Category: currently

I have been trying to write this post for over a week now! I miss blogging so much, and I want to get back into it. But I have to continue getting my life under control before I’ll have the energy and enthusiasm that I did before. In the meantime, I’ll be here when I can.

Current Book(s): I started reading Waiting For Daisy a couple of weeks ago and I’m still only about halfway through. That doesn’t mean that it’s not good, it’s just that I haven’t been in the mood to read recently. With only three months left to reach my goal of 50 books this year and 19 books to go, things are looking bleak.

Current Playlist: Lately I’ve been listening to the classical music station in the car when I drive. It helps keep me calm while also distracting me from my anxious thoughts.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: There are things I’m ashamed of, like how showering every day has become more of a guideline, but none of them are really pleasures.

Current Color: I suppose I’m into grey right now. Grey skies mean less heat, and I have the most comfortable grey sweater that I can’t wait to be able to wear.

Current Drink: Just water and V8 Fusion, baby. Here’s to getting healthy.

Current Food: First I decided to go mostly vegetarian, next my nutritionist advised me to go gluten-free, and finally I discovered that I’m most likely lactose intolerant. Food is a difficult subject right now, but there are two things that will always be part of my diet, and that’s eggs and beans. Yum.

Current Favorite Show: I’m so proud of myself that I finally caught up with Gossip Girl. Now I can follow along on Twitter when the new shows come out. I haven’t been able to do that in years!

Come to think of it, THIS could be considered my guilty pleasure.

Current Wishlist: I don’t mind having to cut corners, but I hate having debt hanging over my head and I wish I could make it disappear. We will get there, it’s just going to take a few years of hard work.

Current Needs: I need to relearn how to handle stress, and I need to rediscover the happiness I used to have. It’s there, I know.

Current Triumphs: Here is where I attempt to be positive! I’ve dealt with some things at work recently that I am proud of myself for, but I can’t talk about yet. I played a soccer game this weekend and I didn’t feel like I was going to die, so that must mean my running efforts are paying off. The house isn’t a wreck at the moment which is kind of a miracle. And I have successfully cut back on the number of responsibilities in my life so that I can function like a human being.

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Ugh, depression. Or is it hormones? Or some kind of chemical imbalance? Or just stress?

Can this be true, please? Because I would totally cheat on my gluten-free diet for it.

Current Celebrity Crush: None at the moment, but check back next month once I’ve seen a few more movies. :)

Current Indulgence: Ice cream, even though it makes me sick. How sad!

Current Blessing(s): David times a thousand. As soon as he was able to walk again he started helping me do all the things that he can, like chores and housework and taking care of the dogs. Plus, he keeps me hoping and stays positive when I don’t think I have it in me.

Current Outfit: Some comfy lounge pants and my favorite t-shirt ever. At my 10-year high school reunion this past weekend I saw that I was wearing it in the class panoramic picture and that made me happy.

Current Excitement: Awhile back I thought that it would be possible for David and I to sneak away to Kansas to visit friends and attend my college’s homecoming this coming weekend, so I asked off of work for three days in a row. Then David convinced me that a trip right now just isn’t possible for us, but the bright side is that now I have a long weekend coming up!

Current Link: Haven’t been spending much time online lately, so I don’t have anything to share. But feel free to pass along anything you find that is happy/funny/inspiring!

Happy October. :)

I’m a little late getting this out, but that’s what being in the hospital will do. But we’re home now! Yay!

Current Book(s): Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien. I am loving it, and if I’m not careful I will soon be re-reading The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings even though I have way too many other things on my list. I am also listening to The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale on audiobook by my brother-in-law’s recommendation, and it is excellent.

Current Playlist: Right this very second I am listening to my Over the Rhine station on Pandora and “Little Did I Know” is playing. This station is beautiful, mellow, and melodic. I highly recommend it.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: The amount of chocolate I’ve eaten lately.

Current Color: I’m working on the front room of our house, and the colors there are white and soft blues and greens.

Current Drink: I’m happy that I’ve discovered V8 Fusion, especially the strawberry/banana flavor. A full serving of fruits and vegetables in every glass! Perfect to disguise the taste of the gigantic, bitter pills I have to take now!

Current Food: This past month I’ve sort of gone vegetarian, and while that is a topic for another day, lately I’ve been enjoying lots of soup and pasta until I muster the courage to give more adventurous cooking a shot.

Current Favorite Show: While I wait for the second half of season one of Glee to come out on DVD, and until Dancing With the Stars makes its premiere, David and I are thoroughly enjoying 30 Rock on Netflix streaming.

Current Wishlist: I want to walk into a thrift or antique store and find the perfect pieces of furniture for my house at an outrageously affordable price. I want a leather couch for our living room so I can say goodbye to vacuuming ours every other day. Getting the dogs to stay off it is a lost cause. Every time I see an ad for Rosetta Stone I have a huge longing for it to teach me Spanish. I’d love to be pregnant soon. I want to visit some of my best friends in other cities. I wish I could justify upgrading to an iPhone 4.

Current Needs: I could still really use some new clothes, but that is not in the budget. We need our money to last us another six weeks until David starts earning a paycheck again. I need to get over my fear and reluctance to cook consistently.

Current Triumphs: I’m quite proud of my attitude toward life lately, and how I’ve been enjoying living in the moment. I’m happy with the amount I’ve been reading, and how I’ve kept up with my Bible reading plan as well after sixty-six days. And I signed up for a 5k, so hopefully I’ll actually start running again.

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Having no money to spare is a blessing and a curse. Several times lately I’ve caught myself thinking, “If only we had a little extra…” and then trying to justify a purchase.

Current Celebrity Crush: Viggo Mortenson in the Lord of the Rings movies. My gosh.

Current Indulgence: I sure have been enjoying getting 10-12 hours of sleep every day I’m off work.

Current Blessing(s): My husband, and how he lets me know that I am loved and appreciated. That my dog Cleo has been showing me that she missed me while I was gone by sleeping next to my head every night and following me around from room to room. Our families, their daily visits, and all the snacks and food they bring. :)

Current Outfit: Oh, just the usual plaid lounge shorts from Gap Body, ribbed tank top, and hoodie.

Current Excitement: Nothing big is coming up, but I’m looking forward to David healing, getting back into running, and going to see Beth Moore tonight. Our church has been meeting in homes all summer and it’s been too long since I’ve been in a worship service. I need it.

Current Link: Want to learn to solve a Rubik’s cube? Here’s the website I used. For the last couple steps, use this website. You’ll be a hit at parties.

Happy September!

Current Book(s): I just started A Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. It was my pick for book club, and even though I wouldn’t normally choose a dystopian novel I’ve heard so many good things about this one that I couldn’t pass it up.

Current Playlist: I follow one of my favorite musicians (& celebrity crush), Derek Webb, on Twitter. He recently recommended Thad Cockrell, and I was able to snag his recent record To Be Loved for free on Noisetrade. It’s been a long time since I’ve loved an album this much on the first listen. The album is still available, but only through this week!

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Since I’m basically letting David have control of the TV, we have been watching a lot of “guy” movies that I wouldn’t normally choose…and I kind of like it. Just don’t tell him.

Current Color: I used to never wear any gold jewelry, and I didn’t really like it. But lately I’m seeing more and more of it that catches my eye, and I think I’m ready to try it out.

Current Drink: I still basically only drink water and coffee, but I did have a smoothie the other day: a Caribbean Way from Smoothie King. The best.

Current Food: When David went into the hospital my mom set up a program with the members of our church where someone brings us dinner every other day for a few weeks. This is a fantastic idea! So far we have had barbecue, tortilla soup, Chinese, quesadillas, and a constant stream of brownies.

Current Favorite Show: As I mentioned before, I started Glee and it is my newest obsession. If only I didn’t have to wait two days in between discs!

Current Wishlist: Money-wise, our budget is on lockdown until we get through all these medical bills. It’s actually freeing, because I don’t even have to think about whether I’m going to buy something or not. I just can’t. And since I’m also on a quest to live a simpler life, I’m learning about what I can do without and how to use what I have. All this to say that even though I keep up my wish list, I’m not really thinking about it.

Current Needs: We need to do a better job of saving up money for emergencies. This is going to be a huge priority for us once things calm down a bit. (Also, I’m kind of desperate for summer clothes; I’ve been wearing the same two sundresses over and over.

Current Triumphs: The only thing that really comes to mind is that I asked for, and received, a second week off work. Normally I would have gone back out of guilt, but something was telling me that I needed to cut myself a little slack and relax. I’m very proud that I listened to that something, and a lot happier too. :)

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: The sweltering heat. I’ve been running and playing soccer again, but there is no time to do it when it’s not at least 90 degrees outside. This has led to some serious discomfort, as well as some unneeded headaches.

Current Celebrity Crush: David and I watched Fargo, one of our favorite movies, last night and I was reminded of my love for Frances McDormand. She’s pretty much perfection in everything she does.

Current Indulgence: I’m on vacation! My life is one big indulgence.

Current Blessing(s): David is doing better and better every day. We love each other no matter what, and we are excited about the start of what will amount to a brand new life together. :)

Current Outfit: Shorts, tank top, and hoodie all from Gap Body. I love the clothes there because they are super soft and comfortable.

Current Excitement: I’m looking forward to every single moment of this week. Reading, movies, time with David, going to the spa, taking the dogs to the dog park, and free food!

Current Link: Even though I’m not a mom (yet!), I find Simple Mom incredibly useful. It’s inspiring me to be more of the person I want to be.

Happy August!

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Current Book(s): After my ADD last month where I was reading five books at once, I decided that I’m going to restrict myself to one at a time from now on. Right now I’m in the middle of The Well at the World’s End Vol. 1 by William Morris, one of the first novels in the fantasy genre, and one which influenced both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Current Playlist: Since I’m back to running a few times a week I thought I’d share some of my favorite running songs.

• Christy Nockels – “Marvelous Light”
• Katie Herzig – “Hologram”
• Matt Redman – “You Never Let Go”
• Third Eye Blind – “Wounded” and “Semi-Charmed Life”
• Coheed and Cambria – “A Favor House Atlantic” and “Blood Red Summer”
• Jimmy Eat World – “Bleed American”
• The Killers – “Mr. Brightside”
• ‘N Sync – “Pop”
• Queen – “Don’t Stop Me Now”
• Scissor Sisters – “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’”

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: I was racking my brain trying to think of one, and then I realized that I’m sitting in my husband’s recliner in my pajamas watching my third episode of Gossip Girl. So there you go.

Current Drink: I don’t drink this plain, but chocolate soy milk is perfect in coffee.

Current Food: I discovered dark chocolate covered acai berries. Upside: they are delicious and full of antioxidants. Downside: way too easy to overeat!

Current Favorite Show: Not really into anything right now except The Bachelorette. It’s just plain entertaining.

Current Wishlist: We’re buying a dining room table from Chelsea this weekend, and we’ll need some chairs. Also curtains, shelving, and wall art, obviously:

Current Needs: We really need to get Oliver fixed. Seriously. Need. Seriously.

Current Triumphs: Last weekend we were so understaffed at work that I had six patients, was in charge, and had multiple chemos to give. I was so proud of myself that I got it all done on time and without having a breakdown. Also, I consider it a triumph that my manager asked me to work 16 hours yesterday and I said no.

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: The oppressive summer heat has come, making it difficult to run or walk the dogs at any time other than the hour after or the hour before sunrise.

Current Celebrity Crush: Y’all know I love soccer, right? And the World Cup is starting this month, only the greatest sporting event ever (in my opinion). So I only thought it fitting to feature some gems on the U.S. Men’s team.

First up, Carlos Bocanegra, defender, 31 years old:

Benny Failhaber, midfielder, 25 years old:

And although he barely didn’t make the national team’s final roster, Brian Ching is still the hometown hero of the Houston Dynamo:

See? Soccer’s not so bad, is it?

Current Indulgence: Buying that dining room table even though we didn’t plan for the purchase. It was just too perfect for us to pass up.

Current Blessing(s): A clean house and air conditioning. CAN I GET AN AMEN.

Current Outfit: I’m wearing some Gap Body sleep shorts and a ribbed tank top. So comf.

Current Excitement: The front half of our house is coming together, and my in-laws planted some flowers in our backyard. I have this weekend off, which I always look forward to, and in two weeks David and I are going camping with some of our siblings. I’m excited about that, but also hoping it won’t be a complete disaster!

Current Link:I spent some time yesterday signing up for free samples from this website. In 6-8 weeks I’ll be getting a bunch of random stuff in the mail.

Happy June!

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