The Polka-Dot Umbrella: Book

I love reading in the summer. If you are like me it is hard to find time to read. Every year my husband and I go with my family to Oceanside, California and stay in a beach house. Last year I spent the whole time reading on the beach and doing nothing. This year I plan on doing the exact same thing. We leave on July 8th and I already have a stack of books ready to go. Today I thought I would share with you 10 of my favorite books as well as a few that I want to try.

The Hunger Games - Catching Fire - Mockingjay
by Suzanne Collins

I realize that the first book is actually three books, but I dare you to just read the first one without reading the rest. If you haven't jumped on The Hunger Games band wagon yet you better get going. They are making a movie that comes out sometime next year. These books are so intense, I think I finished all three of them in a week and a half.

A Vision of Light
by Judith Merkle Riley

I am a total sucker for historical fiction novels. A Vision of Light was written in 1988, by Judith Merkle Riley. When I was in high school I needed a new book to read and my mom brought me this one. I immediately loved it. This book is about a woman in the 1300s named Margaret Kendall, a voice tells her to write a book about her life. Since she is illiterate she goes in search of someone to write it for her. The story goes back and forth between her telling her past story and her 'present day' story. There is also a sequel to this book that is amazing as well.

The Last Song
by Nicholas Sparks

I have read a few other Nicholas Sparks books and overall I haven't liked his writing style. For some reason, I really enjoyed The Last Song. I saw the movie first and liked it. I wasn't sure if I wanted to give this author another try but in the end gave in. The book is so much better than the movie, obviously right? The book is always better.

Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!
by Fannie Flagg

I am sure most of you have seen the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. I love the scene where Kathy Bates hauls off and smashes a car that cut her off. Anyway Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! was written by the same author. I have read a lot of Fannie Flagg's books but this one is my favorite by far. It is about this news reporter in the 70s who is trying to find out about her past, while still trying to get ahead in her career.

Rebecca
by Daphne duMaurier

If you haven't read this classic you need to. Rebecca was originally published in 1938. I read this book back in high school, but it is on the list to read again. It is all about this woman who is married quickly and whisked away to a beautiful and haunting estate called Manderley. Once she arrives there she finds her husband changed and there is a secret in the house.

Water for Elephants
by Sara Gruen

I just finished Water for Elephants a few weeks ago. I haven't seen the movie yet, I will have to get it from Red box. I really enjoyed this book. I love the story telling, and point of view. My only problem with this book was there were about three scenes that really weren't necessary, but other than those I really liked it.

Girls in Trucks
by Katie Crouch

Girls in Trucks is a new book that I picked up for super cheap (notice the price tag!) It looks really good and I am excited to try it out. It is about a girl who was raised in the south as a debutante. She struggles with this society and ends up going to New York and tries to find herself. I hope this book is good but we will see.

Matched
by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie is amazing. I know I have raved about a lot of different books today but this one is my new favorite. It is kind of a combination of The Hunger Games and The Giver. The writing in this book is so beautiful. It kept me captivated from the very beginning, even though it isn't 'action' packed, I was still engrossed the whole time. It is going to be part of a trilogy. The second book comes out November 1st.

A Girl of the Limberlost
by Gene Stratton-Porter

A Girl of the Limberlost is a wonderful story about a girl, Elnora Comstock, and her relationship with nature. The descriptions in this book are gorgeous. There is also a movie that I used to watch all the time when I was little. I always thought she was so cool because she worked hard for what she wanted.

The Host
by Stephenie Meyer

Yes, I am one of those people who really liked the Twilight series. I am going to be totally honest in saying that I actually liked The Host better. I felt like it was geared towards a little older age group. Plus it is a really cute romance novel.

Well now that I have rambled on about some of my favorite books and intended reads this summer, what are you reading? I am always up for new recommendations. I hope this has inspired you to forget about your to do list and spend some time curled up in your favorite reading spot!

When I saw Emily's darling post last week on making Your Own Kid Book, I knew just the thing to show everyone... Some place to put your finished doll pictures. This book is also great to put pictures of your family, or a group party, or event that you don't want to forget. What Grandma wouldn't just love to have a book like this filled with their grandkids to carry in their purse as their own Grandma Brag Book?

Items you need:

4 12X12 Sheets of Colorful Paper
1 Sheet of 8.5X11 Cardstock
Chipboard- You can get chipboard a couple different ways. Your local scrapbooking store has lots of this and most give out for free. It comes in all their paper packs when they are shipped. Or you can use a cereal box and it works just as well. It is a little thinner but still does the job.
Paper Cutter- If you don't have a paper cutter you can measure everything out with a ruler, draw lines and then cut with scissors. This works just as well but takes a little more time.

Make your Inside Pages

Cut out:

4- 7 ½ X 9 ½ Inch colored paper

4- 5 ¾ X7 ¾ Inch colored paper

4- 6X8 Chipboard

Take 1- 7 ½ X9 ½ colored piece of paper and lay it colored side facing down. Glue 1 side of your chipboard and lay the glued side to the middle of the back of your piece of paper.

Cut corners (see picture).

Flip your piece over and glue and fold down the colorful piece of paper onto the chipboard.

Take your 5 ¾ X 7 ¾ Inch colored piece and place it on top of the showing chipboard.

Now your chipboard should be completely covered and you have your first page.

Repeat the same steps to cover your remaining 3 pieces of chipboard.

Make your Front Cover and Back Cover
Cut out:

2- 8 ½ X 9 ½ Inch from the colored paper.

2- 7 ¾ X 8 ¾ Inch from colored paper.

2- 7 X 9 Inch chipboard

Cover your front and back cover the same way you covered your inside pages.

Assemble the Book
Cut out:

1- 7X6 Inch from colored paper. Outside Spine.

1- 11 X 6 Inch from cardstock. Inner Spine.

Take your 11 X 6 Inch piece of cardstock, and make 1 inch marks going down the 11 Inch long side.

Fold along your inch marks making a fan. Fold one way and the then the other (see picture.)

Take your front and back covers, and glue one to the top of your fan and the other to the back of your fan.

Insert your pages on each fan fold.

Take your 7 X 6 Inch binding strip and tear along the both 6 inch sides.

Turn your piece facing down and put glue on both 6 inch sides.

Taking your book, close it up and wrap your outer binding across the accordion inner binding. This will connect and hold your book together. You might want to play with how tight you want it to be.