.go vote.

I voted by absentee ballot last week ...

and I was super pumped when I sent it in!!

It doesn't matter who you vote for...

JUST GO VOTE!!!

This is such a huge deal and we are privileged to be able to vote, 

please express your opinions and voice by voting!

.october books.

Just so you know...I ROCKED it this month in the reading department!! I'm pretty excited to share with you the books that I read. Now that it's getting colder outside and I don't have to train for any races I'm taking the time to snuggle under a blanket and keep company with a good book.

Let's get on with it....drum roll please....HERE THEY AAARRRREEEEE:

Geek Love: Katherine Dunn   I have tried to describe this book many times to friends, but I just can't seem to do it justice! It's about a carny family (who created their own side-show children), growing up, loving who you are, and family values. I really loved this book, I found it interesting and continuously intriguing. I highly recommend it!

Source 

Jemima J: A Novel About Ugly Ducklings and Swans Jane Green  Story about Jemima Jones falling in love with herself and then with the man of her dreams. Jemima Jones has low self esteem, she is overweight and feels invisible. She meets a guy over the internet (late 1990s) and send him a picture of her that has been photoshopped to show her about 100lbs. slimmer. She falls for the guy online and then pushes herself to lose the weight for when she flys across the world to meet him. Things happen, happiness and sadness occur, and then in the end she gets her happy ending! YAY for love stories. This was a good, quick, easy read. I enjoyed it. 

Source

Mostly True: Brian Andreas   Short little poems and pictures. Read it and then donated it. Not a keeper.

A Wrinkle In Time: Madeleine L'Engle  I picked this up at the airport because I was looking for a cheaper book (yay Young Adult) that would grab my attention. This is a book I feel like EVERYONE (yep..everyone) read when they were younger, but nope that me. The story follows a young girl and her little brother as they travel in space/time to rescue their father. L'Engle discusses themes of conformity, individuality, conquering your fear, and having faith in the unknown. This was a good book (and my first sci-fi one!). I have it saved to give to my niece next time I see her!

Source

On The Bright Side, I'm Now The Girlfriend of a Sex God: Louise Rennison  Follows Georgia, a 14 yr. old British girl, while she tries to win back a good looking, older boy. The book is in form of her diary in which is complains and loves like most 14 year old girls who are in looooovvveeeee.  This is just one in a series...and the series was recommended to me...I think reading just this one was good for me. If I had a boy crazy teenage niece I would give her these books. 

Source

Edgar Allan: John Newfeld  This was a quick, touching read. A white family adopts a young black boy. The town becomes upset and threatens the family, telling them to to return the child. The family makes a hard, heart tearing decision that affects each member differently. 

Source

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children: Ransom Riggs  This book was great! I read it within a few days because I couldn't put it down!! The story follows Jacob as he tries to figure out his grandpa's last words. He finds himself learning more about himself as he discovers his grandpa's past, his peculiar friends, and their way of living. Jacob becomes a hero that he never thought he would or could be.  I highly recommend this book to everyone!

goal update: 

39/50 books

I'm getting closer and closer to my goal! 

It's finally starting to feel like I can accomplish it.

Currently reading:

What are you reading?

.WIW: Halloween.

Happy Halloween Everyone!  

I'm on a quick break from work and wanted to share with you my halloween costume. I work at a used bookstore and was excited to be able to dress up (as well as see other dress up!).  My first outfit idea was to be Mickey Mouse, but I feel asleep at 7p.m. last night and didn't get my ears. So I woke up this morning and had to figure out a quick outfit! This is what I got from my closet:

1950s Housewife:

.the details. 

shirt: Lane Bryant // skirt: Mossimo

apron: grandma's //  shoes: Mossimo

pearl earrings and necklace: grandma's

dishgloves and dishrag in apron pocket 

Not to shabby for a quick morning decision!

Tonight I plan on watching Rocky Horror Picture Show, 

what are your plans?

.what i'm watching now.

I gotta be honest with ya...I watch probably a little to much t.v., especially on Monday's. I have had a few Monday's off now and instead of being productive, I find myself with my booty on the couch for a few hours. Don't worry...I still get my stuff done just not in that "I'm Gonna Conquer The Day Way".  Dave and I only get basic cable but we pay a little extra to have On Demand Boost, so I can watch shows from channels that we don't get regularly. Now almost all my t.v. watching is from On Demand..and I'm okay with that!

These are the shows I'm a little obsessed about right now (all of these take place on Sunday night...that is why on Monday's I laze around watching tv):

The Walking Dead: 

I started watching this show on Netflix when I was sick this fall...I wondered what all they hype was about it. Then I got hooked, finished the first season and then went straight to On Demand to watch the second season. Now everyone Monday I watch last nights episode of Season Three. It is one of the show's I look forward to, I wish we had AMC so I could watch it when it is on the first time.

Dexter:

Oh, Dexter...how I do love thee. I have watched over the years and will probably watch until the end. This season is not as good as the prior ones but it has finally started picking up. At the beginning of the season Deb found out he was a serial killer and tried to basically put him into a rehab for it. But it's really only good when Dexter is on the hunt, which finally his is! Dave and I have Showtime just so we could catch up on Dexter and now we keep it for Dexter and.....

Homeland:

This was another show that we started on our Showtime Preview and got obsessed with. Homeland is one of the best shows out there right now. It is thrilling, has you asking questions, and wondering what is going to happen next. This is the one show that on Sunday nights I HAVE to watch! I then tell Dave, " OH MY GOD...YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT!" and then I rewatch it with him sometime during the week. 

And because I'm a maid of honor next year in a wedding I feel like it is my duty to watch these shows as well:

These are my guilty guilty pleasures that I watch while doing other things around the house. As the great maid of honor I am I have to see what decorations are being used, how to diffuse a crazy bride, etc.

What are you watching?

What show is one that you can't miss?

WIW: in 2008

Did you have a phase in your life where you were almost obsessed with taking pictures of yourself? You did it so much you had your myspace pose down perfect and knew exactly how to capture the "pretty" side of your face?

I was looking at my large gallery of photos and it seems like I was a bit overboard with taking pictures of myself, especially during the time of 2006-2008. Fortunately, I only have one album for all my different looks in 2008. I thought it would be fun to share with you what I wore, what my hair looked like 4 years ago. During this time of my life I was just married, moved to Northern Virginia (did you know there is Virginia and then Northern Virginia?), and just started grad school and a grad assistantship!

Sooo this is me in 2008:

.i wore scarves a lot. 

.i was into wearing two necklaces at once. 

.i got dressed up for date nights. 

.i really liked teal with red. 

.sometimes i dressed up for work. 

.i work a skirt as a strapless dress. 

.and i LOOOVVEEED this shirt.


And I liked to make silly faces when taking pictures?

I think I am a master at the duck lip picture thing..haa haaaa.

Do you remember what you wore 4 years ago?

.lazy monday.

Today I have the day off, I planned on it being productive with cleaning the house, doing laundry, and running errands.  What have I done so far today....caught up on my Sunday night tv shows that I missed.

So in honor of having a lazy day with my snoring, chunky, bulldog I give you some of my favorite pictures of her sleeping....and most of them are sleeping with Dave.

I love how Maggie will always figure a way to fall asleep either right next to you or by resting her head and body on you, even if it's uncomfortable for you.  Her favorite places are on your lap or your shoulder. Looking are her sleep, especially with Dave always melts my heart.  These two are like peas in a pod.

.Bayfield, WI.

Here are some of the pictures from our short time discovering the area around Bayfield, WI. 

We had a great time running around, climbing things, and taking funny pictures while exploring the beautiful Northern WI area. I truly wished we could have been there longer to do more exploring and hiking in the beautiful woods. As we left the area we watched the sunset over Lake Superior and everything felt right before heading off to prepare for the big race the following day.