Vampires 101

What I've learned about vampires from TV, books, and movies:

1. Vampires are mostly dark haired and always fair skinned.
2. Vampires hate werewolves.
3. Vampire blood fixes everything.
4. When possible, vampires fall in love with humans.
5. A vampire in love with a human is likely to be: sickeningly sensitive & caring; a "vegetarian."
6. A human in love with a vampire must go through an annoying "but-you're-a-vampire" ordeal.
7. Vampires can control your mind by staring at you intently.

Just the facts, ma'am.
This post made possible by: Twilight, Stephenie Meyer, True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, and Sookeh.

TiLT #10

Right now I'm a little bit obsessed with my Former Life... 2008 wasn't my easiest year, but it was definitely one of my best: I started it off in Boston, moved back to New York, met Boyfriend, and began my first semester of grad school.  You'll forgive me if my TiLTs are a bit nostalgic or old school.

Pretzel M&M's ♥ I can never spell "pretzel" correctly the first time and I didn't even LIKE this candy the first time I tried it, but now I can't stop. They're the most perfect combination of salty and sweet and they are going to make me gain ten pounds.

Law & Order: SVU ♥ So addicting.  I'd never paid much attention to the Law & Order series or it's spinoffs, but Boyfriend got me hooked on SVU when I visited him in October.  I found all ten seasons on Netflix Instant and my new life goal is to watch every. single. episode.  Aw yeah.

Free time ♥ Not the time I waste procrastinating on a paper, or the extra hour of sleep I get because I'm avoiding reading for class. When everything is done and I can fluff up my pillows, light a candle, and read my book (or watch SVU ;) ).

Tretorn's "Skerry Vinter" boots ♥ I've lived in a snowy city for my entire life but haven't owned a decent pair of winter boots since I realized that the "duck boots" my parents kept making me wear were ugly.  Last winter I spent over $100 on a giant pair of Sorel boots, only to have them sit in the back of my closet, still in their box.  I finally convinced myself that just having winter boots wasn't enough - I needed winter boots that I would wear.  Enter Tretorn's Skerry boots.  They are adorable, reasonably priced rubber rain boots with a fuzzy lining and I highly recommend them.  Having waterproof feet is one of the best things that has ever happened to me!

Little Favorites ♥ My new header! ♥ Having a weekly schedule ♥ "Holiday" makeup - shimmery eyes and pretty pink lips ♥ Long morning walks that leave me comfortably sore ♥ New-to-me delicious foods (can you believe I hated hummus until recently!?) ♥ A warm bed and cozy lights at the end of a long day ♥ HP & The Deathly Hallows, part I ♥ The relief and blessing of good health ♥ Theme nights with my favorite girls ♥ Rediscovering Animal Crossing! (btw, does anyone have a DSi XL, and if so, please tell me that the graphics are better than the DS Lite) ♥ Mos Def for President ♥ Having something to look forward to ♥ The placebo effect ♥ NaNoWriMo ♥ Guilt-less spending ♥ Reading for pleasure ♥ The first ever Change Your Life Challenge - comment on Monica's post to join the email group! ♥

I'm so glad to be back. :D

TiLT #8

Having Someone to do things For You. ♥ Like a Good Boyfriend, mine likes to do things For Me; I've been known to tell him that I can do it myself because.. well, I can be a brat sometimes.  On Tuesday I really needed someone to do things For Me.  I accidentally took my antibiotics on an empty stomach, giving myself a terrible horrible no good very bad stomach ache. :( I put myself straight to bed, but I really could have used a Handsome Boyfriend to rub my back and kiss my hair and pull the covers up when I got cold.

The tellyvision. ♥ So good!!  I finally got around to watching this week's episodes of GG & Glee and all I have to say is - it's Brittany.. bitch.  I've always loved Brittany because she's dumb hilarious but oh. my. god.  Girl can DANCE.  And I will be very disappointed if she doesn't present the promised Ke$ha song next week.  Ms. Spears' cameos were nice but her acting was so bad.. so, so bad... And speaking of bad, could the teaser for next week's episode of GG have made it any more obvious that Eva is a porn star?  (My apologies to those that hadn't figured it out.  Go watch again and tell me if you agree!)  I just can't figure out what Juliet's deal is.. and it's driving me crazy!

Music that makes me feel like fall. ♥ Sigur Rós.  The Pride & Prejudice OST.  Yiruma.  Detektivbyrån.  Yann Tiersen.  matt pond PA.  Band of Horses.  The Album Leaf.  This Will Destroy You.  Explosions in the Sky.  Contemplative and quiet.  Good homework music too!  Always open to musical suggestions.

Petits Favoris. ♥ Half coffee, half hot chocolate (must. stop. drinking.) ♥ Buying perfect gifts for P (time will tell if they're really "perfect"!!). ♥ Reading Gala Darling's weekly favorites - she is, after all, the original Thursday Lover! ♥ Getting an amazing hairs cut from a fellow Curly Girl. ♥ Finally finishing two weeks of antibiotics. ♥ Productive rainy days. ♥ Still missing London. ♥ Painting my nails! ♥ Taking a "day off" and not feeling guilty about it. ♥ Outlawing negative attitudes and comments on my blog (As my wise and lovely sister says, "I will not expend my limited energy on hostile interactions with close-minded people.") ♥ My intense crush on Gossip Girl - I mean, Kristen Bell - and excitement for her new movie. ♥ Okay, actually all the fresh movies coming out this fall. (And some that have already come out, too!)

TiLT #7

♥ Trees. Yesterday was the Official First Day of Autumn! And there was much rejoicing! The trees have begun to change color and it's giving me a newfound appreciation for them. Not that I ever look at a tree and think, "What an eyesore. Cut it down. OFF WITH IT'S HEAD!" My drive to and from school has lots of beautiful rolling hills that give amazing views of the changing leaves. Since autumn colors are fleeting, I try to appreciate them while they're here - and especially since I'll be in the flat Midwest next year with no beautiful rolling hills to display the trees for me.

♥ Spending time in "the real world." I love the Internet!  Seriously, I do.  I can waste hours scrolling through pictures on Tumblr, reading gossip on Oh No They Didn't, adding things I'll never buy to my shopping cart on Amazon, commenting on pretty blogs, and video chatting with Boyfriend on Skype (that is, if he's not busy playing his nerd games).  But it's refreshing to take a step back from time to time, and focus on our physical relationships - to spend the afternoon catching up with a friend over coffee, wake up early for a solitary sunrise walk, indulge in hours of delicious family time.

♥ Bows.  Obsession.  If you didn't know, now you know.  If I could alter my wardrobe to guarantee that every outfit I put on had a bow in it somewhere (and yet somehow avoid looking like Alice in Wonderland or an 8 year old), I would probably squeal with delight and joy.  I just bought these beauties at Target.

The friend who was with me when I found them mockingly suggested that I buy two pairs so that I'll have a back-up when the first pair inevitably tarnishes or falls apart.  (Actually a very good idea).

♥ Time Management.  The skills!  I have them!  The problem is, I'm lazy.  I realize this is not an attractive quality to be announcing on my blog, but it's true.  This semester I don't have a strenuous workload and I've been getting away with doing my homework the morning before my class.  But this week I'm doing my homework ahead of time (and even starting on next week's homework..?  Over achiever!) so that I'll have time to do things that I want to do like read, go to the gym, blog, hang out with my IRL friends, Skype, etc.  Managing your time is fun! :D

♥ Honorable Mention.  The North Face's sweet customer service; my new Twitter username; today's sellout.woot!; peanut butter chocolate chip Larabars; HBO's new show, Boardwalk Empire; being so obsessive about my new time management that I have a weekly schedule; Halloween on the horizon; an awesome gym routine; Slim Paley's GORGEOUS kitchen; helpful classmates; finding a glow-in-the-dark bones t-shirt for only $5; new running sneakers; finally taking the air conditioner out of my window!

TiLT #6

♥ OMFGG.  13 September.  From 9pm until 10pm Eastern Standard, I will be unavailable so don't even try.

♥ Target.  Specifically, Target's Chaia mocassins, which I refuse to accept as slippers.  I wear them to work and to run errands and EVERYWHERE and say that they're shoes, not slippers, because they have a hard sole.  Then Boyfriend catches me wearing them inside and I have to claim that they're slippers - it's my only defense!  I just don't want to take them off, okay?  They're wicked cozy (and hello?  Cheap!).  GET YOU SOME.  (Okay you know what FINE.  I love all of Target.  It's my therapy.)

♥ AUTUMN.  I can't say for sure whether it's here to stay but the temperature has dropped, the wind has picked up, the bravest of leaves are starting to change, and pumpkin coffee is now available at both Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts.  Oh hot damn, this is my jam!  (Kristen, I think this should be your new slogan, y/y?)

♥ Lost treasures.  One of the joys of cleaning your room!  I had given up my iPod Shuffle as lost for good and mourned it properly, but I found it during a cleaning frenzy.  AND THERE WAS MUCH REJOICING!  The itty bitty size is so much easier for: running, studying, losing in your messy room, etc. and so forth.  Makes me wonder what other things that I've forgotten are still lurking about...

♥ Honorable Mention.  Falling asleep to rain; Droid; getting all of my homework done super fast (more time to plaaay!); financial aid refund checks; getting carpal tunnel from playing with my Droid; this sweet ring that makes me happy every time I look at my hand; planning a Harry Potter marathon in anticipation of 19 November; only missing BBM a tiny bit; fantasizing about how great my life will be once I have health insurance again (the allergist!  Contacts that correct for astigmatism!  PERFECT LIFE!  LIVE FOREVER!); obsessively putting appointments and Things To Do in my planner; my HTC Incredible (f'real incredible y'all).

Back to School Fashion Inspiration

I know Glee is kind of a polarizing tv show - you either love it or hate it - but please, bear with me, if only for fashion's sake.  I was pretty excited about Glee because a) I love High School Musical and it's pretty much the same thing, only weekly, and b) Emma Pillsbury.  So What Would Emma Pillsbury Wear? was the answer to my prayers.  They've been around pretty much since the beginning of Glee and have been documenting Emma's impeccable style since day one.  I blogged about WWEPW back in the old days of my first blog, but Teresa and Danielle (omg RHONJ!!!!!) have been doing some awesome things while Glee is on hiatus, like these fashion challenges, proving that not only does Emma have fabulous style but so does the Internet.  Yayyy!

While I count down the days till Glee returns, I am saving up my money for everything in this Polyvore (from a recent "Emma in Denim" challenge on WWEPW).

Jeans All Week Long by lindalou1227 featuring bridesmaid shoes

TiLT #2

♥ School supplies. I've always been a sucker for fresh notebooks, newly sharpened pencils, and fancy pens, but having a reason to buy them makes it that much better. Doesn't it just make you feel more productive?

♥ Exploring StL with Boyfriend. The countdown is (unfortunately) on and Boyfriend & I have been trying to make the most of our last nine days together.  We've been to two awesome restaurants within walking distance of the apartment this week and it's great for a few reasons: 1) I'm not paying :mrgreen:, 2) we've had lightning fast service since we've gone on weeknights - we're usually one of the only tables!, 3) it's nice to be able to walk to a good meal.

♥ Autumn. Okay, okay! I know summer isn't over YET but can you tell I'm in an autumn state of mind? I'm already planning outfits full of cashmere cardigans and cozy scarves, and I can't wait for delicious autumn foods.. apple and pumpkin e v e r y t h i n g!  Plus - baseball gets better, all the bugs go away, and the beautiful autumn colors come out.

♥ True Blood. I know this was in my Honorable Mentions last week, but I have to give it more love. After being an entire season behind, Boyfriend & I finally caught up (the miracle of the Internet!) and now get the enjoy watching True Blood on the big screen at the Moolah.  Holy guacamole, that show is addictive! We're excited to watch at the Moolah but you get kind of spoiled when you're used to being able to watch unlimited True Blood whenever you want. By the way, has anyone else noticed a dramatic increase in gore in season 3..?

♥ Honorable Mention. Staying up too late to finish a good book; Mexican food; rediscovering albums (this week - "Under the Blacklight"..  I don't care what anyone says, it was awesome!); White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Luna bars; weekly cleaning; Tumblr; a good sweaty hike; finding the perfect gray suede ballet flats; my Netflix queue; obsessing over my page views - they jumped on Monday (maybe riding boots and built ins are really popular..?); Daily Mile; finally getting my loan check, a month after it was issued to me; finding new lovely blogs to read; waking up early; Taylor Swift's "Mine" stuck in my head 24/7; Friday the 13th; BBM.

TiLT #1

If anyone reads Gala Darling then you know that Things I Love Thursday is a Gala tradition.  This is my first week participating, hooray!

♥ Fluffy bunnies.  The Daily Bunny is like crack for me.  I most especially love these two mischievous buns. I have loved bunnies since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, but my mother insists that they are rodents (false) and would never let me have one.  Wah.  >:(

♥ The overturning of H8 & the upholding of Love.  Yesterday Federal Judge Vaughn Walker overturned California's voter approved (and highly controversial) Proposition 8, which banned same sex marriages, ruling that it violated the U.S. Constitution. Love is love, y'all.  More love for everyone ♥!

♥ Pretty Little Liars.  Okay so this is a two part love - I love the show and I love the books.  And I can love them both equally because the show isn't really following the books' story line.  Five friends are torn apart when one of them goes missing and turns up dead. It is 100% mindless trashy summer fun.  Plus, all of the actors are good looking (And who knew Aria could sing!  That name's not for nothin!).

♥ Taking care of myself. I get a weekly e-newsletter from my favorite running shop that inspired my 21 days post and since then, I've been really into making changes.  It's only been a few days (okay, two!) but reminding myself that it only takes 21 days to form a habit is great motivation.  I've been eating better (an apple a day!) and going to the gym every morning, and I even took my nail polish off and have been flossing too! :mrgreen:  Good for me.

♥ Reconnecting with Old Friends. Letting go just feels so much better. We could all use a few more friends, couldn't we?

♥ Honorable Mention. Green Goodness (helping vegetable-haters like myself get servings of vegetables!); making my bed every morning; vitamin E lotion, even though it smells like old ladies; the new Arcade Fire album, "The Suburbs"; having routines (does that make me a little neurotic..?); Sub Zero water bottles; complaining about how long it takes for BlackBerrys to start up but never ever having iPhone envy; mid-afternoon naps with Neko cat; fresh laundry smell; quitting Facebook; chocolate milk; True Blood; allergy medication that works (is there such a thing?); Shark Week.