Hello, December! November was another awesome month. Here's a glimpse of how I spent the month!
Music:
Million Years Ago by Adele - For the second month in a row, I'm sharing a song from Adele's new album (which is amazing). This live performance shows how incredibly talented she is!
Books:
I was thinking that this was a lighter reading month for me but then I went back and counted and realized I read 8 books!! My favorites were Fates and Furies and Did You Ever Have a Family, both of which were nominated for the National Book Award.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates - 3 stars
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff - 4 stars
Rising Strong by Brene Brown - 3 stars
After you by Jojo Moyes - 4 stars
The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs - 4 stars
The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma - 3 stars
A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan - 4 stars
Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg - 5 stars
Miles:
I focused less on running this month so only logged 53 miles which I am OK with as this is the running off-season for me due to our cold weather and short hours of daylight. My goal for the month was to do 30 workouts in 30 days which I succeeded in accomplishing as in addition to running I went to 12 yoga classes and did 11 strength training sessions for a total of 33 workouts! I expect the next couple of months to look like November did, especially since I decided to treat myself to a 3-month unlimited membership to Core Power Yoga. Yes, it is expensive but since I don't pay for a gym membership for the other 9 months of the year, I figure I can justify it!
Looks:
I only have 1 outfit to share this month as I was lazy about taking photos of my outfits. But the one outfit I am sharing is one I love! It's the dress I wore to Alli's wedding, which I got 50% off at Banana Republic (as usual). Excuse the ugly hotel room background in this photo!
And my last look is my new hairdo! I didn't take much length off but I darkened it for the winter months.
I can't wrap my mind around the fact that it's the holiday season. People are listening to Christmas music and I'm all like - wasn't it just Halloween like yesterday??!?! Nonetheless, Phil and I decorated my tree yesterday and I've done pretty much all of my Christmas shopping, so I may not feel ready for Christmas but I guess I am ready in other ways.
Music:
Blank Space by Taylor Swift - Yep, still loving Taylor Swift's new album. It's really different than her other albums but I love it. This song has a catchy beat!
Books:
This was a strong reading month for me. I read 5 books, bringing my total for the year to 61! My favorites were Us and The Girls from Corona Del Mar. Both are heavier books, but heavy in different ways. I'd recommend Us to fans of his other book, One Day, but I would not widely recommend The Girls from Corona Del Mar as it's different/heavy/a little depressing, but the writing was SO good and I couldn't put it down.
Us by David Nicholls - 4 stars Glimpsing Heaven by Judy Bachrach - 3 stars The Vineyard by Michael C. Hurley - 2 stars The Pieces We Keep by Kristina McMorris - 3 stars The Girls from Corona Del Mar by Rufi Thorpe - 4 stars
Miles:
This was not my best month for mileage. I tweaked something in my foot earlier in the month and then tweaked something in my quad towards the end of the month. And it got too cold for this winter running wimp. So I only ran 45 miles. But I started the Holiday Shred and am happy with how those workouts are going. And I am planning to do the Runner's World Run Streak Challenge, which means running a mile/day every day in December. I've never tried to do something like this so it should be interesting/challenging! Looks:
This was not a strong month for outfits for me. It was cold so I wore a lot of sweaters which aren't exactly the most exciting article of clothing to wear. My favorite outfit was the one I wore to Julia Child Night. I've had the top for years but the pants are new (from StitchFix) and the boots were purchased this fall from Macy's.
Happy Monday! Yikes, life has been busy lately. I think this is the longest I have gone without blogging in quite awhile but I haven't been able to make time for it lately. I've had lots of fun things going on lately but I am hoping that life slows down soon as the pace, at times, feels almost manic... I need to get my act together and write some posts about San Francisco later this week!
Music:
Arms by Christina Perry - I love Christina Perry's voice. I don't know much of her music, but I heard this song when I was shopping for my bike and LOVED it. I bet she'd be great live.
Books:
This was a stronger reading month for me, mostly thanks to the long flights I had to and from California. I read 5 books. My favorite book by far was The Storied Life of AJ Fikry - I highly recommend it!
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - 3 stars (thought I'd like this more than I did)
The Vacationers by Emma Straub - 4 stars
The Church of Tango by Cherie Magnus - 2 stars
Thrive by Arianna Huffington - 4 stars
The Storied Life of A.J.Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin - 5 stars
Miles:
September was a pretty strong running month for me as I ran 106 miles! On top of that I biked 86 miles! I also completed my 6th consecutive month of 30 workouts in 30 days, which means I worked out 183 times in the last 183 days (actually a bit more I think because I think I exceeded my goal a couple of months). I am taking a break from this for a couple of months because I feel like I need to put less pressure on myself to fit in ALL THE THINGS but it's been a great and very motivating challenge for me.
Looks:
I really had to reach to come up with some looks to post. It's that transitional time when you are sick of your summer wardrobe but it's not quite cool enough to pull out the fall wardrobe. Both of these looks are things I've owned for years, but they are good staple looks.
This outfit is pretty boring but the scarf makes it a little more interesting/fashionable.
I've owned these pieces for years but I still get compliments every time I wear this outfit. I heart the color mustard And the condiment..
Wow, it's June. May was a blur, but a good month for me as it included moving home, starting a new job, and moving into my apartment. My first week at work went well - more on that later this week!
Music:
Alive by Krewella - My favorite spin instructor would play this song towards the end of class. It has a good beat and I'd always get a second wind when she played it. It's probably teeny bopper pop music but I don't care. I really like it.
Sing by Ed Sheeran - I adore Ed Sheeran. His new song has a different feel than the music on his last album but I really like it!
Books:
You know how I said I didn't read as much as I thought I would last month? I guess I made up for that this month because I read A LOT. I read 9 books (one was an audio book we listened to on the drive but I am counting it). It's tough to pick a favorite because I read so many excellent books. And There wasn't anything I didn't really like!
From Here to Paris by Cris Hammond - 5 stars
The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian - 3 stars
Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen - 4 stars
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent - 5 stars
The Beach House by Georgia Bockoven - 3 stars
Return to the Beach House by Georgia Bockoven - 3 stars
Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer - 4 stars
Paris by Edward Rutherfurd - 4 stars
Vintage by Susan Gloss - 4 stars
Miles:
May was a strong month for me in terms of workouts. It helped that I did not work for most of the month. Moving, settling in and starting a new job definitely threw a wrench in my workout schedule, but I managed to run 57 miles, hike 29, and I did 31 workouts in 31 days (although the last 2 days I counted 'moving tasks' as workouts which might be cheating but I also counted things like hiking 8.4 miles over 5.5 hours as one workout so I think it all balances out). I'd like my running mileage to be higher but I don't think that will happen until July as I am doing a 4-week Summer Shred that starts today which will be more focused on strength training. I'm excited to try this Shred, though, especially since Amber is doing it as well!
Looks:
Oh boy. This was not a month for new looks. I pretty much lived in work out clothes. The only outfit I took a picture of is the outfit I wore on my 2nd day of work which is really not very interesting but is a typical "Lisa look" - i.e. Banana Republic, simple colors.
Not going to lie - I'm happy March is over. It wasn't necessarily bad month but it also wasn't great. But the good news is that I hit my year mark a week from today. Alleluia. I can't wait to be at the point where I will have no financial obligation if I resign!!!
Music:
Girls Chase Boys by Ingrid Michaelson - Ingrid Michaelson is one of my all-time favorite artists and she has a new album coming out next week. This is the first single that was released and while it's different than her other songs, I really like it!
Books:
It was another strong month of reading for me as I read 7 books. It's was surprising that I read that many because when I think back on the last month, I don't think of it as being a strong reading month for me but clearly it was. My least favorite book was The Rent Collector. It's hard to pick a favorite as I really enjoyed Somewhere in France, The Perfume Collector, The World We Found, and Tolstoy and the Purple Chair and would highly recommend all 4!
The Rent Collector by Camron Wright - 2 stars Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson - 4 stars The Collector of Dying Breaths by M.J. Rose - 3 stars The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro - 4 stars Confessions of a Paris Party Girl by Vicki Lesage - 4 stars Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch - 5 stars The World We Foundby Thrity Umrigar - 4 stars
Miles:
Do you know how wonderful it is to actually have miles to add up??? My total for the month was 60 miles which I am happy with. I see my Rheumatologist tomorrow and if she clears me to train for a half, that number will be increasing but even if she says no (I doubt she will) I'm just happy I am able to run. Period. Besides running, I returned to strength training and took some classes at the gym, like Body Pump which is my favorite class, and I took some spin classes which I have a love/hate relationship. I love how great of a workout it is, I kind of hate it when I'm in class.
Looks:
I actually have some looks to share this month but most of them are more 'wintery' than I'd like. I am SO over my winter clothes. We had an unseasonably cold month of March but the weather has started to warm up. Yea!
First outfit is from Banana Republic (as usual). I actually bought the skirt with a 50% coupon in November but then struggled to figure out what to pair it with. The turtle neck works OK but is not great. You can't tell in this photo but the skirt has tiny polka dots on it and a bow at the waist so is pretty cute.
I bought this skirt at White House Black Market when I was in Austin in February and got a great deal on it. It's not very slimming due to the horizontal stripes but I don't really care. I love stripes so I love the skirt. Let me tell you, though. The sales rep tried to pair with a striped top and a belt with a bow on it. The combination was SO ugly. I actually bought the top she had paired with it but would never wear the two pieces together.
I also bought these pants in Austin as they were on clearance at BR for like $15 I think? They are a fun orange color. You all know how much I love cropped colored pants so I couldn't pass these up. Funny story about this outfit, though... I wore it to my work conference in Florida. I went to this conference last year but it was a blur because I was moving in 3 weeks/studying for the CFA/about to lose my mind, so I didn't remember the dress code. Turns out the dress code was VERY dressy as it was mostly men and they were all in dark suits! I sure stood out! But serious, why would you wear a dark suit to a conference in Florida in March? C'mon people.
*insert cliche comment about how freaking fast the month went*
October was a really great month for me and I have high expectations for November!
Music:
Your Man by Five For Fighting- I really love the new album by Five for Fighting and this is definitely one of my favorite tracks from the CD. I like that the score of this song is piano-heavy.
Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus - Ok, I really dislike Miley Cyrus and her attention-seeking antics. That said, I do really like this song. I just pretend she isn't the person singing it when I hear it so that I can continue to like it.
Books:
Well October was another strong reading month as I read 8 books. I also hit my goal of reading 52 books this year - way ahead of schedule! Once again, instead of recapping the books, I'll share the rating I gave them on goodreads.com. The best book I read this month was Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.
Her Fearful Symmtry by Audrey Niffenegger - 3 stars Life Sentences by Laura Lippman - 2 stars Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani - 3 stars The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown - 3 stars The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom - 3 stars Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - 4 stars Arranged by Catherine McKenzie - 3 stars Lean in by Sheryl Sandberg - 5 stars
Miles:
Yep, still not running. Still no plan for when I can return to running. I am still biking, though, and started taking spin classes at the end of the month, which I am loving! I really hope that my RA pain is completely under control by the end of November, but I keep saying this every month and it has not happened yet, so I probably should stop saying "maybe next month" because I just set myself up for disappointment. Anyways, while I am not running any miles, I did wrack up a lot of airline miles as I flew to Minneapolis, then to Chicago, then back to Charlotte and also did a day trip to Columbus.
Looks:
I didn't wear any new outfits this month or anything I really loved, but I did buy a new coat! I know, I know. I don't really need more coats, but I could not resist. I tried this on while shopping at the end of September and could not stop thinking about it. And then Banana Republic sent me a 40% coupon which sealed the deal. I ordered it and it arrived while I was in Chicago. I adore it. I know I will wear it to Paris, on trips home, and occasionally when it gets cold enough in Charlotte!
I am going to go ahead and say September was my best month of the year so far. It certainly wasn't without its challenges as I started my RA drug and still have RA pain, but it included trips to Pittsburgh and back home, and a fun day of hiking!
Music:
What If by Five for Fighting - I love this band so am so happy they have a new album out. This song was a pre-release that wasn't on the album. I love the message of the song which is - what would happen if we put ourselves in our people's shoes? I love this band because their songs tend to be piano-heavy.
Wake Me Up by Avicii - I love the beat of this song. I think it's virtually impossible not to tap your foot along to it. It's another song I relate to, which shouldn't be surprising given the chorus: "So wake me up when it's all over, when I'm wiser and I'm older. All this time I was finding myself and I didn't know I was lost."
Books:
This was the month where I read ALL the books - 10 in fact. That is a crazy amount of books for me to read, but I had 2 mostly unplanned weekends in Charlotte and lots of flights, 2 of which had layovers. I am going to skip the book recap and will instead tell you how many stars I gave each book on Goodreads. If you want to read my thoughts on these books, check out my Goodreads page!
Looking for me by Beth Hoffman - 4 stars Together Tea by Marjan Kamali - 5 stars The Best of Us by Sarah Pekkanen - 2 stars The Wednesday Daughters by Meg Waite Clayton - 2 stars And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini - 5 stars Carly's Gift by Georgia Bockoven - 3 stars The Last Camelia by Sarah Jio - 3 stars The History of Us by Leah Stewart - 4 stars Daring Greatly by Brene Brown - 5 stars Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen - 3 stars
Miles:
Well I am not running, but I am able to bike, use the elliptical for short work outs, and I did some hiking. I don't track my mileage because unless I am running, the miles just don't mean anything to me, honestly. I doubt running will be part of my month in October but maybe by November I'll be back at it! I just need my RA pain to really go away before this happens.
Looks:
I had actually had quite a few looks I liked this month - which is probably because it was the first month that I spent out of the boot and the tennis shoes only restriction was lifted mid-month! It's a lot easier to feel good about how I look now that I'm not schlepping around a boot or limited to tennis shoes only!
First look - an oldie, but a goodie. I love that mustard color!
2nd look - my new favorite dress, which I got at White House Black Market. I am going to commit a fashion faux pas and wear this dress again this coming weekend at my cousin's wedding because I love it and it's one of the few dresses I own that isn't "businessy."
3rd look - I usually stayed away from skirts, but I am starting to like them again. I like the cleaness of this look, both of which are Banana Republic pieces I've owned for 3+ years. That is case and point for why I shop there. Their clothes last for SO LONG.
4th look - Another dress from White House Black Market which is super comfy! I love that is has sleeves as I get so cold in my office which feels like an ice box. Also, Lori and I managed to get a photo together when we had dinner last week! Yea! It was SO good to catch up with her!!
I've gotten a couple of questions about whether or how or why I've lost weight lately. I have lost weight, partially due to joining weight watchers this summer and honestly, due to stress. I'm not a big fan of the scale so I only weigh myself when I attend WW meetings, but I am happy to say I'm back at a weight where I feel comfortable in my body and good about myself. Being active again is really helping, too.
Wow. August. I just can't even. It was quite the month. The joy column holds passing the CFA, hosting Heidi, and visiting Alli. The sorrow column holds losing my aunt, my RA diagnosis, and the passing of Phil's father (not my story to tell so I have not talked about it here, but it has been hard to not physically be there for him, as a friend, during this challenging time. I feel helpless trying to support him from afar.).
I'm hoping the sorrow column is shorter in September.
Music:
Hercules by Sara Bareilles - I'll be honest - it took awhile for Bareilles's newest album to grow on me. Now I am obsessed. One of my favorite songs is Hercules - it's about falling on your knees and asking for some strength so obviously it hits home with me, especially the last stanza: "This is my darkest hour, a long road has led me out here, but I only need turn around to face the light, and decide flight or fight." You better bet I will be choosing fight.
Eavesdrop by The Civil Wars - The Civil Wars is the newest band that I am OBSESSED with. I was introduced to them thanks to Becky's post. I loved the song she posted so much, I decided to buy their new album - and their old one, too. Both albums are amazing. Their music is just hauntingly beautiful. I was very sad to hear that they have had a falling out recently and cancelled their tour dates. I hope they can resolve their difference as this is a duo that I HAVE TO see live.
Disarm by The Civil Wars - Yep, I am posting a 2nd song by this band. I couldn't pick between Eavesdrop and Disarm. Plus this is a live performance so you can tell how talented they are. You may recognize this as a cover of a Smashing Pumpkins song. Now what are you waiting for? Go buy this album.
Books:
My reading was really spotty this month and with the exception of one book, I didn't really "love" most of what I read. I felt like I had a hard time focusing on books (which is understandable) but I still managed to read 4.
A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash - I had a hard timing rating this book, but overall I would give it 3.5 stars. The first half sort of drug for me and I had a hard time getting into it, which may be because I had a lot of distractions in my personal life (I was reading this when I was home for CFA results/my aunt's funeral). But I really enjoyed the 2nd half of the book and would still recommend it to others.
The Journey Home by Michael Baron - This was a fast, easy read but was sort of 'meh' for me. Not a bad book but not a great read for me.
Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed - I will be the first to admit that I did not love Strayed's best seller, Wild, but I loved this book. It's a collection of her responses to advice columns and while you may not relate to the questions posed, each response contains some nugget of wisdom. I could quote several of her responses, but I will save that for blog posts as they are far too lengthy for me to do them justice here. Definitely a great great read.
Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler - This is one of my least favorite books I have read this year. The premise is that the main character, Delia, just up and walks away from her family in the middle of their beach vacation. She has 3 kids, 1 of which is still in high school. I guess I just could not relate to a woman who just walks away from her family for no real, compelling reason (at least not one that she could articulate IMO). Sometimes I can enjoy a book despite the fact that I don't like the main character - that was not the case with this one.
Miles:
Miles. Ha. Well, I could add up my airline miles instead of running miles. I flew to Minneapolis, El Paso for my New Mexico trip, and NYC.
I honestly don't know when I will be logging miles on the road again, but maybe by next month I can be back in the pool swimming laps and doing water aerobics. We will see how my body does with the drugs I will start this week.
Looks:
Once again, I'm sharing 2 looks I purchased this summer (on sale) from Banana Republic. I think they could maybe give me a stipend of some sort for the marketing I do for them. I'm just saying.
1st look: color blocked dress. And the stupid boot. And a tennis shoe on the healing foot. I know, I am nothing but stylish. I like this dress, but because of the placement of the color blocks, it makes me look like I have hips - which I am not used to as I have more of a 'ruler/boyish' frame. But I do love the color combo.
2nd look: Casual cotton stripes dress, paired with my favorite stripey bag. And the boot. Woo hoo. I said last month that I was hoping to never share another outfit pic that included the boot. I hope that is the case this time. I do love this dress, though. It's really comfortable and I like the different striped patterns - and the fact that it has sleeves as I tend to get cold easily. Oh and hello, Manhattan skyline in the background.
What is the latest band or musician that you've become totally obsessed with?
And just like that, we are turning the calendar to a new page today. I'm just shy of being 1/3 of the way through my year commitment to Charlotte. Woo hip. July went fast, August is going to go even faster.
See also: I FLY HOME TODAY!!!!! Yes, ALL CAPS.
Music:
Safe and Sound by Capital Cities - I love this song. It has a great beat and is just a feel good kind of song. I think it speaks, in fun/upbeat way, to something we all want - someone to keep us safe and sound.
Islands by Sara Bareilles - This song is too new to have a live performance version as the album came out last month, but this is my favorite song on the album. It's kind of a sad song, but those are the kind of songs I like best sometimes.
Books:
It was another strong reading month for me as I read 8 books this month. Whoa. Clearly I am still doing A LOT of reading these days!
Fall of Giants by Ken Follett - I learned so much about WWI by reading this book. While it is historical fiction, it is apparently am accurate depiction of the time leading up to the war and the war itself. I really liked all the different characters, even though it was tough to keep them straight initially. It's a lengthy book as the ebook was just shy of 800 pages, but it was worth it. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in this trilogy, which covers WWII.
Indiscretion by Charles Dubow - I really enjoyed this book - you can read my review here.
The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen - This book was a light read, but the characters had enough depth to make it interesting and keep it out of what I would describe as the "chick lit" category. It's about a 29-year old woman who makes a false move at work which sends her career to a crashing halt. She moves back home where her fraternal twin sister (who is darn near perfect) lives, and tries to put her life back together. She learns a lot about herself - and her sister - in the process.
My Foreign Cities by Elizabeth Scarboro - This is a NYT "modern love" column turned memoir about a young couple. The husband has cystic fibrosis and it tells the story of their relationship and the challenges they faced fighting CF. It is a major tear jerker but so well written.
What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen - This was my first Sarah Dessen book and I loved it! I had shied away from her books as sometimes YA character lack depth, but this was not the case with this book. The main character, McLean is a senior in high school, dealing with the divorce of her parents. She moves around a lot due to her dad's job and is constantly reinventing herself. There were several passages that I bookmarked that I could completely relate to. Definitely a great read!
Carry On Warrior: Thoughts on Life Unarmed by Glennon Melton - I loved this book and the message of living a live without armor - which means speaking our truth and showing people how good or not so good our lives really are. I loved her message about life being brutal and beautiful at the same time. She has a great outlook on life and she definitely has gumption. I will eventually do a post on this book as I have too many thoughts to share in this already lengthy post.
The Last letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes- This book is set during two time periods - the 1960s and around 2003. I really liked the story of the couple from the 1960s, but the modern day story rubbed me the wrong way. Both couples had elements of infidelity, but I could sympathize with the couple from the past more than the modern day woman and I just couldn't relate to her plight. But in the end, I did really enjoy the book and had a hard time putting it down.
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - I loved the other Dessen book I read this month so much, so I decided to read another one by this author. I am definitely officially a fan. I just love her characters and find them easy to relate to, even if they are significantly younger than me. The main character, Macy, is dealing with the aftermath of the sudden passing of her father. In an attempt to deal with her emotions and the situation she is in, she strives for perfection and ultimately control of everything else in her life... She finds comfort in routines and plans, which I can relate to as that is definitely a coping skill for me.
Miles:
Well, I am still not running, obviously. I am walking a little bit, the most I have done so far is 3 miles. I am just being very careful as I am completely paranoid I will end up back in the boot. I haven't felt any pain in my foot yet, but it definitely feels very weak, so I am taking it very easy.
Looks:
Another month, another pair of colored pants! I bought these mint green ones at Gap at the end of May when they were having a 40% off sale. Hopefully this is the last 'look' I'll ever have to post that includes das boot!
My posting will be sporadic over the next couple of weeks due to my travel schedule. If I find out that I passed the CFA, I will for sure post that day, so if I am radio silent on August 6th, it's bad news... I hope the month gets off to a great start for everyone!
So June wasn't exactly all sunshine and roses as I went through a break-up and experienced a set back with my foot, but it was still better than May as I enjoyed the sweet freedom of not having to study!! I'm one month closer to CFA results and the year is now officially half over! Woo hoo!
Music:
People Like Us by Kelly Clarkson - Yes, I like Kelly Clarkson's music, don't judge. This song is about rising above crappy situations so it isn't surprising that it's a favorite song of mine these days.
Books:
I had another strong month of reading as I finished 6 books. Not having to study and not watching much tv means I'm reading more than ever these days, and I really enjoyed all of the books I read this month.
The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain - I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down at night as I just HAD to know what happened next. It's the kind of book where you want to reach through the pages and turn the course of the main character's life, as you know the decision she is making is going to have long-lasting, horrible ramifications. In a way, it reminded me of The Light Between the Oceans as it deals with taking something that isn't yours to take.
Beach Music by Pat Conroy - I've got to be honest, this book was a bit of a struggle for me to get through as it was really long and there were SO MANY DETAILS and, in my opinion, insignificant stories shared that didn't necessarily add to the book. But in the end I liked it enough to give it 4 stars. I just think you could have cut at least 200 pages out of the book and it still would have been great. But I am not a huge fan of lots and lots and lots of details...
I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections by Nora Ephron - This was a short, fast, fun read. You could probably read it in the span of 2 hours. It was fun to read about the experiences and thoughts of the mind behind two of my favorite movies, "Sleepless in Seattle" and "When Harry Met Sally."
Making Piece: a Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie by Beth Howard - I really loved this book and am so glad my friend Becky recommended it to me. It's a memoir written by a women who loses her husband very suddenly at a young age. To overcome her grief, she turns to her love of pie, and crust by crust, comes through the grieving process happier, healthier, and more hopeful. My favorite line was: 'you are like a trapeze artist. You have to let go of one swing in order to grab the next one. There is that moment of being airborne in between when you are holding on to nothing, and trusting that the other swing will come toward you. That 'in between' is where you are now, grasping for air.'
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple - Well I read this book in just over 24 hours so that should give some indication of how much I loved it. It is quirky and unlike any other book I've read. It's written from the perspective of Bee, who is the 15-year old daughter of a woman that suffers from a form of agoraphobia. The mom, Bernadette, is hilarious and so quirky, and also so messed up at the same time. But you can't help but love her. It is definitely a unique read but worth checking out!!
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - I loved this book. The subject-matter is heavy as the main character is a care taker for a quadriplegic and it deals with assisted suicide, but the author somehow manages to brings humor into the story and the characters are so likeable. It's definitely a tear jerker so consider yourself warned.
Miles:
I am hoping and praying that eventually I will actually have miles to add up and report in this section but that is so not happening anytime soon unfortunately. :(
Looks:
Please ignore my hair in this photo. All I can say is that I was not built for humidity, and it was horribly humid the day I wore this outfit. It's one of the new outfits I bought at Banana Republic at the end of May with a 40% off coupon. Oh and it was one of the very few days this month that I wasn't in the boot or tennis shoes. Navy and green is my new favorite color combination. I also bought a color-blocked dress in these exact colors.
This May recap is a little late as May got away from me. I have to say, I am SO glad May is over and I am hopeful that June will be a better month.
Music:
Gone, Gone, Gone by Phillip Phillips - I think this song has such a catchy beat.
Books:
I actually read A LOT this month! 7 books! Which is far more than I expected to considering I studied about 105 hours! I guess that is what happens when you have very few social plans on the weekends and aren't into TV. I really liked all of the books I read this month and would recommend most of them if you are looking for a summer read!
Still Alice by Lisa Genova - I reviewed this book in this post. This is probably one of the best books I have read this year.
The Dinner by Herman Koch - This book is being marketed by the "Gone Girl" of Europe. It is very messed up, so I can see why they are marketing the book that way. The entire book encompasses one dinner between two brothers and their wives, with several flashbacks to previous times. The brothers are meeting to talk about a terrible thing that their sons have done and how they should handle it. I will warn you - this book is dark and none of the characters are likable, so if you struggle with books like that, you might want to pass on this one. But it was well written and engaging, and I enjoyed it.
The Keeper of Secrets by Julie Thomas - I will be reviewing this book next month for a TLC tour.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini - I read Kite Runner years ago for a book club and loved it so much, I promptly bought this book when it came out. And then I never got around to reading it! 6+ years after buying it, I finally pulled it off my shelf this month and am SO glad I did! It was such a fantastic read. It is very, very sad, but I think it's important to read books like this so we can understand the tragedies that are happening in other countries, like in this case, Afghanistan. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading Hosseini's 3rd book, which came out last month.
My Year with Eleanor by Noelle Hancock - I really enjoyed this book. It tells the story of Noelle Hancock, a celebrity blogger that has recently been laid off from her job. She realizes that she has been letting her fear about various things in life hold her back, and was inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt's quote of "do one thing every day that scares you." So she spends the year leading up to her 30th birthday facing her fears head on, and learns a lot about herself in the process. I liked how she weaved in pertinent information about Eleanor Roosevelt in each chapter of the book. It made me think about some the of the fears I've have and how I can combat them in the future.
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen - This was another fun, light read. It is set in my new home state of NC, but in a fictional city. My favorite quote from the book was: "Happiness is a risk. If you're not a little scared, then you're not doing it right."
The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck - I would give this book 3.5 stars. I read it because it was available for download through the Minneapolis library (I have yet to get a Charlotte library card... I need to get on that). It tells the story of 4 different women who are connected by a wedding dress. I liked the way their stories were weaves together. There is a Christian element to the story, which I did not mind, but is something to be aware of if you plan to read this.
Miles:
I was able to return to biking part of the way through the month, but did not keep track of my miles. It's not the same as running but it's nice to be able to do some cardio. Here's hoping I can return to running in mid-June.
Looks:
I felt pretty uninspired when it came to outfits this month. Having to wear the boot makes it hard to really want to put forth much effort as no matter what I wear, the boot is what draws the attention. Like it did when I wore this business suit...
I can't say I have high expectations for my outfits for this month either as it's hard to feel fashionable when you are rocking tennis shoes with work clothes... but it is better than the boot! Maybe by July I won't feel like fashion roadkill and will have blog-worthy outfits to post.
So April. Not my best month. It included a cross-country move, finding out I have a stress fracture and torn tendon and to top things off, the business trip home at the end of the month that I was SO looking forward to got cancelled as the client cancelled the meeting. So yah, I'm not sad that April is over. Onwards and upwards, though. I have low expectations for May as it's the last month before the CFA which is always a super stressful month for me. But June? June better be freaking awesome!
Music:
Come Home by One Republic - I love any song that includes piano and strings, so I love this song.
Books:
Well, I work longer hours now as the Charlotte office has a different approach to work/life balance... Add in the fact that I studied 86 hours this month and spent a good part of the month unpacking/settling in and that doesn't leave much time for reading. So it was another somewhat lower reading month for me.
Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans - This was a sequel to a book I read last week. It was a fast, easy read which was what I needed. My brain really can not handle anything that requires a whole lot of concentration these days as CFA studying has completely fried my brain.
The Bequest of Big DaddyJo-Ann Costa - I'll be reviewing this for a TLC book tour later this week.
The Time of My Life by Cecelia Ahern - I'll be reviewing this next month for a TLC book tour.
Miles:
Ha. Miles. Um, I think I ran 8 before getting my injury diagnosis. So that's awesome. I'm looking forward to ditching the boot (hopefully at my follow-up a week from Friday) as I can't even walk to work right now so I am barely doing anything these days, besides some ab work and upper body strength training. I hope I get cleared to at least bike or swim so I can reintroduce cardio into my life.
Looks:
Well, there's this...
I rocked that look at the wedding I went to last month. The boot is clearly a classy edition to any outfit.. I mean the boot + heel combo is out of this world. #sarcasm
Last month I wanted to share my going away party outfit, but didn't have photos yet. I do now, so here is a photo. I've already worn those coral pants a couple of times. I love me some colored pants. The other people in the photo are my 2 best local friends and their husbands - I definitely REALLY miss them!
Also, the CFA exam is 1 month from today. In other words, in 31 days I will actually have a life again.
And just like that, another month has come and gone. The frantic pace of life continues for me but I am hopeful that things will slow down once the move and the CFA exam are behind me. March was a challenging month due to the amount of traveling I did for work, but it did have it's highlights, like my going away party and celebrating Easter with my family yesterday! I could have done without the tearful goodbyes, but such is life these days.
Music:
Just Give Me a Reason by Pink - I really love this song.I imagine it is something that most married people can relate to (from what I've heard), but even if you aren't married I think the concept of being bent, not broken is something resonates with most, if not all of us.
Books:
I had another ok month of reading. I fit in just over 74 hours of studying and managed to read 3 books on top of that. Not too shabby.
Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe - Phil highly recommended it as he was certain I would love it. Luckily he was right! It was really fun to discuss this book with him. In a way it kind of reminded me of the book "The Rules of Civility." Long story short, it's about a Wall Street executive who makes a mistake that throws his life into a tailspin.
The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe - I have wanted to read this since I first heard about it, but I patiently waited until my book fast ended to purchase it. It is such a great book. The author's mother finds out she has pancreatic cancer and Will begins to attend treatments with her. They start to talk about books so decided to form a 2-person book club. The book is a love letter to Will's mother and to the written word. It is definitely worth checking out!
The Walk by Richard Paul Evans - I was in need of a light, easy-to-get-into book, so decided to read this book. It is a really fast read and was just what I needed. It's not spectacular and it's not something I'd necessarily recommend, but it was an enjoyable read. It had one quote at the end that really resonated with me: "we can be victims of circumstance or masters of our own fate, but make no mistake, we cannot be both."
Miles:
Not the best month for me in terms of miles. I ran 59 miles which isn't great but is better than last month. It doesn't help that it was wicked cold last month. I'd like to say the number will be higher next month but I'll be dealing with unpacking/settling in, so it might be another lackluster running month. We'll see. I really need to get my mileage base built up again as marathon training will start in June!
Looks:
My favorite outfit of the month was actually the outfit I wore for my going away party, but I haven't gotten the pictures from my boss's wife yet as they left for Spring Break shortly after my party so maybe I will share the photos next month!
Here are 2 runner-up looks, though!
I pulled out this springy blazer for my trip to Florida as I figured the seer-sucker material was appropriate for that climate!
This top is a little bit 70s between the color and the lace, but it is springy so I wore it so I could feel like it is spring even though it's clearly not spring based upon our weather (will the snow ever melt?).
Oh man, this has been another kind of tough week. I had to return to Charlotte for a 24 hour trip, which I was not exactly thrilled about because I was just there Thur-Sun of last week and I will be there Mon-Wed of next week. I already feel spread thin, so adding in all of these work trips is NOT helping. After this trip next week, I sincerely hope I don't have to travel again until after my move.
Music:
The Call by Regina Spektor - I was introduced to this song through Pandora, which is how I find most new songs these days. I love Regina Spektor's voice. I would love to see her live some day!
Books:
This was a slow reading month for me. I increased my study hours to 18 hours/week and studied a total of 69 hours, so that cut out some reading. And in general I just don't have as much down time with all the things I am doing to prepare for my move. But I still managed to read 3 books.
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walters - I really enjoyed this book. The setting seamlessly changes from post-WWII to modern day, and from the Cinque Terra region of Italy to LA. It is hard to explain the plot without getting too wordy but it is about a young American and a young Italian that meet in their 20s, and it follows them through the twists and turns of their lives.
The Secret of the Nightingale Palace by Dana Sachs - You can read my review here.
Paper Towns by John Green - I have now read all of John Green's books. I think TFiOS and Looking Alaska kind of set an unrealistically high bar. I enjoyed Paper Towns, just not as much as his other books. It's about a teenage boy who tries to find his next door neighbor who has gone missing, leaving a trail of clues for him.
Miles:
Yah, this wasn't my month for running either. I put in some miles, but nothing substantial (61). I'm juggling a lot these days and right now, logging substantial miles is not a priority. I am mostly doing short 4 mile runs and most have been on the dreadmill.
Looks:
** crickets ** Between my commitment to not clothes shop until after my move and the fact that the weather has been really cold (aka sweater weather), I have no cute outfits to share this month. I have a gift card to Banana Republic that I plan to use to buy something springy for my going away party this month (I'm thinking yellow pants!), so maybe I will have something to share next month!
As you can probably tell from this post, February was not my best month. I feel like all I do is work, study, run a little, and deal with moving stuff. Add in multiple trips to Charlotte and I am just overwhelmed by life in general. As a result, I cancelled plans for the weekend and plan to lay low. Hopefully I'll feel a bit more like my normal self after a couple of quiet nights in with Phil.
Well, the first month of year sure flew by. I should be surprised given that it was kind of a crazy month for me. I would like time to SLOW DOWN between now and April 8th and then GO SUPER FAST for the year after that. Please and thank you.
Music:
93 Million Miles by Jason Mraz - Full disclosure, I cry almost every time I hear this song. It's like the song was written for me and what I am going through. Like the lines, "Oh my beautiful mother, she told me: son in life you're gonna go far, if you do it right you'll love where you are. Just know, wherever you go, you can always come home" and "Oh my irrefutable father he told me: son sometimes it may seem dark, but the absence of the light is a necessary part. Just know, you've never alone, you can always come back home." Side note: I wish Jason Mraz would shave off his facial hair and cut his hair while he is at it. He was way better looking when he had more of a clean cut look, in my opinion.
Books:
This was a good reading month for me. I managed to read 5 books on top of studying 66 hours - and I really liked all the books I read!
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - Oh how I loved this book! I had marked it as read when I joined goodreads years ago, but I think I did so in error as I do not think I read it in its entirety. I am so glad I did as it's such a beautiful, well-written, timeless book.
Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum- I also loved this book. It was haunting and difficult to read at times, but so good. If you enjoyed Sarah's Key, you should definitely check this book out. It was partially set in Minnesota, so it was cool reading about all the Minneapolis references and knowing exactly what areas she was talking about!
All That I Am by Anna Funder - I also really enjoyed this book. You can read my review here.
Stay by Allie Larkin - This was such a fun, light read. It was similar to the book "Something Borrowed" (which is a book that REALLY bothered me) in that the main character, Van, is in love with her best friend's fiance - except in this book, the main character chose the higher road and did not give into those feelings. The relationship between Van and her dog is really sweet, funny, and endearing. I'm not even a dog lover and I really liked that aspect of the book.
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green - this is the 3rd book I read by Green and probably my least favorite. It was good and I would give it 3.5 stars but it doesn't compare to his later books (which is to be expected). I am still glad I read it, though!
Miles:
My mileage was decent for the month. Most of them were ran on the dreadmill as it's been crazy cold here in Minnesota - like days where the high is in the negative range with bitterly cold wind chills (it was -25 with the windchill a couple of days). I actually hate the treadmill a little bit less than usually do. I am only doing 4-5 mile runs on there, so nothing substantial as I pretty much lose my mind after 5 miles. I am training for a 10 mile race in early March so hopefully the temps warm up soon so I can do more runs outdoors. My total mileage for the month was 71 miles.
Looks:
I am really trying to restrain myself from doing any shopping these first 3 months of the year as I know that there will be costs involved with the move and I want to use as little of the lump sum they give me as possible as I will be saving that to use to move back eventually... So I have been resisting things like 50% off coupons from Banana Republic (sob).
I did get this sweater dress early in the month as it was on sale for $14 and that is just too cheap to resist. Plus I have been wanting a sweater dress for years but because I am tall for my size, I have trouble finding ones that are long enough on me, and this one was! Oh, and as you can see, I cut my hair even shorter at the end of December. That's as short as I will go!
And my other favorite look is a new Anthropologie apron from Ray! She sent me a little something to brighten my day after the whole shock of the relocation. It was so incredibly thoughtful of her! The bright, cheery colored definitely brightened my day! I might need to wear this to the 2013 Julia Child Night (I am definitely budgeting a return trip for that event!).
Blessings by Laura Story - Ok I am not typically a huge fan of contemporary Christian music, but I really love this song. Unfortunately, I was introduced to this song when I attended the memorial for the baby that my friend lost in the 24th week of her pregnancy, which was a horribly sad experience... But I thought this was a beautiful song selection.
Little Moments by One Direction - Ok, I feel a bit lame including this in my favorite songs for the month, but I can't help it. I love this song. That is all.
Books:
If felt like it was another slower reading month for me, but I did manage to read 4 books, most in the 2nd half of the month. I also started studying for the CFA (and put in 15 hours in the final days of December) so now I will have to balance that + reading for pleasure + seeing my boyfriend, so 2013 might be a slower reading year for me. We'll see! I ended up reading 58 books in 2012, which I am really happy about as it's the most books I have maybe ever read in a year!
We are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg - I enjoyed this book and would give it 3.5 stars if that was an option. It was a fast, engaging read, but the ending felt a little bit abrupt and far fetched which knocked my rating down to a 3 from a 4.
Off Balance: A Memoir by Dominique Moceanu - Given my level of fascination with Olympic gymnasts, this was a fascinating read for me. It definitely opened up my eyes to some of the politics that surround the selection of US Gymnasts, and I definitely have completely different view of the Karolyis (and not for the better). It was an interesting book and is something I'd recommend to others who are obsessed with the sport of gymnastic, like I am.
Cascade by Maryanne O'Hara - I liked this book. See my review here.
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman - This was such a well written and engaging book. It tells the story of a young couple that struggled to have children and one day finds a baby washed up to shore in a boat. They decide to keep the baby and raise it as their own as they assume the mother had died. I won't say any more as it will ruin it for the reader, but the story is so heart breaking and the author did such a great job of capturing the thoughts and emotions of the characters. The characters were flawed and made mistakes, but they were so likeable at the same time. Definitely one of the best books I read this year!
Miles:
Meh. This was another so so month for running for me. I am in maintenance mode now so I know I need to shift my mileage expectations but it's still kind of depressing to add up the miles and see how little I ran this month. My total came to 56. Not horrible, but nothing to write home about. My total miles for 2012 came to 1,175, though, which I am really happy with! I came somewhat close to averaging 100 miles/month!
Looks:
This is not the most flattering photo of this top (and I look so tired in the photo), but I really like this wrap top that I got for 50% off at Banana Republic in November. I ended up also buying it a plum color during an after Christmas clearance sales as it was just too cheap to pass up!
And yellow strikes again! I also got this sweater for 50% off at Banana Republic (I never pay full price for anything there, seriously). I am still all about yellow these days!
Ho Hey by The Lumineers - Oh how I love this song! I need to check out this band and see if their album is worth buying (anyone own it out there?).
Not with Haste by Mumford and Sons - Oh my gosh, the Mumford & Sons new album ROCKS. I wasn't sure they could release something as good as their first album. Well, they did. This is my favorite song on the album. I love the last line: "And I will love with urgencybut not with haste."
Books:
It was another strong reading month for me, thanks to all the plane travel I've done!
The Moment by Douglas Kennedy - Oh this book. It was so good, read in a flurry, bookmarked in many places, thought about as I fell asleep at night. It is the story of an American man and a German woman who fall in love in Berlin during the time of the cold war, amidst the complications of living in a divided city. He so artfully describes the beauty of falling in love. I could wax on poetically, instead I will close with one of the passages I bookmarked: 'We're all so preposterous, aren't we? Holding onto our torments, our agonies, our small dramas - and using them to sabotage that which was so want... And actually deserve.'
Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat - This was our October book club book. It's a well-written memoir by a young woman who was imprisoned in Iran in the early 80s. It is a harrowing story but a fast an engaging read. I highly recommend it.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - Another great young adult novel that is definitely a book adults will enjoy. I thought the writing was great!! I also had a chance to see the movie and thought they did a fantastic job turning it into a movie. The author wrote the screen play and directed it - and that was reflected in the quality of the movie.
Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio - Sarah Jio strikes again! I read this book in the span of about 48 hours, so that should tell you how good it is! I think this is my favorite Jio book of her 3!! The story is engaging from the very beginning! Such a great book!!
The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom - This was a super fast read - I read it over the course of a day spent traveling. It was good but not as good as Albom's other books. I would give it 3.5 stars if that was an option.
Yes Chef by Marcus Samuelsson - I really enjoyed this book. I fell in love with Samuelsson when he was on Top Chef Masters years ago. If you are foodie who is interested in the restaurant industry, you will enjoy this book. Samuelsson did a great job writing this and I especially appreciate the fact that he owns up to mistakes he made along the way.
Miles:
My mileage was on the low side this month since I spent the whole month tapering, and then ran my marathon. I ran a total of 98.25 miles, which I am happy with! Most importantly, I ran a strong marathon!
Looks:
Look #1 (with a horrible background) is a dress I bought at Banana Republic. It's a very simple silhouette that is flattering for people like me that don't have curve. Also, I love that it's navy! I paired it with gray peep toe heels.
Look #2 is another Banana Republic outfit. When I saw the skirt was on display in the window, I was drawn into the store like a moth to a flame. I am STILL obsessed with mustard!!
Look #3 is my quirky shirt that I bought at the coolest t-shirt shop I've ever been to, which was in Des Moines. I think the shirt is hilarious!
:
It's Time by Imagine Dragon - Seriously - listen to this song. It is amazing!!It has THE catchiest beat ever, and as you can see, this band is totally talented as they are singing this live/unplugged. It will make you tap your feet, maybe car dance, and it is the song you put on when you are so pumped up about life and want to sing at the top of your lungs! LOVE THIS SONG. I want to see this band live. They look like they'd put on an amazing show! I bought the CD and it's AWESOME.
Lifening by Snow Patrol - Oh how I adore this song. This is a live, unedited version of the song, which shows how talented this band is. I love this song because I know we all have moments when our hearts are so full and we think - "This is all I ever wanted from life."
Books:
It was another strong reading month for me, partially because of the death virus which laid me up on the couch for several days! I read 6 books!!
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - I loved this book. The writing was so engaging and enchanting. It held my attention from the very beginning and I did not want the book to end. It's about a boy and a girl who are engaged in a magical competition that is being played out within the tents of a circus that is held at night. Some have complained that it moved too slowly for their liking, but I loved this book!
The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton - I LOVED this book. It was so well written and engaging. I had a hard time putting it down. The women and the relationships in this book felt real. It was neat to read about this group of women who were newly married, young mothers during the same era that my mom was embarking on marriage/motherhood (60-70s). It makes me want to ask her more about what she thought about events like Apollo 13, the Nixon era and Vietnam.
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller - I really loved this book. It's sort of a memoir that the author writes while helping write a screen play for a different book he wrote (Blue Like Jazz). It makes you think about the kind of story you are living and what you want your legacy to be. One of my favorite quotes about something I think many of us struggle with is as follows:
"There is an intrinsic feeling in nearly every person that your life could be perfect if you only had such-and-such a car or such-and-such a spouse or such-and-such a job. We believe we will be made whole by our accomplishments, our possessions, or our social status. It’s written in the fabric of our DNA that life used to be beautiful and now it isn’t, and if only this and if only that, it would be beautiful again." The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee - Ok, my judgment of this book may be clouded by the fact that I was on codeine cough syrup while reading it in the evenings, but holy moley it confused me. I don't know if it was the switching back and forth between the 40s and 50s or keeping track of everyone's ethnicities (Japanese, Chinese, English, or a mix), but I was and still am CONFUSED by this book.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - This is probably the most engaging and most difficult book to put down that I have read this year. It's a mystery novel about the disappearance of a woman on her 5th anniversary. The narration of the book switches back and forth between the husband and wife (partially through her journal in the early parts). It's so incredibly messed up, it will keep you guessing up until the very end!!
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaught -I loved this book. It's about a young woman, Victoria, who was an orphan. The author weaves together a tale of her childhood with the story of the present so seemlessly. You know Victoria has a secret from her past, but it is slowly revealed over the course of the book. It was cool learning about the meaning of different flowers, too!
Miles:
Ha. Miles. Not as many as I would like this month, thanks to the freaking death virus. I got 109 in, and over 80% of those came in the 2nd half of the month after I recovered from the death virus/bronchitis. Not great, but it will have to suffice!
Looks:
First look: I am bringing the fitted, colored pants trend into fall. It's tough to tell in this blurry photo (sorry, cold meds make me shaky), but the pants are a lovely eggplant color! I am all about fitted pants and they work great for my boyish (read: no curves) body shape!
Second look: Yep, another elevator photo! This is a new outfit that I got for a very affordable price as the skirt was on clearance at Ann Taylor, and the cami/cardigan came from target. I love that mustard color and think the red shoes are another fun pop of color. I got a lot of compliments on this color so will look to add more of it to my wardrobe for the fall!
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