What I'm Reading

If someone didn't know me and picked up my Kindle, they would think I'm a lunatic. I've got so many different books on a wide spectrum of subjects that it makes me look a little crazy. Well, on the contrary, I'm not crazy, I'm just a front runner. Meaning I read what's popular, what all of you are reading. If I hear of a good book all over the blogs, I'm likely to pick it up and read it from beginning to end, even if I hate it. Why? To see what all the fuss is about! Case in point - Fifty Shades of Grey.

I'm currently on the third book and am still on the fence about how I feel about the series. Honestly? I really hated the first book, I guess it had no story line to keep me hooked. The second book was A MILLION times better and I can't wait to see where the story goes but I really don't get the huge fan following Christian has. I got behind a vehicle yesterday who had personalized plates that said "MY FIFTY" and had a "Laters, baby" bumper sticker. Yes, he's an interesting character but beyond that, I'm not in love. Will I be once I finish the third book? Have you read them?

While I'm on the... um... hot and heavy side of things, I'm also on the fourth book of the Sookie Stackhouse series, Dead to the World. 

If you're a True Blood fan, you're seriously missing out if you haven't read the books. They are similar to the show but there are about a million small details that are different or missing. It's an addictive series and I know I can always pick up my Kindle for a good read when I've got a Charlaine Harris book on it!

Flipping genres a little bit, I've also got the entire Shopaholic series and finished them all within a week or two last fall. 

The Shopaholic novels were all an easy read but had extremely similar story lines. Truthfully? Rebecca Bloomwood got a tad annoying to me in the last couple of books but I gave the books the benefit of the doubt and kept reading. She would get herself in crazy situations and by the end of the series, I was ready to be done with them. I didn't love the books but didn't hate them either. 

Another series I just had to read because you kids told me to were the novels by Lauren Conrad.

My sweet friend Ashley actually lent me L.A. Candy last year (um, I'm a bad friend, did I give it back?!) and I got completely hooked on the characters and read all three books back to back. The story is similar to what we think happened on the MTV show the Hills but the people are just different enough so you can't figure out which character would be who in real life. I kind of have a girl crush on LC so it was a no brainer that I would like her books. 

So we've covered sex crazy, vamps and demons, nutso shopaholics and teen fiction. You didn't actually think I could finish a post without covering something baby related did you? Have no fear, there's a baby led weaning book on my Kindle too.

 I've been curious about baby led weaning so I downloaded this book today thanks to a recommendation from my new mom friend, Lucy. (Fun fact? We met through my in-the-computer-turned-real-life BFF Maria. Blogging friends for the win. Seriously.)

As I said, I just started reading it but I'm already intrigued. Like most moms, I assumed the next step in feeding my baby would be purees but this book sheds a new light on letting your baby tell you when he/she is ready for real food. So far, it's interesting and right now, I'm not ruling out anything but really anxious to learn more about the baby-led process!

So, there you have it, what I've been reading lately. On my "to-read" list? A few of Karen Kingsbury's books have struck my curiousity, since a few of you raved about her too. Also, I would really like to read Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter before I see the movie. 

Told ya, I'm all over the place! What have you been reading?

Vacation via Instagram

Last week flew by! I can't believe our 2012 Outer Banks vacation has come and gone and now I'm back in the office already (boo!) but to soften the blow, let's relive the trip via Instagram photos. Which means, here's several cell phone pictures of my baby because I am too lazy to upload photos right now. ;)

Father's Day 2012! I got this shirt at the Gymboree outlet ... along with 20 other outfits, oops.

Beach baby! And my husband's pudgy belly. And his beer. Classy.

The view from our back deck. We weren't as close to the water as I usually like but we've gotten spoiled over the past few years. The way I see it - I'm at the beach, I'm not complaining!

What Noah did most of the week: play. :)

Dinner at one of our favorite Outer Banks restaurants. 

I die. This picture just kills me. Spending the week with these two? Best week ever.

And lastly, how we lounge by the pool. Hanging out with a nice breeze and a paci. Well, I didn't have a paci... I had a pina colada, but to each their own I guess. ;)

Le sigh. Can I go back now? Maybe tomorrow I'll relive my vacation even more and actually post some real photos of our trip. In the meantime, I guess I'll get back to work.

Happy Monday folks!!

Vacation Essentials

I've been prepping for our beach trip for a while now and with it coming up very soon, I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorite vacation essentials!!


Technically, this will be Noah's second trip to the beach although I didn't know I was pregnant this time last year but now that he's... um, on the outside, we have to go about this trip a little differently. First and foremost, we need shade!

{Via Amazon.com}

This Coleman beach shade is large enough not only for the baby to hang out in, but for the hubs and I as well. I don't know about you, but when I trek to the beach, I'm there for the day and sometimes you have to get out of the hot sun.

Not my husband, but you get the idea. Via Amazon.com.

Plus, it was around the same price as some of the other "baby" beach tents that I've seen and I'm sure they're just fine but with this Coleman Beach Shade, I got more for my money. It's large and is (supposedly) SPF 50+ which is exactly what I was looking for to keep my baby cool and sunburn free. 

Speaking of cool, with him lounging under the shade for several hours, I thought it'd be a good idea to bring along his stroller fan to keep the air flowing. 

{Via Amazon.com}

I figure if I clip this bad boy to Noah's travel crib, he should stay nice and comfortable while I'm out getting my tan on. 

Now, if you told me to pick my number one beach essential, it wouldn't be anything practical like the shade or the fan, it would be Maui Babe Browning Lotion.

{Via MauiBabe.com}

Before you start telling me all about how tanning is bad and I shouldn't over expose myself to the sun and all that jazz, let me tell you that I always slather on a good layer of SPF before my tanning lotion. I know that still doesn't solve anything but I can't help it - when I'm at the beach, I want to lay in the sun with a good book and a cold beer. Now, if you like to lay in the sun too, you have GOT to get this browning lotion. My roommate turned me on to it several years ago and I swear by it. Although it smells a little, (like coffee almost)  it freaking works and it works fast. End rant.

Moving right along, we've got our shade, our fan and our tanning lotion what else do we need but a good chair?! 

{Via TommyBahama.com}

This isn't the exact chair we have but it's similar, the one we have is from Costco and I'm sure was a different price but you get the idea. It reclines, has a cup holder, a head rest and folds up to a backpack that you can wear while walking to the beach. Since we stay a good block or two from the ocean, it's nice to be able to throw the chair on your back and go. Love it. 

Other than those items, I'll also have my iPod, my Kindle and a cooler. What else do you need for a fabulous day at the beach!? I absolutely cannot wait to head to the Outer Banks this summer, what are some of your vacation essentials? What did I forget!?

A wedding, a baby and Bodie.

The last two weeks have been a whirlwind around here so please accept my apologies for being so absent! It's the end of the school year which means my office is super busy. We're all running around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to finalize the semester and prep for the Fall semester. Folks don't seem to realize that just because I work for a school does not mean I have the Summer off! It's actually one of our busiest times.

Anywho, to catch you up, here is what I've been up to. :)

On Memorial Day weekend, I had the pleasure of attending a beautiful wedding for a gorgeous bride and a very handsome groom.

   

Maria is a stunning bride

Gorgeous right? 

As I said before, Maria has become one of my best friends and I am so glad that Kevin and I were able to attend and celebrate with her and her new husband. It was a fantastic wedding and all her hard work paid off! 

Not only did I have to steal the bride away for a quick (Instagram) photo op, I had to grab another one of our  blogger friends for a group shot. Anyone recognize this other gorgeous lady? ;)

Em happens to work for the company that coordinated Maria's wedding and I was so glad I got to see her. Even if we did talk smack about the sweaty hot messes on the dance floor, we always know how to have a good time. 

Although it was a fantastic evening, it was my first overnight away from my son. Noah stayed with my parents while we were in Maryland for the wedding and to be quite honest with you, it wasn't as bad as I thought! I enjoyed myself and didn't worry too much because let's be honest, he could care less who has him as long as his belly is full and his butt is dry. 

It's hard to believe my little munchkin is 3 1/2 months old! I keep forgetting to take weekly pics so we've been sticking to a monthly photo. Crazy how much he's grown.

 And because I promised KM and Maria, here's the obligatory Bodie picture. I'm sure you both already saw it but I'm not one to break promises. Here is his furryness, before and after grooming. ;)

So there it is. A little of what we've been up to lately! Hope the rest of you are having a fabulous week.