Whoosh

Time just flies, doesn't it? I had such great intentions for writing and blogging during this pregnancy, but that was obviously a bit ambitious.

Instead of writing, I keep reading. Devouring in fact. Devouring books, blogs and anything I can get my hands on. I find it amusing that I have a few big ol' baby books on my bookshelf but I can't bring myself to read them yet (I've got 6 weeks, plenty of time, right?). Yet, all the blog posts I read are baby related. What's that about?

One book I read lately that I can't shake from my mind was Neil Gaiman's latest:

It's haunting and strange and quite lovely. I couldn't keep my imagination away, it was impossible to put down. Just look at how highly it's rated on good reads! Keep it in mind next time you're thinking of picking up a book. I highly recommend it. (though I stray from saying too much about it..)

(photo from humor train)

good for a giggle

This just made me laugh a bit- I wish I knew who made it. I'm trying not to read too much about babies and pregnancy, I just listen to my doctor's advice and pay attention as friends tell stories. But something fun like this, I'm happy to read and share.

I do have to say, I'm awfully proud of myself for not going google crazy during this pregnancy. It's so easy to freak out and google symptoms and fears like crazy, but I have some how avoided doing just that. High five! Feeling good about that.

(image from pinterest, where I spend way too much time) 

Wisdom: Mitch Hedberg

A few more Mitch Hedberg gems.. 

Guilty Pleasure

This is generally what I think whenever I hear people talking about celebrity gossip, or whenever I see those magazines by the check out at Target talking all about how stars are 'just like us' (what are they, aliens? Why shouldn't they be just like us?) but here's the thing.. once in a while, maybe once a month or so, I head over to my favorite gossip site and read all the horrible stories about the people I don't care about.

Here's the catch. It's a British site, and I only seem to want to read about the crazy British stars. I can't explain it! It's so strange, I know! I don't know who they are, or why they are famous (mostly) but it's such a guilty pleasure. I just zone out and read about their mundane coffee trips or new pram (come on, you know you love that word!) purchases. I can read almost five whole stories before I get seriously bored and have to move on to cute animal videos.

What can I say? Everyone needs a guilty pleasure once in a while!

(comic found on pinterest, where I wish people would actually link to the origin of the pictures or at least to a viable website! someone deserves credit, wish I knew who.) 

Guilty Pleasure

I'm not ashamed to admit that I love pictures and videos of cute animals. I do. There is almost nothing in the world that makes me laugh so hard. It used to embarrass me, and I would try to understand why, oh why, I giggle uncontrollably and then cry like a baby whenever I watch them. They lift my spirits and distract me 100% from my current thought process. They are such a guilty pleasure.

Dylan knows me so well, and is such a great guy, that he has a miniature treasure trove of adorable animal pictures stored on his phone that he sends to me whenever I'm having a bad day. He recently sent me the rain frog video above, and if it doesn't make you smile then move along. Just move along. If it does make you smile, then hello my friend, and welcome to a safe space to be completely yourself about cute critters.

I will say that the stranger the creature, the more likely I am to become infatuated with it. I watch the occasional cat and dog videos and chuckle here and there at photos of puppies and kittens, but it is the unusual animals that really get me.

Have you seen the tiny iguana's out there?

And, one of my all time favorites is the elephant. I adore itty bitty creatures and gentle giants equally.

No matter how I'm feeling, these pictures and videos offer me temporary escape from my worries and quandaries of the day, and for that I am grateful.

(images found on pinterest and google)

wisdom: sirius black

"I am not what happens to me, I am what I choose to be" I have this quote on my classroom wall and I think on it a lot as I teach. Year after year, I wonder if these ten year olds believe me. I doubt many do. How many adults do you know who still wear their past proudly on their faces, parading around in their stories, never moving forward, staying stagnant in what occurred some time ago? I can see how things can come to define you, if you let them, and I guess the strength comes from not letting it. 

wisdom: dumbledore

Are money and life the two biggest human desires? I'd say control and power go up there as well, maybe it's all connected like a web of wishes and demons.

(graphic found on pinterest)

comics

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday we get a newspaper. I peruse the actual pages, just to make it look like I don't subscribe just for one reason: the comics. I grew up reading them daily and I can't shake my love for newspaper comics. But, I'm not going to lie, they rarely make me chuckle out loud. I've noticed that comics are becoming more and more popular online and those I do read almost daily. The Oatmeal and xkcd are a few of my favorites, as well as Crimes Against Hugh's Manatees. 

best books I've read this year

Wild by Cheryl Strayed 

Have you read any good books this year? Here are a few that I've devoured this past year. I highly recommend them each for very different reasons and I'm always looking for new suggestions! 

wisdom: dumbledore

Dumbledore was so wise.

I adore words. One of my favorite being 'pastiche'. Do you have a favorite word? If not, you should consider getting one. It makes for quirky and interesting conversation starters (or enders, if you aren't around other language lovers).

(graphic found on pinterest)