no list of hikes/ walks/ paths yet, because it's still too short... hopefully i'll have one ready by the end of this year!
yes, i'd recommend an Olympus point and shoot with a Zeiss lens. it's completely automatic so you can't/ don't have to control anything. but if you want to learn to shoot in manual, i have to recommend the classic Canon AE-1! a true gem.
the only white jeans that have survived my kids are my wide leg white levi's from target, c/o puracy stain remover ;-)
i'm getting both my girls charm bracelets for christmas this year, and yes i've already planned that far ahead lol!
God of the Woods was nuts in such a good way! I inhaled it.
Middle grade recs from a middle school librarian: Ferris by Kate DiCamillo, Olivetti (a typewriter narrates the story, I mean!?), Light and Air is all about a mother and daughter who both get TB (which is hitting wayyyyy too close to home here in good ol' Kansas ), Not a Ghost by Anne Ursu (a modern take on The Yellow Wallpaper), Alone by Megan E. Freeman (verse AND dystopian). I have so many more but these were some of my favorites from last year.
Love those photos! I don't have a film camera, but if I didn't, I'd try that. As for books, you captured my heart. I'm such a bookworm. I have The God of the Woods on my TBR. I'll have to move it up to the top. I've seen lots of great reviews.
For your kiddos: Here are some ideas 💛 (these are affiliate links because it was easier, but feel free to use your links. And, of course, the library is my favorite!)
As for series, what do they already read and love? Fantasy? Girlie? Do you have any family rules about the type of content? I am very lax about what my boys can read, so if you have more strict rules for your family, Common Sense Media can offer content considerations.
My boys love:
Rick Riordan books (he has a bunch of different series where he co-writes with other authors too) - on the older eng of that age range
this is a goldmine! thank you so much jen!!! i'm pretty open to most types of content, minus anything gross/ horror. my girls absolutely love harry potter 1-4, the wild robot series, all raina telgemeier's books (which, tbh, im not that fond of), beverly cleary, roald dahl, fudge series, etc. i'm reading the penderwick series out loud to them right now while i wait til they're a smidge older to finish harry potter (which they are impatiently begging for).
Love it. I love too that they still have you read aloud to them. My boys outgrew that (I know lots of kids like it when they're older but mine decided they're more into reading on their own for now). One more I thought about - my 10 year old is reading "Keeper of the Lost Cities" right now and he really likes it. Series with lots of books too.
I’m sure you know the Who Was/ Who Is nonfiction series. I teach in elementary school and those are usually a hit with at least some of the kids. One of my students chose to do a book report on Who Was Marie Curie and I learned a whole lot from her!
oooo we need to learn about marie curie at our house, my kids don't know her yet! of course we have "who was travis kelce," gulp (a christmas present for my 6yo). thanks for the reminder - we need to get more of these.
Have they read all of the little house on the prairie books? There’s the main series and there’s also both older and younger generations that have their own series as well, I read those when I was 8 or 9 :)
i read them the first two books out loud, and we have the little house christmas picture book. have you heard of the podcast Wilder? if you're a fan of the books, you might like it. it really changed my perspective on the books and LIW. i read and reread the books many times as a child, they'll always have a place in my heart!
ohhh yes my oldest just got into dear america! so fun because i loved them as a kid too. i haven't ventured into the american girls series because i'm trying to avoid the american girl doll store in general... i repeat, i am a Mean Mom... but i might swipe my childhood set next time i'm at my parents house, ha!
I totally get it, American Girl is a whole thing! I love how much research went into them, especially Addy's book. also loved the magazine as a kid, I wish they still made it.
Loved God of the Woods! Epic storytelling by Liz Moore. Good Energy is on my TBR, report back please!
My kids are 5 and 3 so we are mostly still in the picture book phase, but the middle grade book Impossible Creatures is in my queue to read for myself! It has amazing reviews, and the sequel comes out this fall.
What would you recommend for a beginner who has taken photography classes but it's been a long time? I like the idea of using film! Love your work and have a Hawaii photograph from your Etsy page in our living room!
oh my gosh that makes me cry, i'd love to see a photo of it hanging up! please email me!! if you're looking for a good film camera to shoot in manual, i would recommend the Canon AE1, a classic choice, or a Canon EOS 3 body with a canon ef 40mm pancake lens. i shoot the Canon EOS 3 with a couple different pro lenses, and it is SUCH a great camera. it has a couple of auto modes if you need them, and you can also shoot it in full manual (which i do). i shot pretty much everything in my etsy shop with the EOS 3 and the 50mm f1/.2 lens.
Yes, I absolutely will take a photo of your gorgeous photograph when I get home and email you! Thank you so much for the recommendations and taking the time to do that.
Nonfiction, maybe they would like Michelle Obama’s memoir adapted for young readers? It should say that in the title if you search. I read the adult version and loved it so much, I imagine the young reader’s version is great, too!
The Dear America series was my faaaavorite when I was a tween! Also, dying to read God of the Woods! Just finishing up West With Giraffes right now and I think you’d like it 😊
Ooh a lot to say here:
1. God of the Woods was suuuuch a fun ride.
2. Have you published a list of your fave local hikes/walks?
3. Do you have a rec of a budget film camera if I just want to play around but am not a Photographer AT ALL?
4. Omg how can you wear white jeans???? With kids and life????!!!
5. My almost 10 year old just said she wants a charm bracelet. Cute. The necklace is a chic adult take.
no list of hikes/ walks/ paths yet, because it's still too short... hopefully i'll have one ready by the end of this year!
yes, i'd recommend an Olympus point and shoot with a Zeiss lens. it's completely automatic so you can't/ don't have to control anything. but if you want to learn to shoot in manual, i have to recommend the classic Canon AE-1! a true gem.
the only white jeans that have survived my kids are my wide leg white levi's from target, c/o puracy stain remover ;-)
i'm getting both my girls charm bracelets for christmas this year, and yes i've already planned that far ahead lol!
God of the Woods was nuts in such a good way! I inhaled it.
Middle grade recs from a middle school librarian: Ferris by Kate DiCamillo, Olivetti (a typewriter narrates the story, I mean!?), Light and Air is all about a mother and daughter who both get TB (which is hitting wayyyyy too close to home here in good ol' Kansas ), Not a Ghost by Anne Ursu (a modern take on The Yellow Wallpaper), Alone by Megan E. Freeman (verse AND dystopian). I have so many more but these were some of my favorites from last year.
ooooh my gosh thank you so much for these recs!! i just added them all to my cart!
Love those photos! I don't have a film camera, but if I didn't, I'd try that. As for books, you captured my heart. I'm such a bookworm. I have The God of the Woods on my TBR. I'll have to move it up to the top. I've seen lots of great reviews.
For your kiddos: Here are some ideas 💛 (these are affiliate links because it was easier, but feel free to use your links. And, of course, the library is my favorite!)
Misty Copeland (young readers): https://bookshop.org/a/7812/9781481479806
Here's a list that has some great ones my boys have read: https://everyday-reading.com/nonfiction-books-for-kids/
As for series, what do they already read and love? Fantasy? Girlie? Do you have any family rules about the type of content? I am very lax about what my boys can read, so if you have more strict rules for your family, Common Sense Media can offer content considerations.
My boys love:
Rick Riordan books (he has a bunch of different series where he co-writes with other authors too) - on the older eng of that age range
Mr. Lemoncello series (6 or more? books): https://bookshop.org/a/7812/9780307931474
Land of Stories: https://bookshop.org/a/7812/9780316480840 - author Chris Colfer has lots of books for this age group - older end of your age range
Wings of Fire series - dragons
Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris: https://bookshop.org/a/7812/9780759556256
City Spies: https://bookshop.org/a/7812/9781665946728 (this one is definitely on the older end of your 8-12 range)
Wild Robot Series: https://bookshop.org/a/7812/9780316566742 - my ten-year-old LOVES this series.
Wilderlore Series.
That's the list off the top of my head. If I think of others, I'll add them.
For some, I included the box set to see all the books in the series in one spot. I hope this helps. I love recommending books. Can you tell? 💛
this is a goldmine! thank you so much jen!!! i'm pretty open to most types of content, minus anything gross/ horror. my girls absolutely love harry potter 1-4, the wild robot series, all raina telgemeier's books (which, tbh, im not that fond of), beverly cleary, roald dahl, fudge series, etc. i'm reading the penderwick series out loud to them right now while i wait til they're a smidge older to finish harry potter (which they are impatiently begging for).
Love it. I love too that they still have you read aloud to them. My boys outgrew that (I know lots of kids like it when they're older but mine decided they're more into reading on their own for now). One more I thought about - my 10 year old is reading "Keeper of the Lost Cities" right now and he really likes it. Series with lots of books too.
Loved God of the Woods!
I’m sure you know the Who Was/ Who Is nonfiction series. I teach in elementary school and those are usually a hit with at least some of the kids. One of my students chose to do a book report on Who Was Marie Curie and I learned a whole lot from her!
oooo we need to learn about marie curie at our house, my kids don't know her yet! of course we have "who was travis kelce," gulp (a christmas present for my 6yo). thanks for the reminder - we need to get more of these.
Have they read all of the little house on the prairie books? There’s the main series and there’s also both older and younger generations that have their own series as well, I read those when I was 8 or 9 :)
i read them the first two books out loud, and we have the little house christmas picture book. have you heard of the podcast Wilder? if you're a fan of the books, you might like it. it really changed my perspective on the books and LIW. i read and reread the books many times as a child, they'll always have a place in my heart!
Not non-fiction but still very fun and informative- the American Girls series! I'd also recommend the Dear America books (closer to 11-13 years old).
ohhh yes my oldest just got into dear america! so fun because i loved them as a kid too. i haven't ventured into the american girls series because i'm trying to avoid the american girl doll store in general... i repeat, i am a Mean Mom... but i might swipe my childhood set next time i'm at my parents house, ha!
I totally get it, American Girl is a whole thing! I love how much research went into them, especially Addy's book. also loved the magazine as a kid, I wish they still made it.
Loved God of the Woods! Epic storytelling by Liz Moore. Good Energy is on my TBR, report back please!
My kids are 5 and 3 so we are mostly still in the picture book phase, but the middle grade book Impossible Creatures is in my queue to read for myself! It has amazing reviews, and the sequel comes out this fall.
just added impossible creatures to my basket!! and yes, i will definitely report back on good energy. it's blowing me away so far!
What would you recommend for a beginner who has taken photography classes but it's been a long time? I like the idea of using film! Love your work and have a Hawaii photograph from your Etsy page in our living room!
oh my gosh that makes me cry, i'd love to see a photo of it hanging up! please email me!! if you're looking for a good film camera to shoot in manual, i would recommend the Canon AE1, a classic choice, or a Canon EOS 3 body with a canon ef 40mm pancake lens. i shoot the Canon EOS 3 with a couple different pro lenses, and it is SUCH a great camera. it has a couple of auto modes if you need them, and you can also shoot it in full manual (which i do). i shot pretty much everything in my etsy shop with the EOS 3 and the 50mm f1/.2 lens.
Yes, I absolutely will take a photo of your gorgeous photograph when I get home and email you! Thank you so much for the recommendations and taking the time to do that.
The Green Ember series for your girls! If they love adventure, quests, mystery, they might really like them!
Nonfiction, maybe they would like Michelle Obama’s memoir adapted for young readers? It should say that in the title if you search. I read the adult version and loved it so much, I imagine the young reader’s version is great, too!
The Dear America series was my faaaavorite when I was a tween! Also, dying to read God of the Woods! Just finishing up West With Giraffes right now and I think you’d like it 😊