Summer Bucket List- LINK UP!

I wrote here about my summer bucket list and have crossed a few things off but haven't made as much headway as I would like. Dave was gone all last week so when he's not here I'm unmotivated to go out and have all this fun without him. I love that Florida is hot pretty much year round but the summers here can get really hot. I still enjoy being outside but would prefer to be by the water with the breeze when we do go out. I have things I keep adding to my summer list but with our big upcoming trip I would rather save money for that. So I may have to tweak my list here and there. Below is what we've crossed off the list so far.

Add your link below and I'll be checking in again at the end of July to see how you're doing on your list!

 

An InLinkz Link-up

Summer Bucket List- Link Up!!!

I wrote here about my summer bucket list and really want to start making headway with it. I have a tendency to put things off, so making a list really helps me when Dave asks what I want to do. I'll be checking back the last Thursday of every month (June-August) to see how you're doing with your lists. I found this awesome printable How To Summer list from You Are My Fave. 

  

Get your own here. 

 

I've added a few things to my list including: make homemade ice cream, go to a farmer's market, possibly visit a local nude beach, beat Dave at Scrabble, tea time with Momma, and make cards more. I'll hope you'll join me in keeping track of what we're up to this summer and sharing our fun with others!

 

 

 

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media

via the art of simple

I wasn't going to join Cassie's In the Word Tuesday link up because my thoughts weren't forming, but this morning one of the blogs I was reading I saw the picture above, and just like how He does, the Lord took two very different things and connected them in my mind.

Recently in our No Other God's study we focused on lies.  Kelly Minter wrote, " But loving is very different from putting ourselves in the way of messages that opposes His truth." The things I think about when I read that was the media and what I'm inundated with every day. Like Cassie, I don't know where I stand on this topic of cutting things out of my life but at least I'm starting to think about it. Kelly also wrote, "To think that we are unaffected by what we watch, read, or listen to is deceptive thinking." and I agree. I have been drawn to juicy and overly sexual tv shows instead of quiet time with God, or even quality time with my husband. I have chosen that over things that are better for me.

What I took away from the print above was that what I want MORE is a relationship with God. A firm foundation for the rest of my life, so maybe even if I want to fill my mind with media that speaks lies to me (I'm not thin enough, I'm not smart enough, I have no purpose etc., ect.) I can be reminded to choose the more important one-God.

Clearly I'm still working this out in my own mind but it's something I wanted to share. I want everything I do to reflect God and that is definitely a hard thing to do.

What are your thoughts?

Summer Book Challenge: Update 2

I'm loving this book challenge as the competitive side of me has kicked in and has gotten me to sit and read instead of zone out to TV. Most of the books have been good so that's been enjoyable, but it's when you get into a book you don't really like that you want to put down but can't because it's on your challenge list that's hard. I wish I had a personal librarian to know what I like and pick out books for me. Wait, I have an aunt that is a librarian, so I should make THAT her job. Awesome idea internet. While I go draft up an email for my aunt, you can enjoy my reviews and be in awe at the reading machine I am.

Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery
It was an OK read. I can understand why people want their children to read it though, as Anne is very driven and loves her studies and school work while still able to cultivate her imagination. However, as a 28 year old reader I was annoyed with her incessant talking and I didn't like the way her mother figure Marilla kept her true feelings for Anne hidden. There are a ton of books in this series, however after this one book I don't feel the need to read on.

The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
I liked this book, the characters were real and interesting. I started out the book with the knowledge that the main character would probably die while I was reading it because it's a book about a girl with cancer. I got my frame of mind to be ready for the sadness. It was a quick read and I enjoyed it.
My favorite quote is: "I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly and then all at once.

Keep Quiet, Lisa Scottoline
It was pretty good. I wasn't sure it was going to be that intriguing as you find out the secret they have to keep quiet right off the bat, but just when it got to be a little slow, it suddenly picked up with twists and turns.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened, Jenny Lawson
Laugh out loud funny. Seriously, read this book. I woke Dave up one night laughing so loudly much.

The Challenge:

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that is at least 200 pages long.
10 points: Read a book that was written before you were born.
10 points: Finish reading a book you couldn't finish the first time around.
10 points: Read a book from the children’s section of the library or bookstore.
15 points: Read a book that is on The New York Times' Best Sellers List when you begin reading it.
15 points: Read a historical fiction book that does not take place in Europe.
15 points: Read a book another blogger has already read for the challenge.
20 points: Read a book with “son(s),” “daughter(s)” or “child(ren)” in the title.
                                            20 points: Read a book that was/will be adapted to film in 2014.
                                            25 points: Read a book written by a blogger.
                                            25 points: Read a biography, autobiography or memoir.
                                            30 points: Read a pair of books with antonyms in the titles. book one/book two
 
                                                                                Total Points: 115

Summer Reading Challenge: Update



I'm competitive (unless I know I can't win), it's annoying and I can't seem to stop. I race cars that don't know they're being raced, I beat Dave at stuff we're not even competing over at home (like cleaning bathrooms faster than he does), and so it's no surprise that I've already finished three books off my summer reading challenge list from Semi-Charmed Kind of Life blog.

Instead of waiting till the end of the challenge to do all the book reviews, which I probably won't remember by then anyway, I'm going to do them as I go.

1. No Man's Land, Cory Toth

As my freebie book I was pretty excited for it as the description sounded intriguing and mysterious. However, the book was lackluster, poorly written, and I was very disappointed. Honestly, I would have stopped reading this book if it hadn't been for the challenge.

2. The Husband's Secret, Liane Moriarty

This book was pretty good. I was intrigued throughout about what the husband' secret was, how all these different lives were going to intertwine, and what would happen in the end. I wasn't disappointed and if I book gets you to say "oh shit!" aloud at home while reading it, I think it's a good one.

3. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), Mindy Kaling

As someone that wasn't particularly keen on Mindy's character Kelly in The Office, but someone who loves her show the Mindy Project I wasn't sure how this book was going to go. But let me tell you that she is hilarious. I found myself giggling and laughing out loud (for real lol'ing) while reading her book. A fellow blogger just recently read her book as well and said that after reading it you'd want to  be Mindy's best friend. So true. I think we would be awesome and get a good natural ab workout from all the laughing we'd do.

The Challenge:

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that is at least 200 pages long.
10 points: Read a book that was written before you were born.
10 points: Finish reading a book you couldn't finish the first time around.
10 points: Read a book from the children’s section of the library or bookstore.
15 points: Read a book that is on The New York Times' Best Sellers List when you begin reading it.
15 points: Read a historical fiction book that does not take place in Europe.
15 points: Read a book another blogger has already read for the challenge.
20 points: Read a book with “son(s),” “daughter(s)” or “child(ren)” in the title.
20 points: Read a book that was/will be adapted to film in 2014.
25 points: Read a book written by a blogger.
25 points: Read a biography, autobiography or memoir.
30 points: Read a pair of books with antonyms in the titles.

Summer Book Challenge-it's on!

My sister and I used to go to my grandparents library when we visited in the summer and pick out books to read. When we finished them we could add stickers to the wall and see who had the longest sticker line-I never won. I love to read now and though summer isn't work free it's still a good time to finally get around to some books I've been wanting to read. And now I have a challenge from Semi-Charmed Kind of Life to push me to get going.

Here are the challenge categories:

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that is at least 200 pages long.
-No Man's Land, Cory Toth (269 pages)

10 points: Read a book that was written before you were born.
-The Catcher in the Rye, J.D Salinger (a re-read from high school-277 pages)

10 points: Finish reading a book you couldn't finish the first time around.
-The Power of One, Bryce Courtenay (544 pages-have to start from the beginning again)-my husband's favorite book.

10 points: Read a book from the children’s section of the library or bookstore.
-A Wrinkle In Time, Madeleine L'Engle (211 pages) or Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery (320 pages)

15 points: Read a book that is on The New York Times' Best Sellers List when you begin reading it.
-The Husband's Secret, Liane Moriarty (394 pages)

 15 points: Read a historical fiction book that does not take place in Europe.
-Serena, Ron Rash (371 pages)

15 points: Read a book another blogger has already read for the challenge.

20 points: Read a book with “son(s),” “daughter(s)” or “child(ren)” in the title.
-The Storyteller's Daughter, Cameron Dokey (221 pages)

20 points: Read a book that was/will be adapted to film in 2014. (Here are 16 ideas to get you started, but I know there are plenty more options.)
-The Fault In Our Stars, John Green (318 pages)

25 points: Read a book written by a blogger.
-Let's Pretend This Never Happened, Jenny Lawson (318 pages)

25 points: Read a biography, autobiography or memoir.
-Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), Mindy Kaling (222 pages)

30 points: Read a pair of books with antonyms in the titles.
-Keep Quiet, Lisa Scottoline (352 pages) and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer (326 pages)


What books do you want to read this summer?

Happy reading!

The Boys Behind the Blog {Link Up}

This blog was started because of Dave, to keep his family and friends updated while he was deployed He's the man behind it and I wouldn't have half the stuff I write about without him. I found this link up through one of the blogs I follow and thought it would be fun to do. Dave has always  been a big supporter of this here blog and I really appreciate that he doesn't mind me sharing things. When he was deployed (he's been home a full year!!!) he would write a couple of updates and has from time to time since then appeased me. He answered a couple of questions for me but let me warn you, he didn't expand too much. Such a man.

1. Does your wife use your real name or a nickname on her blog?

My real name (Dave)

2. If you had a blog, what would the title be?

Dave's Bliggity

3. Do you ever feel ignored by her because of the blog?

No she always talks about me in her blog so I don't feel ignored at all, almost the opposite.

4. How has her blog changed or evolved throughout your relationship?

She got a new template or background or theme or whatever its called and it looks a lot better.  Her numbers have also gone up and she has a lot more followers.

5. What is your favorite post on her blog?

I look forward to every single one.  Her Friday's letters is probably my favorite.

Haha thanks Dave. I love how he thinks I have a lot of followers (hello 19 wonderful people!) And he's so politically correct, ALL my posts are his favorite. Sweet silly man.