Category: currently

Current Book(s): Way too many. I was in between book club books, so I thought I’d quickly read The Jane Austen Book Club. The first chapter was about Emma, which I had just finished, and when I got to the second chapter and saw that it was on Sense and Sensibility I decided I wanted to read that first. So I got my huge Jane Austen anthology back out and made it through the first few chapters, but then I needed something smaller to carry around with me. That’s when I picked up The Well at the End of the World by William Morris which was recommended to me by my brother-in-law. I made it through several chapters before the book club book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, was available at the library. So that’s what I’m focusing on now.

Current Playlist: I acquired Over the Rhine’s “Live From Nowhere Vol. 4”, and I’m also dying to get my hands on Sandra McCracken’s newest collection of redone hymns, “In Feast Or Fallow”.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Nothing really at the moment, but ask me tomorrow and I may have a different answer.

Current Color: I chose Glidden’s Water Chestnut as the neutral for most of the house. Here’s an example of it from Young House Love:

Current Drink: The state of my teeth and mouth being somewhat painful and precarious, I am unable at this point to partake of my staple food of cereal. Instead, I’ve been drinking Slim-Fast for breakfast this past week, which is surprisingly good. Just the chocolate though; the strawberry makes me gag.Current Food: The Signature tomato basil soup from Randall’s has been my go-to meal lately. It tastes just as good cold as hot, and I feel like I could eat it over and over forever.

Current Favorite Show: Still Dancing With the Stars, although now that we have Netflix streaming on Wii a whole new world of possibilities has opened up. Some shows on our queue include Glee, 30 Rock, and Dexter.

Current Wishlist: The main thing I wish for right now, realistically, is for people to just show up at my house and finish painting it. I have all these high aspirations to decorate my house but I find it very hard to follow through.

Current Needs: I need a break from constant pain, and to feel completely healthy again.

Current Triumphs: I got my wisdom teeth removed and I didn’t take ANY time off work! Although I’ve had my moments of misery, I’m so happy it’s over with and I can use my paid time off for something more fun. :)

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: The wisdom teeth are gone, but the after effects are lingering. The worst is when I’m at work and my mouth and face are throbbing and I’m unable to take a Vicodin.

Current Celebrity Crush: Ever since I saw Kristin Chenoweth in Promises Promises on Broadway she’s been my new fascination. I’m in love with her voice, and she’s adorable.

Current Indulgence: Andes mints. They’re the only real chocolate we have around the house right now, so when the cravings hit I can’t seem to resist.

Current Blessing(s): I know nine time out of ten I say my husband, but it’s just so true. He’s taken such good care of me, bought me flowers, not complained about my lack of cooking lately, and helped out with the chores. I’d be a mess without him.

Current Outfit: Here’s what I’m wearing today, which is pretty common for my days off (please excuse the dirty mirror):

Current Excitement: I’m working on some changes to the blog including a new review section and an overhaul of my categories, and I have a chiropractor appointment next week to discuss natural health and nutrition that I’ve been long anticipating.

Current Link: Here’s an Amazon list of classic, new, and forgotten gothic novels. The description reads: “Ah the gothic, where the house is as much a character as the characters and the damsel may or may not be in distress.” I pretty much need to read all of these!

Happy May!

Current Book(s): I am working my way through Emma by Jane Austen. I absolutely love Austen, but she’s not exactly a quick read. I make it harder on myself because the copy I have is in a huge anthology of all her novels, which is obviously not travel-ready. In conclusion, I have been slacking off on reading lately and someone needs to kick me into gear.

Current Playlist: It’s been awhile since I’ve really listened to music of any kind. How boring is that?

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Lately for my chocolate kick I’ve been eating dark chocolate fudge icing straight from the tub, with my fingers. I get it all over my hands and face like a toddler. I really am ashamed.

Current Color: I decided that I want to start adding light blues to the color scheme in my house, so that’s what I’ve had on my mind.

Current Drink: During the recovery period of my GI sickness I asked David to bring me home some Powerade Mountain Blast so I could get some electrolytes into my system, and I’ve been stuck on it ever since. Unfortunately this also adds a lot of extra sugar to my body, and I’m not exercising enough to justify it.

Current Food: I think I could eat an entire roomful of fried rice in one sitting. Can you tell that my nutrition needs an overhaul?

Current Favorite Show: Dancing With the Stars, obviously. It makes me irrationally happy.

Current Wishlist: I haven’t shopped for clothes in forever (I rarely do), but as the weather changes it’s time for some new ones, and it’s also time for me to make my style a bit more my own. I’m ready to purge my closet and start fresh. I’m on a quest for dresses & skirts of all types, blouses, leggings, yoga pants, necklaces, earrings, belts, shoes, and basically an entire wardrobe.

Current Needs: A vacation, and fortunately I’m getting one!

Current Triumphs: This is silly maybe, but I was really stressed about finding my mentor a gift for retirement, and I did it. She loved it, and it’s a huge weight off my shoulders.

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Wisdom teeth. Let’s talk constant headaches, swollen gums, aching teeth (all of them), sensitive facial skin, and all kinds of lovely things.

Current Celebrity Crush: Derek Hough is just so perfect when he dances.

Current Indulgence: On work days I’ve been letting myself sleep until past 5 a.m. before getting up to shower. This is nice, but it has caused me to miss breakfast several times lately. The two things kind of cancel each other out in my eyes.

Current Blessing(s): Oliver has been really good lately! And thank God for my parents who are watching him this week, and my in-laws’ who are watching Eddie and Cleo.

Current Outfit: Did you read what I wrote about my wardrobe? Yeah. All I wear these days is scrubs or jeans & a shirt. I’m not proud.

Current Excitement: Any minute now I will be in the air on the way to New York City for a week. I’ve never been, we’ve got lots of great stuff planned, and any vacation from work is welcomed with open arms. (Well, except for this kind, or this kind.) A month ago when I thought about this trip it didn’t mean a thing to me; I couldn’t fathom being excited about anything ever again. And now, I’m just…happy.

Current Link: What I’ve been researching online lately: New York, chiropractors, Standard Process cleanse, and fashion.

Happy April!

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Even though February is my birthday month, I still love March. Maybe because the number 3 is my favorite number, or because in Houston spring is usually on its way (although that’s not the case right now). Anyway, I’m glad March is here.

Current Book(s): I’m working on several at the moment. My main fiction book that I’m reading is The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco. It’s on the Rory Gilmore reading list, and I’ve heard good things about it. I’m only a few chapters in, and though at times it is a little over-descriptive for my taste, I have a feeling I’m really going to like these characters.

In addition, I started reading Fearless by Max Lucado for a blogging book review, and also because I think I need it. I have all this anxiety right now that I’m not used to living with. Yesterday Oliver chewed the edges of the book, and although I do still plan to read it, I won’t be doing it in public.

Finally, I’m listening to Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. I picked it up at the library after I finished my last audiobook. It’s a Pulitzer Prize winner, and although not based on a subject I would normally be drawn to, I am keeping an open mind. Plus, the narrator on the audiobook is excellent, which is very important.

Current Playlist: Let’s see. Other than the songs I chose to sing at church on Sunday, the only music I’ve listened to lately is Derek Webb’s “Stockholm Syndrome” and Sandra McCracken’s “In Feast Or Fallow” – both of which I got for free on NoiseTrade.com.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Last week I lost my appetite for pretty much everything, but that did not, unfortunately, include chocolate. I have eaten a LOT of it, in all forms. Although now that I think about it, I don’t really feel guilty. I think I deserve it.

Current Drink: It’s been nothing but water for me until today. I had coffee again, and it was bittersweet.

Current Food: Food is just a necessity. Nothing ever really sounds good to me, although I seem to eat whatever is put in front of me.

Current Favorite Show: When I was home all week I found HGTV extremely comforting. My favorite shows are “Property Virgins” because I love the host Sandra Rinomato, and “Get It Sold” because the tips on staging are things I can actually do in my own home with limited funds.

 

Current Wishlist: I wish for a healthy pregnancy to happen soon. I wish for Oliver to stop chewing up our books. I wish for Over the Rhine’s “Live From Nowhere Vol. 4”. I wish that I had the energy to do the triathlon. I wish for someone to come over and paint my entire house. I wish for a cute custom return address stamp.

Current Needs: Peace, love, hope, joy.

Current Triumphs: I went to work, and it hasn’t been terrible.

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Feeling betrayed by my body. :(

Current Celebrity Crush: Nonexistent.

Current Indulgence: Letting everyone else take care of me. The aforementioned chocolate.

Current Blessing(s): Ode to my husband who took an entire week off work to be with me, who bought me flowers, who offered to drive me to work, who wrestled his recliner into our bedroom so that he could spend every moment with me and I wouldn’t have to fall asleep alone, who is grieving, too. I love him.

Current Outfit: I have been living in sweats recently, and David calls them my “depressed clothes.” They make him sad. Today I’m back in scrubs.

Current Excitement: Hard question. I am looking forward to splurging on a pedicure with my sister-in-law. There is the trip to New York City at the beginning of April to plan. And soon after that one of my best friends moves home from Scotland, if only for a little while.

Current Link: So boring, but basically all I’ve been doing online is checking e-mail. So here’s my Google profile. I’m on G-chat if you want to entertain me sometime.

Happy March!

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Current Book(s): Just finished my book club book a few days ago and the next meeting isn’t until next week, so I picked up The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl off my “unread” shelf. My husband also got me The Wonder Spot by Michelle Bank to listen to while I drive. I like it so far, although it’s read by the author which I don’t think is a good idea. Her voice really annoys me.

Current Playlist: I finally went through all of my recovered files from when my hard drive crashed, and it’s like I have a whole new music library now. I discovered some classics that I forgot I had such as Ace of Base, ‘N Sync, and Queen’s greatest hits.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Every season I tell myself that I’m not going to watch The Bachelor again, but every season I find myself watching it. Ah, well.

Current Drink: I think this is the most boring category for me since not only am I a teetotaler (I think that’s a fun way of putting it) but I also dislike most sodas. Pretty much the only things I ever find myself drinking are water and coffee. If that changes I’ll let you know.

Current Food: After an unplanned break from cooking during the holidays, I’m back on it. This week I’ve made PW’s chicken spaghetti and this ham & potato soup. Both are amazing, and I have tons of leftovers!

Current Favorite Show: Not The Bachelor. Definitely not that.

Current Wishlist: I moved my wishlist to Wishpot. Among the things I’d like the most are: sport headphones, a tea kettle, a Kindle, Over the Rhine’s Live From Nowhere Vol. 4, a custom made address stamp, and new pet tags for my dogs.

Current Needs: New running shoes since I’ve had mine for over two years. A case for my iPhone since I seem to drop it all the time. My wisdom teeth removed. A NEW CAR, preferably this one, which is still my dream:

Current Triumphs: I’m proud that I got our cash budget going again this month. I’m proud that I made a meal plan at the beginning of this week and I’m sticking to it. And I’m proud that my meals have turned out delicious so far.

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: I think I’ve whined quite enough about the annoyances of my truck, but I don’t care. Unless you have experienced it yourself, you have no idea how difficult it is to drive a vehicle without power steering. I approach parking lots now with the fear and trembling that should only be reserved for The Lord. Thankfully, my husband has finally convinced me that it’s time to put Bubba to rest and purchase a new/used car for me. It may or may not be happening this weekend.

Current Celebrity Crush: My crushes don’t change as often as every month. I’m still on the Robert Downey, Jr. kick, and of course Derek Webb is always my #1 crush.

Current Indulgence: Too many to count. Birthday week, remember?

Current Blessing(s): My God, my husband, my family, my friends, my dogs, my job, my house, my church–I’ve got it pretty good, I’d say.

Current Outfit: As I’m writing this (Tuesday afternoon) I’m wearing a sweater, jeans, and slippers. I wish I would have taken a picture on Sunday when I looked cute, but you’ll have to settle for this, my boring sweater:

Current Excitement: My birthday, the prospect of getting a new car, and that my blog is being redesigned and should hopefully be ready to launch soon. All three things make me so happy.

Current Mood: Apart from the random pangs of sadness I get due to situations beyond my control, I am feeling very, very, content. And full.

Current Link: AllRecipes is the best website for recipes. If you haven’t checked it out, you need to.

Happy February!

Here we go, 2010! Treat us right, will you?

Current Book(s): FYI, for those of you who read my posts in an RSS feed reader, I keep the top of my sidebar updated with what I’m currently reading. But if you’re too lazy to click through, right now I’m reading A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick for my book club. I’m also listening to Wicked on audiobook in my car.

Current Playlist: I made a playlist of upbeat music for running, but it serves a double purpose of being good to listen to on long drives when I’m trying to stay awake. A sampling:

• “We Didn’t Start The Fire” by Billy Joel
• “Marvelous Light” by Christy Nockels
• “Already Gone” by The Eagles
• “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John
• “Hologram” by Katie Herzig
• “You Never Let Go” by Matt Redman
• “Somebody More Like You” by Nickel Creek
• “Wounded” by Third Eye Blind

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: I honestly can’t think of one right now. Good job, self!

Current Drink: Still falling more and more in love with coffee, sadly. I have found that if there is a chance to drink it, I won’t say no.

Current Food: I have spent the past five New Year’s Eves with my friends Carmen and Lauren at their parents’ house in Irving. And every year we make these chocolate bars that we named “Eve-ergreen Bars” because we only make them on New Year’s Eve, serve them up at midnight, and they have a layer of green minty icing. They are basically a sort of brownie (made from scratch), mint icing, with a chocolate glaze on top. That glaze is made solely of chocolate chips and butter. Yeah, it’s good.

Current Favorite Show: Still, the only show I’m watching right now is The Office via Netflix. We’re taking a long time, I know. Only one disc left though!

Current Wishlist: For our bank to support Mint.com. It looks like a fantastic program, and I fell in love with it at first viewing. Sadly, our small bank isn’t recognized yet. I’d also love a local friend to exercise with, or to find a good triathlon training club. Among other things.

Current Needs: Some healthy yet tasty recipes, and to really stick to our budget.

Current Triumphs: I stayed awake until midnight last night, and even managed to have a little fun in the process! Oh, and we played the game Wits & Wagers today, and I actually won both rounds. I was really surprised, because it has a lot to do with numbers, which my mind has no concept of. Each time I won because I was so far behind at the end that I threw caution to the wind and bet it all. Miraculously, I chose right and pulled ahead!

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Dog hair. It’s EVERYWHERE. I love my pups, but seriously wish they didn’t shed so much. If you have dogs and enjoy a clean house, how do you do it?

Current Celebrity Crush: Robert Downey, Jr. This has nothing to do with what kind of person he is, but everything to do with the fact that he is adorable as Sherlock Holmes, one of my favorite all-time characters.

Current Indulgence: I slept until 11 a.m. this morning, and plan to go to bed at my normal time of around 10 p.m. And keep this up all weekend. Ah, sleep; how I love thee.

Current Blessing(s): If you haven’t realized by now, I’m on vacation for five whole days. It feels amazing.

Current Outfit: Right now I am basically living in jeans and sweaters. And these $12 moccosins from Target:

Current Excitement: Making changes in my life starting January 5th, which is the day I get home from vacation. Exercise & health, finances, blogging, and the way I spend my time. I’ll get more into this tomorrow!

Current Mood: So relaxed I don’t even have a concept of time.

Current Link: Mainly been scouring the iTunes app store lately, trying to find the best way to spend a $15 gift card.

Happy January!