Books: 2016

My reading resolution this year: AT LEAST 30 books

1. Out Came the Sun, Mariel Hemingway

2. Rising Strong, Brené Brown, PhD

3. The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern

4. The Bassoon King, Rainn Wilson

5. Carry On, Rainbow Rowell

6. Dept. of Speculation, Jenny Offill

7. Euphoria, Lily King

8. The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Neil Gaiman

9. The Book of Speculation, Erika Swyler

10. Louisa: The Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams, Louisa Thomas

11. It Didn't Start with You, Mark Wolynn

12. The Nest, Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

13. Shockaholic, Carrie Fisher

14. Gratitude, Oliver Sacks

15. Eat, Pray, Love Made Me Do it, Various

16. Before Ever After, Samantha Sotto

17. The Yoga of Max's Discontent, Karen Bajaj

18. One Day, David Nicholls

19. Vinegar Girl, Anne Tyler

20. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, JK Rowling

21. Girl Waits with Gun, Amy Stewart

22. The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo, Amy Schumer

23. The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak, Brian Katcher

24. The Girl with all the Gifts, M. R. Carey

25. Greetings from Utopia Park, Claire Hoffman 

26. Women Who Run with the Wolves, Clarissa Pinkola Estés

27. The Wander Society, Keri Smith

28. Falling Kingdoms, Morgan Rhodes 

29. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver

30. The Geek Feminist Revolution, Kameron Hurley

Graphic Novel

1. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 3: Guardians Disassemble 

2. Jessicen Jones: The Pulse

3. Secret Avengers, Let's Have a Problem

4. Secret Avengers, Labyrinth

5. Daredevil, Vol 2

6. The Rat Queens

7. The Adventures of Superhero Girl

8. Inverloch, Volume 1

9. Amulet: The Stonekeeper

10. Jellaby 

11. Zita the Spacegirl

12. Saga, Vol. 4

13. Inverloch, Volume 2

14. Amulet: The Cloud Searchers

15. Jellaby, Monster in the City

16. Cat's Cradle, The Golden Twine

17. El Deafo

18. Papergirls, Vol. 1

19. The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo 

20. The Tale of Despereaux

21. Red's Planet

22. Lumberjanes, Vol 1

33. Lumberjanes, Vol 2

34. Mouse Guard: The Black Axe

35. Mouse Guard: Fall 1152

36. Amulet: The Last Council

37. Lumberjanes, Vol 3

Books: 2015

Once again, my one resolution for 2015 is to read at least 20 books. I far exceeded my goal last year but am not sure I'm ready to increase my goal, what with baby #2 on the way. Well here we go:

1. Me Before You, Jojo Moyes

2. Yes Please, Amy Poehler

3. Revolution, Russell Brand

4. Slaughterhouse Five, Kurt Vonnegut 

5. Seraphina, Rachel Hartman 

6. Daring Greatly, Brene Brown

7. Grey Mountain, John Grisham 

8. My Life, Isadora Duncan

9. Heartless, Gail Carriger

10. My Stroke of Insight, Jill Bolte Taylor

11. Discovery of Witches, Deborah Harkness

12. The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

13. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Book 1, Douglas Adams

14. The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins

15. Brain on Fire, My Month of Madness, Susannah Cahalan

16. The Good Gut, Justin and Erika Sonnenburg, PhDs

17. Church of Marvels, Leslie Parry

18. Uprooted, Naomi Novik

19. Cinder, Marissa Meyer

20. One More Thing, Stories and Other Stories, BJ Novak

21. Buddhist Boot Camp, Timber Hawkeye

22. Magonia, Maria Dahvana Headley

23. First There is a Mountain: A Yoga Romance, Elizabeth Kadetsky

24. Shadow Scale, Rachel Hartman

25. Scarlet, Marissa Meyer

26. Thorn Jack, Katherine Harbour

27. You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost), Felicia Day

28. Brain Maker, David Perlmutter, MD

29. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs

30. The Witch of Painted Sorrows, MJ Rose

31. At the Water's Edge, Sara Gruen

32. If the Buddha Married, Charlotte Kasl

33. The Magic of Positive Parenting

34. Beyond Willpower, Alexander Lloyd, PhD

35. The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age, Catherine Steiner-Adair

36. And then There were None, Agatha Christie

37. Ross Poldark, Winston Graham

38. Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie

39. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Agatha Christie

40. The Happiness Hypothesis, Jonathan Haidt

41. Lexicon, Max Barry

42. No-Drama Discipline, Daniel Siegel, MD and Tina Bryson, PhD

43. Furiously Happy, Jenny Lawson

44. Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl,

Carrie Brownstein

45. Why Not Me? Mindy Kaling

46. Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mendel

47. Career of Evil, Robert Galbraith

48. Vampire Academy, Richelle Mead

49. Wild, Cheryl Strayed

50. What Makes Love Last, John Gottman, PhD

51. Let's Pretend This Never Happened, Jenny Lawson

52. Fully Present, Sue Smalley, PhD

53. The Skinny Rules, Bob Harper

54. The Witch's Daughter, Paula Brackston

55. Fangirl, Rainbow Rowell

56. The Notorious RBG, Irin Carmon

Graphic Novels

1. The Wicked and the Divine: The Faust Act

2. Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways

3. Saga, Book One

4. Pride and Prejudice, graphic adaptation 

5. Buddha, Kapilavastu, Volume 1

6. Buddha, Devadatta, Volume 3

7. Neurocomic 

8. Batgirl, Vol.1: Batgirl of Burnside

9. Batman: Harley Quinn

10. Buddha, The Forest of Uruvela, Volume 4

11. The New Suicide Squad

12. The Wicked and the Divine: Fandemonium

13. Bodies

14. Gotham Academy, Vol 1

15. Sherlock Holmes, The Sign of the Four

16. Batgirl and Robin, Year One

17. RASL

18. A Bag of Marbles

19. Essex County

20. Original Sin, Who Shot the Watcher?

21 Ms. Marvel

22. Young Avengers

books, books, books

Resolution 1 for 2014: Read AT LEAST 20 books this year
 I have a list of books I want to read this year (namely those that have been sitting on my shelf for some time) but know that other books will pop up throughout the year- we'll see how it goes. :0)


1. Dead Ever After, Charlaine Harris
2. Hyperbole and a Half, Allie Brosh
3. Children's Hospital, Chris Adrian
4. Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card
5. Isle Witch, Terry Brooks
6. The Signature of All Things, Elizabeth Gilbert
7. Cuckoo's Calling, Robert Gailbraith
8. Bossypants, Tina Fey
9. Room, Emma Donoghue
10. My Brief History, Stephen Hawking
11. The Bedwetter, Sarah Silverman.
12. Still Foolin' 'Em, Billy Chrystal
13. All Joy and No Fun, Jennifer Senior
14. Orange is the New Black, Piper Kerman
15. I Don't Know What You Know Me From, Judy Greer

16. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? Mindy Kaling

17. Beyond the Sling, Mayim Bialik

18. Self-inflicted Wounds, Aisha Tyler

19. The Mindful Brain, Daniel Siegel, MD

20. Wesley the Owl, Stacey O'Bryen

21. Seriously, I'm kidding, Ellen DeGenerous

22. Storm of Swords (book 3), George R. R. Martin

23. Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn

24. In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan

25. War of the Worldviews, Deepak Chopra & Leonard Mlodinow

26. A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle

27. The Midnight Witch, Paula Brackston

28. Ruby Red, Kerstin Geir

29. Lord John and the Private Matter, Diana Gabaldon

30. A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent, Marie Brennan

31. The Ultimate Happiness Prescription, Deepak Chopra

32. The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners, Jack Hawley

33. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Haruki Murakami

34. Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul, Deepak Chopra

35. Anxiety Relief: Psychotherapy Case Studies Using Meditating, Breathing and Yoga, Dee Cohen, LCSW

36. Lucid Dreaming, Angel Mendez

37. What Are You Hungry For? Deepak Chopra

38. Mudras, Advait

39. Getting Unstuck, Pema Chodron
40. Silkworm, Robert Gailbraith

41. The Secret History of Wonder Woman, Jill Lepore

42. Beatrice and Virgil, Yann Martel

43. Eleanor and Park, Rainbow Rowell

44. The Future of the Mind- Michio Kaku

45. Botany of Desire- Michael Pollan

46. Wheat Belly- William Davis, MD

Graphic Novels
1. New Avengers: Everything Dies
2. Guardians of the Galaxy
3. Generation Hope: The End of a Generation
4. Wolverine: Origin
5. Deadpool: Classics
6. Dresden Files: Stormfront, vol 1
7. X-Treme X-Men: Xavier Must Die, vol 1
8. Batgirl: The Greatest Stories Ever Told
9. Cable and XForce: This Won't End Well
10. Fables, vol 13: The Great Fables Crossover
11. Fables, vol 16: SuperTeam
12. Generation Hope: The Futures a 4 Letter Word
13. Doctor Who Classics, vol 8
14. Fables, vol 20: Camelot
15. Doctor Who, series 3, vol 3: Skyjacks
16. Star Trek: The Next Generation/ Doctor Who: Assimilation^2
17. Astonishing X-Men: Monstrous
18. The Hedge Knight: A Game of Thrones Prequel
19. Deadpool: Dead Presidents
20. Wonder Woman: Odyssey
21. Uncanny X-Men, vol 2
22. Uncanny X-Men, vol 4
23. Astonishing X-Men: Children of the Brood

2013, and it's only october

the purpose of this blog is purely selfish. i'm not writing it for other people, rather for myself. or else i might explode for all of the things i want to remember but not longer can store in my overwhelmed brain. this year has be cra-azzzy and amazing and such a testament to "letting the universe work its magic" (word.). it all started last fall (insert flashback harp music (merci beaucoup, Big Bang Theory)). it is my theory that isadora chose us before we even knew one another. she bided her time in the stars until she could wait no more. (how is that any less possible that everyone else's theory... PLUS, it goes along with my unwavering love for the story, stardust, quite nicely).  last october, something sneaky was clearly going on in my body. after days and days of mike suggesting a pregnancy test only to receive my confident reply of "its not necessary! i KNOW my body and am most certainly NOT pregnant". ha. what a humbling experience. previously a self-described control FREAK, i quickly gave into the universe and little issie's control over not only my body, but also my heart and soul. since last october, i have made peace with so much of the baggage i had toted around for too many years. as my belly expanded to maximum capacity, i felt my heart heal and the invisible weights lift from my shoulders. i could feel the greater cosmos telling me "hey there, lady! you have no idea, but you are about to meet the most incredible little soul you have ever seen, and she is going to be yours forever. make way, because she is going to rock your world!". now having spent 10 short weeks with her, i can surely attest to the universe's words.

preparing for parenthood hasn't been the only change this year has brought (although it has definitely been the most amazing)- mike and i have graduated (yay, us!), we have started new (big kid, adult-like) jobs, and i have contributed to an upcoming social neuroscience publication (what?!). life has certainly changed. in the last year, i have provided therapy and thus had my life forever changed by the courageous and heart-breaking experiences of many military veterans; i have shared moments with some of the most interesting people affected by severe mental illness in inpatient psychiatric care; i have taught yoga in every which way (meditation, yoga for addiction recovery, yoga for veterans (i.e. ptsd, depression, chronic pain, anxiety, sleep), advanced yoga, etc), all while my body persistently whispered "kimmy-poo, you probably shouldn't do that pose anymore.... or that pose... and DEFINITELY not that pose".  for the first time in YEARS, i have decided to take some time away from school. before i knew that i was pregnant, i had hard-set plans to go straight into my phd. i even maintained those plans through the majority of my pregnancy, constantly spouting silliness like "it won't be a big deal, i'll probably have her the first of july (because obviously i would have control over when isadora would arrive) and 2 months is more than enough time to get the hang of motherhood before school starts in the fall". (hahahahahahahahahaha) let me be the first to tell you a) i clearly had NO control over issie's arrival, as she made her appearance a lucky 7 days after my due date and b) 2 months to get the "hang" of motherhood?!?! luckily, many a-caring professor suggested that i wait and see how i felt after issie's arrival. of course, after i saw her in those moments after her arrival, i knew that i wanted (and needed) to spend as much time as possible showering her with unconditional love. and so, here we are, she and i, so happy in each others company.

back to those many a-caring professors... although they successfully talked me into postponing my phd for a couple of years, they also (so amazingly) helped me gain employment doing research for the university (dream job!!!) what makes it even better is that i get to do all of my work while still spending all of my time with my amazing (have i mentioned that she's amazing) daughter. :-) for example, i wrote a 6-page report today... while issie adorably slept on my lap. really, what could be better than completely geeking out over data and research only to look down and see the most miraculous and beautiful creature you have ever seen.

aside from having all of these wonderful and borderline overwhelming changes, mike and i have decided to pile on even MORE change! as we embark on the journey toward home ownership, i find myself daydreaming about all its incredible implications- yoga/meditation room?! YES! our very own garden?!? YES!  a reading/game room?! YES! how cupcakes, batman- s*#t is getting real! and yet, i when i find myself falling down the rabbit hole of day dreams and plan making (which i often do), i remind myself to take a deep breath and give it all over the the universe.

so yes, this year has be cra-azzzy and amazing and emotional and full of so much change... and i wouldn't change a minute of it. as i glance over to my left and see my beautiful daughter (sigh) and then over to my right and see my amazing and supportive husband (hubba hubba), i am reminded that the universe has been incredibly kind to me. i am one lucky gal.

peace. peace. peace.

oh yes... let me tell you again how badass my daughter is...

she was born 7/23/13 at 1:45 AM... in the early morning of the very first day if Leo (http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/leo/leo-traits.action)


AND because she was born 7 days past her due date, her native american spirit animal was the salmon rather than the woodpecker (http://spirit-animals.com/salmon/)

She's so cool.