book review anyone?

I recieved the following in an email, and thought I'd pass it along in case anyone was interested!

Want to be an early reviewer of a great new book from Springboard Press?

THE SHINIEST JEWEL is new funny and touching graphic memoir from Marian Henley that tells the story of adopting a baby at age 50, and all of the waiting, heartbreak, and ultimately love that came from it.
Everyone who reads the book, loves it, and I know you will too. Already Publisher's Weekly has called the book: "near perfect."
E-mail us at Springboard Press with "Shiniest Jewel" in the subject. We'll send you an advance copy of the book with information on how to submit your review. Be sure to include your name, address, e-mail address, and blog address if you have one.

ughhhh

Right. So last Friday I got a call back about my resume. I had sent it earlier in the week, so I was pretty psyched that they called just a few days later. It was for a job that it pretty much perfect for me. It would be moving in the direction of the things I want to be doing.

He told me a bit about it, it was sounding better and better. I was excited.

The kicker came.

It's a part-time position, three days a week, three hours a day.

It pays $11 an hour.

Booooooooo.

etsy!

Am I the only one who has just realized how amazing etsy is? I'd been hearing about, everyone talks about it, and I had looked at it here and there, but never too much. Why? I don't know!

Yesterday Jamie posted about this shop which has some extremly adorable things. So I went and checked it out, and found something fabulous that I ordered for Steve for his birthday! I can't post the pic, in the extreme off-chance that he looks at this (I don't think he reads this regularly, but I think he has in the past), so you will have to wait until after 13 September! In the meanwhile, go check out Megan's shop and see what amazing things she has.

I wish I was so talented...

First Book

I love this! First Book is such a great organization- they donate books to children in need. Please go take a look at this page, and let them know 'what book got you hooked' on reading as a child. Then, please pass the link on to others! You can also vote for where you'd like to see 50,000 books donated to...


http://www2.firstbook.org/whatbook/index.php

something new?

Would you be willing to try this? Have you already?

Let's discuss.

jobs!

My sister has a job interview this morning!

So, send happy thoughts and good karma to Bethany in Boston :)

done!

I have finished my book.

Don't get too excited here folks...it's a children's book. For my Children's Lit class, I had to write a book. Yes, write a children's book. So, that I did. I don't know that it was anything extraordinary, but I am finally finished (it may or may not have actually been due two weeks ago...ooops). Now I need to take the finished product to Kinko's so they can bind it, and then drop it off to my prof.

Whew!

With that, I am meeting a friend for dinner at CPK (California Pizza Kitchen) and I think I want this, without the celery (ugh!).

Okay, I don't know why the picture is way up there, but it is the following-

Grilled chicken marinated in SPICY Buffalo sauce with Mozzarella cheese, carrots, celery and crumbled Gorgonzola cheese. Served with a side of Gorgonzola ranch dressing.

Sounds nice, no?

end of Sunday

I'm watching House Hunters and drinking wine with Steve.

Blissful!

Albania again!

So after yesterday's post about my new sponsorship of a second little girl in Albania, I came home last night to find a letter in my mailbox from Albania. It was my Annual Progress Report for Majlinda! She has just finished kindergarten and is in satisfactory health. Her best friend is called Sabrina, and she wants to be a teacher when she grows up! Best part? It came with a new photo of her! Seriously, she's adorable. She had on a pair of jeans with flowers embroidered on them, and a little white jacket with Minnie Mouse on the pockets! Adorable, nothing less.

I'm so glad to be a part of her life and hope we have a long happy sponsorship together. Maybe someday I will go to Albania and I can meet her. Apparently they do allow that, which I find really interesting.

I called World Vision last night, to ask what the chances are that she and Inaete, my new little girl, know each other, since they are in the same project. The girl I spoke to was very nice, but said she wasn't sure. Some projects have hundreds of children in them, and encompass many villages, so they may not be near each other. She suggested that the next time I write to either of them, I put a note in the envelope addressed to staff, and ask them, and then they can write back to me and let me know.

Remember those crazy monster finger puppets? Kind like these? I was in Old Town last night for dinner with a friend and we were in Paper Source and there was a box of them on the register, so I bought four, two for Majlinda, two for Inaete...at 85 cents each, I figured I could splurge a little :)

Albania, I love thee!

I am now the proud sponsor of two little girls in Albania, through World Vision!

Majlinda, who I've sponsored for nearly a year now, and as of today, Inaete! They are the same age, and live in the same village/project, so I hope they are friends!

I sent Majlinda a little package yesterday, with two sets of Care Bear paperdolls (they were $1 each in the dollar bin at Target!), so I hope she shares!

Inaete's favorite activity is dolls....so, I must find a way to send a doll! They suggest not sending big packages, but those manilla mailing envelopes are okay, so I try to send things that are flatter...hmmm, maybe a Barbie, taken from the box?

Ideas? Thoughts? Suggestions?

yes please!

I think that we would all agree that I really need her....

Am I wrong? No? Didn't think so.

Jumpstart

Is anyone familiar with the organization called Jumpstart? I've been really interested in getting involved with them lately and am thinking of creating an online book drive for their Read for the Record in October.

Have you ever done anything like this?

nap please

I'm back in DC and exhausted. I got home about 4am...this was after major delays into BWI, due to weather and such. Ughhh.

I need a nap.

sweet bliss

Hello from New Hampshire! I am HOME ALL WEEK!!! Lovelovelovelovelove. Yes, I am home at my parents house right now. I arrived Saturday about noon and will be here until next Sunday. It's been fantastic so far and I hope the rest of the week passes very slowly.

Steve is actually coming up tomorrow. One of my high school friends is getting married on Saturday, so he'll be here for that. I have NO idea what I am wearing. I brought home four dresses. Ha!

I had a riding lesson with my mum yesterday! I used to ride- actually, I rode for more then 10 years, starting when I was about 8 and up halfway through my junior year of college when my friend and I got into a minor car accident and the doctor told me not to ride for a few months, and then I was heading off to Luxembourg that January and just never did again. So anyway, my mother has been taking lessons for the last few months and is loving it, so I had a lesson yesterday with her! It was so much fun, I loved every second of it (except when my right foot went numb bc it wasn't used to muy stiff riding boots!) and now I want to find a barn in DC to take lessons at!

Today? Lunch with my grandmother and mother and then seeing my godson. Tomorrow? Get Steve at airport, then no idea! Thursday? Story hour at the library with best friend and godson! Lunch at my favorite place ever. Other then that, and the wedding of course? No huge plans. Steve and I thought of driving to Canada for the day, but the logistics were tricky, so I think we will save that for another trip.

Did you watch The Batchelorette last night? My mum and I watched together- she's obsessed with the show! I was so pleased with Deanna's decision- I loved J, he was my favorite from the beginning!

What else is new with you?

how did this happen?

I'd ask you how your weekend was, but it is already Wednesday afternoon...of a four day work week...

YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

Oh right, I'm happy to have an extra day off!

I actually had a post Sunday afternoon, but when I hit "post" it disapeared into cyberspace. Gahhhh, hate that. I hit refresh and the back button, but it really was gone. Sigh.

Quick recap of weekend, since it was somewhat interesting. I went out to Tysons for a bit of shopping. We stopped at Penzeys Spices in Falls Church and I bought a few things there. The main excitement at Tysons was the Grand Opening of the newest branch of Cake Love where I met Warren Brown, the owner, and had him sign my copy of his new cookbook! Can't wait to try that! Oh, and I also purchased a new purfume- Found from Crabtree & Evelyn. I rarely shop there, but it was 75% off...making it a whopping $11.25 plus tax. What's not to love about that?

Steve's aunt and uncle are in town this week, so we are having dinner with them tomorrow night. I think we are going to Oceanaire...yum! Have you been there?

Now I am frantically trying to finish up schoolwork for one class. It ended last week, but I am a bit behind, and a few assignments will be late. Ooops. At least both classes are O-V-E-R!

I am going HOME next week! YESSSSSS! Friday is my godson's first birthday (!!!) and then I have a wedding next weekend, so it makes far more sense to stay home, rather then fly back and forth two weekends in a row. I'm excited. I haven't been home since February, booo.

My sister has a boyfriend!

You know what Friday is? Aside from 4th of July? It's Independence Day- MY Independence Day- it's my four year anniversary of living here in DC! Sure, I'd lived away from home before; in college, in Luxembourg, Poland and Canada, but those times? I knew they were temporary. This time? DC seems pretty permanent. DC was my first time really living on my own. I lived in a house with four others for nearly a year before moving into my very own apartment- the same one I still live in, three years later. Awwww...

What are your plans for the 4th?