Excited to read Neil Gaiman's new book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane. 

I love all of his work, and especially recommend Anansi Boys, The Graveyard Book, and American Gods. 

My neighbor Robert is going to build a treehouse for Zoe this fall.  I'm collecting ideas on my Pinterest board and would love your ideas also.  I want it to be something that will grow with her, a getaway she can still use in high school if she wants.

Speaking of her treehouse, wouldn't this be a great lighting
idea?  And a great way to use up all those fabric scraps.  I
look forward to making these mini fabric  lamps. 
 

Check out the beautiful jewelry at Austin's own Polished. 

Kristin's story is quite a tale of someone that spent their life running from themself only to be confronted with their reality in a brutal way. Interesting book written from the soul but as if you are talking to a good friend and she is  telling you this story over coffee. Kristin is a talanted and extremely funny actress and now author and all I can say is its great to have her back.

The Dark Tower series is my all-time favorite storytelling saga about a ka-tet of four gunslingers, one from Midworld, a mirror world to ours, and three pulled into Midworld from New York City.  Stephen King has created his own genre in The Dark Tower, his teenage dream of combining The Lord of the Rings with a good western.

I read all seven books as soon as I could get my hands on them, and was delighted that Stephen King's characters from The Dark Tower series had more to say, after all, in this eighth novel.

I absolutely loved Catherynne Valente's first book, The  Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, and I was even more delighted with her second book, The  Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There.  If you are a fan of imaginative, intricate tales, you need to be reading this series right now. Every page is a magical treat filled with new and inventive ideas -- teapots living in samovars, shadows in their own little underworld, and goblin markets that produce exactly what the buyer is pining for.  The descriptions are beautiful and full of life. I feel like the author pulls me right into her stories and I wish I could stay for weeks at a time.

My love of the color combo turquoise and terra cotta got kick-started after visiting Cenote, a cafe and eatery located in east Austin.  The decor is so soothing! 

I'm definitely going to incorporate these ideas (below) into the covered porch section of my new deck!

Half the fun of making homemade gifts, for me, is the packaging.  I've pinned lots of free and/or inspiring label ideas and templates on my Pinterest board, including some of these lovelies:

I've read or listened to these books so far this summer, and recommend them!
   

Read, Reading, Plan to Read
I just finished The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern.  This is one of those books you wish you could erase your memory and start again fresh, because it is so magical and delightful as it unfolds.  

I'm currently Blake Mycoskie's book Start Something That Matters.  This was a holiday gift from my friend and co-worker Melissa.  Meeting Blake is on my bucket list. 

Next, I'll choose a book from my Shelfari shelf.  What are you reading?

Family Activities

I am planning to make this super-cute "dart" game for Zoe over the Christmas break.  You can find instructions for making this here.

Templates and Tools

Have you seen this great blog called Merriment?  I wanted to share some great kid organization ideas from her recent post. 

Shoe-Bag Car Organizer to hold kids’ toys/car necessities within easy reach

Clear, labeled zip-up bags stocked for every situation (First Aid, Outdoors,
Snacks, Activity Bag, Baby Items, Travel Games, etc.)

Mudroom/Exit Bins Labeled with Photos to hold each family member’s on-the go items (coats, shoes, umbrellas, soccer balls, dog leashes, etc.)

Cereal dispenser used as a trash can for the car – Brilliant!

Files with photographs to organize and label each of your child’s (or your classroom’s) schoolwork and records. Separate each file by grade with the teacher’s name/other important info. labeled on the front cover.

Cute, labeled Chest of Drawers

Tidy closet – always a stress-reliever! I love those green bins; I have some that I absolutely love from Target. The curtains are also a great idea for when the closet doesn’t look quite that perfect (probably on weeks like this one)

Buckets labeled with chalk for different toys and outdoor items
(Chalkboard paint is a great item to create instant chalkboard surfaces, so you can label and erase away. Useful for so many organizational projects!)

Kitchen Drawer just for the kids (with all of their cups, plates, etc. low enough to reach and easily managed with the separate, designated spaces)

Cute Toy Bins from Pottery Barn

Individual Mailboxes (message center) for Kids’ Playroom

Inspiring Kids’ Bookshelves with baskets to organize the toys

Bathroom towel organization tip

Cute Toy Bins from Pottery Barn

Art Supply Idea

Lunches Tub – Have a labeled tub in your refrigerator, stocked with all of the items you use to prepare your kids’ lunches for the entire week. Then, when it comes time to pack lunches, you just pull out your tub and everything is easily accessible for a speedy packing time.