Casual Fridays

It's 2019 and after getting January and February under our belts, I've created a grand total of 4 blog posts around here. Pretty sad considering that even the very first year I started this blog, I didn't even start till February and I made 10 posts that first month alone. But things are changing around here. I can't live to blog, y'all. It's a hobby, not my job. 

That being said, I do enjoy this little hobby and plan to keep it up. Just not quite at the same level I have in years gone by. I'll still be posting my yearly book lists and accomplishments, and the recaps aren't going anywhere. Starting this project has done wonders for my reading life, and I love that. I definitely still plan to keep blogging through our goal to #SeeAll50 (Cali post comin' atcha Monday!), and I love saving quotes that have struck me in my little Word for Wednesday posts. I'm sure I'll pop in with a Tuesday Confession every now and then, and I may crank out a Casual Friday post every once in a while to share some Link Love which is what I'm doing today. I guess what I'm saying is: nothing's changed. I'm just checking in and telling you that I'm not dead and there will probably be fewer posts from here on out. (Or maybe we're just going through a dry spell and things will pick back up again later.) Let's end this obviously well-thought-out stream of consciousness and talk about some links I've loved lately. 

@hannahisobelhancock : I have come out from under my rock and created an Instagram account. I'm sharing this first because this is why there will probably be very few (if any) Casual Friday posts from here on out. Casual Fridays have kindof been my excuse to share photos and talk about whatever I want so if you really liked that aspect of this blog, feel free to go follow me over on Instagram for your regular dose of my ramblings and cute pictures of my dogs. 

@booksugar : And while we're on the topic of Instagram, go check out my absolute favorite account. Maria takes the most gorgeous photos of her book collections and I can't get enough. 

Gifts for Booklovers : This gift guide for booklovers is perfect. My personal favorites (feel free to share this with my husband) are #1 (what booklover hasn't got bubbled up pages in some of their favorite books from reading in the tub?), #11 (I can envision exactly where I'd put this shelf in my house), #15 (because of course), #16 (which I would utilize on my new leaning shelf, duh), #29 (because how clever are these?!), #35 (perfect in and of itself, but if I could personalize the titles displayed—even better), and #38 (because how fun, right?!). 

Marry Me : Meghan Trainor's new music video (which doubles as her wedding video!) is the sweetest, and I love it. Even though the lyric "a fancy wedding's not for me" is absolutely hilarious given the video you're watching.

How Many Books Can You Read? : I found this article and corresponding test super interesting. I have no idea of the accuracy of it, but my results said that if I spent 20 minutes a day reading, I could read 26 books in a year. 

What Jane Austen Teaches Readers : This article on Austen's emphasis on readers and reading in her work was fun for this diehard fan.

Lip Sync Karaoke with John Legend : Jimmy Fallon plays the best games on The Tonight Show, but this one takes the cake. I died watching this. Please do more of these.

Little Tree Library : I can't. This is the best idea and the result is magical. Would love to visit and see it for myself.

Kindred Spirit Mailbox : And while we're on the subject, add this to my bucket list immediately. 

A Photo Appreciation of Libraries : Confession: I'm not much of a library patron. I prefer to buy and add to our home library. But these libraries make me swoon a little. 

Glitter Bomb Revenge : This is gold.

Yesterday : Movies coming out that I actually want to see?! 2019 comin' in hot. 

Poms : I am so there for this. 

In conclusion, I'm still here. I'm still reading. And I still love this tiny little corner of the internet. Here's a fancy picture I took for Instagram the other day of some of my blue books. Sharing here to show that I actually did get the books in the shot even if stupid Instagram cut the top and bottom off.

How has your life been in 2019 so far? What have you been reading? Have you read any of these blue books? Are you on Instagram? 

Casual Fridays

Y'all. I ate a salad as a whole meal this week. For those of you who have never met me in real life: this is major. I've been a salad hater all my life and if offered a salad on any given day my quick response is something along the lines of, "Salad is what real food eats" or "Bring me that chicken and gnocchi soup instead" or even just a basic, "Ew, yuck." But my husband is a huge fan of Zaxby's Cobb salads and every time he gets one, I always think it actually looks good. And this week, I got one for myself. Granted, I dumped salsa all over it because I have yet to find a salad dressing (outside of The Melting Pot's secret house dressing) that doesn't make me gag (which, come to think of it, is probably why I've never been a huge salad fan—who wants to eat dry lettuce??), but I actually really enjoyed it and would eat one again. It was super yummy. 10/10 would recommend to a friend.

I discovered this song by Florida Georgia Line this week, and it's been playing on repeat ever since. Don't ignore the fact that I put the actual video in this post: hit that play button. You need this feel good jam in your life. Also, if you can write lyrics that make me think of my husband, you will get my money every time. Insert some hearts and other appropriate emojis here.

Cody and I started a new puzzle, and it might actually be the death of us. We may never finish it. If you want to come over and take a stab at it, be my guest. I've been tempted to just put it back in the box, but after all the agony we went through to get even this far, I can't bring myself to do it. 

So after my last post mentioning my home pedi struggles, my best sisterfriend Lyndsey (who is my personal hair/makeup/fashion guru) texted me that I needed to get this brand for a smudge free experience, and, as always, she was so right. Loving this brand and loving this color. (Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Re-teal Therapy)

Speaking of feminine hygienic practices, I have two more things to relate. 1) I bought another Chapstick. Because I will never have enough and this Peaches-n-Cream one is my current obsession (along with that Florida Georgia Line song—have you listened to it yet?!). And 2) I gave up on the Native deodorant, y'all. It irritated my skin too much, and I finally realized there was no special way to apply it to avoid the irritation. If you don't have sensitive skin, I'd still recommend it. Their Coconut & Vanilla scent is the bomb.

Changing the subject, let's talk about something this blog is actually about: BOOKS. First of all, look at those pretty, pretty Penguin clothbound Jane Austen beauties. Personally, I would always rather buy 10 books secondhand than 1 quality new one, but I was telling my husband a few weeks ago that I'd eventually like to invest in a good set of Jane Austen's complete works, because currently my Jane Austen novels are all bound together in one paperback volume which is a little cumbersome to travel with (not that that's ever stopped me), and a few days after our conversation, this box set showed up at our door. Am I spoiled or what? I love that man for keeping me in pretty books. 

But since I just confessed that I'm a used book junkie, here's what I've found at The Book Shelter lately. And alert the media: last Saturday when I went, I walked out with just one book. My husband was so proud of me. Have you read any of these? I highly recommend Unbroken. It's one of the best biographies I've ever read. 

Let's catch up on some Link Love and call it a day.

100 Books to Read Before You Die : I love reading other people's book lists and lists of the greatest books of all time and just bookish stuff in general so I found this guy's process of creating this ultimate book list interesting, and I loved all the included links to the lists he used to help him create his own. 

Why? : This is heartbreaking. Every child should get a family. Politics are the worst, and the State Department sucks.

The Greatest Showman Medley : This is insanely good, and I can forgive him for not including my favorite song from the movie (Tightrope) because undertaking this at all is ambitious and he did it with impressive results. Mad props to this guy. 

Don't Be Yourself : The trend he addresses in this post has been bothering me for some time now, and I had been thinking about writing a post on this very topic myself, especially after reading Mere Christianity. But then I read this and thought, "He did it better. We'll just share this one." 

What have you been up to lately? What are you reading right now? 

And are you hooked on that S-I-M-P-L-E song yet??

Casual Fridays

Ok, I have a lot of thoughts today, but the first thing we need to talk about is this: I was recently on a day trip to Gatorland with a group of 5th and 6th grade girls from my church as a chaperone (really, this should have been my first clue). I work with these girls in my church's AWANA program. Miss Mary has been running this group since I was in 5th grade and whenever I go on these outings with them, in my mind, I'm still one of Miss Mary's girls. So all these adorable girls show up with their cute little colorful backpacks, and we're all talking and giggling and comparing our accessories fashion when I have this sudden stroke of enlightenment that I've owned the little drawstring backpack on my back—which I got during my college days—longer than these girls have been alive. 

And then I died. The end.

But seriously when did I go from being a 5th grade girl to being old enough to have a 5th grade girl?? I can't. Let's move on.

LPL was a few weeks ago, and the dynamic was so different this year. It was right down the road from where the Parkland school shooting happened and there were family members of some of the victims in attendance. As a Floridian, I know I was feeling pretty numb that weekend, and it was hard to enter in to some of the more joyful worship that the LPL crew always bring. They began the weekend with a beautiful tribute to the lives that were lost in the shooting, and it was good to have an outlet for the grief that that heinous crime brought. Ms. Beth gave us a little "Hydrology Theology," speaking on how the Holy Spirit is the spring of Living Water within us. The best part of the weekend though was being able to attend the SSMT Celebration after the official LPL event concluded. 2017 was my third year participating in SSMT, but I haven't made it to any of the celebrations before now because they're usually in Houston. It was so fun meeting some of my Siestas and cheering each other on as we recited our Scriptures to each other. 

#beachtherapy

February 17th was a day for pink books and teeny tiny broken shells. The waves that pound you somehow have a way of smoothing the rough edges, too. God is good in the midst of it all. 

"I have learned to kiss the wave that drives me against the Rock of Ages." 

-Charles Spurgeon-

And here are just some random photos of life lately....

The crazies got haircuts this week. Yay! for less dog hair flying around! Aren't they sweet?

This is what we call "training up a child in the way he should go."

This happened. 

That's a 523 on the electronic Yahtzee. 

I'm such a winner, you guys. 

And stop judging me for keeping an electronic Yahtzee game in my purse. 

And now I will share with you my Mini-Banana Muffin recipe which is a total homerun. When we get random cold snaps in March (not funny, Florida), I bake. Seriously, this recipe doesn't miss. You're welcome. 

Ingredients: 

3/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2-1 tsp cinnamon (I tend to go heavier on the cinnamon than the average human.)

2 ripe bananas (seriously, the browner the better)

1/4 cup + 2T sugar

2T + 2 tsp butter

1/2 egg

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees then mix your dry and wet ingredients separately. Add the dry mixture to your banana mixture and mix till smooth. Spray your muffin tin with non-stick spray and then spoon your mixture into it. Bake for 10 minutes and enjoy. This recipe yields exactly 24 muffins which is one mini-muffin tray. Perfect. 

Link Love

- HiHo Kids : Welcome to my latest youtube obsession. Literally.

- International Women's Day : My feelings exactly.

- Family First : And while we're on James Breakwell—I died. This guy is too funny.

- KFC/Taco Bell : This makes me laugh so hard. Maybe my sense of humor is really immature, but I just don't care. 

- Savchenko & Massot : Because just because the Olympics are over doesn't mean I'm ever going to stop watching this flawless routine by the Germans. Wow. Make sure to watch all the way to 6:00. 

- James & Cipres : Bonus figure skating video. It's not from the Olympics, but it's also mesmerizing. Be sure to watch till 5:15.

- I Ain't Doin' It (Easter Edition) : She just keeps gettin' better, y'all. 

And finally, my sister-in-love who is the prettiest pregnant fairy princess ever is due today, and I'm dying to meet my newest little niece or nephew. Let's go, Baby Oz!!

Jennifer Corcoran Photography

Casual Fridays

Hello internet! I have been pretty inconsistent with the Casual Fridays around here lately, but hello. We call them Casual Fridays for a reason. (note the emphasis on "casual") I will now proceed to throw a bunch of semi-recent photos at you and call this a Photo-Prompted Post. May the force be ever in your favor. Or something. 

First of all, books and reading because #priorities. Since our last Casual Friday post, I've finished reading a biography of Thomas Jefferson (not my fav), Anne of Green Gables (ALWAYS my fav), and I've started in on some super-fun Christmas-y reads that I've been saving for the end of the year. I also posted my recap of Murder on the Orient Express which brings me to my next photo/topic....

As promised, I am telling you what I thought of the movie. And I have to say: thumbs down. Now, before you go accusing me of being a total book purist and Scrooge or whatever else, hear me out. I went into this really wanting to love the movie. I had high hopes because, as I told my husband before we went, the book reads practically like a screenplay already. Straightforward. No rabbit trails. Good character description and dialogue. Not hard, right? But once again, Hollywood royally screwed it up. To be fair, this is the only Agatha Christie novel I have ever read so I have no idea if they were drawing from any other stories of Poirot to create a character with more depth, but even if they were: unnecessary. Just my opinion. Hate me if you must. If you want Murder on the Orient Express, skip the movie. Read the book. 

On to happier things like girlfriends and pumpkin pie soda. Yes, you read that right, and yes, I really loved it. I know I'm a little crazy about all the pumpkin things, but even I was a little skeptical about pumpkin pie soda. However, it was fantastic, and I wish I was sipping on an icy cold bottle of it right now. (Thanks, Emily!) The week of Thanksgiving, I got to have these sweet friends over for a little mini-Camp Gilead reunion. We all became forever friends working as counselors the summer of '07, and I'm so thankful we got to snag this little pocket of time to catch up with each other. We're not waiting another 7 years to do this again, right girls??

I can't not share this one. How cute are these three? This is a snapshot of my everyday, and I love it so much. These guys are best buddies, and I love watching them all entertain each other. Definitely makes my job easier. 

And the sweetest ballerina had her first recital. Remember how it was the biggest deal on my calendar? Well, we missed it. Because apparently, 3:00 means 2:50 and "recitals" these days only consist of one three-minute song. Oy. It's totally fine. We made her do her dance for us in the parking lot with the phone cranked up as loud as it would go, and it was the most adorable thing you ever did see. 

Speaking of phones, I am definitely living that flip phone life again (aka: my best life). My little iPhone 4 died a long, drawn out death, and, while that was a fun 2 and 1/2 year experiment, I can't say I'm sad it's over. You wouldn't believe how difficult it is to find a phone that doesn't have a touch screen these days. My little no-contract phone company (shout out to straighttalk!) only had ONE option. Good riddance, Smart phone.

My BFF Danette and I had a little matinee movie and lunch date last weekend, and it couldn't have been more perfect. If any of you are looking for a GOOD movie to see (unlike that Murder on the Orient Express trainwreck—oh yes, pun intended) you should definitely go see Wonder starring Owen Wilson and Julia Roberts. But don't go without tissues because, unless you are the actual Grinch, you will absolutely need them. LOVED it, and I always love spending time with this girl.

My amazing, hard-working man built me this beautiful fire pit this week. Y'all, I know everyone is getting snow and everything but it's cold in Florida. I mean, 55 degrees in the middle of the day? I can't. Anyway, not only did my husband build this fire pit with his bare hands, he tore an eyesore of a fig tree out of the ground and put the fire pit where the tree had been. He's my hero, and I love him. And I especially love sitting by a blazing fire with him, trying to find shooting stars during a meteor shower. Merry Christmas to me.

Our church's Christmas concert was this past Sunday, and I have to say, even though I was singing in the choir and not sitting in the audience enjoying it, I was so blessed to be there. Our choir director chose beautiful music and Scripture passages, and he worked hard with us and the orchestra to make everything excellent. And it came together. If you missed it, you missed out.

Don't miss out again. If you want to take some time out of the crazy that is December to quiet your soul and focus on Christmas, this is the service you want to come to. And you are welcome.

I'm going to wrap this post up with a little Link Love because why not?

- The Death of Reading is Threatening the Soul : Yes. Yes, it is.

- Sick People : Just stay home, y'all.

- Free Hugs : Because we just need a little of this in our lives sometimes.

- Arch-Nemeses : Because today's the day! Even though I probably won't get around to seeing it for a few more weeks.

- Food of Life : It's Christmas, y'all. You just eat whatever you want, okay? No judgment here.

P.S. I just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who donated to Compassion for my birthday. With your generosity, we raised more than enough money for 15 water filters. That's so awesome. Thank you. 

Casual Fridays

Where to even start? It's been a hot minute since we had a Casual Friday around here, and let me tell you why:

We got another puppy! I'm so kidding (what do you think I'm insane?!), but we did have him over for a few days while his family was out of town. We also went to Alabama for a weekend and finally got to spend time with my entire family. It's been way too long since we had all been together. Like, over two years, y'all. That's too long.

We had a Celebration of the Reformation concert at my church in which I was part of the choir, both puppies have had health issues lately, Halloween came and went, work, dentist, AWANA: suffice it to say, things have been busy around here.

But not too busy for me to read two books in the last two weeks. Sunset Lullaby by Robin Jones Gunn (the very last book from my 2017 book list!) and Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. 

What can I even say about this precious book? It was the perfect way to wrap up the series I've been reading for over 15 years now. I was actually bawling at the end. That's not an exaggeration. I was ugly-crying, y'all. In the best way. I'm not planning to recap this one, so let me just say that I really do think this was the perfect way to end the Christy Miller saga. However, Robin has announced that she has begun writing a new book to be the first in the Gather series in which Christy will be a main character. I have mixed feelings about this because it's all about a group of young moms encouraging and supporting each other during the child-raising years. I'm not in that club, but, as you know, I love Robin Jones Gunn and everything she touches. So....to read or not to read: that is the question.

There will be a recap of Murder on the Orient Express coming to a blog near you soon (hint: this blog, Monday) so that's all I'll say about that for now. I'm currently reading a biography of Thomas Jefferson (over halfway done!), Anne of Green Gables (for like, the hundredth time), and the Gospel of John. Which brings me to something I've always wondered about: what do you think the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist was like before Jesus' ministry years? I mean, they were related and John's mother certainly understood who Jesus was. Don't you think she told John stories growing up about the miraculous circumstances surrounding his own existence, his father's dumb days, that his cousin Jesus was the Messiah? Do you think John and Jesus ever met each other and played together at family reunions when they were boys? I wonder about these things.

Did you really think you'd get out of this post without me gushing at some point or other about my nieces? Let's just start with the top left: are they not the cutest trick-or-treaters on the planet? Especially that little ladybug. I can't. And what does the top right say to you? Pure joy? Correct. Bottom left: my oldest niece is a ballerina. Not for Halloween, she has started taking ballet classes. Her recital at the beginning of December is literally the biggest deal on my calendar right now. And obviously, I am my niece's B.F.F. That goes for all of them, bottom right there is just the mascot. Insert all the heart-related emojis imaginable. 

We have completed another puzzle, you guys. And when I say "we" I really just mean "me". I did this one almost completely by myself. And I finished it in like a week. I was addicted to this puzzle. I need to go get some custom frames made for this one and the pumpkin one. 12x34 inches. I'll probably go to Michael's but does anyone know of any other place that does custom framing that might be better (read: cheaper)?

I gave myself a pedicure recently, and I once again achieved smudge-free status! I think my BFF Lyndsey's trick of doing thin coats and letting them dry completely is the key. My toes were sorely in need of some TLC, and I actually went to Tips & Toes for a real pedi, but after waiting over 45 minutes with not even an acknowledgement from anyone that I was even there (and three other ladies coming in for scheduled appointments and no one acknowledging THEY were there either), I left and went home to do it myself. I mean, can you really beat having two puppies snuggled up to you with Gilmore Girls on the TV while your toes dry? I think not.

And speaking of Gilmore Girls, I've finally decided that I'm not #TeamJess or #TeamLogan or #TeamDean (I can't even believe there are #TeamDean people in the world, but apparently they exist); I've decided I'm #TeamMarty (which could also be called #TeamNakedGuy if we wanted to get cute about it). He definitely got the shaft and if Rory really does turn out as horribly as A Year In The Life made her out to be, then Marty's the only guy on her level. Jess is too good for her. Yeah, I said it. 

And if you're still reading, you may remember from back at the beginning of this never-ending post that I mentioned my poor, sweet puppies having health drama lately. Colonel somehow got a staff infection which meant we had to shove pills down his throat twice a day for two whole weeks, and now Major is getting over pink eye which means we've been putting some kind of steroid goop on his eye all week. (Don't get me started.) They are the best, but they have been a bit on the high-maintenance side lately. Bless.

Ok. We've been here way too long. I just have to throw in a quick plug for my latest obsession: Heather Land - I Ain't Doin It. She is hilarious and you need her in your life.

Also, my birthday is one week from today. Please consider donating to Compassion in honor of me turning 30. So far, we've raised enough money for 4 water filters and we're halfway to a 5th one, but if we're going to make it to 30, we've got a ways to go.

Much love, homies. Over and out.

Casual Fridays

Y'all. Yesterday, I bought a stick of deodorant off the internet for $12. I'm not sure if I've lost my mind for good or if I'm just that desperate for some good deodorant. But I somehow found my way to this blog post about the top 5 best deodorants for women and the next thing I know, I'm buying overpriced armpit perfume over the computer. I've tried just about everything there is out there, and here's the conclusion I've come to: the deodorant industry is a total scam and the societal pressure to not walk around smelling like a normal person is one big hoax designed to get us to spend our money and stress-sweat on stuff that is just going to condition our bodies to need more of it hence spending more money and stress-sweat which causes us to think we need more of it because of all the stress-sweating. Vicious cycle. I'm very skeptical about "all-natural" products, but they have a money-back guarantee if I'm not 100% satisfied for any reason so what have I got to lose, right? I'll keep you posted on this. 

As if we hadn't already zoomed past the TMI sign 3 miles ago and are now lost in the land of "Did she actually hit Publish on this post?!", I've also decided to tell you that my tolerance level for BS goes to zero when the time of my uncleanness is upon me. I don't know why patience is the first virtue to eighty-six it when my special lady time comes around, but bless my husband for sticking with me for 62 months of this madness so far. I'm not sure why he keeps loving me, but I'm thankful he does. Can I get a shout-out from all the other hormonal women out there living with saintly men? 

Okay, we have got to bring this train back into the station. How did we even get here?! I apologize for the total lack of decorum today. Here are some cute photos courtesy of the '90s that will hopefully distract you and make you forget everything you just read.

I mean, come on. How cute are those kids?!

Link Love

- The Real Threat : Me.

- Wedding Hashtags : I don't know why this made me laugh so hard, but it did. No offense to all you cute couples out there. 

- #imomsohard : I want to be friends with these girls. 

Did I overshare today? Any of you ladies have a deodorant you swear by? What virtue leaves town when you're not feeling well? I can't be the only human being to have trouble with that....

Casual Fridays

Good morning, internet! No work for me today so I actually slept till like, 8:30. It was luxurious. And now I'm going to try to crank out a blog post in 10 minutes because this shaggy mess has to go to the vet today. (Haircuts coming Tuesday.)

So let's get to it because now we're down to 5 minutes due to me taking that picture of Major for your visual stimulation. You're welcome.

First up: I have been remiss in not plugging my amazing sister-in-law sooner on the blog. She is a licensed massage therapist, and y'all, her hands are like magic. I went in a couple weeks ago for a massage, and I came out feeling like a brand new, more relaxed version of myself, and I talked to my husband about how I need to go see her at least once every other month from now on. More, if I can swing it. You need to do yourself a favor and contact her ASAP for a massage. Husbands, Valentines Day is coming up and you will get major points if you send your wife to Dakota for a massage. I'm serious. I could wax on and on about how wonderful she is but the clock is ticking here. Call her. Text her. E-mail her. Do whatever you have to do to have her massage you. #worthit

This year is an SSMT year, and I am trying to memorize Psalm 34. For more information about what SSMT is, click here. In 2015, I memorized 1 Corinthians 13 along with a few other verses. The goal is to memorize two verses a month (24 total for the year). The point is to be meditating on your chosen verses as close to constantly as possible and really memorizing them for life. Hence, the manageable rate of one verse every two weeks. The first year I participated, I tried to do more than one verse every two weeks and failed miserably. Anyway, I'm sharing here because 1) if you're interested in joining the challenge, it's not too late! and I would definitely encourage you to do so. You can enter your first verse here and your second verse here. And 2) if you see me at church or around town, ask me to say my verses to you. I'll take all the accountability I can get!

Ok, I was officially out of time 2 minutes ago, but just a couple more things real quick. I discovered this amazing blog a few days ago while google-ing recommendations for a good James Madison biography. If you've been following me long, you might know it's a personal goal of mine to read at least one biography of every U.S. president, and last year, I decided to go in order. Well, the guy who writes this blog has been reading through the presidents for the past 5ish years, but he hasn't just read one bio on each, he's read LOTS. And he reviews them and gives his recommendations for the best ones. And he does this in his spare time as a hobby. He's my new hero. Definitely check out his blog even if you're not interested in reading the presidents. He's inspiring. 

Ok, I really do have to go now. Let me leave you with this photo that my BFF Amy sent me this week. It came up in her Facebook memories, and I love it. Friendship is such a gift. Have a wonderful weekend!

Casual Fridays

Christmas Eve ~ 2016

Hello there and a happy 2017 to you! I can hardly believe we've made it into another new year, but as my dad always says, I'll be blinking and then getting out all my Christmas decor again. The old saying is true: the days are long, but the years are short. The longer I live, the shorter the years seem to get. Why is that? 

Anyway, enough introspection, if you're new around here: welcome! That's me with my smokin' hot husband. I blog about books. I decided a couple years ago that it was time to stop collecting all the classics with the intention of reading them "someday" and actually dive in and start reading. Blogging has become a fun hobby for me and a great way to catalogue what I've thought about the books I've read and to save some of the more poignant quotes I've come across as I've read them. 

If you're interested in keeping up with this little blog, there's a box over to your right (if you're viewing on your phone, you'll have to scroll all the way down and hit "Web View" in order to see it) where you can enter your e-mail address to have my posts come directly to your Inbox. 

Moving on, let me tell you something: we have had a veritable windfall of books around here lately. And since (as I just mentioned) that's what this blog is all about, I'm about to inundate you with the details of all our new treasures whether you like it or not. 

Look at all the pretty, pretty books. It's like Christmas! No, actually, it just was Christmas. Hence, the windfall. Let's work our way from left to right, shall we? 

First of all, if you'll take a second to recall this post and this post, you'll find that my husband already went above and beyond with the bookish goodness on my birthday. I decided not to include them in this photo because 1) I've already talked about them on the blog and let's not be repetitive, and 2) I don't know if I could have fit them in the picture anyway. 

Ok, so all the way to the left on the bottom of the first little stack we have The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. This book has been on my Life List for some time, and my awesome mommy-in-law got it for me for my birthday. I did not even think twice about putting it on my book list for this year. On top of The Hiding Place, we have 1984 and Animal Farm both by George Orwell sitting next to Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein. We picked up these three books in a funky little used book shop we found while wandering the streets of Key West the weekend after my birthday. Next to Shel, we've got some Dr. Seuss books: The Butter Battle Book and Daisy-Head Mayzie. Cody always gets me Dr. Seuss books for Christmas. He's the best. After Dr. Seuss, there's a Debbie Macomber book called Angels at the Table that my Gramma gave me for Christmas. I read my first Debbie Macomber book a couple weeks ago, and the plot was original and interesting so I'm looking forward to seeing what else she has to offer. The next stack are books that Cody and I got for each other for Christmas: Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck, Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (this one made it on my 2017 book list!), and The Deerslayer by James Fenimore Cooper. I'm definitely looking forward to reading The Deerslayer after I enjoyed The Last of the Mohicans so much. 

For Christmas, my parents gave us each gift cards to Barnes & Noble, and--surprise, surprise--they didn't even last us a week. We hightailed it to a Barnes & Noble and picked up another year's worth of reading material. A gorgeous collectible edition of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Daniel Deronda and Middlemarch both by George Eliot, and Never Go Back and Personal both by Lee Child. Cody's pretty into the Jack Reacher series right now. To top it off, we ordered a beautiful collector's edition of The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer and a Louisa May Alcott box set of Little Women, Little Men, and Jo's Boys which have not yet arrived. I am extremely disappointed to inform you that neither I nor my husband has been able to find a single copy of Jo's Boys (or Little Men, for that matter) in any bookstore we've been in lately. Which I think is outrageous. But never fear: we have the internet. 

As if all this wasn't way more than enough, I walked into church Wednesday night and there was a table of random odds and ends up for grabs and sitting right on one corner was a stack of four Sisterchicks novels by Robin Jones Gunn. Can you even believe it?! The Sisterchicks series are some of the only books by Robin Jones Gunn that I don't already own and haven't read. I mean, honestly. I don't even know what to do with myself right now. 

Is anyone still with me? Have I gone way overboard? Are you completely blown away that among all these new jewels, only a few made it onto my 2017 book list? I'm pathetic, right? I think it's safe to say that I officially own more books that I haven't read than books I have and ohmygosh I just realized I forgot some. Let's change the subject. 

Link Love

- What Healing Looks Like : Excellent quote from Francis A. Schaeffer.

- Living in a Library : Um, only my dream come true!

- The Grinch, Puppy Dogs, & Thoughts About the Heart : Love these thoughts from Switchfoot's Tim Foreman.

- Punctuality : Yes, yes, yes. Thankful for a dad who not only taught me the importance of being on time, but has always modeled it so well.

- Baby Stella : If there was one of those live feed things on this baby elephant, I would waste waaaaay too much time watching it. So cute!!

And speaking of cute, I can not even handle this adorable photo of my niece. I'll end with this in hopes that you'll forgive me for my endless monologue about all the books.

Have you read any of the books I mentioned? Do you have a collection or hobby that other people get sick of hearing about? This is a safe space. I promise I won't judge. Do the years seem short to you or do they drag?

P.S. Because I just can't help not telling you the books I left out: my dad got me John Adams by David McCullough for my birthday--it's on my book list. We also bought The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald from Barnes & Noble. There. I think that's everything. The end.

Casual Fridays

Well, it has been a hot minute since we've had a Casual Friday around here. I attribute this to getting used to being a substitute teacher (oh did I forget to mention that? I'm a sub for Polk County, y'all), being dragged closer and closer to Election Day (this is not a fun one--I'm sure you've noticed), and just general life and busy-ness. I've rejoined the choir at my church after a 10-year hiatus, AWANA is in full swing, and Bible study has started back up. I've barely been home. So let's take a breath and catch up with each other. I think I'll dump some recent photos on ya and call it a Photo-Prompted Post, but don't worry, it won't be as intense as the last one. *insert one of those winky faces here*

Dogs first because aren't they sweet and haven't you missed them? They are loving this cool weather and being outside which is a nice change of pace for Colonel since he typically just goes out to do his business and then comes straight back to the door and sits there until I let him back in. Major, of course, is just always happy. It doesn't matter if it's 110 degrees outside, he still loves it. He loves everything.

And now one of us because people are important too. Arguably more important than dogs even. This was just this past Sunday after Sunday morning service and we took it because we were looking and feeling fabulous. I mean, look at us. I have one smokin' hot husband, you guys. 

This was from our last big Class of '06 outing. We planned several fun activities this summer to celebrate the fact that it's been 10 years since we graduated from high school, but this was the Grand Finale, and it was so fun. We ate like kings and just had a generally great time together like we always do. I love these people, and I loved getting to reconnect with everyone so much this summer. Let's not wait another 10 years to keep doing fun things together. 

My BFF Erin randomly texted me this photo this week. I had not ever even seen it, and I absolutely love it. This was from our Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl (2012, I think?). Every year, a huge gaggle of us go down to the soccer fields and work up a hearty appetite with a little friendly competition. This is my brother and me with Aunt Carol and Uncle Jim. Love, love, love it.

I mentioned that Bible study has started back up, and this is what we're working through right now. I can't get enough of this one, and it's impossible to believe that we're already on the very last week of it. I'm sad we're coming to the close of this precious study. If you're looking for a good Bible study to sink your teeth into, I highly recommend Fight Back With Joy by Margaret Feinberg. 

I think this is the first year since we've been married that Cody had to miss out on the Polk Fall Fest because of work and that's a bummer because it's a fun tradition we have together, but I got to spend it walking around with these two beautiful women so it wasn't a total bust. I don't think I've seen TamiLeigh since last year's Fall Fest, and we decided that absolutely wasn't acceptable so she came over for lunch yesterday. Isn't it just the best catching up with longtime friends? I love these sweet women, and I also love that there was a stand at the Fall Fest selling pumpkin-spiced sweet tea in orange mason jars. $5 well spent.

This was also from Sunday after church. We went to Manny's to celebrate Christina's last birthday in her 20s. (Don't even get me started.) If you've been reading this blog long, you know these are two of my favorite girls on the planet and have been for a long time. I love that we still live in the same town and can hang out on a Sunday afternoon. (That was a veiled plea for you to never leave me.)

And while we're getting all caught up today, how about some Link Love?

- The Scandal of Election 2016 : Yes. Ms. Beth says (much more eloquently) everything I've been feeling during this rough election year. Thank you.

- Julie Andrews is Getting Her Own Netflix Show : If you're anything like me, it's going to take you a minute to pick your jaw back up from off the floor. I'm pretty psyched about this. 

- Latest Features : Listen. I could share every single comic this guy posts. But then we'd be here all day because he posts every.single.day. He is hilarious and you should seriously follow him. I shared this one in particular because it's just so me.

So are we sufficiently caught up? Well, we will be once you leave me a comment and fill me in on what's happening in your life these days. Have a wonderful weekend and soak up these last sweet days of October!

Casual Fridays

This past Sunday night, my house was full to the brim with sweet friends. Sweet friends that I graduated from high school with 10 years ago. (I must have graduated when I was 14, right? Oh leave me be in my denial!) No matter what age we are, I can't believe it's been a whole decade since my high school days, a whole decade of marriages, children, careers, and moves, and I loved every minute of having these people laughing, playing, eating, and talking in my home. I hope each and every one of you knows I love you and you are always, always, always welcome here!

Colonel's Corner/Major's Mischief

Well, yesterday it was Major's turn to go under the knife. That's right, there will never be any little Majors running around because Major no longer has the necessary equipment to spawn. Bless. And to be honest, I think Colonel was more stressed about it than Major was. I mentioned last week that Colonel doesn't do well with separation, and boy was he a mess yesterday. When I got home and Major wasn't with me, that was it. Colonel could not be consoled, and he would not let me out of his sight (or reach) all day. And when it was finally time to go get Major, I ended up just taking Colonel with me because when I picked up the car keys, we had a meltdown. He hasn't left Major's side since. Annoying? A little. Incredibly sweet and endearing? Totally.

Link Love

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life - Trailer : Hey-o! We've got an air date at long last! Anyone who wants to revisit Stars Hollow this fall is welcome to come over to my house for Pop-Tarts and coffee because duh. 

www.jamesbreakwell.com : I recently discovered this webcomic, and it immediately made the very short list of websites I must check every single day. Hilarious.

Onion News: Nation Down to Last 100 Grown-Ups : And speaking of hilarious: this article, right here. I'm not a huge fan of the Onion News normally, but this one nailed it. 

Sheet Pan Roast Chicken Dinner : My sister made this for me while I was in Japan, and YUM. She used boneless thighs, and I will definitely be adding this to the monthly rotation in my house fo' sho. Thanks for the recipe, Caroline!

Have You Read the Most Popular Book From the Year You Were Born? : I found this list of the most popular books by year from 1930 to 2016 very intriguing. I think it'd be interesting to read through it. (with exceptions, of course, because when it comes to books like Twilight or 50 Shades - #iwillnever) Incidentally, I have not read the most popular book from the year I was born: Patriot Games by Tom Clancy.

Christy's Coconut Contest : Robin Jones Gunn has a fun little contest going on and the winner gets her own Phil. 1:7 coconut mailed to her from Hawaii! And if you've ever read the Christy Miller series, you'll understand the significance of that.

And last on the agenda for today: pretty, pretty books and handsoaps! There's just something about getting a package in the mail. Even when you ordered it yourself and you know it's coming and you know what it is, it's still just fun when it finally gets to your mailbox and you get to open it, amiright? You may remember the amazing sale Robin Jones Gunn had going on and the sweet deal I got on books that have been on my wishlist for a while now. Well, they came on Wednesday and now you get to know what they are. Gardenias for Breakfast, Christy Miller's Diary, and Departures. Even though I'm dying to know when the new Christy books are going to be released, I'm super-pumped about these three. I've never read any of these before, and I've wanted to for a very long time. And what's with all the handsoaps, you ask? Bath & Body Works had a 10 for $30 sale going on and, in case you didn't know, that's like, a million percent off the normal price so really, who could pass that up? Not me.

Well, somebody stop me. I think that's about enough uselessness for one day. Which of my new Robin Jones Gunn books should I read first? (I'm leaning towards Departures.) What's your favorite Bath & Body Works scent or product? Did you go to your high school reunion or do you keep in touch with high school friends (besides just checking out their pictures on facebook which totally doesn't count)? What was the most popular book from the year you were born? Any tips on how to keep Major down during his recovery, poor thing? Have a fabulous weekend after you leave me a comment.