Book Worm

I could spend hours in a book store, without sitting down to read through one.

It's a fact.

I've done it...on multiple occasions.

1. But before that I took advantage of Starbuck's half off frappuchino happy hour and treated myself. This grande size was only $2!

2. Then I drove to B&N to and spent about an hour (I limited myself) scanning the bookshelves for future reads. I never take a pen and paper to make lists of books that I want, that's what my "Notepad" app is for. Except, I don't use that either. I take that risk of people looking at me weirdly, which has happened less and less, by taking pictures of the books that I want to remember. THEN I'll make a list on my computer for a later date.

"Kisses from Katie" is a book I've heard a lot about and after reading a little bit of it, I definitely want to finish the whole thing.

These are a couple of other books that I hope to get my hands on within the next year:

 Blurry picture alert! I'm currently reading Pete Wilson's "Plan B" book and I'm loving it. I'm considering doing my version of a book review when I'm completely done with it.

3. Stores know how to capture your attention by placing the extremely eye-catching items somewhere that you would have to pass by to leave, like the middle of the aisle. I'm confident that a lot of people stopped by the table covered in classics with new bright hardback covers because I sure did.

The artwork is beautiful.

4. I'm moving into our new apartment in about 2 weeks so I thought I would take a peek inside Pier 1. Why I hadn't thought of this before, I have no clue. Good thing I did because I spent a good fifteen minutes just lounging in this Papasan. It's actually good candidate for my book reading/writing chair.

Now I just have to find it at a much lower price.

5. I love all of the apps that are out for picture taking. They allow me to take some pretty good pictures:

However, I've always wanted a DSLR and, after the moving expenses and getting my MacBook fixed, I'm hoping to purchase one between Christmas and next March. There's so many different type of DSLRs and the big debate between Canon or Nikon. After some research I'm sort of set on a Canon, but there's different Canons. Any suggestions?

Hello, Reality

I was doing some late night blog reading and came across this quote on an older post:

"For as long as you can remember, you have been a pleaser, depending on others to give you an identity. You need not look at that only in a negative way. You wanted to give your heart to others, and you did so quickly and easily. But now you are being asked to let go of all these self-made props and trust that God is enough for you. You must stop being a please and reclaim your identity as a free self." -Henri Nouwen

If I didn't know any better I would say my heart stopped for a moment. Maybe I don't know better and maybe it did. It's when you get that answer to the question that you've been asking God for a while, becoming weary wondering why He's not answering. It's the answer that sits in the back of your mind for a while, but you either don't trust yourself enough to be right and need that slap in the face that stings ever so intensely, or you do trust yourself and choose to ignore it, therefore still awaiting that slap. 

Option A.

I've had a lot of frustration lately. Not. just any frustration but the domino effect of many things going "downhill" and not happening the way I hoped for them to. A lot of it is me not being where I think I should be, instead of realizing that I'm probably where He wants me to be; where He knows I need to be. I was recall stressing out a lot about the amount of time before my husband and I would move into our apartment. Now months have flown by and it's only 4 weeks until we're both cozying into our first place together.

My answer is in bold. My answer has always been in bold because that's always been my answer: let go and trusting God. period. 

"That's alright, that's okay..."

It's okay that I've been trusted to "plant sit" and even received my own bebe plant from my friend who's about to deploy. I will really miss her.

My friend's larger plant

My plant...hopefully it lasts a long time

She even let me borrow her book since she knows how much I desperately want to see the movie...more than okay.

It's okay that I had to go to liquidy (is that a word?) foods because of my wisdom teeth and baby tooth being pulled.

Fyi, GoGurt is a great way to catch up on your Star Wars trivia ;)

It is surely NOT okay that it took me almost 7 minutes to find the start of this...not that I counted or anything...

[source]

What are you okay with today?

[Link here!]

Philippians 4:11-13 

"I am forever learning"

WIAW: Awakened

Welcome to the world baby girl.

Zariyah: 7lbs 7oz, 20in.

I thank God I can tell you all my sister and my newbie niece are doing perfectly fine and are in good health, and so am I.

She was delivered at 8:02 this morning and I saw her via Skype a few hours afterward. My aunt told me that was sister was going to try breastfeeding this time, and so far has been successful. Which makes me think of a post I recently read from Dirt and Lace, a blog that I follow. Many people think it's wrong for a child to breast feed in public. I know of a few ladies who pump breast milk and they'll take the bottles with the, but not everyone does. I've never personally seen it, but there are moms who opt to breast feed in public restaurants but cover up while doing so. I'm not sure how my sister will do, I just know she plans on purchasing a pump for backup.

This morning I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things (there's much more) in preparation for operation "Ya Chew(se) Ya Lose".

When I lived back in Virginia, around the time I started running, I heard about Green Smoothies and decided to try and make my own. The mixed and single bags of fruit were only $1.99. Cha-ching! They each make 2 servings with just adding milk, but I plan on adding a few other ingredients that will really make those bags stretch out.

You see that GoGurt? Yea, that stuff is not just for kids...okay okay maybe it is, but babysitting my niece and nephew introduced me to a lot of flavorful (and disgusting) food.  It has 1% Milkfat with Vitamins A & D, says the label. Plus these have been good for my gums and tastebuds.

For dinner I opted for A LOT something that would be fairly easy to get down. Dinner didn't happen until around 5p.m. and I hadn't eaten since around 11:30p.m. the previous night.

I made sure to pick up a couple of packets of instant potatoes to last me throughout the week. I ended up really masking up my mac n cheese so it would be that much to chew. Needless to say, it took me a little over an hour to eat it.

One of the nurses also made mini brownie cupcakes and while we were leaving the hospital she gave a couple to my friend to share with me. I crumbled on up, popped in in the microwave until it was almost steamingly mushy, sprinkled them in a cup of sherbert ice-cream for dessert.

How do you feel about women breastfeeding in public?

What's your favorite "non-chewable" food?

"Paging Doctor Ari"

Today is THE day.

[source]

Yes, THAT day. My sister and I both will be going under the knife today.

[Christmas 2010...yes, I may die for posting this picture]

My husband and I are being blessed with four newborn nieces and nephews in less that a 10 month span. One niece and nephew are already here, our second nephew is scheduled to join his crazy loving family in May, and our second newbie niece will join the party...

Today!

My sister, back in Virginia, will be having a cesarean section since she already had one with my nephew, Maurice.

Side note: My sister told me that Maurice has made March his "baby sister's month" at school. Whenever any teacher asks him about this month, he says, "my baby sister's coming. She'll be here." I once asked him where she was and he replied, "She's stuck in my mommy's stomach until the doctor gets her out. Then you can see her Ari." Love.that.kid! 

They grow up so fast!

Back to your Scheduled Program: She'll be in the delivery room starting at 5a.m. which is 2a.m. for me. I'll just be going to sleep, since I don't get my wisdom teeth pried out of my mouth until 1p.m. She's already been instructed to Skype (well, I at least told my mom to) me when my niece is brought into this world. I've also been told to check in with my husband and family...as if I would forget to do such a thing once I came from being "under." Since it's March, i expect the Tooth Fairy to leave me a pot of gold per tooth. I guess she should start working her fairy dust with the Leprechauns.

On another note, I was told I couldn't eat after 12 a.m. this morning (no breakfast) so the last thing I had was my Click protein shake after my sit-ups and push ups. Today shall be a looong one.



Do you still have your wisdom teeth, or are they long gone?