Miss Bookwormette

I'm back!

2009-04-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the absence. Life has been just a little crazy the last couple of weeks. Things are changing, it's good change, but change nonetheless. Here's a little taste of what's been happening in the life of Miss Bookwormette...

In December my job position change at the company I'd been working at for over the last two years. It came during a restructure of our department due to the economical downturn. Since then I've been extremely bored. I went from a position that I loved, where I had responsibility and was busy the majority of the time to a position where I didn't have very many tasks to complete and the ones I did I could get done in no time flat. I went from being a billing assistant to a receptionist. There's more to the story but this is not the place to bring it up. I ended up reading books and blogs, and surfing the web for most of the work day to just fill the time. I'm grateful I could at least do that otherwise I would not have survived being so bored. I'm not the type of person who enjoys not having anything to do at work. I love multi-tasking, being busy, being challenged, having and meeting deadlines, marking items off a to-do list, and knowing at the end of the day I had accomplished something for the good of the company. It's hard when you love the company and feel like you are cheating them because in a financially tight time they are paying you to basically do nothings. I was getting frustrated and it wasn't fun to go to work anymore. It had nothing to do with my coworkers or the company but with my own work ethic and having a personality that needs to be busy and doing something constructive.

In January I began to look around for a new job. I wasn't looking seriously but knew something needed to change as I was becoming more and more discontent in my current job situation. Last Monday I applied for an Executive Administrative Assistant position. On Wednesday I was asked to interview, went in on Thursday to meet with HR and the lady whose position I would be taking, and was offered the job on Friday. I gave my resignation on Monday after working there for one month shy of three years and will be starting at my new job this Monday. Only God could have opened and shut the needed doors for me to get this position and I can see His hand directing my life onto a new plan. My new position will not only keep be super busy but will also be a ministry. I get to serve the Kingdom every day while at work. I'm so excited to start this new journey and see where it takes me.

There was on thing I wasn't expecting. When I arrived for my interview I was told I would need to take a aptitude test. The test consisted of six timed sections where you were to write down when you started and completed each task. I had to write a letter, create a spreadsheet of contacts, create a mail merge, create a postcard, proofread a letter, and answer some questions after searching their customer data base. The hardest part was the mail merge. It wasn't so hard as I was unfamiliar with out to do it. I haven't done once since a Word class in high school and it's not something I've used since them. I was able to figure it out with minimal fuss. It took about 45 minutes to finish the test. Not bad.

I know that I still haven't finished My Face posts but don't worry, the forth (and maybe) final edition is in the works and scheduled to post sometime in the near future.

My Face - Part 3

2009-03-27T12:15:00.000-07:00

I don't remember when I really got into makeup. It probably started around junior high but took many years before I began to master the art of makeup. I was homeschooled through my sophomore year of high school and attended a community college my junior and senior years. My friends did not wear a lot of makeup so there wasn't much of a chance to learn. I was probably the bravest of us all and loved trying new things. Looking back I see how much I could have used some guidance. It wasn't until college that I really started becoming proficient. I had two friends who opened by eyes to how makeup can be applied in an appealing way which when a long way in helping me master makeup. My makeup experience is ever evolving but here is an overview of the makeup products I use on a daily base.

Eyes:
In college I was introduced to the eyeshadow king, MAC. I love colorful eyeshadow and am always willing to try something new and brighter. MAC offers eyeshadow in individual containers with so many bright and vibrant colors to choose from. I have to admit I have tons of them...that's only a slight exaggeration. At one time they were an obsession but the result is that now I have quite I few that I never use or rarely use. I'll get in a rut and wear the same color combination more often then not, then I'll switch it up to a new color combination for several weeks. I'm trying to incorporate the ones less used with my favorites. I wear a lot of navy, teal, baby blue, emerald, jade, sea green, purple, and plum colors. I can't wear yellow, gold, orange or red colors with my skin tone. Before I got my glasses I strove for perfection in applying my eye makeup but now I'm a little more laid back. Glasses cover a multitude of eye makeup sins.

I found a couple of examples using google image search. I don't believe I have these specific colors but I do have really close ones.

I love Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara and have it in both waterproof and washable. After trying several different products I found that I like volume mascara over length mascara. I have really dark eyes and it helps balance it all out when my lashes are a little fuller. I never put mascara on my bottom lashes. They are already so dark that I look scary if I add anything to them. When it's going to an extra busy day or it's really raining outside I'll wear the waterproof mascara otherwise I just wear the washable mascara.

Face:
I just recently started using Bare Escentuals' foundation, bronzer, and blush. Before switching to Bare Escentuals I only used a bit of liquid concealer under by eyes (to cover up the inherited dark circles), on my nose (gota love all those pores), and on zits or problem areas if needed. This is the first time I've used a product that covers my entire face. I was looking for something that offered a softer more natural look that doesn't look like you are wearing foundation. Bare Escentuals does that and I will not be switching to another product anytime soon.

The following information was taken for the Bare Escentuals website and was my reasoning for originally looking at their product.

"bareMinerals looks like a powder, feels like a cream and buffs on like silk, giving skin a natural luminosity. Free of preservatives, talc, oil, fragrance and other harmful chemicals, bareMinerals provides impeccable coverage for every skin type, skin tone, and concern yet it doesn't feel like you're wearing any makeup at all."

I use the foundation powder (far left picture) on my entire face and the bronzer (middle picture) on my cheeks. It gives just a little warmth but not so much that you can't tell it isn't natural. I love the brozer because it is basically my skin tone only darker. It gives just the right amount of color without looking like you have "tanned" or are wearing blush. I'm assuming that once I get a little sun on my face there won't be any need for the bronzer but in my winter paleness it's a must. I only use the blush (far right picture) on special occasions. As long as I blend the foundation and bronzer in you can't really tell I'm wearing makeup. It softens, smooths, and evens out my skin tone without any trace of a "foundation" look. Because I'm applying a powder if I happen to have any dry spots it doesn't matter. I no longer have to worry about dry flaky skin getting covered in a liquid concealer and shining white like a light bulb on my face. It goes on so quickly and smoothly. If you are looking for a natural look this is the product for you.

I'm off for a busy weekend and will pick this back up next week. I'm sure you are all on pins and needles to discover how I apply my makeup. Have an awesome weekend folks!

My Face - Part 2

2009-03-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

I have very sensitive skin and must be careful what skin care products I use. If I use an oily product my face will become very oily after only a couple of weeks of use and if I don't use a good moisturizer my face will quickly dry out and become flaky. It has taken several years and trying multiple products before I found a combination that works well to cleanse and moisturize my skin.

I have been blessed with very clear skin, meaning I rarely breakout and if I do it's usually just one or two zits. Once in a while during that time of the month I'll have a couple of zits but never anything major. Both of my parents and all my siblings have always had clear skin aside for the occasional breakout. I had a couple of years in college when well water, bad eating, and lack of regular sunlight caused for more regular breakouts but nothing like severe acne. I will occasionally have breakouts related to a reaction from a new skincare product or one that due to prolonged use has irritated by skin but those have been less frequent as I've discovered products that work well for my skin.

The products I regularly use:

I use Olay Regenerist Detoxifying Pore Scrub about twice a week when I need a good scrub and Olay Clarify and Cleanse Daily Scrub for daily use.

I use Olay Complete All Day UV Moisture Lotion SPF 15 - Sensitive Skin for twice daily moisturizing and Lancome Resolution D-Contraxol Intensive Anti-Wrinkle Treatment when needed around my eyes. It works to help moisturize extra dry or irritated skin.

I use Cover Girl Clean Makeup Remover for Eyes and Lips to remove my washable mascara and any eye shadow residue. I use Maybelline Expert Eyes 100% Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover after wearing waterproof eyeliner or mascara. I only use it at night as it causes eye shadow to crease when used in the morning.

My morning routine consists of rinsing my face in the shower and applying a lite coat of Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer. If needed I will use Cover Girl Clean Makeup Remover to remove any eye makeup reside before applying the lotion.

I use either of the Olay scrubs at night. If I used waterproof eye products that day I will use Maybelline Expert Eye makeup remover. When the needed I will apply a small amount of Lancome treatment around my eyes for added moisturizing followed by Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer.

The next time I have a hankering to change my skincare products and/or I run out of all of them around the same time, I believe that I'm going to try the all natural approach. Momma H's mom is a naturalist and can test your skin for the nutrients it needs. It's a bit more expensive but I think it would be worth it to stop putting chemicals on my face on a daily base. I've already developed an allergy to the aluminum found in antiperspirant deodorant and now can only use Crystal Body Deodorant which does not contain aluminum and is hypoallergenic, and fragrance and paraben free. I do not want to develop an allergy to an ingredient in my skincare products. A proactive approach would be best.

Wordless Wednesday...

2009-03-25T09:14:00.000-07:00

Family...

Also if you feel so moved please remember Stellan in your prayers today.

My Face - Part 1

2009-03-24T09:23:00.000-07:00

Why do women feel the need to slather on makeup everyday? Some not even being comfortable enough to leave the house unless they are perfectly made up. Why do we try to be something that we aren't naturally? Don't get me wrong I LOVE makeup but why do I feel the need to wear it every day? Where does the need to change the colors of my face come from?

There is not a much of a makeup history in my family. My mom wears a little eyeliner, mascara, blush and lipstick. My sis wears natural looking makeup once in a while and my little sis never wears it. I'm the rebel, the one who has more makeup than I know what to do with. Where did it all come from?

In the following days I will be outlining the makeup and skincare products I use while trying to understand why I use them. It's time for a little heart to heart talk with my face.

Stay tuned....

Please pray...

2009-03-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

I've followed MckMama's blog for the past several months. Please take a moment to lift Stellan in prayer.

MckMama's miracle son MckMuffin, Stellan, was admitted into the hospital last night due to breathing difficulties. After two breathing treatments is was discovered he had gone into Supraventricular Tachycardia meaning his heart is beating dangerously high at 250-300 beats per minute. Please pray for the wisdom of MckMuffin's doctors and for God's all encompassing grace and peace on the MckFamily.

The MacBook update...

2009-03-21T15:19:00.000-07:00

It's been interesting the last couple of days becoming familiar with my new MacBook after years, and I mean years, of only using a PC. There have been a few moments of pure frustration but thankfully those are becoming few and farther between but then I haven't attempted Word, Excel, or Powerpoint yet so who knows what that will bring. I was able to get all my documents and pictures off my external hard drive and onto MacBook without any problems but when I transfered my music from iTunes there is a portion of it that didn't transfer onto the MacBook. I'm missing about 300 songs and wouldn't you know that the album I wanted to listen to this morning is one of the missing ones! I've messed around with it a bit but can't seem to find the elusive songs.

I really miss my favorite and most used PC shortcuts. The things I could do without having to use the mouse/touch pad and the things I don't know how to do now. If there is any Mac user out there who could help me with the following I would be most appreciative.

PC Shortcuts:

Shift + F7 = Thesaurus

Control + A = Select All

Where's the "End" button and "Home" button on the Mac?

Delete = deletes text from the right

(The Mac "delete" button is that same as a PC's "Backspace" button and only deletes text to the left)

I'm sure I'll find other Mac/PC differences that will cause more learning curves but for now I'm slowly figuring it out.

P.S. I'm sitting in a coffee shop writing this and of the three laptops in the cafe, mine included, they are all Macs.

Wordless Wednesday (2nd Edition)...

2009-03-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the new addition to my electronics family!

*Sorry for the blurry picture...I took it with my cell phone.

I got the MacBook (Aluminum version) yesterday! So far the 20 minutes I've spent on it have been a blast. I can't wait to move all my files onto it and set it up to my preferences! I'll update more later.

Wordless Wednesday...

2009-03-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Momma H and Little D after an afternoon of shopping...

New Page Design...

2009-03-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

As you can see my page design has changed. I customized the colors myself so PLEASE let me know if anything is hard to read or see.

As little sis says, "It doesn't have to match it just has to go."

MckMama's Not Me Monday...

2009-03-16T07:36:00.000-07:00

It's time for another airing of our dirty laundry session. Jump over to MckMama's blog for more Not Me! Mondays that is sure to bring a smile to your face.

On the one sunny day we had last week I most certainly did NOT see two butt cracks on my way home from work. Let's be G rated folks...if you are going to ride a bicycle then you should make sure your shirt covers more than your shoulder blades and that your pants cover more than you thighs.

My favorite cookbook, Better Homes & Garden, did NOT eat my retainer this week. After is was missing for three days I was NOT ready to post a reward for it's return. My sis did NOT have to preform surgery to remove it from captivity last night and save me from the embarrassing call to Dr. B this morning letting him know I had lost it.

I did NOT take tons more pictures of my little heartthrob, Little D, this weekend. Wordless Wednesday will most certainly NOT have the same subject as last week.

I would NEVER splatter something on my brand new zippy at lunch and immediately wash it so I put it back on clean to wear for small group that afternoon, come home in evening and splatter something on it again, no NOT me.

Using coupons...

2009-03-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

I not one to use coupons on a regular bases but as money is getting tighter I've started to look for ways to save money. My friend Flo is the queen of finding deals and never paying full price. She has inspired me to look for coupons when I know that I'm going to be making a specific purchase or shopping at specific stores. I had no idea the internet had so many sites dedicated to coupons. They are all just waiting at your fingertips.

Specific Purchase:
Just the other day I was on a hunt for some new work pants. I found some at American Eagle Online that were on sale from $39.50 to $19.95. I did a two minute search online and found a 20% off coupon. The pants ended up costing me $15.95 each (I bought two pairs) and $7.00 for shipping. I spent a total of $38.90 for two pairs of pants and that is less that the cost of one pair originally. The online 20% coupon has expired but check out Dealigg for other great savings at American Eagle and more products and stores that you would ever be able to shop at.

Specific Store:
Momma H and I will be heading to our local Outlet Mall this Saturday. Knowing that I love to shop at the Banana Republic Factory Store and Gap Outlet I did a bit of coupon browsing. It just so happens that Gap Inc. Brands is running a friends and family 30% off sale this weekend at all their brand stores including outlets. I can guarantee that I would have bought something there without the coupon but now I'll be saving 30% off before I even walk into the stores. I rarely purchase anything full price at either store so I'm sure that I'll be raking in the savings.

It's so worth the few extra minutes to complete a quick online search before shopping. I know that I'll be doing this frequently in the future and I challenge you to do the same.

Wordless Wednesday...

2009-03-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

MckMama's Not Me! Monday...

2009-03-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

It's time for the weekly cleansing of any actions that did NOT take place this week or as MckMoma puts it "air the dirty laundry" :).

I did NOT change my facebook relationship status to "single" on Saturday morning and then on Sunday morning update my status to "Miss Bookwormette is spending the day with her BF and godson!" I did NOT have to clarify that BF = Best Friend = Momma H, not boyfriend. Come on folks, did I not just state for my facebook sphere of friends that I am SINGLE.

After treating myself to Starbucks on the way to work one morning last week I did NOT spill 3/4 of it all over my desk before enjoying even a sip of it. The delicious soy chai did NOT run under my phone, pen/post-it-note/paperclip holder, monitor, keyboard and spill onto the floor mat. It was NOT a bad start to a stressful day!

I most certainly did NOT forget about daylight savings time until my mom texted a reminder Saturday afternoon and then forget again until my phone popped up a reminder at 10pm which meant it was 11pm.

After craving apple and marionberry crisp for the past couple of days I did NOT make a 9 x 13 baking dish of it last night and eat an enormous serving topped with ice cream. This was NOT after eating a big dish of ice cream Thursday night, brownies and ice cream on Friday night, and ice cream on Saturday night. When I got up this morning and discovered there was only 1/3 of the crisp left I did NOT leave a "do not eat" sign on the dish to guarantee there would be some left over when I get home from work tonight, no NOT me!

Sleeping habits...

2009-03-07T11:00:00.000-08:00

For as long as I can remember I've always had a hard time sleeping. My mom tells stories about how I didn't sleep though the night until I was three years old and that my sister (born 13 months after me) slept through the night at six weeks in self defense. I regularly have sleepless nights or nights when I can't fall asleep for hours. I never drink caffeine after 2pm, not that I drink it very often anyways, unless I want a guarantee that I won't get any sleep. If I'm stressed out, worried about something, or anxious it's likely that I'll have a rough night. When sleeping in a new place, which is anywhere other than my own great bed, it's normal to not sleep the first night and sleep poorly for the next couple. Sometimes when traveling I'll take a sleep aid but there is no guarantee that they'll work. They can make me wide awake instead of putting me to sleep.

The problem is that I'm not a happy person if I don't get enough sleep. I'm the one who needs, loves, must have eight hours of sleep on a regular bases to function. I'm always in bed at least eight hours before I have to get up to maximize the amount of sleep I could get on any given night.

I wish I was the person who laid their head on the pillow and was out for the night, but that's not the way I was created. Instead I have lots of nights where I can contemplate life, pray, daydream, remember things I need to do, and just think.

My prayer...

2009-03-06T13:42:00.000-08:00

Father, you know the desires of my heart, you know every chapter of my life book, you know where I'll be next year, in five years, in ten years and beyond. I put my trust in You. I have no need to worry or stress about my relationships, job, family, health, life when You are in complete control. Help me to walk the path You have prepared for me. Guide me, teach me, mold me, stretch me into the daughter, friend, sister you created me to be. Give me peace, understanding, wisdom, to walk in Your ways. Keep me in Your arms, full of love. Fill me with Your Spirit. Let me life be a representation of You, shining to those around me who are in need of Your Saving Grace. Keep me close. You are my Shield, my Strength, my Fortress, Deliverer, my Shelter, Strong Tower, my very present help in time of need.

Amen.

Mac all the way!

2009-03-02T10:44:00.000-08:00

I LOVE the MacBook! After spending some time checking out the MacBook at the my local Apple store I'm in love. Because it's going to cost a bit more than I had originally anticipated spending on a laptop, I probably will be next month before I get it. I'm all about paying cash! I to orginaize all my pictures, music, settings, and just playing around.

The Mac vs. PC Debate

2009-02-27T12:11:00.000-08:00

I had a faithful Toshiba laptop that served me well through 4 years of college but alas it died a couple of years back. My parents have a Dell desktop that I use if it's not already occupied by my mom, little sis or brother (both whom are currently in school) should the need arise. I use my work computer to transfer pictures from my camera to an external hard drive, store music, and any internet usage I need such as directions, glancing at the cell phone bill, online banking, blogging, etc., all of which are regularly done on my lunch break. It's working out ok but I really missing being able to have all my files available at home, watching DVD's in my room, hanging out at coffee shops using free WiFi and not having to vie time on my parents desktop.

I've thought about getting a new laptop for a while now. Enter the tax return. I've spent the last couple of weeks researching my different options. It's hard because I don't have any clue as to the technical side i.e. ram, memory, GB, wireless cards, and the list goes on and on. I'm basically looking for a something to store music and pictures one, banking, internet, writing CD's, watching DVD's, and general use. I don't game, video edit, publication work, or music composing so I don't need anything to powerful. I'm also looking for a portable machine so have decided to go with the 13.3 screen size. I've narrowed it down to the following:

1. Dell Inspiron 13
As I've already mentioned my parents have a Dell desktop and my sister has a Dell laptop. They've both had great success with their machines. I do have to say the Dell website is a bit confusing, so many different options for each laptop line and to many ways to configure a laptop. It's a little overwhelming. After several different practice configurations I finally have a good grasp on what would want.

2. MacBook
I'd never really looked at Mac's before now but thought I should at least give them a chance. I'm surprised to say I was really impressed. There were so many helpful tutorials and product information videos online. They are a bit more pricier than other laptops I've looked at but they seem worth the extra cost.

Now comes the debate: PC or Mac?

I have an iPod and am going to ask for an iPhone for my birthday (just a couple of months away!) so I'm already a bit into the Mac world. I just don't know if I'm ready to go all the way. I know you can run Windows on a Mac but you have to purchase extra software. Am I ready for a learning curve? I've never used a Mac in my life and am quite proficient with a PC. Compairing the specific Inspiron 13 and MacBook I've looked at they are within a couple hundred dollars in price but not in specifictions. Do I really need 4GB of memory or will 2GB be fine? I'm going to head to neighborhood Apple store tonight to get a feel for the MacBook and ask some questions. I'll keep you updated!

Weigh in on the debate and answer the following questions: Are you a PC or Mac lover and why?

Wordless Wednesday...

2009-02-25T11:18:00.000-08:00

Homemade bread...need I say more?

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-13T13:26:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and a Happy Valentine's Day!

Randomness ...

2009-02-12T07:31:00.000-08:00

I followed a different route then normal to get to work this morning as I needed to stop for gas. After hitting the pump I was driving down a major street that heads into downtown and pulled up behind a green station wagon. It took only a second to realize that I had driven behind the exact same car earlier this week while driving my normal route to work which is on completely different streets. I followed the car for the next block and a half before it turned. What caught my attention earlier this week was the two triathlon bumper stickers on the vehicle. One was circle and one was rectangle with the same running, swimming, and biking figures. The first time I saw the vehicle I pondered the bumper stickers for a bit. My dad participated in a triathlon in his twenties and during it a man died from a heart attack. After seeing the bumper stickers I remember thinking about the story and how I would never participate in a triathlon. It was so random to see the same car twice on completely different streets and different days of the week. It is certainly a small world out there.

Also, while I didn't pull out my pilates DVD on Tuesday night I did get it out last night and complete the Winsor Pilates Advanced Body Slimming workout. I can do all the exercises in the workout but my goal over the next couple of weeks is to make sure I'm doing them correctly and utilizing my "power house".

Wordless Wednesday...

2009-02-11T11:12:00.000-08:00

Brittany over at 4 little men and girly twins hosts Wordless Wednesday. I though it would be fun to participate since today is Wednesday.

Here a few pictures taken in Italy last year. I couldn't decide on just one so I decided to add some of my favorites.

Enjoy!

Thoughts about weight and exercise...

2009-02-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

I've never been obese but at times I have definitely been on the heavy/overweight side. I would like to say I'm 5'3'' but in realty (since I haven't been measured since I was a preteen) I'm probably more along the lines of 5'2''. I don't really fit in petite or woman clothes nor is there that one store where I can always find something that fits. My legs are long compared to my height but to long for short pants and not long enough for regular pants combined with a shorter torso. I'm somewhat petite but have wider shoulders and only wear low rise pants. Needless to say I feel like I have a really unique body shape when I find something that fits I buy it.

My heaviest was about 18-20 lbs more than I am today. I'm happy where I am now although I could probably stand to loose a pound or two. I weigh myself on a digital scale first thing in the morning about 3-4 times a week. I am always fluctuating between 2-3 lbs. It all depends on the time of month, what I ate and how much I drank the day before and how much sleep I got. I wish there weren't so many factors my weight as it can be discouraging to weigh more on a day when I have something special planned. I can tell my love handles grow with the addition of even one pound. No matter how skinny I get I will never have a truly defined waist. My two sisters on the other hand could weigh 200 lbs and still have womanly figures. I was blessed with my mom's rectangle body shape, not heavily endowed to say the least, no waist definition and small hips with nicely defined love handles.

It's not that I really want/need to loose any weight at the moment as I am in the normal range on the body mass index chart and I feel fine. Once I've been about 4-6 lbs lighter than I am now and it was too much work to stay there as I LOVE desserts. Also when I was that weight my collar bone stuck out and I am not a fan of the look. I know some people think it makes you look skinny but I think it only makes you look anorexic. I basically want to be a little more tone around the love handles, stomach, and hip area but not build muscle mass. It would be nice to add a little definition but not so much that my clothes are too big.

Did I mention I hate to exercise? I can't stand the feeling of my lungs burning and I won't push through the pain. I was homeschooled and as a result I never attended PE classes or participated in sports, unless you call a couple of years of horseback ridding playing a sport. I like pilates because you work your core muscles against your own body weight and it helps with flexibility. I have a couple of Winsor Pilates DVD's but do not use them on a regular bases. My parents have a family membership to a dinky little gym close to our house that I can visit but they don't offer any classes and a gym membership that would include classes for motivation does not currently fit into my budget.

Where do I get the motivation to work out on a regular base? I want to and always feel good afterwards but I lack the motivation to just start. I know I just need to do it! I get up early for work so it's not really an option to do it first thing in the morning and when I get home from work I either have other things to do or am tired. I'm happy to say that I did pilates both on Saturday and Sunday but it had been months since I last pulled them out. I have something to do after work today but I'm going to try and get in the 20 minute body slimming workout. It's only 20 minutes so why can't I just do it?

I'll update you tomorrow and let you know how it goes.

The impact of a relationship...

2009-02-06T11:09:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago I leaned our youth pastor (Doug, Donna and 3 kids) would be leaving this spring to start a church in a city many states away. They are going with full blessing from our church and will receive support financially and through a team of people who will go with them; basically they'll be a sister church.

Several years ago, around junior high, I developed a close relationship with Donna. It started with babysitting their first daughter when she was just a couple of months old and through their third child turning one. She became my Pastor, a mentor, a friend and so much more. She played a huge role in who I am today. Due to unique circumstances when I was in college we drifted apart and have not spoken in a few years. I miss having her in my life. Long story short we randomly spoke on the phone a while ago. It was like no time had passed as we chatted about where we each are in the journey of life. We haven't spoken since but just that short conversation brought back some many memories, good ones. I sat down this week and wrote them a letter about the impact they both had had on my life and to let them know they are leaving behind someone blessed by their ministry. I don't know if I'll hear back from them but I wanted make sure before they left that they knew I have no hard feelings about how we parted and that I am truly grateful for their influence in my life.

I thought I would be transparent and share the letter I mailed today. Hopefully you'll get a glimpse of what they meant to me and understand the impact they had on my life.

"Doug and Donna,

Since hearing that you would be heading to another state there's something I've wanted to share with you. It's been on my heart for a while and now seemed like an appropriate time.

I don't know if I ever told you but you both made an incredible difference in my life, from hanging out, traveling with you, babysitting, watching you pastor, and being pastored by you, you both greatly impacted my life. I am who I am today because you both were there to help mold me. You are leaving behind someone who was greatly touched by your ministry. I wanted to make sure you know that I am so grateful for all the time and energy you poured into my life over the years. I can't thank you enough for being a part of my life and letting me be a part of yours. I have such fond memories of the times I spend at your house being loved and a part of the family. You always made me feel welcome. I learned so much just being around you. Thank you. You both were Godly examples for me and remarkable pastors at a time when I really needed it.

Donna, what can I say but that you are amazing! I can still hear your voice so clearly in my head encouraging me to do the right thing even if it's not the easiest road or what I want to do. You always had the right thing to say to put me back on track. I was so blessed to have you as a pastor. You guided me through many life changing, decision making moments. I am so thankful that God put you in my life from the first time I babysat K for the Elders Retreat. I would never have been involved in youth group if it hadn't been for you. I can't thank you enough for everything. You were there for the right season. I have a message you spoke at GU years ago on my iPod about destiny and purity. Whenever I need a reminder I always listen to it. It's like you're speaking just to me. During the message you read from one of your old journals about a dream you had to pastor and touch young people, know that that dream came true, you touched my life. You were a pastor, a mentor, someone to bounce things off of, a friend, and always there for me no matter the time of day. You shaped who I am today more than you could ever know.

I love you both and will be keeping you, your family, and team in my prayers. You have and are going to touch many more lives than you will ever know. I wanted to say "thank you" and make sure you knew the impact you had on my life and how grateful I am to you both.

Love always,

Miss Bookwormette"

I've never had a close relationship with a pastor since then. It takes time for me to build a relationship and not that we don't have great pastor's at my church, since then there just hasn't been anyone that I've connected that closely with. I hope that in the future I can have that kind of relationship again. I think it's very healthy for us to have someone in our lives to give guidance, wisdom, direction, let you know when you've said/done something you shouldn't have, correct your thinking, and just be there for you. I have close friends but not a pastor and I know there's a difference.

Thanks Doug and Donna for making a difference in my life!

Blogs I follow...

2009-02-04T14:45:00.000-08:00

I've recently gotten into reading blogs. I thought I would share a few with you.

I'm not even sure where I found it but The Pioneer Woman was the first blog I ever read. I truly love Ree's sense of humor, recipes, and learning about ranch life.

I recently came across My Charming Kids. What can I say but I love it!

Sgt and Mrs Hub covers life as an Air Force family.

Brittany shares from her heart and has the most precious kids.

I love Bakerella! Especially her cake balls. I made them for Momma H's baby shower and they were a big hit.

A Surrogate's Diary is the story of giving life.

Here is a touching story of a little girl's miracle at Kelly's Korner.

There are other blogs I follow but these are my current favorites. I love getting a peak into people's lives; seeing how they relate to family, hardships, joyful occasions, love, and everything in between. I'm sure my habit of reading blogs stems from my love of reading books. At times I have to remind myself that what I'm reading is someone's real life (embellished or not) not fiction.

More photos of Little D...

2009-02-02T09:30:00.001-08:00

I'm so ready to have a baby of my own but am a little scared of the full-time care required after just spending time with Momma H and Little D. I regularly babysat for all of my teen years and into my college years. Newborns were never a problem, but to know that someones life is dependent on you puts it into perspective. All together it has been tons of fun hanging out with Momma H and getting to cuddle Little D.

*All clean after a bath and ready for a photo shoot!

*Little D loving Momma H and Daddy's hands.

*The fam...

*So cute!

25 Random Things About Me!

2009-01-29T12:12:00.000-08:00

I've seen this a lot on facebook and though it would be fun to try it here. Although it was a bit harder to come up with 25 random things than I had first anticipated. Needless to say I did come up with enough after a few days of grabbing a piece of paper whenever inspiration would strike.

1. I detest mushrooms...shall one never pass through my lips.
2. I flew in from a trip to Romania and Austria on a Friday evening and flew to Singapore the following Sunday morning.
3. I still live with my parents.
4. I graduated with my bachelors degree one tenth of a point away from summa cum laude.
5. I want a iphone for my birthday!
6. I regularly have 30+ books checked out from the library and rarely return one unread.
7. I'm not a happy person with less than 8 hours of sleep a night.
8. I have never broken a bone, gotten stitches, or been to the ER.
9. I have an unexplainable fear of the dentist considering my dad is one (and yes he has always done my dental work) and I worked in his office for over 7 years.
10. My life long dream is to be a stay at home mom.
11. I pass out when my blood is drawn.
12. If I could afford it or could justify the expense I would get my nails done every couple of weeks.
13. I'm currently growing my hair out.
14. I would love to go back to Italy for a few weeks of exploring without being apart of a tour group.
15. I LOVE my new car but HATE the new car smell.
16. I love it that my dad likes to shop and is always open to heading to the mall with me or one of my siblings. He was always the one who took us school/summer shopping.
17. I'm the oldest of my siblings...my parents had 4 kids in 5 years and 2 months.
18. I'll eat the same thing for lunch for a couple of weeks and then not eat it for months until I remember it again.
19. I could live in jeans paired with a sweatshirt or sweater with the occasional dress up function.
20. I deplorable at spelling...sorry for any mistakes I have made in the past and will most certainly make in the future.
21. I took horseback riding lessors in junior high.
22. I would love to get back into playing my violin but am daunted by how much I've lost since last taking lessons in college.
23. I've always lived in the same county.
24. I'm not fashionable unless it's comfortable and almost never wear high heeled shoes.
25. If I wasn't trying to be professional at work I would get an eyebrow piercing in a heart beat.

No time like now...

2009-01-29T09:07:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't been around lately. Life has been CRAZY!!! I'm here to update you on the Miss Bookwormette happenings of the past few weeks.

Miss A to Mrs J:

Miss A's wedding was absolutely beautiful. This was my first experience being a bridesmaid and I have to say it was awesome. I was a flower girl numerous times as a kid but it has been many years since I've done anything other than attend a wedding. I loved the experience! It was such fun to be a vital part of the ceremony and be so involved on their special day.

*She's so gorgeous!

*Thanks for sharing your bagel...it was yummy!

*They were so nice to each other; no cake was smeared!

*Helicopter Man and I.

I loved being a part of Miss A's journey from singlehood to love and now marriage. I'm so blessed to have her in my life! She ROCKS!

My godson, Little D:

Yesterday I was blessed to welcome my godson into the world. I can't explain the feelings I had the first time I saw him other than it was love at first sight. What a journey it has been. I'm so excited to love and support him as he fulfills the amazing destiny God already has written for him.

*My first time holding Little D...I can't believe the head of black hair.

*Momma H and Little D enjoying some cuddling.

*So precious....

*Too cute for words.

*Auntie E and I were having fun giving him a fohawk. Jokes were flying around the room that he wasn't even 4 hours old and we were ready to gel his hair. Of course we didn't but I'm sure there will be lots of it going on in the near future.

Yesterday was definitely a day for wonderful emotions. I

P.S. I'm committing to writing here more often. At times I have things to say but can't get them down on paper the way I would like to so they end up being "posts in process" but never more than that. It's time to just let it all out (with in reason)!

Movie Review...

2009-01-22T13:20:00.000-08:00

I love watching movies in the theater. There's something about the atmosphere that really grabs me....sitting back with a bag full of candy and letting a couple of hours pass. When I rent a movie there is a certain feeling I'm going for...I want to enjoy the film and not be disappointed at the end. I don't care if it's a sad ending, I just want it to be a conclusive ending and be a movie with meaning. But when I go to the theater I'm much more willing to see a movie that I would never rent. Why? Who knows! Even thinking about it I wonder where this ever came from. It costs a bundle more to see a movie in the theater then it does to just rent it. I guess that on the occasion I rent a movie I'm looking to create a certain kind of experience that I don't care is there when I see a movie in the theater. The theater alone creates a feeling that can't be duplicated at home and I guess makes up for it if the movie isn't great. I'm not sure if this makes any sense but thought I would share a bit with you. In conclusion, I'm weird or to be politically correct, I'm unique!

*courtesy of google images

A couple of weeks ago I saw Marley and Me with Momma H. It was such a touching movie...Momma H shed a few tears :). Going in I knew the movie was about a dog but not about how a dog wove himself in a man and his family's lives. I loved how it was portrayed an imperfect family and all the hills and valleys relationships, work, and life in general take. I would definitively see the film again. I love leaving a movie feeling satisfied and this movie does that. A must see!

*courtesy of google images

A bunch of ladies from church had a Girls Night Out a while back. We met for dinner at an amazing Indian restaurant. It was my first Indian cuisine experience and I'm happy to report I will be visiting them again soon. We saw Bride Wars after dinner. For being rated PG I was surprised at the strip club scene. I'm probably more of a conservative movie goer but still, stripping in a PG movie? Does this bother anyone but me? It was not what I was expecting to see the least. Overall I thought the movie was good, if you're ready for a couple of mindless hours but nothing more than that. I'm all for the good chick flicks and this one (aside from the stripper scene) meets the mark. Since I don't have teenagers, or any children for that fact, I'm not going to comment on whether I would let young teens see the movie. I believe that I'm mature enough to handle it, plus who was expecting it with a PG rating, but I would probably not choose to see the movie again.

Thanks for reading my wondering thoughts...

Miss A's Bachelorette Party

2009-01-06T08:17:00.001-08:00

Miss A, one of my best friends, is getting married in just 11 short days. Last Friday we had her bachelorette party. Instead of a night on the town I decided to prepare a formal dinner at my house. From my hope chest I dug out the eight piece china set I inherited from my Grandma years ago but have not yet had an occasion to use. I purchased the table linens for the event. I'm not sure of the true etiquette but I prefer the table cloth and cloth napkins to not match so I went with a cranberry weaved table cloth and silver weaved napkins. I really like how they look with the china.

Over the past couple of year Aunt J1 and I have collected a number of pink and silver serving dishes and accessories to use for dinner parties. I pulled out a couple of the pieces to use for serving the appetizers.

A: A small glass with a silver ring around the top. I'm assuming it's an alcohol beverage glass but beyond that I have no clue. It worked great to hold the toothpicks.

B: I used the shallow pink bowl to hold the fondue bread.

C: Silver candle sticks from my grandma.

D: Aunt J1 and I weren't sure of the intended purpose of the silver dish but the crackers fit perfect in it. I used a bit of pink ribber and threaded it through the holes for a bit of splash.

E: Aunt J1 found the pink and silver balls and said they were a must have so we bought them :).

* A closer look at the china pattern. I chose to pull out the silver and pink from the pattern and have a number of pink and silver dishes to accompany.

We played a couple of games and by far this one was my favorite. Miss A was given the task of making a cake from scratch, with baking and nonbaking items set out for her disposal, without a recipe to determine how good of a wife she will be. She was to take a piece of the finished cake to serve to her future husband. Miss A doesn't bake so it was a fun time of everyone giving their two sense about what ingredients and at what quantities she should use. The finished cake wasn't really a cake but more of a oily, sweet corn bread. It smelled good but I opted not to try it.

Overall it was a fun night of laughter and lingerie. A must have for a bachelorette party were no alcohol was served.

Until next time...

And more snow...

2009-01-02T11:33:00.000-08:00

I was up around 1:00am for a bathroom visit and noticed that is was snowing big fluffy flakes. I went back to bed and didn't think about it again. When I got up at 5:15 to shower and get ready for work about 2 inches of fresh snow greeted me. I could see that people had already driven down our street so I wasn't to worried about driving to work. At 6am I check the temperature on my phone and it was 37 degrees out. I left for work about 6:20am and the roads were slushy but not icy. I had no problems getting to work. In the seven years that I've been driving it has never snowed this much and it's only January 2nd. I can't wait to see what happens in the month to come...more snow anyone?

Snow, snow, snow and more snow!

2008-12-29T10:39:00.000-08:00

*Our backyard after a week of snow.

Over the past two weeks we received over 18 inches of snow! Thankfully the majority of it melted this weekend. Snow is a rarity around here and the city basically shuts down when it snows. I went over a week without driving my car. My dad loves driving in the snow (thanks to his 4WD Lincoln Navigator with chains) and played chauffeur whenever anyone wanted to leave the house which was pretty much every day. I enjoyed the snow for the first week but was pretty tired of it after two weeks!

* Another backyard shot...two more inches of snow fell after this picture was taken.

*On a walk after going stir crazy from being house bound!

Holiday parties...

2008-11-20T11:56:00.000-08:00

Every holiday season I attend several Christmas parties. I love the festive touch Christmas brings to a party. This year I will be attending my dad’s office Christmas party, Origin’s (the young adults group at church) Christmas party, and I plan to host a Christmas party for my friends. Each of the parties has a unique atmosphere.

My dad’s office Christmas parties are always held at a nice restaurant in the city with the families of my dad’s three employees. Up until two and a half years ago I worked in my dad’s office and since I have left two out of three of my dad’s employees are new. The party’s atmosphere is different because I have never worked with them before and don’t know them on a personal level but at the same time it’s nice to talk to someone I didn’t spend the work week with. Overall it is always a very enjoyable evening even if I do have to find parking downtown.

I will be attending my second Origin Christmas party. Last year they did a $5 white elephant exchange. When each person walks in the front door they are given a number. As over two hundred people attended the party they called people up in increments of ten to a gift and open it in front of the crowd or steal a gift someone else already opened. I was towards the end of one hundred and I chose to open a gift which was a Swiss Army toilette bag. During the next round someone stole my toilette bag and I had to go up and pick another gift. The second gift was a play on the Twelve Days of Christmas. The box was full of items to represent the twelve days….things like four Ziploc bags of dried macaroni. Very creative! It was fun to watch everyone open their gifts and see the ones that truly were white elephant, the nice gifts, and the weird ones. I’m excited to see what this year brings.

I’m planning on having a Christmas party for my friends this year. I think it will be fun to have a night of food, games and fellowship with some friends that I don’t see on a regular base. I’ll keep you posted on the event!

Bring on the food...

2008-11-12T12:57:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love pumpkin pie. I went to the grocery store earlier this week and was the victim of a marketing scheme. As I walked into the store I was assaulted with displaces brimming with apple pie, stuffing, green beans, canned gravy (who know there was such a thing) and CANNED PUMPKIN. I took one look at the canned pumpkin and knew homemade pumpkin pie would be the perfect end to a busy day. I picked up a can and of course had to also get some whipping cream. Homemade pumpkin pie is not pumpkin pie without being topped with mounds of fresh whipped cream.

I used the red plaid cookbook otherwise known as the Better Homes and Garden cookbook for the pumpkin pie and pie crust recipe. It is my favorite cookbook (the gift every new bride receives from me) and has never failed me. This was the first pie crust I had made in ages because I’m much more of a cake person than pie. The crust turned out only okay...not flakey enough but the flavor was good. I did a bit of research and have determined what I should do different next time to have a perfectly flakey crust. The plated piece of pumpkin pie topped with a double scoop of fresh whipped cream was garnished with sifted cinnamon. The first pumpkin pie of the season was so very yummy!

My favorite holiday dinner dish is my Aunt J1’s Cheesy Potatoes which contains cubed potatoes, several kinds of cheese, heavy cream, more butter that you would want to know, sour cream, cream cheese and seasonings. Aunt J1 (all of my dad sister’s names start with J so I’ll call them J1, J2, and J3 based on birth order) does not believe in skimping on calories and only uses ingredients with the highest fat content which adds to the creamy, cheesy, potato goodness. Calorie counting is not permitted at any holiday meal.

This whole fat content business brings to mind my cream cheese frosting…I have never been about to make the perfect cream cheese frosting. I’ve tried several different recipes and non make the cut. The consistently is never wanting but the flavor is always a bit off. The other day a coworker brought in Noah’s bagels and cream cheese to the office. Of course I had to have one and the moment I bite into it I had an epiphany. Non-fat cream cheese! My mom has always bought non-fat cream cheese, never the real stuff. I don’t partially care for original cream cheese and have never bought it myself. The true “cream cheese” flavor that can only be found in high calorie cream cheese was the missing flavor in my cream cheese frosting. I can’t wait to make something that requires cream cheese so I can confirm my theory.

Banana Cake anyone?

I’m ready for the Holidays…

2008-11-11T12:07:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for the fastly approaching holidays? I most defiantly am looking forward to this year’s festivities. I love the cooking, family gatherings, Christmas services, shopping for the perfect gifts, and Christmas parties. It is exhilarating to watch the leaves change colors and know that we in the holiday season and to enter a store and hear Christmas music and see holiday decorations spilling into the aisles giving you new inspiration for this year’s holiday decorations. There is such energy in the air. I always look forward to the family traditions that take place during the holiday season. It is a time when we get to share the joy of the birth of Jesus and love for all those around us whether they’re family, friends, co-workers, or people we pass on the street.

Over the next week I’m going to highlight the different holiday traditions I take part in and I’m hoping that you’ll share your favorite traditions with me.

Words from the past...

2008-11-07T13:20:00.000-08:00

I'm not really into myspace and prefer facebook. I've had a myspace account for several years but rarely visit it. I randomly logged in today while talking to a coworker. He's only seen myspace a few times and asked what my profile looked like. I pulled it up and was shocked to see two blogs listed. I didn't even remember writing them so of course I had to investigate.

Here is the first blog I wrote. It would have been written during the last semester of my junior at CU working towards my BA.

Perfectionist Personality - Thursday, March 23, 2006
"Well this is the first time that I've written anything. I think that I'll take a moment and talk about my feelings about school. I can't wait for school to get out. I'm counting down the last five weeks. It will be so good to get out into the world and not have to worry about homework. I will have a busy summer but at least it will be without deadlines. Who ever thought up the idea of due dates did it just to torture us and make us stay on top of things. Although my perfectionist nature doesn't allow me to let things slide so the best that I can do is to think about not doing something for about two minutes and then I go do it. It is a wish of mine for just once to not do some homework assignment without is haunting me for the rest of my life ;). Those that know me know what I'm talking about. Well, I off to finish my homework for tomorrow. I hope that you all are having a great night and I'll be writing again soon!!"

I laugh just reading it. During the course of my junior year I doubt I missed more than one class period per course and if I did it was for a very good reason. I was known for getting my homework assignments done on time and my good grades (the perfectionist in me on all accounts). Thinking back I know it was a very crazy time in my life but I loved it. It did turn out to be a summer of deadlines as I complete my business internship but it launched me to where I am now. My internship worked out so well I stayed part-time with the company during my senior year and have been working full-time there since I graduated.

Here's the second blog just a few weeks after the first one. I just noticed I wrote both of them on a Thursday...weird.

School Is Over - Thursday, May 04, 2006
"I'm sitting at home on my bed pondering the fact that today I'm done with school for the year. I'm excited about it but at the same time I know that I'll miss it. I really like the structure that school brings as well as the challenge. School gives you deadlines and things to look forward to. It gives you something to do each day, something that you can check off your to-do list. I'll be done with school next year and then I'll really have to face that fact that I will have to find something else to do with my time. I'm not going to dwell on that because if I do I might become depressed just at a time that I should be rejoicing in my freedom from school for the next three months.

Life has been taking on new twists and turns the past few months and with that comes the need for me to continue to grow up. I'll be 21 in just a few days and my life could already be 1/4 of the way over (if I don't die young). What have I accomplished with my life? I'm very curious as to where life is going to take me and what I’m going to do with it. I seem to be a leaf floating on a stream going wherever the river bends. I don’t want to just float through life; I want to know that what I do will make a difference to at least someone on this earth, if not more than a few people.

Enough of that. I think that it is time for me to go to bed. Good night."

Such a change of tone from just a few weeks before...yet deadlines were once again a topic. And as much as I might have groaned about them I do love deadlines. I thoroughly enjoyed school and really miss the structure, learning, friends, and challenges it brings even though at times I wasn't sure how I would survive the stress. Now that I'm done with school I have an awesome job that fills 54 hours a week (lunch time plus commute) of my time. It's weird how you can go from the craziness of school to a busy job. It is a job that I love and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else and at this time not even pursuing a master’s degree.

I'm still just as curious to see where my life will take me as I was when I wrote the last blog. I've been finished with the season of school for almost two years and am anxiously waiting to see where I'll head next. Not in the terms of my job but in terms of my personal life. Over the past year I've gotten more involved in church and meeting people who are in the same stage of life I am. My dream is to get married and have kids and I can't wait for the journey to start. At the moment there are not marriage prospects in sight (there is Helicopter Man but as of yet he hasn't talked to me...it's a long story and now is not the time to get into it but maybe next time). It's hard when your friends are getting married and having babies and you're not even dating. I'm working really hard to trust God and know that it's all in him timing but some days are harder than others. Sorry, that's a little off topic.

Back to the topic at hand. My life has changed drastically in some areas and not at all in others since I wrote on myspace. I still thrive under structure, deadlines, and am a perfectionist but am still waiting to see how I can make a difference in the lives around me and what my future holds. I'll keep you updated as I continue to walk towards my destiny.

Where I'm at...

2008-11-07T12:41:00.000-08:00

I haven't quite decided where I'm going with this blog. It is based on crafts (see previous post), cooking/baking (which I love going), reading (something I can't get enough of), my love life (or lack thereof), or just snipits of my life? Each of the blogs I follow seem to have an underlying theme and I know what to expect when I read them. I think the easiest for in the prelim is to talk about what Miss Bookwormette does with her life. So here goes and enjoy the ride with me!

A quick project...

2008-10-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

c

My sister Becky and I got crafty a few weeks ago. Happening over to Michaels to sign up for a cake decorating class, which does not take place until next month :(, we wondered the store. Now Becky is excellent at painting and drawing, something that I wished I excelled at or even had a fraction of her talent but do not. Needless to say I was in the mood to paint. Coming upon the aisle of wooden objects I had a memory flash of decoupaging a wooden box years ago. Inspiration had hit in the form of a wooden tray. I had found my medium. We both picked up a tray and found the bottle of decoupage not eight feet down the aisle. Now came to dilemma of what to put on the tray. Scrap booking paper! There was a whole aisle of ornate paper to choose from. We both picked base pattern to work from and then found complementing paper to go with it. It was such fun.

Heading home we started our project. To my mom's joy, we remember to lay down newspaper on the table before starting. We painted the trays, cut out our paper, decoupaged it on and ended with a finisher spray all in under 90 minutes. We are now working on three more decoupaging projects for Christmas presents. I'll be sure to post pictures when complete.

P.S. I found the three birds at Monticello Antique Marketplace a unique antique shop I frequent with my Aunt. We spend several hours there every few months. The birds are "new" but something I could not live without. They are absolutely darling.