On Our Nightstands: #8

I am an escapist.  Whether it is books or movies or T.V. shows, I like living in someone else's life for a brief time.  My brain is always turning over problems and solutions or how to have a conversation I've been dreading and being able to be someone else for a while quiets the storm.

So...here is a list of books I want to read this summer:

1. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
     I am reading this one right now and like it so far.

2. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

3. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

4. The Mists of Avalon books by Marion Zimmer Bradley

This is just the beginning of my list.  At some point I want to read Les Mis. and re-read the Harry Potter series and Lord of the Rings.  We will see how far I get for now lol.

What are you reading?

Goals

I feel like I have too many goals.  I truly believe that I can accomplish them all; it is just a lot to maintain.  Currently, I have a lot of goals going at the same time and I think of more and more each day.  The one on my mind this morning is shopping.  


I love to shop for new clothes, but if I achieve my goal for July 31 then I would much rather have saved my shopping money until it is time to buy clothes then...right?  


So, should I make it a goal to not buy clothing unless it is workout related or necessary because things don't fit (i.e. work clothes or jeans when my old ones are too big)?  


Also, if I do not spend money and save it over the course of this time, won't I end up with a large saving and be able to either buy more or just keep some of it to help with our college debt and so forth?


See what I mean, it seems like such a good idea/goal, but does that make too many, what with the birthday list, running and all those silly personal goals that I haven't even bothered to mention on here like how I want to use up all of my stock of lotion before I buy anymore (I'm a lotion horder).  


I guess, I didn't really decide anything in there, but I think it is something to think about and maybe a good reward for my hard work if I am able to save the money will be an awesome shopping spree...or maybe I won't be abel to resist a good sale tomorrow...or maybe the goal is just to be conscious of my spending when it comes to clothing...either way I'm glad we had this talk lol.


The picture and quote below describe how I feel.  Thanks to Leah Remillet's blog for the inspiration.

source

Things I LOVE

I have become obsessed with some really great products lately.  I don't typically LOVE things as much as I LOVE the products above, unless we are talking about movies or books, of course.  


1. This beautiful Barr-Co. Candle was purchased at Anthropologie.  It has this amazing aroma that changes as it burns.  A little coconut, a little freshness and boom, my whole apartment smells relaxing and cozy.  It lasts a long while too!  I am on my second candle and can't wait to buy my third.


2. Let's face it, I LOVE dessert; however, I do want to start getting into shape and all of my sources says that dark chocolate is the way to go.  Enter Dove Dark Chocolate Squares to save the day.  Plus I got it on sale after Valentine's Day.


3. Bath and Body Works has long been my staple for amazing smelling lotions and body mists.  Last summer I fell in LOVE with Forever Sunshine.  It is a mix of apricot and summer smells. I have the lotion and body spray in this fragrance.  


4. I have been searching my whole life for a Chapstick that works well for me.  I typically lose it or it just doesn't work the way I want it to.  I demand a good mix of softness and usability from my lip balms.  C.O. Bigelow's Rose Salve wins the award for best ever!  It comes in a little tin, so I don't lose it, and it works wonders on not only my lips but also on my chapped hands.  It also gives my lips a nice shine, which I appreciate.


5. Eye shadows are something that I tend to LOVE or hate.  This has become my new favorite.  It is Ulta's eyeshadow quad Girly Girl.  It has great colors for my skin tone.  I can make it look dark or light, which makes it easy to switch from night to day.  I work long hours and having an eyeshadow that stays on and doesn't make my eyes look dark or have creases makes me a happy lady.

My Poor Sad Blankey

Remember the crochet blanket I was making....you know the one, right?  I have been working on this puppy for YEARS.  Isn't it beautiful?

I absolutely love it; however, it still isn't finished.  I've given up on it to be honest.  Here is why...

Check out the huge holes that have started appearing all over the blanket.  There are about five now.  I suppose that I tied the initial tie incorrectly, or that I have gotten all of the use out of the blanket that I could since I've been working on it so long.  Either way, I'm super bummed.  I've decided to give up on finishing it; instead, I just use it on my chair and keep it fold so you cannot see the sad state of the rest (even though I planned on finishing it for my birthday list).

January 2012

Part of my birthday to-do list was to make a calendar.  So...here is the month of January!

2012

The Boot

So, I have been hunting for a good boot for this year.  I have a boot from last year, but it is kind of small and let's face it my jeans don't fit well inside it.  Here are some great options Piperlime is offering.

I really like the buckle on this one by Chinese Laundry.

I like the tiny heel on this boot and the slouch by Steve Madden.

I like the clean lines of this boot along with the heel by Very Volatile.

Recipe Cards

I mentioned in my birthday list that I wanted to design recipe cards and fill them up with all of my favorites.  I accomplished this task a while ago, but never shared.  Here are some pictures of the cards I designed.  I still need to make dividers for the recipe box, but other than that I am very happy with how they turned out.

I got the recipe card box from The Container Store.

T.V. Shows

So, I have been watching a lot of T.V. lately.  I have not abandoned my go to shows, but I have added a few to the mix.  So here is a weeks line-up.


Monday:


How I Met Your Mother- CBS 8PM


The Sing-Off- NBC 8PM


Castle- ABC 10PM




Tuesday:


The New Girl- Fox 9PM




Wednesday:


Modern Family- ABC 9PM


Happy Endings- ABC 9:30PM


Revenge- ABC 10PM




Thursday:


The Big Bang Theory- CBS 8PM


Bones- Fox 9PM


Grey's Anatomy- ABC 9PM


The Mentalist- CBS 10PM




Friday:


Grimm- NBC 9PM


Supernatural- CW 9PM


Blue Bloods- CBS 10PM




Sunday:


Once Upon A Time- 8PM ABC




Don't get me wrong, 9 times out of 10 I'm not home to watch these shows.  However, I do catch them online if I miss them.  What do you watch during  the week?

Discoveries

Things I have learned in October:

1. If I thought September was busy, I never dreamed of October!

2. I love whipped cream cheese on an everything bagel.

3. Coffee keeps me alive.

4. Making food with friends and hanging out is more relaxing than watching T.V. by myself.

5. I want a comfy oversized sweater... like this one from Gap:

6. Fall/Autumn feels like home.

7. I get wrapped up accomplishing lists and forget to blog. 

Birthday List

So apparently, I am obsessed with lists.  This is not a new trend in my life though.  I have always loved lists, mostly the checking off part.  At any rate, I've been trying to come up with a birthday list.  I have seen them around a lot lately.


The goal is to come up with 25 things to do before I turn 25.  I would like to have the list made this as soon as possible, so I have a lot of time to accomplish my list.




1. Create my own calendar.  (I am really really picky about my calendars, so making one solves that problem)


2. Write down the recipes that I love on the recipe cards I made.


3. Perfect my granola recipe.  (I love granola, but my homemade granola needs some help)


4. Figure out the criteria Nick and I will use to buy a house (budget, appliances etc.)


5. Finish the blanket I have been crocheting for over a year. (Here's the deal, I got it just about done and then it started falling apart, like from the middle, so I gave up on it :(


6. Finish the Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss (at least the ones that are out)


7. Get into a better workout or jogging schedule (three times a week)
     (after March and April, I think it counts as a schedule)


8. Try Yoga


9. Buy Big Boggle (for Nick, for myself, for fun lol)


10. Try string art


11.  Collect wine bottle corks and use them for a project


12. Watch all of Dawson's Creek 


13. Have a Star War's marathon


14. Blog 3 times a week for a whole month (I want to blog gobs and gobs but work has been getting in the way lately) (MARCH)


15. Go on a long weekend trip with Nick


16. Have a slumber party with my girls!  (it actually turned into dinner)


17. Go see 10 movies in the theatre
      (Reel Steel, The Three Musketeers, The Rum Diaries, Breaking Dawn Part 1, The Muppet Show, Tintin, We Bought a Zoo, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, This Means War, Safe House, The Hunger Games)


18. Research a new camera (Photography Blog has significantly helped me in my search for a new camera; however, for the time being I am going to stick with my old Canon PowerShot A540 and iPhone.)


19. Go kayaking


20. Sleep under the stars


21. Go to The Container Store


22. Get a Poang chair from Ikea


23. Crochet a baby blanket


24. Bake a new cake
       (Carrot Cake)


25. Bake three loaves of bread
      (Banana Nut Bread, Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread)


26. Have more fun (not quantifiable but a good goal)

To Do Lists

Last week and this week have been filled with To Do lists.  I have been working a lot of crazy hours with several doubles and only one day off a week.  So, I have to make that day count.  Here are some things I've been working on:

• Cleaning
• Bathroom
• Bedroom
• Kitchen
• Dusting
• Sweeping
• Work
• Organizing tests (I'm a trainer where I work)
• For me
• Hair cut
• Birthday Shopping
• Paint nails
• Take the car back to the shop
• Call friends for updates on life
• Mail friends birthday card
• With Nick
• Grocery shopping
• Quality time
• Library
• Home
• Bills
• Laundry
• Crafts
• Create a calendar
• Gift for a friend
• Recipe cards
• Bookmark
• Inspiration for Dining room art
• Dining room chairs

All in all, it has been busy!  I'm okay with that though.  I do have the evening of my birthday off (YAY! for Friday), and hopefully we will get to go out with friends and maybe invite a new addition to the friend group (one of my best friends is due this week!).  

Here's looking forward to Friday night!