Mini-Post: What I’m Reading

This past weekend was pretty laid back. My parents were in town for a nice visit and we spent most of the time visiting with little time for any projects to report on. Not much on my eco-radar this week besides the great Chipolte/Willie Nelson/Coldplay commercial during the Grammy’s. If you missed it, it was amazing and l LOVED it!!! You can see it here.

Even with the busy weekend I was able to get in some reading and I thought you all might be interested to see what’s in my reading queue lately!

Currently reading:    

             

 Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv

This book, which I am just starting, is based on the idea that today's child has replaced natural play (i.e. outside with other children) with a solitary, digital lifestyle revolving around television and video games. It also supports the belief that the increased diagnosis of ADD and ADHD in children is linked to this disconnect with nature. I have personally felt this way for a long time and was very excited to discover this book and a name (although not scientific) for this “nature deficit”. More to come on this later…

Just finished in my classroom:

Four Against The Odds: The Struggle To Save Our Environment (Scholastic Biography) by Stephen Krensky

This is a great book for the high elementary to middle school reader. This book features a series of short biographies about four unique individuals who were ahead of their times in the fight for the environment. The Four Against the Odds include: John Muir who saved Yosemite National Park and founded the Sierra Club in the late 1800s to early 1900s; Racheal Carson who fought pesticide companies for safer practices and showed the world that these chemical not only kill bugs, they kill people too; Lois Gibbs who fought against her city for the evacuation and reimbursement for a neighborhood built on a toxic waste dump; and finally Chico Mendes who lost his life due to his commitment to the fight to save the rainforests.

The Down-to-Earth Guide To Global Warming by Laurie David and Cambria Gordon

This is another great book for the elementary reader or anyone who wants a very understandable guide to the ins and outs of global warming. This book is packed with fun illustrations and great pictures that really engage the reader. The book also does a great job of breaking down environmental lingo into everyday terms that the reader can wrap their head around.

Just finished in my leisure:

Clapton: The Autobiography by Eric Clapton

I’m a biography lover and I’ve had this book for a while. I made a deal with myself that I could not buy anymore Kindle books until I finished the last of my hard copies on my shelf (one to go, Chelsea, Chelsea, Bang, Bang!). I loved this book! I may be biased because I have been in love with Eric Clapton since a 6^th grade ski trip when I heard Timepieces for the first time! The book begins with Clapton as a child discovering a mistruth about his grandparents and follows the guitar legend through a series of ups and downs both musically and personally. Spoiler Alert: It has a happy ending! J

I hope this gives you few books to add to your reading list. If you have any good reads, please share!

Buzz!!

Pay it Forward: That’s Green Right?

Last weekend I was very excited to head to Atlanta to visit my BBFs and celebrate the upcoming arrival of a new baby. I had a great time while I was in Atlanta and we packed a lot into a couple of days. I wanted to pass along a few of the places I visited and really enjoyed.

Saturday morning my friend Jill and I went for a workout at Wellco located in the Urban Body Studios in the Poncey Highland area of Atlanta. Owners Reyci Martorell and David Mauer led the semi-private session that I am still feeling today. According to their website “Our unique training philosophy progressively challenges the body through a focus on multi-directional movement skills, speed, agility, quickness, reactivity, balance and whole body strength and power to create greater kinesthetic and neuromuscular communication within the body.” 


While the workout was tough (and I thought I might forget my own name) both Reyci and David were enthusiastic and encouraging the entire class; the time seemed to fly by!! With classes practically all day and easy online scheduling, it makes for zero excuses.

Thanks guys!

  

Wellco owners Reyci Martorell and David Mauer

While I was in town we also visited a few new places I had not been to before. What struck me was that everywhere I went this weekend I had over the top, wonderfully friendly service and I just wanted to mention these places. 

For breakfast Saturday morning, we visited Stone Soup Kitchen located between Cabbage Town and Grant Park. The food was wonderful along with the Mimosa(sss) and our server (yeah, you with the beard) was great (and my friend is single)!! 

Saturday night we had dinner at the Wrecking Bar Brewpub located in Little 5 Points. The staff was so friendly and pleasant. From the bar to the table the service was excellent and our server handled our party of 15 with ease.

We finished up the night with a concert and a baby shower the next day. Word of mouth means a lot when you are a small business owner or self-employed. Being a patron of local businesses in your area and spreading the word is the best way to support these establishments.

Pay it forward!

Buzz!

(Note: Above photos courtesy of the respective websites)