Weekend Recap

Out with friends

Hi everyone!

Hope you had a great weekend! I know I did! Last week, we had lovely weather in the 50s, but this weekend it was in the 30s. This allowed for a little bit of indoor productivity :)

Perfect setup for relaxation!

Here's a brief overview:
++Washed all the laundry in the house (8 loads, woah!)
++Unpacked closet in the bedroom (6 months after moving into the house...)
++Cleaned the kitchen
++Vacuumed house (as Auron is shedding more, this is becoming an almost daily task!)

My newest knitting book!

++Took a bath and relaxed!
++Knit more rows on my stitch sampler scarf
++Researched more knitting patterns
++Spent time with friends over Friday's dinner out
++Read a 500+ page book (now 25% complete toward my 2014 page goal!)
++Took Auron to the dog park
++Weekly grocery shopping

I feel refreshed and ready for the week ahead!

Sunday Afternoon

Readers, what did you do this weekend?

Flashback Friday Reviews (4)

Happy Friday, readers!

My coworker sent me this meme, and I thought it was fabulous! It's not even just Fridays that I feel like this:

Hope this helps you feel better about your Friday!

 
Book Review:

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
Read January 2013 

Last January (am I really over a year behind in my reviews?! Yikes!) I enjoyed Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?. I am a huge fan of Mindy Kaling's character Kelly on The Office, so I knew I would love her book.

This novel had me intrigued for half of it, and giggling the other half. While we learn a fair amount about the author (after all, it is her autobiography), I didn't feel it was just a telling of her career path and how she got where she is. Her experiences were hilarious, and her interpretations of those experiences were even better. The characters she plays all represent her in one way or another, and you can tell she really gets into the part.

I gave this book a 4/5.


Knitting Review:

Knitting is going well for me! I created a leaf-shaped dishcloth last week. This week (and probably the next several), I am working to create a scarf that utilizes six different types of stitches. I have gotten 1/12th of the way through so far, which means I will probably be working on it until June, when I will no longer be in need of a scarf :(

Here is the progress:

Be expecting updates as I work to complete this--I'm excited for the challenge!

Questions for my readers:

1. Do you read autobiographies by TV stars or movie stars? If so, what is your favorite autobiography?
2. Do you have a point in the day (especially Fridays!) where you're no longer productive?

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Take Control of your TBR Pile Update: 3/1-3/8

Wow--this has been an awesome month of reading for me so far! I'm so excited to be participating in the challenge Take Control of your TBR Pile. My goal for the challenge was to read, or complete, 5 books in March. I'm thrilled to announce I have already met this challenge!

This past weekend I was in Washington, D.C. for a work conference. Between the airport and a little bit of down time at the hotel, I was able to complete one book and begin/complete two other books. It was a whirlwind trip, but 3 books over a 3 day trip isn't bad!

In the time I've been home since, I have completed one more book and began/completed another book. I have already begun one more, too. Although I have met my goal for this challenge, I plan to continue reading as much as I can!

One huge challenge I have encountered is that March is both National Reading Month AND National Craft Month. How can I choose between my two favorite hobbies?!?! So far, I have found balance by reading on the weekends and spending my weeknight evenings knitting.

How is the challenge treating you, readers?

Challenge: Take Control of your TBR Pile

I promised myself that once I was done with grad school, I would participate in more book blogging challenges. The perfect one to begin with? Take Control of your TBR Pile, as hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Here are the rules of the competition, as listed on the challenge's post:

Rules

• Link-up! This is open to everyone. If you do not have a blog then link your Facebook or Goodreads account.
• Make a Goals/updates/Results post (can be combined)
• Beginning March 1st, 2014 and ending March 31, 2014 at midnight read books from your TBR pile ALL books must have been published before March 2014.
• Post a review to Goodreads, your blog or Facebook then link it to the Rafflecopter for an entry. (review only needs to be a short one)
• You can combine events, challenges etc.
• No novellas for this one peeps
• The rafflecopter will allow you to enter up to two books daily, so update as soon as you finish a book.
• Earn an extra entry for adding Take Control Button to your blog, or facebook (with link-back)
• Use hashtag #TakeControlTBR
• Rafflecopter will close on April 2, 2014 at midnight and a winner will be chosen. Open internationally as long as Book Depository or Barnes and Noble ship to you. Prize: New 2013 release. I will do pre-orders as well. (may request eBook copy)

I know I need to get my TBR pile down to a more reasonable size, as it is currently 175. I am hoping to read, or complete, 5 books in the month of March for this challenge. None of the books I have are ARCs, so I shouldn't be too restricted in my reading.

Anyone else interested in joining? If so, link up on this post, and join me in the fun March reads!