bookworm

I promised myself in my journal when I wrote my goals for 2011 that I would read more books for fun. I have been succeeding! I am now on the 3rd Hunger Games book, Mockingjay. I had to read some stuff for school so I have to kind of time it just right to finish a book these days. I am thinking about buying a Nook Color before my world travels next year (I have been planning on posting about this. Soon!) I think it will be a lot easier for me to read that way and not have to carry around tons of books and magazines. Anyway, I wanted to list out the books I've read so far this year:

Just got this in the mail. So far SO good! It's essays so I can read pick it up at anytime and read a story, put it down, pick up another book. 

I started this but haven't finished it. I got sidetracked (=life)

For school. I liked it but it gave me weird dreams about mailboxes and Africa.

This book is really great. I bought it because Mindy Kaling (from The Office, etc.) recommended it. 

SO different from the movie. Really surprised me! Also, for school.

This was really good and a quick read too! I read it all in an afternoon. 

I had to read Macbeth again for a class but I really like Shakespeare. I think all sorts of stories are thinly veiled Shakespeare adaptations. 

This was for a class too but I had never read it. It's less than 200 pages.

This book is for my Hitchcock class. The professor assigned certain readings depending on what film we're watching that week but I went ahead and read the whole thing. It's for any Hitchcock nut like me. It's like DVD commentary in book form. 

I especially loved the Hunger Games series (not quite finished) and can't wait for the movies! 

Any good suggestions for me?
It is almost summer and I'll have plenty of free time to lounge outside and read a good book!

♥

all images via google image search 

dreams

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I have a dream that might become reality soon. I wanted to share. I have always thought about owning my own bakery. Well, only in the last few weeks have I been actually thinking about it very seriously. like, actually doing it. I interned at a bakery in high school and so I know what goes on but other than that, I have no clue. This excites me though. Being scared is exciting to me. (I'm weird like that) As you all know, my mom passed away last year and I have been thinking a lot about what she would want me to do with the life insurance. I think first of all she would want me to pay my student loans. That's the first thing I'm going to do. But I've been thinking a lot about actually opening that bakery I always wanted. I mean, why not? For the first time in my life I am at a point where school is about to release me into the world after doing it my whole life and it is super scary (exciting!) and I can actually do whatever I want. I really want to do this. I think that it would make me so happy. I have no idea what kind of bakery or anything like that at this point. I'm going to do research for a long time about this. Locations, how to actually run a business, etc. I think my mom would be a-okay with this idea and I really, really want to do this. I have so many wonderful people in life that are so supportive of me and the few I have told were excited about this idea. I'll let you guys know in the coming months how planning is going and everything. I cannot wait! I'm also going to take the new Dream Job e-course over at A Beautiful Mess  to get a feel for owning a small business from one of my heroes, Elsie at Red Velvet. She is doing what she loves as her job! She is such an inspiration and she makes me think I can actually do this!

Thanks for listening and if anyone has any feedback or suggestions (anything!!) please, leave me a comment!

shoe-aholic

That's me! I have been stocking up on cute shoes for my wardrobe. I am so tired of wearing flats all the time. My wardrobe has certainly become more grown up (read: more dressy) over the past year. I am really happy with all the skirts and dresses that I'll be wearing when the weather gets warmer. I am really into this, getting rid of all my old clothes (even from high school! even!) and starting over with something that's more "me" right now. I want to be excited to wear cute outfits. Not the same old stuff just to be dressed.

Can you believe we might get snow today?? Ugh

Anyway, here are some of my cute shoes from my closet:

I already blogged about these cuties! 

These Calvin Kleins were on clearance for $50 and then 20% off of that! Lucky!

I got these for working out. Love how comfortable they are!

I got these for my trip to Mexico in November :)

And...my favorite! I love these! They go so well with brown tights! 

There's your peek into my growing shoe collection. It's kind of an addiction!

♥

PS: Look at all these shoes:

ZOMG

bad days

I have had a lot of bad days lately. I have mentioned this before but my mom passed away last year. It has been really tough on me. Especially since I am responsible for all of the matters of her estate. It's a lot of responsiblity and stress. It is really difficult because I'm doing this on my own. Sure, I have some help by I am essentially figuring it all out for myself. I am 24 years old so I had to grow up really fast and learn how to stand up on my own two feet. Needless to say, all of this extra stress is exhausting. I am drained. I try to see the good in things and stay positive but it is a struggle. I try to seek creative outlets such as blogging but it doesn't seem genuine if I'm having a bad day and I've been havings lots of them the last two weeks. I am trying to bring myself out of this funk and then I'll be back to normal blogging.

Love, Alex

silver sparkle

I just wanted to share my new favorite nail polish. It's so shiny and sparkly!

fire walk with me

I have been watching Twin Peaks again on Netflix instant stream. I love this show. I kind of don't want to do anything else.

The incomparable David Lynch

Do you watch it? Who's your favorite character? I think mine is Dale but I like Audrey too. 

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I have had some long weeks in the past month. I haven't had much time to sit down and breathe. This weekend has been good though. Calm and fun. It has been full of birthday karaoke, hamburgers, good beers, a shopping trip, mini crab cakes, lounging in pajamas, watching community, and reading Strangers on a Train. Later we're going to Doug's parents' in the suburbs to watch hockey. Fun!