Saturday, January 3, 2015

The Friday Four, Part 99

Would you believe with all the hullabaloo of the holidays and kids home from school for winter break, I neglected to get my first Friday Four of 2015 up on time!  Sheesh! Not a smooth start to the new year!

~1~

Way back when my husband bought me my Kindle (for Christmas a couple of years ago), I remember it took quite a while to get used to it.  The first book I read entirely on the Kindle was an exercise in frustration.  I just didn't feel like I was retaining as much of the information I read as I usually did.

So I was thrilled to see that science backs me up.

Reading 30-45 minutes a day, particularly with a "real" book as opposed to on a screen, increases empathy, reduces stress, improves concentration, and decreases your chances of developing Alzheimer's as you age.  Fascinating stuff!  Go read the article here. And check out the links for relevant studies and more information, too.

~2~

I've always been one of those who believes in getting up and getting dressed, even if it's going to be a pretty lazy, stay-at-home kind of day, just so I'm ready for whatever the day may bring.  But this winter break I've spent more time in my pajamas - and my kids have spent more time in their pajamas - than I can remember in a long time.

The day after Christmas we literally stayed in our pjs all. day. long.  It certainly helps that I got brand new pajamas that are the softest  fabric on earth and so incredibly cozy.  (My middle child calls them my "furry pajamas".)

You don't get to see my pjs, 'cuz I'm taking the picture...
I'm a little worried about our new church schedule that starts this Sunday (9:00! Yay!!!) and getting them out to the bus stop on time on Monday when school starts up again, but I've got to admit I've enjoyed the more relaxed attitude toward getting dressed. Guess there's a time and season for everything...

~3~

One of the things we did on this winter break is we finished Taran Wanderer, the fourth book in Lloyd Alexander's Prydain series, which means we only have one more to go to finish out all five.  And then we need to find something else to read together.  I found this list with some good suggestions - and some we've already read - but I'd love to hear from you what read-aloud novels you've enjoyed.

In the past five years or so we've done the Harry Potter series, Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie series, Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles, The Hobbit, From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler, the Oz books by L. Frank Baum, several Gary Paulsen books, the Narnia series, and assorted others.  Maybe it's time to re-read Harry Potter?

~4~

This is a fun video - grossly simplified, of course - but it gives you a quick overview of hair and makeup styles over the past century. Fun!


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