Missing you all...

I'm actually a little surprised at how much I miss blogging. I was definitely happy to walk away for a while, but I miss just expressing myself. I don't know if I will ever really get back into the whole book blogger thing, but I might throw up some reviews again every once in a while.

This semester for school has not been the best. I had issues getting focused on anything, and it is definitely going to affect my grades (which I don't know yet and it is making me antsy). All I need is a 70%. I need that to transfer the course to the accounting designation I want to work towards. *fingers crossed* I guess we will see.

As for home life, I'm excited because we are hoping to be moved by August. Yes we still need to list the house but we are hoping that when it does go up, it will go quick (which houses in our area are) and we can get a short closing on it.

I've lived in a basement for 9 years now. I CRAVE sunlight. I can't wait to grow my own plants, and to sit out on my back patio, and all the other mundane stuff that home owners face, like mowing the lawn.  Now we aren't buying right away. We are hoping to rent something for a short period, and then we are going to look at getting a house in a new subdivision further out of Toronto.

I've been possibly obsessing over decorating. Paint colours, furniture, accessories, oh my! I can't wait to actually be able to put my imprint on a place.

How are you all doing? Like I said, and I know I keep saying, but I hope to do this a bit more regularly....

Comments Closed

Just an fyi....
While I'm not really decided on the future of this blog - I do really want to do some writing, just not sure what and when - the spam comments have gotten ridiculous! SO I've hidden comments for now. I hope this should solve some of my issues for now.


Having said that..
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
I wish you all the best in 2013!

Twitter Giveaway - Kindle copy of City of Bones

FYI
I'm doing a Twitter giveaway.
I'm giving away a Kindle copy of City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.
All you need to do is Tweet me saying if you read books before or after the movies come out. I'll pick a winner some time after dinner today!
@natashaw1
If you don't have twitter, just leave me a comment here.

Back to normal....at work

For the past 9 months or so, I was doing a secondment at work. I was filling in for someone who was taking a paternaty leave.  It was great experience. I feel that I learned a lot, and that includes stuff about myself too. As you read in my last post, I've learned that I don't think I will be challenged in this field. I don't think that my analytical mind will get enough stimulation. There are aspects that I LOVED about the job. Reference work is amazing. Helping someone learn how to navigate databases, or helping them find that elusive article/information; it made my day! The rest of the job? Did you know that there is an end to the interwebs? I found it... a few times ;)
Also, my commute was 2 hours longer every day. So 10 extra hours a week commuting.
I was tired. I was eating out all the time because I didn't have time or energy to cook.

But I'm done the secondment now! I'm back at my regular job.

And I have hours to my day again - except for the homework I have to do now!

I'm cooking healthy, yummy food!!
The Mr. and I have even decided to throw in some vegetarian days, which is amazing coming from meat eaters!!
I'm making smoothies for breakfast with protein powder, and kale, and yummy greek yogurt.. and they are just delicious!

So what have you all been up to?? Anything new in your life?
Read any good books lately?
I'll save that for another post :) No reviews, just some book talk!

What on earth is a #GlossyBox?

Well, this is a Glossy Box!


For $15.00 a month, I get this pretty pale pink box in the mail.... well I assume it's always pretty pale pink. You see, this is my first time!!







Anyways, what's in the box?
This!

• Dove ClearTone - a deodorant specifically created to help reduce underarm discolouration caused by dry skin from shaving.
• Wella Professionals Mirror Polish Shine Spray - illuminate your style with an exquisite shimmer.
• B.Kamins Lip Balm SPF 20 - Soothing anti-aging lip balm with Bio-Maple Compound and UVA/UVB sunscreens that repairs and protects.
• B.Kamins Maple Body Lotion - Luxurious anti-aging lotion infused with honey, Vitamins A&E and Bio-Maple Compound for ultimate hydration.
• NYX Cosmetics: The Crimson Amulet Collection - enriches your beauty by adding glamour to your red carpet splendor.

 I totally can't wait to start using these!

What about you, have you ever done a subscription to a beauty-esque type box?
I've also been eyeballing this one: Julep Maven - It's all nail polish/hand/feet stuff!! Woot!

My thoughts on Vlogs....

I have to write this. It's been bugging me for a while...


I hate vlogs.

I hate them with a fair bit of passion.


You see, most of the time? I'm quickly going through blogs while I'm at work. Sure I have speakers, and I have headphones if I wanted to.... But I really can't be watching that stuff at work. 
And even if I was home, I don't have time to sit and watch a 10 minute video on the books that you got. 
And really, it's not the vlogs that irritate me...
It's when people don't let me know what was IN the video. See I need to read the post. I want the LIST of the books you got (preferably with covers - cause yeah, I totally judge...lol).

Oh and don't get me started on when someone announces a winner for a contest in a video, but then doesn't put the name later in the post.....
That right there? That pretty much guarantees an instant unfollow!

I don't watch book/movie trailers that people post. I don't watch funny youtube videos people post.
If I wanted those, I'd take my ass over to youtube and watch them there.

Anyways, just my $0.02.

I'm feeling happy...

It's been a while! How is everyone doing?
Can I just say how good I'm feeling? I honestly believe the pressure of doing book reviews was getting to me.  Having given those up? I feel more productive, just in that I am getting other things done rather than stressing about writing a review!

Also, I'm making some changes in my work life - but they won't really happen for many years! I have come to the conclusion that I just don't think the library is right for me. I'm bored. I'm not being challenged. I know part of that is the specific job I'm doing, but I honestly can't see it being different in other positions. And I don't want to teach...

SO - I'm taking a math course and an accounting course. I'm going to see how these go. Next semester, I might just take a couple more. If all goes to plan, and I like and get the whole accounting thing - this might just become my future!

The Mr. and I are also making plans. Plans that actually might come to fruition. In the past, most of our plans were LONG TERM - like more than a year, probably closer to 3 or 4. Now? We are making plans for 6 months, and it feels amazing. I'm so excited. We have a lot to do though in 6 months to make this happen.

Blizzard

We also went up and saw my family a couple of weekends ago. It was amazing and made me so completely happy. And I want a dog! These are my brothers puppies (not really puppies, but you know what I mean!).

Sasha - Blizzard's mommy!

 I've just been feeling a lot of this. This calmness. I am feeling happier with the world. I'm taking more pictures (as seen by the Instagram pics I'm posting here lol). I'm reading and not stressing. I'm starting to cook occasionally again -although this mostly isn't happening because I'm still currently working 2 jobs kinda. This is probably the one area in my life that I'm stressing and not feeling happy about. Hopefully it all settles by Oct 22. Hopefully.

What have you all been up to?

I think maybe I missed blogging a bit. I missed doing a bit of basic writing. Hopefully I'm around a bit more often now....

The End?

I've spent a long time pondering this. It isn't something I'm taking lightly and it wasn't an easy decision to come to.

I'm not going to shut down my blog, because I want to keep an outlet available should I need it.

I however won't be doing any book reviews, or guest author posts. I may still post about books that I am reading, and maybe host a contest or two to get ride of some of my books on the shelves, but I'm done with reviews. I've been questioning my ability to even write them for a while, and I think that this will just ultimately relieve some stress in my life.

I want to do more, different, things with this site.
But I haven't figure out what yet....

stay tuned...

Winners - Slow Summer Kisses and At Last

 I'll be emailing the winners shortly! Congrats!

Winner of
Slow Summer Kisses is:
Evie

Winner of
At Last is:
Onge