mischief managed

you may or may not have heard, but today is a special day. fourteen years ago, harry potter, the boy who lived, defeated lord voldemort. today muggles and wizards alike celebrate all over the world. happy international harry potter day!

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how are you going to celebrate? 

the end of an era/happy birthday

I know it's unecessary to apologize for being away from my own blog, but I am sorry for being so out of touch with you all lately! Ever since our downstairs neighbor vanished in the night along with his interenet, my blogging excursions are limited to when I can get away to the library and snag a computer. So here I am, and there you go.

Before any other topic can be blogged however, there is one in particular that cannot go unnoticed or postponed any longer...

(Dobby, Hedwig, Luna, McGonagall, The Golden Snitch. Note top: Draco Malfoy, and Arnold the Pygmy Puff)

You knew it was coming.  After months, days, and minutes of countdown, the end finally came and went, leaving the bittersweetness to settle over us all. We love you, Harry.

We love him so much, in fact, that we had a little birthday celebration for him (today is his birthday), complete with butterbeer and cupcakes!

Fellow fans out there, did you go to the midnight premiere/see the movie yet? What did you think? And how are you feeling?

I am having a summer romance...

...with the items listed below. Gotcha.

1. Diva Espresso. This local coffee shop is nestled right by my work, and ever since discovering that they have rice milk, I find myself fighting the urge to take K-Bear (this is the name by which I will refer the little baby girl I nanny) in her Ergo to get myself scrumtious iced vanilla rice milk lattes. Not to mention, they also have the most magical tasting vegan raspberry scones. Ohmygosh.

2. Alba Botanica sunscreen. Because if you know me, you know I lather on the suncreen like it's going out of style. It may be a little pricier than most mainstream brands, but it's totally worth it. I love protecting my skin from the sun, and so should you! Skin cancer is not beautiful. Or premature wrinkles. Or peeling skin. Gross.  And this particular brand of sunscreen is organic and natural, offering a superior level of protection because it's not hopped up on chemicals that your body will absorb. I usually buy mine from Whole Foods, but I'm sure there are many other places that carry it and other natural sunscreens! Note to readers: don't be fooled by high SPFs, you really only need about an SPF30, and reapply reapply reapply!

3. My new one-piece swimsuit; a bandeau shirred one-piece! I hate wearing swimsuits. In recent years, if convinced to get into a pool at all, I donned a tank and soffe shorts; super hot, I know. But I just cannot bear the thought of baring my body to the world. Shudder. Since last summer, I have been ogling the styles of old; nice, classy, conservative. You can find this style of suit in many colors and patterns on Target's website.

4. My summer reading list.

5. So Delicious coconut milk ice cream. Whatthewhat. Yeah, it's so delicious. That's all I can say.

6. Kimberly Snyder and her new book, The Beauty Detox Solution. I am a huge fan and advocate for this woman and her book.  I saw her appear on the Today show, and imediately ordered the book off amazon. A week later it arrived, and a week after that I had read it cover to cover.  I highly reccomend this book to anyone, and I think if you're looking for an easy and sensible way to be healthy and eat well, this is for you. Kimberly is not only intelligent, but seems to be the nicest person ever. On her blog, she seriously answers every single comment...and there are humdreds of people writing to ask her questions and/or give comments. check. it. out.

7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2.

34 days, friends.

That's all for now. What are your summer must haves??

we'll start living

I am back from an accidental hiatus, the kind that just kind of happen when  life decides to make you all busy and also your computer isn't working.  I can happily report that this past month has brought me some real joys such as the fort that has taken over our living room and from which I am writing this post.  I have also had some visitors from the southwest who brought me more happiness than I can say! And I am an eager member of the Harry Potter  community group from my church; a place where it is acceptable to be obsessed with the Boy Who Lived and know the rules of Quidditch and crochet Gryffindor scarves and then wear those scarves and count down to the premiere of the Deathly Hallows Pt 1 (appx. 3 days and 6.5 hours) and totally not be judged. Yeah.

 Unfortunately, the good often accompanies the less than pleasant, and I have found myself in the midst of some sorrows as well.I have felt the pains of homesickness for both my family and friends.  I have fought the insecurities that won't stop gnawing at me.  I have learned that budgeting is way harder than it sounds like. I missed my sister's 20th birthday (Happy Birthday, Shelby!). And most recently, my heart broke over the news that my sweet kitty cat, Buttons, passed away this past weekend, and I couldn't be there to say good bye.  

I love you, my sweet girl. 

Growing up, I always had a feeling that being an adult would kind of suck.  Not all the time. But still.  I was never in a rush to grow up.  But now that the time is here, I can only do my best with what I have and the resources and blessings that have been provided for me.  I refuse to give up or deny my responsibilities. But seriously though, can I take a break? A nap time from life? Okay.

OH! So I almost forgot; today is Monday and I realize it's been FOREVER since I have made a goal, but that is going to change right now. For this week's edition of make-a-goal monday, I would like to pledge myself to find the bright side of everything that happens this week.  My plan is not to live in denial, but there are perks to being an optimist. Here's to a glass-half-full kind of week. 

I hope you are all well! Happy Monday.

...Oh. And P.S. Get excited.

this ain't no mrs. norris

I love my kittybaby.

My kitty loves Harry Potter.

I love Harry Potter.

my kittypumpkin + Harry Potter = my heart bursting at the seams.

harry, hippies, and dessert.

Red velvet cake, harry potter, and my hook and yarn are my companions this evening. (I realize that about every three posts I talk about harry potter, but this is just my life, don't mind me).

After dinner, my mom and I hassled my dad into making an errand to the grocery store for some cake, and for "forcing" him to do so, he guilted me into accompanying him. It really was for the best though, because sometimes my dad just cannot be trusted to take care of the groceries alone. He was in need of some lunches for work, and if it were up to him, he would eat canned soup and ramen everyday. Do you realize the sodium content in those?  They are essentially selling heart-attack in a can.


While explaining this to my father ("It's ok to eat these every once in awhile, but you cannot live off of them..."), a burly, wild-haired hippie-man with strangely yellow-tinted sunglasses passed us by, pointed to my dad and said "Hey man, you eat whatever you want..." This is what happens when I try to be proactive in the health and well-being of my loved ones.  

On a sidenote, I need to learn how to cook. I have really cute aprons.

My poor future husband...whoever he is, hopefully he'll understand. I can bake really good cookies, though. Maybe that will be enough.

Oh dear, I am tired. I hope you are having a good week so far, friends. I can't wait to read all about them!