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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Summer Reading

A few weeks ago I decided to tap into my inner school-girl and give myself summer reading assignments. I created a not-so-short summer reading list that I figured would last me 3 months. Of course, being the Speedy Gonzales of reading, I realized I'd probably zip through that list in 3 weeks rather than months. Seriously, I read like it's going out of style.
Anywho... I'm SO glad I made this list. Although I haven't gotten very far in it - considering I keep adding books to it rather than reading the ones already listed - I have come across some absolutely fabulous reads and wanted to write down my thoughts of them.

Hunger Games Trilogy - OMG... I NEVER thought this would be something I liked and OMG was I wrong! OMG. haha. While I love reading, it generally takes a lot to really get me invested a book and let it become a part of me. These three books totally did that after only a few chapters. I found myself wanting to kick Katniss and hug her at the same time. I fell in love with Peeta even before she did and threatened to throw the book across the room if she ended up with Gale. I wanted to kill... Okay, you see my investment here?

The Sky is Everywhere - I'm not really a crier when it comes to books. In fact, there really aren't many I remember crying over. And I don't mean tearing up. I mean, CRYING. Curling up in the bed and soaking your pillow crying, hating the book and the writer for making you cry but wanting to go on because you owe it to the character to hear her story. Yup... this book is the culprit for making me cry. The plot is pretty simple: girl's older sister dies unexpectedly and she deals with the aftermath. Already that's sad! Add to it that the girl's mom ran off when she was little, she's making out with her sister's boyfriend and the new guy in town is in love with her but dumps her because she's making out with her sister's boyfriend and whoa... emotional roller coaster for me! Oh, and did I mention all the poetry she writes about her dead sister at the beginning of every chapter? I know this sounds like a terrible book, but trust me when I say all the crying was well worth the read.

Starcrossed - I was SO excited when I finally got this book! I had been waiting weeks to read it and it was so worth the wait! I was still in love days after finishing the last page. I wanted to read it again and again the second I closed the cover - in fact, I did go back and re-read some parts. Just to make myself happy. The story follows Helen, a girl who doesn't quite fit in, who finds out just why she doesn't fit quite in: she's the child of a demi-god. And there are others out there, just like her. Including Lucas, the dreamy guy who just moved to town. But when they find out that they are reincarnations of Helen of Troy and Paris, they realize they cannote be together or risk starting another Trojan War. Ohhh.... this book was so good! Only downside... the sequel doesn't come out until next YEAR! Ugh!!! This is why I don't get into series at the beginning; I HATE WAITING!!!

There have been several others I've read so far this summer, but these are the ones I've loved best so far. It's gonna take a lot to top them! Happy Summer to all!

Friday, June 24, 2011

A Trip Down Memory Lane

I'll be the first to admit it: I have a LOT of pet peeves. People leaving the copy machine up. People taking my pens at work. My sister singing in the back seat of the car. The list could go on and on. Today's pet peeve comes from a blog post I read earlier written by a 23-year old woman about how she loves the 80s and it was her favorite decade and she wishes she could go back in time and be 23 in the 80s. Now, maybe I get what she means. Perhaps the 80s were awesome. Perhaps it really was a good time to live. I mean, I enjoyed it. But I was a kid. I think I would have enjoyed any decade. This girl, however, was maybe 3 at the end of the decade. THREE! I suppose I just don't understand this kind of nostalgia. I mean, when I get nostalgic for a past time in my life, it isn't nostalgia for stereotypes of that era. I'm not nostalgic for big crimpy hair, jean mini-skirts and bangles up to my elbows. I'm not nostalgic for dancing around in the mall or going to see whatever John Hughes came out with this week. I was a KID! I didn't do these things, I didn't wear these things and I don't remember these things. AND NEITHER DID YOU 23 YEAR OLD WOMAN!!!

That being said, I am getting slightly nostalgic for the 80s. Here are some things that made up my childhood that I suddenly miss:

Alvin and the Chipmunks - This was my absolute favorite! Although, for some reason, whenever the theme song came on I would apparently hide. No idea why.


Crest Sparkle Toothpast - Weird, right? But who didn't love sparkly blue toothpaste that tasted like bubblegum? And it was star-shaped at one point!



My Little Ponies, Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake, Pound Puppies/Pound Kitties... these were my toys in the 80s! We really did have cool toys back then. I'm pretty sure I had most of the toys on this site: http://www.liketotally80s.com/80s-toys.html

One of my favorite toys on this list was the My Child Doll. I had one... I named her Maria and she wore a lot of my old baby clothes. She now lives in the attic. Naked. Ah, Maria!

Dirty Dancing - Yes, I know this is NOT an appropriate movie for children, even now. And no, I don't really remember actually seeing the entire thing. Just the ending. "Nobody puts Baby in a corner." Then the awesome dance. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey singing "I've had the Time of My Life." Baby's really awesome dress from the 80s. My mom telling my dad that was the kind of moment all women want. Ahh...


Sunday Braids and Ponytails - I'm pretty certain we were the only family that called this hairstyle "Sunday Braids" and "Sunday Ponytails" but that's what they were. (PS after googling Sunday Braid, I found out that it's a type of boot)


Jellies!!! - I LOVE LOVE LOVE these shoes! They were oh so cute. Only downside... little rocks would get stuck in the bottom of them. But who didn't love pulling them out?!










So that does it for my little trip down memory lane. I'm sure I can think of a million more things, but those are just the ones that popped into my head while I was bored at work and writing this.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Guest Blogger: Emilie Bunnell - She speaka de Spanish good!

In response to my previous post regarding my fears of moving to New York City, my good friend Emilie has decided to give a rebuttal and feature as a guest blogger on the awesomeness that is my blog. So without further ado...



I realize that its a daunting experience packing up your things and traveling miles and miles into a crazy and unknown city. As a real New Yorker I have a few rebuttal comments to your fears about moving to the city to help ease your nerves.

1. All the superheroes live in new York for the most obvious reason - the fairest damsels in distress reside here. What do you think all the explosions, destruction, and bridge dangling is caused by? Same reason for the troubles in Troy - beautiful women. (The spandex they wear is for the woman to make sure there is no false advertising in our superhero crushes.)

2. Giant marshmallows are delicious. What you missed is everyone plucking a piece for their hot cocoa on their walk around the city in the winter. The Statue of Liberty was clearly being kind to tourists by walking to Times Square making it easier for them to find her. And that giant ape you saw was really just a window washer.

3. First, better the hero then the villain, right? Also, how amazing would that proposal story be? "So how did he propose?" "Well I was hanging by the ankles from the Brooklyn Bridge when he swung in, kicked a green goblin's ass, kissed me upside down as he pulled me to safety, then dropped to one knee and proposed as he pulled off his mask." Ahhh romantic.

4. Hate in NYC? River of slime?? What are these things you speak of? NYC is the city of love. The city of friendship. Its the place people dream of moving to. Its romantic, and exciting, and full of opportunity. It's the thing of movies and music and art. There is no city better!! That bit of slime is from New Jersey. Not all states can be great.

5. Rats are to New York what cows are to the country. Next trip I will teach you rat tipping.

6. Stabler, Caffrey, Ames, Flack, Reagan...the list of attractive men fighting crime in this city goes on and on. Safety and eye candy. What more could a girl ask for?

7. Don't worry about dancing gangs. Life in New York is like all the great high school movies from the 90s. When the music starts everyone knows the dance!! It's part of your initiation to the city. And if you are lucky Neil Patrick Harris is in the dancing gang. I mean who wouldn't want to be in a dance gang with NPH?!

And thus ends my rebuttals for why New York is the city. Have no fear my friend. Falling in love with a spandex wearing employed superhero will be the least of your worries when you start apartment searching and realize your budget only allows for places that have either a shower or a toilet. Shacking up with Spidey might look like a good idea then.”


I sort of hate her for this...

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

This Mr. Stay Puft's okay! He's a sailor, he's in New York; we get this guy laid, we won't have any trouble!

A while ago I emailed my boss asking if we could set up a time to discuss my future with the company and what I would like to eventually do with my career. After an initial reaction of "OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE I ACTUALLY DID THAT I'M GOING TO VOMIT" I decided to become confident, non-self-concious woman rather than scaredy cat girl. Which led me to ask the big question: What DO I want to do with my life?

Over the past few years I've really had this annoying hankering to move to New York. It's unheard of, unthinkable, and quite honestly the biggest thing I think I could do short of moving to Greece and opening a cupcake shop. In other words, it would be awesome.

Aside from the fact that I'd have to find a new job, find a new place to live, learn how to hail a cab, figure out bus schedules, and invest in walking shoes, there really are a lot of things that seriously worry me about moving to New York.


1) Crime - I know everything says that crime has gone down over the years in NYC, but really... if it's gone down so much why do all the superheroes live there? Spiderman, the Fantastic Four, Captain America... And have you seen what happens in the movies? Explosions, buildings destroyed, damsels in distress; I could easily be kidnapped and hung upside down over a bridge while a spandex onesie wearing man flys around for an hour fighting another spandex onesie wearing man.

2) Various giant beings are an every day occurance - A giant marshmallow man is coming down 5th Avenue? Pshh... no big deal. The Statue of Liberty strolling down Madison? Happens every day. Giant ape climbing the Empire State Building? Really? Again? Are New Yorkers so jaded that this doesn't faze them?








3) Superheroes - Okay, I know I just talked about them, but here is my other issue. If all these superheroes live in New York, and no one knows their identity, what happens if you meet one on the street and end up going out on a date? Now, I know the chances of me going out with someone who is a secret superhero are slim to none, but I'm sure Mary Jane Watson didn't think she'd be dating Spiderman. I'm sure MJ didn't ever consider the fact that maybe, just maybe, the reason she keeps nearly falling off buildings or getting kidnapped is because her boyfriend is really Spiderman. I personally don't want to fall of buildings. Maybe it's just me.

4) All the hate in NYC creates a giant river of slime - Disgusting! That's all I have to say about that.



5) Rats - During my trip to NYC my friend Emilie told me about a game they play called "Spot the rat" while in the subway. Yeah, I won the first round having spotted a giant rat the second she finished telling me about the game.



6) Sick, twisted SVU crimes - I know I mentioned crime as the first thing that worries me, but have you noticed that just about every Law & Order takes place IN NEW YORK CITY?!?! Wow... I mean, c'mon... crazy crimes like that happen EVERY SINGLE WEEK? Good thing I'll have Benson and Stabler watching my back. Although I wouldn't mind watching Stabler's back...




7) Singing Street Gangs - Okay, maybe this one is a little far-fetched, but for some reason I'm not really scared of legit gangs... Not that I'm really scared of singing street gangs, but only in NYC could they exist. I do worry that I might get caught in a rumble and will have to pick between the Jets and the Sharks. Also, I probably should work on my grand plies just in case.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Picture Challenge!!! Or I had nothing else to do at work

A picture of yourself with 10 facts
Awesome, Smart, Witty, Beautiful, Domestically Challenged, Quirky, Caring, Snobby, Super Hair, 2+2=4




A picture of the person you have been closest with the longest
I speeka de Spanish good!



A picture of the cast from your favorite show

Elliot: Carla, if your wedding ceremony's gonna be in Spanish, how will I know that you're officially married?
Carla: [sarcastically] Cause all my cousins will throw tortillas in the air and fire their guns.
Elliot: Really? God I wish I was ethnic.

A picture of your favorite night

Drinks, dancing and 80s/90s music... could life get any better?!

A picture of your favorite memory

Roll Tide!!!!!

A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

Okay... I wouldn't trade places with Lea Michele. I would trade places with Rachel Berry. Mainly so I could make out with Finn. And then I think we would have a little scene that went something like this:



A picture of your most treasured item

So TECHNICALLY my dog isn't a "thing" or an "item" but she is treasured. Look at that face! How could she NOT be!!!

A picture that makes you laugh


or



or



A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

I heart LC!

A picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with

I wouldn't really say I do the most ****** up things with Lauren, but I do manage to get into trouble whenever we hang out! Mostly my fault though... I'm no spring chicken!

A picture of something you hate

Blech! Cooked bell pepper!

A picture of something you love

Nom nom nom... tiramisu!

A picture of your favorite band or artist

I don't know if they're still my "favorite" band, but I do love some SP!

A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

My mom! She's sort of my best friend.

A picture of something you want to do before you die

No comments needed.

A picture of someone who inspires you


A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Hello friend!

A picture of your biggest insecurity


Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?


Maybe it's dumb... but I'm kind of insecure about the possibility that if I ever get sorted into a house I'm going to get put in Hufflepuff. Despite Cedric Diggory being in this house...

A picture of a letter

What yourself Selena...

A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

Duh

A picture of something you wish you could forget

That says "Harris Hall" - I'd love to wipe away my memory of that place.

A picture of something you wish you were better at

Dancing... I mean, I'm totally stellar at home, but not so much on the dance floor.

A picture of your favorite book

Fantastic read! Read it! Read it! Read it!

A picture of something you wish you could change

One day...

A picture of your favorite day

My birthday!!!

A picture of something that means a lot to you


A picture of yourself and a family member

Or 3...

A picture of something you're afraid of

The first (and only) time I watched Gremlins was when I was maybe 4... it came on TV and my parents let me watch it. I was, of course, scared... and was petrified there were gremlins under my bed. Didn't help that my mom, upon checking, pretended that they had gotten her and she was being pulled in under the bed. I may have to rethink that "best friends" thing...

A picture that can always make you smile

It's kind of tiny, but I'm making this adorable devil child face... Also, check out my aunt's knee socks.

A picture of someone you miss

My fabulous sparkle!!!