CHRISTMASTIME IS HERE :: THE LIST

Because it's now December, I figured I'd make a list of a bunch of things I'd like to do / watch / make / listen to this season. 

DO 

• Buy a wreath 
• And maybe some mistletoe too    ✓
• See the lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo    ✓
• Visit the Christkindlmarket downtown
• Go ice skating in Millennium Park 
• See the Millennium Park tree    ✓
• Have a Home Alone viewing/pizza party night 

WATCH

• A Charlie Brown Christmas
• Elf
• Love Actually
• The Grinch (animated)
• Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer
• It's A Wonderful Life (which I've never seen)
• A Christmas Story
• Christmas Vacation

MAKE

• Frosted sugar cookies ✓, peppermint bark, fudge ✓
• Mulled wine
• Homemade candles ✓

LISTEN

• The Moody Blues ( ► )     ✓
• Ringo Starr ( ► )    ✓
• Joni Mitchell ( ► )
• Gloria Estefan ( ► ) ✓
• Charlie Brown Christmas (the album) ( ► )

What's on your list?

Summer 2014 :: A List In Review

Above are my favorite selfies I took this summer (because why not?) and below is the progress I made on my Summer 2014 list. I officially declared my summer to be over on Labor Day, even though that was dumb, because it totally feels like it will be summer for a few more weeks. Or months. Who knows.

In review... 

1. Read twelve books.
I almost did. I got to 10, plus a few half books read that I'm still working on too.

2. Get a new computer (I've had mine for 6.5+ years). 
(See here.)

3. Get my knee fixed up. 
Well, it's in the process of getting fixed up at least. I've been going to PT and doing all my at-home exercises. My tendinitis is essentially the same, but my leg is getting stronger which should help.

4. Figure "it" out aka: get employed. 
(See here).

5. Finish the Mindy Project (or where it leaves off in season two anyway).

6. Start/finish(?) Downton Abbey.
I got caught up in other shows... namely Grey's Anatomy and Malcolm in the Middle.

7. And Breaking Bad.
I started. I haven't finished yet. Hopefully I will someday soon.

8. Learn how to can/make jam.
Nope :(. I did make some pickles and put them in cans though...

9. Plan/take an exciting trip or three.
Well, a trip to The Thousand Islands happened. And so did a trip out to Chicago to visit Le Copain. I also dreamed of going to California, which will hopefully happen this coming summer. And some lovely amies and I made plans to go wine touring in the lovely Finger Lakes this weekend!

10. Write some letters.
Hopefully the two letters I sent to Le Copain count... I might have to write some more after seeing this the other week though ;)

11. Have a PLL watching party. Or four. Or... make a drinking game out of it. Maybe.
Read the term "party" as "gathering".

12. See Ami T (it has been three years already! :O)
Unfortunately I didn't :/. Hopefully it will happen this fall.

13. Buy jean shorts (I haven't had any since like 5th grade or something)
I have put this on my list for the last three years, but I still don't have a pair. Maybe next year.

14. And Ray Bans (my fake ones only make things darker...they don't stop the glare.)

15. Play Spud / Croquet with the cousins... like old times.
Croquet didn't happen, but spud with the cousins (and Le Copain!) was really fun :)

16. Try to blog 5x a week.
The key word there is try...

Reading For Those Who Don't Have The Time To Read :: 10 Quick Reads

A last week conversation with Amie L (hi!) got me thinking about why people don't read so much.
I know that reading tons isn't for everyone, but I'm hoping to change that, even if everyone doesn't commute like I do on the train for two hours a day ;p

In college I figured out what worked for me in terms of reading when I was "busy" so I guess I'll share that wisdom (or whatever you call "wisdom" coming from a somewhat unworldly twenty-two year old). Feel free to take note. Or ignore. Whatever suits.

What Didn't Work

• Reading during test/busier-than-usual weeks 
• Reading when I had lots of other reading to do (reading for school then reading more = boring)
• Reading books for knowledge/literary breadth rather than page-turning stories
• Reading long books (450+ pages)

What Worked

• Books directed at teenagers ("YA lit" as Amie L calls that fun/potentially angsty genre)
• Guilty pleasure books (e.g: Fitty-Shades. I'm not even that embarrassed.)
• Books written by comedians (...think short, funny chapters) 
• Books written in journal or letter form 
• Reading at the gym 
• Reading during awkward between-class breaks

I think that's all I've got. On that note, here are ten books I've read in the past few years that I enjoyed and think qualify as quick reads. (They're listed in order based on their number of pages.)

1. Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo (163 pages)

A plow-through-in-two-hours kind of read. I liked it. It made me think a lot about heaven even though I'm not very religious. That being said this probably isn't the book for you if you're vehemently against religion. It could open your mind (and heart?) too... 

2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (213 pages)

My high school favorite. I bought this book twice actually. It's written as quirky heartfelt letters (usually 1-5 pages each), which makes it easy to read it a little at a time. It's the only book that I've read since I was 15 that I have read more than twice. I'll put my count at six. 

3. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me by Mindy Kaling (222 pages)

A very quick and funny read, indeed (I was able to finish it in a night)! Chapters have mini chapters/stories within them. Some are just lists. The book definitely feels more like 100-150 pages.

4. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (224 pages)

You definitely have to pay attention to what's going on (there are some crazy plot twists), but it's not overly complicated and chapters are short (usually 4-10 pages).

5. Bossypants by Tina Fey (275 pages)

This was such a great book. Funny, short chapters (usually 2-6 pages) about Tina Fey's life. I actually read this book during a  busy week in one or two chapter installments. 

6. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Wells (288 pages)

This book was a quick read for me because I liked the colorful, but unfortunate story more than anything else. It was broken up into sections pretty well which made putting down and coming back to it easy. 

7. Orange Is The New Black by Piper Kerman (298 pages)

Not as short-feeling, but chapters were broken up in the right spot and it was a unique story. For the record it's much different than the show (although I only saw one episode). Much more... tame. 

8. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green (313 pages)

I read this entire book during a single slow day during my internship last summer. It's absolutely the bittersweetest. You probably all know that by now though based on its movie's success.

9. The Diary Of A Young Girl by Anne Frank (352 pages)

This one probably requires no introduction. It's journal-entry form make it easy to put down and come back to later. Definitely worth a read -- especially from a historical/literary perspective.

10. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (422 pages)

Although a bit longer, this book was an all-out page-turner. I couldn't put it down. I read it while eating dinner, I read it during small breaks, I even read it one night instead of watching The Bachelorette! THE BACHELORETTE! I was that into it. 

And now it's your turn (I do hope you respond...)

What are some of your favorite quick reads? Or actually, have you read anything good lately whether 40 pages or 940 pages. (I'm always interested in new reading material). 

A Summer List

Following tradition, here's my Summer 2014 list!

1. Read twelve books.

2. Get a new computer (I've had mine for 6.5 years).

3. Get my knee fixed up.

4. Figure "it" out (aka: get employed).

5. Finish the Mindy Project (or where it leaves off in season two anyway).
**I highly recommend this show. It always has me smiling and laughing.

6. Start/finish(?) Downton Abbey.

7. And Breaking Bad.

8. Learn how to can/make jam.

9. Plan/take an exciting trip or three.

10. Write some letters.

11. Have a PLL watching party. Or four. Or... make a drinking game out of it. Maybe.

12. See Ami T (it has been three years already! :O)

13. Buy jean shorts (I haven't had any since like 5th grade or something)

14. And Ray Bans (my fake ones only make things darker...they don't stop the glare.)

15. Play Spud / Croquet with the cousins... like old times.

16. Try to blog 5x a week.


***What are on your lists, amies (and others!)? Would love to hear!

Past Summer Lists :: 
Summer 2013
Summer 2012

PS: Pic above was taken in the 1000 Islands circa 2002 or 2003.

Climbing The Clock Tower

Last Thursday, Le Copain and I climbed the 161 steps of Cornell's clock tower. He had been up it freshman year, but I hadn't and figured it was something I would regret not doing before I graduated. 
It was pretty awesome. The 360 degree view of campus from 14+ stories up plus being right next to the bells as a concert played (besides them being really loud) was awe-inspiring. The chimesmaster even played "Let It Go" from Frozen! :)

Ithaca really is "gorge-eous". 

PS: Based on Cornell's 161 steps, there is the famous 161 things to do at Cornell. Here's the list!