Life Archives - Page 46 of 96

This week in…: Volume 25

July 24, 2015 by Jana 31 Comments

This week in reading…Finished Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac and Shotgun Lovesongs. Started A Little Life. Picked up Inside the O’Briens and two books from NetGalley including Girl Waits with Gun, which I’m excited to read. I’m 3 shy of completing the Literary Ladies Summer Reading Challenge and the next Show Us Your Books is August 11th so mark your calendars and start drafting your posts!

This week in fashion…well, sort of. It more should be “this week in new clothes because everything I own sucks” but I bought 4 maxi skirts so now I’m mildly trendy even if I trip over the bottom of the skirts repeatedly because #short

This week in TV…Thankfully “Last Comic Standing” and Denis Leary’s new show are great because “True Detective” fucking sucks and “Hell on Wheels”, well, I don’t know what they’re doing there. And it’s going to be forever before all the Netflix shows I like come back on so for now, it’ll continue to be minimal TV for me. Speaking of Netflix, anyone have an ETA for “Longmire”? The internet is not helpful.

This week in controversy…“Trophy” t-shirts. Diner owners who yell at children. More crap about the Duggars. Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj fighting on Twitter and Katy Perry jumping in. Can we seriously stop caring about this stuff and spending so much energy on it? Please. It’s utter nonsense and the fact that we’re more wrapped up in crap like this instead of worrying about important things, real things like what happened to Sandra Bland or how we can get Donald Trump to shut the fuck up and go away, makes me sad for our country.

This week in things that are awesome…I had a whole list of things to share but then this came across my screen and it is better than everything else I’m going to let it stand on its own. Facebook doesn’t always suck and it saved the lives of these two dogs.

This week in internet reading…This oldie but goodie from Mental Floss, 7 Book Dedications that Basically Say “Screw You”. Science confirms that cursing is good for the soul (I fucking knew it!). Being busy is not something to be proud of and this post gives 21 great reasons why. And this post and the hashtag #IWishMyTeacherKnew is heartbreaking and makes you think about what’s really going on with the kids you know.

This week in funnies…

Have a great weekend! I’m not sure what I’m doing yet because it’s the first weekend of the husband’s summer vacation and we’ve planned nothing! Speaking of his vacation, posting will be erractic, if at all, next week because #poorplanning so if I don’t see you next week, I’ll see you in August!

P.S. You can always follow along with my terrible pictures on Instagram if you’re curious to know what we decide to do.

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This week in…:Volume 24

July 10, 2015 by Jana 12 Comments

This is one of those weeks where it gets to the end and you’re left thinking “where did this week go? What did I do, exactly?” Well, if you’re me, the answer is not a whole hell of a lot. Besides reading, getting acclimated to my new job (which I LOVE), and playing some games on my iPad, the week seems to have flittered by. It’s okay, I suppose. We’re all entitled to weeks like this.

This week in reading…Finished Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town and Summerlong. Started Saint Anything for the Literary Ladies Book Club. Picked up Shotgun Lovesongs and A Little Life. I’ve read 4/10 in the LL Summer Reading Challenge with 3 more on my nightstand. Finally, don’t forget, this Tuesday, July 14 is Show Us Your Books! Looking forward to learning about what you guys read!

This week in spending money…Or, not spending money. You know those weeks where it seems like everything you need or want to buy is on sale? That was my week this week. The highlights were the free bag of dog food for hitting our number in the frequent buyer program (and, at $50/bag, this was a nice treat) and Essie nail polish being on sale at Walgreen’s, plus you got a free nail treatment with your purchase of one bottle. So I finally bought Licorice and got a new apricot cuticle oil. For $5.99

This week in travel planning…Being a lady of modest means, I have to plan my travel roughly a year in advance. Which is why I started pricing rentals in OBX for our family vacation next year (or Cape Cod or Myrtle Beach. I’m open to suggestions) as well as planning for the Book Expo America Conference in Chicago and, even though it’s a little short notice, the Book Riot Conference in November as long as football season is over and the child is on break from cheerleading. I’m going with Steph so if you plan to attend, let us know and we’ll all hang out together!

This week in things that are awesome…The Confederate Flag, or in an effort to not start yet another argument with the husband, the flag that has come to represent the Confederacy, is coming down from the Capitol in South Carolina. Now, I don’t care what you do with this flag in your own time. Wear it, sleep wrapped up in, tattoo it on your ass…doesn’t matter to me. But something that symbolizes hatred and institutionalized racism has no business flying in front of a government building. We can debate this if you’d like but you won’t change my mind. I will add this, though. Removing the “Dukes of Hazzard” from the air because it’s on the General Lee? Absolute overreaction and utter nonsense.

This week in TV…Did you guys watch the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest? No? Well, you’re luckier than I am because it’s revolting but the announcer? He is priceless and he needs to announce all the things from now on. Anytime anyone ever needs to walk into a room, this guy needs to be there calling it. He’s hilarious.

This week in internet reads…I know how much you guys love this part of the post because distractions so hopefully I pulled some good ones for you this week. This excerpt from Amy Shumer’s interview with Glamour magazine and while I don’t generally read or buy such magazines, I’m looking forward to reading the interview in its entirety. I hope they discuss more than just her appearance. This post from Lifehacker debunking some common myths about forming habits. Then there was this one discussing the subtle art of not giving a fuck. And finally, 11 charts that sum up being a book nerd.

This week in funnies…

Have a wonderful weekend! Make sure to come back on Monday for Interview with a bookworm featuring Kristin (it’s moved up a day because of Show Us Your Books)!

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15 things I always do

July 8, 2015 by Jana 43 Comments

This is probably a post that makes more sense at the beginning of the year but with the year being half over, it’s a nice time for reflection. Mostly in reviewing what I wanted to accomplish, how far I’ve come in achieving my goals, and what I still need to do by year’s end. While I was doing that, it occurred to me that there are some things that, no matter what, I do each year without fail.

Let’s dive into some of those.

Read Our Town
Watch all 18 episodes of “Freaks and Geeks”
Plan to get a new hairstyle and color. Rethink decision immediately.
Travel somewhere new, even if it’s not somewhere exotic or far away from home.
Revamp my entire makeup collection.
Buy a planner, fill it with important milestone events, anniversary, and birthdays. Forget most of them.
Renew both my blog domain name and my business license because you never know.
Go to the beach.
Cook Thanksgiving dinner. It’s my favorite meal to cook so even if I’m not hosting, I cook half the meal anyway.
Promise not to spend any money on books or magazines until I’m caught up with all the ones I have.
Adamantly insist that this will be the year I relearn conversational French, play the guitar, and learn to sew.
Buy new bras and underwear (I realize some people do this monthly. I’m not in that group of people. #noshame)
Find song I love, listen to it until I can’t stand it.
Say I’m going to be more social and make new friends.
Commit to one blogging or work related conference (anyone want to go to the Book Riot one in November?)

I think there might be a few I’m missing. If so, I’ll fill them in later.

Obviously there are some things on that list I’m quite successful at doing and others, not so much (I’ll let you decide for yourself which is which). But I think having those yearly rituals, failed or not, keeps me focused (a little) on what I want my life to look like. And I’m pretty sure that’s not a bad choice to make.

How about you guys? Do you have recurring yearly rituals or goals?

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This week in…: Volume 23

July 3, 2015 by Jana 15 Comments

This week in reading…Finished Let it Be and The Long Home (2 books on my Literary Ladies list), started Missoula, and I’m about 3/4 of the way done with Please Don’t Come Back From the Moon. And I learned that the author of one of my favorite books, The Sisters Brothers, has a new book coming out in September. I might have done a little jig of glee when I learned that. Also, mark your calendars–the next Show Us Your Books linkup with me and Steph is July 14th.

This week in movies…Did you guys know that there’s a new movie in the Rocky series coming out this fall? It’s not about Rocky, though. Well, I mean, it sort of is but it centers on Apollo Creed’s son. Who’s played by Michael B. Jordan. Or, as I refer to him, Vince from Friday Night Lights. It looks pretty kick ass, too.

This week in TV…Last Comic Standing. Hell on Wheels. Denis Leary’s new show Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll. What do they have in common besides showing my ridiculously eclectic taste? They all start this month! I might actually watch some TV that’s not John Oliver! Because let’s face it, this season of True Detective is pretty damn terrible and I need something to watch.

This week in music…Shinedown released a new song, “Cut the Cord”. I will listen to Brent Smith sing the alphabet I love his voice so much but I’m on the fence about this song. Take a listen. What do you think?

This week in creepy shit I do…Do you guys also do that thing where you start reading a book by a new to you author and you instantly fall in love and then get all of his (or her) books from the library and then ~~stalk~~ follow them on social media and Google the crap out of them so you can learn all the things including if they’re doing an appearance/book signing/book reading near where you live? No? Just me? Okay. But I might have done that this week with Dean Bakopolous. I also might have problems.

This week in good news…So remember how a few months ago I was all bummed because I didn’t get a job I thought I was perfect for? I believe now that there was a reason I didn’t get it as it left me available to take a job that’s even more awesome and more exciting. I get to work at home for a publishing company in their speakers group (to be clear, I will not be doing any speaking. I will be helping promote the authors who do want to speak). GUYS. I get to work around books. And the people who write them. Without wearing pants (well, I mean, I won’t be wearing pants. The authors might. I don’t know their choices). Basically, it’s perfect.

This week in things I don’t give a shit about…Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner getting a divorce. They’re a Hollywood couple. How is this surprising at all? Why is everyone freaking out? It’s almost as bad as when that one guy left One Direction.

This week in things that are awesome…I mean besides last Friday’s SCOTUS decision? Hard to get better than that. But there are a few that came close. Like Bree Newsome climbing the flagpole in South Carolina to remove the confederate flag. I don’t care what you do with that flag in your personal life but it has no business flying in front of a government building. Then there was this TV station who staffed their rival station’s newsroom so they could attend the funeral of the rival station’s sport anchor. This San Francisco woman who developed an app to help combat food waste and hunger among San Francisco’s homeless. These best friends who built their own tiny house neighborhood so they can be together forever.

This week in internet reads…So many good reads I’ve been saving to Pocket and need to share with you all (oh, if you’re not using Pocket, I highly recommend you do so, especially if you hate having 32980473287 tabs open at once so you remember what you want to go back and read. Plus, it’s like your own personal magazine) but I can’t do that. So I picked the highlights, like this Buzzfeed posts about 19 things you should know if you date a book lover. Keeping with the book theme, Hello Giggles posted 23 children’s books secretly written for 20somethings (last on the list is Wonder by RJ Palacio. All I can say to that is ALL THE YESSES!!! If you have not read this book yet, do it), Book Riot came up with 80 bookish lists they wish existed, and I also found this list of 10 great writers no one reads anymore (maybe we should turn this one into a reading challenge for next year?). The Huffington Post shared 51 reasons to be in love with life.

This week in funnies…

Happy Fourth of July weekend for those celebrating!! May you enjoy the founding of our freedom and America’s birthday by eating dozens of hot dogs, fighting crowds at the beach, and keeping your pets from freaking out at fireworks!

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The ABCs of me

July 1, 2015 by Jana 33 Comments

You know what I like to do? ~~Steal~~ Borrow post ideas from other people. So that’s what I’m doing today rather than post the long, rambling rant that I’ll probably truncate and stuff into my weekly recap instead. I saw this on Erin’s blog and I thought it’d be a nice break from talking about books (what? I can talk about other things, too).

A- Age: 38. I’m surprisingly okay with this, although I do wonder how I got to actually BE 38.
B- Biggest fear: horses. But not just horses. I’ve written two posts devoted to all my fears (you can read them here and here) so you can enjoy those if you wish to know just how crazy I am.
C- Current Time: 10:47 a.m.(which is when I started writing)
D- Drink you last had: water. I drink a lot of it. I also spend a lot of time in the bathroom. This is not a hard puzzle to figure out.
E- Easiest Person To Talk to: the husband, my friend Jess, Steph
F- Favorite song: nope. I will not answer this one in fear of making all the songs I forget to mention feel bad. But if you’re holding a gun to my head, it’s either “Subdivisions” by Rush, “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” by Meatloaf (you can judge me. It’s okay), or “Amaryllis” by Shinedown. Maybe. Oh! “Maybe” by Sick Puppies! That’s one of them, too.
G- Grossest Memory: Hmmm…that’s a tough one. I’m pretty desensitized to gross. Probably the time I saw a kid projectile vomit orange soda. This is also why I have an aversion to anything orange.
H- Hometown: I don’t generally disclose the exact town so let’s just say Long Island.
I- In love with: I’d say my husband and child and pets but that’s boring. So how about The Tonight Dough ice cream, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and books instead.
J- Jealous Of: tall people. And, so we’re clear, tall to me is anyone over 5’6″. I’m mostly jealous of your ability to reach things in high places sans ladder or tiptoes.
K- Killed Someone: I feel this is a ridiculous question because if I have, and I’ve gotten away with it thus far, why would I admit it now?
L- Longest Relationship: the one I’m in. We’ll be together 19 years in October, married for 11 this past April.
M- Middle Name: Lynn. I never use it. If you know my last name, you understand why.
N- Number of Siblings: two sisters. One brother in law.
O- One Wish: I have that Skee-Lo song in my head now but if I had a real wish, it would be endless money for anything I wanted. Or a multibook deal with a publisher.
P- Person who you last called: the PR representative for the sponsor of my mentoring session at #FinCon15
Q- Question you’re always asked: “Do you actually read all of those books?”
R- Reason to live: because thought of dying is way worse.
S- Song you last sang: “Banditos” by Refreshments or “On the Radio” by Donna Summer. I say two because it was the former when I started writing and the latter as I finished up.
T- Time you woke up: Somewhere in the neighborhood of 6:30AM. I don’t like that neighborhood. I’m looking to move. Preferably somewhere in the 9:00 hour.
U- Underwear Color: black and white striped (fun fact: I had to check because I couldn’t remember)
V- Vacation Destination: It varies. We try to go somewhere new every year. This year was Disney World. That was not new since we went in 2012. My ideal vacation destination is Australia which is fitting since Erin lives there and I totally ripped this idea off from her. Plus she promised me a beer when I got there and you don’t turn down free beer. That’s a life lesson, kids. You’re welcome.
W- Worst Habit: I pick at my cuticles. Sometimes until they bleed. I know. I’m classy.
X- Xrays you’ve had: For injuries: Broken right arm when I was in second grade. Glass in my left wrist the summer before 5th. Softball to the face junior year of high school. For pregnancy: 800 billion biophysical profiles and a few ultrasounds. Also: routine dental x-rays. I wonder how I’m not radioactive at this point.
Y- Your favorite food: Cheese. All the cheese. And Chinese food.
Z- Zodiac Sign: Gemini (I didn’t have to change this from Erin’s response)

What do your ABCs look like?

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This week in…: Volume 25

This week in…:Volume 24

15 things I always do

This week in…: Volume 23

The ABCs of me

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