2012 June | Olliebop Blog | Inspiration, Ideas and Information for Busy Families

Archive for June, 2012

Favorite Summer Dress: The Quinn by Prana

Meet this year’s winner in the Olliebop Sundress Hall of Fame; the Quinn by Prana. I absolutely love this dress! Between the Quinn, and last year’s favorite pick; the Patagonia Kamala convertible skirt, we’ve got you covered with some oh-so-sporty but also stylish threads. The Quinn comes in two lengths, in a variety of whimsical patterns as well as solids:

One other thing about the Quinn — it has a shelf bra, and some reviewers mentioned wearing it with or without a strapless bra. I don’t know whether this sounds like an insider tip or just a case of too much information, but I just take the little pads that come with bathing suits or other padded clothing and tuck them into the shelf bra. They stay in place and I’ve got the best of both worlds {those two worlds being the land of comfort, and the land of looking better}.

The Quinn is a special dress. Chameleon-like in her versatility, wrinkle free, stylish, and so very comfy. Hope you grow to love her, as I do!

Hello Summer!

We made it! Wahoo! I don’t know what it was about this year; but finishing up middle school for Hudson and elementary for Ella was both a logistical and psychological accomplishment. Did you feel the same way? This has resulted in the longest lag in Olliebop posting ever — but I decided to give myself a break and not let this blog, which is supposed to be fun — feel like another “should.”

Our last day of school was Wednesday {we run late here in New York state}. I thought I’d share a little reverse retrospective of the big day — starting with this fabulous sign that Ella and friend Kate made after they got home from their half day of school. By 1:15 pm, “Hello Summer” spanned our driveway, and my car just barely fit underneath. I felt like I was entering a very happy parking garage, with a furry parking attendant.

Rewind to 11:15 am: Hudson got off the bus — now a high schooler — and sprinted down the driveway. One incredibly psyched teen!

Back to 8:45 am: Ella stepped out onto the front porch ready to catch the last elementary bus ever, which she missed! So we paused to snap this shot with her shoe half on — before hopping in the car to track down that bus.

And, around 7:30 am: I made note of the kids’ lockers in the mud room — with annoyance because they were so trashed {and worse than usual because the contents of their locker and desk had come home}. And then my sentimental side took over. And I realized that this collection of memorabilia was actually a very cool time capsule of our school year.

Photo documentation ensued; first Hudson’s side, then Ella’s…

So, that was what I was noticing around here on the last day of school. And that’s why I write this blog. To remind myself to stop — and notice. The days lately have been very long. But the years are still very short.

On to the next chapter… “Hello” Summer!

It’s Here! The Ultimate Summer Reading List

Did you catch our earlier post about the hot new read for Hunger Games and Harry Potter fans? That pick came from friend and Olliebop Guest Writer Bridget Mason — and as promised, she has more fantastic Young Adult Summer reads to recommend for tweens and teens. Bridget is a mother, former book buyer and a Young Adult lit enthusiast. With many thanks to Bridget for sharing her best bets with us. Can’t wait for summer! - BOP

Ultimate Summer Reading List for Tweens & Teens … By Bridget Mason

This summer reading list is not about “have to read” books, it’s about “want to read” books. It’s summer! There’s no better time to curl up in the hammock and fall into the reverie of a great story. The selection and writing for Young Adult novels have never been better, so there’s bound to be a book that hooks the curiosity of your tween or teen. In whittling down my recommendations, I had two unbreakable vows: to only recommend books that have 1) excellent writing and 2) fast moving, well-developed plots {no slow starters, here!}. Nearly all also feature strong character-driven narratives; I love a charming, but flawed protagonist, don’t you?

The list is eclectic, but reflects the current trends in teen lit. Dystopian novels {e.g. The Hunger Games} are the biggest sub-genre in YA fiction right now and, accordingly, make up the biggest portion of my recommendations. Fantasy is still very popular, but paranormal romance {e.g. Twilight} has faded, so you won’t find any vampires on the list. There’s always room for just flat-out amazing stories of adolescence and humanity {see Wonder below}, and my twelve-year-old son insisted I include a few sports-themed novels, as well.

For Hunger Games Fans:

Divergent by Veronica Roth {14 and up}

One of the best dystopians I’ve read since The Hunger Games. Protagonist Beatrice Prior lives in a dystopian society neatly divided into five factions representing a particular virtue: Abnegation {selflessness}, Candor {honesty}, Amity {peace}, Erudite {intelligence} and Dauntless {bravery}. On Choosing Day, all sixteen year olds must decide to which faction they will enter and commit their lives. Beatrice struggles with defining herself and, as you can expect from a dystopian novel, tyrannical leaders threaten the whole of society. Divergent has it all: fast-paced plot, lots of surprises, romance, original premise and a feisty heroine. If you love Divergent, the follow-up novel, Insurgent, just came out, too.

Legend by Marie Lu {12 and up}

After I read this book I thought, “This is it. The next Hunger Games. I predict huge,” and, come to find out, Legend’s movie rights have been sold to CBS Films. This is a clever novel – furiously paced and intricately plotted – and it’s easy to imagine on the big screen. I love books that switch between narrators and was fascinated by the disparate views of the orphan/reputed criminal, Day, who is surviving in the slums with the Republic-educated prodigy, June, who is hoping to follow in her military family’s esteemed footsteps. The intersection between these characters, the twists and turns of the plot, and the political intrigue of this post-apocalyptic Los Angeles will astonish even the most prescient readers.

Also highly recommended:

Matched by Allie Condie {14 and up}
Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey {13 and up}
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher {12 and up}

For Harry Potter Fans:

Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson {12 and up}: Winner of the William C. Morris YA Debut Award

Girl of Fire and Thorns is the first in a trilogy that has garnered stellar reviews from some of the most esteemed YA fiction writers {e.g. Tamora Pierce, Megan Whalen Turner, Veronica Roth} and I am in full agreement. The novel is built around Elisa, the second daughter of the King who doesn’t see herself as a likely candidate for greatness, but as the bearer of a godstone, she is the Chosen One. Carson creates a fascinating character in Elisa. She is intelligent and insightful, but also overweight and full of uncertainties. After being coddled throughout her childhood, she is thrust into adulthood when her father makes a political marriage for her to a neighboring king. Elisa must now fulfill her duty to her country and her destiny as the once-in-a-century godstone bearer. Take this book on your summer camping trip! This is high fantasy in top form, the world-building, maturation of the main character, magical elements, and collision course with destiny all come together in a adventure that will keep your flashlight on and the pages turning under the cover of your sleeping bag.

The False Prince by Jennifer Nielson {10 and up}

The False Prince is the first book in the Ascendance Trilogy. See the previous Olliebop post on The False Prince, here. Also, if you love this book, try The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner {Newbery Honor Book}; both have charming, but irascible, main characters that pull you into the intrigue and political landscape of their worlds.

Also highly recommended:

The Naming and The Books of Pellinor by Alison Croggon {YA fantasy quartet also includes The Riddle, The Crow, and The Singing}
Graceling by Kristen Cashore

For Contemporary Teen Lit fans {Adolescence/Empathy/Humanity}:

Wonder by R.J. Palacio {11 and up}

This is, unequivocally, the “must read” book on this entire list. I carried my Kindle everywhere for two days, snatching minutes whenever and wherever I could to read this book. I recommended Wonder to my son, Ben, {age 12} and despite baseball games and homework, he finished it in two days, too. The novel follows the story of Auggie, born with cranio-facial abnormalities. As Auggie says of his face, “Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.” He is home schooled until fifth grade when his parents decide he needs to learn to navigate the outside world and they send him off to private school, Beecher Prep. Auggie’s journey through fifth grade is an emotional tilt-a-whirl, populated by authentic, funny, flawed characters, and an exploration of what it means to be “normal.” Wonder is the rare book that I want to press into everyone’s hands and then stand over them until they finish the last page.

The Absolutely True Diary of Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie {13 and up}
Note: Book has been banned in some communities due to strong language and sexual references

National Book Award winner in 2007, this book is a marvel. It follows Junior, a teen on the Spokane Indian Reservation, who transfers from the reservation school to the all-white high school. Junior is in that most untenable position of not fitting in at his new school and being a “traitor” back on the rez. Alexie, a poet, novelist, screenplay writer and stand-up comedian, pulls all his talents together, here, to create a deceptively stripped-down narrative that perfectly evokes the life Junior is attempting to put together while trying not to completely abandon the one he is leaving behind. Masterful writing and riveting storytelling.

Also highly recommended:

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead: Winner of the 2010 Newbery Medal

For Sports Fans; Especially Baseball … by Ben Mason, Age 12

Two Hot Dogs with Everything by Paul Haven {10 and up} A Kirkus review calls it “Charles Dickens meets Harry Potter at the old ballgame. Huge, magical and delightful.”
The Big Field by Mike Lupica {10 and up}
Heat by Mike Lupica {10 and up}
Change Up by John Feinstein {10 and up}

About the author: Bridget Mason and her family live in Wilton, NY. In her former life, she was a fiction buyer for Borders Corporation, where she had her finger on the pulse of the nation’s literary tastes and helped create some best sellers along the way. She is now a freelance writer and continues to enjoy a literary life.

Fathers Day Gift Guide 2012

First of all — and this has nothing to do with Father’s Day — I have to ask; are you as overwhelmed by this time of year as we are?!? Between the end-of-year events, school pressures and mixed emotions, there’s a lot to take in. We’ll get there, but June is nuts {and by that, I mean difficult}. Are you with me? And if you’re not overwhelmed, please share your secret!

Anywhoo….. to make sure that Mr. BOP — and other important dads — aren’t shortchanged by all of this chaos, I spent some time this afternoon putting together the second Olliebop Father’s Day Gift Guide. No, Mr. BOP is not getting all of these wonderful things; but a few, for sure. I placed orders today, as there’s only two weeks to go!

I hope this collection gives you some ideas; and, there were also some fantastic finds in Last Year’s Father’s Day Gift Guide. Between the two, I’m optimistic that we’ve got you covered:

1. Superman Apron from Paper Source $24.95

2. Set of Three Father’s Day Custom Wine Labels by Small Creatures on Etsy { $37}

3. Upcycled Tent Dopp Kit from Uncommon Goods {$38)

4. Travel DIY Globe Art Kit by Imagine Nations on Etsy {$24.99 – Globe not included but search “globe” in the vintage section of Etsy for many options}