Books, Books and More Books

I surprise many people when I say that I am a librarian but I don't get to read a lot of books.  I know that is it antithetical... books are my livelihood... I should be reading all the time right?  Well not really.  I am not that kind of librarian.  I am an academic librarian which means I don't do book clubs, story times, make suggested reading lists, etc.  I am an academic librarian which means that I find journal articles in databases, have mastered the APA citation style, and I can unjam a printer in less than 30 seconds.  Also, I am not permitted to sit in my office and read on the University's time.  Plus I have a kid so not a lot of free time for leisure reading. 

But, lately, I have been doing this thing where I turn the TV off and read a book.  It is marvelous, you all should try it!  Anyway, I am completely on a roll and I finished the follwing books in the last 2 weeks:

Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris
The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule

The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food by Jennifer Lee

And just today I started Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach

I would highly recommend all of them!

 

Mother's Day 2013

Jon and Nate surprised my a week before Mother's day with my gift... a brand new VitaMix!!!

I was completely floored!  I had no idea.  It completely lives up to all the hype.  I made whipped cream in 30 seconds, and it can clean itself.  I LOVE IT!

On actual Mother's Day, we took Nate on his first trip to Hershey Park.  I was cold and windy but a good time was had by all.  Jon even took Nate on the Super Dooper Looper (its goes upside down!!!) and he loved it.  Thankfully Nate inherited his father's constitution and not mine... I throw up at the thought of going upside down.

 

 

 

I didn't feel like carrying my big camera all day, so iphone pics will have to do.  In other news, I actually rode the ferris wheel with Nate... which was terrifying and I will probably never do it again.  Rides are SO not my thing!

Scenes From the Garden

The 2013 garden is planted and things are starting to come to life.  This year I planted:

• tomatoes (3 different kinds)
• green peppers
• zucchini
• cucumbers
• pumpkins
• garlic
• lettuce
• ghost pepper (hot, hot HOT)
• Strawberries

Plantings

Since we are so close to our frost date, I decided to risk it and planted all of my flowers for the front steps.  Red petunias and gerbers daisies.  Pretty.

A Good Day

I took a vacation day yesterday because I needed some solid, uninterrupted time to get some shit done.  I was wonderful.  I was tired at the end of the day but not exhausted.  I accomplished everything on my list, I finished my book, and I slept soundly.  Plus I got to indulge in some of my favorite things (me things, to go with my me time)

A Mocha Cookie Crumble Frapaccunio from Starbucks

A fresh haircut with a new BLOND streak

And a new summer purse.  I used this free pattern and it came together so nicely.  It is fully reveserable too!

The Philadelphia Zoo

We took Nate to the zoo on Sunday.  It was kind of a disaster.  We were all over-tired and cranky.  The zoo was mobbed, the parking was terrible, the food is overpriced and the lines for extras were way too long.  I got some decent pictures and Nate told my mom he did have a good time so I guess it was not a total wash.

My New Friend -- The Clarisonic Mia 2

I decided that it was time; that at 36 I really can't half-ass skin care anymore, so I bought a Clarisonic.  Sephora had a special gift set that included the facial cleanser I use so I bought the bullet and bought one.  Once the box arrived, I didn't open it right away, I debated sending it back but after talking to a few people who already have one I decided to keep it.  The only question the remains is... why did I wait so long?  This little thing is amazing!  Yes the price tag is steep, but it is sooooooo worth it.  My skin has never been this smooth.  [Confession: I woke up in the middle of the night stroking my own cheek because the skin was so smooth... apparently I have big time issues.]

Here is the one that I bought:

Image from: http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=CLARISONIC%20Mia2%E2%84%A2%20Sonic%20Cleansing%20Brush%20Brightening%20Blossom%20with%20Boscia%20%20P378247&skuId=1509314&productId=P378247&_requestid=57195