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| Doctor, Am I Sick? |
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| Noodles |
I've honestly never been so nervous that I've sweat bullets before, but I made up for it tonight in front of the four gentlemen from China. I drank approximately one gallon of water and had to hold my hands together to keep them from shaking. But you know what? I did it and survived. The translation was not even 70% correct but regardless, I still actually kind of enjoyed myself. Pushing myself into uncomfortable territory was nerve-wracking but oh-so rewarding and empowering. So tell me, what have you done lately that's scared you?
It's the best type of Sunday a gal can have, the Sunday before a short work week that leads to a summer vacation! What's a beautiful weekend when there's an entire long week of sun and surf to look forward to, not to mention family. The only thing that I'm worried about is not having a long enough book to read.
Can I just say that I really like the wooden ceilings in this little bungalow? They make the house feel warm, rustic and all the things that make a house homey. I could use a cottage like this down by the sea. It's cozy and bright and I wouldn't even feel bad about tracking sand in and onto those gleaming white subway tiles in the master bath.
PS - I love when I find a "real" home that isn't staged. Check out the paper towel rolls stored above the fridge in the kitchen.
Can I just say that I really like the wooden ceilings in this little bungalow? They make the house feel warm, rustic and all the things that make a house homey. I could use a cottage like this down by the sea. It's cozy and bright and I wouldn't even feel bad about tracking sand in and onto those gleaming white subway tiles in the master bath.
PS - I love when I find a "real" home that isn't staged. Check out the paper towel rolls stored above the fridge in the kitchen.
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| Society6 |
My knees and my legs have been trying to tell me for pretty much forever that they don't enough support from my feet (another weird allegory?). At age 12, I bought a pair of black Nike Air Jordans (so cool) in a women's size 8.5 thinking I'd have the shoes for a few more years before I outgrew them. And I am still waiting to grow into them. Maybe my balance would be better if I had bigger feet, sturdier legs or stronger knees. Maybe this is a way for me to not-so-subtly tell you that my foundation may not be as sound as I had originally thought. Or maybe this is just a post about feet, knees and legs in the end.
I haven't decided.
This song right here is like my "Eye of the Tiger" for Mondays. It's been stuck in my head all day long. I don't think I can shake this song it but I'll keep trying. I won't give up.
Happy Monday folks!
This weekend was what every summer weekend should be about - loads and loads of popsicles (I made mango lassi and, separately, Vietnamese coffee ones), sweating my socks off, vegging out in front of the tv when it's too hot out and reading one of the best books I've read all year (I'm going to keep you all in suspense about that one a little longer). Not gonna lie, I'm having mini anxiety attacks knowing that July is almost over and we're going to head back into fall eventually here. That and realizing the year is more than half over and I'm still trying to find my bearings.
I feel like the house this week is kind of like me - stuck in the middle of summer. I know I said I would stop overusing the word "love" when blogging but I really do love everything about it. I love the large, mature trees in the neighborhood. I love the whites and greys acting as a neutral palette for the punchy teals and oranges. I even love that weird floor in the kitchen / living room area. What is that anyway?? And the backyard of course. So there's no pool but you've still gotta love the deck in the backyard. You can sit and watch the fireflies dart around the bushes and pretend that summer is going to last forever.
I feel like the house this week is kind of like me - stuck in the middle of summer. I know I said I would stop overusing the word "love" when blogging but I really do love everything about it. I love the large, mature trees in the neighborhood. I love the whites and greys acting as a neutral palette for the punchy teals and oranges. I even love that weird floor in the kitchen / living room area. What is that anyway?? And the backyard of course. So there's no pool but you've still gotta love the deck in the backyard. You can sit and watch the fireflies dart around the bushes and pretend that summer is going to last forever.
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| Maui via Society6 |
Are we ready? Sadly not. But we've booked a flight and a place to stay and really, everything else is just extra, right? If any of you have gone to Maui, I'd love to hear your recommendations of things to do and places to eat.
Darlings, give yourselves a pat on the back and a round of applause - you've made it past the middle of the week (you have to celebrate the little things)! As a mini reward for you all, treat yo'self to one of the goodies below. Okay so maybe it's a little absurd to go out and buy a cow but how can you resist that face?
I promise I don't have an addiction to flasks but this one is simply genius. For those times you need a secret stiff drink ... you know that second cousin's wedding you're dreading attending. Yeah, that time.
He's so fluffy, I'm gonna die! Are these cows cute or what?! Okay, maybe I'm too excited about these cows, especially because they're beefers but who could resist giving these guys a big, giant hug? I bet it's like hugging a big pillow. That moos.
Anyone going to Comic Con this weekend? For your own little taste of the comic goodness, I'm going to do some shameless self promotion and tell you to check out my review of Marvel 1602 at Book Adventurers. Bonus - it's written by our favourite Neil Gaiman!
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| Cynthia Rowley Flask Bracelet |
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| Via Oddify |
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| Book Adventurers |
Hi Seattle, did you send us your weather? It's been raining for three days straight now and although I can't complain about the amount of rain we're getting (our lakes sorely need it), it sure puts me in a napping kind of mood. It's almost a little bit fall-like with the temperature dropping down to 75 on Monday (!!!). Lucky for us, fall is still three months away and at least the rain chased away the mosquitoes for a little bit. Speaking of which, there was a NYTimes article that talked about a sure-fire, low-tech mosquito repellent - using an electric fan. Because it blows them away. Duh. I didn't know that was what qualified as news these days, particularly with everything else that's going on in the world.
Oh, and about my blog post yesterday about telling ladies that they look tired? I got that question from someone at work first thing in the am. Maybe it should be broadcast as a public service announcement.
This weekend started with a jolt. Friday was hotter than... well... hot and riding in the arena was already painful. Ike tripped, fell and dragged me down with him. I escaped unscathed (after performing some acrobatics out of the saddle) and landed on my feet but he ended up gashing his lower lip with his own teeth on his way down. Poor baby was hanging his head and dripping blood from his mouth all the way back to the barn. Lest you worry about him, he's okay now, eating normally and milking his injury for all it's worth.
Do you think the people who live in the gleaming home featured this week end up with dirt and other gunk under their fingernails and mysterious brown stains on their clothes after a visit to the barn? I'm sure the feet that pad along those hallways and the bodies that dip themselves into the pristine marble tub glow with cleanliness and smell of roses. Ahh, to be one of those people.
But then again, I wouldn't have as fun of stories to share with you guys.
Do you think the people who live in the gleaming home featured this week end up with dirt and other gunk under their fingernails and mysterious brown stains on their clothes after a visit to the barn? I'm sure the feet that pad along those hallways and the bodies that dip themselves into the pristine marble tub glow with cleanliness and smell of roses. Ahh, to be one of those people.
But then again, I wouldn't have as fun of stories to share with you guys.
This post is inspired by one of the wonderful things that happens in the blogging world, which is meeting your blogger friends "in real life." I was lucky enough to get to have dinner with Aki of Seven Percent Solution tonight (who is even sweeter and cooler in person than she is through her blog) and she encouraged me to share more about myself on my blog if I feel so inclined. I know some of my posts probably leave a lot to be desired, particularly about my personal life, so here is my slight attempt to be a tad more transparent to those of you who continue to read, day after day, trying to scoop out some nuggets of goodness amidst all the blabbering and blubbering.
IRL Rooth
- In real life: I am even more of a dork. I can spend hours talking about books upon books. Throw in some discussions about book clubs, libraries, book stores, e-readers, book reports and reviews and we could be stuck there all day long. And when we're done with that mess, we can talk about Doctor Who or The Big Bang Theory.
- In real life: I am much more awkward. From the strange, loud laugh (yes, that one Rick) to the incoherent ramblings that try to resemble a train of thought. Come ready to steer this baby back because detour is my middle name.
- In real life: I don't fit in any categories. And neither do you. It's easier to assign a label to bloggers and slot them into a box. Fashion, designer, mommy, photography - pick your category. In reality, you and I wear a multitude of different hats and play multiple roles on a daily basis. We don't all come from one mold and, as Aki pointed out, my IRL mold is a little more different than I let on. It was probably busted, now come to think of it.
- In real life: I am more dramatic. I know, that one is a bit odd because if anything, your online personality should be a megaphone for your drama. Not so here - I think it's because I feel stupid moments after telling someone about something dramatic and really stupid reading about it a few days later. But I will try to share more constructive (or even entertaining) drama as it happens, if only to keep you all coming back for MOAAARR.
So, tell me, what are you like IRL?
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| Me & Ike, dirty and sweaty. So pretty much a normal day for me |
- In real life: I am even more of a dork. I can spend hours talking about books upon books. Throw in some discussions about book clubs, libraries, book stores, e-readers, book reports and reviews and we could be stuck there all day long. And when we're done with that mess, we can talk about Doctor Who or The Big Bang Theory.
- In real life: I am much more awkward. From the strange, loud laugh (yes, that one Rick) to the incoherent ramblings that try to resemble a train of thought. Come ready to steer this baby back because detour is my middle name.
- In real life: I don't fit in any categories. And neither do you. It's easier to assign a label to bloggers and slot them into a box. Fashion, designer, mommy, photography - pick your category. In reality, you and I wear a multitude of different hats and play multiple roles on a daily basis. We don't all come from one mold and, as Aki pointed out, my IRL mold is a little more different than I let on. It was probably busted, now come to think of it.
- In real life: I am more dramatic. I know, that one is a bit odd because if anything, your online personality should be a megaphone for your drama. Not so here - I think it's because I feel stupid moments after telling someone about something dramatic and really stupid reading about it a few days later. But I will try to share more constructive (or even entertaining) drama as it happens, if only to keep you all coming back for MOAAARR.
So, tell me, what are you like IRL?
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| Eyes of Texas / Dear Texas / Vintage Marquee Lights Cast and Crew Horseshoe / Mason Jar Sconce / Home is Where the Heart is Texas Letterpress Print / Born & Raised |
My friend Amy is one of those friends. We grew up one street away from each other, practically lived together in high school and then really did as college roommates. I am the sidekick to her smarter, sassier, cuter and more generous self and am more than happy to bask in the glow of her sparkle. Amy hasn't lived in Texas for nearly a decade and she misses it. Hell, it misses her. So this post is dedicated to her plus all of the other Texans scattered around the world. We love you and we miss you. Y'all come back now, ya hear? I'll take you out for a taco, even if it isn't Taco Thursday.
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| Society6 |
So far this summer, I’ve had plenty of good, full days. Different, for sure, from my previous summer when I reached a golden brown to rival French toast. The hardest work I would have to do all day is reach over to grab a cold beverage from my deck chair. This summer, I’ve woken up stretching stiff muscles and blinking away wisps of dreams that, later, I can only grasp at.
The truth is, it's exhausting. And exhaustion helps me sleep better. I can forget about the girl with long, dark, straggly hair, crouched in the corner waiting to pounce. I can ignore the slightly muffled breathing coming from under the bed. I can even tune out the constant list that's running through my head, like endless movie credits on fast forward. "Don't forget about this," it whispers. "Make sure you do that," it commands. Luckily, once my head hits the pillow, it's lights out.
In the morning, it's rush rush rush even though I'm up before the day breaks. Can't waste daylight so everything is a rush. Even my footsteps tap faster and I won't tell you the number of times I've tripped on absolutely nothing.
Right about now, I've lost the vision of what I'm rushing toward. All I know is that, I must get there and I must not be late.
My goodness, it was wonderful to have the extra long weekend, wasn’t it? After work load at the end of June, I really needed it. I unplugged a little bit and immediately dove into the stack of books I had waiting for me. Ahh, the smell of brand new pages. Over the last four days, I ate more than my fair share of ice cream and popsicles, stayed up too late and woke up too early. Ahh, sweet sweet summer time.
Someday, I’m going to go to the (cooler) Northeast beaches for a summer vacation and spend my days lazing around a smidge of a house like this. Okay, so this one isn’t in the Northeast but it’s still so cute and vintage 1925. I know I know, the formal living room is mustard yellow and the kitchen is green. It kinda adds to the whole kitschyness of the place though, don’t you think? No one could ever accuse you of being beige or bland with those colour choices. And the back patio would be wonderful with a salty sea breeze blowing over it too.
Someday, I’m going to go to the (cooler) Northeast beaches for a summer vacation and spend my days lazing around a smidge of a house like this. Okay, so this one isn’t in the Northeast but it’s still so cute and vintage 1925. I know I know, the formal living room is mustard yellow and the kitchen is green. It kinda adds to the whole kitschyness of the place though, don’t you think? No one could ever accuse you of being beige or bland with those colour choices. And the back patio would be wonderful with a salty sea breeze blowing over it too.
