Another day, another... book read?

I thought about giving examples of the things I've done in the past week, but then I realized it would just be much easier to say that I've basically been geeking out for the better part of the last week. The highlight was when I read the 2nd & 3rd books of The Mortal Instruments series in a day. I guess you could say I've definitely missed reading YA. Its just fun. Since I've also been re-reading Harry Potter, Happy Birthday Harry!!

Last night, one of my Facebook friends shared this link (click here!) & I love it. Check it out if you haven't seen it already - if you don't understand how I could love geeking for a week or anything else introverts do, it'll help.

Makin' The Rounds

Sometimes good things happen that make me wish I lived in a different time. I just got back from visiting some friends for a few days and it sort of got me thinking of times in the past when people would travel to visit their friends once a year but stay for weeks at a time. I'm sure it'd be much harder to be very close to those people, but I think I'd love getting to travel the country throughout the year to visit friends. I love being home, but I also enjoy being able to visit my friends at their home and learning about where they're from. While visiting my friends the past few days I was able to see places they enjoy hanging out and unique special places off the beaten track. Its moments like those, when I'm able to gain a deeper understanding of my friends, that I truly enjoy visiting new places. It was such a joy to get to spend time with my friends before the craziness of the semester set in. Even the drive was nice, the roads I was able to take on my trip went through some of the most beautiful parts of the state. This relaxing trip was just what I needed before the pre-school craziness sets in.

Here are some pictures from my time I got to spend with my room mate! Enjoy the last week of July!

One month left

I know I've said before how one of the downsides of summer is missing my friends. I love being home, but man I really miss my friends from school & the ones that live away from home. The only good thing about missing friends is getting to catch up! Today I was able to catch up with a friend from school & talk about random things like we would have if we were hanging out at school. I'm really trying to enjoy being where I am while I'm here, but I'm definitely looking forward to being reunited & some great adventures. 

Despite missing my friends, I also realized today there is less than a month until I move back to campus. It's one of those realizations that makes me want to get up & actually do the things I said I wanted to do this summer - other than watching Netflix. I need to finish painting my chair, read more books, spend more time outside, and visit more friends without looking back. As Oscar Wilde said, "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." 

I'm on beach time!

America really is a beautiful country. Forget about politics - there's none of that here. The jaw dropping beauty in all parts of our diverse nation screams of our brilliant creator. I truly feel blessed to live in a country holding so much natural beauty. These are the revelations of a young woman who has only seen a handful of states no less. I find myself quickly wanting to check more states off my visit list. Though I love love home, I find myself full of wonderlust for my own country.

I've been in Longboat Key, FL since Sunday afternoon. These last few days here have been simply beautiful. Our hotel is right on the beach and I can see both the ocean and the bay from our hotel room's balcony. I don't think I've ever loved Florida as much as now. All of the homes gorgeous, the hotels make you want to visit them all, and the people have all been really nice (even the lady who called me a Yankee). And being from the mid-west, I like to think I know nice people when I meet them. Longboat Key isn't a very big island but is connected to other islands and the mainland via bridges that allow views of bays full a boats and magnificent waterfront homes. All of the islands we've driving through or visited have been so charming - I'd love to spend time on them all. Hands down this is the most relaxing vacation I've ever had. We've spent almost all of our time by or in the ocean and pool. Dinner and an afternoon of shopping have called us to explore different parts of the islands. We saw the sunset at Bradenton Beach Monday night and I think I fell in love. 

 Now I have visited Pacific and Gulf Coast beaches since January and I'm not sure I could pick a favorite. Oregon beaches and Gulf Florida beaches may as well be on different planets there are so different. I also love them both for very different reasons. Gulf beaches have glowing white sand and refreshing greenish blue waters. Oregon beaches have breath taking rock formations and cold, clear water. I long to see California, Carolina and Maine beaches to see how I will cherish those. Other sites around the country I long for are the Colorado Rockies (again), Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, the hills of Tennessee, and the Ozarks where I call home. 

Sending sand, sunshine, and salt water vibes your way! 

Sometimes there's just not much to write about.

So lately I really haven't been up to much. I covered the seat of my folding chair, but it's been too windy on my free days to spray paint. Its also been unseasonably chilly so I haven't been getting must pool time either. Some of my best friends came down Friday and we had a girl's night. Regardless, I've been enjoying my favorite inside activities. Since I couldn't come up with much of anything to write about I thought I'd share some things you may or may not know about me. 

- My favorite book of all time is Pride and Prejudice. I also love the 1995 BBC adaptation, the 2005 movie adaptation, and even the Zombie version. My newest favorite? The youtube series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. Seriously, check it out.
- I love love love Doctor Who. I'm watching right now. I also love Supernatural. And Sherlock.
- Yes, I am scared of the dark. Okay, maybe a better description is slightly terrified. 
- Harry Potter by JK Rowling is brilliant. So are the movie adaptations. 
- Speaking of brilliance, JRR Tolkien & Lord of the Rings. 
- My other favorite TV shows are Bones & Castle. 
- My step dad is French Canadian.
- I've read so many books, sometimes I have to start re-reading before I remember if I've read it before or not. 
- I first hurt my ankle in 1st grade. Between that and being ultra klutzy, my ankles are basically elastic now. Which is sort of helpful since I roll my ankle on an almost daily basis. 
- I'm allergic to all trees and grasses. Maybe Spring isn't my favorite season. 
- Mix my allergies and my klutziness, I don't really play sports. My athletic ability is probably 5.
- My favorite summer activity are concerts at the Amphitheater & floating in my pool.
- I love burning candles. 
- My little sister and I are two years and 15 days apart. 
- Also, I'm a Mac girl. & I love my iPhone. 
- Country music is probably my favorite, but I love all kinds of music. 
- I really really enjoy float trips with my family in our canoes. 
- If I'm on my computer, I'm probably either listening to Spotify or watching Netfllix (while doing whatever I'm actually supposed to be doing). 
- I thoroughly enjoy naps. My best friend & I were just talking yesterday that naps should be made mandatory daily.
- My favorite colors are blue & yellow.
- I love tractors. My grandpa & my dad ran a tractor implement my entire life. My grandfather started the business in the 70s and my dad has continued it even after my grandpa passed away. Tractors, especially red tractors, make me think of home. 
- My best friend dubbed my car "Babe-mobile". Yeah, it stuck. 
- As much as I love my fully stocked bookshelves, my kindle is one of my favorite things. 
- Some of my favorite music outside of country is Mumford & Sons, The Civil Wars, & The Avett Brothers.

Its not very exciting, but maybe now you have a better idea of who I am. Though I could have gone on for a great bit longer, I'm sure this is more than enough for now.