Currently...

Counting down the days until Mom and I leave for Europe (only 15 after today).

Reading Palisades Park by Alan Brennert.

Looking forward to the World Figure Skating Championships next week.

Singing along to my two favorite songs of the moment: "Happy" (Pharrell) and "Let It Go" (Idina Menzel).

Enjoying learning more about my Silhouette Cameo (I finally was brave enough to try it last weekend).

Planning to see the new Veronica Mars movie tomorrow after work.

Getting into March Madness — so far, my bracket is doing pretty well.

Celebrating that I have internet access again after having to replace my modem earlier this week.

Going on 11 straight days of making 10,000+ steps.

Loving that tomorrow is finally Friday!

Currently...

It's been a while since I've written one of these posts, so I thought today was as good a day as any. Currently, I am...

Looking forward to my Houston shopping trip with Mom and Esther this weekend.

Relating a little bit too much to this parody video of Taylor Swift's "22."

Trying to adjust to the time change last weekend. I don't like having the sun set at 6 p.m.

Living with books stacked here, there, and everywhere. We bought a new bookcase on Saturday, and I don't have everything arranged yet.

Wondering what I've done to make the battery life on my iPhone so awful.

Wishing Thanksgiving received more respect but still feeling drawn to Christmas displays while shopping.

Reading The Mask Carver's Son by Alyson Richman.

Preparing to say goodbye to my office BFF, Michelle. :(

Dreaming of Paris and London and Oxford.

Around here...

Watching the season finale of Dancing with the Stars.

Wondering what I will do with my time now that almost all of my TV shows have finished for the year.

Interested to read this article about Judy Blume, one of my favorite authors when I was growing up. Hoping I can catch Tiger Eyes in the theater (or on DVD).

Rereading A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute. (I just finished reading The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier.)

Excited to be finished with handbells practices until the fall. The spring concert was yesterday afternoon, and all four songs seemed to go well (even the "foot-stomping" one).

Enjoying the blackberry-peach cobbler Mom made yesterday.

Trying to stay cool in this 90+ degree weather.

Looking forward to spending Memorial Day weekend at home.

Thinking and praying for the people affected by the tornadoes in Oklahoma.

Happy Monday, everyone!

Currently...

Listening to the Les Misérables soundtrack every chance I get. I burned a CD for the first time in years so I could listen to in my car and loaded it to my iPhone for work listening.

Looking forward to using a new hair dryer. My old one suddenly stopped working last night — fortunately, I had already dried most of my hair.

Relieved the wind has died down from yesterday. It was eerie sitting in our office with the wind whistling outside. Hopefully the fires around town have been contained as well.

Teaching myself InDesign using online videos.

Thinking this sweatshirt would be really cute.

Dreaming of fields of bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes — it's not too long now!

Reading Dreams of Joy by Lisa See.

Still loving Adele's Skyfall. I'm so happy she won the Oscar on Sunday.

Disappointed the South Congress food trailers are closing.

Planning several future blog posts. Hopefully they will move from the "that would be fun to write about" stage to the published stage soon.

Excited that both of my favorite sports (Aly Raisman for gymnastics and Dorothy Hamill for figure skating) will be represented on the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars. Darn you, DWTS — you always pull me back in any time I think about giving you up.

Enjoying this sweet video of babies and puppies.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Currently...

Enjoying the twinkle lights on my Christmas tree (even if the tree seems to have an unlighted "belt" this year)

Watching Downton Abbey reruns on PBS — I'm so excited for Season 3 in January!

Addressing my Christmas cards

Looking forward to spending over a week at home for Christmas this year

Reveling in the fact that I'm finally caught up with Project Life (I haven't been able to say that since maybe sometime in August or September)

Planning to reread A Christmas Carol sometime this December

Making plans to watch several movies with my parents while I'm home (hopefully Les Miserables and Lincoln)

Needing to wrap the presents I've already bought

Hoping the presents I bought online make it in time for Christmas

Appreciating this special season and the true reason behind it

Around Here...

It's been a long time since I've written anything, so I thought I would write about what I'm doing right now.

Around here I am...


Getting super excited for my trip to Seattle (and skating — I'm very excited to attend Skate America for the third time).

Making a few last-minute packing decisions (lots of long sleeves and rain protection).

Preparing things for Sammy while I'm gone. I'm very happy my family will see him this weekend so he won't be alone too long.

Trying to stay out of all the pre-election craziness but still getting sucked in. Every four years I get really excited to follow the debates, learn about the different issues, and passionately support my favorite candidates. Then I go on Facebook (or Twitter) and wish the election were already over.

Learning more and more about my new iPad. It's been fun to try out some of the different apps and download my first book on the Kindle app. I'm looking forward to traveling with it for the first time tomorrow.

Staying ahead at work (this one is not a joke). For some reason, it's like feast and famine with my job — I'm either pulling-my-hair-out busy or frantically looking for tasks to complete.

Enjoying the new season of Dancing with the Stars more than I thought I would. I'm Team Shawn, even though I'd like someone new to win this time.

Attempting to play four-in-hand at handbells. My bells are much more active this year, and I haven't quite gotten the hang of everything yet.

Using my oscillating fan to block out the noise from next door. If it's not fighting, it's something else, and the something else makes me miss the fighting. Awkward.

Reading The Technologists by Matthew Pearl (downloaded on my iPad). I just started it yesterday, but I'm enjoying the descriptions of Boston so far.

Hoping the Longhorns can turn their season around this weekend. If not, I'm looking forward to basketball season.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Currently...

Thrilled I found a pair of dress pants at Banana Republic for $10 this weekend (They were marked down from $98!)

Trying to mark a few things off my ever-present to-do list

Impatiently counting down the days until the start of the Olympics in London

Celebrating the upcoming Olympics by rereading Harry Potter

Organizing my office/spare room

Looking forward to Paul and Esther's visit to Austin in August

Staying busy, busy, busy at work (but not quite as busy as before vacation)

Waiting for some cookies to cool (I used the recipe here.)

Planning to put the finishing touches on my Week in the Life album this week

Watching HGTV while surfing the internet

Loving life