Life in Denim and Flip Flops

guacamole and popsicles : everyone needs their hot weather food. You know that food that you eat because you don't want to cook. Guacamole and popsicles are mine. Not much for nutrition, but they get me through. It's sort of an obsession and comfort food all rolled into one. visiting friends : yes I realize I've posted this like 4 times, but I still love it. This time I was in Missouri visiting Emily. This was taken of the four of us at a winery on Saturday. books that transport you to another world : I finally finished The Mortal Instruments trilogy. It was really absorbing. I would have started it all over again if I hadn't left Book One with Amy when I visited. On the ride south, I listened to Scott Westerfeld's Specials . That one got me. I knew what was going to happen, but it still got me. Emotional Becky driving was entertaining. Now I'm working my way through Little Brother , so far it's great. I really love the audio book format! making videos wit...

As is bound to happen when I get cooped up too long in any one place, I got thinking on my drive to Missouri on Friday. I was planning to spend about 7 hours in the car, driving over 500 miles to see my friend. I grew up in a family who loved driving vacations and thought nothing of traveling thousands of miles in the car on annual trips. 500 miles seemed a little daunting to drive myself, but I never thought twice about doing it to visit. It's just what I do. But as I was driving I realized that 500 miles was quite a distance. I was really only driving from one state to another that shares its borders. Not that far in theory. But when I thought about it that drive in a lot of other countries would have me crossing international borders or making a much larger dent in the breadth of the country. After I got home today, I played around with Google Maps and realized a drive from London to Glasgow would have been about 100 miles and 30 mins less than my trip this Friday. London to Gla...

So i realized I forgot to tell you the outcomes of the audiobook hunt. I ended up with "Specials" by Scott Westerfeld. I'd started listening to this one last summer and had to return it before it was due. I listened to "Pretties" last summer as well and fell in love with the reader. I also brought "Little Brother" by Cory Doctorow. Another book I started (in print) last fall, but failed to get through before it was due. I was a bit ambitious in the number books I checked out at a time last fall. Must work on that this summer. I'm excited about this one! I also ended up with a cop out ("Assassination Vacation") just in case I get bored with the other two. I also will have my ipod along for traveling music as I like to call it :) I took all your suggestions in with me. I'll admit I got distracted in the YA section. Also, the library is undergoing construction and I had a hard time finding a lot of stuff there. By the time I made it back...

Back for my weekly update about things I love. seeing live musical theatre : I got a chance to see Mamma Mia this last weekend when I visited Amy. Live theatre is like nothing else. I'm so tempted by RENT and Wicked which will be in Des Moines in the next season! Fiesta del Sol margaritas : it was our favorite little Mexican restaurant in college. The margaritas are legendary, and way tequilla heavy :) Having one with Justin last Thursday was just what I needed. SciFi Doctor Who marathons : SciFi just aired 8 episodes of Doctor Who on Monday. It was 8 eps from Season 1 which I haven't seen any of. Love my DVR for being able to save them for me! Google giving me back my account : I joke that Google owns my life. I didn't realize how true that was until yesterday. I almost had no access to my blog, or a lot of photos, or any of my friends' email contacts, or my calendar. I would have been so lost. giving in and buying City of Glass : the second book was amazing. I bought ...

On my way back from visiting Amy in Ames today, I realized, I've never driven for more than 5 hours by myself on a roadtrip before. Now normally this wouldn't be a problem, but I'm leaving for Missouri on Friday. And when I say Missouri, I mean 7 hours south of Dubuque to the boot of Missouri. Anyone who follows me on twitter ( beckiejean ) knows that I got bored about half way through a 3-hour drive. What are some of your strategies for long car rides? I'll be sure to stock up on caffeine and find some place to refuel/bathroom break. I'm thinking that an audiobook might be a good idea. I haven't listened to one since last summer. Anything you've read lately? I looked for Sarah Vowell's "The Wordy Shipmates" but my public library doesn't have that on audio yet. I might start with her "Assassination Vacation" first. I listened to that one summer in grad school and loved it. Let me know what you think. I'll probably try and hit ...

My BEDA buddies ( Nicola , Christina , and Autumn ) and I have decided to get back to the regular blogging by doing Things I love Thursdays. No way could I go back to every day blogging, but once a week I can do. I'm hoping to do more than one a week, but you know me. So on to the blog... my BEDA buddies -- to think 2 months ago I didn't know anything about these girls, and now here we are having an epic facebook convo, tweeting at each other constantly, and offering book reviews, dress advice, and emotional support. I'm starting to think I owe Maureen a thank you card! my job -- today marks my 1 year anniversary at my job. Some days it feels like I've been there forever considering all I've seen and accomplished since I've been here. And other times, I feel like I'm still the newbie and don't know where things are or how to do something basic. But my coworkers have made me feel at home here, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. cream soda and ra...

So, I'm kind of cheating. I'm not done cleaning yet, but all that's left is the dishes/kitchen so I'm going to write this now and finish up afterwards. Seeing/visiting friends I have been absolutely spoiled since the first week in May. I got to see Amy and Emily already, and Gretchen is visiting this weekend. And then I run the reverse, and visiting Amy and Em on their turf the next two weekends. I really adore hanging out with my friends. Sometimes we're good about planning things to do, but a lot of time we just spend hanging out and chilling. I'm really lucky to have 2 of them so close (and Em who comes home often!). Chameleon Circuit album and Julia Nunes albums The Chameleon Circuit album, I've been waiting for since December when they announced it. I was afraid that after all these months it wouldn't be as good as I imagined it. I was so wrong. I've listened to it way too many times since Monday :) And the Julia Nunes stuff I got from Emily fo...