*My little Honey Boo Boo Dog got his teeth cleaned on Monday and had a little surgical procedure to biopsy his nose so we can see how severe his autoimmune situation is. You guys I WAS A WRECK. Both Garrett and I slept terribly the night before knowing that I’d be dropping him off in the morning to eventually get put under for a period of time, and man it was a dark time until our fluffy white dog was back home dominating the couch and providing snuggles free of charge. I’m so glad we did both procedures but I NEVER want to do that again. It was a long 8 hours to be away from our little pooch, not knowing his status and when they finally called to say that he was awake and groggy (but wagging his tail, YAY!) I felt like I had dropped a 100 lb sandbag off my back. Of course he has to wear the cone when we aren’t around until he gets his nose stitches out, which is the saddest thing ever. But we are just GLAD HE IS HOME AND OK!
*The other day I found myself longing for the days when I was reading the Twilight series. How sad is that, you guys? I’ve read some good books since, of course, but I have not been fully WRAPPED UP in a set of books since that damn Twilight series and I miss it. This is the perfect time of year to hang a “Don’t Bother Me, I’m Reading” sign around my neck and curl up under a blanket or in a piping hot bathtub. I want to read a cliff hanging series of books that I can’t put down! I’m all for suggestions.
*So the other night I had a totally spiritual moment while watching Dawson’s Creek. I KNOW. Bear with me for a second. So Garrett and I have been slowly making our way through the series for months now and we have officially reached the college years. Dawson’s Dad just…uh, well…you know if you have already watched it (the fact that I feel compelled to not spoil a 15 year old series is probably stupid, but I do) and Katie Holmes is off at college and there is this scene where her roommate walks in and is bitching about the boys who like her vs. the boys who like Katie Holmes and she makes the comparison that Katie Holmes has all these Tom Cruise type gentlemen who are into her.
You guys, it was 2001. How freaky weird is it that in 5 years she would be MARRIED TO HIM? I mean, so weird, right? She had no idea! Both Garrett and I kind of looked at each other like man, I bet it was not even a possible thought in her mind. So then of course I went down this giant rabbit hole of thought about what will happen to all of us in the future that we CAN’T EVEN FATHOM right now. Obsessive planners like me need to have these Dawson’s Creek moments every once in a while, just to give ourselves permission to just let life happen you know? It’s all unfolding as it should. Should we do a group Om or something?
Nah, let’s skip it. 🙂
*So on the opposite end of the spiritual spectrum, I need some good leggings, you all. I have some cheapy $8 Target leggins but they are flimsy and not that warm and sort of for looks only and seem like they are one wash away from completely unraveling even though they are not that old, so I wonder: Where does one buy some good, warm-ass leggings? You people who live in cold weather states have to have suggestions. I don’t even mind if it’s a bit of an investment.
*On the non-investment spectrum, you guys NEED NEED NEED these sweatpants. They are about the most comfortable, soft, awesome sweatpants known to man. There is my PSA. I am not even joking, they are PERFECT.
*If you don’t eat dairy, please disregard this message. If you do, please eat this Jalapeno Popper Chicken Chili. I don’t eat beans and corn so I omitted those ingredients and then served it over a giant bowl of roasted kale and it was Tasty Town!
*Lame Technology Question Alert: We are looking into getting some sort of tablet, is this what they are called? Basically I want an iPad but I don’t want to spend a million dollars because I am primarily going to use it for looking at recipes while cooking in the kitchen. Also, I’d like to be able to read Kindle books. IMPART YOUR WISDOM ON ME PLEASE! Do you have one? Do you love it? Did you buy an iPad and want to convince me it totes worth the cash to just have an iPhone with a bigger screen? Let’s discuss!
*I have more down vests than a normal person should but I really want one with a fur hood and I just wanted to let you know so that you won’t be shocked next season when I show up on Real Housewives of New Jersey with huge hair wearing one. Where I would belong.
And how are YOU?
The All Souls triology! I’m not usually a witch-book fan, but I read the first two in days. Literally.
The third doesn’t come out til next summer, but dive into A Discovery of Witches. http://deborahharkness.com/all-souls-trilogy/
I second a “Discovery of Witches” and recommend the Fever series by Karen Moning. “Darkfever” is the first. http://www.amazon.com/Darkfever-Fever-Series-Book-1/dp/0440240980
The Divergent series is amazing. I have a google nexus tablet and love it!
Omg, I was going to recommend the Divergent series too! I picked up the first one last week b/c of my bookclub and couldn’t put it down. I finished all three books within the week. When I was reading it, I remember thinking that I haven’t been this wrapped up in a book since Twilight.
Second the Fever series – fun, sexy and completely captivating! I’d also love to know the answer to the leggings question because TOO MANY OPTIONS and I can’t see paying $50 for ‘not pants’.
These are pretty much the best leggings I have found:
http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=14675&vid=1&pid=641271012
I pretty much wear them all year long. I wear them to walk the dogs, to work out, and then under dresses once the temp drops here (in CT, it gets cold!!). They are soft, and long enough (I’m 5’8″), and honestly, I have a pair that’s at least 2 years old and they are just starting to wear on the inside seam in the thigh area. I usually pick them up at the outlet for $10 a pair, but online they are almost $15. Worth it! I swear by the Heather Dark Grey color. I literally have 3 pair in grey and 2 in black. They fit me the best out of any other leggings I have found.
Try “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt. I can’t put it down. It’s the best book I’ve read in AGES…also, I have a Google tablet that I love. I have the Kindle app on it and it works great for reading and everything else I use it for.
The Mortal Instruments. I’m on the fourth book in the series and it’s all: teen love/teen drama, vampires, warlocks, demons, spells…and a lot of bitch fighting. Not very original but very easy to read and quite entertaining. Of course – as with Twilight – I’m purely reading it for the teen romance parts.
I’m 38.
Not sure if you’ve read the Dublin Murder Squad series of books by Tana French (I think there are 4 with Faithful Place being the first but they could be read out of order) – SO good. I had one on a business trip and paid a ridiculous amount for hotel room WiFi so I could download two more to read on the rest of the trip. The Passage and The Twelve by Justin Cronin were also in the “leave me alone I’m reading” category for me (the third in the series won’t be released until next year).
Love. love love my iPad. I have Well Fed on it and love being able to take it right to the kitchen with me then wiping it off after I splatter it. Plus I have Safari for browsing and maps for trip planning and spreadsheets of places to go in my travels and games to play for down time and…
I’m currently reading 9 Thriller Killers. Not a series but nine full length mystery/suspense books grouped together into one e-book. I’m on book four and stayed up too late last night because I couldn’t sleep until I finished book three. Each one I have read so far is very different from the others but they all draw me in and keep me there. Very good writing!
Forgot to say I have the Kindle app on my iPad so I can read any type of book.
I second the Divergent series. The movie is being filmed now. I have an ipad that I love.
Google Nexus, seriously. I have one and LOVE it. My bff has an iPad mini and honestly, I can’t tell the difference in speed or quality. LOVE it.
On the legging front:
http://www.rankandstyle.com/top-10-list/best-black-leggings/
I have a Google Nexus and love it. Take it everywhere with me. I’m not an idevice person, so I wanted something that was a tablet with a nice established list of apps. That being said, the Microsoft Surface RT is supposed to be pretty sweet. We have the first one around the house, and they’re pretty fun. Like a mini laptop but also a tablet.
the ipad, imo, is not worth the investment. you can just as good for less. it’s just not an apple product then.
Have you read the Cinder series yet? Cinder and Scarlett are the only two out at the moment, but I really enjoyed them.
Aww man, you had to go and tell me you loved the Twilight series. Sad face.
I third the Divergent series though. They are a bit over-the-top at times, but I enjoyed the first two quite a bit.
I have an Ipad and love reading books on it and do use it for recipes and such. Right now I am reading The Dinner by Herman Koch, it’s really good.
No sweat pants for me. All I can think of is the Seinfeld show where they tease George, telling him “once you wear sweat pants it’s like you have given up on life”. I also think that it is a slippery slope into not paying attention to my waist line. If the pants are a little snug I am thinking about what I am eating.
Belle swears by these leggings (http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/zella-live-in-leggings/3035710?siteId=J84DHJLQkR4-xcP0ufq3CBKWsIwDm9AX2Q) and I tend to take her advice on such things.
I have an iPad. I love it. Especially with having an iPhone, the way they work together is amazing. My POV on this is that every other tablet is trying to be an iPad, so why not just go with the iPad in the first place? I use mine far more than I ever thought that I would. Especially with the new ones coming out on Friday, so light and everything, and with as much as you travel… Just please don’t be like my mom, ask my advice, let me spend an hour telling you why I think you should get this one, turn around and buy a freaking kindle fire and then ask me how to do things on it because it just doesn’t work… Grrrrrr. Moms.
I realize I’m showing my Melbourne location with this book series, but if you like fun, sassy, women-power in the 1920s, Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher series is absolutely fantastic. She is seriously bad-ass. http://www.phrynefisher.com/
Addicted to the Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare! It provided me with that same obsession/must read as Twilight.
* I will give another vote for the Divergent series.
* I am one book into the Legend series and am enjoying it.
* If you are craving a book series that combines ‘The Hunger Games’ with ‘The Bachelor’ I would recommend ‘The Selection’ and its sequel ‘The elite’ by Kiera Cass. There is a third book in the series but it doesn’t come out until next year.
* If you would prefer just a single book (not a series) I highly recommend ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ by Kevin Kwan. I was so fascinated by this book!
We have an Asus Transformer and a Kindle Fire (first generation). I do not recommend the Kindle Fire – it’s a restricted version of a full-featured Android tablet, with Amazon branding. The Transformer is a full-featured Android tablet. You can use it as a tablet only, or you can purchase a keyboard that also doubles the battery life and adds extra protection to the screen – nearly making it into a super-slim laptop (like a MacBook Air). Cheaper than iPad too.
Hi Holly,
You always get a giggle from me. Now I’d like to do something for you! CAbi has the most amazing ponte leggings! Super comfy, great coverage & a slew of pieces to match season after season!
http://Www.cabionline.com
Divergent Series!! & Immoral mentioned above are both good…..Hunger Games as well
Divergent series all the way! Hunger Games was better written but I didn’t get wrapped in it the way I did with Divergent.
I’m glad Buster is doing well, it is nerve wracking having to leave the pets! I am curious about his front leg though-I couldn’t tell by the pictures-are those markings or did he have a procedure done on his leg?
That is eerie about Dawson’s Creek-I wonder if Katie Holmes ever thought back on that scene!
Fern Michaels Sisterhood Series.. just finished the Gotcha! last night and I loved it! http://www.fernmichaels.com/series-list/
I adore these yoga pants from Athleta for yoga AND as a cute legging!
http://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=97458&vid=1&pid=919108&mlink=46793,7165480,PBPaisley10_22&clink=7165480
Yes, they are an investment but worth it!
And, apparently, the Universe disagrees that I need those sweatpants because the Old Navy site just froze when I tried to place my order!
Warm leggings from Loft, Eddie Bauer , NY&Co. Form an upstate newyorker! Yup it gets cold here.
1. Leggings — Zen Knits. The best leggings I’ve ever owned and I wear them for work constantly.
2. Tablet — Nook HD+. Not just saying that because I work there. It’s now powered by Google Play so you can download your Kindle App and read books on it. It’s the tablet I got to replace my iPad (terrified someone will mug me for it on the train to and from work, totally valid fear in Chicago.
3. Yay for Buster being okay!
4. Book series — All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. OR The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. No joke, I’ve been reading the Gabaldon series since the 7th grade, circa 1991. The last book finally has a release date.