April and May Books

Oops, I forgot to put together the April books for a while and when I remembered I was already more than half way through May so I decided to wait and put both together...

The last two months haven't been AS productive reading wise as I would have liked them to be. I did get stuck for a couple of weeks on book V in The Dark Tower series and so that brought down my average a little bit. But after that I raced through book VI and then book VII! I'll probably do a post by itself about The Dark Tower series one of these days so I'll leave the rest of that info for later...

Here are the books of April and May

Inspired me to read and do the exercises in The Sound of Paper. Also inspired me to start my Morning Pages.

Sad but true. Not quite what I thought it would be but still decent none the less.

I picked this up at random and was incredibly inspired spiritually. It's funny how I am most spiritually inspired by Latin works.

Started it, stopped for a bit to read some other books, started again and finally finished the first week of May.

Better than Jenna Jameson's memoir I think. Probably didn't sell as many copies though. I remember Jenna's How To Make Love Like a Porn Star selling so many copies to so many types during my Barnes and Noble days.

Skimmed through really, trying to see if there was more information I haven't learned from other sources. I found a couple of helpful tidbits but don't know if I really want to keep the book.

Read through this in a couple of days. Definitely one of my favorites in the series.

So here we are, end of May, beginning of June and 25 1/2 out of 52. I counted the Suze Orman book as half because I didn't read it cover to cover and it wasn't really something that read like a self help, memoir or fiction book does.

What books have you read (and loved) lately?

xoxo

A fact about me: yellow

source

I don't know if I'm going to keep this as a feature or not but I was sitting, painting my nails and had a thought I wanted to share. So I searched for a picture and came over here to tell you a little story about me.

I'll start this off with something a tid bit obvious, I'm a redhead, well, not just a redhead, a strawberry blonde. Being strawberry blonde is a blessing and a curse, I have so many reasons for each but let's just focus on the one that has to do with colors and clothes. 

As a strawberry blonde I look GREAT, like amazing, (and modest) in some colors. Others, not so much. While some colors make my eyes and hair stand out, others make me look monochromatic, or worse, sickly. Guess what one of those colors is... yup, yellow.

Normally I don't stress too much about colors that don't mesh well with my skin and hair. Light pinks are hit and miss, so are some greens, creams and definitely oranges. Most of these colors I don't even find myself attracted to, maybe besides the creams, but my heart doesn't break when I can't wear them. This USE to be the case with any shade of yellow. Not anymore. Lately I've become obsessed with yellow. The obsession might be sticking because I just can't find a shade that looks good on me and as we all know we want what we can't have. All shades that I have tried thus far make me look washed out (like I need to look like I have any less color in my skin!) and like I need to make my next stop the hospital.

I try and try, still touch yellow things at stores, get jealous over gorgeous outfits on blogs that incorporate a pretty yellow sweater or dress... 

I buy yellow accessories that don't sit against my skin. I have a purse that is white and yellow and I just love that thing. It's the closest to yellow I had dared to get.

That is, until today. I, against better judgement and adolescent memories, bought some (cheap) yellow nailpolish. I've been wanting it forever but there were too things holding me back. First, the aformentioned inability to look healthy with yellow against my skin and second, oh second...

So there was this time, way back, I think junior high, maybe a bit before, when I dared tried yellow polish. I was sooo stoked because it was different and sparkly and yellow and happy. I put it on and the next day at school hoped to show it off. You know what the first comment about the color was, "It looks like you peed on your nails."

Really? I look like I peed on my nails?! I'm laughing in my head right now just remembering that comment. I don't even remember who said it or if I was in a bus or on the playground, I just remember being slightly embarrassed but also a little confused as to how my bright sparkly yellow nail color looked like pee. 

Looking back I should have told the kid to go to the doctor if his pee was sparkly or that bright. I, being in junior high, was not quick with comebacks, however, and still not ready to be a trendsetter, so I kept my mouth shut and took the sparkly pee off my fingers. And like all things negative in junior high I kept the mental note to never, ever paint my nails yellow again.

...

With that being said, today is a moment in Corey history. Not only am I wearing a pale enhancer against my skin, I'm doing it wondering if anyone else is going to say I look like I peed on my nails! 

You know what?! I don't care what anyone says! I love my pee colored nails!

xoxo

Monday Mayhem Early Tuesday Morning

Need to spring clean again.

So much more than what he seemed.

I'm adrift and must take this into serious consideration.

curiosity 

a possible background

can't say that I am :/

beauty

xoxo

Week 5: All Downhill From Here, But In a Good Way

Last week's goals:

1. Communicate only positive thoughts with others, friend, acquaintances, strangers.

2. Put $1/day toward credit card. This will increase each week.

3. Finish Dark Tower book VII aka Complete the series!!!

4. Two loads of laundry, trying to keep it simple and realistic.

5. Spend at least 20 minutes per day on any of my projects.

This week's goals were hit or miss. The first one was haaard. I think I've been in the habit of saying negative things so I'm keeping that goal on the list for this coming week. The dollar a day to the credit card happened. I did not finish the Dark Tower book BUT I did have a lot more friend time. I did FOUR loads of laundry and even saw the bottom of my hamper for a second... and most days I spent 20 minutes on a project of some sort. I slacked a bit on morning pages but I do write something every day and these things are always on my mind.

This week I am going to stick with the same topic that Danielle does on Sometimes Sweet. So this week is all about Loving Life and Having Fun. I have to admit, I get in a negative/down trap pretty easily. I've been battling that thing called depression since I was little so being happy and having fun is something really great to focus on.

Here are this week's goals:

1. Continue to communicate only positive thoughts towards others. It takes a while to break a bad habit and positivity needs practice.

2. Write down at least one positive or beautiful thing you experienced/saw each day.

3. Put $2/day toward credit card bill. Because less debt = happier me.

4. Go on two friend dates and one artist date. Always fun and makes me feel less lonely.

5. Go on two 20 minute walks. To invigorate body and mind.

6. Bake vegan pumpkin muffins. Because if I treat my taste buds I treat myself!

Have you started writing down weekly to-do/goals?

xoxo

Biological Clock and Such

Soooo, it is known by family and long time friends that in the past I was vehement about the fact that I was not going to have a baby, EVER. Seriously. I contemplated permanent surgeries and such. I wasn't as devoted as needed to be to get them though, which is good I'll admit, and in the past couple of years more and more baby things have pulled at my heart strings. I can tell you now this makes my parents very, very happy. I think my mother was almost moved to tears. 

What has been nudging my biological clock and softening my heart? Well, first was the pregnancy of Unicorn Sparkle(bottom)s. Then, when the pregnancy came to fruition, Baby Brows melted my heart so much.

Then I lived with the family and started baby sitting Baby Brows a day a week. Oh how that SHOULD have made me think I'd never have a baby, not because he was bad. No, no, he is a doll, but babies are in need all the time and learning to juggle a day, get a shower, take a nap, wake up late, read when you want to, not watch children's shows... those things use to hold the top spots of importance. Baby Brows was too cute not to put as my number one however and from there on I was a lost cause.

Lately I've found more and more baby blogs, or blogs including babies and they just kill me with their cuteness. Seriously. I almost roll over on my bed or off the couch when I see the pictures on these blogs. I've apparently been a closet baby cooer this whole time. 

In honor of this realization and looks to the (somewhat far...5 years maybe) future, I am sharing all of my favorite baby blogs.

Take a look! (Blogs are not in order of favorites, I couldn't pick if I tried!)

TART

Oh how I melt at every post. Their little family is so cute, Rowan is the sweetest name, and the "what we wore" posts are adorable.

Bluebird Vintage

I started reading this blog a good year or so ago (about the same time as A Beautiful Mess) and have been so inspired. More than just a baby blog, there are older kiddos in this family and all of their posts together are so cute! When they announced the pending new addition I was so excited for them. I get really excited by happy news even for people I don't "know" in "real life." Baby bird looks like she is full of smiles all the time. All of them are so stylish too!

Smile and Wave

This little Ruby is not quite a baby anymore but she's made my fear of the toddling years a little less great. I decided when I was watching Baby Brows that the first year would be find by the end of the first toddling year I wouldn't know what to do with the thing, yes I thought thing... then I met a little boy at the beach and knew it would be alright some day. Ruby looks to be quite a ham for the camera and I just love it! Sebastian, who is pretending to be spiderman in the last picture, is also super cute, though again, a tad out of the baby phase. :)

Sometimes Sweet

Another blogger I started reading before she announced her pregnancy. I loved Danielle's honesty and her stories about being a teacher. I also loved her tattoos and the fact that she could teach with all of those tattoos! I mean, of course, but I was surprised that schools allowed that, thank goodness! I thought it might kill my chances.  Anyway, when she announced her upcoming baby I, again, just about died.

Look at this little guy, I swear every picture she posts is of him with this huge grin. How could you not grin/squeal/roll off of the couch in happiness? She has a little of everything on her blog, posts about Henry, posts about her little family as a whole, posts about being a stay at home mom, and so, so much more. 

Adeline's Daddy

I was just introduced to this blog via Sometimes Sweet I think and oh man the cuteness of daddy blogging is so great. Daddy blogging, yes, daddy blogging. So awesome! I don't think I have anything else to say but that. Awesome and adorable.

The Daybook

Oh my goodness gosh. Very recently, like last Wednesday, Sydney announced her little bun (or lemon) in the oven and all I could do it say "I KNEW IT!" Not because I was reading between the lines but for some reason I had happened upon an old post, like months if not years old and it said something about the future when they were to have a baby and for some reason my intuition clicked and mentally said it was to be soon. I'm so excited to read along through her pregnancy and through birth and beyond. Awkward/Awesome Thursdays might just get even more awesome, or awkward. Either way, Congrats!

What baby blogs make you smile? Do you plan on having children? Were you ever against having kids?

xoxo

Addicted: Magazines

Hi, my name is Corey and I am addicted to magazines (among many other things like blankets, chocolate, thrifting, books, etc). I just can't help it, those glossy pages and short paragraphs get me every time. The celebrities I love on the covers makes me weak and I just grab and go without thinking about the price. Or there are the others, no celebrities needed just how-tos and tips for days. I'm not going to lie, I've been addicted for years. Any type of magazine can catch my eye. I will roam at a bookstore, going through the racks more than once to see if there is something I don't have yet or could justify buying with only the tiniest bit of interest in the subject matter. Seriously, I know it's a problem. My overflowing magazine holder is telling me just that. But what do I do, buy more. They are my pint of ice cream on sad days, they are my splurge on sunny days, they are on my mind every time I do into a store that might have them and I'm hooked. 

I've recently signed up for a Ready Made subscription and I've had a Bust subscription a couple years ago but I have yet to sit down, gather money and get subscriptions to other magazines I get without fail every month. In the picture above I have all that are with me, whole, right now. 

Whole? you ask. Yes, whole. When I am done reading a magazine (and sometimes even before that) I tear out the pictures that I like, the articles that I want to reread, and any other inspiration I might find. I've literally been doing this since junior high if not before. I definitely hoarded magazines for a while, I would have stacks and stacks but soon I realized that this was not a space efficient way to house the parts I wanted and so the collage-making and binder-keeping began. Yes, I have a binder...

Before I get into my current favorites I want to take a moment of silence to commemorate the magazines that are no longer with us...

These two lovely magazines kicked the bucket a while back (jump many years before jane) and I still have moments of sadness for the loss.

But onward and upward as they say...

My All Time Favorites:

Bust, Ready Made, Real Simple and Lula.

New Favorites:

Artful Blogging, Inked Girls

My grab and go's:

Self, Glamour, The Nest, Nylon

Desperate for a glossy paged fix:

Lucky, Cosmo, Elle, Vogue, Spin, AP, Nylon Guys... who am I kidding, almost anything else...

Yup... and then recently I added a couple of tattoo magazines, well that was just this one time for a collage, but seriously, I can't keep my hands off! I'm getting better about picking up the magazines in the Desperate category. My semi recent breakdowns were Cosmo with Hayley Williams on the cover and Lucky with Zooey Deschanel on the cover. Seriously two of my most favorite famous people ever. 

So there it is, my first posted addiction! Phew, I feel a little better already. I need to make a rule for myself or something. Like, no new magazines until the old ones are all read and taken apart for pieces. 

What is/are your favorite magazines?

xoxo

A list to go back to

Sometimes I feel uninspired. This should help. 

xoxo