Running Into Summer

    Ah, summer. I welcome you. With temperatures reaching the mid 80s here today, I'm declaring it officially sunshine season in Vermont. I love it. I've always been a child of the sun--there's something about wearing shorts and eating creamees (for you non-Vermonters, creamees are soft serve ice cream) that reminds me what a grand old world it really is. Now, if only I go back to the days of a three month vacation every year, things would be perfect.
    For now though, I'll be happy with my long weekend. Unfortunately, the hubs is working most of it, but I'm making the most of it. Today I went shopping with a good friend from high school. It was lovely to catch up and shop with someone with two x chromosomes for a change. Don't get me wrong, I love the hubs, but as far as shopping goes we have fairly different styles. I like to take my time and peruse, and he would rather treat our shopping trips like a reconnaissance mission--in and out in as little time as possible.
   I ended up coming home with a fun pair of new flip flops. Payless was having a sale, and these just looked too summery for me to resist. In my book, the only thing better than cute shoes are cheap cute shoes. What'cha think?


  
     I also tried a new recipe today, garlic brown sugar chicken.


All About Food via Pinterest

    It was super easy and pretty yummy. There are only 3 ingredients, and it only takes about 20 mins to bake. Add to that a side of homemade maccaroni and cheese and fresh pineapple and ahhhh, I could practically taste summer.
    In other news, the hubs is running in the Burlington Marathon tomorrow morning. His boss asked him if he'd be interested in participating, so he and five of his coworkers are each running a 5ish mile leg. I'm getting excited about the whole thing. I've never attended the Burlington Marathon, but from all accounts it's a big deal. We don't have too many "big deals" in Vermont, so I've been told it draws a huge crowd, with thousands of people filling downtown's narrow streets. Burlington should be absolutely crawling with weirdos, and I can't wait to people watch. (Anyone who has ever taken a walk down Church Street will know what I'm talking about.) A coworker told me that last year there were runners in togas, so I expect no less than a parade of ridiculousness. I'll be keeping my camera handy.
    What are your plans for this fabulous long weekend? I hope you all get out and do something fun, enjoy the sunshine, and thank our veterans. Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Cute Overload

    Lately I've found myself magnetically drawn to tiny, adorable, usually furry things. Okay, so I'm always drawn to these things, but it seems even worse than usual at present. I think it has something to do with my ticking puppy clock. It's like a maternal clock, but instead of babies, you dream about puppies.
   Unfortunately, we're currently in an apartment that doesn't allow pets, which puts a huge damper on my puppy dreams. To console myself, I've turned to Pinterest to drown my dreams in all things adorable. Since Pinterest is basically a free-for-all for pictures, I don't think the cuteness is going to run out anytime soon. I'd highly recommend it to anyone with a plethora of free time on their hands.
    Since I don't fit into that category, logging in so frequently is probably not the best life choice I've ever made. Still, adorable is addicting, there's no arguing with it. With that said, I'm dedicating the remainder of this post to all things heart-melting, because we all need a little more cute in our lives. I'm sure of it.

    *** Disclaimer: Men and animal-haters can feel free to leave this page now--no offense will be taken.*** 

      The only thing cuter than a fuzzy, white puppy is a fuzzy, white puppy with a monocle. 

    Has your heart melted from cuteness yet?

     I know you've seen this one before,but I love it, so I'm sharing it again. I hope you'll forgive me. The next two photos confirm my suspicions that if you make something small enough. . .

  

     And put wee little boots on it. . .

    It will be adorable. Even pigs. And have you seen full grown pigs? They are decidedly not cute.

     This one literally made me laugh out loud. There are so many days where I know exactly how this pup feels.

    Now I know I said I was getting jacked up on puppy love, but even I am not impervious to the adorable-ness of a baby dressed up in a monkey suit.

    Try looking at this munchkin's face without smiling. It's impossible.
 

    And this last one, well, I'm not sure why it made the cut. All I have to say for myself is who can resist a good pug-Yoda reference? Not I.

   And that's all folks!  My nonsensensical post of heart stopping cuteness has come to an end. I can only keep you from being productive entertain you for so long. It may have been a silly post, but I firmly believe that cuteness is good for the soul.

    Now don't you feel better? :)

Thankful Thursday--Grumpy Gills Edition

    It's Thursday again, and honestly, I woke up feeling a lot like this:

via Magen Stewart on Pinterest

    My first inclination when I woke up this morning was not to feel overly thankful. There's some kind of bug going around at work, and I think my immune system's trying to fight it off, only somewhat successfully. Getting out of bed this morning was like prying open a clam--difficult and unpleasant. I woke up feeling molongoly about the world and writing a Thankful Thursday post was the last thing on my mind.

    The funny thing about thankfulness, though? It's a choice. Like love, it's a conscious action we have to take each day, because people will always have flaws and days will always have problems. There will always be a reason for me to feel unthankful. But for every snag in my day, there's 1,000 things God has given me to be thankful for, and that's what I need to focus on. So without further ado, today I am thankful for:

    1. My bed. This bed is amazing. It's the most comfortable thing I've ever slept on, and I really feel like I should be a paid spokesperson for the amount of rave reviews I give it. I especially appreciate it in weeks like this when I'm not feeling so well, and getting comfortable is harder than usual.

    2. My husband.

    I know I list him a lot, but he's such a huge blessing in my life. He may hog the covers from time to time, but there's nobody else I want to grow old with. (Love, I don't actually want to grow old, but if we must do it, I want to do it with you. You're the only one crazy enough to understand me. I fully expect to race each other in Wal-Mart in those electric shopping carts one day. I hope you enjoy losing.Booyah!) Love you, buddy!

    3. Sloppy Joes.

Photo courtesy of the Pioneer Woman 

     I used to think these sam'iches were unappealing congealed masses of meat, but that was before I discovered the Pioneer Woman. (I currently have a love/jealous relationship with her blog. I love it because it's an awesome blog; I'm jealous because I'm completely blown away by her. She's amazing, and I'm dying to know how she does it all--keep a gorgeous house, raise beautiful kids, come up with fabulous recipes, take professional quality pictures, and run an incredible blog. I must learn her ways.) Aaaaanyway, I discovered her sloppy joe recipe a while back, and I'll never look at these hot, meaty sandwiches the same way again. We had them last night, and all I can say is mmm'mmm. They're delightfully sweet and tangy, and the best part is they don't require any special ingredients, which is great, because I hate making special grocery trips for just one meal. Here's my two cents if you want to make them--toast the bread (it's totally worth the extra step), and add the cheese on top (it adds an extra level of warm, gooey deliciousness.)

   These are a few of the things I'm thankful for this week. I know most of it seems silly, but what can I say? It doesn't have to be big to be thankful for it.

    What are you thankful for this Thankful Thursday?

Congrats Grads!

    It's that time of year again! The excitement is practically tangible--college kids everywhere are dawning their goofy regalia and proudly marching up to receive the diploma they've worked four or more years to earn. It's hard for me to believe that a year ago, the hubs and I did the same thing. It seems like yesterday. It seems like a lifetime ago. Weird how that works, isn't it?

The family at graduation last year. Love 'em.

    The hubs and I have several friends graduating this year, and it's got me feeling quite sentimental. Life has changed so much in just one short year--we've both graduated, found jobs, and moved twice. We've grown as a couple and as individuals. Along the way, I've learned a few things about post-college life; I know I'm no Yoda, but I thought I'd share what I've learned regardless.

    1. Life goes on.

    For me, graduating college was like being handed the key to my prison cell. (I know that's quite melodramatic, but I assure you, that's how it felt.) I had been ready to be done with school since, well, kindergarten, and could not wait to leave the formal classroom setting behind. For some of my friends, though, I know graduating was a bit like being the baby eagle that mama eagle shoves out of the nest, plummeting head first towards the unknown. I know the world may be overwhelming right now, but that's okay. It will get better. It will move on, and so will you.

    2. You will find a job. Eventually.

    Some of you may already have a job all lined up. Good for you! For those of you who don't, don't despair. Post graduation, I had no idea what I was going to do for work. The hubs already had a great job lined up, and I felt a little forlorn about the whole thing.  It took a few months of scouring  the web, applying, and following up with companies before I landed my job. Don't despair. It may take patience, but if God watches the sparrows and takes care of the lilies, I'm certain he can and will provide for us.

    3. Life without homework feels sooo good.

    Don't get me wrong, you will be busy once you get a real job, move into your own place, pay your own bills, yada, yada, yada. I'm also afraid I have to say that I haven't seen any signs of life slowing down, either. Still, having  the nights and weekends to yourself, without a paper or project hanging over your head is amazing. I even have time to read now! (Sometimes.)

    4. You've now entered the world of the old.

    Your employer will expect you to be an adult. Your friends will start getting married, moving away, and having kids on purpose. It will be weird. It will be liberating. At times, it will be uncomfortable. You've now joined the ranks of the (supposed to be) responsible adults, and there's no going back. 

    5. You've earned the right to make your own choices. Make the right ones.

    You're moving out and on, and no one will be there to tell you what to do. No one will be watching over your shoulder, and you'll have to make the big decisions on your own. It will be liberating, but don't let the freedom make you crazy. I've seen so many of my peers graduate and become totally different people, abandoning their faith, living the party lifestyle, and just generally making a mess of their lives. Don't be that person. Figure out what you believe and stick to it.

   Congratulations class of 2012! I'm so happy for each of you! .

Sunny Side Up--My Week in Photos

    Hello, friends!

    Sorry it's been a little while since my last post--I've been gone on a holiday with the hubs, my mom, dad, sister, and Nana. (I've decided holiday is way more fun to say than vacation, especially when you say it in a British accent.) It was amazing, full of fun, sunshine, and food--exactly my kind of vacation. I decided rather than tell you exactly what we did, I'd show you. I believe I owe you a disclaimer here, though--I've traded a ton of words for a ton of pictures.

        We left Vermont bright and early. I should say we tried to leave Vermont bright and early. In reality, we ended up sitting on the tarmac for two hours while Delta tried to fix our un-startable plane. At one point they were using a pickup truck to try to jump start the machine that was supposed to jump start our plane. We made it though, and I suppose that's what matters. Still, I don't think we'll be flying Delta for a while.

    Luggage tags we were given as a wedding present. Happy to put them to good use!

     Meeting up with my family in the Fort Lauderdale airport. Ready for the good times to start!

     Our ship, the Carnival Freedom. I contemplated becoming a stow-away and never coming back to Vermont. If only the ship had my bed. . .

     We did a lot of eating on this trip. The food was incredible and our waiters were awesome. You see why I didn't want to come back? Us poor, servant-less Americans. :)

    Even my husband, who generally eats like an anorexic sparrow, got in on the action. By the end of the week he was ordering multiple appetizers and becoming a proud member of the clean plate club.

    Mahi mahi and a side of amazing mac and cheese. Delicousness.

    Every night we came back to a towel animal on our bed. The elephant was my favorite. Now that I'm home, no one makes the bed and the towels are lucky if they're folded. Sigh.

    Our first port was Key West, Florida. We had booked an excursion to go snorkeling over a barrier reef, but there was bad weather in the morning and snorkeling was cancelled. The weather eventually cooperated, and we rented these beauties for two fabulous hours. We came home wanting some new toys. :)

    Enjoying the sunshine.
  

     We went to a cooking demonstration given by the ship's top chef,  and they gave us samples of their creations. Above is a chicken breast, potatoes, and the world's best mac and cheese.

     The family on one of the two formal dinner evenings. I think my mom (in the white) has a Vanna White dress here.

     The hubs in I in Grand Cayman, all set to go snorkeling over a ship wreck and coral reef.

    From left to right: mom, me, and Sara snorkeling. It was lovely.

 

     Watching Lord of the Rings on the poolside Theater. I'm going to miss watching movies outside with the ocean breeze drifting over me. Free admission was also a plus!

     Just watching the world go by. . . And in case you were wondering, no, those are not my feet. I'd like to believe mine are slightly more feminine.

     Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We went four-wheeling through the jungle, got thoroughly covered in mud, and jumped off a 20 foot ledge into the ocean. It was awesome.

     An open air market in Jamaica. Time for shopping!

     Our view as we left the port in Jamaica and set sail back toward Fort Lauderdale.

    Our last night on the ship. I know this photo is a little grainy, but I loved the sunset in the background. Also, in case you're wondering, my dad's not mad about anthying in this photo. Twenty plus years of being in the military just messes with a guy's "camera face."

    So, that's our vacation summed up in a handful of pictures. And now I'm going to collapse into bed and dream of sunshine and salty air.

    Anyone have any fun vacation plans to share?

Wander Lust, Packing, and the Need for New Shoes

    Life is officially about to get awesome. We leave for our Jamaican vacation on Saturday! Are you hearing me, people?
    I said VACATION.
    Bright and early Saturday morning we leave dreary Vermont for Sunny Fort Lauderdale, where we'll spend the night before departing on our 6 day cruise through the Caribbean. This pretty much sums up my emotions on the topic:

Things That Make Me Happy

    I'm tickled pink. I'm pretty sure I'm about as fit as this chubby little guy,  too. I had grand delusions plans of getting in shape before our trip, but that didn't quite happen. I have lost 2 pounds though--that counts for something right? Please tell me my running/waddling was not completely in vain. I ate a salad tonight for dinner. . . Does that help?
    Anyway, I'm so excited that I'm choosing to ignore the fact that my cruise body isn't all that stellar. I'm ready to leave rainy, sleepy Vermont, lounge in the sunshine, snorkel with a million fish, and eat more food than any woman should ever eat. It's going to be heaven.
    But to get to my sunshine-filled heaven, I have about ten million things to do first--one more day of work, packing, cleaning, and searching for the perfect pair of flip flops. Who knew that would be hard? I didn't. I've been searching for an adorable cruise-worthy pair for a while now with no luck.
   
    I've been looking for something like this:

    But, alas, we don't have a Target, (Vermont is the ONE U.S. state without a Target. If you ever needed a reason not to live here, that would be it), and I don't like buying shoes without trying them on first, so shoe shopping online isn't very appealing. It seems like all I can find around here are ones like this:

     Not horrible, but not exactly exciting, ya know?

    Oh, well. I'm hoping to keep shoe-wearing to a minimum on this vacation, anyway. :)

Must Read Monday: Unwind

http://www.storyman.com/books/unwind.html

    I've been in a reading slump since finishing the Hunger Games. After finishing a particularly good book or series, it can be hard for me to find another book to start on. The story is over, and the word nerd in me has a hard time letting go. I daydream about the characters I got to know, imagining what happened to them after the last word on the final page. I know, I am the ultimate nerd--but you already knew that, didn't you?
    Anyway, the other day I stumbled upon this list of 15 books to read if you loved the Hunger Games  on a fellow book-worm's blog. After browsing through her list, I found several that sounded intriguing, settled on one, and set out to my local library. (Just a note--the list is not intended to be a group of Hunger Games knock offs, but a collection of dystopion books fans of HG may enjoy.)
    I came home with Unwind, a young adult futuristic novel by Neal Shusterman. It's technically classified as "science fiction", but it's more of futuristic in its society than futuristic in its technology--there are no mad scientists, no flying cars, no Jetson reminiscent robots. Instead, Shusterman has created a world where a brutal second Civil War has been fought, this time not over slavery or states rights, but over the abortion issue. The war dragged on until finally, with both sides beaten down and desperate to stop the war, they come to an agreement that meets the demands of both sides, signing into law "The Bill of Life," which states:

      "Human life may not be touched from the moment of conception until a child reaches the age of thirteen. However, between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, a parent may choose to retroactively 'abort' a child, on condition that the child's life doesn't 'technically' end. The process by which a child is both terminated and yet kept alive is called 'unwinding.'"

    As this is quickly turning into a never ending post, I'll let the plot summary from the back of the book give you the gist of the story:

    "Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed -- but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away."
    Sounds morbidly fascinating, right? It was. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I'll tell you this much--once you start, you won't be able to put it down. Shusterman pulls you in with his characters, and keeps you with the suspense. He'll make you ask the questions society wants to gloss over--when does a life truly have value? Who gets to decide which lives are worth living?
    I think the scariest stories are ones that aren't that hard to imagine being true, and this story will scare you. If you think I sound a out to lunch, consider this: pro-choice activists are already pushing for what they call "after birth abortion." If an unwanted unborn baby can be "terminated", terminating an unwanted child is really a logical next step.
    What I appreciated most about Unwind is that it doesn't come off as the least bit preachy. Shusterman weaves his story and lets you come to your own conclusions. This book will make you think, no matter if you're pro-life, pro-choice, or don't really care one way or the other. Give Unwind a read. You'll be glad you did.