0

2014 Resolutions: Month 1

1. Lose 20+ pounds.
Lost 0 pounds… But I also gained 0 pounds.

2. Read 52+ books.
I read four so I’m well on my way! Check out my book blog for reviews.

a

b

c

d

3. Visit 1+ new (to me) US city.
Visiting Seattle in March.

4. Visit 1+ new (to me) country.
Visiting Canada in March.

5. Visit 5+ new (to me) breweries and vineyards in WNC.
Visited Hi-Wire Brewing.

6. Get 2+ tattoos.
Not in January.

7. Find a higher paying job.
Will start looking in March.

8. Live 100% by myself for the first time (no roommates, boyfriend, mom…).
That will come after #7…

9. Go to a book signing or book/library-related event (YALLFest, ALA Annual Conference).
I went to Wiley Cash’s book signing.

asd

10. Maintain my book and local travel blogs and start a new general travel blog.
Added 18 posts to my book blog (!), five to my local travel blog, and created a new general travel blog (but haven’t gotten any posts up yet).

11. Take Spanish classes.
Hired a teacher and have had two classes so far! We meet once a week and she gives lots of homework.

12. Be more creative with Pinterest-inspired crafts and cooking.
Tried two new recipes (crockpot chicken taco bowls and green curry chicken) and one new craft (Mardi Gras tutu)!

1

2

13. Wean myself off meat until I’m down to one carnivorous meal a week (or month!).
Have not started this one yet. 😦

14. Do something I’ve never done before (play golf, ride in a limo, go hang-gliding…).
Nope.

1

August

Wow, I have been such a horrible blogger! I didn’t post last month at all. So for my “Happiness 365” series here are my “Days 213-243” in Instagram photos… (Unfortunately they posted backwards!)

"The Miley"

“The Miley”

Parker-Binns Vineyard

Parker-Binns Vineyard

Overmountain Vineyards

Overmountain Vineyards

Green Creek Winery

Green Creek Winery

A poem and drawings from kids at the library

a poem and drawings from kids at the library

I got a scholarship to the NCLA conference!

I got a scholarship to the NCLA conference!

My new display at the library

my new display at the library

My babies

my babies

Picnic and concert with the fam

picnic and concert with the fam

Rafting on the Nantahala River

rafting on the Nantahala River

The Local Taco

The Local Taco

Margaritas

margaritas

It's my cat in a bowl

it’s my cat in a bowl

Lego librarian!

Lego librarian!

Breaking Bad premiere

Breaking Bad premiere

Gambling

gambling

Dinner at Ruth's Chris

dinner at Ruth’s Chris

Ready for my birthday night out

ready for my birthday night out

Ménage à trois

Ménage à Trois

Road trip

road trip

This book was great!

this book was great!

Babysitting Hayden

babysitting Hayden

Birthday card from Bobby

birthday card from Bobby

A favorite new TV show... Orange is the New Black!

a favorite new TV show… Orange is the New Black!

Malachi got a new home :(

Malachi got a new home 😦

foggy commute

foggy commute

hiking with Riley and Diesel

hiking with Riley and Diesel

flowers from my mom's garden

flowers from my mom’s garden

tubing with Brittany

tubing with Brittany

lunch at Olde Hickory Station

lunch at Olde Hickory Station

mountain sunset

mountain sunset

2

Monday Quiz About Me

Acting Balanced

I’ve missed a few weeks…

1. July is National Ice Cream month… Are you celebrating?
You know, I really haven’t been eating enough ice cream this summer. That needs to change!

I love froyo!

I love froyo!

2. What is your favorite rainy day activity?
Going to the movies.

gonna see this tomorrow...

gonna see this tomorrow…

3. What is the one book from high school that you remember reading most?
Lord of the Flies.

3

4. Have you ever visited Charleston, SC?
Yes! I even lived there for a year.

Sullivan's Island in 2011 with my mom and brother

Sullivan’s Island in 2011 with my mom and brother

*****

1. Wednesday, July 24th is National Drive-Thru Day… Do you have any drive-thrus that you have a hard time passing?
I go to Wendy’s about once a week. Love me a chocolate Frosty.

5

2. Other than signing your name, when was the last time you physically wrote something?
I write notes all the time.

3. What was the first movie you saw in a movie theater? The latest one?
The first one I remember was Snow White… Most recent was The Heat.

6

7

4. Have you ever visited Disney?
Yes, when I was three and six.

8

*****

1. What is your favorite pair of shoes?
Old Navy flip flops.

9

2. Do you get embarrassed easily?
I don’t think so…

3. What makes you cringe?
Nails on a chalkboard.

4. July 29th is National Lasagna day… Are you celebrating? What kind of lasagna do you prefer?
Nope… But I LOVE my mom’s lasagna!!

Bonus question for blog hoppers to answer:

5. How did you celebrate your last birthday?

3

We Want to Know Wednesday

 photo WWTKbutton-1-1_zps2077872a.jpg

1. Show us in pictures how your summer is going so far…

1

1058708_10151454329286923_1976536394_n

2ecb3612e5d011e2939b22000a1f9251_7

Swimming in a lake on July 4th!

972388_10151436416786923_1906651067_n

2

3

1

7

4

3

3

2. What is one thing you are never too busy for?
My favorite TV shows… Gotta keep my Bumday Monday TV nights free! 🙂

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Finishing up an online class.

4. What is the best advice you have ever received?
I don’t usually ask for or receive advice… But I think the best decision I have made was to get my master’s in library science and move back home to start a new career!

5. Share some of your favorite quotes…

1

3

2

2

Ten Things to Smile About / June’s Favorite Things

1. Swimming! At Pot Shoals and Crystal Springs.

4

3

2

1

983403_10151414960211923_298891786_n

970879_10151415109666923_1462740612_n

888f46f0d3b211e293b222000aa8011b_7

3

2. The Blue Ridge BBQ Festival.

1

3

2

3. Khaled Hosseini’s book signing!

4

5

4. My mom’s birthday… Dinner and Evita!

7

8

9

5. Shooter Jennings at The Orange Peel.

1

6. The Virginia Creeper Trail!

2

7. A patriotic pedicure 🙂

972388_10151436416786923_1906651067_n

8. Mad Men, True Blood, and Game of Thrones… And the Dexter season premiere is tomorrow!

1

2

3

4

9. Silver Linings Playbook… One of the best books I’ve read this year.

silver_linings_playbook_cover_book

10. Mud… One of the best movies of the year.

MV5BMTU2MzcyODgyNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTc4MDYwOQ@@._V1_SX214_