NEED YOUR HELP!

If you know me, you know I love to read and write. But what you may not know is that my romance with reading and writing is not academic-based. Although I have officially spent 6 years in school studying reading and writing, my love for books began when I was very young.

But it was not so much the thinking or the written words that I was in love with. I was in love with meeting new people (characters), traveling without ever leaving a room and seeing the world in ways I never had before. I was in love with the way The Giver showed me everything wasn't black and white, the way Matilda talked back to authority (like I was afraid to do), and the way Harry Potter helped me understand love and sacrifice.

But what if you had never read a book or had the opportunity to? Would your life be different? Someone once told me (probably quoting someone famous), "You are the same person you will be in five years except for 3 things: the people you meet, the places you go and the books you read." I know this has been so very true in my own life, but what about you? Well, these kids you're about to meet can hardly get their little hands on a book much less have opportunities to travel and meet people they've never met before. So, think about how you could help change lives with the click of a button:

If you are interested in getting books in the hand of these kids, there is a wish list online through amazon: WISH LIST,  put five books in your cart (5 books sponsors 1 kid), copy and paste in the shipping address below and click buy! They will be under my friend, Megan Forrester's name, who will be working on this project over her spring break. Then, go fill out this quick form so that MS 223 can keep up with the amount that's been donated. 

The written word changes lives. Don't you want to be a part of that?

MS 223
Mr. Ohl - Shoebox Library
360 E 145th Street
Bronx, NY 10454

*For more information, email me @ laura.barron.elmer@gmail.com

I Solemnly Swear To...

So, while finishing up school, I have been dreaming about all the glorious free time I will have this summer.  In the margins of my research and in my planner, I have been making lists of all the things I want to do. Partially, I am putting them on the blog because if I type them I will HAVE to do them, and partially, I am blogging about them because I'm wondering what should be added to my list. So here it goes:


I solemnly swear to finish my wedding thank you notes now that I'm not writing papers. NEXT, I will practice my mandolin. I've been trying to learn ever since David gave it to me, but every time I pick it back up I have to start over again remembering chords. AND THEN, I promise to make things: 

• A braided beaded necklace
• some vintage rose earrings 
• a nautical headband 
• and maybe I'll finally make that globe

ALSO, I solemnly swear to replant my window box (hopefully like this one) and maybe add a garden to the backyard. Andddd working out, yeah, that'll be in the mix. *Not to mention, I have to work.* And of course, I will READ. I will read lovely books that I get to choose. Here's the list so far, tell me what you think and what I should add:

So, I know I'm not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but aren't these more fun to look at? (Also, if anyone has these and wants to lend a copy, I'd be much obliged!) Happy Summer everybody!

No pigtails. No tube-tops. No crying.

Do it. Just buy it. And honestly, I would even say buy the audio book version. BOSSYPANTS.


This weekend, on the way to David's triathlon, we listened to Tina Fey read her new book, Bossypants, and I must say, I can't get enough. We were both dying with laughter in the car, and we listened for 4 hours straight. So, if you love 30 Rock as much as we do... or SNL or Mean Girls or Baby Mama (let's face it, she's a genius)... BUY THIS BOOK. And you too will know Tina Fey treasures like her advice for working in a male-dominated work place: "No pigtails, no tube-tops, no crying."

Get it. Do it.