Need Inspiration: How do you find good books?

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I am a little out of it today, and in need of some inspiration. I often find my inspiration from the books I read. Whether it is the story line, or just how amazing the author is at synthesizing words together in such clever ways. It made me start to think about how we find out about the books we read. For those of you who know me (or if you have read past blog posts), you know I am an avid reader. If I am engrossed in a book, it can be hard to pry me away. I am also always on the look out for what books to add to my list. How do you find the books that interest you? How do you find out about new books that have just been published?

I subscribe to quite a few newsletters announcing new books that have just been published. I also follow a few of my favorite authors on Twitter, to find out what they are up to, what they are writing about, and what is inspiring them. Here are a list of the book newsletters I receive:

What blogs, websites, newsletters, etc do you know about where you find out about new books? I would love to know!

a snapshot of my book tower

Do you remember Mad Libs?

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Have you ever seen an “Ad Lib?” This week Title Nine inspired me. One of their emails had an Ad Lib (that is what I am calling it!) for your perfect day and they connected it to buying a bathing suit. It is February. I am not really thinking about buying a bathing suit at the moment, but nonetheless their ad sparked my thought. Gosh, it has been years since I have done a Mad Lib. Nostaglia of my childhood. Do kids even do those anymore? Maybe there is an app for that?!? Okay, so my research side went and looked just now. There are two apps called: Mad Lib in the iTunes store. One is free and the other is $3.99.

I wanted to grant your Friday with my own little Mad Lib for you, Tami style (I kept it easy so you will not have to think to hard, since it is Friday):

It is Friday and the weekend is almost here. Tonight you will [sassy verb] with your favorite [noun]. As you arrive at [favorite destination] you will slowly sit down, and say: “Ah–[adjective].” You are so excited it is the weekend, as you have so many plans for Saturday and Sunday. The first thing you are going to do on Saturday is [verb] with [favorite pet’s name] on a [noun]. Afterwards, you promised you would take care of your friend’s [happy noun]. On Sunday, you plan to excitedly [verb], but you are quickly apprehensive because your hair is [adjective]. You learn that the actual size of the [verb] you set out to accomplish is really much, much more [adjective] than you could have ever expected. Wow, do you have a [noun] to tell folks on Monday. Enjoy your weekend!

Thank you, Title Nine, for inspiring me with your Ad Lib ad. Very creative!

**Feel free to share your Mad Lib in the comments section to the left after you fill in all the verbs, nouns, etc.

Michelle Obama and Push-Ups

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So not to be completely vain, but I have to talk about: Push-ups. I have never liked doing them, never been good at them, never really had the upper body strength. I hated those fitness tests we had to do in elementary school where the gym teacher tracked our pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, etc. Ugh, so not fun. However, recently I saw Michelle Obama on Ellen DeGeneres, and they were competing to see who could do more push-ups. Then, I read this article from the Baltimore Sun about Michelle. I thought to myself: Michelle rocks. What first lady in history could do push-ups and would do them on national television? Some might think it is not the right way for her to show herself, but I think: DO NOT STOP – you are an inspiration! I love how the above article is written, and this quote specifically:

“She is breaking all kinds of molds. But there is something about a push-up. Do you remember an aging Jack Palance doing his one-armed version at the Oscars? America caught its breath. More than any other physical test or calisthenic, it is a quintessential American demonstration of strength. Even chin-ups — which are probably harder to do — are not the boot camp badge of honor that push-ups are. And America’s first lady can do a rack of them. We are in uncharted territory here, my friends.”

Michelle has been speaking around the country for the initiative she launched: Let’s Move. This is an initiative I can get behind. An initiative that fosters raising healthy children, teaching them healthy habits, becoming more physically active, and helping with access to healthy food options.

farmers' market artichokes - a healthy local option!

I am off to go do my daily push-ups. I think I am up to 10 a day (shhh…I am just starting out, it has been a long time since third grade gym class). Thank you for the inspiration, Michelle Obama!

Creative Green Idea: Go Box PDX

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Recently I came across a company in Portland that might be just one more step in keeping Portland “green.” It is called GO Box and is meant to be a sustainable option for Portland Food Cart eaters. The PDX Food Cart Community is continuing to grow substantially. Individual carts and pods are popping up in neighborhoods all over the city. While I cannot say I am truly knowledgeable about which food carts are the best, I am a fan of the success of food carts here in Portland. Many have become so successful that they eventually opened brick and mortar food establishments.

The way GO Box works: you pay $8.50 to become a GO Box subscriber. Purchase a meal at a food cart, return your GO Box at the end of your meal and receive a token to be used the next time you purchase food at a food cart. The site states that Portland uses 60,000 disposable containers EVERY month. That’s crazy!

I wonder if this type of program could be used as a model for schools. I know we had a similar type of plastic container in college, however, you had to purchase it and then remember to bring it each time. Which many times folks forgot. Maybe Go Box will find a way to give the token electronically (as I would forget to bring it).

This is a convenient and sustainable company that Portland food cart users should subscribe to right away! If you are not in Portland, check online to see if your city has something similar.

Where are the WOMEN??

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The recent news regarding the debate about birth control, over whether the government can require Catholic institutions to provide contraceptive services to their employees, has me frustrated and angry. The Obama administration imposed a rule that would have required large Catholic institutions to offer free contraception services as part of insurance coverage for their employees. The panel for this debate was made up solely of men. Regardless of where you stand on this debate on birth control, the biggest question is: “Where are the women?” I keep asking myself this, and continue to read different articles online about this debate. This article from the Baltimore Sun really hits home for me, as well as this article and this article.

Why are there no women on the panel? How can any man, regardless of skin color, social class, etc have more expertise on this subject? Are not women the most knowledgeable about the impacts of birth control on their lives? How is it 2012, and I am even writing this blog? What I cannot get over, and just enrages me are the mentions of Foster Friess (a top financial backer of former Sen. Rick Santorum’s presidential campaign) said: “You know, back in my days, they used Bayer aspirin for contraception. The gals put it between their knees, and it wasn’t that costly.” He later said it was a joke. SERIOUSLY? Just as the above link starts with: WOW and WTF…that is how I feel. So is Friess an exact replica of all the other men on the panel?

I encourage you to read further on this debate, and speak up. Women should be on that panel, regardless of the side they are on.

Enraged in Portland.