Freedom Friday!

I didn't sleep at all last night. I wrote a 10-pager for 6 pages. For the first time in high school and college, I turned work in late. Well, an hour late isn't a big deal is it? Especially since my prof was in Chicago till tonight. :) After turning my paper in, I napped for awhile. I didn't get much of it. I woke up and decided to get some dinner at Sunny Point with Yance and Kris. Well, I ate my sweet potato fries and had a slice of peanut butter and jelly cake rather than eating my chicken sandwich. I was nicely full after the fries, but I had my heart set on the peanut butter and jelly cake. So, my sandwich left uneaten because fries are more perishable. I never take home salads because I know it'll go bad.

Yancey asked to have people over tomorrow for his film project. The house is a mess. We need to clean badly especially since my mom is coming on Sunday. All of tomorrow will be spent cleaning. Sunday will be spent doing my sociology paper unless I can fit it in sometime tomorrow. Yance and I have been watching "Dexter" for the last three or four hours instead of doing work or cleaning or sleeping. Wow, we're lazy.

I had discussed some travels this summer. Maybe to Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina or even Austin, Texas if I can make it over there. sfgirlbybay recently posted some pictures of her trip to Savannah and I'm stoked. As a history major, I love the historical architecture. Moss on trees, however, sounds creepy. The pictures also reminded me of the books I read by Rebecca Wells, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Little Altars Everywhere, and Ya-Yas in Bloom. The books are set in Louisianna. Sometimes I want to live further South till I realize the little life I dream of in the 1950s would have lots of limitations on minorities.

Instead, I fit better in a modern world, but I can still decorate with mid-century modern decor. MadeByGirl showcased this gorgeous home. A little too floral for me, but I still enjoy the home and many of the furnishings, like the table with flowers in the living room.

Oh, revelation as I was looking at the Rebecca Wells web site just now, I found that she has a new book, The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder.

Friday: books, shower, chocolate milk, and rugs

I have a problem finding good rugs, but here are a couple.

Baroque Shearling Area Rug in Mango or Merlot from $789-3675



They look so plush! Speaking of plush, I just took a super cold shower. I know that doesn't appear to be "plush," but the after shower was nice. I take warm/hot showers normally though cold showers are apparently better for my hair and I always feel good coming out of a cold shower.

I can relax now that it's Friday - well somewhat cause I still have a paper! I'm mostly excited because I bought a new book, I'm A Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson, from the used book store, Mr. K's and light chocolate Silk milk. :) Yes yes, I bought the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn last weekend and didn't read it. I even borrowed two books from the library. I'm reading Cliff May but not The Endless City. I want to read it all but I don't really have the time. I'm also supposed to read a book for yoga and write a 1-page summary (that should be easy but I have to do it).

I love Silk milk! To top off all that healthiness, I had a relatively healthy lunch at 12 Bones. It's only open from 11-4 P.M. Mondays-Fridays and the line is always out the door. I had a pulled pork sandwich with corn pudding (darn good!) and mac and cheese. Seriously, I consider that relatively healthy. Oh yeah, will someone buy me the book Skinny Bitch so I can eat healthier?

I had a meeting this morning at 9:30 A.M. for an hour with my advisor. I love him! He asked me what I want to do after I'm done with this whole program. I said the usual, I don't know. Where do I want to live? I don't know. I don't want too many choices! It's freaking me out! He said grad school sounded good but he wants me in the classroom. He's afraid I'll get sucked into a PhD and college teaching. I said, NEVER! My concern is that I'll teach and never go back to school or I'll have to go to night school, which limits my options. I'm young and my brain can still recall information; I think more school might be good. Any suggestions?

While you think, I'll sit down (in that yellow chair I picked up and love so much - best deal ever), read, and drink chocolate milk.

$1.50 1-year Glamour subscription

I just got my subscription though I don't think I'll get the newest copy! :(

(via Glamour)

Maghound & my take on magazines

I ordered a 3 per month magazine subscription from Maghound. I love magazines and can't stop buying them so I decided this would be a good idea. For $5 a month, I'm getting "InStyle," "People StyleWatch," and "Cosmo." Not bad right? I like the printed paper over the online version. I also like how people shelve their old magazines after bookmarking them. I'm all over that.

So my fave magazines include,

Chic books make me happy when people fail

I love books and don't believe I'll ever get into this whole Kindle fad. Today, I immediately nabbed City Chic today at Books A Million because our Barnes and Noble is undergoing a reno. The one we have now will become bigger in two weeks and I can't wait! However, for the last month, the original store has been crappy.

Anyways, I got it and I love it! I'm reading it right now and I'm about to put in "The Tudors." I just got back from Papas and Beer after being there for almost 3 hours. I was kind of annoyed in the end though. I'm not sure why I suppose. Maybe I was just tired from having to wait for 30 minutes for a table. It was super packed! But, the food was fantastic! I got this grilled steak torta. Somehow on the way back, on the phone with Jess, I didn't so much pay attention and drove the wrong way out to the next county. It wasn't until I saw the sign that I realized it!

Insight time...
I realized that (a) I'm not a touchy feely person except with a few people, (b) I love my roommate and he understands me, and (c) we have very similar beliefs such as (d) "some people think too highly of themselves." (e) We don't think highly of ourselves as much I think. No, we just have less self-esteem for some people. It's great you have self-esteem but keep it down or keep it to your darn self 'cause I don't want to hear it. For example, "She's gorgeous. She's even cuter than I am." I kind of raised my eyebrows and rolled my eyes. It doesn't help that it's being reinforced by guys who can't get any for the time being but can do better in my opinion. (f) Yance and I agree that some people are good looking and thus, they can be liked. They may also have a fantastic personality. However, doesn't it just kill you when someone with a bad personality and you know isn't very good looking gets someone not-so-shabby? Also, (g) you might not want to judge us so harshly for these opinions because I know many must be thinking this too. Let's be real now.

Furthermore, this is NOT just about physical attractiveness, but this is about intelligence too. I guess it's what I was taught, but I don't believe there should be ANY bragging about how "smart" you are. You can brag about how hard you worked because that is commendable. I say this because I told someone they were smart and someone else said, in a serious way, "Why don't you tell me that? I'm smart." Well, I don't think so first of all and you really don't need more of an ego boost.

I'm all about the ability of everyone to improve themselves if they want. Maybe "improve" is the incorrect term, but if you don't like something about you, why sit around and do nothing to change it? (I'm getting sleepy so this can be all sorts of B.S. right now.)

Now I'm watching "The Tudors," which I must say has already shown sex scenes twice in the first episode and I'm not even done yet! I quite like the little drama surrounding Henry VIII's reign.

Also, I'm reading my books for this break:

My pal Eddie said I was weird for reading a textbook and then for reading something on the opposite of the spectrum.

Other books I want to complete my coffee table/decor book collection include:

Cookbooks also:

Lastly, this movie came out?! I didn't even know!

As I promised...

Observations went fantastically well. My test was okay. Pretty good but not perfect.

I just gorged myself with food! :( We didn't even work out in aerobics, but my partner and I will be teaching volleyball sometime. I'm also watching "American Idol" mostly, got disc 1 of "The Tudors," and I also have to watch "I Love Money" and "From G's to Gents!" I have a big big crush on 20 Pack. Hopefully he's not gay. :/ Apparently I've missed episodes 2-4 of "From G's to Gents" though. As I'm watching it, I'm loving a lot more of them than last season when I just liked E6 (though he wasn't like the best person probably) and Shotta. Here are my faves:

Lank, Mito, Blue, Fahim, JoJo, and A Felon, only because he's cute.


Episode 2 is awesome. They have to dress as professional, adventurous, sexy, and preppy. Oh geez, I can't contain my laughter from these two reality shows! :) Yes, I do love my reality TV shows.

For homework, I just have to write about my observations real quick! I can do that before class tomorrow. I'll also pack a trash bag to clean out my car then. :) It's too cold to do that now!

I want this! (via Made by Girl)

Speaking of that, I think game nights and other house parties are in style. If we clean up and get ourselves some Bananagrams, I'd be super happy. That's the plan for spring break!

Spring break - pretty lame I know!

• Clean
• Unit plan
• Lit review
• Soc readings chapter 6-12 part 2
• Tudor reading chapter 9 and docs

First for a shower! I feel gross! Oh yeah, for tomorrow, I have to fill out a new application for admission since I'm graduating this spring but still getting my teaching license. Strange feeling. I don't have to pay the application fee, but I still have to write a 250 word essay on a book... okay. I should probably get that done tonight before bed or at least my journal...

So much!

I have so much going on right now. Kind of. Okay, a lot of the things are lame.

I got my TB test today and it wasn't bad at all. I hate needles and this was fine. I just have to go back Monday morning to get the results.

Next week begins tutoring. I haven't woken up at 9am in a long time. Well, I did it today but promptly went back to bed when I came home. Though I didn't come home for a little bit. I actually went to the library, picked up two books (Freakonomics and Buildings Across Time), and had some French toast sticks from Sonic.

Progress: read Ch. 1; haven't started

Progress: ate 2 for breakfast, 2 slices for lunch because I'm weird like that.

I tried to read for my Race and Ethnic Relations class, but I only got through 2 chapters and the 1st section of 3 of 6 chapters. I still have to read about Asian-Americans, white ethnic minorities, and Jewish peoples. I really don't know why I read the African-American section considering I knew quite a bit there... :/ I just want to make sure there isn't a lot I'm missing though.

Anyways, I did most of this after I woke up, ate at Apollo Flame (eggplant parm) with Yancey, Sarah, and Stephen, and watched two movies ("Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" and "Zach and Miri Make A Porno") and two TV shows ("House, M.D." and "Lie to Me"). Gah, I should not multitask...

Both amazing! I loved Nick & Norah's more, but this is because I saw the latter at the theater with someone ugh.

They were pretty okay. Won't become my fave though.

Okay, so tomorrow, I must finish reading and then polish/make posters for/make script for my lesson plan on economics. The script may need to wait till Sunday though. My readings for Early Modern Britain will begin and end Sunday night.

Next week, I present my first 20 min lesson plan, pray that my student teaching placement goes well and I can begin observing, tutor, write a paper on Black Like Me, and try to read the books I have on hand.

Did I mention I went back to the library after our late lunch/dinner to nab Mary & Russel Wright Guide to Easier Living? It was delivered finally and I wasn't expecting so many words!

Progress: read a few pages and will finish chapter 1 ASAP

Also, I'd like to watch movies and shows on Netflix. Tomorrow, I get "The Ultimate Gift" in the mail. I turned in the last movie Thursday and already I'm getting my new one tomorrow! Yay! I would like to finish "Dead Like Me" season 2 sometime soon also.

So much I want to do and need to do yet not enough time. I realized I like staying up late and waking up early, which means I don't get to sleep much. :( Usually, I still stay up late and don't end up waking early.

Okay, less blogging, more reading/watching.

Cravings...

Two days in a row of McDonald's. :/ I need real food. I had some shrimp tempura udon from Green Tea with Alex yesterday. That was so good!

Last time, I posted a list of books I wanted. I purchased Domino: The Book of Decorating: A room-by-room guide to creating a home that makes you happy by Deborah Needleman. I also borrowed I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris and Western Ranch Houses by Cliff May from the library. The former was too wordy for me and not what I expected, and the latter was a really informative history of Cliff May houses and ranch style. I guess I'm a history major so I enjoyed it quite a bit. :)

Still left -

• Atomic Ranch
• Little Boxes: The Architecture Of A Classic Midcentury Suburb by Rob Keil
• My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living by Jonathan Adler
• Apartment Therapy Presents: Real Homes, Real People, Hundreds of Design Solutions
• The Nest Home Design Handbook: Simple ways to decorate, organize, and personalize your place by Carly Roney

I added a few more of course!

• America at Home: A Close-Up Look at How We Live on sale for only $12.99! I borrowed this book from the library and it's amazing.
• Guide to Easier Living by Mary and Russel Wright, who apparently was Martha Stewart in the mid-century. The book is only $19 and sounds cool. I'm getting it through the library first!
• Atomic Home: A Guide Tour of the American Dream
• Pad: The Guide to Ultra-Living
• House Beautiful The Home Book: Creating A Beautiful Home of Your Own
• Thom Filicia Style: Inspired Ideas for Creating Rooms You'll Love

I've gone to bookstores two days in a row also. I like Barnes and Noble more than Books A Million because the latter's lighting blinds me. They have really super dim lighting. I hate that.

The Iceman is coming...

For those of you who don't know, I'm a big MMA fan. No, I didn't get to watch it last night. :( But because I didn't, I went to Barnes and Noble where I found out that on January 9th, when I'm still here, Chuck Liddell will be signing his book! I'M GOING! :)

I wanted to read this one but they were out of stock at my Barnes and Noble in Asheville. Instead, I psychoanalyzed Randy Couture and his bio, Becoming the Natural for my personality paper. Yance thinks Liddell is cooler and apparently, he parties a lot.

I think I'll have to add a MMA/sports section to my book collection...

Speaking of books, I also added a book to my wish list after my latest visit to the store:

The Gentle Art of Domesticity

Reading The Friday Night Knitting Club, which I'm more than halfway through, I now want to knit again. I suck at it. I'm slow and I get upset because I'm terrible. It's not soothing, but I love seeing the completed project. Maybe I'll try again? Oh yeah, Knit Two is out just as I'm reading the first one! :( Anyways, I'll update on knitting and domesticity... :)

*P.S. happy mundane found Umbra Loft at Target!