Serenity is the name of the game.

Today is a busy day, my friends, but I still feel a deep inner peace, regardless of whatever chaos may swirl around me. How? Don't ask because I don't know. It feels like my heart is resting in the image above, gazing out on the serene surroundings, listening to the water trickle over rocks, smelling nothing but the freshness of nature, feeling a cool breeze.

I'm grateful:

• For a minute of deep breathing with my eyes closed.
• For music that both motivates and calms me.
• For a brief but lovely phone conversation with my mom, who was thinking of me at the moment I called... because she was cleaning! LOL Apparently I am a clean freak!

{Image via Raleigh Landscape}

I...

This week, for Friend Makin Monday, we are really expressing ourselves! Kenz at All the Weigh is hosting, and she came up with this great format. If you are playing along, visit Kenz's blog and link up. Here are my responses... see if you can find my "hidden" blessings in them!

I like... feeling the warm sun on my skin.

I don't like... being cold or sweaty.

I love... my family, my friends, Morris and Jed.

I dream of... traveling the world, meeting all kinds of new people and having so many incredible adventures.

I wonder... if I'm good enough.

I know... I am blessed.

I went... to the office today.

I have... to go to the gym after work today.

I think... I had a decent summer.

I plan... to have a productive week.

I regret... being so shy and uptight sometimes.

I do... feel so grateful for my awesome friends.

I drink... wine. :)

I wish... I was anywhere but here.

I am... thankful that I got to spend the whole weekend with Jed, family and friends.

I am not... cheap.

I need... to save more money.

I graduated... from Boston University.

I hope... I am a good person.

I want... to win the lottery.

I sometimes... act a little crazy!

I always... think the grass is greener on the other side.

I can... dance.

I work... at a global company.

I cannot... sing.

I avoid... awkward people.

I will... do my best every day.

What should I know about you today?

Friday Mix Up

1.  The most adventurous thing I've ever done is       almost drove an ATV over a cliff... accidentally. That ATV tour was certainly an adventure, and one that I probably will never repeat  .

2.  If I were a pair of shoes I  would be     classic, leather, t-strap flat sandals... in tan. Practical, high-quality, goes with everything and adorable, the perfect summer shoe  .

3.  My preferred mode of digital communication is        texting. Like Lauren, I'm not a fan of phone conversations anymore (I moved on from the three-hour phone calls in high school), and email can get clunky  .

4.  I feel happiest when       I am traveling  .

5.  A little dream I have for my life is     to travel the world .

6.  The one modern convenience I could NOT do without is       running water. Not modern enough for you? Ok, the internet, then   .

7.  Music, movies, TV or books:  if I could only choose one to enjoy I would pick       music. I adore reading and I love movies, but I need background noise, and music is it. Music can also keep me company and lift my spirits    . 

I'm so proud of these little blessings I post everyday, and I think it's working! I haven't felt really down and ungrateful about my life. Today, I count my blessings such as...

... Lauren of the little things we do, who created Fill in the Blank Friday and whose blog is just so lovely. If you don't read her blog, please do so immediately. I guarantee you will be charmed.

... all of you reading this post! I finally got around to reading all your lovely comments from the week this morning, and I was truly touched. You are all so sweet, and I'm so glad we are friends.

... time with friends and family this weekend. I didn't even have to make the plans, people just volunteered to spend time with me, and I couldn't be happier about it. I love when everything falls into place without effort.

What is making you giddy this Friday?

Perfect Picture of Summer

When I think of summer, several things come to mind every year, without fail. They paint the perfect picture of summer in my mind, and it just not the same without them. Here are my five perfect pictures of summer (let's count them as today's blessings too), as they came to mind:

Flip-flops. The quintessential summer footwear. I'll admit, I'm a bit of a flip-flop fashionista; I only buy  my flip-flops at J.Crew (because I love them), and I get at least one new pair each summer (even though my pair of three summers ago are still good because they're such high quality). I have different colors to match anything, and they do go with everything from jeans to a sundress to your favorite shorts. Every spring, my feet are anxious to get back into flip-flops.

The beach. Last summer, I think I only made it to the beach once, and I was so sad. I am a beach person. I love the beach. I would spend my three months of summer on the beach, exclusively, if I could.  For as long as I can remember, I've always had at least one beach day every summer, whether ocean or lake. The Zac Brown Band has it right in my mind: "toes in the water, a$$ in the sand."

Cookouts. I could probably eat hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken and fish all summer. I also love experimenting with veggies on the grill (like the beautiful skewers above). Every summer I look forward to hosting a lil BBQ and attending tons at my friends' and families' houses. The smell of grilled meat, eating outside, potato salad, fresh fruit, hot summer days fading into cooler summer nights with fire pits and s'mores. Yummmm... and my fav cookout of the year coincides with my next item...

4th of July. It's my favorite holiday! The heat July brings, multiple cookouts in a weekend, the party atmosphere, fireworks and flags. This has become my favorite weekend of the summer because I have built a tradition around it full of all my favorite summer things.

Soaking up the sunshine. As summer draws near, this is what I yearn for the most -- that feeling of being barely clothed and the sun warming the surface of your skin. Even if you're wearing sunscreen, I can just feel my skin absorbing all of that good vitamin D. I love the freckle kisses the sun leaves behind on my cheeks and shoulders and the glow I have by this time of year from enjoying all the summer activities.

Feels nice, doesn't it? Paint me your perfect picture of summer!

{Fireworks via me, all other images via we heart it}

This post was inspired by:

Prompt 5.) What five images paint a perfect picture of summer to you? Put those five images together in a piece of writing.

More than a wee bit of precipitation

It feels like a wee bit of me Wednesday. I don't know about the rest of you, but it is more than a wee bit miserable here in MA/RI today. It is pouring rain and chilly for August. I got drenched walking into work this morning (my pants are still damp to prove it), and I was carrying an umbrella!

 

If you would like to play along, visit Leigh Ashley, who is kind enough to host this weekly series.

 

{one} what was your favorite birthday gift?

My Cape Cod bracelet, from Mom. I had wanted on for a while, and I wear it everyday. It also started a rather dangerous spiral of buying Cape Cod jewelry every year for my birthday. :)

{two} have you ever been cow-tipping or snipe-hunting?

Um... NO! Although my friends used to make fun that I lived in cow country, I did, in fact, not. Plus, I don't think I could be that cruel.

{three} what's the strangest talent you have?

The ability to absolutely obsess about the order and cleanliness of certain things, but not others.

{four} what are your favorite kind of chips?

Depends on what I feel like, but we'll go with potato chips, and that would be Cape Cod's sea salt and cracked pepper. Yummmm...

{five} do you know any tongue twisters?

Yeah, every other sentence that comes out of my mouth!

{six} what was the last movie you saw in a theater?

Eat Pray Love... see yesterday's post below for my review!

{seven} do you collect anything?

I really try not to anymore. I can't really think of anything I collect in particular anymore...

{eight} what is something you wish you were better at?

Ironically, communicating and expressing my feelings. I used to be really good at it, and I totally lost the skills sometime after college.

{nine} what's the worst habit you have?

Interrupting people when they're talking. Awful.

{ten} when you wake up, what is the first thing you think?

Well, if it was this morning, it was "Oh crap! I'm late!"

When I wake up, I try to think of a reason I'm blessed, such as... 

• having a roof over my head and warm clothes to protect me from this awful rain.

• not suffering through flooding.

• the forecast of sunshine and 80-degree temperatures tomorrow.

Do you like how I tied that all into the wee bit of me and the rain? Pretty good, huh? :)

Hope you're having a happy (dry) Wednesday!

Does watching "Eat Pray Love" compare to reading it?

I have been anxiously awaiting this movie all year, since I saw Elizabeth Gilbert on Oprah promoting it. So, I took myself to see it Sunday afternoon.

I read the book in October 2008, while on a cruise from Boston to Bermuda. I am not exaggerating when I say this book changed my life. I will hold it dear always, and I am sure I will read it over and over, every time I need hope or motivation or perspective.

So, I was thrilled the book was being made into a movie, and when I found out Julia Roberts -- my favorite actress -- was starring as Liz Gilbert, that sealed the deal.

Julia was absolute perfection in this movie. As soon as I found out she was the leading lady, I was happy to be able to see her in a new movie, but I immediately though about the resemblance between her and Liz.

Not only do they both have infectious smiles and alluring eyes, but they have uncontrollable hair, a slightly pointed nose and a slim frame. They are both intelligent, motivated, kind, independent women, who may not always know what they want in life but somehow end up there. No one else on Earth was better suited to play Elizabeth Gilbert than Julia Roberts, besides Elizabeth Gilbert herself.

The leading lady wasn't the only perfect casting job in this movie either. Her men were chosen very well...

James Franco played the perfect David: young, sexy, intriguing, slightly aloof. The young stud to Julia's broken divorcee, the perfect man to shack up with post-divorce. He and Julia had great chemistry at the beginning of their relationship, but you could quickly see it wasn't right. He was a segue, a stepping stone, a learning experience. Liz's relationship with David was probably the only relationship in the film I felt was properly addressed and flushed out.

Richard from Texas was not my favorite character in the book, but he served an important role in Liz's development at the ashram in India. Richard Jenkins was exactly how I pictured Richard in the book, and he was magnificent. I regretted that he didn't have a larger role, though... the pivotal role he played in the book was introduced, but you would never have "got it" if you hadn't read the book. 

In fact, Liz's stay at the ashram was not given justice at all in film format. Yes, it was probably the most "boring" part of the movie, but, in the book, this was such a crucial time for her. Rome was Liz's time to physically heal herself and separate herself from her divorce. India was the point in the book when Liz worked on herself, rediscovered herself as a human and someone to love and be loved.

Liz's adventures in India, in the film, ended with a brief clip of her as the hostess at the ashram, without any detail as to how she performed in this role -- another key happening in the book.

Lastly, Javier Bardem was a super sexy Felipe; he nailed the Brazilian romantic to the wall. He was Mr. Rico Suave with a quirky, lovable streak. He plays like a school boy, which fit Liz's playful personality, but yet he was older, more experienced and traveled, which was much better suited to Liz's new world view than someone like David. Felipe was the end of Liz's abstinence and the end of her solo journey. He was the beginning of the rest of her life, and you got glimpses of this in the movie, but again, I wanted more. 

That was the theme of this movie: more. It was almost three hours, but it wasn't enough. I felt the scenes chosen were well selected and portrayed Liz's physical journey, but they didn't even scrape the surface of her internal journey. It didn't even delve deeply into the whole reason behind the trip: her breakdown and divorce from her husband. Most of her relationships in the movie were presented a bit superficially, and you wouldn't feel her attachment to these people unless you read the book. I was especially disappointed in the portrayal of her relationship with Wayan, the Balinese healer. It was so... abbreviated. You could tell they were friends, but you didn't get to see how much they truly bonded.

I went to see this movie alone as something to do while Jed was out of town (and I knew he would never go see it anyway). I thought about calling a girlfriend to go with me, but it just felt right going solo... just like Liz. I wanted to be free to laugh, cry, ponder in solitude without considering a person sitting next to me. I wasn't sure how I was going to react, and I wanted to be able to experience it and reflect in silence after.

I was glad I went alone. I teared up a little. I laughed quite a bit (even at moments when no one else in the theater did). And, I reflected in silence the whole drive home.

Even though the movie was not half as good as the book, it does make you think, and I would recommend it.

I came out of the theater feeling hopeful, happy, confident, uncertain and grateful... just like I did when I finished the book.

Grateful that...

• ... the world is overwhelmingly beautiful and curious, full of limitless knowledge, possibility and love.

• ... I was raised in a society where I am free to be the woman I want to be, the woman that I am.

• ... I am surrounded by family and friends who love and support me.

• ... the future is bright, despite uncertainty.

• ... travel is an option for me. I am truly blessed to be able to see and experience different places.

{Image credits: movie poster and Javier and Julia via Empire Movies, Julia at Thanksgiving via Celebrity Wonder, Liz-Julia comparison via, Julia and James via FilmoFilia, Richard and Julia via FilmoFilia, Julia in Rome via Watch Movies Online Site, Julia in Bali via Deceiver}

FMM is back!

... holds so many great things! Yes, even though it's Monday. I'm very excited today, which is good because it is offsetting the otherwise depressed mood I'd be in since today is day two of rain around here.

Today, dear Amber of Silver Lining is coming back with Friend Makin Mondays! This little blog party of hers was put on hold back in the spring due to some tragic personal events in her life, but she is back and better than ever, I tell you. Here's the deal: Visit Amber to get the scoop, post your own Friend Makin Monday post, then post your link on Amber's blog. Easy, right? 

Today... I am returning to work after a wondrous and much-needed four-day weekend.

Today... I will not skip my workout since it is raining outside, but I will use my free On Demand to conjure up a great cardio workout.

Today... I am hopeful.

Today... I will try to schedule blog posts for the entire week so I do not miss any.

Today... I will make time to read for at least an hour.

Today... I am writing out a game plan for all of my work projects.

Today... I will be grateful...

• For the rain, even though it makes me sad, because my plants are getting some much needed refreshment, because I love the sound it makes as it hits the pavement and my roof, and because the pine tree outside my window looks so pretty with raindrops on the tips of the pine needles.

• For going to see Eat Pray Love yesterday afternoon by myself. For knowing myself, feeling confident in myself and being independent enough to go to a movie by myself. (I'm working on a review to post tomorrow.)

• For the chance to experiment this week eating only fish and veggies. No meat... other than the leftovers I have to finish in the fridge...

So, friends, what are you doing/feeling/wishing today?

{Image via Silver Lining}

My Boob Tube Favorites

Following this week's Fill in the Blank Friday, I will also post my thankful thoughts for today. Link up at Lauren's if you are going to play along. By the way, I'll warn you, I totally filled in these blanks off the cuff; there was not much thought put into them, and I did not edit them. Enjoy!

1. My favorite current TV show is       "Glee." For a show that took me an entire season to get into, I can't get enough of it now!

2. The TV character I can relate to most is      There are days I still feel like Joey Potter on "Dawson's Creek." Loved that show  .

3. My life is like (fill in with TV show and why)....       I don't think I watch any shows that my life is like... It would totally be one of those sitcoms about a young, newlywed couple sans kids... Hm... Sex and the City?!? Yeah... Miranda and Steve... Charlotte and Harry... yup! That's kinda like my life  .

4. My all time favorite TV show is      see above: "Dawson's Creek." Kinda pathetic, I know .

5. A TV show that is ridiculously stupid, but I continue to watch is     "Bachelor Pad." Whoa... mid-episode, I always find myself shocked at myself for allowing myself to be mesmerized by all the drama  .

6. My favorite TV couple is      Can I saw Ali and Roberto from this past season of "The Bachelorette"? I just heart them, and I think they're perfect for each other   .

7. One TV episode I could watch over and over again is       the episode of "Dawson's Creek" just after the start of school when Dawson "breaks up" with Joey again after she crawled through his bedroom window dressed all sexy. I cry EVERY TIME    . 

It's Friday, and I'm grateful!

• Today is my road trip up to NH for Ski Haus' pre-season ski gear sale. Yes, it's August, and I'm already thinking about hitting the slopes. I'm hoping to find a helmet, tinted goggles and a pair of mittens.... for under $200. Yeah, we'll see.

• I have another full weekend ahead of me after having yesterday and today off. That is a wonderful feeling.

• I'm thankful for my fabulous family and friends. I love them so much for gracing my life.

Have a good weekend, everyone! 

Ladies and gentlemen, please direct your attention...

I'd like to do a few updates in this post because there's been some happenings this week.

First, since I missed the Monday update on what I'm reading, we're starting with that.

Last week, I finished...

I have to say I enjoyed this book. I like the way Levinson presented the different Guerrilla marketing tactics and all the examples he used to illustrate his point. I think the main point is not to get too high on yourself, stay in the trenches as a guerrilla would. Fight the good fight and keep in touch with your customer and yourself. Oh, and above all, work hard and always carry a big gun. LOL

This week (and probably next week), I'm reading...

I'm two chapters into this book, and I'm not quite sure what to make of it yet. So far, the theme has been overtly religious, or anti-religious. I know nothing about this book other than it was translated from Russian, but it really feels like something I would have dissected in a high school or early college literature class. I'll keep you updated.

I wish all of my runs could be by the ocean, but they are not. I've recommitted (sort of) to Couch-to-5K (C25K). I've been doing it a bit sporadically and have had to repeat weeks when I've waited too long in between. I'm currently on week three -- doesn't sound like I've made much progress for a nine-week program. I tried it last Thursday, and I thought Jed would have to come peel me off the sidewalk. Tuesday, I walked my route (since it happens to go to the library, and I needed to exchange books). I was going to get up this morning to actually run it, but I couldn't get out of bed. So, tomorrow morning is it! And I'll finish W3D3 on Sunday.

Question to any of you runners out there: How do you push your running limits when your legs are sore? I stretch before and after my runs, but I still wake up with sore legs, which really doesn't motivate me to get up and run. Any help would be appreciated!

Lastly, my grateful thoughts for today! I totally forgot to do them yesterday where I was so busy at work, but we're back today!

• I'm beyond happy that my parents booked their first trip together in six years -- for their 30th wedding anniversary. They're going to Disney World! That is so my parents, and I hope they have a great time because they certainly deserve it.

• I'm super excited to be off from work today and tomorrow. Today is a gorgeous, warm, sunny day, and even though I am getting a late start, I'm hitting the beach!

• I'm grateful I got to go out to dinner (sushi!) with a wonderful friend last night. It was so great seeing her and hearing how she's doing (she's getting married in June!). She does read this blog, so say hi to my Superstar! -xo

{Book images via GoodReads, other images via we heart it}

Tuesday Treats

Happy Tuesday, loves! I hope this day is treating you well. Here is what I am grateful for today:

• I love that I have such great new coworkers. They are so supportive, helpful and friendly.

• I'm so thankful I was able to salvage my rose bush. We ripped out the planter it was in when we moved here, and I didn't want to throw it out, so I tried to transplant it next to our driveway (not having a clue as to what I was doing). I watered it faithfully. Jed gave it some fertilizer. Now I have three huge, blooming, pink roses; they are beautiful. I get to see them every time I leave or come home, and they make me smile.

• I'm so glad the sun is out today. Yesterday was a little dreary, and my mood totally reflected the weather. I'm feeling MUCH better today and looking forward to a good, long walk this evening.

Tell me: What makes you grateful today?

{Image via we heart it}

Hello world!

I love this image. I wish this is how I was feeling today, but I'm hoping by posting it, maybe I can change the internal perspective.

I realized that I was doing really well, for a while, with Thankful Tuesdays, and then I fell off the thankful bandwagon. I think part of that was me thinking that a lot of what I was grateful for was superficial, or I hated repeating the same things week after week, even if I was truly grateful for them.

That's not how gratitude works. It can be big or small, ever-changing or constant. What matters is that I recognize the need to be mindful of my blessings daily.

Sorry friends, but this means that you are going to be subjected to this EVERY DAY, if I'm successful. I hope you are ok with that; I hope you are more than ok with that because I hope that you will join me.

As I mentioned last week, I need to become aware of my internal thoughts and dialogue, ensuring they are positive. There are two sides to every story -- sometimes even more -- and that includes your life story as well.

This is going to be a challenge for me, so hold me accountable, ok?

Here we go!

• I'm so glad I can work from home. It really makes Monday mornings a little easier to bear.

• I'm thankful I have Thursday and Friday off this week. Three-day work weeks make me happy; four-day weekends make me joyful!

• I'm grateful it rained last night. I have not been good about watering my flowers, so they desperately needed Mother Nature's help.

{Image via Tiny Buddha}

Life is how you respond to it.

This image really encompasses how I'm trying to live right now. It's really hard. It seems like no matter how I try, I fail. I know I just need to pick myself up, dust myself off, and push myself further. But, I'm discouraged. Does it get better? Will it get easier?

Perhaps an example would be helpful. Tuesday night was leftover night, and I was not in the greatest of moods. Jed started pulling stuff out of the fridge to get it ready, and I totally flipped out over how he was doing it and how I felt like he was pushing me to get dinner ready. I criticized, I yelled, I hurt feelings. 

I ate dinner alone.

This happens, in some form or another often. I used to think it was outside of me; it was all this stuff happening to me. Now I realize it is ME. It's how I am choosing to react to situations and events. I choose my attitude. I choose my perception. I choose my feelings.

I could have taken a moment to breathe deeply and relax before facing dinner. I could have reacted with love and patience. I could have appreciated the help.

I need to start choosing more positively.

{Image via we heart it}

This post was inspired by:

Prompt #1: Lou Holtz once said, “Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.” Do you believe this? Describe a time when you feel like you could have responded a different way and produced a different outcome.

I'll make it up to you with a wee bit of info!

Gargh! I really wanted to do a post yesterday, and the day just slipped away from me! So, I'm making it up for it today by taking the time to do...

 

Should you decide to join in the fun, link up at Leigh Ashley!

 

{one} how would you describe your style?
Mostly preppy with some casual, laid-back chick thrown in.

{two} what would your perfect day look like?
I gotta go by season. Summer: hitting up the beach early and doing beachy things all day long -- lounging in the sand with a book, jet skiing, kayaking, exploring, swimming. Winter: hitting the slopes early and skiing all day long, followed by a warm bath in a jetted tub, reading by the fire and dinner in a cozy lodge-type restaurant.

{three} what would be the best workplace perk?
Half days... every day! LOL

{four} if you could have the starring role in one movie, which would it be?
27 Dresses. That movie is so me. OMG.

{five} what tv show do you wish would go off the air for good?
The Jersey Shore. I haven't even watched it, but I'm just so sick of the publicity and the hype and the drama.

{six} chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate. Mostly. Let's just say it's a good bet. Like black on the roulette wheel.

{seven} if you could date any celebrity, who would it be?
Does Roberto Martinez from this season of The Bachelorette count as a celebrity? 'Cuz I'm majoring crushing on him.

{eight} if you could have been the author of any book, which would it have been?
The Great Gatby. It's just so clever and creative and real.

{nine} what's your favorite type of flower?
Gerbera daisies. I can't really think of a more cheerful flower.

{ten} what do you think is your most attractive feature?
My butt! LOL... So I'm told. But I dig my eyes. I think they are pretty cool.

Pages I'm flipping

If you want to share what you are reading with the blogosphere, link up at Sheila's and grab her button above.

Last week I read...

I have a confession: I finished this book on Monday and didn't read for the rest of the week. The reason was I was waiting for my next book to arrive at the library. Boo for slow books! This book was a lot quicker of a read than I expected. The entire book was the 22 laws with a three-page description of each and some examples woven in. I enjoyed it though, and I would recommend this book, highly. I almost feel as if I should go out and purchase it just to keep on the shelf for handy reference.

This week I'm reading...

I was able to check out this book on Friday, and I'm giving myself through this upcoming weekend to finish it since it's a little meatier than 22 Laws. I'm a third of the way through, and I'm enjoying this book as well. There are some great examples and stories to prove the Guerrilla way of marketing, and the tips really make sense, especially for entrepreneurs. 

While I'm definitely learning a lot from this book, I would consider it my bible if I was a small business owner or marketer. It's really catered toward that audience. There is a whole series of Guerilla books, and, based on this book, I would recommend checking them out. 

Next week I will read...

I'M RETURNING TO THE WORLD OF FICTION!!! After reading four non-fiction marketing books in succession, I am ready to return to a fiction book. I'm done with reading about marketing for a while (minus those blogs I follow on the topic, of course). My brain is completely fried, and I'm ready to escape to some made-up world of someone else's creation. 

This is the first book I'll be attempting off my 30-before-30 list, and I'm a little intimidated. I read the description of this book on Goodreads, and while I'm intrigued, I'm not sure how much I will enjoy it. I guess we'll find out next week!

What books pages are you flipping this week?

{Book cover images via Goodreads}

Tasty Friday

Oh man, once again, I'm welcoming Friday with open arms. I don't even have big, exciting plans this weekend, but I need to go shoe shopping for the wedding we are attending next weekend, and I really want to go to the beach now that my cold is finally fading. The beach will be even better if I get to go with my BFF.

We're going with Fill in the Blank Friday again, so I know you're pumped!

1.  Today for breakfast I ate      Chobani vanilla Greek yogurt mixed with Bear Naked granola, topped with fresh-cut strawberries and blueberries... and a cup of steaming Dunkin' Dark coffee .

2.  My go to/never fail recipe     is meatloaf, oddly enough. It's my Mom's recipe, and I usually always have the ingredients to make it on hand .

3.  Something I eat that other people think is weird is       raw oysters on the half shell - always freaks my friends and family out  .

4.  My worst cooking disaster ever was      burning Texas Toast so badly in the broiler that they literally went up in flames   .

5.  If I could only eat one flavor of ice cream the rest of my life it would be     green mint chocolate chip. It's been my consistent favorite flavor for as long as I can remember, and it still is .

6.  One food I hate and avoid at all costs is       pea soup. I can't even be in the house when my mother makes it. The smell just gets to me   .

7.  What is your favorite meal?  Breakfast, lunch, or dinner?      Breakfast. I love eggs and fresh fruit and bacon and coffee. Oh and don't forget donuts and pastries and pancakes and French Toast! Yummmmmm... I'd eat breakfast for dinner if boyfriend would let me! I always look forward to having the rare big breakfast      .

If you play along, link up at Lauren's blog.

Have a great weekend!

Risk everything for love.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! Did you watch The Bachelorette finale last night? 

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!

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I couldn't be happier. I was cheesin', totally cheesin'.

I'll be honest, after reading the blogs and People TV Watch, I really thought Ali was going to break down and not go through with it. I thought she was going to break it off with both guys. Even as the episode went on, I had no idea who she was going to choose until she started talking to Chris on their last date.

While I liked Chris, I agree with Ali that he's a great friend, but Roberto is husband material. I knew he was perfect for her when she kept saying how safe she felt with him. That is crucial. That meant the trust was there, so she could have faith in their relationship at the end. 

I liked Roberto from early on when he took Ali out to the courtyard of the Bachelor house, dressed to the nines, to play catch with a baseball. I liked him even more when he danced with her in the middle of the street in Portugal. 

And it was so cute how he kissed her in the middle of the tightrope on their first one-on-one date, then righted her as she started to fall off. 

Oh, and don't get me started on The Lion King.

Chris was cute, but Roberto is sexy. The only thing Chris had going for him was the Massachusetts thing, and when he met her family, I really thought that might just slice the cake. 

Every woman wants, and needs, a Roberto in their life. Right? Tell me: Is your man the Roberto in your life? Do you think Ali made the right choice, if you watch the show, of course? What would you do in her shoes, who would you pick?

{Images via Google Images}

In the bookcase

I've decided I really like participating in this meme every Monday because it holds me accountable to reading every day (so I have new books to share every week), and I hope you enjoy seeing what I'm reading. If you are currently reading, or have read, or plan to read, any good books, feel free to join in at Sheila's Book Journey.

Last week, I finished reading:

First, the good: I would keep this book on a shelf for easy, simple reference. The bad: It was awful to read. These books are not intended to be read cover-to-cover, and it was all so simple. I skipped some of the chapters that didn't apply to what I am working on currently, with the understanding that I can always check it out of the library again if I need to.

This week, I am reading:

This is more like it. Again, I would keep this book on my shelf for reference because each three-four-page chapter covers one of the 22 laws, so it would be easy to pull up The Law of Simplicity, for example, if I needed a refresher for an upcoming project. While I do not completely buy into all of Ries and Trout's theories, I can definitely see where they are coming from, and I do not think it would be a bad idea to adopt these rules into any marketing program. Some of them would definitely shake things up, which is never a bad thing. I'm flying through this book; I could easily read it in less than a week, but I'm working on 20 pages a day.

Then, next week, I'm planning on reading:

This is the final book my boss recommended that I read for my new job. I have heard of guerrilla marketing, so I'm pretty excited to check this one out. I just requested it from the library (it has to be ordered from another branch), so that I will have it, hopefully, by the time I finish The 22 Laws. I'm hoping to blast through this book by next weekend. Then, I'll start chipping away at my 30-before-30 list! I can't wait!

What are you reading right now?

{Book images via goodreads.com}