I really want to get back into book blogging and possibly book vlogging. I mean, now that I'm reading roughly a book a week again, I want to record exactly what I'm reading and what I thought of it. So this is my promise to myself to do just that.
(Because I really need to do SOMEthing productive with my time!)
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Nostalgia
I am feeling a bit nostalgic for childhood. Well, maybe just for autumn. No, childhood autumn. When we went on field trips to nearby farms to get pumpkins. When we raked up gold and red leaves and jumped into wet piles. When the skies were cloudy and the air was cold. Jeans and sweatshirt days, curled up with a book and watching misty rain gather in drops on the windows, smelling the cinnamon rolls baking in the oven. Drawing faces on pumpkins with permanent marker and watching my dad cut them out to our exact specifications. Squishing into the pumpkin goop and sorting goop from seeds. Laying the seeds out all nicely on a tray and covering them in salt. Crunching on them while watching Hocus Pocus. Trying to figure out how the heck one costume or another was going to fit over a snowsuit. Setting up home base on Halloween evening at my uncle's house and going out with my older cousins, feeling cool because we didn't need our parents around. Getting dimes from the lady down the road, and giant candy bars from the funeral home.
So I guess, on reflection, THAT might be why I'm so blah lately. With the seasons swapped, it doesn't feel at all like October should, and more to the point, Halloween simply isn't a thing that's routinely done. Apparently they had "Halloween pumpkins" (they call squash "pumpkin" it's weird) available at the supermarket for the first time last year. They have them there again, but it's going to be 90 the next two days, and I think that would leave the pumpkin a rotting mess on my doorstep. It's too warm for jeans or sweatshirts, there won't be many, if any, children knocking at my door for candy, no real excuse to get dressed up... Granted, the trees ARE a bit confused and have been dropping brown leaves like crazy, but they aren't as pretty.
In which case, my solution for the coming Octobers is this: take this country by storm. Halloween like no one has Halloweened before. I'm thinking Halloween party bash, with apple cider and cinnamon and pumpkin seeds and pumpkin-flavored things and candy and costumes and... I mean, it'll be more fun when I have kids to entertain. BUT STILL.
Oh, and, uh... I don't mean for there to be any spoilers, but a LITTLE BIRDIE told me that Tinker Day is on Sunday. In Australia, anyway. ;)
So I guess, on reflection, THAT might be why I'm so blah lately. With the seasons swapped, it doesn't feel at all like October should, and more to the point, Halloween simply isn't a thing that's routinely done. Apparently they had "Halloween pumpkins" (they call squash "pumpkin" it's weird) available at the supermarket for the first time last year. They have them there again, but it's going to be 90 the next two days, and I think that would leave the pumpkin a rotting mess on my doorstep. It's too warm for jeans or sweatshirts, there won't be many, if any, children knocking at my door for candy, no real excuse to get dressed up... Granted, the trees ARE a bit confused and have been dropping brown leaves like crazy, but they aren't as pretty.
In which case, my solution for the coming Octobers is this: take this country by storm. Halloween like no one has Halloweened before. I'm thinking Halloween party bash, with apple cider and cinnamon and pumpkin seeds and pumpkin-flavored things and candy and costumes and... I mean, it'll be more fun when I have kids to entertain. BUT STILL.
Oh, and, uh... I don't mean for there to be any spoilers, but a LITTLE BIRDIE told me that Tinker Day is on Sunday. In Australia, anyway. ;)
Monday, October 15, 2012
It fits!
Thought I would post a quick update on how things are going in regards to wedding stuff!!
1) My dress arrived. It fits! I'm doing a bit of alteration to it, which I knew I would be doing before it got here. It has this halter that ties in the back, but it's AGES long, and I don't really like the look of it. I'm either going to cut off bits OR I experimented with criss-crossing it over my chest and tying it at the back, which looks better, I think. We don't have a full length mirror so it's a bit difficult to say. Might get a full length mirror soon, I have lived too long without one!
2) I bought these shoes forever ago to wear. Cal calls them "sand shoes." Not sure exactly what I'd call them... but they're not formal footwear, by any means. I think they look quirky with the dress. Again, kind of want a full length mirror to get the whole picture (actually taking a photo doesn't get me as up close as I want). Anyway. That's a thing.
3) In case I didn't mention it, Cal's wearing suspenders for our photos. We're going to look awesome!
4) Full photo session payment and full celebrant payment are both IN!
5) We went to New Farm Park on Sunday. It's a bit out of our way, but we're definitely in love. The bench area was perfect, there's another area with sort of arches and vines trailing up them with flowers that's beautiful, and it's right on the river and there's this cool place on the rocks I want pictures near... but most importantly, my friends, is the playground. Yes, the playground. There is a stone dragon in a sandpit with hatched eggs around it. Not even joking. That is more perfect than anything ever for us.
6) We also got suitcases! We got a medium sized one that's a dark brown with a reddish undertone, and a smaller one that's more of a really dark brown. They look slightly worn and the clasps are a bit rusty. Perfect!
Aaaand... I think that's it. Not sure if we'll have the actual wedding at New Farm or... yeah I mean, maybe we will. There were some secluded areas. And we wanted to go into the city anyway after. I'm just SO nervous about getting my dress dirty! It is SO WHITE. I am going to spill something on it, just you wait. Maybe I'll wear something else to the actual wedding and save this for the pictures (clearly the more important thing.) ;)
1) My dress arrived. It fits! I'm doing a bit of alteration to it, which I knew I would be doing before it got here. It has this halter that ties in the back, but it's AGES long, and I don't really like the look of it. I'm either going to cut off bits OR I experimented with criss-crossing it over my chest and tying it at the back, which looks better, I think. We don't have a full length mirror so it's a bit difficult to say. Might get a full length mirror soon, I have lived too long without one!
2) I bought these shoes forever ago to wear. Cal calls them "sand shoes." Not sure exactly what I'd call them... but they're not formal footwear, by any means. I think they look quirky with the dress. Again, kind of want a full length mirror to get the whole picture (actually taking a photo doesn't get me as up close as I want). Anyway. That's a thing.
3) In case I didn't mention it, Cal's wearing suspenders for our photos. We're going to look awesome!
4) Full photo session payment and full celebrant payment are both IN!
5) We went to New Farm Park on Sunday. It's a bit out of our way, but we're definitely in love. The bench area was perfect, there's another area with sort of arches and vines trailing up them with flowers that's beautiful, and it's right on the river and there's this cool place on the rocks I want pictures near... but most importantly, my friends, is the playground. Yes, the playground. There is a stone dragon in a sandpit with hatched eggs around it. Not even joking. That is more perfect than anything ever for us.
6) We also got suitcases! We got a medium sized one that's a dark brown with a reddish undertone, and a smaller one that's more of a really dark brown. They look slightly worn and the clasps are a bit rusty. Perfect!
Aaaand... I think that's it. Not sure if we'll have the actual wedding at New Farm or... yeah I mean, maybe we will. There were some secluded areas. And we wanted to go into the city anyway after. I'm just SO nervous about getting my dress dirty! It is SO WHITE. I am going to spill something on it, just you wait. Maybe I'll wear something else to the actual wedding and save this for the pictures (clearly the more important thing.) ;)
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
BIG NEWS!
So I haven't been blogging lately because I've been doing a lot of stuff that's been keeping me busy, but up until today, it was stuff that I didn't really want to talk about until I'd told some specific people. That is, my parents and Erin. (I'm not saying that the rest of you aren't as important, but you know, parents and Heterosexual Life Partner, they rank up there.)
Here it is: Cal and I are getting married!
"Ummm... yeah?" I hear you say. "That IS what an engagement means."
Well, yes, but we're getting married sooner rather than later. Like, quite soon. Like, November 24 soon.
Basically, we're eloping. That means it's going to be us and a celebrant and the required two witnesses, and hopefully it takes all of five minutes. You see, we were thinking: much as I like planning a wedding and thinking about all the details and whatnot, I DON'T like being the center of attention. The thought of having so many eyes on me while I declare my love for someone terrifies me, and for us (I'm not saying for EVERYONE) it just seems so insincere, because it's just NOT the way we've done things so far. We hid the fact that we were in a relationship from most people up until we actually met in person, and then hid the fact that we were engaged for like two years (oh, um, I actually got engaged in June 2009...) We're just kind of private, and we prefer to keep it that way.
Plus there are other factors. Like the guest list, for instance. It would make more sense to have the wedding over in the States since Cal doesn't really care about much of his family being there. But even his immediate family probably wouldn't be able to attend (at least, I wouldn't want to take a one year old and a four year old, however well behaved, on a 14 hour flight across the Pacific--and that being only half the journey!). But if we had it here, half of my family wouldn't be attending either (some sort of fall out between my mom and dad's side of the family, which I'm "too young to know about"). Which basically means it would be my immediate family, my mom's side (NOT very big), and however many Hollins ladies could make it up to Michigan.
And it's so FREAKING EXPENSIVE to have a "real" wedding! The dress, the food, the cake, the venue... All for one night. Granted, one night full of memories, but still. So we have a different plan.
We chose the 24th of November because that's our current anniversary. We'll be getting married on our seventh anniversary (good luck, right?). It'll be in the morning, quite a short ceremony, possibly at Cal's uni (very pretty area!) or New Farm Park (more on that later). Our witnesses will be Cal's friend Chris and probably one of our new housemates. After, Cal and I will grab lunch somewhere and possibly go to a cupcake shop to get a "cake eating" picture. I DID buy a white knee-length dress for $102. Hasn't gotten here yet-- hopefully it fits!
Then on December 16 we're getting some professional photos taken by Paper Fox Studio, probably at New Farm Park. She has some brilliant photos that she's done there, and we fell in love with the bench area (http://paperfoxstudio.com/blog/portraits/laura-evan-new-farm-park-powerhouse-engagement-shoot/). Haven't been there in person yet -- we're going on Sunday. Also on Sunday we're heading out to pick up some old-style suitcases which we'll be using in the shoot. I'm also thinking about getting a copy of The Amber Spyglass in hardcover, as it's a book we bonded over and continue to love(/hate).
Planning on making a montage of the photos with a song and possibly snippet of video that will be taken of the ceremony. Also possibly making postcards out of one of the photos and sending it out to relatives before changing my name on Facebook and whatnot.
BUT THEN, we're going to Europe. As our honeymoon. A late honeymoon, I'll grant you, but a lengthy, memory-filled, Europey honeymoon that we'll enjoy a whole lot more than chatting up fourth cousins at a reception with food we probably don't like. We're going to use any money we WOULD be spending on a wedding and using it for Europe. A valid use, I think. But even more importantly than that, we're planning on stopping by the US before/after Europe and perhaps we can have some sort of party then!
Anyway. I hope no one feels left out or anything. :( I know weddings are a thing people look forward to, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that it's just not our style. We're going to be much, much, much happier doing this.
Oh, and P.S.! I would appreciate it if this wasn't shouted about or anything. I wanted to let my close friends know, but other relatives and stuff on Facebook don't need to know just now. (Actually, I kind of just want to see the comments when my relationship status and name change suddenly on Facebook. It's going to be HILARIOUS.)
Here it is: Cal and I are getting married!
"Ummm... yeah?" I hear you say. "That IS what an engagement means."
Well, yes, but we're getting married sooner rather than later. Like, quite soon. Like, November 24 soon.
Basically, we're eloping. That means it's going to be us and a celebrant and the required two witnesses, and hopefully it takes all of five minutes. You see, we were thinking: much as I like planning a wedding and thinking about all the details and whatnot, I DON'T like being the center of attention. The thought of having so many eyes on me while I declare my love for someone terrifies me, and for us (I'm not saying for EVERYONE) it just seems so insincere, because it's just NOT the way we've done things so far. We hid the fact that we were in a relationship from most people up until we actually met in person, and then hid the fact that we were engaged for like two years (oh, um, I actually got engaged in June 2009...) We're just kind of private, and we prefer to keep it that way.
Plus there are other factors. Like the guest list, for instance. It would make more sense to have the wedding over in the States since Cal doesn't really care about much of his family being there. But even his immediate family probably wouldn't be able to attend (at least, I wouldn't want to take a one year old and a four year old, however well behaved, on a 14 hour flight across the Pacific--and that being only half the journey!). But if we had it here, half of my family wouldn't be attending either (some sort of fall out between my mom and dad's side of the family, which I'm "too young to know about"). Which basically means it would be my immediate family, my mom's side (NOT very big), and however many Hollins ladies could make it up to Michigan.
And it's so FREAKING EXPENSIVE to have a "real" wedding! The dress, the food, the cake, the venue... All for one night. Granted, one night full of memories, but still. So we have a different plan.
We chose the 24th of November because that's our current anniversary. We'll be getting married on our seventh anniversary (good luck, right?). It'll be in the morning, quite a short ceremony, possibly at Cal's uni (very pretty area!) or New Farm Park (more on that later). Our witnesses will be Cal's friend Chris and probably one of our new housemates. After, Cal and I will grab lunch somewhere and possibly go to a cupcake shop to get a "cake eating" picture. I DID buy a white knee-length dress for $102. Hasn't gotten here yet-- hopefully it fits!
Then on December 16 we're getting some professional photos taken by Paper Fox Studio, probably at New Farm Park. She has some brilliant photos that she's done there, and we fell in love with the bench area (http://paperfoxstudio.com/blog/portraits/laura-evan-new-farm-park-powerhouse-engagement-shoot/). Haven't been there in person yet -- we're going on Sunday. Also on Sunday we're heading out to pick up some old-style suitcases which we'll be using in the shoot. I'm also thinking about getting a copy of The Amber Spyglass in hardcover, as it's a book we bonded over and continue to love(/hate).
Planning on making a montage of the photos with a song and possibly snippet of video that will be taken of the ceremony. Also possibly making postcards out of one of the photos and sending it out to relatives before changing my name on Facebook and whatnot.
BUT THEN, we're going to Europe. As our honeymoon. A late honeymoon, I'll grant you, but a lengthy, memory-filled, Europey honeymoon that we'll enjoy a whole lot more than chatting up fourth cousins at a reception with food we probably don't like. We're going to use any money we WOULD be spending on a wedding and using it for Europe. A valid use, I think. But even more importantly than that, we're planning on stopping by the US before/after Europe and perhaps we can have some sort of party then!
Anyway. I hope no one feels left out or anything. :( I know weddings are a thing people look forward to, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that it's just not our style. We're going to be much, much, much happier doing this.
Oh, and P.S.! I would appreciate it if this wasn't shouted about or anything. I wanted to let my close friends know, but other relatives and stuff on Facebook don't need to know just now. (Actually, I kind of just want to see the comments when my relationship status and name change suddenly on Facebook. It's going to be HILARIOUS.)
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