

9) Stronger Than You Know by Jolene Perry - oh wow, this was a rollercoaster ride book. Check out my review for the details, I cannot even begin to describe it in two sentences only!

10) Impostor by Susanne Winnacker was not rated all that high, but thinking back I have only fond memories of the book, so I believe it should be on here. And also, who can say no to Veronica Mars meets X-Men? Certainly not this girl here!

So, that's it, that was 2014 in a nutshell! Gee, I'm a tad bit sad it's 2015 already. How do you feel about 2014? Are you excited to leave it behind and have a "brandnew" start?

Happy New Year!

Wow, can you believe it? It is 2015! I'm sitting here after breakfast, my son is playing with the mega bloks he got for Christmas and we already read a Dr. Seuss book. I'm having a tea (a green tea called la dolce vita, the sweet life) and life is good. I hope you also had a sweet beginning for 2015.

Stevie woke up maybe 10, 15 minutes into the new year and he looooooved the fireworks. He was standing at the window with us saying 'boom, boom!' and 'more!' and his face! Oh I wish I could show you! He was so very, very happy and glowed! He is now 17 months old, so he really took it all in. In a way, I'm glad he got to see it as he loves light in all its forms, colors and shapes. (Unfortunately, that includes the small candle that keeps my tea warm - he keeps trying to blow at it...)

Now, it is a valued custom here to watch a short piece of comedy for the new year. You may know that everything here is dubbed, but this is the one exception. It is Dinner for One and you can just click on the link to watch it. I highly recommend it. It is not only a classic, it is a tiny piece of recent history and oh so funny! To give. You a quick backstory, Miss Sophie is celebrating her 90th birthday. She has survived all her dearest friends.

I wish you a wonderful 2015 filled with health, happiness and good books!