Once I made a list, joined a book group and got down to business, reading at least one book a month hasn’t been hard. In fact, some months I’ve read more than one. My next book is The Namesake. Everyone keeps telling me I need to see this movie, but I’d really like to read it first. Hopefully I’ll put a dent in it over the holiday weekend. In the meantime, here is a recap of May’s books.

I breezed through this book. There are some really great ideas in here for “upcycling” clothing. I didn’t read it cover to cover including the patterns like I did with Bend the Rules Sewing, but it definitely got my creative juices going.

I liked this book. It reminded me that creativity doesn’t always start with Crayola. I made a list in our “things to do” book of some of the activity ideas that are too old for M right now, but there are lots we will start incorporating in our day to day routine.

This was a book for book club. I liked it ok. It was a fast read: started and finished it during the slow hours of our garage sale. I expected it to be more inspirational, but it has a lot of serious themes that just made me kind of sad. I didn’t see the ending coming, either.

This is considered a juvenile book, but there are a lot of adult themes. If M were to read it when she is older, we’d have to discuss it for sure.

I’ve never done a garage sale. I didn’t really want to this year, either, but we have a lot of stuff. I hate this. Pricing. I feel like everything is either priced too high and no one will buy it or it’s priced too low and I might as well just give it away already.

It’s also hard. I gave away a huge bag of music tonight to a girl who I know will just love it. I felt like I was giving a part of myself away. I have to keep reminding myself, “I am not my stuff.” So many memories: the sleepers M used to wear, my favorite maternity outfit, books about graphic design and vampires, a mug I took from a bar somewhere in college. (No, not my Stone Balloon mug. I’m not crazy!)

Everything is set up and ready. Now people will come and pick over our things. It’s going to be strange. And also, what the heck am I going to do with a toddler at a garage sale?

The next few days should be interesting.

…but it’s the same old me. T and I have been talking about this for awhile. I originally started this blog to keep friends and family up-to-date with our move to Nebraska. Four and a half years later there really isn’t much else to say about life in Lincoln. Mostly I just ramble on about me, my daughter, my sewing, my knitting and occasionally my cooking. Me, me, me! So, I’m updating my little corner of the Internet to be more about, you guessed it, me!

In case you are wondering, Julie Bird is my family nickname. Not too many people use it any more, except my parents. Although, I’m sure that’s about to change! I’m planning a few more changes here and there. Nothing too drastic though—I just want to add some new features to the site and dust out some old cobwebs.