Read, Watch, Listen

**I apologize, the spacing and fonts are all out of whack on this post, and I can't seem to fix it!  : (


It's time for another installment of Read, Watch, Listen!  I've been on a big reading kick this summer, am enjoying several summer shows, and am loving my summer playlist, so I figured it's time to share again!  Here's what I'm loving right now!


Read

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl has without a doubt been the most talked about book of the summer, and it does not disappoint!  I couldn't put this book down, and have already discussed the ending with many of you that have read it too.  The recent news that Reese Witherspoon is set to produce and star in the film adaptation of the novel is sure to keep the hype going well into the fall.  I highly recommend this book for your summer reading!  

Where We Belong by Emily Giffin

I've been a loyal Emily Giffin reader since Something Borrowed, but really wasn't a fan of her last two books at all.  I had to give her new release a try though and am so glad I did.  I really loved the story, and read this book in less than 24 hours.  It's typical chic lit, but I truly enjoyed it.  If you've loved Giffin's other reads, I suggest you give this one a try too!

Watch

Newsroom on HBO

This new Aaron Sorkin HBO drama has seemed to be getting quite the buzz lately (good and bad), and we're loving it!  Newsroom follows a cable news show as they cover the real life news stories from the recent past (BP oil spill, Gabby Giffords, etc).  It's so interesting to see how they get the news on big events, and then how they choose to cover them.  The relationships between all of the actors make for great TV and the acting is wonderful.  It has a lot of similarities to Sorkin's West Wing, and is a must watch!

Project Runway on Lifetime
Project Runway is one of those shows that I just can't get enough of!  This 10th season has some real characters for sure, and is just so much fun to watch.  The candy challenge from last week produced some fabulous and tragic runway looks, and it looks like this season will be full of hits and misses.  I still haven't decided on my favorites, but will definitely be watching through to the end.  Have you been watching this season?

Listen

Wanted by Hunter Hayes

Two Black Cadillacs by Carrie Underwood

I'm on a major country kick this summer, and have been listening to these tunes (and Carrie's whole album) on repeat!

What are you reading, watching, and listening to this summer?

Olympic Memories

I have always been a huge fan of the Olympics!  I love all the hype and fanfare, and keep the Olympics going on the TV all the time, whether I like the sport or not!

Watching the London Olympics has reminded me that the last few summer Olympics have come at crucial times in my life.  They hold memories that truly have nothing to do with the games themselves.

During the 2004 summer Olympics of Athens I was preparing to go away to college.  If I remember correctly, I even moved into the dorms during the games.  I was going to IU and was preparing to leave my family for the first time.  I was also leaving CAhusband (who was my 19 year old boyfriend at the time) who was going to Purdue.  It was the most uncertain I've ever been, and I remember thinking that the next time the summer Olympics are on this will all be over.  Don't get me wrong, I was excited for college, but at that time I had no idea I would eventually transfer to Purdue.  I was bracing myself for 4 long years away from CAhusband and the thought was unbearable.

Fast forward to the 2008 Olympics...

CAhusband and I had spent the summer in California living with my parents.  I had graduated from Purdue and was nannying for the summer, and CAhusband had an internship and would return to Purdue for one more year of school.  We loved our summer, but I was busy applying for teaching jobs in Indiana and knew I would take the first flight back to Indiana if I got any calls for an interview.  Turns out, I got a several calls and left California very quickly!  I interviewed for 3 different teaching jobs within 48 hours of being back in Indiana, but none of them for were full time.  CAhusband was in CA still finishing his internship, and I was getting settled in what would be our first apartment together.

I remember sitting in our apartment watching the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics with my laptop in hand when an email came through.  It was from a principal opening a brand new elementary school in Lafayette, IN and his enrollment had jumped a lot.  It was about 5 days before school started and he needed 3 new teachers.  I remember this amazing gut feeling that this would work out.  We scheduled an interview for Monday and from there I had mere days to prepare my very first classroom for the first day of school.

I watched those Olympics very little in all of the busyness of preparing my first classroom, but I still remember thinking, "I wonder what I'll be doing during the next Olympics in 2012?"  At that time CAhusband and I weren't even engaged (that came in Oct. 08).  I imagined our lives in 2012 and hoped we would be married by then, but we had no clue where the future would take us.  He would graduate in May and we had no plans from there.  The unknown was exciting, but was very hard for this planner.

I can't help but distinctly remember the way I felt during both of the previous Olympics while watching the 2012 London games.  I also can't help but wonder, where will we be during the Rio games of 2016?  Will we still live in CA?  Will I still be teaching?  Will we have a baby?  Will be finally have a home to call our own?

It's so odd to me that something like the Summer Olympics hold such strong memories that truly have nothing to do with the sporting events themselves.  I know it's crazy that the Olympics make me think about the future, but I never pretend to be rational when it comes to planning ahead. : )

It is refreshing for me though to be able to look back on my uncertainty at both of the previous times and see that everything has worked out.  I know that 4 years from now I'll be able to say the same thing.

Erin Condren Life Planner Link Up!

I'm a little late posting this because our last computer died on us and I was waiting to get our new one up and running!  Anyway, better late than never!!  

My Erin Condren Life Planner post from last year is my most viewed post of all time, so I figured I definitely needed to join Meredith again in her link up to share!  I can't say enough wonderful things about my life planner from last year, and am even more excited about my new one that arrived a few weeks ago!

Even though my previous planner wasn't out quite yet, I decided to go ahead and order a new planner because I really wanted to switch to the new 12 month option that is now available.  Due to the fact that I'm a teacher, our calendar very much revolves around a school year rather than a calendar year.  I also really like the 12 month version because it is MUCH thinner than my previous 18 month version.  I know the bulk is one of the complaints I've heard about this product, so if you're looking to slim it down I highly recommend the 12 month version.  I was amazed at how much smaller it was.  

I love some of the new features that were added to the planner this year!  I think the sturdier metal coil, 2 page monthly views, ruler/page divider, and laminated tabs were great improvements.  

I was thrilled to see that Erin continued to include the handy back pocket, stickers, and monogrammed gift labels within the handy plastic pouch again this year.

Although Erin Condren added new pens that I've heard great things about, I've decided to stick with my Papermate Flair pens that I love.  I've ordered a new16 pack from Amazon, that I can't wait to get so that I can add some more color to my Life Planner!

Also, I've gotten a few emails about the photo Erin Condren posted of my planner on Pinterest, requesting the colors that I chose.  My planner is Mod Morocco in pool and dark grey.

Have you ordered a new life planner yet?  What do you think?