And I won 1st place in the spooky category again! Although I think I won because there were only 4 other competitors in my category, which is a lot less than in years past. I guess nobody wanted to be spooky this year.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Halloween fun!
If you read my post from last Halloween you'll know that Halloween is BIG where I work. Every year there's a costume contest as well with potential to get some money. In 2009, I went to work as the house from UP and won 1st place in the creative category. In 2010, I was the witch from Snow White and won 1st place in the spooky category. This year I went as a decayed mummy.
And I won 1st place in the spooky category again! Although I think I won because there were only 4 other competitors in my category, which is a lot less than in years past. I guess nobody wanted to be spooky this year.
And I won 1st place in the spooky category again! Although I think I won because there were only 4 other competitors in my category, which is a lot less than in years past. I guess nobody wanted to be spooky this year.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Countdown Begins!
Is it too early for one of these?
I love the holidays. Mostly because I associate them with no work and lots of time spent with family. And the festiveness surrounding the holidays can't be beat. SO...to get in the spirit and do something crafty I made a countdown chain. My sisters and I used to make these when we were little. You just use strips of paper and tape or glue, it doesn't get much easier. The yellow and brown is the countdown to Thanksgiving then it transitions to red and green for the continued countdown until Christmas.
In addition to the chain I've had these countdowns up on my computer at work for awhile now. The times aren't exact but it gives me something to look forward to. If you have windows 7 it's a really easy gadget to add.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Halloween decor in less than 90 minutes!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sunday Drive
Every fall Caleb and I take a scenic drive on the first Sunday in October. We love to see the leaves changing color and it's a chance to relax and enjoy each others company. This year we took the opportunity to get some photos as well. I think they're pretty good considering we used our point and shoot and the self timer. Caleb was really good at pressing the trigger button then getting in place. Most of the time we hung our camera from a tree limb.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Pin What?
Do you know what Pinterest is? I didn't. Everyone kept commenting on blogs, "Pinning it," and "Definitely Pinning." And I kept hearing people refer to Pinterest. And I had NO clue what they were talking about.
What is it? A virtual pinboard. At first I thought, WHY? But it makes total sense. I have a word document on my computer with pages and pages of links and photos of craft ideas and recipes, things I want to try one day but don't want to forget where I saw them in the first place. And Pinterest is simply an avenue to do just that. So I signed up a few days ago. And I'm enjoying it.
Someone I follow pinned a photo of Pumpkin Butter (originally recipe and photo found here). And I thought it'd be fun to try. I made it last night but I haven't tried it yet (as it needed to chill in the refrigerator). My fingers are crossed that it tastes good. I altered the recipe slightly (leaving out the "optional" whiskey and adding a bit of pumpkin pie spice, just for fun). I'll let you know if it's worth a try.
What is it? A virtual pinboard. At first I thought, WHY? But it makes total sense. I have a word document on my computer with pages and pages of links and photos of craft ideas and recipes, things I want to try one day but don't want to forget where I saw them in the first place. And Pinterest is simply an avenue to do just that. So I signed up a few days ago. And I'm enjoying it.
In fact, here is a product of my Pinterest love.
Someone I follow pinned a photo of Pumpkin Butter (originally recipe and photo found here). And I thought it'd be fun to try. I made it last night but I haven't tried it yet (as it needed to chill in the refrigerator). My fingers are crossed that it tastes good. I altered the recipe slightly (leaving out the "optional" whiskey and adding a bit of pumpkin pie spice, just for fun). I'll let you know if it's worth a try.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Two Thirds is Better than One
I'm excited. Why am I excited? Because the third novels in two series I love are coming out in October. One is The Death Cure by James Dashner. I really liked the first one in this series (The Maze Runner), the second was okay too (The Scorch Trials). But I've been waiting to find out how things end. And on October 11, 2011 I'm going to find out because my wonderful sister pre-ordered it for me. Next, are books by Tamora Pierce. I'm not sure why I love this series so much. The first one, Beka Cooper, Terrier (I listened to the audio this month, anticipating the arrival of number three) is as good as I remembered. The novel is set in the kingdom of Tortall in the year 246. And Beka is a cop in training (in the book they're called Dogs). The second installment is called Bloodhound. And on October 25, 2011 Mastiff comes out. And I'm first on the hold list at my local library. Woohoo!
1. Enclave by Ann Aguirre: Another dystopian young adult, shocking isn't it? I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I can't remember how I heard about it but at some point I put it on hold at the library. I thought the writing was well done and the plot well developed. The book follows the life of Deuce, a girl living in an underground community where in your late 20's you're declared an elder. The only thing I didn't like about the book was the ending, I wanted there to be more of a "wrap-up," to the ending. The good news? There's a sequel where I hope to have more of an ending. The bad news? It's release is tentatively Fall 2012. Boo.
2. The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama: My older sister recommended this book to me several months ago and I was able to check it out via ILL (Inter Library Loan). I love ILL because it allows you to rent almost everything. Your library doesn't have the book you're looking for? They will get it from another library. Fabulous. This book is set in India and as its title suggests talks a lot about the marriage customs etc. At first it was a little difficult getting past the things that are culturally different in a setting that's halfway across the world, but after about 50-70 pages it's quite entertaining.
3. The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg: What girl hasn't been fed up by a boy at some point? Did you ever do anything about it? Penny Lane decides to start a club, The Lonely Hearts Club. I like the premise of the club, and how the characters decide to love and support one another in their different pursuits. It's important to have friends and this novel gives that message loud and clear.
4. Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony: Set a couple decades in the future, this novel explores what our nation might be like after an economic collapse due to oil shortage. I enjoyed reading it. I like the main character and her fiddle. This makes me wonder, what if we could only travel a short distance away? When you think about it's not until the last century that extensive travel was made possible and you lived in one place your entire life.
5. The Witness by Dee Henderson: Dee Henderson is what I would call a Christian Romance author, but the fun thing is most of the her novels (maybe all) deal with some sort of thriller mystery. I particularly like her O'Malley series (the prequel to this series is Danger in the Shadows). This new novel is full of intrigue and suspense. And connections where you least expect them. Not as good as some of her previous novels, but an engaging read.
6. The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June by Robin Benway: A fun young adult novel, although I must say, I think curse words and other topics (drinking, sex, etc) are appearing way too frequently in young adult literature these days. Yes, I think there is a place for it, because let's face it the language in high school hallways is anything but clean and the topics even worse, so I can see wanting to keep novels "real" and true to life. But I also think curse words can be eliminated in most circumstances, especially if you're a writer and have an expansive vocabulary. Just my thoughts. I loved the sibling interaction in this book.
7. Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard: I was under the impression that this novel would be a Pride and Prejudice knock-off, and although the main character (Callie) does end up in the year 1815 at a large estate, it didn't follow the P&P plot line. Disappointing. But if you continue to read past the first 100 pages the book does get more amusing. To it's downfall it has a few awkward moments (I can't stand awkward moments in plots, they make me cringe) and some of the character interactions could also be improved.
8. Miss Match by Wendy Toliver: Young adult romantic comedy type novel. It was exactly what I expected it would be.
9. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford: This novel was slow-paced in sections but it's one of those novels where the slow pace is part of the characters and story and it unfolds exactly how it supposed to. It switches back and forth between 1942 and 1986 and sometimes it makes you want to skip ahead to catch up in the year you just read about. The story follows Henry as a young Chinese boy and later in life when he's middle-aged. By the end I felt like I knew him fairly well and it was interesting to see how events and situations influenced him. Enjoyable story overall, sad and frustrating in some parts.
10. Generation Dead by Daniel Waters: Teenagers are coming back to life...or existence...in this teen novel. All of them function differently and more slowly than other teenagers and it's difficult for them to show emotion. Phoebe, the main character, is curious and wants to learn more about them, especially as one of them used to be one of her best friends. The part I didn't like? And I don't think it's just exclusive to this novel, but sometimes I really don't like the one girl, two guys, she has to pick one scenario. I feel like it's a prevalent theme throughout YA literature (Twilight series, Matched, Hunger Games, etc). And sometimes I wish it was just one guy. I'm reading the sequel to this one right now...
1. Enclave by Ann Aguirre: Another dystopian young adult, shocking isn't it? I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I can't remember how I heard about it but at some point I put it on hold at the library. I thought the writing was well done and the plot well developed. The book follows the life of Deuce, a girl living in an underground community where in your late 20's you're declared an elder. The only thing I didn't like about the book was the ending, I wanted there to be more of a "wrap-up," to the ending. The good news? There's a sequel where I hope to have more of an ending. The bad news? It's release is tentatively Fall 2012. Boo.
2. The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama: My older sister recommended this book to me several months ago and I was able to check it out via ILL (Inter Library Loan). I love ILL because it allows you to rent almost everything. Your library doesn't have the book you're looking for? They will get it from another library. Fabulous. This book is set in India and as its title suggests talks a lot about the marriage customs etc. At first it was a little difficult getting past the things that are culturally different in a setting that's halfway across the world, but after about 50-70 pages it's quite entertaining.
3. The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg: What girl hasn't been fed up by a boy at some point? Did you ever do anything about it? Penny Lane decides to start a club, The Lonely Hearts Club. I like the premise of the club, and how the characters decide to love and support one another in their different pursuits. It's important to have friends and this novel gives that message loud and clear.
4. Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony: Set a couple decades in the future, this novel explores what our nation might be like after an economic collapse due to oil shortage. I enjoyed reading it. I like the main character and her fiddle. This makes me wonder, what if we could only travel a short distance away? When you think about it's not until the last century that extensive travel was made possible and you lived in one place your entire life.
5. The Witness by Dee Henderson: Dee Henderson is what I would call a Christian Romance author, but the fun thing is most of the her novels (maybe all) deal with some sort of thriller mystery. I particularly like her O'Malley series (the prequel to this series is Danger in the Shadows). This new novel is full of intrigue and suspense. And connections where you least expect them. Not as good as some of her previous novels, but an engaging read.
6. The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June by Robin Benway: A fun young adult novel, although I must say, I think curse words and other topics (drinking, sex, etc) are appearing way too frequently in young adult literature these days. Yes, I think there is a place for it, because let's face it the language in high school hallways is anything but clean and the topics even worse, so I can see wanting to keep novels "real" and true to life. But I also think curse words can be eliminated in most circumstances, especially if you're a writer and have an expansive vocabulary. Just my thoughts. I loved the sibling interaction in this book.
7. Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard: I was under the impression that this novel would be a Pride and Prejudice knock-off, and although the main character (Callie) does end up in the year 1815 at a large estate, it didn't follow the P&P plot line. Disappointing. But if you continue to read past the first 100 pages the book does get more amusing. To it's downfall it has a few awkward moments (I can't stand awkward moments in plots, they make me cringe) and some of the character interactions could also be improved.
8. Miss Match by Wendy Toliver: Young adult romantic comedy type novel. It was exactly what I expected it would be.
9. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford: This novel was slow-paced in sections but it's one of those novels where the slow pace is part of the characters and story and it unfolds exactly how it supposed to. It switches back and forth between 1942 and 1986 and sometimes it makes you want to skip ahead to catch up in the year you just read about. The story follows Henry as a young Chinese boy and later in life when he's middle-aged. By the end I felt like I knew him fairly well and it was interesting to see how events and situations influenced him. Enjoyable story overall, sad and frustrating in some parts.
10. Generation Dead by Daniel Waters: Teenagers are coming back to life...or existence...in this teen novel. All of them function differently and more slowly than other teenagers and it's difficult for them to show emotion. Phoebe, the main character, is curious and wants to learn more about them, especially as one of them used to be one of her best friends. The part I didn't like? And I don't think it's just exclusive to this novel, but sometimes I really don't like the one girl, two guys, she has to pick one scenario. I feel like it's a prevalent theme throughout YA literature (Twilight series, Matched, Hunger Games, etc). And sometimes I wish it was just one guy. I'm reading the sequel to this one right now...
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Hiking Nebo
On Saturday, we went hiking. Hiking is not my favorite activity but it is DEFINITELY a good workout. Especially this hike. There were some lengthy steep sections.
This gives you a little idea of how high we were. Check out that valley down there. The pink blob is me. And yes there was a little snow on top. Talk about CHILLY.
Climbing down the ridges. The end portion of this hike was climbing over rocks and stuff. I don't really like that kind of hiking/climbing and I was perfectly content to stop about 500 feet from the top and wait for Caleb and Josh. (When I can look to both sides of me and there are sheer drops I'm going to stop right there and not go any further. Me and heights, we're not friends.)
Someone else graciously took their picture on top.
Caleb in his classic hiker pose.
The view.
Caleb in the lead. His cousin Josh came with us. Most of the trip was Caleb and Josh up front with me trailing a healthy 50 feet (and sometimes more) behind. Let's just say I like to move at my own pace.
This gives you a little idea of how high we were. Check out that valley down there. The pink blob is me. And yes there was a little snow on top. Talk about CHILLY.
Climbing down the ridges. The end portion of this hike was climbing over rocks and stuff. I don't really like that kind of hiking/climbing and I was perfectly content to stop about 500 feet from the top and wait for Caleb and Josh. (When I can look to both sides of me and there are sheer drops I'm going to stop right there and not go any further. Me and heights, we're not friends.)
Someone else graciously took their picture on top.
Caleb in his classic hiker pose.
The view.
Me and Caleb on the mountain. When Caleb first saw this picture he said, "man, your legs are white." Yes, yes they are, but winter is coming and I'm not going to worry about it.
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