I want to visit these!!!!!

@unbridledbooks: RT @charabbott: The 20 most beautiful bookstores in the world http://su.pr/2TyBdU RT @flavorpill @ShelfAwareness -- shared via UberSocial http://ubersocial.com

@penguinusa: We want to go there: http://bookshelfporn.com/post/16753821390 -- shared via UberSocial http://ubersocial.com

@randomhouse: “I want to write books that unlock the traffic jam in everybody's head.” #Updike #quotes -- shared via UberSocial http://ubersocial.com

I want to make this hat for myself!!!!

Crochet Owl Hat Heather Gray and Blue by andwhatnotboutique

Sense and Sensibility

I have taken a break from The Meaning of Night, to finish reading Sense and Sensibility. I started this for one of my courses last semester and sadly did not finish it. It is not as fast going as Pride and Prejudice or even Persuasion but it is lovely all the same. I love the language of Regency literature and Jane Austen's characters are always endearing. Let me first say that the novel is nearly nothing like the Emma Thompson's 1995 movie adaptation. I understand the necessity of changing certain parts of the novel to make it more palatable for a modern audience, but so much is lost in translation. For example, I never realized how young the Miss Dashwoods were supposed to be, Elinore 19 and Marianne 17, because they were played by actresses so much older (Kate Winslet, maybe not). There were also delicious parts of the novel left out, probably for time purposes, that add to the atmosphere. (Not to spoil anything, but it has to do with the appearance of a certain gentleman the reader thought never to see again).

Also, I have discovered the wonders of the Audiobook. I recently downloaded Forever and a Day by Delilah Marvelle and The Sun Also Rises by Hemingway. Both are turning out to be delightful to listen to, the reader for the Hemingway has a very soothing voice. It is a little disorienting because I am so used to holding a book and reading at my own pace, but it was very useful yesterday as I spent the majority of the day sick and in bed and felt that lifting a book was too much trouble.

I have been so ill....

and I apologize for not posting in the last couple of days, it was all I could do to make my breakfast, mini banana pancakes. This cold business is really not fun at all. However, sick as I was, I had a constant friend in my clown of a dog, Zoe, shown here with her
favorite squeaker ball. 

Still not feeling well...

But that hasn't stopped me from creating decadent yummies!! Here I have my very own version of a taco salad, made with toasted tortilla, spinach, chicken, black beans and canned diced tomatoes all topped with sour cream!! It was very scrumptious and so filling I couldn't eat it all!

  Then I decided I wanted something sweet so I went to my HG 200 under 200 recipe book and made these decadent cinnamon rolls!!!!




They were so good and of course smelled even better, needless to say they did not last long and were gobbled up by my family in no time!!

It is a Truth Universally Acknowledged....

@nypl: RT @homeworknyc: "When I got my library card, that’s when my life began." — Rita Mae Brown http://ow.ly/8D0XE -- shared via UberSocial http://ubersocial.com

very cool website

@randomhouse: We also nominate Katherine Mansfield: 10 Legendary Bad Girls of Literature http://ow.ly/8Dagj Thanks @Flavorwire -- shared via UberSocial http://ubersocial.com

From Twitter

@parisreview: Literature isn't a moral beauty contest. – Philip Roth -- shared via UberSocial http://ubersocial.com

Another yucky day....

I woke up this morning to the sound of rain, and this is what I see outside.

 
And I'm still feeling really yucky, despite cold medicine my cold is still visiting, making me feel like I got hit by a car. Despite this I made french toast nuggets from my HG recipe book, very yum :) 

My day was totally ruined....

by the onset of a cold. I was feeling better around noon but now I seem to have taken a turn for the not feeling better. It sucks because I really wanted to finish the giant bunny rabbit I'm crocheting and reread some more of Pride and Prejudice. *sigh* I love Mr. Darcy. But sadly none of that happened and I spent the day on the sofa with my mom watching Dogtown. This show gives me faith in humanity. I wish all shelters and rescues had the funds of the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Now I must consume cough medicine and commune with my bed.... night all....

French toast mmmmm.....

     This another french toast recipe I found in my Hungry Girl 1-2-3 book. It is stuffed with jam and cheese french toast. Very tasty!!!

Doll Clothes?

I found these two poor Cabbage Patch dolls in the store room at my house, they have no other outfits and in my current crochet craze I have decided to make clothes for them! I'm having trouble finding patterns, though. Does anyone know of any websites or patterns for crochet cabbage patch doll clothes?

At the end of the day....

It's old fashioned Ponds cold cream that beats dry skin

Magnetic poem of the day

The end of two weeks of dieting

Congratulate me, I have just completed two weeks of dieting!!! I have celebrated by modifying my Slim-Fast intake; for the next two weeks I will be having TWO sensible meals instead of just one and replacing one meal with a Slim-Fast shake or bar. I began with breakfast this morning. The picture below shows a stuffed french toast recipe from Hungry Girl 1-2-3, called "overstuffed peanut butter 'n banana french toast". Yes, it is as delicious as it looks.
I'm feeling slightly discouraged on the exercise front, though. I read somewhere that it takes four weeks for you to noticed any change in your body and I'm trying  to keep that in mind but at the halfway point it's really frustrating.
  It didn't help that today my boss ordered Chinese food. I think I got something pretty healthy, chicken with Chinese veggies and steamed rice, but still I probably should have just not gotten anything and eaten the salad that I had packed.
  Oh well, tomorrow is another day. Maybe I'll try making a homemade taco salad....

New monkey friend

Made using lion brand fisherman's wool and the patter was found in Easy Crochet Critters

What happens when you're bored and you have duct tape

I was inspired to do this by seeing one of the projects in my craft book!!

So excited to get this in the mail!!!!!

Magnetic poem of the day

     Hello Bloggers, How is everyone's new year coming along? I am spending this new year as a college grad!!!! It is very exciting to not have to worry about assignments that are due, or classes that I have to go to. It is amazing to me how much gas I have saved by only driving on the days that I work. However, soon the honeymoon will be over, I have promised myself that I would take December off and begin looking for a more grown up job in January. The job search is coming along nicely. While I haven't been accepted in any library positions I have filled out volunteer paperwork for the archives at our Central Library. I'm really excited about being able to help out there.
     I have also spent the break crocheting. I have made several little amigurumi animals and found a hat pattern that I just love, I have one in nearly every color. It's funny; I planned on spending so much time reading once I graduated, but I've done hardly any in two months. I did read the latest book in J.R. Wards' Fallen Angels series. It was good, but I'm more of a fan of her Blackdagger Brotherhood series. What I love about the Angels' series is that it is also set in Caldwell, NY and some characters and places overlap. In fact I'm wondering if this won't result in a novel that combines the two series in the fight for good and evil.
     The latest book I'm reading in the new year is The Fellowship of the Ring. It all happened while I was having a LOTR movie marathon (all three extended editions on blu-ray) and working on this crochet bunny. I was possessed with the need to read the books again. They are so rich in detail and language. Tolkien was such a genius to have created multiple cultures and histories, not to mention a language for each culture. I don't think there has been an author who has come even close to filling his shoes.
     I'm really pushing through the series, faster than I ever have before. I think most of that is due to the fact that I have resolved to lose 15 pounds by the first week in May. The hardest part for me isn't the eating healthfully, I really to like my veggies, it's been regulating my snacking/grazing. It's something I do when I'm bored, I snack. So I have been doing my best to keep busy, whether it's been crocheting toys or reading through the LOTR series. I am two weeks in and I have lost 5 pounds!! I am also exercising more and I have never been so sore, but my mood has improved so much!
     Well, that's all I have to report for now, I'll come back later and post some pics of my fiber projects!!
ta <3