January Reads

 Read all my Rants and Raves for January on my 

GoodReads link 

LOVE

: to adore or have a very strong liking

Here are some of the things I'm loving this Valentine's Day

The Taner Bar necklace by Gorjana.  

This is my official Vday gift from my husband.  I loved it so much that I  bought one for my sister too.  

This photo  

Every. Single. Thing. About. This. Photo.

This nursery 

By one of my favorite bloggers @ Kelly Hicks

This Jacket

I got this MK jacket from my momma for xmas and can't express enough how much I love it.  Mine is black/black not purple, but I couldn't seem to find that photo.  This is close enough.

For my husband's gift I'm planning on something to commemorate the late, great Stan Musial.  The moment he heard the news of Stan's passing he went down to the basement to retrieve his autographed baseball and it hasn't left our living room since.   I'm thinking a photograph or perhaps framed newspaper clipping would go nicely with his prized possession.  Especially when they are all back in the basement where they belong.  Whatever it is, the choice will be his.  

Paying it Forward

Yesterday Tooter and I had lunch at Josephines Tea Room where I needed to return/exchange a Christmas gift.  All was good until those dreaded words were said "We only accept returns within 14 days of purchase."  The look on my face must have been one of utter defeat.  All I wanted to do was exchange for something that would have worked better in my home, but the woman behind the counter repeatedly told me there was nothing she could do (sad face).  So, I packed my sad self up, grabbed grandma and was making my way out the door when another sales woman caught me and said she would do the transaction.  I couldn't believe it.  Tears came to my eyes.  Kindness....

Upon leaving the store I told Tooter that we had to Pay it Forward at our next stop and of course, what do Tooter and I love to do most?  Thrifting!  We headed to Goodwill.

I'm in the dressing room when I hear a mother and her two children talking in the next room over.  She's teaching them opposites.  The teacher in me is immediately drawn to their conversation while the someday mother in me was banking this idea for future use as a way to keep children entertained while shopping.  I was impressed.  It wasn't long before mom went silent, most likely because she was busy trying things on and the children were still waiting for a response to the opposite that they had proposed.  "Up..."  After a few long seconds of silence I decided to play along for mom. "Down..."  (little laughter)  "Mom, the wall is talking" says one of the children followed by little giggles.  Mom encourages them to keep talking to "the wall" and I went on to have the most enjoyable time in the dressing room playing Opposites with two giggling children.

If you haven't guessed already, this is the family that I chose to Pay it Forward.  And in case you're wondering how I did at GW.  I got 4 NWT Target graphic T's for working out/lounging and 2 NWT pairs of Target shoes.  I spent $14.

HELLO 2013

I fell off the blog train...hard.  My apologies.  Here's to starting anew.

High Hopes and Big Plans for 2013---Starting with my JanPlan.  Monthly goals towards a satisfying new year.

GoodReads 2013 Reading Challenge = 100
Bathroom Update
Diet & Fitness Goals
2013 Mantra
2013 Getaway TBD
Organization & Cleaning Goal
End of Month Treat Myself

I'm Turning 30 Soon

and up until last night I was truly feeling sorry for myself.  I don't know why this number (age) bothers me so much, but it does.  I find that I'm being entirely too nostalgic for my own good.  It's honestly just depressing.  And then I read this book.  A blind read (as I call it) when I just jump in and have no idea what it's even about.  I got it from the library, thought the title was different? and simply took a chance.

“What a slut time is. She screws everybody.” 
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

I never want this for my life or anyone else.  This is a story about two young people who are plagued with cancer and quite simply, one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read.  I cried.  Hard.  Really Hard.  And then I stopped feeling sorry for myself.

Thank you John Green for your beautiful story and for putting me in my place.  I needed it.

“But it is the nature of stars to cross, and never was Shakespeare more wrong than when he has Cassius note, ‘The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves.” 

― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

XX 

the almost 30 year old ~ W

Smutty Smut Book Club

I mentioned in my last post that I have been reading...alot... lately.  The term "alot" seems like an understatement.  I'm about to drive my husband insane in all actuality.  :)   

This post is for my girls who want to know what I'm reading and it just seems easier to put it here than trying to let you each know what I do/do not recommend.  Our attempts at forming a true book club have failed, but maybe we can make something cyber work?

To your top right --------->>>  is my GoodReads page where I list, rate, and sometimes review what I've read.  Feel free to peruse and make your own pages for me to follow!!

Oh, and I'm tad bit obsessed with Romance at the moment so my tastes seem slightly singular.  This isn't truly the case, but I can get a helluvalota Kindle books in this department for under $4.  Win. Win.

XX ~W

Lately I've Been Reading

And reading and reading and reading.  I can't seem to get enough of these hot bad boys---we (girls) are just hard-wired for this stuff and I'm a total sucker.  So, if you're wanting to escape from reality into the oh-so-perfect life of Christian Grey and the likes...here are a few suggestions.

3 Part Trilogy with the sexy and insatiable Gideon Cross.  Book 2 comes out in October!















                                                                                           3 Part Trilogy with God's Gift to Women,
the Christian Grey!

2 Part Series with the hunky, savage Travis Maddox.  The 2nd book which is out sometime this Fall is the same book, but from Travis's POV.  LOVE when authors do that!

Add caption

Excuse my french, but this story is a complete and utter MindF*CK.  A wickedly good page turner and a definite read!

Our 1st Anniversary

Our 1st anniversary was Sunday but due to to a minor cake ordering mishap made by me, we got to celebrate twice!  You see....I've been planning for an entire YEAR to order one of the many layers of cake from our wedding because we didn't really get to enjoy our cake(s) on the day of our wedding.  So, what happens??...I forget to order it in time for our anniversary, of course.  Oh well, so we celebrated twice! 2 yummy meals, 2 dates, and 1 wedding cake.... not too shabby.

We also thought it was HIGHlarious that our 1st anniversary cake was. so. ugly.  I suppose that's what you get when you relinquish creative control to the bakers.  Consequently, this unsavory sight gave us an idea our first anniversary tradition and we can't wait to see the beauty we get next year. Haha!  And in case you are wondering, Peter Cetera's "Glory of Love" was our first dance.  

Happy Anniversary Biscuit! 

XX~Wife

I can wait 3 months to get an iphone, I can wait 3 months to get an iphone, I can............NooooICan't!!

Why must I be such a product of the instant gratification generation? Why?!*?..... because of the "cloud", the icloud that is. I MUST have it so that my life (in photographs) are everywhere I am and...oh yeah my calendar and junk too:). My contract is up in October and I just don't think I'm going to make it. Even my husband (who just got an iphone a few weeks ago) offered to give me his and he'd wait another 3 months. Can you believe that!!?? Is that a good husband or what? No No, I'm going to wait, but in the meantime I shall dream about having this perfect perfect little bitty perfect case.

"That's What She Said" Dominican Fun

We just got back from our week at the Riu Palace Bavaro in the Dominican Republic and had a fabulous time!  The resort was modernly beautiful and packed with fun "one liners" with two of our closest friends.    Here is a short review of our trip.

PROS :)

• Nice rooms- equipped with a Jacuzzi tub (which we totally used), large shower with waterfall showerhead, American channels on the tv (Clay watched ESPN every morning just like he does at home), Alcohol dispenser in the room (fancy lil detail), and a completely adequate porch for lounging.  We booked the cheapest rooms with no regret whatsoever, but it's always nice to have a view.  I would venture to say that it would be difficult to have a "true" ocean view without really paying top dollar.  In essence, not worth it at this resort.
• The Restaurant Row- all food was located down one long corridor, so it wasn't scattered throughout the resort like many places do.  Best part of the food was the food!  It was surprisingly delicious.  The buffet never disappointed and the restaurants were good too.  Our favorite restaurant was the Geisha which served Sushi appetizers and a Japanese main course.  Yum!
• The Desert Bar- A little sweet treat with fancy coffee.  Can't beat that!
• Drinks- Were too sweet, but you manage.  The best part of the bar scene was the beer!  This is usually never the case in foreign lands.  Brahma beer won our hearts hands down.  Would even buy this brand at home it was that good.
• Entertainment-  Clay and I have been to several places by now and this resort had the best nightly entertainment.  It just wasn't.....cheesy.  
• Shopping- Clay and I like to shop (haggle).  We were in luck b/c there were a strip of shops right down the beach (walking 5 min) with lots of junk and plenty of shop owners who "make you good deal," "almost free today," with "cheapy, cheapy" stuff.

CONS :(

• No Beach Service- for Rui to want this resort to become their "flagship" of the Dominican they are missing the ball with no beach bar service.  It's almost a given anywhere you stay and this is one place where you have to walk to get your drink.  Lame-o Blame-o
• The Variety Effect-  Clay and I appreciate resorts that try and mix it up a little each day.   So when a resort sets up the occasional food bar/cookout on the beach or kabobs/snow cones/popsicles around the pool --it makes us smile.  You will find that your days are exactly the same at this resort.  It wasn't a bad thing, just could have been better.

And as far as excursions go, we only did one = Ziplining.  It was just o.k.  Clay and I had done this once before in Puerto Vallarta and it hands down won for being a better overall experience.  I would not recommend this Dominican excursion to others.

And now for the moments captured....