Reading List 2012

So I am a member of Goodreads, which basically a really good website if you love books, want to keep lists of all the books you've ever read, and would like to read reviews of books. You can form lists of books you want to read or are currently reading and keep everyone updated with how far you are in a book. It's really neat and I love updating my status on a book. It keeps me reading and it's cool because it will give you a percentage of how much you have completed a book. 
 In the beginning of the year I signed up for their 2012 Reading Challenge, where you can set a goal and then it helps you stick to that goal. I chose a goal of 25 books this year.

 I have currently read 12 books so I'm almost halfway done with the challenge. I thought I would share because I love books and reading. I think I've read some really great books and I have some on my To-read list that I'm excited about.

My List:

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak   *** 3 stars
2. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling   **** 4 stars
3. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson    ***** 5 stars
4. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon  *** 3 stars
5. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut    *** 3 stars
6. Pandora's Seed: Why the Hunter-Gatherer Holds The Key To Our Survival by Spencer Wells  ** 2 stars
7. The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet by Robb Wolf  ** 2 stars
8. The Help by Kathryn Stockett   **** 4 stars
9. Life of Pi by Yann Martel   **** 4 stars
10. Divergent by Veronica Roth   *** 3 stars
11. Insurgent by Veronica Roth   **** 4 stars
12. The Shack by W. Paul Young   *** 3 stars
13. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy  ** 2 stars
14. The Physiology of Taste, or Meditations on Transcendental Gastronomy by Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin ** 2 stars  (for class)
15. The Gastronomical Me by M.F.K. Fisher *** 3 stars (for class)
16. Slow food: Collected Thoughts on Taste, Tradition, and the Honest Pleasures of Food by Carlo Petrini  *** 3 stars  (for class)
17. Tender at the Bone: Growing up at the Table by Ruth Reichl  ****  4 stars  ( for class)
18. Closing the Food Gap: Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty by Mark Winne   *** 3 stars  (for class)
19. The End of Food by Paul Roberts  *** 3 stars  (for class)
20. Everyone Eats: Understanding Food and Culture by E.N. Anderson  ** 2 stars  (for class)
21. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling ** 2 stars
22. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins  **** 4 stars
23. The Passage by Justin Cronin (currently reading) Probably will make the 2013 list.

Haven't decided what is next after those last couple but I'm sure I'll be able to make up my mind when that time comes. :)  Happy reading!

Edit: I decided to count the books I had to read for class because I had a ton of reading to do. Our professors made us read entire books which prevented me from reading other books so these made the list. So I ALMOST met my goal!

Ending Result: 22/ 25 books. Not bad. I blame COMPs and school for not reaching my goal!

Olympics are here!!

Every four years the Olympics airs on TV for two weeks. And I become a slave to my television. I love watching the athletes compete in volleyball, beach volleyball, swimming, synchronized diving, gymnastics, rowing... pretty much anything but soccer. Sorry I've never been a huge soccer fan. Plus, my favorite coach of ALL TIME Mike Krzyzewski is the U.S. basketball team's coach!
GO USA!

The Opening Ceremonies were entertaining. As a fan of London and that being where Thomas and I want to go on our honeymoon. I loved seeing the historical theme of the ceremonies.
Favorite part of the ceremonies?

James Bond + Corgis = A win in my book.

I think I love the Olympics so much because it brings back memories of watching the '97 gymnastics team as a kid and looking up to those girls so much. Who didn't cry when Kerri Strug hurt her ankle and landed on the vault anyway!?

Shannon Miller on the far right was my favorite

My cousin and I were taking gymnastics at the time so of course we would talk about going to the Olympics one day, as we are jumping on our beds and attempting flips. (little did I know that my athletic ability was pretty much  nonexistent and that never really changed). It's just so much fun to pull for people that represent your country. You get so wrapped up in their personal stories, you can't help but root for them.  They pretty much become insta-celebrities after it's over.

Women's gymnastics is coming on tonight and I am so excited!
Go girls! and Go USA!

Update 7-26

The rest of my birthday was great! My mom organized a little get-together with family at a restaurant and it was so good to have everyone together. This does not happen as often as it should. I feel very loved and it really was special week for me.

 Despite all the birthday hoopla. I did hear some disappointing news the day we were supposed to go look at a specific house that Thomas and I absolutely were crazy about. The people renting it out called and said it had already been rented so we couldn't see it. I was crushed. It was a weird day. I think I was PMSing or something. I just took it way too personally than I should and pretty much refused to do anything for the rest of the day. It's a bit ridiculous but the next day I was over it. ON TO THE NEXT ONE...

We did look at a town home today which we really liked. So it's really just a matter of looking at another one to compare it to and hopefully we will have a future home set within the upcoming week or so. I am so ready! I am ready to box up my stuff and just have everything in one place. It will seriously help me out in so many ways. Plus I just want us to have OUR home.

I was very productive today. It's been my goal all week to just get stuff done that I've been thinking of doing for a while. I think it's the ever present beginning of school that is making me freak out and think I have not used my summertime wisely. This summer by no means has been a normal summer. I feel like I've been pulled in so many directions and have had so many things to organize, plan, and get prepared for. It's been so hectic that I really haven't enjoyed a vacation. This will be the first summer ever in my life, that I haven't been to Emerald Isle. I think the lack of relaxation in a far away place, keep in mind Emerald Isle is only 4 hours away but still, I need time in a place that isn't about wedding planning, babysitting, dreading school, and worrying about how I'm going to pay bills. Sorry if this comes off as whining but it's just sad to me.

So back to today... I love days where everything on your to-do list gets checked off. However, the theme of my summer is okay that's today's to-do list. Now you have 100 more things to do tomorrow! One thing that helps me deal with the stress is blogging which sadly doesn't get done that often (Sorry!).
Also, running helps which I did today and it was so enjoyable. Not everyday I say that but today was one of those days.

Okay so I'm going to post one of my favorite goofy Engagement pics to end this post. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to meee

I turn 24 today. I don't feel any different and all the attention a birthday gives you is almost uncomfortable for me. I am not one to like a lot of attention on me BUT it is nice to know everyone cares that much about me to call and send messages. The only thing I have planned for the day is to write this blog, eat doughnuts (it's my birthday!), listen to The Killers, then later go to dinner with my family  and then Thomas promised to take me to get cheesecake since I don't really want birthday cake. Sounds great to me!


So what have I been up to this summer?


Volunteering: I have been volunteering at the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle . Where I am basically an intern in the office. I prep their boxes for the cooking classes they teach at night, so I search the back with all the donated foods and find the items they need for their recipes. Other than that, I do odd-end jobs and work on document assignments. It's not bad and I only do it for 3 hours a week. I'm hoping that it will turn into a project that I can do for my practicum which I have to write a proposal for this fall. I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO DO. Hopefully an opportunity will arise and I will be 1,000x less stressed than I feel. It only gets worse the closer the semester approaches. 


Wedding Planning:We have our engagement photos.

I think they are great! My future father-in-law shot them. It was such a miserable day but I am happy with the result.


We have all the major things planned out. We have our caterer, florist, cake, venue, and photographer. I am so excited! Now we are trying to decide on our invitations. Save-the-dates are ordered. We still need to find a DJ, decide on our music, find us a ceremony officiant, and decide on other little details. And I still have 10 months! I love having the big things already decided. It takes a load off of me and I know that when the fall semester starts, time is going to be limited and wedding planning will be a nuisance. Something I didn't want it to be. There have been some bumps in the process but overall I've enjoyed having the time to make decisions and be happy with them. One of the perks of having a year and a half engagement. 


Running: What a love/hate relationship I have with running. It's crazy. I'll be good for 2 weeks and then go weeks without getting outside. Totally negating the progress I made. I love how I feel afterwards but the motivation to go every time is challenging. Thomas has started to run with me so it's good to have a companion but he tends to run faster than me (with those long legs of his) so I'm left in the dust most times. I'm starting it again and it feels good. It has been so hot lately that it is pretty miserable out there. However, I try to go either early in the day or right before sunset so it's not as bad.




Reading: I've been trying to read as much as possible this summer since it's almost impossible to do so in during the school semester. So far I've read the first 2 books in the Divergent series. So good. Very much like the Hunger Games but different. Very good summer read. I read through them in one week. Can't wait until the third book.

Other books that have I read and thoroughly enjoyed:

What's next? Well currently, Thomas and I are looking for a place to live. My lease is running out at the apt in Raleigh. And I only have one more year of grad school and we have already decided that we want to live in Greensboro or near the area. So we went ahead and figured that we would go ahead and get a place together before I graduate. We are looking at a house tomorrow and I am so excited because I really like where it is and it's such a cute house. Hopefully everything goes according to plan. The only thing that is going to suck is the drive to Raleigh 3 days a week. That will probably increase when I start my practicum but I make myself think that its only going to be for 6 months tops. 






I am going to try to update this blog more often. (I say this every time) A blog I just recently started following had an update that really inspired me to start documenting and writing about this time of my life. When there is so much going on and honestly getting married is a big transition, then after that it will be a job search. 


This is that post and I really love what it says 


Don’t slow down, don’t wish the big things were over. Don’t retreat from experiences in your own life. Live life now, and fully, and happily.


Great Advice!