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Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts

2018: My Year in Books - Part I: The Books

2018: My Year in Books - Part I: The Books

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2018 was another INCREDIBLE year of books! With a baby on the way (I was due in February with my son) and the regular busy-ness of everything else in life with my husband, daughter and pup, I made the crazy goal of reading 100 books over the course of the year!

There were times when I thought that 100 was far too many, and others where I thought I could make 125 or more, but at the end of the year, it turned out that it was a perfect number, and I read exactly 100 books!


In added craziness, I tried to focus on reading as much of my own shelves as possible and banned myself from buying any books for the year! The only books that I bought were a few I ordered through Audible because I could only put my membership on hold for 6 months and then needed to use up some credits. Otherwise, the only physical books that I acquired were gifts and so I am very happy to say that my to-be-read (TBR) shelf barely grew for the first time ever! 

I'm breaking this year's post into two parts, this one - on the books, and a second one that will be focused on a breakdown of those books - genre, which ones were my shelves vs library, female authors, poc authors, pages read, etc! 

And so, without further babbling, here are the books that I read in 2018, in the order that I read them, and the months in which they were finished! My favorites are in hot pink, and any I listened to on Audio have an "(A)" next to the title!

January

1. Castle of Water丨Dane Huckelbridge
2. Ajax Penumbra 1969丨Robin Sloan
3. They Cage the Animals at Night丨Michael Jennings Burch
4. Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History丨Katy Tur (A)
5. Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town丨Jon Krakauer
6. You丨Caroline Kepnes
7. One of Us is Lying丨Karen McManus
8. When We Were Worthy丨Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
9. This is How It Always Is丨Laurie Frankel
10. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century丨Timothy Snyder

February

11. Sing, Unburied, Sing丨Jesmyn Ward
12. All-American Boys丨Jason Reynolds
13. Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose丨Joe Biden (A)
14. Behold the Dreamers丨Imbolo Mbue
15. The Fall of Rome丨Martha Southgate

March

16. The Selection丨Kiera Cass
17. The Versions of Us丨Laura Barnett
18. The Elite丨Kiera Cass
19. The One丨Kiera Cass
20. At Home in the World: Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe丨Tsh Oxenreider
21. All the Ugly and Wonderful Things丨Bryn Greenwood
22. The Heir丨Kiera Cass
23. The Crown丨Kiera Cass
24. The Smart One 丨Jennifer Close
25. Salt to the Sea丨Ruta Sepetys
26. The Futures丨Anna Pitoniak
27. The Weight of Blood丨Laura McHugh
28. Straight Talking丨Jane Green
29. Gold Fame Citrus丨Claire Vaye Watkins

April

30. Behind Her Eyes丨Sarah Pinborough
31. Seven Days of Us丨Francesca Hornak
32. The Circle丨Dave Eggers
33. Outlander丨Diane Gabaldon
34. Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood丨Trevor Noah (A)
35. The Nightingale丨Kristin Hannah
36. After I Do丨Taylor Jenkins Reid
37. Lily and the Octopus丨Steven Rowley
38. The Underground Railroad丨Colson Whitehead
39. The Sweet Life in Paris: A Recipe for Living in the World's Most Delicious City丨David Lebovitz
40. In a Dark, Dark Wood丨Ruth Ware

May 

41. French Kids Eat Everything: How Our Family Moved to France, Cured Picky Eating, Banned Snacking, and Discovered Ten Simple Rules for Raising Happy, Healthy Eaters丨Karen Le Billon
42. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter丨Erika L. Sanchez
43. Britt-Marie Was Here丨Frederik Backman
44. The Mothers丨Brit Bennett
45. Nevertheless丨Alec Baldwin (A)
46. The Good Daughter丨Karin Slaughter
47. The Problem with Forever丨Jennifer L. Armentrout
48. Columbine丨Dave Cullen
49. Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone丨Brene Brown (A)

June

50. How to Walk Away丨Katharine Center
51. When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir丨Patrisse Khan-Cullors
52. Since We Fell丨Dennis Lehane
53. Educated丨Tara Westover (A)
54. Fierce Kingdom丨Gin Phillips
55. Love, Hate & Other Filters丨Samira Ahmed
56. Revolution is Not a Dinner Party丨Ying Chang Compestine
57. This is Where it Ends丨Marieke Nijkamp
58. The Castaways丨Elin Hilderbrand
59. The Storyteller丨Jodi Picoult

July

60. The Last Mrs. Parrish丨Liv Constantine
61. Neverwhere丨Neil Gaiman
62. Sourdough丨Robin Sloan
63. Delirium丨Lauren Oliver
64. Pandemonium丨Lauren Oliver
65. Requiem丨Lauren Oliver
66. The Book of Essie丨Meghan MacLean Weir
67. Beartown丨Frederik Backman
68. Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be丨Rachel Hollis (A)
69. Just One Day丨Gayle Forman

August

70. The Virgin Suicides丨Jeffrey Eugenides
71. Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win丨Jo Piazza
72. All We Ever Wanted丨Emily Giffin
73. Bury This丨Andrea Portes

September

74. Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania丨Erik Larson (A)
75. Who Do You Love丨Jennifer Weiner

October

76. No One is Here Except All of Us丨Ramona Ausubel
77. Homeless Bird丨Gloria Whelan
78. Pretty Happy: Healthy Ways to Love Your Body丨Kate Hudson (A)
79. The Lying Game丨Ruth Ware
80. The Silkworm丨Robert Galbraith

November

81. So You Want to Talk About Race丨Ijeoma Oluo (A)
82. Turtles All the Way Down丨John Green
83. Luckiest Girl Alive丨Jessica Knoll
84. The Sunshine When She's Gone丨Thea Goodman
85. Family Pictures丨Jane Green
86. Becoming丨Michelle Obama (A)
87. In Conclusion, Don't Worry About It丨Lauren Graham (A)

December

88. What I Saw and How I Lied丨Judy Blundell (A)
89. Unaccustomed Earth丨Jhumpa Lahiri (A)
90. The Walking Dead, Compendium 2丨Robert Kirkman
91. The Reluctant Fundamentalist丨Mohsin Hamid
92. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City丨Matthew Desmond (A)
93. The Perfect Stranger丨Megan Miranda
94. The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret to Transform Your Life Before 8 AM丨Hal Elrod
95. From the Corner of the Oval丨Beck Dorey-Stein (A)
96. Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love and Baking Biscuits丨Reese Witherspoon
97. The Magnolia Story丨Chip and Joanna Gaines (A)
98. Still Life丨Louise Penny
99. Dinner: The Playbook丨Jenny Rosenstrach
100. Labor Day丨Joyce Maynard

Ah! So many incredible, wonderful books this year!! At 100 books, that's an average of 8+ books a month throughout the year!

Those listed as hot pink above were my five star reads - books that absolutely blew my mind, changed my thinking or wildly affirmed it, and have stayed with me all year long. BUT! That doesn't mean that there are others that I didn't enjoy! Those not highlighted in pink above, but that I really liked a lot (4 star reads!) were: Ajax Penumbra 1969, One of Us is Lying, When We Were Worthy, All-American Boys, The Versions of Us, At Home in the World, The Circle, After I Do, The Underground Railroad, When They Call You a Terrorist, Fierce Kingdom, Love Hate & Other Filters, This is Where It Ends, The Storyteller, Sourdough, The Book of Essie, Girl Wash Your Face, Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win, All We Ever Wanted, Dead Wake, The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Evicted. 

My goal for next year is set at 80 books. While I think I may surpass it, I do know that maternity leave allowed me more time than usual to read and I focused on that when I set my 2019 goal. I also set my Read Your Shelves (RYS) goal at 50 - and while I'm no longer banning myself from buying books, this year of no buying really made me think long and hard about the books I do want to own and I think my days of mindless book buying are over! So I'm looking forward to borrowing from the library and diving further into the stack below my nightstand - there are still quite a few there to read! Do you have tons of books in your shelves too? Focusing on reading them instead of buying more this year?

What were your favorite books this year? Did you set a reading goal or do you just see where your literary adventures take you? Are there must reads on your list for 2019? I'd love to hear from you!!

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The Giant To-Do List

The Giant To-Do List

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The post of this title does not even begin to cover the giant list of projects that we want to do to make this house our home. A few weeks ago, Josh and I set down one night and mapped out our room-by-room to do list. Before I start sharing completed and continuing projects with you, I wanted to share our giant to-do list so that you can get a sense of where we are coming from. 

This is our current brain dump of everything that we currently want to do, but as with all things, this list is in no way set in concrete. We've already changed our minds on a number of things, a number of times, and are taking projects one step at a time. And so, with the warning that this is very long, here is our new house giant to-do list!

- The Basement (0% Complete) - 


To Do:
  • Organize/create laundry nook
  • Complete storage set-up
  • Organize storage set-up
  • Replace curtain above dryer

- The Den (0% Complete) - 


To Do:
  • Clear away clutter
  • Remove lace curtains
  • Set up couch
  • Set up entertainment space
  • Tear down wood paneling
  • Sheetrock and plaster walls
  • Sheetrock and plaster ceilings
  • Paint stairs
  • Runner down stairs
  • Create mudroom entry area
  • Fix/Replace door to the garage
  • Paint/Replace door to backyard

 - The Garage (0% Complete) - 


To Do:
  • Organize shelves
  • Organize paint
  • Sell hutch
  • Fix walls
  • Paint walls
  • Clean/Paint? floor

 - The Kitchen (0% Complete) -


To Do:
  • Paint walls
  • Hang art
  • Make and hang curtain above sink
  • Create storage space (possible peninsula?)
  • Remove door to downstairs
  • Change hardware on cabinets
  • Paint trim
  • Install a built-in microwave over the stove to create more counter space

(Phase 2: Down the road, we're hoping to change the countertops and add cabinet and counter space, replace the tile, close the door to the deck, and switch out and upgrade appliances, as well as knock down the wall between the dining room and the kitchen.)

- The Dining Room (0% Complete) - 


To Do:
  • Rip up carpet
  • Buy and hang new blinds
  • Buy/make and hang curtains
  • Create (find/buy) sideboard storage
  • Sell dining room set left by previous owners
  • Buy new dining room set
  • Replace chandelier
  • Hang art
  • Paint walls

(Phase 2: Down the road, we're hoping to replace the window with slider doors out to the deck.)

- The Living Room (1% Complete) - 


To Do: 
  • Rip up carpet
  • Take down paneling
  • Buy new couch
  • Buy rug
  • Buy coffee table
  • Add built-ins around the fireplace
  • Fill and organize/decorate built-ins
  • Buy new tv
  • Wall mount new tv
  • Create and hang gallery wall
  • Create entry zone
  • Buy entry rug
  • Buy small entry table or bench for next to closet
  • Organize coat closet
  • Hang new blinds
  • Buy/make and hang curtains
  • Paint trim
  • Paint walls

- The Hallway (0% Complete) -


To Do:
  • Rip up carpet
  • Paint walls
  • Paint trim
  • Hang art
  • Change doorknobs

 - The Bathroom (0% Complete) -


To Do:
  • Paint walls
  • Paint trim and doors
  • Paint vanity
  • Replace mirror
  • Replace lights
  • Replace shower head
  • Replace blinds
  • Buy/make and hang curtain 

- The Master Bedroom (0% Complete) -


To Do:
  • Paint walls
  • Paint trim
  • Install closet doors
  • Hang art
  • Bring mirror into room
  • Buy nightstand for Josh
  • Buy nightstand for Sara
  • Buy hamper
  • Add light to closet
  • Buy rug
  • Replace hardware on Hemnes
  • Replace blinds
  • Buy/make curtains

 - The Spare Room (0% Complete) - 


To Do:
  • Office set-up
  • Closet organization
  • Bring loveseat into room
  • Paint walls
  • Paint trim
  • Hang art
  • Replace blinds
  • Buy/make curtains

 - The Guest Room (0% Complete) - 


To Do:
  • Set up bed
  • Paint walls
  • Paint trim
  • Set up dresser and bedside table
  • Buy rug
  • Hang art
  • Replace blinds
  • Buy/make curtains

- Backyard (0% Complete) -


To Do:
  • Plant flowers in pots
  • Plant herbs on shed
  • Grow grass
  • Wash deck
  • Stain deck
  • Buy patio set

(Spring 2016: Garden!)

- Front Yard (0% Complete) -


To Do:
  • Change front light
  • Replace numbers
  • Replace door knocker
  • Replace door
  • Hang hose
  • Replace broken spigot handle
  • Replace shrubs and front plants

And that's the list! Some things have already been done throughout the house - all carpet was ripped up and the floors were all refinished, but I left the floor refinishing off of the list because there are no pictures of it happening. The list isn't 100% complete, but as the house is a work in progress, so is this list and nothing is set in stone. There's no real order to anything above, but we're hoping to just tackle things bit by bit as we set up our home!
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January Reading List

January Reading List

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A new year, a new book reading challenge! This year, I'm aiming to read at least 75 books. Although last year I struggled at the end to reach my goal of 65 books, this year I don't have a wedding to plan, and I'm officially a second year teacher, so I'm hoping that I'll be able to achieve this goal. As I work towards this goal, I want to keep track of my progress on the blog through reading lists towards the start of the month, and a book review towards the end of the month. This January, I'm hoping to read these 7 books...

Not seen here: One Plus One since I had it on the Kindle and Murder on the Orient Express because it is a school book club book that I accidentally left on my desk at school.
One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman
Us by David Nicholls
And the Dark Sacred Night by Julia Glass
Walking Dead Compendium 1 by Robert Kirkman
Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

I've already read One Plus One, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, and Us, as well as The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society (that wasn't on the original list!) so I've only got 4 left to go on the list, and 3 left to reach my goal of 7 for the month. With 2 and a half weeks - and a week of midterms in the middle - I have no doubt that I will be successful this month.

Have you read any of these already? Planning to read along with me in January? If you've read any books lately that you loved, I'd like to hear about them so that I can them to my to-read list!

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Book List 2014

Book List 2014

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Each year, I keep track of what books I've read through a shared Google document with a wonderful group of people. We share book recommendations and inspire each other to read more throughout the year. In 2014, I set my reading goal at 65 books - a little below my previous goals for 2011, 2012 & 2013 - but a number that I knew would be manageable throughout the year.

Here is this year's list of books, with my favorite ones highlighted in bright pink...

1. What Alice Forgot... / Liane Moriarty
2. Eleanor and Park / Rainbow Rowell
3. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock / Matthew Quick
4. The Piano Teacher / Janice Y.K. Lee
5. The Love Goddesses Cooking School / Melissa Senate
6. The Week Before the Wedding / Beth Kendrick
7. An Abundance of Katherines / John Green
8. The Goldfinch / Donna Tartt
9. Gathering Blue / Lois Lowry
10. The Messenger / Lois Lowry
11. The Rosie Project / Graeme Simsion
12. The Theory of Opposites / Allison Winn Scotch
13. The Husband's Secret / Liane Moriarty
14. Another Piece of My Heart / Jane Green
15. Teacher Man / Frank McCourt
16. Reconstructing Amelia / Kimberly McCreight
17. Light in the Ruins / Chris Bohjalian
18. Ready Player One / Ernest Cline
19. Will Grayson, Will Grayson / John Green
20. Orange is the New Black / Piper Kerman
21. Riding Lessons / Sara Gruen
22. The One & Only / Emily Griffin
23. Legend / Marie Lu
24. The Hundred Foot Journey / Richard C. Morais
25. The Good Luck of Right Now / Matthew Quick
26. Into Thin Air / Jon Krakauer
27. Until I Say Goodbye: My Year of Living with Joy / Susan Spencer-Wendel
28. Under the Tuscan Sun / Frances Mayes
29. The Pilot's Wife / Anita Shreve
30. Prodigy / Marie Lu
31. Champion / Marie Lu
32. Lowland / Jhumpa Lahiri
33. The Silent Wife / A.S.A. Harrison
34. If I Stay / Gayle Forman
35. The Invention of Wings / Sue Monk Kidd
36. Where She Went / Gayle Forman
37. A Million Little Pieces / James Frey
38. Interpreter of Maladies / Jhumpa Lahiri
39. Dear Life You Suck / Scott Blagden
40. Me Before You / Jojo Moyes
41. The Vacationers / Emma Straub
42. Hidden / Catherine McKenzie
43. The Best of Me / Nicholas Sparks
44. Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl / Susan McCorkindale
45. Flowers for Algernon / Daniel Keyes
46. When You Reach Me / Rebecca Stead 
47. Three Story House / Courtney Miller Santo
48. The Dinner / Herman Koch
49. The Repeat Year / Andrea Lochen
50. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas / John Boyne  
51. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore / Robin Sloane
52. Not That Kind of Girl / Lena Dunham
53. Parnassus on Wheels / Christopher Morley
54. Little Brother / Corey Doctorow
55. we were liars / E Lockhart
56. Big Little Lies / Liane Moriarty
57. Still Alice / Lisa Genova
58. The Haunted Bookshop / Christopher Morley
59. Crazy Rich Asians / Kevin Kwan
60. The Last Anniversary / Liane Moriarty
61. Hold the Dark / William Giraldi
62. Carry the One / Carol Anshaw
63. Lizzy & Jane / Katherien Reay
64. The Girls of August / Anne Rivers Siddons
65. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry / Gabrielle Zevin

My top favorites of the year were definitely Eleanor and Park, Ready Player One and The Invention of Wings. Honorable mentions - not highlighted - go to we were liars and The Lowland. 

Wow - so many books this year - and the last 7 were read between Christmas and December 31st during a final push to achieve my goal of reading 65 books! And, even though it will definitely be a challenge, I've set this year's goal at 75 books. I have a huge list of books to-read on Goodreads and I'm excited to dive into new books.

What did you read this year? Any favorite, must-reads? I'd love to see your picks!
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Updates & April To-Do List {Wedding Wednesday}

Updates & April To-Do List {Wedding Wednesday}

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Oh my gosh - another Wedding Wednesday list update! I feel like all I'm doing lately is posting to-do updates. But, I guess in some ways that it's a good thing - so many items are getting checked off the list! Now that it is officially April, let's see what I was able to check off in March...

Buy Wedding Party Gifts - Bridesmaid Gifts Have Been Purchased! (Groomsmen Gifts Are Coming!)
Dance Lessons - On the schedule for this month.
Decide on Table Numbers - Decision Made!
Decide on Seating Sign - Decision Made!
Choose Favors - This is proving to be difficult! Ideas are welcome!!
Buy/Order Cake Topper - Moved to April Due to Indecisiveness.
Buy Wedding Shoes - Deciding between two different pairs.
Address Invitations - Thanks to my amazing Aunt, these are all officially done! 
Order Shower Thank you Cards - Ordered & Received! Can't wait to send them out!
Order Rehearsal Dinner Invites - Ordered & Received! Can't wait to send them out!

What's ahead for April? This month's list has actually been broken up into two parts...


I'll be in New Jersey for 5 full days towards the end of April, and I'm looking forward to a lot of hard work over those few days - makeup trial, hair trial, putting together welcome bags, getting our marriage license and my first official dress fitting! 

Then, the end of April has so much more in store - my Bachelorette party in Vegas, sending music selections to the band, officially buying our cake topper (for real) and making our table numbers. I cannot believe that April is here - and I'm sure it will be over before I know what's happening!

I'm looking forward to enjoying every moment this month - from the shower to the bachelorette party and each day in between. I am so excited that these big events are finally here and I can't wait to celebrate with some of my favorite people!
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Linking up with Belle in Boots and Love Always, Nancy J!
Linking up with Little Bit of Class Little Bit of Sass!

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Updates & February To Do List {Wedding Wednesday}

Updates & February To Do List {Wedding Wednesday}

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Happy February!!! Now that February is here (and already 5 days over!), I wanted to share with you our February wedding to do list. I shared our January list about 4 weeks ago and all of those tasks (except for four of them moved to February) were taken care of! Among the biggest items - I got my ears pierced, book our hair and makeup artists for the big day, and we ordered our invitations!

February's list is quite large and we are more than ready to tackle it this month!


Josh and I are heading to New Jersey over President's Day Weekend and so many of these items will be taken care of that weekend - including choosing our ketubah (Jewish wedding contract), meeting with and officially booking the florist, giving my Aunt our pictures for the slideshow, our menu testing, finalizing the linens, and choosing and ordering wedding rings. WOW - it is going to be a busy, busy weekend!

Hopefully next week we'll get the groomsmen attire taken care of, and we're waiting to hear back from our travel agent about our honeymoon itinerary plans so that we can officially get it booked! I'm in the process of designing our dinner invites and my dad is currently working on the hotel to venue transportation. Hopefully in a couple of weekends we'll spend some time deciding on our signature drinks! It's not a huge rush, but I'm just trying to get things crossed off the list and the earlier, the better!

Officially under 4 months and 3 weeks (ish) away from the big day, I am getting more and more excited by the minute to checks these things off the list! What did your 5 month out to do list look like? See anything it looks like I'm missing? And did you do signature drinks? Josh and I are so excited to add that personal touch to our reception!

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Linking up for Wedding Wednesday with Chits and Giggles
& Little Bit of Class Little Bit of Sass!
Linking up for Wedding Wednesday with
Belle in Boots & Love Always, Nancy J!

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Updates & January To-Do List {Wedding Wednesday}

Updates & January To-Do List {Wedding Wednesday}

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Happy Wedding Wednesday! It feels so great to be blogging regularly again - even if it has only been a week - but I'm even more excited to be talking wedding planning again on the blog! Things are picking up and moving right along! We've booked almost all of the big things - venue (with caterer), band, photographer, hotel block, rehearsal dinner and goodbye brunch - and we sent out our save the dates! Right now our big focus is on picking invitations and finding a florist. 

I recently made a month-by-month to do list, and I thought I'd share January's list today! This isn't a super intense list, but it's a general "things that I should do in this time" type of list. I'm sure I'll probably jump ahead and do other things and move some around, but this is a pretty solid picture of what I want to get done in January.

We've actually already booked Nash's stay while we're away, and we've scheduled our tasting for February, but everything else we'd like to get done soon! We started looking at groomsmen attire this past weekend - learning that if you want light gray tuxedos your options are incredibly limited - and I have about 30 invitation samples from a variety of vendors on their way to our apartment now. 

And yes - that is correct - I am looking to get my ears pierced this month! I really want to wear earrings for my wedding and since I let my original holes close up years ago, I need to go and get them re-pierced. I'm not going to lie, this scares me more than a little bit (I have very low pain tolerance) but I'm excited to cross it off the list!

I also headed to a bridal show in Boston this past weekend with my friend (and fellow bride-to-be!!) Kate! We had such a blast checking out vendors and getting to eat some delicious cake! Unfortunately, we took absolutely no pictures whatsoever, but I can say that we learned that bridal expos are more for brides in the early stages of planning - and not so much for brides who already have most of their weddings planned. Oh well, we still had a lot of fun!

Are you planning a wedding? Just reminiscing about your own? I'd love to hear your planning advice and any stories you might have!!!
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Linking Up with Chits and Giggles for Wedding Wednesday!
Linking up with Belle in Boots and Love Always, Nancy J for Wedding Wednesday!!!



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Our New Apartment {Hallway & Guest Bath}

Our New Apartment {Hallway & Guest Bath}

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Lately, I have been zipping through the list I showed you a couple of weeks ago! Room by room, our apartment is finally getting set up, and this morning, I want to share with you some of our progress!

Part of why I love art so much, is how easily it can transform a space. Our guest bathroom a few weeks ago was rather blah - empty and very monotone. 


Now, with the addition of 2 pictures, a few other accessories, it feels like an entirely different space.
 

 
And in the hallway - we can see the carpet again! This is what it looked like a few weeks ago...


And here it is now.


Simply removing the boxes and hanging up some of the art has transformed this space as well! There's still a lot of work to be done, but we are getting there, step by step! And it does feel so good to be crossing items off of our to-do list!
 
Have any of you been taking time to cross things off a never ending to do list? Do you find that you tackle things one space at the time, or move around getting things done as they occur to you? I'd love to hear from you!

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Lists Are My Favorite

Lists Are My Favorite

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Seriously, lists really are one of my favorite things. I've mentioned it before, but I love being able to plan everything out in a list, refer back to it, and to cross each item on the list off as it gets done. And it's not just to-do lists that I love - I also love to make lists for the grocery store and other errands, lists of books that I want to read, and so many others. Today, I want to focus on the most thought of type of list - the to-do list.

We're making a little progress on our apartment - it's certainly livable - and is getting more decorated by the day. We've made some big choices about certain decor decisions (POLL UPDATE: The "no painting" won out by a few votes, but Josh has offered to compromise and we're going to paint an accent wall! Yay! And yes, I was the one that wanted to paint - wasn't that clear?) and we're ready to dive in head first to make sure that this apartment feels as much like a home as possible in as little time as possible. Here, moving from space to space, I'm going to outline for you what we'd like to do with the space. This list isn't written in stone, and things may change, but these are the things we'd like to get done within the more immediate future.

Entryway

  • move bench
  • hang chalkboard
  • find/make/buy shoe storage
  • makeover mini-cabinet
  • paint accent wall

Dining Area

  • get old table out
  • get new table and chairs refinished and into the space

Kitchen

  • update kitchen hardware
  • finish organizing drawers

Hallway

  • hang art
  • clean/organize coat closet

2nd Bedroom

  • finish desk and put in room
  • finish shelves and put in room
  • clean/organize
  • put coffee table on Craigslist
  • make sofa table skirt
  • hang curtain rod and buy/make/hang curtains

Guest Bathroom

  • hang art
  • buy new soap dispenser

Living Room

  • change chaise side on couch
  • hang art over couch
  • hang art next to bedroom door

Balcony

  • add planter
  • move bench to space
  • add table/chairs

Bedroom
  • hang art
  • put together and makeover new nightstand
  • clean/organize 

Master Bathroom
  • hang towel hooks
  • raise shower curtain
  • hang art
I'm so sorry to not have pictures of our bedroom and bathroom, but I promise to show progress pictures as we work in there to complete the space. And as we tackle each space, I will definitely keep you updated to where we are in the list and how much progress we're making! Are you a fan of lists? Or do you prefer to tackle things head on and figure it out as you go? 

Photobucket

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