Friday, December 18, 2009

Book Suggestions

Friends,
Have you read any good books lately? Any that I'd enjoy? I'm into almost all types of books... with the exception of self improvement books (ie. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People).
Hate em. Never have I read more than two chapters of a self improvement book.
I love a good novel; a story that makes your mind spin- either because of its profoundness or because of the authors ability to make it all come together so perfectly; one that you find yourself reflecting through out the years after reading it.
Okie dokie smokey?

While I am at it, here are a few of my recommendations:
The Time Travelers Wife, by Audrey Niffeneger
.. Yes they recently made this into a movie. I was excited for it but when I heard it was a total let down I decided I didn't want to see it and downgrade my own picture perfect characters... you know, like with Edward for instance.

My Name is Asher Lev, by Chaim Potok
.. quite possibly my favorite book ever written- and a story I think everyone can relate to.

Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt
.. heartbreaking and humbling.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith
.. also humbling. Somewhat of an early 1900's version of The Glass House, another amazing book.


The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath
.. Wild! This book has caused me to question my sanity on more then one occasion. Yet, I still love the story. I find it fascinating mainly because it is a thinly disguised autobiography that was published one month before Plath took her life.

Thank you in advance!

My little Ruby.


So tiny. So sweet.
I love her.
I love her the way you'd love an actual person. The other day Jake asked, "If you had to choose Ruby or me, who would you pick?"
Of course- if for some reason a terrorist showed up at my door and made me choose, Ruby or Jake, well, I would make the more humane choice.... But I didn't like the thought of having to choose. It gave me a tummy ache.
I assume that is what it must have felt like for my mother when I was little and asked her, "Who do you like more, me or Dad?"

As you can see, I had security issues.

Sorry Mum... I hope none of my children ever ask me that!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Librarians.

Isn't red hair kind of considered... "drab"?
Really?
It could very possibly be my favorite hair color.
I mean... hello! My four year old girl crush was on Ariel, the red headed, free spirited, mermaid!
And I'm pretty sure I have a 21 year old girl crush on Alison Sudol of A Fine Frenzy.
I would commit crimes for her hair.
Both the cut and color.
I love the awkward short Audrey bangs. Love them. Love them, love them. So much that I regret pulling my bangs back with bobby pins for 6 months my junior year after attempting to give myself bangs when my hair was wet....
Perhaps I should have strutted that accident with pride.




In my opinion... I have really good taste in music.

No, but really.
I do.

My latest obsession, The Xx. Weird Name. Fantastic music.
I'm mostly obsessed with their voices... and how with out using hardly any fluctuation, their songs still have feeling.
I like the instruments. It reminds me of Yaz.
I love Yaz.

So... I think you should click play.
1.2.3. go.

and again.


And there is no way to say this with out sounding like a freak... but I am in love with the males voice. Ok, I guess that doesn't sound too weird if you don't realize how serious I am when I say, I think I am IN LOVE with his voice.... I'd marry it. And since it would only be a voice, there would be no dirty boy laundry, dirty boy dishes, or anything else that involves dirty stinky boys.

I haven't been blogging much....

mostly because I pretty much have nothing to blog about... occasionally I think of something really thoughtful or funny that I want to blog about, but I am always away from the computer when that happens, and then I forget what it was.

Up until recently I had a blackberry. I loved her. She was so good for writing memos to myself-reminding myself what I want to blog about, what I need to buy, who I need to call, what I need to turn in at school.... Now I have this stupid Verizon envy thingy. I hate it. I don't like using it. So I don't.

But I sure do have a cute puppy.

Don't make fun. I'm not trying to be Paris Hilton. Ruby weighs 4 pounds (as of yesterday) and her entire body shivers when I take her out to potty.... and so we got her a sweater, that as you can see, she hates, and is determined to destroy.

Monday, December 14, 2009

I'll take this too.

Isn't this a lovely truth?


I found it on Etsy of course.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

time out.

I'd really like Ruby to stop growing and just be this young, cuddly, and playful forever.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Want it.

The whole thing.


I want to make it real.
In the corner of my bedroom.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Ruby Zella Update

Well... Zella has all but been forgotten and Tuesday has taken it's place.
I don't mind it.
I realize it gives Ruby like 12 coolness points to be named after a Rolling Stones song, but when people think she's named after a steak house it kind of kills it.

Training is coming along....
Trick wise, Ruby is a freaking prodigy pup.
Potty Training wise, well....
It's been a disaster.

I know, I only have myself to blame.
But I promise you, I try! She refuses to go potty in the snow.
On the one hand, this is good, because in the winter time my diet consists 56% of snow from my front yard, on the other hand, this blows.

We have puppy pads in the house but she thinks they are for chewing.

Brooke, how did you do it?!?!
I'm failing as a puppy mum.


At least she is cute. I'm pretty sure if she wasn't so irresistible, any one of my family members would have ended her life by now.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Monticello

Beautiful, right?




Sike!
But if it WERE this beautiful I would be one heck of a proud small town loving hick.
I just found this picture.
And liked it.

my parents are awesome

I've always had a thing for old photos.


Check it out.
During Thanksgiving Dinner while all of the Freestone's mingled... I snuck into my grandparent's den and pulled out their old family photo albums.
I remember about three years ago, going over to my great grandparents home on my mother's side, and while she got her fix (seriously...hanging out with her grandparent's is like a drug for my mum) I snuck into the basement and entertained myself with their old photo albums. Every time I go into one of those houses that has a lot of pictures-- you know, the hallway of fame with collages of pictures of each child in one frame-- I totally start wandering... If someone is guiding me into the kitchen, and I spot their hallway of fame, I get completely distracted.... until they offer me ice cream of course.
So when I came across this cute little site, I was thrilled.
I love looking at an old photograph, and imagining being there when it was taken. You see beautiful pictures of your great grandparents when they were young and newly in love, but you don't know what their personalities were like, you didn't watch as they fell in love with each other... you know?
Can I call it nostalgia if it's a memory that doesn't belong to me? Haha.Probably not... but aren't old photographs just lovely?