Today, I happened upon this list of 100 books to read before Kindergarden and for me, it is totally inspirational. I am going to bookmark this, print this, probably hang it on the fridge and mark them off as we go!

There are, of course, the classic classics: Madeline, Goodnight Moon, Frog and Toad… but there are also tons that I’ve never even heard of.  We’ll both have fun with this.

Totally unrelated to books: on the same site, I found this list of 100 things to do before Kindergarden and it is also cute and sweet and gets me excited about this little guy that is getting ready for tons of adventures.  Parents of young kids should check this out for sure.

It was fun. It really was. We are so lucky to have great family and friends who love us and want to spend time with us when we are around.

We got in Thursday evening and spent Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday in full social mode.

By about Sunday morning, I just wanted quiet and a mound of books.

And here I am. Tuesday. Home, where it’s quiet. And (thanks to a thrift store trip with my in-laws) I actually do have a mound of books.

Oh the anti-social part of me is in heaven.

I had this xkcd comic saved on the computer to show you at an appropriate moment, and I think that that moment has arrived:

This Saturday night, me and my book have a date.

I’ve had my eye on Twelve Publishers for awhile and after reading Columbine (a Twelve book), I’ve been thinking about them again.

Kind of their “thing” is that they publish only twelve books a year- one a month.  They are dedicated to publishing quality books that “add to the national conversation.”  They push these books hard and put their whole team behind each one.  They are committed to editing, designing and producing their books to the nth degree.  It seems like for an author, this kind of backing would be empowering.  I got a chance to ask Dave Cullen about this in an email conversation yesterday and he confirmed that they were completely devoted to his book and said that is what caused his book to really “break out.”

I’ve always kind of had a thing for corporations or celebrities who have every opportunity in front of them but only take the good stuff.  I respect that.  I love that Leonardo DiCaprio could probably be in 10 movies a year but he choses scripts/directors carefully and for the most part only takes great movies.  I think that there is something to be said for that.  Also, he’s getting hotter with age, so that’s another plus.  I digress.

So check these guys out.  Read their books. Support something that is respectable and good.

That’s all.

Today, I stumbled across this and seriously stopped breathing for a minute.

I realize that they’ve hidden all their white/tan/black books somewhere, but I’m fine with that. This is stunning.

And we just happen to be making an Ikea trip this weekend.

Hmmm….

I feel like I remember seeing this awhile back, but just recently stumbled upon it again.

My first thought is: What?! All the books will get wet. Then I remember that my husband has a towering stack of books in the bathroom anyway, just much more precariously placed than they would be here. I also am a big fan of tub-reading (unless it’s a library book!) and would love to be able to finish one and just grab another.  Bring on the pruney toes.

My second thought is: 17,000 for a bathtub?! That has to be a joke.

My third thought is: The Library Hotel should have these.

So. If you do happen to have an extra 17 grand laying around go here and snatch this up.

Isn’t that awesome? I’m totally in love.

I even love that they call it “bookbook”… like macbook…only bookbook. Get it? Awesome.

Unfortunately for my husband and myself, a macbook isn’t in our cards for quite some time.

If you are lucky enough to already be sporting a macbook (under 17 inches), go get one. Then tell me. I’ll live vicariously through you.

We’ve been tentatively house shopping for the last couple of months, and nothing gets me excited faster than some built-ins.

I need this in my life.