I love my Nook!

I bought a Nook for myself this summer and I've really enjoyed reading books on it. During the semester, I didn't have all that much free time to read, and so my goal for this winter break is to read for pleasure. The great thing about ebooks is that you are free to read whatever you want wherever you want, free from judgment. I just finished an interesting read called "Matched" by Ally Condie. When I was finished I looked online to see what the reviews of it were like, only to discover it was a Teen Romance. Though at age 20 I find I am no longer a teenager, I still do love a good young adult book. Next on my list is "This Year I Will...: How to Finally Change a Habit, Keep a Resolution or Make a Dream Come True" by MJ Flynn.

In terms of habits I'm planning on changing, I want to:

• Stop letting clutter collect in my room
• Exercise at least 4 times a week
• Look past brand labels and instead at quality when it comes to shopping

Anyway I find that the Nook is great for self-help books and nonfiction books especially, since you can keep lots of advice and references with you in one place. Additionally, I think I just love the way my Nook looks. It's so cute. Even the name "Nook" reminds me of how I used to read when I was a little kid, tucked into some nook in the house and curling up with a book. 

December 31st... approximately 6 hours til 2010

Hey everyone, hope you're excited for the New Year! Today I went shopping with my mom and my sister. I wore the outfit featured above.

Sweater: 525 America

Tank Top: Sustainable Collective by Convoy

Boots: Bare Traps

Jeans: Madewell

Ring: Forever 21

  

I bought the ring when I went to the Mall with my friend the other day. It's an owl, and a very cute one, I might add.

Today, when I went shopping, I purchased this purple dress from a store called Homeward Bound. Here are a few pictures of ways I was thinking I might wear it.

Look 1: with jeans and boots

                                  

Look 2: with tights and boots

Look 3: with black tights and black/gold flats

Dress: Kensie

What do you think? Which way do you like best?

Hope everyone has a Happy New Year!

New Year's 2010

It's December 27th, which means I'm actively thinking about my New Year's Resolutions. According to my journal, previous New Year's Resolutions included the following:

1. Finish this journal by December 31st 2010 (Last year's Resolution-- I still have a good 40 pages left in this journal, but I'm about 3/4 of the way finished.

2. Exercise More (Go to the gym at school, take a gym class - I have gone to work out much more often than I did last year, but my work out sessions declined around the second half of the semester. My record for going was 4 times in a week. I often went 2 times a week, but also equally as often, I did not go at all. I also took a Zumba class, which was scary as hell. I have never seen so many butts moving in ways they should not.)

3. Wear my hair down more often (As I write this my hair is up. Somehow I can't stand the feeling of hair against the nape of my neck. However, whenever I've gone out to dances or parties, I've begun to usually wear my hair down)

4. Be Happier (Ah the elusive Be Happier goal. While I sometimes think I've achieved it (during times that I'm happy), at the times that I'm sad I curse myself for making such a wretched New Year's Resolution. Because, after all, isn't being happier more of a life goal? I guess it's something that you try to do constantly, but often fail at doing. And since the goal of perfect happiness is pretty much unobtainable, the negative feelings from failing to achieve that perfect happiness are not really worth it.

So, this year my resolutions will include the following.

1. Don't be afraid to say no to party invites or extracurricular opportunities. I packed my schedule so much this year that I think it's time to take a chill pill. I plan on spending at least one weekend night doing a relaxing activity, either by myself (watching television shows, journaling, blogging, reading, etc...) or with friends (watching a movie, going bowling, hanging out in the dorm).

2. Going to the gym at least once a week. (This should definitely be feasible. Once I get that down, I will try for 2 times a week. More than that is probably not realistic for me at this point, and going 5 times a week and then not going for 5 weeks is not nearly as good as just going once or twice a week)

3. Taking more photographs (I haven't taken my digital camera out with me in the longest time, because a year or two ago it broke when I was at this dance and someone elbowed it out of my hands. I mean, what is the point though of having a digital camera and never using it?

4. Be more relaxed about planning (When I got the iCal I decided to record everything I did, in 15 minute intervals, which was, of course, INSANE! I need to let myself not feel bad about taking an hour to just listen to music while flipping through magazines. One can never be productive 24/7.

And with that I am done for now. Because my 5th New Year's resolution is to not make so many New Year's resolutions that I go crazy. So, I think I'll begin that now. 5 Resolutions is plenty for me. Now, what about you? Do you have any personal philosophies on the art of entering the New Year?