Happy Hunger Games Day!

I know that, technically, everyone was saying yesterday was Hunger Games day, but I'm saying it's today. ;)
I'm so excited to see the movie! I haven't really shown interest/cared at all about the series, until I picked up the book a few days before my surgery. I read the first chapter, right before they put me under anesthesia. After that, I couldn't remember what I'd read, so I started it over a few days ago. I'm hooked! I'm so sad I don't have a lot of time to read, but I'm reading whenever I can.

Tomorrow, I have a hot date with my little brother, Tucker, and I'm taking him to see it, since he's a big fan of the books. I love these special little dates! But, now I'm in a mad race to finish the book before tomorrow night! Did any of you finish the book in a day or two? Give me hope, please!

I'll be back soon with a brand new room tour! But during the wait, here are a few peeks at our living room, via my roommate Anna! (isn't it the best that two bloggers live together?!)

xo Haley

2011 Book List.

As part of my goals for 2011, I made a list of books I want to read in 2011.

I didn't get to read near as often as I wanted to this year, and I think part of that was because I was in the last semester of high school/first semester of college. The transition for me was a bit odd and hard to get used to. So now that I know how to manage my time - I'm going to read more :)

*The Fountainhead – Ayn Rand

*Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden

*Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Truman Capote

*Harry Potter Series – JK Rowling (I've never read them before. Well, I read the first one. In 3rd grade.)

*Brave New World – Aldous Huxley

*The Stranger – Albert Camus

*Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro

*Middlesex – Jeffrey Eugenides

*The Hours – Michael Cunningham

*Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood – Rebecca Wells

*The Virgin Suicides – Jeffrey Eugenides

I think I'll get a jump start on the fun and start The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood tonight. Wish me luck. I have a lot of work to do on completing this goal within a year. :)

xo Haley

etc.

Today while at work, I began making my 2011 goal lists, and started organizing my thoughts for how I want 2011 to play out.

Truth is: I don't know what I want for the next year.

I have my goals, yes. But when its this time next year, I don't know where I see myself.

I talked to a woman in one of my classes last night who told me about her experience with moving to New York City by herself right out of high school. She truly inspired me. I came home, my head full of thoughts and all I wanted to do was tell my mom about all these plans I have. I think it might have scared my mom when she noticed how serious I was about it.

Through all of this, I think I'd like to see myself living completely on my own by the end of the next year. I would love it. Will it happen? Probably not. But that's the goal. Something I'll be working towards in the next few years.

Anyways...

I've been working on more attainable goals as well. I won't say what I'm working on just yet, but some huge changes are coming.

I am very, very excited for the coming year. Life has a way of surprising you - and I honestly can't wait to see what's in store for 2011.

I don't think I've ever been this excited about life before.

+ I started reading a new book today. I hardly ever really invest in a book. But lately I've just been wanting to read a really good book, one that I can't force myself to put down, one that leaves me thinking. Well... I started "The Year of Magical Thinking" today and this afternoon at work, I read... and read... and read. I read for maybe 2 hours and then finally made myself quit so I could clean up and go home and read some more. The book is incredibly sad so far, but all the reviews I've read of it say that the author keeps it very light and its not as depressing as it seems it will be. So far, I just want to cry and give the author a huge hug. But it is SO good.

I can't wait to get to work tomorrow morning so I can make myself a huge chai tea latte and settle in to my cozy chair in the back and just read for another 2 hours.

I need more good books to read! :)

-Haley

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 28: something that stresses you out.

School. I really underestimated how stressful community freaking college would be. I really, really dislike OTC, and can't wait to transfer. My parents want me to wait it out another year before making the move to Southeast, but ... I really don't think it's worth it. Laaame.

30 Days of Truth: Day 17: A book that has changed your views on something.

I'm not sure if this book changed my views on much, but it has definitely been very influential in my life as a reader.

I first read The Giver when I was in 4th grade. I was 10, I think. I have read it at least 4 times in the past 7ish years. Every so often, I just have to read it again.

The story is set in this "perfect" town (very Pleasantville-ish to me, everything is black and white, with zero color, and everyone is practically perfect), but throughout the book, you realize this town is not perfect at all. The government is all for what is called "Sameness" in which everyone is the same; the have predetermined careers that are given to them at a certain age, they have rules to follow, and everyone is completely void of emotional depth.

The central character, Jonas, is presented with the job of being "The Giver" who is there to aid the government in any decisions that may come up. The previous Giver teaches Jonas of the town before "Sameness" and presents him with a much larger world outside of his own. Jonas experiences feelings of true happiness, pain, love, etc.

I'm not sure why this story affected me the way it did, but I have loved it for many, many years. It is definitely one of the most influential books in my life.

I was put in charge of getting all of the winter clothes put away - I was super angry that I had to do this at first, and then I happened upon a pretty, pretty quilt in the bottom of one of the boxes. Holy cow, I was so in love with it.

I immediately put it on my bed, and I really can't wait to go to sleep tonight because of it. It has the most perfect fall colors and its just.. pretty. I'm in love. ♥

Oh! And there's the owl pillow I got at Funtiques a while back for 5 bucks. Best. Ever. It says, "Gee, but I'm lonesome."

I also found this too-cute crochet baby jacket in the box, too. I'm not too entirely sure of why it was in the Winter clothing box, but... I'm so keeping this. Haha:)

other silly things from my week:

we had an assignment in my Safety & Sanitation class to eat a buffet and "observe" what was going on at the buffet and such. Well, my partners (2 dudes I hardly know) and I decided we weren't going to eat at some gross buffet, so we chose Hemingways in Bass Pro. Yup. Seafood all the way. We also noticed there was absolutely nothing wrong with the way they were operating the buffet, so now we have nothing to write our paper on. Haha. But, while at Bass Pro, we decided to get a picture of me with the bear to prove that I have been in Bass Pro (no one in my class believes me). Best photo ever. I absolutely love Red Velvet being 2 minutes away from my school. I can see that making quick trips over to RV for Bubble Tea between classes is going to become a very bad habit. I love it.

Have a happy Sunday :)

xo Haley

P.s. I watched The Room last night. Verdict: So. Effing. Retarded.

But I loved it so much I watched it again this morning.

:)

bedroom tour:)

Since I couldn't really participate in Janel's home tour last week, I decided to just do a little tour of my room. I'm not kidding when I say little:

told you it was little! the first image is a view from my little craft area, and the second is a view from my door. TINY. it feels like i live in a walk in closet!

this is my little craft space! the room originally was intended as my mom's scrapbook room, so my dad put in shelves and a countertop. a year after she'd been using the room, i decided i wanted it as my bedroom, so like any good mother, she moved all of her supplies to a tiny corner of her bedroom and let me move into her studio space. <3>

ahh, my bed.i love my bed. and yes, it is parked right in front of a door. a few years ago, back in my rebel years, i decided that it was a good idea to sneak a guy in through my door. ...not a good idea. so, not only is the door blocked by my bed, it is also nailed shut. not fun, but it makes for a good story, yes? :)

this is the top of my dresser... that doesn't hold clothes. I keep all of my old journals, papers, craft stuff in here. and since i use my dresser for that... all of my crap is shoved into a tinyy closet.

this is my favorite, favorite corner of my room. those little tables are ones that my great grandma had for as long as i can remember. when she died, they were given to my aunt, who put them in her basement. so finally, i took them home with me. i love them so so much :)

so that is my bedroom! and now...

yay! i've never done one of these before, and i found it to be a lot of fun, surprisingly. this is my *knock off* orla kiely bag that i got in new york city this past summer. i'm in love with it :)

1. sunglasses case. 2. phone case. 3. book of friend's senior pictures. 4. wallet (12 bucks at target!). 5. keys. 6. pens/pencils. 7. "dark teal metallic" nail polish from f21. 8. Band of Horses tickets for October (!!!). 9. monthly planner that i made. 10. "The Wild Things" by Dave Eggers.

There ya have it! For such a large purse, I really don't carry much in it.

UGH..and...

3 of my 5 books that i need :( seriously... $216 worth of books right here... YUCK. and i still need two more :(

BUT, i guess i shouldn't feel so bad.. colby texted me yesterday when he bought his books, he spent $460 bucks on 3 books. ughh, college, you suck!

but class starts tomorrow, and i'm outrageously excited for some reason. :)

love you guys!

xo hay