YESTERDAY.

I just want to remember it. I talk all the time about wanting to write about the little happy things, and then I don't notice them. Last night was just a good night. J.rue and I snuggled under the covers, watching Once Upon a Time (so behind), whilst I wolfed down a turkey burger like a lady. Our puppies were there too, in between leg crevices or on top of heated blankets (dog magnets). Those are honestly some of my most favorite moments, snuggling as a family. Not doing anything of particular importance. It makes my heart want to burst.

And, just to leave you with something that might benefit you in some way: I just got through a really good book. One that was so good I thought about it for 3 solid days straight after I finished it. Knocked my socks off this one did. The Secret Keeper.

/via/

It has some mystery, some romance, history, some twists and turns, and it's almost 500 pages, so it's one of those that's full of beautiful details and descriptions.  I listened to it on CD because I am still dreaming of the days when I actually have time to sit down and read an actual book. A few reviews I read said that the book started out slow and they had a hard time sticking with it. I, on the other hand, was stuck in the car and didn't notice the slowness because anything is better than a radio filled commute home. If you do listen to it on CD, be warned that the narrator has a thick (and lovely) English accent that's hard to follow for the first 10 minutes or so. After listening to it for 17 disks though I started talking like her in my head and felt oh so fancy and English. Loved it.

Oh, and I had the most glorious of glorious of commutes today. Just in case you check this block out of worry for me. So kind.

Enchanting

{source}

I've gotten some good reading done lately, and when I say reading, I really mean listening. Folks, I have no time to sit and read a book. And it's summer. Is there really ever any hope for me? Probably not in the physical page turning books aspect, but I have come to love listening to books on CD. Doesn't that sound so granny-esque? It totally goes well with my old soul.

A lot of people give me funny looks when I tell them that I listen too books, and I get that it's not a realistic thing for everyone. For example, I can't imagine trying to get lost in a book with a screaming child in the background or trying to listen in 15 minute increments. However, my commute is a tad bit longer than 15 minutes, so I can get some good listening done and usually finish up a book in a week or so.

Lately, I've been crushing hard on Jane Austen and the like, and while I haven't listened to any of her actual books I did devour  Edenbrooke and have now moved onto Austenland. I can't get enough, and I'm actually looking forward to my drives to work and home.

Edenbrooke was delicious and has most definitely moved up the list to a top 5 favorite. I will read that one again and again and again, just like how I watch seasons 1 & 2 of Downton every few months. Every girl needs a sweet fall head-over-heels romance once in a while. I finished this book in 2 days. Granted, I was driving to Nevada and back, but if I hadn't been I'm pretty sure I would have sat in my car all weekend anyway, finishing it up. Maybe this infatuation is caused by j.rue's absence? 1.5 more days!!!

Then there is Austenland, which has me laughing out loud like a fool. I'm enamored. After perusing Amazon, my favorite past time, I found out that the author has written another book called Midnight in Austenland, you better believe I'm #3 on the waiting list at the library.

This new infatuation has sparked a new literature search and once I compile said list, I will share it. Promise.

So what are you waiting for? Go support those Regency girls!

HAPPY FRIDAY! 

The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Music

For the past two days I've been lounging {and learning} up at the beautiful Zermatt Resort in Midway, UT. For those of you who aren't familiar with Utah, or for those of you who are and just don't know where Midway is, neither do I really. My GPS gets me there and back every year. You would think I would learn, but no. 

Midway is a little piece of heaven on earth and when I drive around the hills I do like to pretend that I'm Maria from the Sound of Music. There was singing involved. Zermatt is all cozy and wooded and swiss alps like, so even more reason for me to feel like Maria, yes? Another thing that I love about this conference, besides that actual conference {which was so good this year} is that my boss is kind enough to let me stay up there and I take full advantage of a solo ladies night. Those are nice once in a while.

After the first day of the conference I checked into my hotel room. Look at the bed (!!!)

I now have a thing for having 14 mini pillows tucked all around my body and sleeping diagonal. The last one isn't new, but I sure love doing it. J.rue doesn't really allow it on a regular basis. Rude. Anyway...I dropped my stuff off and headed to Park City for some outlet shopping, dinner, and a movie -- all by myself. I'd never been to a movie by myself before, so I didn't know if that would actually happen. I chickened out last year. 

The shopping happened (obv.) and so did the movie! And to make it even better, I was the only one in the whole theater. I was living the swanky life, and I surely did love it. Solo movies are going to be written into my schedule more often. It was kind of weird to not have anyone to lean over and talk to though. I tried to do it a couple of times, so good thing I was in there alone, right? I saw What to Expect When You're Expecting, and it was cute. But I do know one thing for sure now, I want a baby. Like now. But that's all I'll say about that.

When I got back to my room, I snuggled up in above bed and started watching Dawson's Creek on Netflix. It was a little before my time, so I'm excited to find out what all the hype was all about. I do have to say that my mother would never have let me sleep over at a boy's house. In a boy's bed. At any age. Ever.

After the conference over I made it home just in time to have my eye brows waxed and to pick up the beginning of my summer reading list.

For those of you who asked, I'll post my inspiration list on Link Love tomorrow. None of those are on here, but I found other books of the authors and then found the others on my own. It really is amazing what you can come up with when you google "summer beach reads." Go on, try it.

Sandra's Husband

We had a nice one folks. Peace and hope is restored in my heart from conference and all is well with the world. The rest of the weekend went as followed:

Friday I got to meet one of my favorite people ever. Stephanie Nielson was signing copies of her book at Deseret Book in City Creek. I ordered my dang book online before I knew she would be releasing them early, so I had her sign a piece of paper in my notebook. When the book arrives on my doorstep today I plan on promptly cutting it out and gluing it into my book. Then I plan to devour the book. I can't wait!

So whose book in my hand is that you ask? Well it's Sandra's. Who is Sandra? I'm not quite sure. I know that she's from Canada and according to her husband, loves Nie Nie as much as I do. While we were standing in line a man came up to me and asked if I'd get a book signed for him. I wasn't too stoked on the idea at first, I mean, I had been waiting in line for a whole 25 minutes. That's ages, right? But then I thought to myself, "would I hope that someone would help my j.rue do something that thoughtful and sweet and for me?" Answer: yes. Karma, my friends. Karma.

I just hope that he didn't book it out of the store without paying. I'm sure if he did, the book was struck by lightning sent down from the Heavens. But that's just what I think...So, my dear Sandra, I hope you enjoy your signed book {and I hope you're husband told you it got to be in a picture with the author}.

Oh, and no I have not recently gotten a bad spray tan -- the awesome lighting plus my very pink sunburn creates that illusion. I can assure my face is back to it's normal fair color.

That is all.