Let's Celebrate My 2013 Bookish Un-Boring List!

It's time to CELEBRATE This Week with Ruth Ayres from Discover. Play. Build.  Every week Ruth invites us to share our celebrations from the week and link up at her blog. What a fun way to reflect on everything there is to be thankful for. 

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This week I'm celebrating my 2013 Bookish Un-Boring List!

*throws confetti*

As an optimist, I'm all about celebrating! While 2013 is ending, it was an awesome year and there's so much to look forward to in 2014. I've been reviewing my 2013 list and brainstorming ideas for my 2014 Bookish Un-Boring List! (In case you missed it...an Un-Boring list is a list of fun things to do for the year. In my mind, it's the better way to do New Year's resolutions! You can read more about the history of Un-Boring lists here.)

Jen's 2013 Bookish Un-Boring List Recap:

Consider these DONE!

Host a book and a bookmark swap with Kellee

here at Teach Mentor Texts

DONE! 3/14/2013 and 5/23/2013

Have a taco party to celebrate 

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

DONE! 3/3/2013

Our World Read Aloud Day celebration was great!

Reread Blue Balliett's Chasing Vermeer series 

and go on a Robie House mystery tour

DONE! 11/16/2013

My sister, my friend Jennifer and I had a great time on our tour!

Release books into the wild 

through Book Crossing to celebrate 

  Donalyn Miller's new book Reading in the Wild 

out in November of 2013

DONE! 11/19/2013

I used Book Crossing to release books!

My review of Reading in the Wild from the book tour!

Visit new (to me) Indie book stores

4 new-to-me Indie book stores visited!
Plus, I visited Anderson's Bookshop, The Book Stall, 
Lake Forest Book Store which are longstanding favorites!
DONE!

Recycle Books in San Jose, California

The Children's Book Shop and Trident Book Shop in Boston

 

Unabridged Books in Chicago

Write another book this summer 

(the first draft at least...)

(three cheers for Teachers Write!)

DONE (kind of...not really...but close enough)!

Writing this year has been amazing even though I didn't get through another first draft. I've continued to find more and more time for writing - even though it never feels like enough - and I'm discovering more about myself and about writing as I go. It's pretty amazing. I'm well into revisions of the novel I drafted the first summer of Teachers Write, I've outlined a non-fiction picture book, I've written articles for Choice Literacy...it's exciting to think of all the writing I have done and how fulfilled I feel having done it. One of the highlights of this year was going to a Choice Literacy writing retreat. One of my absolute proudest moments was presenting with Kate Messner, Gae Polisner, Jo Knowles, and Brian Wyzlic at NCTE. It was thrilling to all be in one room and to share the true power of Teachers Write together. I'm looking forward to another summer of writing and connecting with this awesome community!

Consider these...not-so-DONE!

Traditionally, any Un-Boring List activities that aren't accomplished are carried over into the next year. Some of these will carry of but others won't.

Create paper mache book art 

like they have at Reading Reptile book store 

that Mr. Schu visited on his 2011 book roadtrip

I planned to do this over winter break but it didn't happen - adding to the 2014 list!

Have a graphic novel read-a-thon

I love graphic novels and would still love to plan a read-a-thon - totally on the 2014 list!

Have a monster celebration with Peanut

*thinking of reading monster-themed books, 

seeing Monsters University (the sequel to Monsters Inc 2) 

and writing our own monster stories*

We read monster books, we saw the movie, we drew monsters and created a monster stuffed animal, I think we kind of wrote a story...so we came close. I think this one is done-ish.

Crochet an Extra Yarn-like case for my Nook

Hmm...I've decided I'm just not a fan of ebooks (yet). I desperately wanted to love my Nook but I don't even know where it is. I crocheted a pencil holder with Extra Yarn-style yarn and I still have a whole ball of yarn so maybe I'll come up with another project...but for now, this is done.

Three Cheers for 2013 and my Bookish Un-Boring List! Like I said, I've already started brainstorming for my 2014 Bookish Un-Boring List. Maybe you want to make one, too? *nudge, nudge, wink, wink* 

I'm always up for a bookish adventure! Got any ideas for me? Please share!

What are you celebrating this week?