NYE

I saw this and thought it was hysterical... because it's so true!

Book Club Friday: The Hunger Games

"In Suzanne Collins’ riveting tale of life in North America after its destruction, a powerful Capitol emerges as residents of its twelve outlying Districts individually struggle to survive under its bleak rule. Living under the constant reminder that the Capitol obliterated District 13 when the people incited a rebellion decades before, 16-year old Katniss Everdeen quietly carves out a path of meager survival for herself, her younger sister, Prim, and their widowed mother under the Capitol’s strict regime.

Each year, the Capitol assembles its Gamemakers to create an elaborate arena filled with deadly trigger points and calls upon one girl and one boy from each of the twelve Districts to play in its nationally televised Hunger Games. On the Day of Reaping when 24 children are selected to fight to the death, Katniss is whisked away from her daily quest for survival alongside her friend Gale, and thrust into the elaborate Capital as she is prepared for the Hunger Games.

In this world of instant gratification and superficial people, Katniss contends with her drunken, disengaged mentor, Haymitch, and wrestles with her feelings about her co-Tribute from District 12, Peeta Mellark. Growing up apart from Peeta in the same District, Katniss struggles to determine if Peeta is the boy who once showed her an act of kindness pivotal to her family’s survival, or if his actions are motivated to keep himself alive, as the Capital will allow only one Tribute to survive the Hunger Games’ treacherous arena.

In the days to come, Katniss must fend for her survival against the natural elements and the vicious Careers, who are Tributes who’ve trained for the Hunger Games their entire lives. Katniss meets a young Tribute whose likeness to Prim tears at her heartstrings and she continues to process what Peeta’s motives could be as the end draws near. Should she kill these two or be killed? If Katniss wins, her family will be handsomely taken care of and her District will receive the additional food it so desperately needs to survive." [from here]

I loved this book. I read it in one sitting (granted, I was also stuck on a place for over 7 hours lol). But I haven't found a book that was such a page turner in so long...seriously riveting. I also can't wait for the movie,... and to read the other 2 books in the series!!

Have you read this? What did you think?

Merry Christmas!

That is exactly what I did this year!

I spent Christmas Eve with C and his parents. We went to church, and then went to dinner at his mom's and had delish sauseeeg and peppers on rolls, salad, and yummy potatoes. And wine...lots of wine :) 

We also opened presents from/to his parents. 

I loved what I got them. For his mom, I made a personalized calendar, complete with birthdays and other special dates from Vistaprints, "Bad Teacher" and "The Holiday" DVD's (she loves romcoms like me!)  and this super cute bird feeder from Red Envelope!

C also got her a gift card from Macy's and one of her fave restaurants. 

For his dad, we got 2 bottles of red wine, a red wine aerator, a varsity style scarf (with his initial) , and Marshall headphones (apparently they're top notch,...or so C tells me) ... because his dad is a drum player. 

Christmas morning we slept in a little, took our obligatory "in front of our Christmas tree" pic (which will not be posted here because honestly, no one looks good when they just wake up!), and opened presents. 

I got so many awesome presents! Barnes n Nobles gift card, a $500 restaurant.com gift card (from my bff in PR...so redic but awesome!!), long johns, a cute flannel shirt, and monies from C's parents, monies from my mom and grandpa, and a few tops from mama as well. 

Stocking Stuffers: BBW Japanese Cherry Blossom set (my fave!), small Bali Mango lotion (yumm!), lip gloss, and Stila "Wonderful in Waikiki" make up set

Hunter Original Tall Glossy in Gray and black fleece socks

and my new jewelry box

but I may have had more fun giving than getting this year!

I don't know why this keeps coming out sideways... but anyway, these are some of C's presents. Sublime ft. Rome CD, a homemade calendar, The Hangover beer coozy, a Christmas CD he got from a friend, chocolate, iTunes gift card, a mini Battleship game and batteries, and ...

PHILLIES SPRING TRAINING TICKETS!!

That's right, we are headed to Clearwater, Fl for Phillies Spring Training on March 15th!! So freaking excited!

I got the tickets in October, and it's been soooo hard trying to keep it a secret! It also happens to be his "winter break" and our good friend from Florida's birthday weekend! Ahhh could not work out better!! Can't wait!

And I can't wait to see how my friends like the presents I got them, and see what I got, over New Years!

Did you get anything you really wanted this year, or give any amazing presents? Please share!

Things To Do With Your New iPhone

Sooo I got an iPhone for Christmas/Birthday! It's actually my first "smart"phone, so I'm super excited!! This is what I've been doing with it so far...

take pictures

(yes, this is a real product, selling in Toys R Us...I wish I knew someone I could get this for!)

tweet

uhhh...i mean....

discover the joy of hitting pigs with birds

shazam it, then watch the video, and download the song

check in to locations and get discounts, and check out the tips

(seriously, I didn't know you could do this... but I "checked in" to a restaurant the other night and we got $10 off our order! Sweeeet!)

learn to use the rest of my phone

yeah,... still working on this part!!

What do you like to do on your phone? Got any fave apps I should check out?

Tunery Tuesday: SuperHeavy "Satyameva Jayathe"

This is my new favorite song. Maybe I'm still missing the music of India, but I love the whole vibe of this song. C bought the CD, and this is a close number 1 with "Miracle Worker." If you've never heard of this "band", here's a little knowledge for you, courtesy of Wikipedia:

"SuperHeavy is a supergroup consisting of Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, A. R. Rahman, and Damian Marley. Stone and Stewart have collaborated in the past with Jagger. Jagger said of the band, "We wanted a convergence of different musical styles... We were always overlapping styles, but they were nevertheless separate".Jagger wanted SuperHeavy to showcase different musical styles, with music ranging from reggae to ballads to Indian genre."

Enjoy!

Go Shawty, It's Your Birfday...

Yaaaaay! My birthday! I *love* my birthday! I'm not one of those people who dreads their birthday, cursing the day that brings them that much closer to 30. Nope, not me. Maybe next year, but I highly doubt it. In fact, next year, I plan on doing it BIG, because it will be my Golden Birthday- 12/12/12!!! I've already started telling friends to keep it clear because I want to go on a trip- I'm thinking a weekend getaway in New Orleans, since I've never been and I hear it's awesome. Plus, it's not too far, and I see getaway deals there all the time.

I'm not one of those people who keeps it all "hush hush", hoping no one notices it's their day. I don't understand those types. Shoot, I made brownies last night to bring to work! I figure, I love brownies, and would love to eat them all afternoon, and my coworkers love snacks. I see it as a win-win!

I'm not one of those people who thinks they are "too old" to have a party to celebrate it either. This year, my friends are joining me for a fun night of bowling! I'm super excited. Being that my day falls on a Monday this year (boo!), we will be going out next Saturday. Tonight, my love is cooking me my absolute favorite dinner- chicken parmesan! I can't wait... he makes a meeaaaaaan parm.

I love getting all the notifications on Facebook of people writing on my wall. Sure, I know they wouldn't remember if there wasn't a reminder feature, but whatever- it warms my little heart that people would go out of their way to send a little birthday wish my way! Even people who I haven't spoken to in years... it's like an open invitation to reopen those lines of communication. It also reminds me of friends lost, those who did not post, but then I just think about all the ones who did, and the new friends I've made, and I get all warm and fuzzy again!!

I love my outfit today, and my new bangles that actually fit that I bought on my trip. I love my nails that I had done yesterday (Opi's Black Cherry Chutney- dark and delicious!). I loved my coffee this morning, and my ipod playing all my favorites, and that my commute went without a hitch... and that I took a cab after the train instead of the bus and didn't feel guilty about it! I'm just so grateful for everything today!

I'm Back!!!

I've finally returned from India and being sick! 

I actually got back to the U.S. on December 1st, but then I was knocked down by a mean case of bronchitis :( 

But I am feeling much better now, only a few more days of antibiotics to go and I should be 100%. I'll definitely have some more pics and stories to come, but I just wanted to say Hello! And I missed you guys!!

no, this is NOT a Photo Shopped pic! Just great photography by C!