Current Book(s): I started Home to Woefield by Susan Juby for book club, and then the Infinite Jest challenge began and I’m really just interested in reading that now. But I will persist!

Current Playlist: So I’m really, really bad about discovering new music that I like, but I The Civil Wars not too long ago and now I don’t know what took me so long. I’m a huge fan of male/female duos. And you can get an entire album for free on their website!

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Carbs. I don’t exactly overeat, but I haven’t been really trying to eat super healthy either.

Current Color: Our nursery walls are light green, and now I’m searching for the perfect curtains. What I want is earthy colors like olive green & brown/tan with some kind of pattern on it. I think that will help keep the room from looking too pastel. So far I’ve found these from Target that I like, but I want to see what they look like in person!

Current Drink: Lately I have transitioned from frappuccinos to iced mochas, mostly because fraps have a lot of extra fluffy stuff in them, although they ARE colder. I can’t make up my mind. Anyway, I need to learn to make mochas at home!

Current Food: I’ve gotten back into my cereal habit, which isn’t good. Cereal just might be my favorite food, but it’s just carbs and sugar. Starting this week I’m going to try and eat it only for dessert every once in awhile instead of every morning for breakfast!

Current Favorite Show: The only show that I’m really keeping up with right now is The Bachelorette. (Have you read my recaps of the first two episodes?) I’m also attempting to watch So You Think You Can Dance for the first time but I can’t judge it yet.

Current Wishlist: I want the next six-ish weeks to go by fast so that I can meet Meredith already! Also, I really, really, really, wish for her to come on time or early because I dread being induced and I don’t want to have to fight my doctor about it.

Current Needs: I need a couple more pairs of scrub pants, but I’m really procrastinating buying them. There really is hardly anything more boring to spend money on.

Current Triumphs: Nothing major, I’m just happy that I’m keeping up with everything in my life right now. Work, baby preparations, church, reading, blogging, family…it can get overwhelming but I’m hanging in there!

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: All my various pregnancy ailments, but especially the persistent chostochondritis (rib inflammation) and carpal tunnel syndrome. Most of my right hand is constantly numb and tingly now and both hands hurt all the time but a lot more in the morning. It’s quite an adjustment!

Current Celebrity Crush: I saw X-Men: First Class this weekend, and it has turned me into a James McAvoy fan. I’ve seen a few movies of his before, but he’s been flying under my radar until now. My list of permanent celebrity crushes is short, so we’ll see if he makes it for the long haul!

Current Indulgence: I don’t know if I ever mentioned it, but I signed up for a membership to Massage Envy awhile ago and have been getting monthly prenatal massages. It’s fantastic. I also recently found a cheap but good nail salon and am going to get regular pedicures because I really can’t do my own toes anymore. A small indulgence but completely worth it!

Current Blessing(s): Even though I’ve experienced one discomfort after another during this pregnancy, there haven’t been any serious complications and Meredith, so far as we know, is completely healthy. I feel so blessed to be pregnant at all!

Current Outfit: I bought some maternity shorts and tank tops from Old Navy this weekend, and I’ve been wearing them constantly.

Current Excitement: My first baby shower is next weekend! I’m looking forward to seeing everyone and stocking up on baby supplies.

Current Link: If you like entertainment, especially TV, check out the rest of the website that I’m contributing to. It’s written by my brother and a friend of his, and they’re very consistent and good!

Happy June!

Current Book(s): I’ve had Outlander by Diana Gabaldan for quite some time, and I picked it up a couple of weeks ago. After a slow start I am now really into it. I tried to put it aside the other day to start reading my book club book, Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall, but I couldn’t quite do it. As a compromise I’m bringing the book club book on the bus with me (which is where I do the bulk of my reading) and I read Outlander at night before bed.

Current Playlist: I got an iPod/iPhone dock for my birthday last month, so I pulled out my old iPod Nano that I haven’t used in a couple of years. I put it on shuffle and have been enjoying some of my old favorites such as “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass, “More Than A Feeling” by Boston, and “Shameless” by Garth Brooks.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: I just have this huge appetite that is so hard to reign in, so a lot of times I don’t even try. Like this weekend at my brother-in-law’s birthday dinner I had fruit, crackers and cheese, a decent helping of beef stroganoff, a piece of French bread and butter, green beans, a chocolate chip cookie, and a bowl of ice cream with chocolate syrup. I’m still full.

Current Color: Pink for flowers and little girls. :)

[source]

Current Drink: Other than trying to drink as much water as possible, I have a glass of V8 Fusion every morning and a glass of some kind of juice (lately cran-apple) at night.

Current Food: Um, anything and everything?

Current Favorite Show: David and I decided to watch American Idol this season. I haven’t watched it in a few years, but I’m quite enjoying it. Steven Tyler annoys me sometimes, but I love Jennifer Lopez and there are a few contestants that I really enjoy. Plus, I would watch it just to enjoy the recaps by Paul F. Tompkins on Vulture. Hilarious.

Current Wishlist: More time! I’m on a huge reading kick right now and there are a ton of books that I want to get to, but I feel like soon I need to start doing my birthing/baby reading as well.

Current Needs: I could really use some more yoga pants and sundresses. We’ve got to figure out our daycare situation soon, as that has changed for us recently. And still, a home for Oliver.

Current Triumphs: I learned how to change the font on my blog! My brother designed my website on a custom theme, so most things aren’t too simple to change. He teaches me in bits and pieces, so maybe one day I’ll become a master. :)

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: I see a nutritionist, and she has me taking what seems like ALL THE PILLS IN THE WORLD. I am not kidding you, but I take close to thirty pills every night, and several more every morning. I once had a patient who I had to practically wrestle with to get to take his meds, and now I understand his point of view. My husband sometimes has to force me.

Current Celebrity Crush: Listen, I don’t have much variety in my celebrity crushes. They basically come down to Robert Downey, Jr., Johnny Depp, and Derek Webb. Oh! And Hugh Laurie, but I haven’t watched House since the third season so I haven’t thought about him as much lately. The strongest of the crushes lately has been RDJ because I saw him at the Oscars and he looked hot. Also, there is a new Sherlock Holmes film coming out soon which I adored him in. If I get a new crush I will be sure to tell you.

RDJ at the Oscars - [source]

Current Blessing(s): I have a healthy baby girl growing inside of me. I can’t tell you what a feeling it is to know that, after years of trying to get pregnant, losing my first pregnancy, and 20 weeks of nightmares of miscarriage and stillbirth. I know the worry won’t stop, but so far everything is good and I’m so happy.

Current Outfit: I’m holding out on maternity clothes for as long as possible. Today I’m in scrubs, but yesterday I wore a long, black, flowy top from H&M that I bought in New York. It was perfect to cover up the fact that my jeans weren’t buttoned OR zipped half the time.

Current Excitement: I just ordered a bunch of new books from Paperbackswap and Bookmooch, and most of them have come in the mail. I gave up on trying to read all the books I own before obtaining more because I realized it’s just never going to happen. I will always accumulate books. It’s my thing. I’m also going to change how I post my book reviews because I’ve been reading a lot of book blogs and now I know the kind of format that I like.

Current Link: I just got started on Pinterest and even though I’ve only pinned one thing so far, I can tell it’s going to be an amazing tool for inspiration. Add me if you’re on it too!

My first pin! - [source]

Happy March!

Current Book(s): Oh, I’m reading such a fantastic book called Great With Child by Beth Ann Fennelly. It’s a collection of letters from the parent of a toddler to a newly-pregnant young woman, but the letters read almost like poetry. It’s helping me with my own pregnancy, but it’s also inspiring me in so many other ways.

Current Playlist: The only music I’ve really listened to lately is when I’m in the car with David. He’s obsessed with the band Against Me! right now, and I reluctantly admit that their songs are quite catchy.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Possibly watching The Bachelor, but I’m not really ashamed. It is what it is, y’all.

Current Drink: Lots and lots of water. I’m fighting off a cold, and I really don’t want it to get worse! I just bought myself this Nalgene water bottle, and I love it; it makes drinking so much easier and more fun.

Current Food: My pregnancy nausea is now gone, if you don’t count my nightly ritual of gagging while brushing my teeth, and I have now entered the stage where I have to restrain myself from eating everything in sight. My latest desire has been BLT sandwiches, of which I have eaten more in the past few weeks than I have in all of 2010. However, my overindulgence in food has also led to some rather uncomfortably fullness and heartburn, so I am now back on the (mostly) healthy eating train.

Current Favorite Show: There are a lot of TV shows I wish I could watch, but I don’t want to start in the middle of them. I’ll eventually catch up on Netflix. But I decided to watch American Idol again this season, and so far I’m loving it.

Current Wishlist: I would be so grateful to have a new computer. My little MacBook is about five years old now and doesn’t support many of the upgraded Mac features. It crashed once, but I was able to get it back up and running and it is still chugging along nicely, but recently the screen got damaged so that there is a huge black line running through it diagonally. It’s pretty dang annoying. Anyway, since mine is still working fine I’ve decided to save up for a new one over a year. Gotta stick to the budget!

Current Needs: To figure out what to do with our dog, Oliver. He got into another fight with our other dog Cleo, the worst one yet. They both have wounds, but Cleo’s are worse because Oliver is twice her size. Oliver has now attacked at least five dogs. David is fed up and wants to get rid of him. I guess that’s best but…he’s still so sweet to us. I’m attached to him. And also, where will he go?

Current Triumphs: I went to work today when I really, really wanted to call in sick. Sometimes it’s the little things, right?

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Keeping the dogs apart is a HUGE pain. But if we let them in the same room with each other, a fight will break out. Also, I’m having a lot of trouble being on time to work. The company policy says that once you have six tardies you get a warning, and you are terminated once you have ten (in a calendar year). Well, I already have FOUR! I’m bitter because, for example, this morning I woke up at 5 a.m., left my house at 6:10 a.m., and didn’t clock in until 7:40 a.m., ten minutes late. My commute is brutal and I’m dependent on the bus.

Current Celebrity Crush: No new ones at the moment, what about you?

Current Indulgence: See above answers under “current food” and “current favorite show”.

Current Blessing(s): An absolutely perfect birthday weekend which I just might share more about if I get around to it!

Current Outfit: I’m totally bummin’ out in sweats.

Current Excitement: My second birthday dinner tomorrow night, finding out our baby’s gender in three weeks, the fact that I’m finally getting a little bit of a bump, writing real letters to friends, and the weekend. I’m always excited about the weekend.

Current Link: Free desktop wallpaper!

Happy February!

Current Book(s): I’m reading The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen and am loving every word. I can tell he’s one of those authors that I’m going to make a point to read all his stuff.

Current Playlist: Lots of audiobooks for now, but this month I’m going to try to spend more time listening to worship music.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: I don’t know what possessed me, but for some reason I started following People Magazine on Twitter and now I’m becoming a little bit obsessed with celebrity gossip. The other day I correctly named Hugh Hefner’s new fiancé from memory and my husband did a double take. “Who are you?” he asked.

Current Color: I just bought these shoes the other day, and I realized that olive green is the perfect color for shoes. I love them.

Current Drink: For the most part I’m just concentrating on getting enough water, but the other day I decided that an Orange Crush was exactly what I needed. I downed that thing so fast, and I hardly ever drink soda. Since then David has kept our fridge stocked with it, although I haven’t had the same craving since then!

Current Food: At this point I’m still dealing with nausea that hits me out of nowhere, so I have to be careful what I eat. For breakfast every morning I have two pieces of buttered toast or oatmeal and a huge Red Delicious apple or yogurt. Anything apple flavored, actually, tastes good. I will make an entire meal out of applesauce these days.

Current Favorite Show: I’m usually only ever watching one show at a time through Netflix, and these days it’s Mad Men. I’m a few episodes into season 2 and enjoying it.

Current Wishlist: I’m really quite content with what I have these days, although I still could use a few new pairs of boots. Oh, and I would like to find an all-natural mascara that actually works.

Current Needs: I need to start working on my happiness project, which will include exercising (lightly) and decluttering. More to come on that.

Current Triumphs: I know I’ve mentioned this on Twitter and probably here too, but y’all, I’m actually good at starting IV’s now. I haven’t had to ask for help in weeks, and today a patient called me a pro!

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Bills! It is amazing to me how the medical bills keep piling up. Just when I think we’ve gotten them all, another one comes in. We are focusing hard this year on paying off our debts, and hopefully these will be knocked out within a few months!

Current Celebrity Crush: The other week I got sucked into a marathon of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. (I mean…who am I becoming??) I had only seen glimpses of the show before, and now, unexplainably, I have developed somewhat of a crush on Kris Jenner, the girls’ mom. Yes she may be ridiculous sometimes, but she’s also kind of fabulous…right?

Current Indulgence: First trimester is a bit rough, so I’ve been lax with myself on some things. I’m eating gluten and carbs when I feel like it (not as often as I used to) and I’m eating meat every once in awhile, nothing too crazy, and usually it’s because someone else cooked it for me. I also go to sleep between 7 and 8 p.m. every night which is fantastic.

Current Blessing(s): My husband who runs all my errands,

Current Outfit: I completely fail at taking pictures of my outfits, but I’m wearing a chunky beige striped sweater, skinny jeans, and knitted boots. The sweater David bought me for Christmas, the jeans were a great find at Target, and the boots (more like slippers, but who’s judging?) I’ve had for years.

Current Excitement: By the end of this month I’ll be out of the first trimester!

Current Link: Do you know about Grooveshark? Listen to almost anything online, just search for it. You can also create playlists.

Happy January, and happy 2011!

Current Book(s): I told David he could pick out a book for me to read, and that always means true crime. In this genre, the well-written books are excellent and fascinating, and the bad books are just terrible. David reads everything. It works out because he pre-screens them for me and I only read the best ones. (Some past favorites: In Cold Blood, The Stranger Beside Me, and And the Sea Will Tell.) So right now I’m reading Columbine by Dave Cullen, which he spent ten years researching. It’s so interesting.

Current Playlist: The song that’s playing right this moment is “Ramona” by Guster. It’s a good one.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: I’m back on my chocolate chip-eating kick. But my nutritionist said that I can have dark chocolate every day, so that means it’s healthy, right?

Current Color: I saw this olive green sweater dress on Ruche, and now not only am I in love with olive green but I desperately need a sweater dress.

Current Drink: Just see my previous post to read all about Mix1 protein drinks, my current obsession.

Current Food: These are my staples lately: eggs, beans, hummus, and fruit. I think I might die without them.

Current Favorite Show: I had a dream the other night that I was on Dancing With the Stars. I constantly wonder how I would actually do on that show if I could be taught to dance. I think I might do alright if I could get over my embarrassment.

Current Wishlist: I started working on my Christmas list, and since I usually only get one major gift each year I’m trying to decide between upgrading to an iPhone 4, an e-reader, or a nice pair of riding boots. What would you choose?

v. v.

Current Needs: I really need to learn to cook. Maybe what I should ask for for Christmas is cooking classes, because I can never motivate myself to do it on my own. I also need to get back in to exercising other than running. As we are finally able to focus on getting pregnant again, I’m putting a hold on running just to be safe. I want to start swimming, biking, and doing yoga instead.

Current Triumphs: Well, we were finally able to do an IUI last week. After two years of infertility it was a relief to actually do something like that. We won’t know any results for another week and a half, but no matter what happens I’m in a better place mentally now that we have reached this point. I’m extremely hopeful that an IUI will work for us one of these times.

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Medical bills! My goodness, they keep rolling in. If it’s not for David’s hospital stay, it’s for infertility testing and treatment or annoying things like the dentist. One of these days we’ll get them paid and get back on top of our finances.

Current Celebrity Crush: Y’all, I am sorely lacking in celebrity crushes. They are so much fun to have, and yet I can’t think of one. Who do you recommend?

Current Indulgence: Can I tell you how much I love being a Nintendo ambassador? Every now and then they send me fun stuff to tell you about. Last week the new game “Kirby’s Epic Yarn” was delivered out of the blue and made my day. My brother-in-law, the video game freak, was there when I opened it. He actually had been watching trailers of it and was totally jealous. So I’ve been playing it almost every day since then, but I’m definitely going to pass it on to him once I beat it. :)

Current Blessing(s): I feel like I’ve been granted a supernatural dose of patience. For the most part I’m not going crazy waiting to get pregnant, or to pay off our debt, or for our next vacation. I don’t know if it will last, but for now I’m basking in God’s provision for today.

Current Outfit: Oh, I haven’t showered yet today so I’m still in a cotton tank top and shorts. Nothing to see here, move along please.

Current Excitement: I start my new job next week! I’m looking forward to riding the bus to work again, calmer days, meeting my new coworkers, making weekend plans, and seeing what my new routine will be like.

Current Link: For gluten-free stuff, I’m completely depending on Living Without. For local, organic food sources (like Thanksgiving turkey!) I’m using Local Harvest. And for laughs, have you seen Very Mary Kate?

Happy November!

Current Book(s): I started reading Waiting For Daisy a couple of weeks ago and I’m still only about halfway through. That doesn’t mean that it’s not good, it’s just that I haven’t been in the mood to read recently. With only three months left to reach my goal of 50 books this year and 19 books to go, things are looking bleak.

Current Playlist: Lately I’ve been listening to the classical music station in the car when I drive. It helps keep me calm while also distracting me from my anxious thoughts.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: There are things I’m ashamed of, like how showering every day has become more of a guideline, but none of them are really pleasures.

Current Color: I suppose I’m into grey right now. Grey skies mean less heat, and I have the most comfortable grey sweater that I can’t wait to be able to wear.

Current Drink: Just water and V8 Fusion, baby. Here’s to getting healthy.

Current Food: First I decided to go mostly vegetarian, next my nutritionist advised me to go gluten-free, and finally I discovered that I’m most likely lactose intolerant. Food is a difficult subject right now, but there are two things that will always be part of my diet, and that’s eggs and beans. Yum.

Current Favorite Show: I’m so proud of myself that I finally caught up with Gossip Girl. Now I can follow along on Twitter when the new shows come out. I haven’t been able to do that in years!

Come to think of it, THIS could be considered my guilty pleasure.

Current Wishlist: I don’t mind having to cut corners, but I hate having debt hanging over my head and I wish I could make it disappear. We will get there, it’s just going to take a few years of hard work.

Current Needs: I need to relearn how to handle stress, and I need to rediscover the happiness I used to have. It’s there, I know.

Current Triumphs: Here is where I attempt to be positive! I’ve dealt with some things at work recently that I am proud of myself for, but I can’t talk about yet. I played a soccer game this weekend and I didn’t feel like I was going to die, so that must mean my running efforts are paying off. The house isn’t a wreck at the moment which is kind of a miracle. And I have successfully cut back on the number of responsibilities in my life so that I can function like a human being.

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Ugh, depression. Or is it hormones? Or some kind of chemical imbalance? Or just stress?

Can this be true, please? Because I would totally cheat on my gluten-free diet for it.

Current Celebrity Crush: None at the moment, but check back next month once I’ve seen a few more movies. :)

Current Indulgence: Ice cream, even though it makes me sick. How sad!

Current Blessing(s): David times a thousand. As soon as he was able to walk again he started helping me do all the things that he can, like chores and housework and taking care of the dogs. Plus, he keeps me hoping and stays positive when I don’t think I have it in me.

Current Outfit: Some comfy lounge pants and my favorite t-shirt ever. At my 10-year high school reunion this past weekend I saw that I was wearing it in the class panoramic picture and that made me happy.

Current Excitement: Awhile back I thought that it would be possible for David and I to sneak away to Kansas to visit friends and attend my college’s homecoming this coming weekend, so I asked off of work for three days in a row. Then David convinced me that a trip right now just isn’t possible for us, but the bright side is that now I have a long weekend coming up!

Current Link: Haven’t been spending much time online lately, so I don’t have anything to share. But feel free to pass along anything you find that is happy/funny/inspiring!

Happy October. :)

Current Book(s): Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien. I am loving it, and if I’m not careful I will soon be re-reading The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings even though I have way too many other things on my list. I am also listening to The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale on audiobook by my brother-in-law’s recommendation, and it is excellent.

Current Playlist: Right this very second I am listening to my Over the Rhine station on Pandora and “Little Did I Know” is playing. This station is beautiful, mellow, and melodic. I highly recommend it.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: The amount of chocolate I’ve eaten lately.

Current Color: I’m working on the front room of our house, and the colors there are white and soft blues and greens.

Current Drink: I’m happy that I’ve discovered V8 Fusion, especially the strawberry/banana flavor. A full serving of fruits and vegetables in every glass! Perfect to disguise the taste of the gigantic, bitter pills I have to take now!

Current Food: This past month I’ve sort of gone vegetarian, and while that is a topic for another day, lately I’ve been enjoying lots of soup and pasta until I muster the courage to give more adventurous cooking a shot.

Current Favorite Show: While I wait for the second half of season one of Glee to come out on DVD, and until Dancing With the Stars makes its premiere, David and I are thoroughly enjoying 30 Rock on Netflix streaming.

Current Wishlist: I want to walk into a thrift or antique store and find the perfect pieces of furniture for my house at an outrageously affordable price. I want a leather couch for our living room so I can say goodbye to vacuuming ours every other day. Getting the dogs to stay off it is a lost cause. Every time I see an ad for Rosetta Stone I have a huge longing for it to teach me Spanish. I’d love to be pregnant soon. I want to visit some of my best friends in other cities. I wish I could justify upgrading to an iPhone 4.

Current Needs: I could still really use some new clothes, but that is not in the budget. We need our money to last us another six weeks until David starts earning a paycheck again. I need to get over my fear and reluctance to cook consistently.

Current Triumphs: I’m quite proud of my attitude toward life lately, and how I’ve been enjoying living in the moment. I’m happy with the amount I’ve been reading, and how I’ve kept up with my Bible reading plan as well after sixty-six days. And I signed up for a 5k, so hopefully I’ll actually start running again.

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Having no money to spare is a blessing and a curse. Several times lately I’ve caught myself thinking, “If only we had a little extra…” and then trying to justify a purchase.

Current Celebrity Crush: Viggo Mortenson in the Lord of the Rings movies. My gosh.

Current Indulgence: I sure have been enjoying getting 10-12 hours of sleep every day I’m off work.

Current Blessing(s): My husband, and how he lets me know that I am loved and appreciated. That my dog Cleo has been showing me that she missed me while I was gone by sleeping next to my head every night and following me around from room to room. Our families, their daily visits, and all the snacks and food they bring. :)

Current Outfit: Oh, just the usual plaid lounge shorts from Gap Body, ribbed tank top, and hoodie.

Current Excitement: Nothing big is coming up, but I’m looking forward to David healing, getting back into running, and going to see Beth Moore tonight. Our church has been meeting in homes all summer and it’s been too long since I’ve been in a worship service. I need it.

Current Link: Want to learn to solve a Rubik’s cube? Here’s the website I used. For the last couple steps, use this website. You’ll be a hit at parties.

Happy September!

Current Playlist: I follow one of my favorite musicians (& celebrity crush), Derek Webb, on Twitter. He recently recommended Thad Cockrell, and I was able to snag his recent record To Be Loved for free on Noisetrade. It’s been a long time since I’ve loved an album this much on the first listen. The album is still available, but only through this week!

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Since I’m basically letting David have control of the TV, we have been watching a lot of “guy” movies that I wouldn’t normally choose…and I kind of like it. Just don’t tell him.

Current Color: I used to never wear any gold jewelry, and I didn’t really like it. But lately I’m seeing more and more of it that catches my eye, and I think I’m ready to try it out.

Current Drink: I still basically only drink water and coffee, but I did have a smoothie the other day: a Caribbean Way from Smoothie King. The best.

Current Food: When David went into the hospital my mom set up a program with the members of our church where someone brings us dinner every other day for a few weeks. This is a fantastic idea! So far we have had barbecue, tortilla soup, Chinese, quesadillas, and a constant stream of brownies.

Current Favorite Show: As I mentioned before, I started Glee and it is my newest obsession. If only I didn’t have to wait two days in between discs!

Current Wishlist: Money-wise, our budget is on lockdown until we get through all these medical bills. It’s actually freeing, because I don’t even have to think about whether I’m going to buy something or not. I just can’t. And since I’m also on a quest to live a simpler life, I’m learning about what I can do without and how to use what I have. All this to say that even though I keep up my wish list, I’m not really thinking about it.

Current Needs: We need to do a better job of saving up money for emergencies. This is going to be a huge priority for us once things calm down a bit. (Also, I’m kind of desperate for summer clothes; I’ve been wearing the same two sundresses over and over.

Current Triumphs: The only thing that really comes to mind is that I asked for, and received, a second week off work. Normally I would have gone back out of guilt, but something was telling me that I needed to cut myself a little slack and relax. I’m very proud that I listened to that something, and a lot happier too. :)

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: The sweltering heat. I’ve been running and playing soccer again, but there is no time to do it when it’s not at least 90 degrees outside. This has led to some serious discomfort, as well as some unneeded headaches.

Current Celebrity Crush: David and I watched Fargo, one of our favorite movies, last night and I was reminded of my love for Frances McDormand. She’s pretty much perfection in everything she does.

Current Indulgence: I’m on vacation! My life is one big indulgence.

Current Blessing(s): David is doing better and better every day. We love each other no matter what, and we are excited about the start of what will amount to a brand new life together. :)

Current Outfit: Shorts, tank top, and hoodie all from Gap Body. I love the clothes there because they are super soft and comfortable.

Current Excitement: I’m looking forward to every single moment of this week. Reading, movies, time with David, going to the spa, taking the dogs to the dog park, and free food!

Current Link: Even though I’m not a mom (yet!), I find Simple Mom incredibly useful. It’s inspiring me to be more of the person I want to be.

Happy August!

Images: * * * *

Even though I didn’t get a long weekend, I had a great two days off including sleeping in, World Cup, frozen yogurt, seeing Eclipse, a night on the town eating at a delicious Italian restaurant and seeing Wicked for the second time with David, an emotional last church service before we change buildings, cleaning house,  grilling with friends & family, my return to yoga, and an early bedtime. What’s not to love?

Bring it on, July!

Current Book(s): The main book I’m reading right now is The Well at the World’s End Vol. II, but yesterday my husband brought home a book called The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell. I’m not counting it as one of my 50 books for 2010 because I skipped most of the background info and am only skimming the 30-day training plan. So far it’s teaching me a lot about how to communicate with our pups, and there are some easy things we can do to start training them. (Although David is already regretting giving me the book because it means he can’t give Eddie bones whenever she wants.)

Current Playlist: My brother got me the soundtracks to In the Heights and Wonderland, and my friend Lauren got me The Punch Brothers’ newest release “Antifogmatic.” These three, along with the Wicked soundtrack, have been on repeat in my car.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Not showering on my days off. Does anyone else regard showering as a huge chore?

Current Color: Loving sunny yellow. I don’t have anything in that color, but I enjoy it whenever I see it!

Current Drink: Iced coffee. Why didn’t I think of making my own at home before this? The reasons I love it are threefold: 1) I can make a big batch and keep it in the fridge, which cuts down on time getting ready in the morning, 2) when it’s 85 degrees already when I wake up, I’m not really craving a hot drink, and 3) it’s delicious!

Current Food: Lots and lots of cereal, but what else is new?

Current Favorite Show: My youngest brother is a TV aficionado, and he’s made it his goal to watch everything that’s good. He makes me feel like I’m missing out on a whole lot, but the truth is I just don’t have the time. Right now I’m still just watching Gossip Girl from Netflix and The Bachelorette.

Current Wishlist: Let’s get superficial, shall we? I want a subscription to House Beautiful, a dock with speakers for my iPhone, a pair of Toms shoes, some pretty necklaces, a few summer dresses, Rosetta Stone for Spanish, to want to cook, & to actually be interested in photography.

Current Needs: An organic face wash that I can use on my eyes that doesn’t make me break out, a case for my phone, for the refinance on our house to go through, & motivation to exercise.

Current Triumphs: Oh goodness. Let’s see. I’ve started a Bible reading plan that has me reading ten chapters a day, and I’m two days into it. I know it’s premature to consider this a triumph, but at least I started, right?

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: The process of refinancing our house. Don’t even get me started!

Current Celebrity Crush: I know USA is out of the World Cup, but I just think Clint Dempsey is so cute. Maybe because he reminds me a bit of my husband. :)

Current Indulgence: Sleeping in till at least 9 a.m. on my days off, grazing on M&M’s all day long, and not making any plans besides lounging around.

Current Blessing(s): I have a great job working for an amazing company that still gives out annual performance-based raises. I just got mine, and it was the maximum possible. :)

Current Outfit: Rolled up striped pajama pants & a stretchy tank from Gap.

Current Excitement: At the end of the month we have a two week vacation planned to the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina! We’ll be staying in a cabin in the mountains with David’s family, hiking up Mt. Mitchell, whitewater rafting, visiting the Biltmore Mansion, taking a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, and as a bonus stopping in Nashville to see friends and in Columbia, SC to visit my aunt & uncle. I can hardly wait!

Current Link: Lately I’ve been desperate for new music, which is why I was so excited to discover Stereomood. Just click on what mood you’re in, and a playlist pops up. I’ve been listening to “Asleep On My Feet” while I write this (since that’s what my dogs are doing), and it’s been the perfect ambient background music.

Happy July!

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Current Playlist: Since I’m back to running a few times a week I thought I’d share some of my favorite running songs.

• Christy Nockels – “Marvelous Light”
• Katie Herzig – “Hologram”
• Matt Redman – “You Never Let Go”
• Third Eye Blind – “Wounded” and “Semi-Charmed Life”
• Coheed and Cambria – “A Favor House Atlantic” and “Blood Red Summer”
• Jimmy Eat World – “Bleed American”
• The Killers – “Mr. Brightside”
• ‘N Sync – “Pop”
• Queen – “Don’t Stop Me Now”
• Scissor Sisters – “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’”

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: I was racking my brain trying to think of one, and then I realized that I’m sitting in my husband’s recliner in my pajamas watching my third episode of Gossip Girl. So there you go.

Current Drink: I don’t drink this plain, but chocolate soy milk is perfect in coffee.

Current Food: I discovered dark chocolate covered acai berries. Upside: they are delicious and full of antioxidants. Downside: way too easy to overeat!

Current Favorite Show: Not really into anything right now except The Bachelorette. It’s just plain entertaining.

Current Wishlist: We’re buying a dining room table from Chelsea this weekend, and we’ll need some chairs. Also curtains, shelving, and wall art, obviously:

Current Needs: We really need to get Oliver fixed. Seriously. Need. Seriously.

Current Triumphs: Last weekend we were so understaffed at work that I had six patients, was in charge, and had multiple chemos to give. I was so proud of myself that I got it all done on time and without having a breakdown. Also, I consider it a triumph that my manager asked me to work 16 hours yesterday and I said no.

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: The oppressive summer heat has come, making it difficult to run or walk the dogs at any time other than the hour after or the hour before sunrise.

Current Celebrity Crush: Y’all know I love soccer, right? And the World Cup is starting this month, only the greatest sporting event ever (in my opinion). So I only thought it fitting to feature some gems on the U.S. Men’s team.

First up, Carlos Bocanegra, defender, 31 years old:

Benny Failhaber, midfielder, 25 years old:

And although he barely didn’t make the national team’s final roster, Brian Ching is still the hometown hero of the Houston Dynamo:

See? Soccer’s not so bad, is it?

Current Indulgence: Buying that dining room table even though we didn’t plan for the purchase. It was just too perfect for us to pass up.

Current Blessing(s): A clean house and air conditioning. CAN I GET AN AMEN.

Current Outfit: I’m wearing some Gap Body sleep shorts and a ribbed tank top. So comf.

Current Excitement: The front half of our house is coming together, and my in-laws planted some flowers in our backyard. I have this weekend off, which I always look forward to, and in two weeks David and I are going camping with some of our siblings. I’m excited about that, but also hoping it won’t be a complete disaster!

Current Link:I spent some time yesterday signing up for free samples from this website. In 6-8 weeks I’ll be getting a bunch of random stuff in the mail.

Happy June!

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Images: ♥ ♥