Hello, and welcome to the end of September!
//The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
I finally read this book after wanting to read it since I first heard about it from my AP English teacher in high school. Each chapter is told from a different perspective of one of the females in the Price family (who else loves multiple perspective books!). The whole family goes on a religious mission to the Belgian Congo and the book covers their experiences and challenges they face individually and as a family. I loved the distinct "voice" Barbara Kingsolver was able to give each character as I learned about her while I read her specific chapters. I could resume reading the book in the middle of the chapter and after a few lines I easily knew whose perspective I was reading from.
Please ignore the sassy looking girl and pay attention to the stamp with Big Ben. That stamp is what made me check out this book from the library. The story wasn't super amazing or particularly mind blowing, but I did like this book for the following reasons:
1) The main character, Ginny, goes to London.
2) Ginny stays in hostels while she travels Europe and it sparked some reminiscence of the multiple hostels I had the pleasure to experience while adventuring in the UK. Everyone should stay in a hostel at least once in their lives. There is nothing quite like putting sheets on a mattress spotted with unidentifiable stains and knowing you have to sleep there that night. Okay, they're not all that bad, but . . . a lot of them are.
3) The descriptions of the European settings made me want to spend all my money and travel.
One main complaint/criticism I have for this book is that I still don't know who Ginny is. I read the whole book from her perspective as she experienced all these exciting things and she has hardly any memorable personality!
//Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
So when people ask me what my hobbies are, the first one I mention is that I love to read. I believe my love of reading began in third grade. Back then my favorite books were the Bailey School Kids, Magic Treehouse, and Junie B. Jones series, and I was just getting to know who this Harry Potter person was. Now I have a never ending "to read" list, and I am always in the process of reading one book or another.
And today I would like to share what I read this past month!
//The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
To be honest, I expected something spectacular from this book. It was in Oprah's book club for goodness' sake! I thought it was good, but not as amazing as I expected. I do want to read something else by Barbara Kingsolver, though, to see what another book of hers would be like.
//13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
//13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
1) The main character, Ginny, goes to London.
2) Ginny stays in hostels while she travels Europe and it sparked some reminiscence of the multiple hostels I had the pleasure to experience while adventuring in the UK. Everyone should stay in a hostel at least once in their lives. There is nothing quite like putting sheets on a mattress spotted with unidentifiable stains and knowing you have to sleep there that night. Okay, they're not all that bad, but . . . a lot of them are.
3) The descriptions of the European settings made me want to spend all my money and travel.
One main complaint/criticism I have for this book is that I still don't know who Ginny is. I read the whole book from her perspective as she experienced all these exciting things and she has hardly any memorable personality!
//Everlasting by Angie Frazier
I saw the map design on the cover of this book and decided it would be worth a shot. Simply put, this story involves a part sea, part land treasure hunt with some love and magic thrown in to keep things interesting. It was suspenseful at times and I even had to do that thing where you cover up the rest of the page with your hand so you don't cheat and read ahead. At the time I didn't know it was the first in a series, but after reading it I will most likely read the second book.
//Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
In Speak, Melinda
spends nearly all of her freshman year of high school silently carrying
an intense secret inside herself, and you just can't wait for her to tell
someone about it, goshdangit! Because this book is about some very serious issues (such as rape), it surprised me at how many times I actually laughed out loud at Melinda's thoughts and descriptions about high school. I found them hilariously accurate. I loved this book. It was an excellent story with a fantastic main character and it was a fast read. I can't wait to read something else by this author.
TO ANYONE WHO HAS READ THIS BOOK: Why are the eyes different colors on the cover?? Is it two completely different people? I just have no idea. I read the whole book trying to figure it out and no answers jumped out at me. Please enlighten me.
Here are some of my recent favorites:
---This rug from Kohl's. I know it's not normal to be obsessed with a rug, but I am completely obsessed with this one! Every time I enter my apartment, I applaud myself for choosing such a rug. BONUS: it was only $10.
---Echosmith. Why is Echosmith so awesome and why have I not heard about them until now?! I am especially loving these songs:
Tell Her You Love Her
Bright
Come Together
Tell Her You Love Her
Bright
Come Together
---One Republic's Native album cover. I like the actual music and everything, but I can't get over the album artwork. For some reason it reminds me of The Lion King and Pocahontas all rolled into one magnificent cloud of animal heads.
---Slurpees with the husband. The best thing to come from 7-eleven.
---Happy Friday!
I looked through all of the photos I have that are over 5 years old and this is one of my absolute favorites:
We all look so tiny!
The smirk on my youngest brother's face. Priceless!
We had just come home from a hilarious family vacation to Mesa Verde.
We all look so happy to be together.
I will get to spend forever with these people. Plus my dad, who is somewhere outside the frame. Plus my mom, who took the photo. Plus Nathan, who I hadn't met yet.
Me with all my siblings circa July 2006.
Reasons I like this photo:
We all look so tiny!
The smirk on my youngest brother's face. Priceless!
We had just come home from a hilarious family vacation to Mesa Verde.
We all look so happy to be together.
I will get to spend forever with these people. Plus my dad, who is somewhere outside the frame. Plus my mom, who took the photo. Plus Nathan, who I hadn't met yet.
So anyone who knows us knows that my husband and I are not the most outdoorsy people in the world and that summer is not our favorite season. So we don't spend a ton of time outside during these warmer months.
Maybe it's because feeling hot and sweaty is the worst. But mostly it's because Netflix is full of so many wonderful things.
Anyway, this is what I have been enjoying on Netflix this summer:
Doctor Who. Yes, Nathan and I are complete Whovians. We bleed Tardis blue. But really, it was only a matter of time until I experienced this British magnificence. I can honestly say it is the nerdiest thing I have ever enjoyed and that it has a special place in my heart. We won't even talk about how much I have cried on multiple occasions while watching this show (that van Gogh episode, though! I just can't! If you brought it up now, I would get teary). I deeply feel that this is something I was always meant to view and enjoy. The Harry Potter of my 20s, if you will. And in case you were wondering, my favorite doctor is Matt Smith (his princess hands kill me!) and my favorite companion is a toss up between Donna and Clara. And you can bet your bottom dollar we will be sitting in a movie theater this Monday night thoroughly enjoying the Doctor Who Season 8 premiere.
(And when our air conditioning kicks on it kind of sounds like the Tardis, so that's cool.)
Maybe it's because feeling hot and sweaty is the worst. But mostly it's because Netflix is full of so many wonderful things.
Anyway, this is what I have been enjoying on Netflix this summer:
Doctor Who. Yes, Nathan and I are complete Whovians. We bleed Tardis blue. But really, it was only a matter of time until I experienced this British magnificence. I can honestly say it is the nerdiest thing I have ever enjoyed and that it has a special place in my heart. We won't even talk about how much I have cried on multiple occasions while watching this show (that van Gogh episode, though! I just can't! If you brought it up now, I would get teary). I deeply feel that this is something I was always meant to view and enjoy. The Harry Potter of my 20s, if you will. And in case you were wondering, my favorite doctor is Matt Smith (his princess hands kill me!) and my favorite companion is a toss up between Donna and Clara. And you can bet your bottom dollar we will be sitting in a movie theater this Monday night thoroughly enjoying the Doctor Who Season 8 premiere.
(And when our air conditioning kicks on it kind of sounds like the Tardis, so that's cool.)
PBS's Secrets of ... documentary series. Watching Netflix AND learning? Yes! Learn about beautiful British buildings and the interesting people that have inhabited them. And if you went on a study abroad to London, this series will remind you of all the awesome things you saw and how much you want to go back to visit.
My Strange Addiction. If you want to feel extremely normal in a very good way watch this show. You may be addicted to Pinterest or chocolate, but at least you are not eating the dry wall off of your own home or drinking nail polish, my friends. I strongly suggest you do not watch this show while you are eating anything . . .
My Strange Addiction. If you want to feel extremely normal in a very good way watch this show. You may be addicted to Pinterest or chocolate, but at least you are not eating the dry wall off of your own home or drinking nail polish, my friends. I strongly suggest you do not watch this show while you are eating anything . . .
being puppy hungry
cleaning out my purse
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getting goodbye gifts from work (yay, for new jobs!)
being greeted by these lovelies when I come home from work
(as well as husband)
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and planning a future trip to Disneyland with these wonderful people
(plus Nathan, obviously)
(and minus Pluto)
(and minus Pluto)
circa '10
good times, indeed
I chose to take this personality test. Mainly because it was the first one listed when I googled "personality tests." That action itself probably says something about my personality.
I once took this same sort of test in a Personality Theory class last year and my numbers were EXACTLY THE SAME IN EVERY CATEGORY. I scored 10 on Introversion, 10 on Extroversion, 10 on Intuition, 10 on Sensing, and so on and so forth. What does that mean?! Probably that I have a perfectly balanced personality. Jokes. It probably only means I was planning (mostly worrying) about my wedding at the time and commuting to school 1.5 hours each way and staying up too late with my fiance and was basically a zombie with no personality.
My test results today:
INTJ
Introvert
iNtuitive
Thinking (but only slightly more than Feeling)
Judging
Here are some interesting things about INTJs that I shamelessly copied and pasted from http://www.16personalities.com/intj-personality.
"The INTJ personality type is one of the rarest and most interesting types. Comprising only about 2 percent of the U.S. population (INTJ females are especially rare—just 0.8%), INTJs are often seen as highly intelligent and perplexingly mysterious. INTJ personalities radiate self-confidence, relying on their huge archive of knowledge spanning many different topics and areas. INTJs usually begin to develop that knowledge in early childhood (the “bookworm” nickname is quite common among INTJs) and keep on doing that later on in life."
"INTJs know what they know, and more importantly, they are confident in that knowledge."
"INTJs are very decisive, original and insightful."
"They find it very difficult to understand the complex social rituals that are considered part of the dating game, especially in Western societies. Things like flirting or small talk are unnatural to them; furthermore, INTJs (especially females) tend to see typical attraction tactics (such as feigning disinterest) as incredibly stupid and irrational."
^^^ My dating life to a T. ^^^ I'm surprised I eventually got married what with all the unnaturalness that flirting and small talk brought into my life!
But really.
You wanna know who else is an INTJ? Katniss Everdeen, Gandalf the Grey, and Thomas Jefferson.
Ummm, heck yeah! I don't mind being part of that club.
I once took this same sort of test in a Personality Theory class last year and my numbers were EXACTLY THE SAME IN EVERY CATEGORY. I scored 10 on Introversion, 10 on Extroversion, 10 on Intuition, 10 on Sensing, and so on and so forth. What does that mean?! Probably that I have a perfectly balanced personality. Jokes. It probably only means I was planning (mostly worrying) about my wedding at the time and commuting to school 1.5 hours each way and staying up too late with my fiance and was basically a zombie with no personality.
My test results today:
INTJ
Introvert
iNtuitive
Thinking (but only slightly more than Feeling)
Judging
Here are some interesting things about INTJs that I shamelessly copied and pasted from http://www.16personalities.com/intj-personality.
"The INTJ personality type is one of the rarest and most interesting types. Comprising only about 2 percent of the U.S. population (INTJ females are especially rare—just 0.8%), INTJs are often seen as highly intelligent and perplexingly mysterious. INTJ personalities radiate self-confidence, relying on their huge archive of knowledge spanning many different topics and areas. INTJs usually begin to develop that knowledge in early childhood (the “bookworm” nickname is quite common among INTJs) and keep on doing that later on in life."
"INTJs know what they know, and more importantly, they are confident in that knowledge."
"INTJs are very decisive, original and insightful."
"They find it very difficult to understand the complex social rituals that are considered part of the dating game, especially in Western societies. Things like flirting or small talk are unnatural to them; furthermore, INTJs (especially females) tend to see typical attraction tactics (such as feigning disinterest) as incredibly stupid and irrational."
^^^ My dating life to a T. ^^^ I'm surprised I eventually got married what with all the unnaturalness that flirting and small talk brought into my life!
But really.
You wanna know who else is an INTJ? Katniss Everdeen, Gandalf the Grey, and Thomas Jefferson.
Ummm, heck yeah! I don't mind being part of that club.
>>>My Favorite Things This Week<<<
Cinnamon Chex.
Cinnamon Chex.
Lollia hand creme.
I discovered this lotion at a small boutique near our apartment. I tried a sample of Wish and immediately fell in love with its sugary scent. I will own it one day, but for now I just mention it to Nathan a lot. "But remember that lotion! I haven't mentioned it for, like, a whole day!" I also sprayed a sample of the Wish perfume on a sample paper thing (do they have a proper name?) and I keep it in my car. I look forward to every opportunity I have to sit in my car and smell that glorious little paper.
Tresemme Dry Shampoo.
Tresemme Dry Shampoo.
Dishwashers that work.
Our dishwasher was recently fixed (after AGES of it being unusable) and my enthusiasm for it is as if I have never owned a dishwasher in my life. The dishes take soooo much less time now! And my hands don't get all pruny!
It's a life changer.
This adorable Canadian lives in the UK, talks about beauty products, and is hilarious.
Anniversary.
Today marks the two year anniversary of mine and Nathan's first "activity." A pseudo-date of sorts. I picked him up, I decided we should get ice cream (each paying our own way), and we talked at a park for hours.
Best. Decision. Of. My. Life.
Anniversary.
Today marks the two year anniversary of mine and Nathan's first "activity." A pseudo-date of sorts. I picked him up, I decided we should get ice cream (each paying our own way), and we talked at a park for hours.
Best. Decision. Of. My. Life.
This video is amazing.
Two things will forever be true about High School
Musical:
1) it is super cheesy and 2) I love it dearly.
This seamless
combination of HSM and Frozen is flawless.
My husband showed this to me and it was just so cute it made me teary eyed.
When I am scrolling through my instagram feed on my phone, sometimes I accidentally like a picture. And I would feel bad getting rid of the "like" so I just keep it as is. But I try my hardest to make every "like" intentional.
So that it is genuine and stuff.
If you are looking to waste more of your time on the internet, I suggest looking at the puppies on KSL Classifieds. So enjoyable. OH MY GOODNESS, CAN YOU GET ANY CUTER?!
Nathan and I bought a car over the weekend. We had to sign a lot of papers and get a loan from the bank and get our credit checked and everything.
We also met with an insurance agent yesterday and got insurance for the two cars we own AND renter's insurance.
After we forked out basically all our money for these things, we were driving home from the insurance office and we were like, "Does this mean we are, like, adults or something?!"
Getting insurance is very adult-y.
Being an adult is super expensive.
Not exactly breaking news, but that is my life this week.
The end.
listening: to this lovely album by Mindy Gledhill. Listening to it is like taking a nap in the sunshine on a breezy spring day. Ear candy, indeed.
missing: London. And my London family. Everyday.
craving: salsa con queso.
reading: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.
making: this geometric wreath.
smelling: coconut lime breeze lotion by bath and body works.
wishing: I knew how to play the ukelele.
watching: not the olympics. :( But you can find me watching PLL (even though it is unbelievably ridiculous) every Tuesday night. WHY, OH WHY do I do this??! AND WHO THE FREAK IS A!?! I still think it is Ezra.
looking forward to: a weekend full of Brian Regan, car shopping, family, friends, good food, and not working.
So, I guess I only post on Thursdays . . .
1) Those Opening Ceremony sweaters for Team USA were ridiculously amazing and amazingly ridiculous all at the same time. I want one.
2) That little video they did on the Canadian Olympian Alex Bilodeau and his brother Frederic was probably the cutest thing ever.
3) I am sooooooooo disappointed Shaun White did not win a medal in the halfpipe.
4) I am also sooooooooo disappointed Shani Davis did not win a medal in the 1000m.
5) Those Russian figure skating pairs are fierce! Fierce and (nearly) flawless. They are so fun to watch.
6) Scott Hamilton is the most entertaining commentator.
7) I miss Bob. Primetime Olympics just aren't the same without him.
8) All in all, the Olympics are spectacular. They are even more spectacular when Olympic cookies are involved.
7) I miss Bob. Primetime Olympics just aren't the same without him.
8) All in all, the Olympics are spectacular. They are even more spectacular when Olympic cookies are involved.
Thoughtful Thursday.
A day on which I will share my deepest and most meaningful thoughts.
Psych!
It's just an excuse to share some random things I come up with during the week.
And I like alliterations.
--Yay for January being almost over! We are that must closer to Spring. And, more importantly, the Olympics!!!
 | ||
| Couldn't agree more, grumpy cat. |
--Although I did not cry when I read The Fault In Our Stars (I know! It surprises me too!), I am 100% sure I will cry when I see the movie.
-I think I need a poster of this fine sentiment.
- I am very impressed with whoever came up with this.
-The End-
Yesterday I broke a nearly 10 year long streak.
I have had cell phones in my personal possession for almost 10 years, and in all those years of being a cell phone owner I have never once lost one or left it at a store/restaurant/movie theater/school.
Have I dropped a cell phone? Yes.
Have a cracked the screen by sitting on it? Absolutely. (only once, though)
Have I left it at home on accident? Of course.
But have I ever carelessly left it in a public place where it could easily be taken?! No.
Until last night.
Nathan and I went out to eat for dinner and when I was showing him all of the flavors of chapstick I keep in my purse, I must have irresponsibly placed my cell phone next to me on the seat of the booth we were sitting at. And when we got up to leave, I left the poor thing there. Forgotten.
When we got home, I realized it wasn't in the front pocket of my purse like it usually is, and we drove back to the restaurant to check. Nathan was even nice enough to go in and grab it to save me some embarrassment.
Fortunately, none of the high school aged employees noticed it. I'm sure that if they had, they would have snatched it right up because of the amazing phone case design that beautifully combines Aztec patterns and outer space. Yes, it looks just as amazing as it sounds.
Want to see a picture of it?? I knew you did.
P.S. I keep thinking today is Friday. It is vastly disappointing. Each and every time.
I have had cell phones in my personal possession for almost 10 years, and in all those years of being a cell phone owner I have never once lost one or left it at a store/restaurant/movie theater/school.
Have I dropped a cell phone? Yes.
Have a cracked the screen by sitting on it? Absolutely. (only once, though)
Have I left it at home on accident? Of course.
But have I ever carelessly left it in a public place where it could easily be taken?! No.
Until last night.
Nathan and I went out to eat for dinner and when I was showing him all of the flavors of chapstick I keep in my purse, I must have irresponsibly placed my cell phone next to me on the seat of the booth we were sitting at. And when we got up to leave, I left the poor thing there. Forgotten.
When we got home, I realized it wasn't in the front pocket of my purse like it usually is, and we drove back to the restaurant to check. Nathan was even nice enough to go in and grab it to save me some embarrassment.
Fortunately, none of the high school aged employees noticed it. I'm sure that if they had, they would have snatched it right up because of the amazing phone case design that beautifully combines Aztec patterns and outer space. Yes, it looks just as amazing as it sounds.
Want to see a picture of it?? I knew you did.
P.S. I keep thinking today is Friday. It is vastly disappointing. Each and every time.
So I'm sure by now we all love Frozen and we are convinced it will be a broadway musical one day.
And if you haven't seen this video, you should because it is totally worth it.
Dark-haired guy is stupendous. And by "dark-haired guy" I mean dark-haired guy in blonde wig.
Can I just say it is about time! As you can see below, I'm pretty excited.
I am now the proud owner of an Instagram account. I am finally part of the club!
Too bad this addition to my life will in NO WAY help my resolution of spending less time with technology.
I should feel bad. But I don't.
Enjoy my first Instagrams
follow me at themichellecherie
UNTIL THIS GREATNESS!!!!!!!!!!!
so can the terrorists PLEASE just take a chill pill so the world can have the Olympics?!?*
that would be great.
so can the terrorists PLEASE just take a chill pill so the world can have the Olympics?!?*
that would be great.
be nice to Russia.
so the world can party.
*and stop being terrorists in general.
I really like my middle name.
It is Cherie.
Not Cherry.
Not Sherry.
Cherie. Like sure-ee.
I can count on one hand the number of people
that have pronounced it correctly on the first try.
>Take more pictures.
>Finish making my London book before my 3rd year anniversary of coming home from London (August 11).
>Spend more time being creative: journal writing, scrapbooking, doodling, smashbooking, etc.
>Spend less time with technology: cellphone, facebook, pinterest, netflix, etc.
>Plan and prepare church lessons before Saturday.
>Dabble in calligraphy.
>Read more than 10 books (in 2013 I only read 10 books which was APPALLING to me. I have kept a record of the books I have read for years now and I have never read so few books in one year.)
>Finish making my London book before my 3rd year anniversary of coming home from London (August 11).
>Spend more time being creative: journal writing, scrapbooking, doodling, smashbooking, etc.
>Spend less time with technology: cellphone, facebook, pinterest, netflix, etc.
>Plan and prepare church lessons before Saturday.
>Dabble in calligraphy.
>Read more than 10 books (in 2013 I only read 10 books which was APPALLING to me. I have kept a record of the books I have read for years now and I have never read so few books in one year.)
January
-engagements on what felt like the coldest day of the year-
-engagements on what felt like the coldest day of the year-
February (but really end of January)
-another broken femur for Dad!-
-another broken femur for Dad!-
March
-spring-
-spring-
April
-marriage-
-marriage-
May
Poor May. I did not take one picture in May.
June
-summer sunset-
-summer sunset-
July
-glow-
-glow-
August
-yellowstone-
-yellowstone-
September
-anniversary of proposal-
-anniversary of proposal-
October
-orange-
-orange-
November
-fall leaves-
December
-frozen-
