March is the month for decluttering your home and your life. Tackle one area at a time and sorting your things into categories.
Make lists of keep-donate-discard to create a more organized peaceful living space. Allowing yourself more time to do what you love…
like reading!

Continue Reading

Creative nonfiction is a literary genre that combines styles of fiction writing with nonfiction.  While some nonfiction can be more informative or academic, creative nonfiction creates a narrative similar to fiction.  In other words, the information remains truthful and accurate while aiming to capture the reader’s attention the way a novel might.

Continue Reading

Graphic novels are becoming popular for all ages – unfortunately, they aren’t taken as seriously as other novels. A common misconception is that graphic novels are not “real” books because they mostly contain illustrations, but that is far from the truth. Continue Reading

When we think of December, we think of holidays and family gatherings. To most it means busy days ahead.  It’s a time of shopping, colder weather and stress.  We are going to parties, wrapping presents, decorating our homes, while making time to visit our loved ones. It is loaded with traditions of gingerbread houses, cookie baking and dreidels. So take time to enjoy the baking, marvel at the excitement of young children, and cherish your loved ones while making some time for you. Sit with some hot cocoa, watch a holiday movie, or take a moment to reflect and think about the new year ahead. Continue Reading

Over the past few decades, there has been a noticeable increase in the incidence of diabetes among adults in our country—a chronic health condition that can potentially lead to heart disease, kidney disease, vision loss, and other significant health complications. Currently, more than 34 million Americans are dealing with this disease, with an anticipated 88 million more individuals potentially at risk of developing it. November is National Diabetes Month, and our objective is to raise awareness about the various types of this dangerous health condition.

Continue Reading

This year, the month of October has taken on a whole new meaning for me. Typically, I look forward to the cooler weather, apple picking with my family, and trick-or-treating with my two young children. But October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which now has personal significance. A few months ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35 and am currently undergoing treatment. Throughout my cancer journey, I’ve put my librarian muscles to the test by searching for and finding various cancer-related resources. And the Oceanside Library has plenty of amazing resources! 

 

Continue Reading

Some books are a magical portal to another dimension.

Ever since we were kids, books have taken us on incredible adventures where ordinary people find themselves in extraordinary situations, where the real world blends with realms full of magical, mythical and often dangerous creatures. Whether falling through a rabbit hole into Wonderland or stepping through an old wardrobe into Narnia.

 

Continue Reading

Knowing I’d be writing the August blog about Happiness heightened my awareness of the topic. I started noticing happiness comments and quotes all over. Here are some that caught my attention:

“Some cause happiness wherever they go, others whenever they go” attributed to Oscar Wilde

“There is no way to happiness – happiness is the way” Thich Nhat Hanh

Continue Reading

I have plenty of friends that tell me they don’t have time to read, and to these non-readers, I always ask, “have you tried audiobooks?” Usually people will tell me that they can’t focus on audiobooks and they get too easily distracted while listening, but I promise that by some work of magic (or maybe science), your brain somehow gets used to it.

Continue Reading