• Lifestyle

    Menu Planning & Food Prep

    silverware

    I’m sure I’ve mentioned that I love to cook. When I chat with coworkers or my mom, they’re always fascinated about the recipes I’m using, like these Roasted Cauliflower Enchiladas. So today I thought I’d talk about menu planning & food prep. My mom was just asking me yesterday about…

  • Lifestyle

    Wear a Cardigan and Spread Kindness

    kindness heart

    November 13th is World Kindness Day, an international observance created in 1998. Each year, it is celebrated to “highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us.” (Wikipedia) This year, WQED, Pittsburgh’s public broadcasting network and home to the…

  • Lifestyle

    It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 11/4/19

    Last Week I can’t quite believe it’s November already! Where has this year gone?!?!? I took a long weekend and went to visit my parents and brother’s family. Our family holds a Chili Party every fall and we celebrated our 25th annual party this year. Each family brings a chili,…

  • Lifestyle

    The Extinction of School Librarians

    school librarians

    As the Chicago Public School strike comes to an end, school librarians were in the spotlight. They as just one of the many demands made by the Chicago Teachers Union. In all of the Chicago Public School system, there are only 108 school librarians. Many see librarians as non-essential staff…

  • Lifestyle

    It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 10/28/19

    Last Week Since vacation in September, I’ve found a great balance of reading in my life. I tend to need to read more the more stressed out I feel. And I’ve been quite stressed out at work lately, which means that I need to balance my reading time so that…

  • Lifestyle

    Halloween Parties and Cookies

    halloween

    With two parties to attend this evening a little baking was in order for the morning! After drooling over a number of recipes, with a range of complexity from pumpkin spice whoopie pies to apple cider cupcakes, I landed on Salted Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Crinkle cookies. With the first party…

  • Lifestyle

    Director’s Thoughts – 10/25/19

    computer

    I could have easily called this post – “Things I Never Thought I’d Do At Work”, but that was a little long, so here we are. Yesterday, I spent the majority of my day worrying over the library’s pet turtle. With a re-appearing mass near his rear leg, the staff…

  • Lifestyle

    It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 10/21/19

    Last Week It’s been a great reading week! Seven hours on a bus definitely adds some quality reading time, plus I finally had some time off this weekend to read as well! This week I read: The Oddmire: Changling by John Ritter The Misadventures of Nobbin Swill: Crumbled by Lisa…

  • Lifestyle

    Nancy Pearl, Library Legend

    pile of books

    If you’re not a librarian, then the name Nancy Pearl probably doesn’t mean much to you. If you’re a librarian like the one hundred plus awake for a 7:30am breakfast to hear her speak then you understand. Nancy is a fascinating woman with a twinkle in her eye. It just…