Long day, but 3 things to Love

I am so tired of always being so on the go. All The Time. I have been gone for different things for the last 3 weekends in a row. Don't get me wrong, these were all very fun things. But I have to say I am really looking forward to just being in Sacramento this whole weekend. Not to mention the fact that I am WAY behind on reading now. It will definitely be catch-up time.

But, even though this morning started out quite rocky, and I almost didn't make it to my classes...
Here's what makes me happy today:

• Thanks to inspiration from Ashlee's Blog, Turning an old skirt that I really like into a dress by belting it. --> Love.

• Parachute's album that I bought on Itunes last night. Losing Sleep --> Double Love.
  
• Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt and Glee --> Good way to end a LONNNG day.

Now, bed. Reading will have to wait till morning.

TV Premiere Week

End of September...and what does that mean? 

Football - yes, Fall weather – yes 

But all the TV shows are coming back!

Now I know some people who read this are going to think I watch WAY too much TV. But you don't know my family. I am on the light side compared to most of them.

The TV shows that I am the most excited for are:

Sunday: 

Boardwalk Empire

New series starting on HBO about the 1920's during prohibition. Gonna give it a shot.

Monday:
 

Castle 

Castle became quickly one of my favorite shows last season. The reparte between Castle and Beckett is priceless!

Tuesday:

Glee 

Maybe it's the band kid / drama kid part of me from back in the day or maybe it's just how outrageous glee can be sometimes, but it always makes me laugh.

Wednesday:
 

Modern Family

I LOVE Modern Family. Maybe it's because I'm a perfectionist like the wife, or just how hilarious this show is. Best ½ hour comedy on TV today!

Thursday: 

Sh*t My Dad Says

While most people will always see William Shatner as Captain Kirk, I'm always going to see him as Denny Crane. I still watch the Boston Legal re-runs on the weekend. But I am interested to see how Shatner is as the dad in this new series. Though, I don't think it can top Modern Family for best comedy.

Grey's Anatomy

No matter how much they change it or what people say, I will always be a Grey's Anatomy die-hard. I've watched it since the very first episode. What season are we on now? 7? With Grey's you always think that they just can't quite top the previous year's season finale...and then they do. And last season sure was a big one. The aftermath of it should be interesting.

Private Practice

Private Practice is like Grey's Anatomy's stepsister. Same writers, different characters. Last season's episodes were neck and neck with Grey's right until the end. Dell's death, though I predicted it, was really sad. And we all want to see what happens with Addison and Sam!

Friday:

Medium

Last year's finale of Medium was kind of an odd one, but this is the only “crime solving” type show I watch anymore. Wondering how it's going to work with the oldest daughter in college now...

Sunday:
 

Dexter

Ohhh Dexter! After last year's crazy ending with Rita in a bath of blood, these season is sure to be another great one. I mean he's a serial killer, but only kills bad guys! It's just awesome. Can't wait.

What TV shows are YOU looking forward to?

Guest Blog Post

While this week has been great super crazy stressful, so I haven't gotten a chance to post in a while, please do check out my guest blog on www.girlsonthegrid.com,  Here.

Raclette-topped Broiled Tomatoes - yummmmy!

The Last First Week

This has got to be the first year that I think I have been completely unexcited for school to start. Maybe it's because it's my last year.

Or perhaps it's just because I'm completely burnt out.

Or it could be this massive amount of required books that I will be reading:

(and that's minus 2 that I haven't bought yet)

Mostly I think it's because now that I am married, I feel even more ready for a regular job and am just tired of all the perpetual running around.

I hate the maze of parking on campus, speeding in zig-zags up the parking structure followed by the 20 minute walk into campus. Then there's the darting between large groups of students and maneuvering past the overzealous sorority and fraternity booths arriving barely on time, sweating and annoyed, only to end up sitting on the floor thanks to overcrowding in all state school classes these days. Because I am actually enrolled in all of my classes and not attempting to crash, I should tell the wait-listed people to just get out of my seat. But I'm nice, so I sit on the floor. In a dress. Awesome.

Then after the rest of my chaotic day and responsibilities, I arrive home frazzled and tired with a mountain of reading to do. Including middle English and obscure Norse mythology, no less.

Luckily, my husband is understanding of all of this and will continue to be understanding as I claw my way through these last 9 months of school.

So goodbye last first week of school – You won't be missed.

Il Bel Far Niente

Il Bel Far Niente

In Italian: The Beauty of Doing Nothing

In My Life: Nearly Impossible

In Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert talks about the Italian culture's ability to be able to truly enjoy the art of doing nothing. But in our culture...not so much. Email, Texting, Facebook, Twitter, Television. Oh wait, gotta do the laundry, dishes need to be done. We are so full of distractions that we aren't able to just turn off and do nothing.

I have to say, I am probably first in line when it comes to these distractions taking over every ounce of what is left of my time after work and school.

And school...oh man school. With my last fall semester about to start on Monday, I feel myself teetering between excitement and full blown panic attacks. I love school, and I love learning, but the fear of being able to keep up with school as well as everything else in my life is all consuming. I feel like I am about to take a huge breath, jump into a lake, and hold my breath under water for the next 10 months.

And that is scary. Really scary. I'm not a fan of being underwater in the first place...so comparing it to that feeling...well you get the point.

Anyway, I am proposing to make a promise to myself that I WILL come up for air sometimes. Not that I will try, not that I will do my best, but that I WILL give myself some breaks this year. Considering that my weekends seem to somehow already be pretty much booked through November, this will prove somewhat difficult. But, I need to do it. I need to carve out a couple of hours each week to practice Il Bel Far Niente.

Wish me luck?

Countdowns and Books

Countdowns:

12 days until I start my last year of college

30 days until we leave for the Monterey Jazz Festival!

129 days until Christmas :) - yes, I'm counting
AND


63 days until I have the following books read:

• Harry Potter 4 re-reading and almost done
• Harry Potter 5 to re-read
• Harry Potter 6 to re-read
• Harry Potter 7 to re-read
• Eat Pray Love - already started

All of that on top of the at least 10 books I am going to be reading for my english senior seminar and british literature classes this semester...

Think I'm crazy I can do it?

It's a lofty goal, but I wanted to re-read all of the Harry Potter books before the 7th movie - 1st half - comes out November 19th, and I also wanted to see if Eat Pray Love lives up to all of the hype. :)


PLUS, I wanted to make sure that I am reading books for myself this school year. Because at the end of last year I realized right before the wedding that the only book I had read for myself in the previous 10 months was Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol" - in October. Sad. Truly SAD.

To keep this goal, I must avoid all Barnes and Nobles, Bookstores, and the bookstore aisle in Costco. These tend to sidetrack me from what I am currently reading, and this is how I ended up with the un-read "bookshelf" which now spans SEVERAL shelves of our bookcases. See, I find a great book, and I really do intend to read it....but then inevitably I get busy and there the book goes to wait on the shelf.

So sorry Books. I will get to you someday... And I promise to TRY not to bring you home friends anytime soon...

Farmer's Market and Yoga

While most days I am simply focusing a lot of my energy into looking forward to the big changes coming for Chris and I, as well as for my family in these upcoming 10 months...this blog is supposed to focus on the NOW.

So here's what I'm loving right now:


Sunday Farmers Market – 8th and W - the biggest and best one in Sacramento.  We never used to be able to go because Chris has been having to work so much...but now we've been going first thing in the morning when it opens and then I've been able to drive him to work. There's nothing like a sunday morning, grabbing some coffee and  spending $20 on a couple bags of super fresh, super yummy produce for the week's meals.

Vegetarian Times Magazine – Along the same vein, that produce has been put to good use with wonderfully good vegetarian recipes from this magazine. I'm going to have to give in and just subscribe. Even Chris, being the die-hard meat eater that he is, has liked everything I've made out of here.

Starting Fusion Yoga $25 - 2 week Trial This Week - Fusion yoga is a new studio over on Fair Oaks Blvd that I've been talking about going to for a long time. Like BEFORE my wedding – long time. And I am finally going to do it! I figure 2 weeks of yoga to relax before my stressful last year of college starts has to be a good idea right?

School Supply Shopping! - Yes, I am that much of a nerd. But 15 cent notebooks at Target?! As well as packs of pencils and pens for only $1! It's a perpetual organizer and writer's dream. Fall always tends to be a time for reorganizing, and what better way to organize my school, piano student and internship stuff than with super cheap school supplies! :) Insert your laughing at me here. If you know me well, then you know my excitement is warranted.


NOT Loving – My first ever Root Canal today... :-( Wish me Luck!