Summer Into Autumn Reading List

As we move from Summer into Autumn (YAY!), it's essential to have some good reading material for sitting outside at cafes while enjoying the cooler temps* and changing leaves. Or for while you're sitting inside avoiding the leftover summer heat while daydreaming about sweaters and scarves.

THE ROYAL WE by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. Seeing as how it's 91 degrees out while I write this, I suppose including a "summer read" is appropriate. Not that this book will make you think of days at the pool or wearing sandals since it's set in England, but it's deliciously fun, which is something I think we all crave during the warmer months. Inspired by William and Kate, this book feels both like you're reading Hello and watching a BBC special on the monarchy. I had so much fun reading this one.

 

I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN by Jandy Nelson. I would love to give someone the sun- I am so over summer! So, not only is this book incredible (my favorite of 2014!) but it does give a good sense of fall as a leather jacket is part of it as well as some time spent in school. Fall=School as you will see in this list. I loved how this book was told from twins at different ages and the way Nelson writes how these characters think was so amazing. She is such a good writer.

THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I actually love this book because of the partying, which I realize isn't really the English class reason, but to each their own, right? Not only do I love this book, but it has one of the best lines ever, which is so true: "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." A lot of people look to the first of the year as a time to reinvent and get inspired, but for me? It's Autumn. Love.

HELLO, GOODBYE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN by Jennifer E. Smith. This entire book takes place on the last night of summer break before two teens leave for college the next day. They're trying to figure out if they should break up before heading to opposite coasts for college or to try to stay together. Incredibly satisfying book, much like a pumpkin muffin. 

ALL UNQUIET THINGS by Anna Jarzab. Another sensational book that takes place right as summer moves into fall. This was Jarzab's debut novel and I was floored as I finished it. It's a convoluted mystery that also has a lot of character depth- not easy! 

BELZHAR by Meg Wolitzer. This book made me want to put on boots and a sweater and head to Vermont. Another story that takes place in school, but with some added mystery with one of my favorite writing styles, the unreliable narrator. I picked this book up because I loved THE BELL JAR and this book was such a creative way to incorporate Plath's book. 

THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir. While I don't think Mars has much of an Autumn, this book is incredible (!!!!) and the movie adaptation comes out in October! I usually prefer to read the book after the movie, but space movies make me so anxious that I picked up (and sped through) this one. I think this book is special because it combines drama, action, and humor so effortlessly. 

VICIOUS by V.E. Schwab.  Expertly told from different times in the story with part of it occurring while at school (aka Autumn!), this is an awesome book that always reminds me of X-Men. 

THE KILLING WOODS by Lucy Christopher. Christopher excels at writing books where the setting is as much a character as the humans are. This book takes place in Autumn and much of it has to do with, yes, the woods behind the main character's house. (Is there anything better in Autumn than the forest as the leaves change colors?)

THE 5TH WAVE by Rick Yancey. Unfortunately the movie adaptation isn't coming out until January, but the book will be perfect for the fall. I always think about the stars when it's time for the colder months because the air is crisp again and our views toward the sky are so much more clear. (Or maybe it's just because I like to be outside when it's cold and I take the time to look up.) This book, that's about surviving an alien invasion, talks a lot about the stars and the main character is even named after a constellation.

STATION ELEVEN by Emily St. John Mandel. My staff rec at work says, "Don't read this during flu season," but that's actually exactly what I want you to do. I thought this was a masterpiece. I loved how it was the story of a flu pandemic and the people who survive it, but the way it was told was so lovely. The story doesn't get into the gruesome details of millions of people dying, it gets into the gruesome details of those left who are trying to survive. 

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs. We have to wait way too long for this movie to come out (slated for March 2016), but this is the perfect book for reading right around Halloween. The photos are creepy enough to give you nightmares, I promise. 

SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater. Beautifully written (so lyrical!), but it's the inclusion of temperatures that reminds me of Autumn. Put this towards the end of your Summer to Autumn Reading List because things really heat (ha!) up as this story gets colder and colder.

BORN WICKED by Jessica Spotswood. Another perfect book for closer to October. A book about witches who have to hide their skills, but most notably, this has one of the great first kiss scenes I've ever read. 

THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern. This book takes place over many months and years, but something about it makes me think of Autumn. I think it's again, the crispness of the nighttime that the majority of the story takes place during. This book is so amazingly good. It was truly a magical experience to read it. 

Well, there you go! Those options should keep you busy until Winter! Any titles you'd suggest for me??


XO,
SVR

*Will it ever be cool?


*Hopefully soon!

The List

Oh how I love a good list. Let's go!

Favorite Actors:

1. Brad Pitt
2. Leonardo DiCaprio
3. Michael Fassbender
4. James Franco
5. Ryan Gosling
6. Christian Bale
7. Jared Leto
8. Bradley Cooper

Favorite Actresses:

1. Jennifer Lawrence
2. Amy Adams
3. Rooney Mara
4. Jessica Chastain
5. Keira Knightley
6. Emma Stone
7. Gwyneth Paltrow
8. Jennifer Garner
9. Charlize Theron

Actors/Actresses Who Need Academy Awards NOW:

1. Brad Pitt- Nominated for 12 Monkeys (lost to Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (lost to Sean Penn in Milk), and Moneyball (lost to Jean Dujardin in The Artist). He clearly came in 2nd to Kevin Spacey and I bet if that movie had come out later on in BP's career, he would have won. I think his Moneyball role was completely underrated and could have won it for him. Now, in looking at his upcoming work, I think Fury could be really good because Oscar loves a good warm film. I could also see his first Academy Award come from producing, though, too. His production company puts out really good stuff.
2. Leonardo DiCaprio- Nominated for What's Eating Gilbert Grape (lost to Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive), The Aviator (lost to Jamie Foxx in Ray), and Blood Diamond (lost to Forest Whitaker in The Last Kind of Scotland). The thing about Leonardo DiCaprio's filmography, is that he should have been nominated several more times. No nominations for Django Unchained? The Departed? Nothing for Catch Me If You Can?? Some actors are just so good that people don't realize it because they make it look so easy. And I've never seen Ray (no desire) so I can't really comment on that, but I saw The Wolf of Wall Street today and he should totally be nominated for that insane movie. I actually think his work in The Great Gatsby was great, too, but TWoWS was a bigger, more sensational performance. Nothing listed on IMDB as upcoming so...I hope that changes soon!
3. Michael Fassbender- HOLD THE PHONE! Has he never been nominated?! How is that even possible?? Did you see Hunger? Jane Eyre? SHAME? He better be nominated for 12 Years a Slave because he was incredible in that role. It'll be a tough category, but he was so good in that movie. 
4. Amy Adams- I think that one day (soon) we will refer to Amy Adams like we do to Meryl Streep because she will have so many Oscar nominations. Unlike Meryl Streep*, so far I think Amy Adams has deserved each and every nomination. She has been nominated four times for Best Supporting Actress. For Junebug (lost to Rachel Weisz in The Constant Gardener), Doubt (lost to Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona), The Fighter (lost to Melissa Leo in The Fighter), and The Master (lost to Anne Hathaway in Les Miserables). I totally get who she lost to each time, but she needs to win soon! She was incredible in American Hustle, which I think she could win for so let's cross our fingers!

So, clearly this list could go on and on, but these are my top four. Anyone you'd like to add??



*I think they nominated MS sometimes because they think they have to.

+ Title from Metric

Idea Track

Here are a few of my Halloween costume ideas:

-20s girl (cute, pinned/waved hair, red lipstick, etc.)
-Mad Men girl
-Anne Boleyn
-old timey movie star (think, Marlene Dietrich)
-Elena from Vampire Diaries as suggested by Serena bc then I can bring the Salvatore brothers:)


Any ideas for me?? Here are some previous costumes:

Jethro Tull:



Tourist:


I have also been Britney Spears, Cleopatra, a black and white film star, etc.


XO,
SVR

Happy Birthday Girl

Whenever I think about turning 30, I immediately think of Friends and The One Where They All Turn 30:




I also think about the movie 13 Going On 30. "30, flirty and thriving!"




There isn't much about turning this milestone age that has me freaked out. I love birthdays too much to have any negative feelings over it. The only thing that seems weird to me is that now, for the first time in my life, I will have to look at the next age group in Bazaar's "Fabulous At Any Age".

</>*

I know a lot of people make goals when they have birthdays and list things they want to accomplish. Well, I want to do something a little different. I'm going to tell you what I've accomplished already:

*I've played the clarinet for a majority of my life.
*I still play in an orchestra and recently started playing bassoon in a band.
*I played in Carnegie Hall in 2001.
*I coached a swim team for five straight summers. The most difficult and most rewarding job ever.
*I graduated from UMW in 2002.
*I got a masters degree in 2008.
*I get along with my family...like freakishly well.
*All of my baby cousins know me.
*I did a fashion photo shoot for my brother's store and some of the pics actually look good!
*I am not selfish**
*I taught middle school band as a long-term sub and didn't kill anyone (including myself).
*I own every Brad Pitt movie there is.
*I can make people laugh.
*I played tennis in high school even though I got cut the first time I tried out.
*I played with the Air Force Band once in high school.
*I have a lot of friends.
*I've seen a gazillion bands live.
*I've spoken Spanish in Puerto Rico.
*I am happy
*etc.
*etc.
*etc.

So yeah, yay for me!

XO,
SVR





*So not a fluke I chose this cover:)
**Of course I am sometimes! "Sometimes" is key.

Fever

I'm not sure which booked triggered it, but for the past few months, I have been voraciously reading. Luckily, I work at a bookstore so I get a pretty sweet discount, always know what is coming out, and even get to borrow some books so I'm not totally breaking my bank account.

In an effort to surf the web while at work, I signed up awhile back to do book reviews for Barnes and Noble and have since have even been in the weekly email a few times*. They're not good reviews...just a few words about each one I've read and with a rating, but it's fun to finish a book and post a quick review on there.

I was thinking, though, that I should share what I've read here, too. Be warned, I get really into the teen books. They're fast, entertaining, and just oh so much fun.

Uglies- Scott Westerfield
Pretties- Scott Westerfield
Specials- Scott Westerfield
Extras- Scott Westerfield
The Strain- Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan
Gone- Michael Grant
Sookie Stackhouse (all)- Charlaine Harris
The Host- Stephenie Meyer
Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire- Suzanne Collins
Her Fearful Symmetry- Audrey Niffeneger
In The Woods- Tana French
Open- Andre Agassi
High Society- Donald Spoto
Deadly Little Secret- Laurie Stolarz
Fallen- Lauren Tate
Impossible- Nancy Werlin
Shiver- Maggie Stiefvater
The Immortals- Alyson Noel
Blue Moon- Alyson Noel
Shadowland- Alyson Noel
Hush Hush- Becca Fitzpatrick
All Unquiet Things- Anna Jarzab


Oh, and I'm also on Goodreads...Are you?


*If you set your account for Fairfax, VA, you will see me there!

I've Never Understood

The following is a list of things I don't understand. It is not a definitive list.


Things I Do Not Understand:

1. Not Owning A Lot Of Clothes.

The other day for an outfit I was wearing I needed a long black shirt with long sleeves. A few days later I needed a black t-shirt that was not too long. Later on in the week I wanted to wear a black tank top under my sweater. That's three different black shirts I needed in one week. Multiply that by other colors and other items of clothes and that equals a lot. So I own a lot of clothes...how can you not!?

2. Waking Up At The Same Time Every Day

They always recommend that people should wake up at the same time every day in order to get into a rhythm, which is supposed to make a person less tired all of the time. How is this possible unless you're a loser? On Mondays and Tuesdays I have to get up at 530am. Do you really think I want to inflict such pain on myself later on in the week? If I did that on some weekend mornings I wouldn't be getting any sleep! As another example, my dad gets up at 4am for work. If he got up at 4am on the weekends I think his body would revolt.

3. Karoake

On Wednesday I embarrassed myself by attempting to sing "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey at karaoke. Now, I know I can't sing, but I do know that song and sing it all of the time. But why do I only get the words up on the screen while I sing? It's not the words I usually need, but the melody! It's like singing acapella Star Spangled Banner-that shite is tough! I want notes on the screen. Maybe I'll start printing out the sheet music for any song I plan on singing:)

Romance

The following is AFI's list of the Top 100 Romantic Movies Of All Time. I want to see them all. I have italicized the ones I haven't seen:

1	Casablanca	1942
2	Gone with the Wind	1939
3	West Side Story	1961
4	Roman Holiday	1953
5	An Affair to Remember	1957
6	The Way We Were	1973
7	Doctor Zhivago	1965
8	It's a Wonderful Life	1946
9	Love Story	1970
10	City Lights	1931
11	Annie Hall	1977
12	My Fair Lady	1964
13	Out of Africa	1985
14	The African Queen	1951
15	Wuthering Heights	1939
16	Singin' in the Rain	1952
17	Moonstruck	1987
18	Vertigo	1958
19	Ghost	1990
20	From Here to Eternity	1953
21	Pretty Woman	1990
22	On Golden Pond	1981
23	Now, Voyager	1942
24	King Kong	1933
25	When Harry Met Sally...	1989
26	The Lady Eve	1941
27	The Sound of Music	1965
28	The Shop Around the Corner	1940
29	An Officer and a Gentleman	1982
30	Swing Time	1936
31	The King and I	1956
32	Dark Victory	1939
33	Camille	1936
34	Beauty and the Beast	1991
35	Gigi	1958
36	Random Harvest	1942
37	Titanic	1997
38	It Happened One Night	1934
39	An American in Paris	1951
40	Ninotchka	1939
41	Funny Girl	1968
42	Anna Karenina	1935
43	A Star Is Born	1954
44	The Philadelphia Story	1940
45	Sleepless in Seattle	1993
46	To Catch a Thief	1955
47	Splendor in the Grass	1961
48	Last Tango in Paris	1973
49	The Postman Always Rings Twice	1946
50	Shakespeare in Love	1998
51	Bringing Up Baby	1938
52	The Graduate	1967
53	A Place in the Sun	1951
54	Sabrina	1954
55	Reds	1981
56	The English Patient	1996
57	Two for the Road	1967
58	Guess Who's Coming to Dinner	1967
59	Picnic	1955
60	To Have and Have Not	1944
61	Breakfast at Tiffany's	1961
62	The Apartment	1960
63	Sunrise	1927
64	Marty	1955
65	Bonnie and Clyde	1967
66	Manhattan	1979
67	A Streetcar Named Desire	1951
68	What's Up, Doc?	1972
69	Harold and Maude	1971
70	Sense and Sensibility	1995
71	Way Down East	1920
72	Roxanne	1987
73	The Ghost and Mrs. Muir	1947
74	Woman of the Year	1942
75	The American President	1995
76	The Quiet Man	1952
77	The Awful Truth	1937
78	Coming Home	1978
79	Jezebel	1938
80	The Sheik	1921
81	The Goodbye Girl	1977
82	Witness	1985
83	Morocco	1930
84	Double Indemnity	1944
85	Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing	1955
86	Notorious	1946
87	The Unbearable Lightness of Being	1988
88	The Princess Bride	1987
89	Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?	1966
90	The Bridges of Madison County	1995
91	Working Girl	1988
92	Porgy and Bess	1959
93	Dirty Dancing	1987
94	Body Heat	1981
95	Lady and the Tramp	1955
96	Barefoot in the Park	1967
97	Grease	1978
98	The Hunchback of Notre Dame	1939
99	Pillow Talk	1959
100	Jerry Maguire	1996

Annie Hall is #11? Hold on while I vomit.

Ruiner

The following is a list of foods that, when in something I am eating, ruin it*:

1. Sour cream- Sour cream used to almost make me gag, just at the thought of it. I think it's one of the most disgusting things ever. I hate that it automatically comes on so many things: potato skins, nachos, tacos...YUCK! In my old age, I still detest it, but I'm at least okay if it's near my food.

2. Green peppers- I don't understand liking green peppers. Their taste permeates everything else in the dish! Growing up, I got my dad to change his chili recipe because it had green peppers in it. And people CHOOSE to put them on their pizza? Odd. One time I had a piece of raw green pepper and I could kind of see people liking that, but it was still way too much green peppery taste for me.

3. Mushrooms- I used to think I was okay with mushrooms because my mom used to make this dish with cream of mushroom, but a few years ago I went to eat a regular ol' mushroom and quickly realized I do not like them. I think they should only be put in vegetarians' food. I got shrimp lo mein for dinner and the mushrooms were all over that! YUCK! Huge ones, too. I couldn't ignore them. My trash can is now filled with them. I'm curious about this portabello mushroom thing because don't people eat them like steaks or something? Seems like a steam would be a lot better.

4. Mixed condiments- I am the person who causes the McDonald's line to come to a halt because I order my hamburgers plain. Actually, I haven't had a McDonald's hamburger since I was about 13 so you'll actually have to blame someone else. But do you know why I don't eat those anymore? No, it's not because they're bad for you, it's because they mix ketchup and mustard on them! EWWWWW! One time, my friend Nick got a hot dog at 7-11 and he put everything from the condiment bar on it. I couldn't even look at him while he ate it. It didn't stop me from sleeping with him, though**.

That actually might be it. I'm sure one of my friends who hangs out with me a lot can add to the list, but that's all I can think of right now.


XO,
SVR




*Or ruin a particular bite if I forget to pick it out.
**GOTCHA! Just kidding! Just checking to see if you're still reading.

We're Going To Be Friends

It's easy to make negative lists..."I hate..." "I don't like..." and, of course, I'm prompted to make those when someone or some thing irritates me. It's better to be positive, though, so here goes:

Things People Do That I Like:

+ Smile when they see me

+ Leave me notes

+ Text/Call/Email me

+ Are understanding

+ Drive me somewhere

+ Make me a mix CD

+ Laugh at my jokes

+ Make me laugh

+ High fives!

+ Remember inside jokes

+ give me their tomatoes



XO,
SVR

Rule Breaker

Twitter is, like, wayyy popular right now*. Everyone and their mother is on it. I follow everyone from CNN to Serena to Jimmy Fallon. It's fun to both follow close friends and people who may or may not be famous. Having been on there for awhile now, I have noticed a few very annoying habits, though. I present them to you now and beg you not to do the following:

+ Fictional character twitters** can be fun, but don't go overboard. Having fake 'twitter conversations' about stuff from books or TV shows is not fun for us. Keep it to a minimum. (See the following)

+ Don't use Twitter as an instant messaging service. Or, if you do, use the Direct Message feature. No one wants to read the twitters being sent from you to your friend that mean nothing to us. "@CFB Are you coming over later?" "@Sarah Yes at 9." Now, why was texting not used for that?

+ However, if you have a lot of friends and need to tell them what time to come over, then sure, do a mass twitter, but be ready for strangers to show up.

+ Asking a question via Twitter is genius really. Kirstin one time asked via Twitter why a bartender put salt on her napkin before setting her beer down and I think about 8,489 people replied with the answer.

+ Traffic updates are acceptable, but do not overdue it. Reporting congestion on a highway at 8am probably is not twitter worthy.

+ Don't use twitter as a means to up your self confidence. Making eye contact when taking your order does not count as checking you out.

+ Being cryptic is okay sometimes, but being passive aggressive is not. Sometimes you just need to say something and have no one know what it means.

+ Don't advertise.

+ Don't spam.


That is all (for now).


XO,
SVR





*That was supposed to be in full-on Robin Sparkles "Let's Go To The Mall" voice.
**I don't like the word tweet.

+Title from Ashlee Simpsons

All Things Great & Small

Things I Have Found Today:

-My keys for work.

-A roll of film I need to get developed.

-About $4 in change.

-My smaller camera battery charger

-Sand in the bag I took to the beach

-My iPod

-The advance readers copy for Sweet Valley High Double Love, which I'm curious to read to see if they updated it for these times.

XO,
SVR

Feeling Yourself Disintegrate

List Form:

• I can't find my copy of Breaking Dawn. I hope they introduce a new character because I don't like Edward or Jacob....but today I read the synopsis and already know a little of what happens-oops!
• I had a horrible day at work the other day. I was literally exhausted and it was just too much at one point. My boos helped me out, though. Especially one. <3
• Me, Terra, Serena, and Ali are going white water rafting this Saturday! I have never been and am uber excited.
  
• Ali and I are going to The OC on Sunday! OMG. Beyond excited for that.
  
• So You Think You Can Dance ends tonight=/ I'm sad Katee didn't win. I like Joshua and Twitch, but she's the best dancer in my opinion.
  
• I am bored with Starbucks. They need to introduce new flavors and smoothies.
  
• The Faint CD is a lot of fun.
  
• I love salad.
  
• Mad Men is the best show on TV now that SYTYCD has ended (congrats, Joshua!), but Gilmore Girls is still the best show ever:)
  
• I had chocolate covered blueberries from Maine and they were hella good.
  
• Twitter cracks me up. It provides endless entertainment for me.
  
• I ate non-fried calamari and it was interesting and GOOD.
  
• I have to pack tonight. Gah!

XO,
SVR

Who Cares Why?

The Glad Game:

• Deluxe edition
• I got the entire score of Holst's "The Planets" for $5.
  
• I wore silver shoes today.
• Black Cherry Chutney
• I've been sipping a glass of chianti for hours now.
  
• My room smells good.
• Omelettes tomorrow morning.
  
• I love my car.
  
• I now own every Brad Pitt movie there is.
  
• More Team Scarlet shirts. Supply and demand, baby!
• The Lakers are still in it.
• Tomorrow is my 28 and 4 months birthday.

XO,
SVR

Decent Days And Nights

As always, in bullet form:

• Go Lakers! I have $1 (payable in happy hour beer) riding on the series.
• I had awesome cards when playing Texas Hold 'Em last night. One day I'll play with real money and I hope I have the same "luck".
• Randi read Tarot cards for us. I think Tarot cards are like horoscopes where it can be fun to read into what you're told, but you can make pretty much anything make sense. I asked two questions and the answers kinda freaked me out. Except for when I got The Goddess card and she asked if I wanted to get pregnant...HELL TO THE N-O!!!! Whoa.
• Although I did tell my parents again that I want to go to Vegas, but that I have my rule about getting married if/when I go. I think they're cool with it.
• Except they took that minuscule opening to ask if I have a boyfriend. Grrr!
• Ali and I are going to Kings Dominion on Thursday. EXCITING!
• I am excited about a job contact I made.
• Did anyone see the French Open finals? Nadal is on FIRE. Federer looked stunned.
• I saw a buzzard (?) eating a cat earlier today. I sorta wanted to vomit.

XO,
SVR

Type Slowly

More Lists Or You Won't Get Anything:

• I tried to blog some pictures earlier, but it wouldn't work and I wasn't about to sit there and try for the 4th time. Go look at my flickr.
  
• People who steal shit suck at life. Unless you're Winona Ryder because I really liked Little Women and Edward Scissorhands.
  
• I kind of want to read Chelsea Handler's new book.
  
• Anyone agree that Grey's Anatomy is going for the gross out award? I didn't really like the contest.
• My TiVo didn't get America's Next Top Model last night so I watched parts of it on YouTube today while at Pantera uploading pics. I won't spoil it for people who haven't seen it, but I wasn't happy with the decision.
  
• 48 Hour Film Project in DC is quickly approaching...anyone else participating?
  
• I almost bought a yellow shirt yesterday. SO unlike me.
  
• I had a weird/funny dream last night.
  
• I bought Zyrtec today since what I had been taking wasn't doing it's job. We shall see.
  
• The mind is a terrible thing.
  
• My car is being towed tomorrow to get fixed. My rental car gets 24 miles to the gallon-UGH! My car is much better and I miss it.
  

XO,
SVR

Cruise Control

So I haven't blogged in forever. I think it's because once I get here, there's just too much to say. So, to remedy that, I am going to do...bullet form!

• I got the estimate for my car today. $3800! WOW! Thank goodness it wasn't my fault.
  
• I got my rental car last night. Dodge Stratus. It's silver (I think...actually, earlier today, when I left the bank, I got confused because I didn't see my bright blue car) and has Maryland tags so now I can be a bad driver* and no one will think twice.
  
• My mom and I went to Leesburg tonight to visit my grandmother in the nursing home and then out for Mexican with my granddad and uncle. Before getting to the nursing home, my mom and I made pit stops at the jewelry store and the ABC store-I can be sure now that she is my biological mother.
• Just kidding, we look alike. Even though I'm way taller than her now. Especially when I wear heels.
  
• The men at the Mexican restaurant stared at me...not exaggerating. My hair did look really good today, maybe that was it. Or my control over the 1/2 priced margaritas! Ole!
• I had one of my out of control sneezing days yesterday. I used a box and a half of tissues. That's 150 tissues! That's a lot of tissues! And I even took two Claritin, wtf!? But what angered me even more than the incessant sneezing, were the people who kept giving me advice like I was sick. "Drink OJ!" "Have some tea, dear." "You need to rest." I WAS NOT SICK! I never get sick. I literally can not remember the last time I got sick. It was at least a year ago. So acting like I am a wussy, sick baby makes me angry. And today? I am fine. See! Not. Sick.
• I got the Mariah Carey CD for my mom and I to listen to on the hour long ride to Leesburg. We totally jammed to that shite. She loved it. My mom rules.
  
• ANTM should have kicked off Fatima. Can't stand that biatch. I would be happy with any of the following winning: Lauren, Anya, Kat. I'd even be okay with Whitney winning, but only if she stops talking about changing the modeling world.
  

That is all.

XO,
SVR

*Note: I'm not a bad driver. I'm an excellent driver...what I mean, is that I can pretend to be a bad driver for a week.


+Title from Mariah Carey

No Surprises

Things I Like That Might Surprise Someone:

• Basketball (NBA only)
• Insects
• Onions
• Dipping Salmon Into Honey Mustard
• The Beach
• Yogurt
• She's All That
• The View
• Howie Day
• Flag Day

Racing Like A Pro

I haven't really blogged in awhile. I don't even have the crappy laptop/internet excuse anymore. I guess it's because lately life has been super busy and I kept thinking I needed to get everything into a nice, neat paragraph when really I should have done bullets all along. In list form is always better...

• Someone at work the other day said we should have a "Women's History Month" display. I refrained from asking when Men's History Month is for fear of the typical "that's every month" response, but I did accidentally say out loud, "just don't put any feminist books on there." Well, one of the older women sort of freaked out and it was too early in the morning to explain what I meant. I just think it's a fall back to put up Betty Friedan books when a better display would involve books and works by really good authors who just happen to be female. AND the display should have cookbooks, and the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, and books about chicks doing things typically thought to be for males only. Wouldn't that be a better display?
• I am going to try to be more positive about spring. I still love winter above any other season, but since I am in the minority, I am going to try to find things to be okay with these warmer months. One thing I can't put up with are allergies, which is the main reason I don't like spring. But I do know I am one of the few who get more energized when it is cold and dreary out so I look forward* to it warming up because everyone will be getting out of their winter hibernation moods.
  
• Why is Drew Barrymore on Vogue?
  
• Why do people buy the following: K.D. Lang, Sarah Brightman, Amy Whinehouse, Chris Botti??
• So the Oscars are on tomorrow. I just hope No Country For Old Men and Javier B. win.
  
• And why is Tori Spelling on People!? Slow week? Is it 1991?? She could be pregnant with triplets and I wouldn't care.
  
• I have a spy operation planned for work. It began the other day. I will give more details when I can.

XO,
SVR




*Do you know how difficult it was for me to say that?

Simple Gifts

It makes me laugh at this time of year because with everyone running around trying to find gifts for friends and family, I feel like every word uttered is going to be taken as a clue for the perfect gift. My sister and I have a running joke from a year when she said to me during the Holidays, "You like Lenny Kravitz, right?" and I caught myself before I said something negative because I was worried that she had gotten me one of his CDs. So instead I said something like, "Um, he's all right...why?" and she started laughing and told me she was just teasing me and knew I wasn't a fan.

But I always think about that joke when it is Christmastime and tend to watch what I say around friends and family. I bought a movie earlier today because it was on sale and I need it, but I don't want to say what it is in case someone got it for me for Christmas. I notice when I say things like, "I want..." and sometimes, when it's appropriate or just plain funny, I clarify that I don't mean I want that item as a gift. It's not like I expect people to be getting me gifts, but let's face it, I know people are and it makes me giggle when I stop myself before saying something like, "I LOVE Slurpees!" because do I really need someone getting a 'great idea' to get me a years supply of Slurpees??*

I think I am fairly easy to shop for since I have countless interests and tend to either like or love most things. Just stay away from the following**:

1. sour cream
2. pastels
3. college basketball/football
4. alto saxophones
5. Ugly Betty


XO,
SVR


*Although, if that's what you got me for Christmas, I LOVE SLURPEES!;)
**Unless you already got me something related to this list, but if you have then you may not know me very well;)

All I Want

The following is the Wish List I will be sending to Sandy Claws. Just to clarify, this is a wish list and I do not expect to receive all of this. Except for Gilmore Girls 7 because it would just be cruel and also because I am Santa's Little Helper* and have already ordered this.

• Gilmore Girls 7
• Clothes Steamer
• The National (CD)
• Canon DSLR Xti (body only)
• Dresses
• Knee high boots
• Tiffany anything
• Bracelets
• Earrings
• Bullet belt
• Hot Fuzz (Widescreen DVD)
• OPI
• MAC gift card or I can go pick out stuff
• LAMB perfume
• Puppy

*Not to be confused with The Simpsons' dog, thankyouverymuch.