Articles I Currently Like {1}

All links work as of 03/23/2011

5 Articles I currently like, mainly because they make me think. 

25 Things Every Woman Should Know

Why?: Because these are interesting things. And I appreciate them. My favorite ones are 3 ( If you don’t question what you believe in, you end up making the same mistakes over and over.), 8 (Don’t read blogs written by unhappy, spiteful people.) and 21 (What to say with your "I'm sorry's."). 

NPR's 3 Books to Help Grown Ups Believe Again

Why?: Because, "C.S. Lewis penned his hope for us in the preface to his The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. 'Someday,' he wrote, 'you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.'" 

Girls Gone Wise: Name Change 

Why?: I'm not necessarily a fan of this article, but it is thought provoking. It lays out the reasons why (from a Biblical standpoint) women should change their names when they marry. 

Designing Presentations

Why?: Because I hate, despise, even loathe bad presentations. They hurt my eyes and my brain. And I stop paying attention very quickly.

What is it about 20-Somethings?

Why?: This post pissed me off. And then it made me think. And write. And it pissed me off again. But it's still a good read, if only to make you wonder what you're doing. 

#reverb10 -- day 15

Remember #reverb10? And, my first one?

Here's today's:
December 15 – 5 Minutes
Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010. 

Even the husband did it!

Here we go!

traveling: chicago, colorado, indiana and around nebrasaka

apple picking

dancing in our new apartment with records on

learning how to cook more than 5 dishes, and cooking better

moving to a beautiful home and decorating

chet being hired at his dream place

me getting an assistantship

starting to write again

buying my new camera

making my way through being a wife

moving church locations

having fun people visit us

learning about gardens

finding music i love

creating my life list

baking

becoming more authentic and vulnerable

making new friends

snow! lots of it! 

having four seasons

completeing my first year of graduate school

starting my second year of ph.d. school

learning to do more with less money

having money to do more with 

completing something on my life list 

and, my five minutes are up.  What are the things you want to remember about 2010 in 5 minutes? 

Action and Life Lists

Today's reverb is: Action.  More specifically, what action are you going to take to move you to the next step.

Which I just think is the absolute perfect way to share my life list with all y'all.

See that new page that's opened up at the top? It's this one.

It's my life list.  It's things which I want to do before I go. It's how I want to enjoy my life.

I've kept something similar in my head and on scraps of paper, in conversations and in journals, but I've never compiled it all in one place.  So here it is.  My life list will grow and change, though, as I grow and change.  Because, I am only twenty-three, and I still have lots of life left in me and lots I want to do with it.

As I complete goals, I'll write about them, because that's just fun. 

So, what is my first step to something on this list? Hmm? Well, I am going to work on a wedding quilt over the break.  That feels just a little bit anti-climatic, but it's true.  And it's a fantastic way to start my list.  Because, really, I can't just go fly a plane without taking a few lessons, right?

What's something you want to do, dear internets?

P.S. I'm this {} close to being done for the semester. Yay!

Thanksgiving v.2010

Happy Thanksgiving from the husband and I to you!

I have lots of wonderful and obnoxious and humouros stories from our anniversary and Thanksgiving, just for you.  You'll like them, I promise.

For now, here is what I am thankful for:
-a husband who is willing to cook delicious pies and food and let me be the official taste-tester and the storyteller
-the ability to travel
-friends abroad and at home
-being a husker and a bearkat
-exploring new cities
-working on my ph.d.
-the excitement of putting up christmas decoration in t-minus 5 days
-family coming up for the holidays
-getting a new camera on black friday! no more black dots!
-health, money, and life

Happy Thanksgiving, dear internets! I know you wish you had this pie in your tummy, mainly because I do.

I heart Nebraska

...and feel quite protective of it, which was really intense the first time I felt that.

I have now lived in Nebraska for a year (today!). And I find myself being oddly protective of it, in a way I never really have been for Texas*.

Most people are quick to rag on Nebraska. It's flat. It's boring. It's cold. It's boring. There's only corn. It's boring.

However, after a year here, I have decided that Nebraska is not a bad place. There's tons to do here, and some really wonderful people. Plus, our hippie side has grown a lot. We live downtown now so we bike/walk to most places. We also shop at local stores, with the exception of the occasional Target trip. As y'all may know, husband works for a local bookstore/coffee shop too, so that definitely keeps us grounded and local. I'm also creating a kitchen/relaxation garden behind our apartment, which has been fantastic to plan out.

I would also argue that being away from Texas has been really good for our relationship. We have a chance to grow our baby family away from our parents and other influences, which is great. Our parents are wonderful, thoughtful, considerate, and kind... but we needed to *grow* and have been able to.

So, all of these things make me very protective of my second home state. When people start ragging on Nebraska (even those who live here) I get quite annoyed, and promptly challenge them.

So, on my anniversary of living here for a year (husband's anniversary is next month), I give you a list of some of the things I love about Nebraska:

The scenery is amazing here**.



And corn! One is never wanting for corn**.



We have multiple farmer's markets, which are all fantastic with amazing stuff. Produce, goods, plants... it's all wonderful



We have some amazing local goodies. Like bookstores, creative outlets, ice cream shops, and eateries.



We have fantastic community events almost every weekend during the summer (um... Special Olympics were hosted here!)... for example, the chalk walk that happened last weekend.



There is an incredible local music scene, like Ember Schrag and The Clawfoot House and Duffy's.



Nebraska also boasts some excellent architecture.




And, of course, we have the Telephone Museum.



I really do love it here. Do I want to stay here forever? Not particularly. I miss Texas something awful, miss my family and friends. But, Nebraska is a fantastic place to be for now.

*I suspect that my protective feelings to don't venture to Texas because Texas does *not* need protecting.
**These photos belong to my friend Dr(!). Sharon Z, but I love them so I borrowed them. All other photos are mine.

ABC's

This was a lot of fun! And, I think you guys should fill out "U" for me!

A is for Age: I'll still be young in December

B is for Body: short and fantastic (remember my challenge for the week?)

C is for Career: perpetual student. loving it

D is for Dad's name: Jerry

E is for Essential items to bring to a party: Chips and Salsa

F is for Favorite song or music: Cop out answer is... totally depends on the day. I wake up with a new song in my head every. morning.

G is for Goof off thing to do: talking with my husband anywhere in the house... or reading.

H is for Hometown: Austin, Texas

I is for Instrument you play: I'm relearning the piano

J is for Jam or Jelly you like: Raspberry Chipotle or Grape!

K is for Kids: Nada

L is for Living arrangement: a fantastic 40's style apartment

M is for Mom's name: Carol

N is for Name of best friend: What a tricky question. Ashton and Lindsey. Plus new best friendships forming

O is for Overnight Stay in a Hospital: tonsils out in '93.

P is for Phobias: well, there's always the failsafe bugs. But seriously? I hate, HATE showers which haven't been used before me.

Q is for Quote you like: Oh man. Let's go with: And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. - Max Ehrmann from Desiderata

R is for Relationship that lasted longest: mine and my parents!

S is for Siblings: a half brother and two brothers-in-law

T is for Texas, ever been? Ummm yes! Miss it all the frickin' time.

U is for Unique trait: you guys should fill this in for me.

V is for vegetable you love: broccoli

W is for Worst traits: umph. being aloof when I first meet people. It gives a terrible impression

X- is for X-rays you've had: wrist when I broke it many, many moons ago.

Y is for Yummy food you make: mmm lots of great sweets

Z is for Zodiac sign: Sagittarius

TV

Husband and I watch a lot of TV. A lot.

Monday: How I Met Your Mother, House, The Closer
Tuesday: Hell's Kitchen, The Good Wife
Wednesday: Morgan Freeman's Show
Thursday: Bones, CSI, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Royal Pains
Friday: Ghost Whisperer, Numbers
Saturday: Catch Up
Sunday: Catch Up

Granted, some of these are summer and some are fall/winter. But still. That's a lot of TV.

Most of this is because we're bored. Last Lent, I gave up TV. Well, I allowed myself an hour a week of TV and one movie.

And it was fantastic.

Husband still watched his ridiculous amount of TV, but it was wonderful to come home and talk.
And eat together.
Read together.
Listen to records (oh yes, real records).
Dance.
Laugh.

But, I also really enjoy TV. I just hate it being on for background noise.

What do you guys watch?

Things in my home...

...which make me happy:

1. Polka Dots in the Bathroom


2. An iPod Dock for internet music


3. Our dining room table which is completely ours


4. Window air conditioning units


5. My grow license plate sign