2015 Christmas Activities Advent

Hello my book friends,

I know what you are thinking, "Elyse, we JUST had Christmas? What are you doing? Please tell me you aren't one of those Christmas nuts.." Well let me tell you that you are way off base and that yes, perhaps I am tiny bit of a Christmas nut. I do LOVE Christmas, but my tree doesn't go up in October or anything, so clam down. Now that you have calmed yourself down let me tell you the story.

Just after last Christmas (2014) my darling husband told me that he hadn't felt the Christmas joy the way he had in previous years. He was disappointed that all we did was buy gifts and run around all over the city visiting family to give them the gifts and that was it. There was no quality time, no sitting and enjoying the season. I can't tell you how much it broke my heart. I love Christmas so much and once you're an adult Christmas looses a little something. I understood exactly how he felt. But you have to find it other ways. I knew that I had to help my hubby find a new kind of Christmas joy. So I thought about it for a long time. I came up with a plan. I was going to give him a "25 days of Christmas countdown"

Everyone is so busy at Christmas time, I knew that I couldn't try and pack it all in December so I started in November and every few days we did something Christmas-sy together. I had it all planned out so that he couldn't say no. It was done, all we had to do was show up. I bought tickets in advance. I planned it out on the calendar It was great. Let me also say that Christmas can be a tight time financially, I didn't want to break the bank. So some activities were at home, others were free events in our city, and some we spent money on.

I made a list of everything that was fun to do at Christmas. Then I looked up various Christmas events in our city. For example: The German Christmas market, ice skating, building a gingerbread house, donating toys and food, driving around and seeing the lights in our neighbourhood and the caroling trolley. I even had a few nights were I wrote down my favorite Christmas memory (so far) of the two of us, and we just talked about that time and laughed. It was a great plan

I wrote each event down on a calendar I printed off. I made sure that the events were spaced out, and that there weren't too many crammed together that cost money. There were a lot of them, but when you actually thought it out some were quick and others took time. I was so excited. I printed out each day on a card with the activity on it, and I wrapped each card up and put them in a box. I wrote a little poem explaining what it was, and then I waited.

Waiting is NOT my strong suit, but I knew I couldn't give it to him too early. I was dying inside "Will he like it? Will he think I'm crazy?" FINALLY, the day arrived where I could give it to him. I can say that when I brought out a Christmas box to him in the middle of November he was pretty confused. Once he read the poem and opened the box and saw all the little wrapped up cards he was grinning from ear to ear. "Can I open them now?" No I explained that he got to open it up that day only. He was so excited (and I was relieved) midnight on day 1 he eagerly asked me if he could open it now, and the happiness carried us right to Christmas day.

For those of you that follow on Instagram and Facebook, you have already seen the pictures of us out and about. So you know how happy Kyle was and how much fun we had. He kept telling me that he had no idea how he was going to top this next year. I told him that wasn't the point. The point was finding his Christmas joy - mission accomplished. I suggested that he pick his favorite 5 things and set them up for me this year. That way we can reflect on this Christmas countdown and make them our future Christmas traditions.

If you are finding that you have trouble finding your Christmas joy. May I recommend something like this for you. Just getting out and seeing the lights and the crisp air really made us feel like just cuddling up with a cup of hot chocolate and a blanket to enjoy the season.

Love
Elyse

The Book Thief

The Book Thief
By Markus Zusak
Knopf, March 2006
Genre: Historical Fiction, Action

During the Second World War death is very busy constantly ferrying souls. But death has a story to tell, that of Liesel Meminger; death dubs her “the Book Thief”. Liesel is taken to Himmel Street to live with Hans and Rosa Huberman after her mother abandons her. Hans plays the accordion down at the local pub for money in the evenings. It is the accordion that brings a young man to the Huberman’s doorstep. A man who had to leave his family, traveling in secret with false papers asking Hans for help.

I can’t even. I just can’t. This book made me ball my eyes out. I was reading and my husband was in another room. He came out looking totally bewildered and asked me what was wrong. I would tell you my response, but that would give too much away. This book was so heartbreaking and lovely at the same time. I can’t even say how much my heart wanted to explode for little Liesel, it’s not fair all she had to deal with. But her strength was amazing and we could all take a page from Liesel’s book (HAHAHA GET IT!) Except for the stealing thing, let’s not do that folks. Let’s purchase or borrow our books like good little people.   

I loved all the characters in this book, every single one of them spoke to me. I have to say that I really enjoy reading about characters that did their best in a time when it could get you killed. I would like to think that I would always do what I think is the right thing no matter what is happening. They were beautiful characters and they felt so real.

I have to discuss that the book is narrated by death. WHAT!? Who does that, it’s awesome. I loved it! It was so beautiful. Death was exhausted constantly looking at all these poor people who died so tragically. I can’t recall another novel that I have read that is similar in this way. This felt very original, and I loved it. Perhaps there are many books that are done this way, but I haven’t read them so it felt new to me. The writing style was lovely. The colours, and the descriptions it was all beautiful. I just loved it all. 

My Verdict: DEAR GOD READ IT! - but have the tissues ready

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What did you think of this book? Did you cry too? If not, what’s wrong with you? 

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If you liked this, try:

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

All the Light We Cannot See

Sarah's Key

2016 Reading Challenge

Hello fellow bookies,

Oooooh, that did not sound the way I meant it to. Unless this blog is taking an unexpected turn to gambling. Which it is not, unless you want to bet on it....5 to 1 it will stay a book blog. Any takers? No, well fine then moving on.

Happy New Year! I know you are all sitting there, pondering your resolutions and thinking to yourself "I didn't set enough book related resolutions for the new year". Fear not my friends, I have the answer for you! ...... What? You didn't set book goals - WELL now you will!

Have you seen the reading challenges online? I always read through them and think that they sound like such a good idea, but I never do them. Some of them seem a little bit silly. I think that we could make our own book challenge. This would then help you with your book resolutions. What do you think? If I make one, will you do it too? One a month does that sound do-able? I take your silence as a yes! Let's DO IT!

I will make a list of 12 challenges, one for every month of the year. Your mission...should you choose to accept it (and your silence indicates your acceptance) pick a book that matches that description, and you read that book. This transmission will now explode in 3....2....1..... well that was anticlimactic.

I would then love to hear what book you read to meet the challenge. You could just let me know in the comments or if you follow the blog on Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook you could let me know there! Do you think that you can do that with me fellow book lovers? Let's make it happen.


A Little Piece of Elyse 2016 Reading Challenge

1. Read a book reviewed by A little Piece of Elyse (You have 19 to choose from right now)
2. Read a book released in 2016
3. Read a book from a genre you wouldn't normally choose
4. Read a book that will be made into a movie
5. Read a book you started but never finished
6. Read a classic
7. Read a Pulitzer Prize winning book
8. Read a non fiction book 
9. Read a book you have always wanted to read
10. Read a book by an author you've never read before
11. Read a book that was "banned"
12. Read a book that you picked because of the cover - Go on, be a rebel

So that is the list folks, does that sound good to you? You can do it in whatever order you want. Is reading 12 books this year a lot, or not very many for you? Clearly... that is A TON for me! I can see that face your making over there!

There are 3 months done for you right here on this blog! You can pick any book and meet challenge #1. The goldfinch is a Pulitzer Prize winner. Finally, Miss. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will be made into a movie this year.

I will let you know which one met the challenge in that month's post. I look forward to reading throughout the year with you interwebs!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Love
Elyse