tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25201413799347502002023-11-16T05:54:59.283-05:00Sweet Tea and a SoundtrackMy life, one song at a timehizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-2794731017536070882012-01-01T01:30:00.001-05:002012-01-31T09:38:40.449-05:00I love you all! I am ringing in the new year by moving my blog. Will you come follow me?<br />
<a href="http://www.dreamsandswords.com/">www.dreamsandswords.com</a><br />
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HAPPY 2012 to you all, I hope the new year brings you more love and happiness than you can imagine!hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-57134167431408957922011-10-31T13:12:00.001-04:002011-10-31T13:12:36.467-04:00Happy Halloween everyone!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sOnqjkJTMaA" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
I hope you all have a wonderful Halloween!<br />
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We hardly ever get Trick-or-Treaters at my house, even though we live in a pretty big neighborhood. Most of the kids go to Trunk or Treat events at the local churches.<br />
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It's Steven's favorite holiday, but this year we weren't able to go all out the way we usually do because of how busy he has been with classes and school.<br />
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Stay safe everyone!<br />
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And if you are participating in NaNoWriMo this year, add me as a buddy! (hizzle85)hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-76031010480614269932011-10-12T14:23:00.002-04:002011-10-12T14:23:54.123-04:00It's time to pinch pennies<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well the school year is upon us, and we've gone back into money saving mode, with Steven being in school and not working, my measly paycheck is trying to keep us afloat. So I'm trying to come up with a few ways to save money that work with our lifestyle, whether it be cutting back, eliminating, or taking advantage of something. If you have any suggestions or comments, they are greatly appreciated!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~We are getting a good deal on rent, ok, maybe it's like the best deal ever, because we dont pay much at all, and we could not get a nice apartment for even twice what we pay. So. We are good there.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~Take advantage of the library! Any books I want to own, I can just make a list. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~Any favorite recipes we have at restaurants we should try to replicate at home where it is cheaper, and healthier!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~Start really using coupons and watching the ads. Buy what is on sale.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Dont use AC or heat unless necessary! Avoid $300 electric bills before they happen!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~We've already cut back to basic cable and internet. I dont think we can scrape off any more there. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~Unfortunately we are big phone whores, so I'm not sure that we can shave any off there. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~Stop eating out! Duh! But it's pretty hard for us to stick with that. We like to go out to eat. We like to enjoy the atmosphere, and the food. But it's hard on our budget.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~Find free or cheap ways to hang out outside the house, like at the park, or something like that. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~Scout out the cheapest gas in our area each time we need gas. Only buy the cheapest gas. Our car only takes premium so this is a challenge!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok thats all i've got for now. Hopefully I'll follow up soon with more ideas :)</span>hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-55503526192450260612011-10-12T09:17:00.001-04:002011-10-16T08:55:06.425-04:00Shipped up to Boston<div><div>
I know I've been missing from the blog world for a while, and I apologize for that. As an attempt to reclaim my bloghood, I have a picture filled post from my recent trip to Boston. I met my wonderful friend Jill, a fellow Nestie from the September 09 "Niners" board. Her wedding was 3 days before mine, and we went through the wedding planning process together for the year leading up to the big day. We had talked for 3 years on and off the boards, and became close. <br />
So, here are some photos of my trip, from 9/28-10/2. Cuz, you know, 'pics or it didn't happen'! Haha.<br />
</div>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSI6wl90m6khpL9tbqpN-003Wd9PeLHcdIUXSZejvfeqg3xPD5JAcGype2YaqDRk0bLlhqaK2EL3VEwDTzpFAIgNOJuhWOXEcyhfQfPDlIzUO2kHyhurxx48OeRBoJ8Wbra-4X4ZHpmI9//' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdLlw_Yp6cpFcMNOdCH8V25geYEc7ifwaPyZk1tSZPNbEq7oilV9MbdZizEdxZyK8xlopPV4GnUe1-a3KD68stc0_bqUTTxofZRRjnzHmKu0U7eTYD9kn5IiXIGDb_WB0XXqCWk8jROhU//' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmm4_B7CecoMPfwgWRI94eV5YyHrAbc8RGi5qNulxrwO4z3PDFoCDdNonE4DSqrY8nDv3GjroDTC5dqHlEUvEfzKPmRx5BaVYNQ6W2EgTahcCa14x1Q-2Q5Xf0bidA3A6p6gshLsNIga5//' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyMrhbbP-u5jth1MdTTVuqW7vpuFmElT9ewEPSbRlPmVVLZQjKuXikVwenw4apKu4wUddcl_wVmPxgZN83N3dunWXWuJ6LYMeqI3wm-aY1htITTaJWR9VZ_KMxLtCvb_n-PoN46e0o5Me//' /></div>hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-66809019142894113962011-08-30T10:53:00.003-04:002011-08-30T11:17:13.467-04:00Staying on Track I'm trying not to get discouraged by the fact that a friend of mine is losing weight so much faster than me. Her progress is awesome! I feel like I'm working really hard so I'm not really sure. I know its not a race, but I am just hoping to see results more than what I've been seeing.
<br />I meant to measure myself last night, but forgot, of course.
<br />I'm wondering how much of it is because I haven't been drinking as much water lately. Guess I'll start doing that again to try to make a difference. My Weight Watchers weigh in is tomorrow morning, and I am hoping to see some results. I'd like to lost 2lbs over the next week so I've got to keep an eye on what I'm eating. I learned this week that just one day can through me off track, unfortunately.
<br />Enough with the Negativity right?? Lets be positive.
<br />Last night I worked out for just under an hour and a half. It's amazing how quickly time goes by at the gym! Its weird. I've been wanting to run outside but it's just been so hot here lately, I'd have to be running after dark and i dont really want to do that. So we go to 'The Rush' (our gym) at like 8 and work out for a while. I've been doing about half an hour cardio, half an hour strength. Tonight is Zumba! I'm looking forward to the class I think. Last week my friend came with me, but tonight she wont be able to make it.
<br />Working out really puts me in a great mood all day long. I really like it. I've been wanting to get up early and do pilates in the morning but I've not been sleeping well so I just haven't had the energy to get up any earlier. Hopefully soon.
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<br /><b><i>What does your exercise/workout schedule look like? Do you even have one?</i></b>
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<br />Tunes I was jammin to last night during my workout:
<br />Starrstruck - 3Oh!3
<br />Boom Boom Pow - BEP
<br />When I Grow Up - PCD
<br />Goodies - Ciera
<br />Sexyback - JT
<br />hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-52590814169651696482011-08-29T13:39:00.005-04:002011-08-29T14:05:19.197-04:00Week 2 check in<div><p>Its been two weeks! I havent met all of the goals I had made for myself,but I'm still doing good. I've lost about 3 pounds which is nice, but it's not the 4 pound goal i had set for myself. Thats ok though. I feel like I'm making the right choices as far as food goes, for the most part. And I've been exceedingly more active, as we signed Steven up for a local gym around here that is close to our house. My BFF also has a membership and she and I go to classes, like Zumba and Aqua Zumba,when we are able to mesh schedules.
<br />I saw a post on tumblr about taking it 5 pounds at a time. I've got a big chunk of weight to lose, so sometimes the number looks daunting. <i>{60, ooh yikes}</i> So I'm thinking that I'll break it down into 5lb goals so as not to overwhelm myself, and still keep feeling like I'm making progress. I'll keep my big goals in check, but this is to help me stay positive.
<br />I'm also going to start measuring. The way I've been working out and actually incorporating strength, I'm pretty sure that although the number on the scale may not be moving, my body is still changing. So I should have taken measurements two weeks ago, but today is as good a day as any. I'm going to keep pushing forward in this journey!</p><p><b>Some of Last Night's Workout Tunes: Britney - My Prerogative</b>
<br /><b>JT - My Love</b>
<br /><b>Katy Perry - Firework</b>
<br /><b>Pink - Raise your Glass</b></p>
<br /><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1k0wUtOFxRPukVA8zbaVYjCLn9xM-VLpOZU6PbwbNMx3yaynFBy1TDxsLo4bFazEyOpedTi7B5F2FR2zLxxbGE7e7KnUn7VWveOfUNPHTYZrbE1U31JhTRRAzHjDf1iOcUGY0VGOZHjEb//' /></div>hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-23573615638559845632011-08-16T08:03:00.005-04:002011-08-16T09:04:34.404-04:00Got some motivation!
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<br />It's been a while since I posted anything of any substance, I guess I've just been in a slump these days. Living in a mediocre way, which happens to all of us occasionally, I suppose. But I'm back again, raring to go, facing the world head on.
<br />Two of my friends and I have joined together on a journey for healthy living and weight loss. We are all hoping to make some long term lifestyle changes. I personally made the following goals for this week:
<br />*Exercise at least 30 minutes a day [I'm secretly pulling for a minimum of an hour, but I don't want to aim too high starting off]
<br />*Drink 64oz of water a day
<br />*Meet but not exceed my WW points daily [as long as I use them wisely, I can succeed at this!]
<br />*Eat a salad every day [well I didn't succeed at this yesterday, but I did have some fruit, which is a good thing as well.]
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<br />Yesterday and today I've gotten up early to go walk my dog at the park. This morning it was actually very cool- upper 50s. It was a great relief from the 90 degree weather we've been having.
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<br />Next week I'll post my weight flux on Monday- here's hoping all this hard work pays off even just a little so I can stay motivated. I've found some really motivational tumblr accounts and love the little nuggets of inspiration I see every day, encouraging me to keep going! Here's a few i love!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0Jt-oKKPF3t5C5pQj8Pe7qoTB-Vj8clWwBif5sEoRqqiMffz7Ci4F5pW8bMkTRssuFg3KRqHfOXlt6r-Qpx1TqdGprwspUKxLGXovBkpQjl0Zi7oxKaiT238xRi2U2E_0LzY2NJrKBOV/s1600/how+far+come.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0Jt-oKKPF3t5C5pQj8Pe7qoTB-Vj8clWwBif5sEoRqqiMffz7Ci4F5pW8bMkTRssuFg3KRqHfOXlt6r-Qpx1TqdGprwspUKxLGXovBkpQjl0Zi7oxKaiT238xRi2U2E_0LzY2NJrKBOV/s320/how+far+come.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641438488390166194" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWKv-uRKT32FjAY03QkXANTE1xYLu0K4CGGOUrC8vGaglRr25J8biSNCFkdUUT5Buk_e5LRg4vhXAKpcT-IMMh2KpRQz0X4YVxGGtXsCjq_yn3vn6D6SQrChyLyWxoECv0Ulj-hQvOx4d/s1600/start+great.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWKv-uRKT32FjAY03QkXANTE1xYLu0K4CGGOUrC8vGaglRr25J8biSNCFkdUUT5Buk_e5LRg4vhXAKpcT-IMMh2KpRQz0X4YVxGGtXsCjq_yn3vn6D6SQrChyLyWxoECv0Ulj-hQvOx4d/s320/start+great.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641438654989027842" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9hNaMIkzSJmKLOv2kxIz3i1kfaVWGWHZKfgkv2A_Pr_tIVCpEMDLLYnvfvu9nZoNWJeIj-h7Uar50vA6rJPqt-cDxjM-xlPM4JRAk2FM0C7xyv2j-uWySc1cID3rYgeKz055_NLuCkta/s1600/lifestyle+change.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9hNaMIkzSJmKLOv2kxIz3i1kfaVWGWHZKfgkv2A_Pr_tIVCpEMDLLYnvfvu9nZoNWJeIj-h7Uar50vA6rJPqt-cDxjM-xlPM4JRAk2FM0C7xyv2j-uWySc1cID3rYgeKz055_NLuCkta/s320/lifestyle+change.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641438872394259490" /></a>
<br />hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-3389256277070861972011-08-09T11:47:00.002-04:002011-08-09T11:51:02.394-04:00Promoting a rad giveaway<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbAbg_uW5KEtQIuNtuE6rquTp8vyJRj2ww5f2sfJTRgg3CQnmIW7SIFfwOcjM0N8e2VL6y6f1-7CVKJcqlz1rkSg9jJFWcZiObdHMD10cLbh4F0Je9YtOChaCJVFbg4LD5aAGcY5BL8PT/s1600/giveaway.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbAbg_uW5KEtQIuNtuE6rquTp8vyJRj2ww5f2sfJTRgg3CQnmIW7SIFfwOcjM0N8e2VL6y6f1-7CVKJcqlz1rkSg9jJFWcZiObdHMD10cLbh4F0Je9YtOChaCJVFbg4LD5aAGcY5BL8PT/s320/giveaway.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638884156752255778" /></a>
<br />Go check out <a href="http://stiryourtea.blogspot.com/2011/08/win-lola-boy-next-door-crossed-shatter.html">Tahereh's blog</a> and enter her BAMF giveaway. It's a chance to win her new novel ARC Shatter Me, Crossed, and Lola and the Boy Next Door.
<br />Seriously- giveaways don't get better than this!
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<br />(image borrowed from tahereh's blog)hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-86509811673092922462011-07-31T12:39:00.001-04:002011-07-31T12:39:21.109-04:00In my mailbox - July 31, 2011<div><p>My haul from the library this weekend!</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwxaaZyIFaKISPz7cAfvOLXAfYckCtku29o8axwhBfaaG7Xki65TMZxUdRHI0KnVP00Lb37bwRKDyflVegCBWkHETxdiSM5lWt5_rIBvjdqDFRtCnPH6ob1YXyu1b9ErHpM0a8ho13YoS//' /></div>hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-16658769328399925782011-07-22T09:31:00.003-04:002011-07-22T09:36:42.326-04:00Review: Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky<span style="font-weight:bold;"><u>Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky</u></span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Read from July 12 to 14, 2011</span><br /><br /><br />If I had known the massive amount of awesome I was missing out on by not having read this book, I would have picked it up a long time ago. I'm sad to say that the main reason I read this is because I heard Emma Watson was going to be in the movie. Then, my friend Alli said she had read it, that I should as well. So I picked up a copy from the local library, and started in.<br /><br />Now, having read this book, I again am astonished at the types of books that are "challenged". I'm not going to go off on a tangent about that, but this book is fantastic, and I hate that anyone would try to keep others from reading this work.<br /><br />This wasn't a book that had me hooked from page one, but it was one that was good enough to keep me wanting to read it. Charlie's letters were interesting, written to an anonymous friend that we never find out their identity. The letters were written the way a teenager, just a normal teenager, would write in order to express all the jumble of feelings and emotions, just to get it all out, down on paper. Charlie is troubled, but he is a good guy, and that is refreshing. We don't really see Charlie do anything out of spite or malice, regardless of his own inner demons. Everything he does for someone else he believes is for the good of the other person. He is thoughtful and deep, and I really, really liked that.<br /><br />So many of the books based on teenagers merely scratch the surface of the characters' personalities and emotions, but we get to know Charlie pretty well. The book represents Charlie in a very raw and honest way. He doesn't paint himself to be some awesome guy; even as he describes his actions, he doesn't puff himself up to make himself sound unique. He does what he does, because he thinks it is right, and assumes everyone else would be the same way, always trying to do the right thing. He learns, as he goes through his school year, this is not the case. Many other people are selfish and don't care to think about others.<br /><br />There isn't some big revelation at the end of this book, and I don't really think there is a lesson to be learned. But emerging from this series of letters is a very subtle idea that even when you're screwed up, everything can still be ok. <br /><br />★★★★★<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">quotes from the book:</span><span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br />"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite." <br /><br />"I would die for you. But I won't live for you." <br /><br />"I think that if I ever have kids, and they are upset, I won't tell them that people are starving in China or anything like that because it wouldn't change the fact that they were upset. And even if somebody else has it much worse, that doesn't really change the fact that you have what you have."hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-45629888245299691342011-07-22T07:55:00.002-04:002011-07-22T08:00:54.535-04:00Review: So Much Pretty - Cara Hoffman<span style="font-weight:bold;"><u>So Much Pretty</u> by Cara Hoffman</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Read from July 18 to 21, 2011</span><br />304 pages<br /><br /><br />I feel like this book was trying to have substance, trying to have a deep dark message, but it missed. I felt like it was so wrapped up in trying to describe how horrible the world was, but mixed that in with characters we were supposed to feel compassion for but didn't. Maybe, had I actually been able to bond with at least one of the characters I would have felt a little more pull to the story, it might have grabbed me a little more, and it might have left me with the resounding fury toward mankind a story like this deserves to force upon it's readers.<br /><br />Our world is ugly and unkind. There is not only black and white, but there is a gray area that exists and this story draws pretty much exclusively from that idea. I dont deny any of this, and much of this book left me frustrated at the actions of just about every narrator (and there were about 10 or so of those). And 99 percent of those narrators were guilty of something in a way that impacted the events in this story. They were all the bad guy in one way or another, some more disturbing than others.<br /><br />Though I'm tempted to go so far as to give this book 2 stars, I'm going to have to say 3, mostly because of the attempt. Sort of the whole adage "it's the thought that counts." Hoffman is going for something really deep. She's tackling a subject that many of us readers feel strongly about, and she supports our side of the controversial issue. At some points she plays devils advocate, others she merely presents us with evidence and leaves it to us to make our own decisions and conclusions.<br /><br />That being said, I feel like she is addressing a problem so big that the reader gets lost in the shuffle of facts and "witnesses", what the characters did or didnt or maybe did do through out the whole thing.<br /><br />I dont think that 304 pages was enough to develop this story and conclude it in the best way possible, but the writing style was such that I really couldnt take much more of the bouncing from one character to another.<br /><br />It's worth a read, and it's pretty intense as far as subject matter goes, so I'm going to recommend it to anyone who thinks they might be interested. If you stick with it, you will get at least something out of it. You might just love it. I didn't. <br />★★★☆☆hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-8859553742021810312011-07-21T11:10:00.001-04:002011-07-21T11:10:31.106-04:00What I'm reading today..<div><p>I'm sure there will be a follow up post on this book, because I'm already freaking out about this book's subject.</p>
<p>Have you read so much pretty?</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MOoPb997yKchTWpBIRKn8USoIgN25xPvDE81T3_kLHVA0QF5iWVAvOIpRftirIOY0y0ODq4L2PT_InZEsSslfsqftj5RvW4YQASphsWkKPuLQyWDX1eq44BZx7EvYQdVVImwR9pAOS5B//' /></div>hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-10012464760519712732011-06-26T00:02:00.003-04:002011-06-26T00:18:14.815-04:00In My Mailbox June 26<div><br /><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPl9jK3Oz5iUCnw2tOajxg8_14b2iM41qHyQzyrj0SP6EJ-vsYQAC9twvYlTHIyugoxeuSbU3MSdwk8IWKLWeWLo65VMPBjyQWX3VdQNDEVtfHAtY5nqIHB-etVKJr86QVM4D7tDuSe4Wg//' /></div><br /><br />So, I apparently keep acquiring books like they are going out of style (which, by the way, they totally ARE NOT!) So this week's <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/2011/06/in-my-mailbox-130.html">In My Mailbox</a> is brought to you by The Story Siren, you should link up with her and let everyone know what you got in your mailbox (or library bag, or shopping cart) this week!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><u>Library books:</u></span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Historian</span> - Elizabeth Kostova<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Pathfinder</span> - Orson Scott Card<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Shiver</span> - Maggie Stiefvater<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Darkness Becomes Her</span> - Kelly Keaton<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><u>Borrowed from Alli:</u></span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Dead Until Dark</span> - Charlaine Harris<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Smashed</span> - Koren Zailckas<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Skinny</span> - Ibi Kaslik <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Eat Pray Love</span> - Elizabeth Gilbert<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><u>Borrowed from Mom:</u></span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Bone Yard</span> - Jefferson Bass<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><u>Purchased:</u></span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Girl Who Was On Fire</span> - multi<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Elixir</span> - Hilary Duff<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Sisterhood Everlasting</span> - Ann Brashareshizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-35275306049816728262011-06-13T15:43:00.002-04:002011-06-13T15:44:23.888-04:00In my mailbox!<div><p>I went on a trip with my favorite friend this weekend, and came home with a delightful stack of books!<br /><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b>From </b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b>the </b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b>top.</b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b><b><b><b>.</b></b></b></b><b><b><b>.</b></b></b><b><b>.</b></b><br /><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>The </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Giver</i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i>. Lois Lowry<br /><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>The </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Hitchhiker's </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Guide </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>to </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>the </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Galaxy.</i></i></i></i></i></i></i> Douglas Adams<br /><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Digital </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Fortress.</i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i> </i>Dan Brown<br /><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>The </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Guerns</i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>ey</i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i> </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Literary </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>& </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Potato </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Peel </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Society.</i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i> </i>Mary Ann Shaffer<br /><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>The </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Thirteenth </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Tale.</i></i></i></i></i></i><i> </i>Diane Setterfield <br /><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>The </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Night </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Villa.</i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i> </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i>Carol Goldman<br /><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Torment </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i>and <i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Fallen.</i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i> </i>Lauren Kate </p><p>I also have <i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Sister</i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>h</i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>o</i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>o</i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>d</i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i> </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Everlasting </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i> on its way from b&n. I hear its sad, so at least I'm somewhat prepared! </p><p>Currently I'm reading <i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Mothers </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>& </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Other </i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><i><i><i><i><i><i>Liars </i></i></i></i></i></i>by Amy Bourret.</p><p><a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com">Link up to In My Mailbox</a>!</p><br /><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56YNnzDUiIQp2Gdogm6aOCw-GMe0VD8GRuiDe1Gp8yj3BN80ccGe1qP6zVqxQRac6OirvEDVNvJ8VR51o-JtvZO5MIDtDqR954Px0FDaaZA_w7UY7ltk90Kx4aSVOyVm7iUco9yv-BiWD//' /></div>hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-54127495622543715252011-06-13T07:40:00.003-04:002011-06-13T08:23:27.896-04:00Philosopher for a Day... MaybeI woke up in a very strange mood this morning. <br /><br />It's not uncommon that I wake up in a bad mood, or a lazy mood, or just a 'blah' mood. A good mood is rare- generally if I am going to have a good mood day, I wake up in a pretty level headed mood. <br /><br />This morning was weird. Apparently, reading <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8306857-divergent">Divergent</a> lead me to have some very strange dreams. Even so, when I woke up this morning, the first comprehensible thought I had was "Why am I even here?" So I spent the remainder of my time getting ready, pondering the meaning of {Life, the Universe, and Everything!} and jokingly answering myself with "42", although I knew I needed something more substantial to actually answer my questions.<br /><br />I have never woken up in such a mood before. I've never woken up and thought, truly, what is the point? Why are we here? Is there even a point? Why do we have to do boring things, day in and day out, if there really is no end result? Are we living for God? What does he want us to do? Be nice to each other? Why? (Not that being nice to each other is a bad thing, just more along the lines of, again, what is the point?) Are there, in the words of Jake Chambers, "...other worlds than these"?<br /><br />I dont really know that there are any answers to my questions, and for all I know, tomorrow I wont even be thinking of these questions. But today, ah today, I will be searching for truth. What kind of truth, I have no idea, because obviously these are not the types of questions that actually have answers to them- at least, not readily available. Maybe I have to make up my own truth, maybe this is something I wont find by Googling, but by searching with in my own heart, my own mind, to find the answers I'm looking for.<br /><br />And because I love eminem, check out his video with Royce!<br />Fast Lane- Bad Meets Evil<br /><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rJOsjP33nF4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-6796261798022671422011-06-01T14:09:00.003-04:002011-06-01T14:40:25.107-04:00Happy June!It's officially June! The half-way month of the year. And I'm not where I wanted to be. So, I'm dubbing June the "Get Back on Track Month"!!! <br />You guys are going to have to help me hold myself accountable for my progress toward my goals. Here is what I'd like to accomplish in June.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*Lose 8-10 pounds (I've done it before and dammit I'll do it again.)</span><br />I plan to do this by restricting my calories and sodium intake, exercising every day, and eating good amounts of veggies and fruits. I did this the first 7 weeks I was trying to lose weight and definitely lost 15 pounds during that period of time. I've strayed from the path and now it's time to get back on it! Its not just about losing weight... it's about getting healthy and being more confident in myself. Lifestyle changes. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*Rewrite my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days</span><br />I mentioned this over on <a href="http://lifetintedpurple.blogspot.com/">my other blog</a> where I document my progress on my list, but I'm really thinking my current list is just not reflecting things I really want to do. I have been constantly editing it, but I've decided I might create either a revolving list, or a shorter one. Something like 27 by 27, or 30 by 30, etc. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*Get my office organized again!</span><br />A while back my lovely husband helped me get my office/ library organized. Then it got cluttered and became a catch-all of the house- anything that didnt have a home ended up on the floor. it isnt a room that gets used often, but it would be if i made it more homely. So I've been working on this. I went through the mail that needed to be filed, and that made a huge difference. Now I need to straighten up my lia sophia stuff and maybe put up some curtains that aren't ugly.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*Read 13 books (to help with my reading 111 books in '11)</span><br />I'm currently at 32 books read for the year, and goodreads is saying that I'm 14 books behind. I need to catch back up. Originally my goal was 50, and i knew I'd reach that so I doubled my goal. I could adjust it back down, but who really wants to do that?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*Acquire some cute new clothes to wear at work and not roast in the 90○ weather.</span><br />I've got some cute dresses that work well with this weather, but not very many. I don't have enough to really satisfy my needs, so I believe some sundress shopping at Kohl's or Penney's is in order. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*Maintain the non-clutter living room, dining room, and kitchen we finally achieved.</span> <br />We cleaned up the main living area of house about a week ago, and surprisingly enough we've done well at keeping it up. We have a tendency to get lazy, and we've both been trying to do better at it. I'd like to expand this goal to include straightening the other rooms in the house as well... but that isn't really a getting back on track goal.hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-16824721000008365802011-05-16T14:59:00.006-04:002011-05-16T15:26:52.591-04:00Mingle Monday and Jennifer's Giveaway!Check out Jennifer's Blog y'all.<br /><center><a href="http://booksrecipesandlifeohmy.blogspot.com/" title="Books, Recipes, and Life, Oh My"><img src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/OhMy/OhMyButton.png" /></a></center><br /><br />She's got a giveaway going on, for a gift card to one of four places. <br />The giveaway ends Friday- so make sure you go check her out!<br /> *~~* *~~* *~~* *~~* *~~* *~~* *~~*<br />Also- It's Mingle Monday!! I love Meg and her Mingle Monday.<br /><center><a href="http://megnificentlife.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/LifeofMeg/MingleMonday2.jpg" border="0" alt="Mingle 240" /></a></center><br /><br />For those of you stopping by, hidy! Nice to meet ya!!!<br />Check out my <a href="http://sweetteasoundtrack.blogspot.com/2011/05/date-girl-who-reads-rosemarie-urquico.html">most recent post</a>, if you are a reader. I think you will enjoy it. :) <br /><br />Do you have a tumblr? If so- <a href="http://lifetintedpurple.tumblr.com/">follow me</a>... I follow back!! <br /><br /><br />My name is Holley and I'm addicted to chocolate chip cookies and Veronica Mars at the moment. <br />Logan and Veronica forever no joke<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdvDX2BFAIYCPKaS7OEOH9oufQLR4pn1m6EswAFARvDY75m2ftPUVGP3TbVOotZJ-yd14ct_ArR729V1Qq-1VwE8qEXdjjZ1SoL6dE4Njp8WR71HGpvoY14lfW75NHeSLJ4MuMX4boQFE/s1600/landv.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdvDX2BFAIYCPKaS7OEOH9oufQLR4pn1m6EswAFARvDY75m2ftPUVGP3TbVOotZJ-yd14ct_ArR729V1Qq-1VwE8qEXdjjZ1SoL6dE4Njp8WR71HGpvoY14lfW75NHeSLJ4MuMX4boQFE/s320/landv.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607393049582839218" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPesMtrJhD_ruMIdK9S6EAj0gfFwjm_CZWvuDpy8Jt8u6M-_cV1r8dcM0h_VVDooSCsLw6o3Fz1ICNtNg__hdnwlHEJuPtlH6N4Pbg0_05fKlNyJHCZTBeg0uB1Wu5LjZ2-O5G0hcuFYC_/s1600/LoVe1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPesMtrJhD_ruMIdK9S6EAj0gfFwjm_CZWvuDpy8Jt8u6M-_cV1r8dcM0h_VVDooSCsLw6o3Fz1ICNtNg__hdnwlHEJuPtlH6N4Pbg0_05fKlNyJHCZTBeg0uB1Wu5LjZ2-O5G0hcuFYC_/s320/LoVe1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607396999226753234" /></a>hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-89902381832700374992011-05-16T14:24:00.003-04:002011-05-16T14:28:56.609-04:00Date a Girl Who Reads - Rosemarie UrquicoI didn't write this, but I sure do feel like it's describing me! So if you are a girl who reads, or a guy who loves a girl who reads, check it out. <br /><b><br /><a href="http://littlemissdorkette.tumblr.com/post/3118512524/date-a-girl-who-reads-by-rosemarie-urquico">Date a girl who reads</a><br /><br />Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.<br /><br />Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.<br /><br />She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.<br /><br />Buy her another cup of coffee.<br /><br />Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she lovesAlice or she would like to be Alice.<br /><br />It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.<br /><br />She has to give it a shot somehow.<br /><br />Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.<br /><br />Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who read understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.<br /><br />Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.<br /><br />If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.<br /><br />You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.<br /><br />You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.<br /><br />Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.<br /><br />Or better yet, date a girl who writes.<br /><br />Rosemarie Urquico<br /></b>hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-14295173634903773482011-05-09T09:24:00.002-04:002011-05-09T09:45:34.042-04:00Seriously, If I Could Just Make Up My Mind...When I left high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do as a career. I changed my major three times in two years after I started college. Finally I found a major that I thought would lead to a great career field, speech communications, or public speaking. So I went on and got my B.S. in Communications, and when I was in my senior year, I told my mentor, I don’t want to be at a 9-5 desk job. That is just not for me. Well, here I sit, doing the one thing I knew from the beginning I did not want to do. The problem seems to be that I just don’t know where to go from here. What has happened to all that ambition? All the hopes and dreams that I had for what I was going to do. I was going to make a difference, and I was going to be important. Not necessarily CEO type of important, but definitely a decision maker, and influential. I’ve never gotten to do that, have that type of status in my job. I’ve never even gotten to pretend to do what I love! I know this happens all the time, rarely these days to people actually find a career in the field they majored in. <br /><br />That isn’t my problem though. My problem is that I’m frustrated. I can do this job, and I’m happy with it. I have a great boss and the co-workers aren’t terrible. I don’t hate what I do all day, I’m not on the phone. It is a pretty laid back casual atmosphere. But there is just something missing. <br />I know I could go volunteer and be active in the community, and that would help me feel like I have a purpose in this life beyond what I’m doing. But that isn’t going to do it either. <br /><br />But then another part of me is frustrated at the fact that here I am, and I want to be a stay at home mom, and I want to start trying to have a baby next year. So if I go out and make all these changes and really do find the direction in which I want to work, what am I going to do then? Just give up on it? I don’t want to do that either! I’ve got another year of just sitting still, then Steven gets out of school and I assume I will have to follow him to where ever he can get a job. <br />Honestly I just want to cry with frustration at my life today. I’m not unhappy with it. I’m just confused. Lost maybe. And definitely emotional. Gotta love this quarter life crisis. <br /><br />Oh and I cant believe I’m going to be 26 this year. I don’t really know how to feel about it, but it makes me a little sick at my stomach. Mostly because I’ve got all this turmoil of “what to do” but part of me remembers the fact that my mother had me when she was 26. <br /><br />Holy crap.<br /><br />Anyway so this brings me to a couple of my favorite songs, which actually go well with this post.<br /><b>Just Might (Make Me Believe) - Sugarland</b><br /><iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kaqmB5k6N1U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><b>Something More - Sugarland</b><br /><iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Gp5foT32tKM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-50709018955883033242011-05-02T15:38:00.003-04:002011-05-02T15:49:11.655-04:00What's With the Weather?!Guess what I finally did? <br />I went camping with the husband. Yeah... it was something else. <br />I actually really enjoyed it, so don't let me fool you. It was hard and definitely a challenge for me. The hike to the campsite was just about 3.5 miles, and most of it was scaling a mountain. I can deal with the hiking, but its the whole sleeping and living outside thing that gets me nervous. But I survived, lived to tell the tale. Exciting huh? <br />It was a gorgeous weekend. The sun was shining, but the clouds were also out to give some shade now and then, and we had a good occasional breeze. We went out on Good Friday then came back the next day.<br /><br />I'm glad we got to enjoy that weather before Mother Nature kicked us in the ass with a serious windstorm on Monday evening that split or uprooted many trees in our area, especially on the campus where i work. It was insane! We were in shock. Little did we know, it wasn't over. Tuesday passed without a hitch, but Wednesday- just wow. The tornado warnings started at 10am, and went on until 1am Thursday. Luckily we didn't get hit hard- compared to other areas in the path of the storm. My car has some hail dimples, but in the grand scheme of things that's nothing, and I feel so thankful that none of my friends and family were hurt or killed in the devastating storms that tore through. <br />I was scared, I'm not going to lie. I've never been so scared because of the weather in my life. My parents have some hail damage on their siding, and every window on the back of my in-laws' house busted out because of the hail. They also had some damage to their siding. It was bad, and it was scary, but we suffered no deaths in our area. <br /><br />Such is Spring I suppose, but the weather has been so volatile this year I can't help but wonder what is going to happen for hurricane season!hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-82351116247521632582011-04-21T08:15:00.005-04:002011-04-21T08:49:07.597-04:00What I'm Reading Wednesday on Thursday<a href="http://photobucket.com/images/books%20icons" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Reioa/Icons/Books-1.jpg" border="0"/></a><br /><p style="font-weight:bold;"><p style="font: 14pt/20pt Forte, Comic Sans MS;color:#f96c;">What I’m Reading Wednesday</p></p><br /><br />I have been reading like crazy lately! And I'm loving it! My house is not, however, because I'm reading when I should be doing things like cleaning. <br /><br />Currently I'm reading:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9PYd0hynrcJ6h_j7H-OlNAsQQTTSqfNCcwRkC5ouPKJ2zoQF1sI-7G6JZ9ZQfQDrcfu05grEtbujETaHXidJEgB9sWjeOZWad0duM24xjdVzSiMuVUx414VgPVzcmWeVFx5LsxFHXa0A/s1600/matched_book_cover.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9PYd0hynrcJ6h_j7H-OlNAsQQTTSqfNCcwRkC5ouPKJ2zoQF1sI-7G6JZ9ZQfQDrcfu05grEtbujETaHXidJEgB9sWjeOZWad0duM24xjdVzSiMuVUx414VgPVzcmWeVFx5LsxFHXa0A/s320/matched_book_cover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598017238745755666" /></a><br /><br /><br />So I finally read The Hunger Games. I had no idea how freaking AWESOME the book would be! If you haven't read it, go pick it up. Like, Now. Here is the synopsis from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com">Goodreads</a><br /><br /><i>In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.<br /><br />Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.</i><br /><br />I give it ★★★★★ !!It's better than Twilight! Seriously. (Although, that isn't very hard) And since they will be making The Hunger Games trilogy into movies, I recommend you pick the books up ASAP so you will be ahead of the game next year when the movies come out. <br /><br />I've read the second book as well, Catching Fire, and the third book, Mockingjay, is already waiting for me on my Nook. <br /><br />I read the first two books in two sittings each. They are easy reads, but I tell you I was drawn in from page one. I finished both of these books at 2 or 3 in the morning. I just had to know what happened next. I'm making myself wait before I start Mockingjay, because I know I will devour it just like the other two, and I have 5 library books vying for my attention. Since they have deadlines, I'm going through them first! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjM0qJjreEqNPfSilaN-15xSfyVNDSAYKKofGMzjGLjguviaiI3RxcDhVIOud0W8apuXze9cHSVEXuvyp8OvJ_NY_lt4yo92DUfAInJoyP88i-RhIGBapKM90LlLTxyrjD53IaOFjuWZhx/s1600/HungerGamesTrilogyStacked.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 184px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjM0qJjreEqNPfSilaN-15xSfyVNDSAYKKofGMzjGLjguviaiI3RxcDhVIOud0W8apuXze9cHSVEXuvyp8OvJ_NY_lt4yo92DUfAInJoyP88i-RhIGBapKM90LlLTxyrjD53IaOFjuWZhx/s320/HungerGamesTrilogyStacked.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598017399682568530" /></a><br /><br />Here are some other books I finished recently:<br /><br /><u>Water for Elephants</u> - Sara Gruen<br />★★★☆☆<br />This book was very well written! When I heard about this book, it took me a while to decide to read it. Circuses just arent that interesting to me. But Gruen made the story interesting. She made it enjoyable. Check out my review of the book <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/161973420">here</a>. <br /><br /><u>The Sherlockian</u> - Graham Moore<br />★★★★☆<br /><br /><u>The Alchemyst</u> - Michael Scott<br />★★★☆☆<br /><br /><u>Please Ignore Vera Dietz</u> - A.S. King<br />★★★★☆<br /><br /><u>Foundation</u> - Isaac Asimov<br />★★★☆☆<br /><br /><u>Hex Hall</u> - Rachel Hawkins<br />★★★★☆<br /><br /><br />Do you have a goodreads account? If so, friend me! I get most of my recommendations from other readers in various places, and I'm interested in what you read! There is a link at the right side of my blog that will take you to my shelf. <br /><br /><i><b>What are you reading today?<br />Happy reading!</i></b>hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-26845764989204670102011-04-11T15:26:00.005-04:002011-04-11T15:55:22.106-04:00Not So Bad, AfterallI got really frustrated recently because I realized I haven't been checking out either of my lists to make sure I'm living the right way and accomplishing my goals. Last week went by SO-FAST with all the trips to the hospital and working, and normal daily life. <br /><br />But then I realized that by spending all this time at the hospital, I was knocking a few of my Goals for a Better Life out of the park. <br /><br /><b>*Never let my negative thoughts take over. If I am having a down day, take measures to cure it</b><br />Why do we visit hospitals? To cheer up our loved ones who are in a rough way. I can't be having a negative day when I'm working hard to cheer someone else up! Success. Also, an effect that came from this unfortunate accident is the time for reflection on how lucky and blessed our friend is to have survived this thing with no permanent injuries, and that my life is something to be grateful for. Every day is absolutely a gift.<br /><br /><b>*Make an effort to visit friends even if I have to go to them.</b><br />Every day we visit him. At least once. And it's important. It's making a difference. <br /><br /><b>*Any time someone needs help, if I can help, volunteer to do so</b><br />Although our friend is not asking for help, and never asks for anything from us, I know that he values our being there. And I'm not volunteering it. I'm doing it. I'm not asking, hey can we come by? I'm stopping in. I'm making a point to help without being asked. Which I think was my point of this goal. <br /><br />So way to go, Holley, on working to become a better person without consciously doing so. <br />This makes me feel a little bit more like I really am a good person deep down, a caring, considerate person, someone who gives without asking for anything in return. Which is my ultimate goal. To not become my father, someone selfish and apathetic, but someone better. And to shout out to the world that there are good people in this world, and dammit, I'm one of them!!<br /><br /><b><i>What have you done for someone else lately that you feel good about?</i></b><br /><br /><b>Song of the Day: Dead Wrong, The Fray</b><br />Current Mood: Charitable, thankful<br /><br /><i>I'm doing the best that I could<br />Trying my best to be understood<br />Maybe I'm changing slowly<br />I'd get out turn around if only I<br />Knew I was dead wrong all along...</i><br /><br /><center><a href="http://megnificentlife.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/LifeofMeg/MingleMonday2.jpg" border="0" alt="Mingle 240" /></a></center>hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-40661732028653276092011-04-08T15:23:00.003-04:002011-04-08T15:33:49.762-04:00I need sleep...<br /> <a href="http://www.wherewelove.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><br /> <img border="0" src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s189/missjoelleee/HappyHourButton_Frame.jpg"/><br /> </a><span style="font-weight:bold;"></span><br /><br />This week has been nuts for me. <br />If you are just stopping in for Happy Hour, you might not have read my last post about my husband's best friend being in a life threatening car accident Sunday. <br /><br />He is doing much better. We've been back and forth between the hospital, work and home constantly over the past 6 days. I've spent more time at the hospital than I have spent awake at my own home. But I wouldn't trade it. He is recovering much faster than any one expected, I think. He still has a good ways to go, but it is still encouraging. I looked at him today in awe at how much he has improved. The surgeries did wonderful things for him. I'm truly thanking God that we got some great doctors to work on him and fix him up.<br /><br />But this has taken a toll on me. I'm exhausted. I'm grouchy. All I want to do right now is go home, curl up with a book and my pup, and relax. Then sleep. I need sleep.<br /><br />I dont have much going on this weekend, thankfully, because we are going to still be spending time at the hospital. Tomorrow my aunt and I are participating in Bowl for Kids Sake, a fundraiser in our area for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee. Then, we are having game night with our family. <br />And Sunday is wide open for me, though Steven has to work. <br /><br />This month's book is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I've heard a million great things about this book, and I picked it up one night this week and could hardly put it down. It was fantastic, and I'm not more than 50 pages in. Awesome. <br /><br />Well, I'm going to close this up for now, but thanks for stopping by on this wonderful Friday!<br /><br />Its most definitely a Lifehouse kind of day, so enjoy this soothing song from one of my favorite bands...<br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LBh7Muv0yac" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-33772868653018128632011-04-04T08:21:00.003-04:002011-04-04T08:35:51.602-04:00Today's Truth hits a little too close to home...<b>Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do? </b><br /><br />I have a problem with this question. It's supposed to be hypothetical, right? Well, shit like this <b><i>actually happens.</i></b> Would anyone not answer this way? <br /><br />Yesterday we got a scary phone call. My husband's best friend since he was 8-9 years old, the best man at our wedding, was in a car accident early in the morning. Within two minutes we had Tiki put up and we were on our way to the hospital, 15 minutes from our house. We got the information of what room and etc on the way. Surgical Critical Care. He had been ejected from his truck, and the truck landed on him. Needless to say, we were trying not to panic. We drove quickly but carefully to the hospital, and rode up the elevator to see him. <br /><br />It was rough. But he is damn lucky to not be paralyzed, even more so that he is ALIVE. I have a very strong faith, and I believe that he had an angel looking out for him. <br /><br />I cant really go into details because I'm still pretty torn up about this. He has a long journey ahead of him, but we will be there every step of the way. I will post more soon on this, but for now, if you could just send your thoughts and prayers his way, it would be greatly appreciated. <br /><br /><i>(p.s. if you have any doubt to what my answer to this question would be, just let me know. )</i>hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520141379934750200.post-68471093976288957532011-04-01T09:49:00.005-04:002011-04-01T10:58:41.259-04:00Happy Hour! It's Friday!<br /> <a href="http://www.wherewelove.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><br /> <img border="0" src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s189/missjoelleee/HappyHourButton_ShirleyTemple_Frame.jpg"/><br /> </a><br /><br />I'm joining Where we Love is Home for the first time for her weekly Happy Hour. Want to join in? Check out the info <a href="http://wherewelove.blogspot.com/2011/04/happy-hour.html">here</a>, or click the icon above. <br /><br />This week has been crazy nuts for me and my husband. He has been completely covered with homework and school projects. I haven't, but because of how busy he has been, we haven't gotten to spend as much time together as we usually do. He didn't even get to watch Grey's Anatomy with me last night! {tragic}<br /><br />But his being so busy gave me the opportunity to kick ass on my weight loss goals, as you can read about <a href="http://sweetteasoundtrack.blogspot.com/2011/03/march-weigh-in-how-i-did.html">here</a>. April is a new month, and I'm hoping to do just as well. <br /><br />The best part about April is the way the day started. As I mentioned yesterday, I have been active with myfitnesspal, and I've joined an April challenge. According to that site, I've lost 10 pounds now, but in reality I've lost 12. And today I met my first mini goal!! So I'm happy about that. My rewards are new tennis shoes to help optimize my running and exercising, some new Aerie boyshorts, and some new body wash from Bath and Body Works. I'm going to indulge in some spending this weekend to obtain these items. <br /><br />This weekend, in addition to spoiling myself a bit, my mom and I are volunteering to judge a homeschool high school speech and debate competition, which I think will be pretty fun. <br /><br /><i>What are your plans this weekend?? Do you have anything awesome going on in your life?</i><br /><br /><b>Song of the day:</b> Buzzin'- Mann<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"They come around like honey, cuz i'm fly like a bee"</span><br /><br /><b>Current Mood:</b> Exceptionally Happy. It's Friday, the weather is sorta nice, and I met my first mini weight-loss goal. What's not to love?<br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tHFb0ih3TK0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>hizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363689239206665861noreply@blogger.com5