I’ve had so much fun doing book challenges this year that I’ve decided to make my own! Unlike most challenges, which run for a calendar year, I’m going to do mine for just the summer. I wanted to start with something short to see how much interest it got, and we'll go from there! Plus, I know a lot of my readers are students or teachers, so summer is the optimal time for you to get lots of reading done. :)
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Semi-Charmed Summer 2012 Book Challenge
I’ve had so much fun doing book challenges this year that I’ve decided to make my own! Unlike most challenges, which run for a calendar year, I’m going to do mine for just the summer. I wanted to start with something short to see how much interest it got, and we'll go from there! Plus, I know a lot of my readers are students or teachers, so summer is the optimal time for you to get lots of reading done. :)
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Things that make me go "hmm."
Happy weekend, everyone! Considering I had a friend visiting last weekend and I'm headed to visit Columbia next weekend, I'm looking forward to relaxing this weekend. My plans include taking a nice long bike ride, catching up on some reading and taking a quick jaunt down to Albuquerque to meet my dad, who's coming through New Mexico on a road trip. What are your plans?
Last week, I posted the link to the new Texts from Hillary Tumblr. This week, the creators announced they will not be posting new memes.
This hilarious essay about Disney reminds me of this video ... and this one. And No. 8 had me (morbidly) laughing out loud.
Did you know Channing Tatum used to be a stripper? Well, now you do. (Don't worry; no stripping photos included in this article. Unless that's what you were hoping for, of course; in that case: sorry!) Also, his laugh apparently sounds like this: "Tee-hee-hee!"
These lattes are almost too beautiful to drink. (Almost being the operative word; I would never turn down a latte, of course, no matter how pretty.)
This article asks if traveling domestically is really traveling. I definitely think it is, but I'm interested to hear your thoughts.
Travel + Leisure just released its list of America's Favorite Cities 2011. Santa Fe was voted the best cultural getaway and best for peace and quiet, among other categories. Is your city on the list?
And finally, I've probably shared this blog before, but it's worth sharing again. Such gorgeous photos.
P.S. — My blog survey is still up! I'm hoping to revamp tomorrow if I find the time, so please give me your feedback today!
Last week, I posted the link to the new Texts from Hillary Tumblr. This week, the creators announced they will not be posting new memes.
This hilarious essay about Disney reminds me of this video ... and this one. And No. 8 had me (morbidly) laughing out loud.
Did you know Channing Tatum used to be a stripper? Well, now you do. (Don't worry; no stripping photos included in this article. Unless that's what you were hoping for, of course; in that case: sorry!) Also, his laugh apparently sounds like this: "Tee-hee-hee!"
These lattes are almost too beautiful to drink. (Almost being the operative word; I would never turn down a latte, of course, no matter how pretty.)
This article asks if traveling domestically is really traveling. I definitely think it is, but I'm interested to hear your thoughts.
Travel + Leisure just released its list of America's Favorite Cities 2011. Santa Fe was voted the best cultural getaway and best for peace and quiet, among other categories. Is your city on the list?
And finally, I've probably shared this blog before, but it's worth sharing again. Such gorgeous photos.
P.S. — My blog survey is still up! I'm hoping to revamp tomorrow if I find the time, so please give me your feedback today!
Friday, April 13, 2012
On My Own: Work
So it's been 92 days since I moved into my studio, but hey, who's counting? I was doing some slight rearranging earlier this week and sat down at my table for the first time in probably two months or more. I decided I needed more surface space than my little television tray provides, so I finally turned my table from a storage surface back into a real, working desk. Now that I've finally done that, you get to enjoy the final installment of my On My Own series: Work.
The set-up is a little awkward with the chairs at opposite ends, I'll admit, but it works. (You have to get creative in a studio to maximize your floor space.) Also, some of the pictures were taken before the rearranging and some after, so bear with me:
1. This is what I see when I take a seat at the end of the table. All my necessities are within reach: my trusty MacBook, my phone, a good book and a steaming cup of tea.
2. My intense scrapbooking kit. You'll notice in pictures 3 & 4 that I've since rearranged the furniture, so the white shelves are at the foot of my bed and my scrapbooking supplies are neatly tucked under my desk.
3. The desk, in all its glory! I apologize for the messy piles at the end; I need to put some stuff in my car.
4. My white shelf unit from Staples. I have been wanting one of these for forever, but it was never practical in a dorm or sorority house room. It holds my copious amounts of stationery (see bottom center cube), various clothing items and my growing stack of unread magazines. I assembled it all by myself! Now I just need to figure out how to get it back to California with me this summer....
1. This is what I see when I take a seat at the end of the table. All my necessities are within reach: my trusty MacBook, my phone, a good book and a steaming cup of tea.
2. My intense scrapbooking kit. You'll notice in pictures 3 & 4 that I've since rearranged the furniture, so the white shelves are at the foot of my bed and my scrapbooking supplies are neatly tucked under my desk.
3. The desk, in all its glory! I apologize for the messy piles at the end; I need to put some stuff in my car.
4. My white shelf unit from Staples. I have been wanting one of these for forever, but it was never practical in a dorm or sorority house room. It holds my copious amounts of stationery (see bottom center cube), various clothing items and my growing stack of unread magazines. I assembled it all by myself! Now I just need to figure out how to get it back to California with me this summer....
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
If I were fashionable, this is what I would wear.
Happy Wednesday, everyone! I hope your weeks have been good so far. I'm sticking with my usual Wednesday link-ups for now, but please take my survey if you have a few minutes to give me some feedback on my blog. It's only ten questions and all questions are optional. Now, on to what I'm loving this week....
First, please indulge me for a minute while I tell a roundabout story: I've been wanting a yellow pencil skirt for a while now (remember this?), and I thought I struck gold when The Limited had a 50% off sale on its website last week. I had put a yellow pencil skirt in my cart a while ago but was putting off buying it. Of course, when I went to buy it at the reduced price, it was no longer available! Luckily, I had to pick someone up in Albuquerque on Thursday night, so I went down early to stop by the mall. There were only about three yellow skirts left, and only one was close to my size, but alas, not close enough. Then, a saleswoman found my size on a mannequin and I was able to buy the skirt! It was 40% off in the store and I didn't have to pay shipping, so it ended up being a better deal than if I had bought the skirt online! Score.
First, please indulge me for a minute while I tell a roundabout story: I've been wanting a yellow pencil skirt for a while now (remember this?), and I thought I struck gold when The Limited had a 50% off sale on its website last week. I had put a yellow pencil skirt in my cart a while ago but was putting off buying it. Of course, when I went to buy it at the reduced price, it was no longer available! Luckily, I had to pick someone up in Albuquerque on Thursday night, so I went down early to stop by the mall. There were only about three yellow skirts left, and only one was close to my size, but alas, not close enough. Then, a saleswoman found my size on a mannequin and I was able to buy the skirt! It was 40% off in the store and I didn't have to pay shipping, so it ended up being a better deal than if I had bought the skirt online! Score.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Travel Tuesday: Week 7
Welcome to another edition of Travel Tuesday! This week's (suggested) topic: Where's one place you have absolutely no (or very minimal) desire to visit? Why? As usual, please link up with your travel-related posts below, even if they're a different topic than the prompt I provided.
First, let me start by saying I can't think of any place I would absolutely not visit. If I could visit every single country in the world, I think that would be phenomenal. That being said, there are two countries that come to mind right away when I think of places I really wouldn't mind not seeing before I die: England and Australia.
First, let me start by saying I can't think of any place I would absolutely not visit. If I could visit every single country in the world, I think that would be phenomenal. That being said, there are two countries that come to mind right away when I think of places I really wouldn't mind not seeing before I die: England and Australia.
Monday, April 9, 2012
My first week with Instagram.
As you might most definitely have heard, Instagram is now available for Android phones! I know I've been saying I want to cut down on my link-ups, and I still do, but I just couldn't resist linking up with A Little Dash of Ash for her weekly Instagram round-up. Enjoy my pictures below!
Also, thank you to everyone who has taken my survey! Most people have provided similar feedback, so I'm looking to make some positive changes in my blog over the next month or so. If you haven't taken my survey yet, please do! It's only 10 questions (all are optional), and it will help me tremendously!
1. My first taste of meat in waaaaaay too long: a green chile cheeseburger at Bobcat Bite, a local Santa Fe favorite.
2. I stopped by Walgreens today to get some Starburst jelly beans (my favorite candy ever!) and was really sad when they didn't have it in the candy aisle ... until I noticed that's because they were in the post-Easter clearance bin at the front! Whoop!
3. My first Instagram picture ever represents my life: my laptop, my library books and a steaming hot cup of tea. #perfection
4. My best friend and former college roommate Rebecca visited me for Easter! Whoop! This is her creepin' behind a bush at the top of a hike in Tent Rocks National Monument.
Follow me on Instagram if you don't already! And feel free to leave your username in the comments if you're an Instagram user.
Also, thank you to everyone who has taken my survey! Most people have provided similar feedback, so I'm looking to make some positive changes in my blog over the next month or so. If you haven't taken my survey yet, please do! It's only 10 questions (all are optional), and it will help me tremendously!
1. My first taste of meat in waaaaaay too long: a green chile cheeseburger at Bobcat Bite, a local Santa Fe favorite.
2. I stopped by Walgreens today to get some Starburst jelly beans (my favorite candy ever!) and was really sad when they didn't have it in the candy aisle ... until I noticed that's because they were in the post-Easter clearance bin at the front! Whoop!
3. My first Instagram picture ever represents my life: my laptop, my library books and a steaming hot cup of tea. #perfection
4. My best friend and former college roommate Rebecca visited me for Easter! Whoop! This is her creepin' behind a bush at the top of a hike in Tent Rocks National Monument.
5. Obligatory my-life-is-a-total-cliche Starbucks picture.
6. Easter presents! One from the boyfriend and one from Rebecca's mom. How sweet.
7. The view from the top of the aforementioned hike.
6. Easter presents! One from the boyfriend and one from Rebecca's mom. How sweet.
7. The view from the top of the aforementioned hike.
8. My boyfriend sent two free movie tickets in my Easter package! Aww. So we went and saw American Reunion.
9. I love quinoa.
Follow me on Instagram if you don't already! And feel free to leave your username in the comments if you're an Instagram user.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Things that make me go "hmm."
Happy weekend, y'all! First of all, please help me out with some blog decisions by taking my survey. You might have noticed I didn't participate in Friday's Fancies yesterday for the first time in over two months, and I haven't had an "original" post (i.e. not a link-up or part of a series) in more than a week. I love link-ups and the opportunities they have given me to meet new bloggers, but I've been feeling a little restricted lately in my content, and I'm also worried I might be posting too often and therefore clogging up your Google Readers and irritating you.
I was originally going to wait until my blog had been active for a year (which is only next month!) to create a survey, but I figure there's no better time than the present, right? This blog will inevitably being going through some big changes this summer as I transition to my new job as a traveling consultant, and I would love your input as I prepare for those changes! Thanks so much in advance. And now, on to my interesting links from the past week (and one of my favorite pins):
Whimsical visual abstractions of the reading experience. (a.k.a. sweet photos)
This new Tumblr.
Powerful, phenomenally written story about the Joplin, Mo., tornado last summer. Long read, but definitely worth it. (Warning: You willprobably definitely cry.)
A funny cartoon about the future of books.
This short video (and by short, I mean under two minutes!) illustrates the dance and fashion styles of the past 100 years.
From Thought Catalog: 5 Misleading High School Myths Found In 90s TV
And finally, in a shameless plug for my place of employment: Outside magazine is giving away $10,000 to fund "a smart, creative, and (perhaps) slightly foolhardy project that we’ll feature in an upcoming issue"! Enter to win by May 18.
What are you plans this weekend? My old college roommate is in town for Easter, so we have an exciting weekend planned! I'll definitely be tweeting and Instagramming our adventures.
P.S. — If you're on Instagram (especially if you're a new Android user like me!), feel free to leave your username in the comments!
I was originally going to wait until my blog had been active for a year (which is only next month!) to create a survey, but I figure there's no better time than the present, right? This blog will inevitably being going through some big changes this summer as I transition to my new job as a traveling consultant, and I would love your input as I prepare for those changes! Thanks so much in advance. And now, on to my interesting links from the past week (and one of my favorite pins):
Whimsical visual abstractions of the reading experience. (a.k.a. sweet photos)
This new Tumblr.
Powerful, phenomenally written story about the Joplin, Mo., tornado last summer. Long read, but definitely worth it. (Warning: You will
A funny cartoon about the future of books.
This short video (and by short, I mean under two minutes!) illustrates the dance and fashion styles of the past 100 years.
From Thought Catalog: 5 Misleading High School Myths Found In 90s TV
And finally, in a shameless plug for my place of employment: Outside magazine is giving away $10,000 to fund "a smart, creative, and (perhaps) slightly foolhardy project that we’ll feature in an upcoming issue"! Enter to win by May 18.
What are you plans this weekend? My old college roommate is in town for Easter, so we have an exciting weekend planned! I'll definitely be tweeting and Instagramming our adventures.
P.S. — If you're on Instagram (especially if you're a new Android user like me!), feel free to leave your username in the comments!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Books & tea, tea & books.
This is my most repinned image on Pinterest by far, with nearly 350 repins:
It also represents half the theme of my "Oh How Pinteresting" link-up today with The Vintage Apple. I recently discovered the Date a Girl Who Reads Tumblr, and I'm obsessed. I think I pin one-third of the images she posts, and that's with a relatively high level of restraint. (Remember my post about "Date a Girl Who Reads"?) Last week as I was on a pinning spree, I noticed a lot of my pins included books, obviously, but also tea. Here are some of my favorites. See my Bookworm and My Favorite Things Pinterest boards for more!
It also represents half the theme of my "Oh How Pinteresting" link-up today with The Vintage Apple. I recently discovered the Date a Girl Who Reads Tumblr, and I'm obsessed. I think I pin one-third of the images she posts, and that's with a relatively high level of restraint. (Remember my post about "Date a Girl Who Reads"?) Last week as I was on a pinning spree, I noticed a lot of my pins included books, obviously, but also tea. Here are some of my favorites. See my Bookworm and My Favorite Things Pinterest boards for more!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Travel Tuesday: Week 6
Welcome to another edition of Travel Tuesday! This week's (suggested) topic: How do you spend your time on a plane? How does that vary from short flights to long flights? Or do you prefer to make long trips overground? As usual, please link up with your travel-related posts below, even if they're a different topic than the prompt I provided.
First, let me just say that I am no stranger to plane travel. I lived in three different states before I turned 8, and my cousins and grandparents are spread pretty widely across the U.S. Therefore, multiple long plane trips a year (meaning California to North Carolina and/or Pennsylvania) were routine when I was a child. I also chose to go to school 2,000 miles from home, and my sister, boyfriend and brother all attend school in different states. So any time I want to visit them, I also fly! Whew.
First, let me just say that I am no stranger to plane travel. I lived in three different states before I turned 8, and my cousins and grandparents are spread pretty widely across the U.S. Therefore, multiple long plane trips a year (meaning California to North Carolina and/or Pennsylvania) were routine when I was a child. I also chose to go to school 2,000 miles from home, and my sister, boyfriend and brother all attend school in different states. So any time I want to visit them, I also fly! Whew.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Rabbit, rabbit!
Happy April, everyone! (If my post title doesn't make sense to you, see my explanation here. And by the way, I beat my sister to it today. Ha!) The sun has been shining here in Santa Fe, and I'm getting ready to embark on a 14-mile bike ride to take advantage of the gorgeous weather. (That's long for me, OK! I'll work up to longer distances eventually.) First, though, here's a quick recap of March on Semi-Charmed Kind of Life:
My five most popular posts of March:
- Big news! — March 7 (This was overwhelmingly my most-viewed post of March, probably due to a little retweet by Alpha Delta Pi's official Twitter account. Thanks, Ashlyn!)
- Bookworm humor. — March 29
- The age of literacy. — March 29
- The Hunger Games v. Uglies — March 22
- Travel Tuesday: Week 2 — March 6 (This was my first time hosting a link-up. If you like to travel—or even just to dream about it—link up with me every Tuesday!)
My favorite posts of last month actually ended up on my most-viewed list (#2, #3 and #4), but there are a few others I'll point out in case you missed them:
- In celebration of my 22nd (!) birthday, I shared 22 fun facts about myself in "Happy Birthday to me!"
- I crossed two items off my to-do list (or at least finally blogged about them): No. 51 and No. 8.
P.S. — I just recently realized that when I replied to your comments on my blog, you weren't notified. I've started e-mailing replies instead, so please don't think I was ignoring all your comments! I just didn't know Blogger didn't tell you. :)
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