Life as a List

My current life, in list form…

I am in love with the Keurig coffee maker. I was never a big coffee drinker, and I suppose I’m still not. But making the cup-a-day I usually drink has gotten easier, and I’m so down to try all different coffee flavors with the simple press of a button. (Plus, the hot cocoa, cider, and tea are just as tasty!)

It’s amazing what a fresh coat of nail polish can do to my mood. As a girl who spent the last many years with bare nails, I can’t believe how happy painting my nails makes me or how naked I feel without colorful nails.

Getting mail is an instant mood-booster. Not really bills, obviously, but Netflix movies, magazines, and the packages I order never fail to make my day so much better.

On that note, I love buying used books on Amazon. I don’t care what they look like. I’ve saved a lot of money on my books, and there’s something about getting a hand-me-down that makes the book that much more special.

Though I am so ready to move out on my own (not financially, though, which is the only thing stopping me), I will definitely miss movie nights and laughter with my family everyday.

With celebrities that I love, I am either super-jealous or super-happy when they couple up. In this case, I’m actually both (but I’m jealous because I love Emma Stone, not Andrew Garfield…I have a total crush on her!). They are so cute together!

Reading a book, for me, is a lot like summer romance. You know it will end. It’s finite. But you do it because it feels right and you are in complete adoration of what’s in front of you. And when it’s over, it’s bittersweet. You’re happy that you were involved in such a lovely thing, but sad that it is over.

Wine and Cheese

This weekend was sort of quick, although I am writing this blog from home, sipping on French Vanilla coffee, enjoying a day off from work.
Basically, it was a blur. Brad and I got dinner with my sister and her boyfriend Josh, which was a lot of fun. And then my friend Jenna came over for a wine and cheese night (which we had been wanting to do for ages) that maybe got a little crazy at the end.
Regardless, it was a fun time and, as always, I can’t wait for next weekend.

Hope y’all had an excellent weekend and let’s have a great week!

Friday the 13th

How is it already Friday? And the 13th of January? This month is basically halfway over. I’m left wondering where the time went.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited that the weekend is here. But this past week was a blur…the days all blend together.
The plans for this weekend? Work (boo hoo), sleeping over Brad’s, a wine and cheese night, and Golden Globes watchin’ with my sis.
Did I mention I have off on Monday? Well, I do. Making the Saturday shift easier to deal with. Heck yes.

Some photos from the iPhone this past week…

Currently reading The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides…captivating.

Brad and I watched Super 8 and took a quick break so he could make amazing nachos.

Made amazing Chicken Egg Drop soup with my man.

The lineup for this week’s nails.

A successful first spin at my Yonanas!

Have a great weekend!

Etsy Lust List

Since my last Etsy Lust List post, Etsy has become one of my regularly viewed websites. My Favorites list keeps growing and growing.
I haven’t made a purchase since before the holidays, but I’m hoping to land one (or more) of the following items in the near future.
It’s hard to do that, though, when you really need to watch your money (and the items move SO FAST)!

Fabric Bow Necklace from daileedose

Pennsylvania Dutch Hex Sign Sweater Clip from Roseview Cottage (They have amazing sweater clips!)

Mister Owl Pocket Watch from Barberry and Lace

Vampire Teeth Double Finger Ring from Haus of Bizarre

Anatomical Heart Brass Necklace from House that Crow Built

Winter Survival Guide

Now that it’s January, that means that NEPA is staring some long, dreary, freezing cold days right in the face. So, in preparation, I’ve decided to put together a list of what I believe is necessary to making it through the blah days of my least favorite season.

Since a lot of your days/nights will be spent indoors (unless you are into winter sports and activities, unlike me), it’s important to keep a nice stock of the cozier things in life. I deem necessary…

Reading Materials – Books, magazines…whatever you choose! It’s so important to step away from the computer and delve into your mind.
Your Favorite Shows and Movies (DVD or Netflix) – We all have our favorite TV shows and movies that we can watch repeatedly and will always get us out of a sun-deprived funk. Make sure you have yours readily available!
The warmest, coziest blankets and sweats you can find – I can’t believe I used to make fun of Slankets. They are one of the greatest inventions for consistently cold people like me! And don’t forget snuggly hoodies, thick socks, and the softest sweatpants ever, so you’re in perfect R&R mode during snowy days.
Hot beverages (and soup!) – Hot cocoa. Green tea with honey. Coffee. Whatever floats your boat. You’re gonna need it to warm up! And I don’t know about you, but soup (which is always a favorite for me) is amazing this time of year. Get all your veggies and proteins in a can or get creative and make your own. So filling and so heartwarming.
Hobbies – Whatever yours may be, you’re going to need something to keep your mind away from the gloomy days that winter brings. For me, painting my nails has become a weekly ritual and a bit of an obsession. I look at nail blogs, try and come up with different color combos, and then, of course, paint my nails! I also enjoy blogging. You may try knitting or paint or write or whatever you so choose!
Keep that mind busy!
A sunny disposition – I find that this is especially hard during the winter. The sun appearing throughout the day gets rarer and rarer, and it doesn’t help that I work 8 hours during the day and drive home during sunset. I truly believe the sun is a big contributor to our happiness. So, find ways to stay positive and remember, cheesy as it is, that the “sun will come out tomorrow” or…well, eventually!

Necessary honorable mentions one shouldn’t forget!
Gloves/Mittens
Thermals (especially for outdoor activities)
A charged cell phone , in case of storms
An ice scraper/snow brush for your car

Nails and Ales

Time for Round Two of Nails and Ales!
This feature allows me to show off two of my favorite things…my nail polish endeavors and the different beers I try every so often.

Blue Moon is one of my favorite beers, hands down. So I was excited to try this seasonal ale.
The flavor was much stronger than the traditional brew, but I enjoyed it a lot.

Samuel Adams’ Chocolate Bock is ridiculously good. I don’t think I could drink more than one, but it would be an excellent dessert beer. The cocoa flavor was there, but not too sweet or overpowering. This came in a Samuel Adams holiday pack, and each beer was tasty in it’s own delightful way.

Lionshead is not a new beer for me, or even a fancy beer. If you can see in the picture, it is made in Wilkes-Barre, PA, aka right near home. Drinking this transports me right back to college and memories of crazy nights with great friends.
At about 15 bucks a case, you can’t go wrong. The matching nails were a happy coincidence.

Holiday nails and a holiday ale! This is a tasty, Christmas-y treat! The first sip is a festive flavor punch.
This was the one and only Fezziwig I got to enjoy. But I think that’s what keeps it so special.

Woodchuck Hard Cider is one of my favorite drinks EVER. And I’m not just talking in terms of alcoholic beverages. It’s not heavy on the alcohol content and it is just too tasty for words. The classic Amber flavor is my go-to, but I’m game to try every flavor. This particular cider is called Crisp, and is considered a session cider. It’s not a personal favorite of the flavors, it kind of reminds me of a green apple
Jolly Rancher. For me, that’s a little too sweet to enjoy. I did have the winter cider, though, and it’s beyond tasty.

The Best Two Days of the Week

This was my first “normal” weekend in three weeks. Thanks to the holidays, I enjoyed a couple of three-day weekends. Personally, I think we should always have three-day weekends. But whatever. Since the holidays are over (sad, but true), it was back to open, free weekends with very few plans. I like those relaxing types. A successful date night with Brad, lunch and shopping with my sister, an impromptu gathering with friends over a few too many drinks, and a sublimely lazy Sunday. Yes.

Some photos from date night (terrible quality, dark place, iPhone photos…sorry!).