Since Last Year

Whoa! New Year! Where did that come from?

Over the last few weeks it feels like I've just been running around. Seeing lots of friends and family. Playing games. Eating cookies like they're goin' out of style. Rushing to the gym. Traveling. Gifting people with the perfect Christmas presents. Receiving some awesome ones. Saying "See you next year!" to people (it never gets old).

Enjoying the break from classes (not sure how I could cram them in now anyway). Looking forward to only 2 more semesters, baby!!

Made this insanely delicious monkey bread for Christmas morning.

Watched season 1 of Sherlock, after about 17 (well, not quite) people told me I needed to watch it. Loved it.

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Bought Pentatonix albums because they rock my socks.

And now it's cold cold COLD. And super snowy. Couldn't make it up my hill yesterday after coming back from work. Needed some assistance. Embarrassing.

So that's what's up with me! Planning the new year and plotting how I can manage this blog! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you dear readers!

21 Days...WHAT?!

So I decided to do a 21-day sugar detox.

No, this isn't going to turn into a food blog. Although, I do happen to write about food a lot. What kind of blog is this, anyway? Hm.

I decided to do it because it's a limited amount of time and I thought it would be good for me. I won't be eating like this forever. I'm hoping to learn what I can do without. I can do anything for 21 days. Or, we'll see, I suppose.

Hello, my name is Laura. I have a problem with sugar. And overeating things with sugar.

Even my spinach salads have to include dried fruit. And though I try to make healthy choices, I sabotage myself due to a lack of self-control. One piece of dark chocolate turns into a cookie. That cookie multiples into a few (ahem) more. Then it seems like a good idea to eat frosted mini-wheats for dinner (but it's with soy milk!).

So I'm on day 3. I didn't purchase the book, but I did read about a lot of other people's experiences online. I'm following the basic plan as closely as I can, including no simple carbs, dairy, or fruit as well as obvious sugary products like cookies.

So spinach, not oatmeal. Almond milk, not cheese. Fish, not my beloved Ezekiel bread. The original plan does exclude some things I have chosen not to, such as black beans and natural peanut butter. Both are organic and do not include sugar.

It is pretty close to Paleo, except for the whole "no fruit" thing. I will be adding fruit in after 21 days, in case anyone was wondering. Here is another helpful resource I found that was just a smidge less restrictive than the original plan.

I know I am only a few days in, but I'm feeling pretty good. Certainly nothing close to some of the nightmarish accounts I found online. I am enjoying a good variety of foods, such as tuna, mashed cauliflower, spaghetti squash, chicken, carrots, salsa, hummus, & eggs. Knowing myself, I have to mix it up and not try to eat 2 salads every day. I am also cooking a lot of veggies, since raw veggies tend to make me mean.

So why am I posting this on my blog? Partly because it helps me be accountable. Partly because someone may find it interesting or helpful. Partly because it's my blog, and, well....

Wish me luck! Especially as 3 days without ice cream is kind of a record for me.

And happy season premiere of The Biggest Loser! I am loving the new shortened episode format. I realize that show is not perfect (or always accurate...), but I sort of love it.

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Fairy Tales, Fevers, and Hobbits

Merry Christmas, everyone! Hope yours was as lovely as mine.



The weekend started out rough, with me leaving work early on Friday and languishing on the couch with a fever. I couldn't go caroling on Saturday or to church Sunday, but happily I was able to be at the Christmas Eve service on Monday (inconspicuously coughing into my elbow).

The lazy weekend of rest did provide an unexpected blessing: the chance to tear through the entire first season of Once Upon a Time! I absolutely loved it. A lot does remind me of Lost, which I was a HUGE fan of, and the fairy tale element is delicious. I highly recommend it!

My Christmas "break" has been busy. I'm thankful to have a rest from school, but there have been so many parties and get-togethers and shindigs that it feels like one continuous chain of Christmas cookies! I have loved spending time with family and friends, and I still have over a week left before classes resume. I'm going to take advantage of every minute!

My brother and sister and I went to the midnight premier of The Hobbit, and it was awesome. I really felt the late hour, though. I must be getting old. The beginning dragged a bit for me, but I got into it more as I caught a second wind and everybody left Hobbiton for an adventure. (Seriously, three hours long? I'm not sure if it needed to be.) It was fantastic getting back into Middle-earth and seeing beloved characters like Gollum again! The effects were fantastic, and I loved learning more about the dwarf world. Thorin reminds me a lot of Aragorn. Martin Freeman was outstanding as Bilbo, also. His facial expressions and comedic timing crack me right up. It was nice to just watch the movie without really remembering what happens in the book; it's been a few years since I've read it.

My family has tried to watch some of our favorite Christmas movies (White Christmas, The Santa Clause, Scrooge, etc.) but someone has managed to fall asleep at every viewing. Okay, mostly me. I blame the predictability of movies we watch once a year. I cuddle up in my blanket, mentally quote lines along with the characters, and drift right off. Woof.

So that's what's up with me!

Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King,
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise; Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark, the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"

Ah, Christmas. The one time of year when theological truth is suddenly blasted from mall speakers and car radios. Thank God for His gift of salvation; Jesus is the only hope for our world. What a joyful time of year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Lies I Tell Myself

Here are the top 3.

1. I can lie down on the couch under a blanket and watch a movie without falling asleep.

2. I can just eat one cookie. Then I will have no problem stopping.

3. I don't need to write that down; I will remember it.

Obviously, I lie to myself all year round. But of course this is Christmastime, so I'll make it seasonally applicable!

1. Is there anything quite like reclining on the couch under your favorite blanket, the only light coming from the tv and tree lights? No, I say. For some reason, I always think I can watch a movie curled up in what is essentially my favorite sleeping position. And maybe I'll just rest my eyes a moment during this slower scene. No problem. Plus, Christmas movies are just so relaxing. And comforting. And usually have at least one quiet, peaceful, snowy scene with Silent Night playing gently in the background...

2. Oh, sure. Of course it's true. If you have a craving, just eat one! Then go on your merry way, mouth filled with lingering sweetness, stomach asking for more, fingers already absentmindedly stretching towards the Santa plate. Fine, cookies. You win. I just need to make sure you all taste as good as the first one.

3. Yep, back in September she said she'd love a new toaster. But come December, do you think I remember? Oh, I might have a vague memory of him wishing aloud he had a pair of warmer gloves. But guess what? I had such confidence in my good memory that I never wrote it down. Oh, I'll rememb...what?

'Tis the season! Heh heh.

Swooning by My Car and Waiting for Assistance

Okay, in my 10 Things blog post I mentioned car repair. Specifically, tires. Told you I'd come back with more!

So I got my first flat tire.

Suffice it to say, it was embarassing. Lots of people stared at me. On the plus side, I did get to officially use my hazard lights. That felt important. And yet also drew more attention...

Anyway, my dad came to my rescue and showed me yet again how to change a tire.

Now, it all made sense when he was showing me, but what if I don't have to do it again for, like, five more years? I won't remember.

When it comes to car things, I feel very inadequate. And frustrated. And jealous of guys who seem to just instinctually know what to do with all these... parts. Seriously, all you need is an open hood and suddenly guys are clustered around poking greasy items wedged into random spaces and muttering things like "transmission" and "suspension" and "weirdwordthatsoundsmadeup."

Is there some kind of handbook for men? Where can I pick one up? Or perhaps the Cliffs Notes edition?

And what makes a car so interesting? I'll admit it's a smidge intimidating to not understand at all the biggest machine I own. But I don't really care to understand it. I've had guys tell me not to worry, there will always be a man around who is willing to help a "damsel in distress."

Oh boy, that's reassuring. As long as I'm not in the middle of nowhere. And the man willing to help me is not an ax murderer.

Ugh. I just don't like feeling helpless. Or walking into a car parts store for something and having men look at me like, clearly she doesn't have a clue what she's doing. Or maybe I'm just imagining it.

Luckily, I know how to do... things. I can bake a mean batch of cookies. And use correct spelling and grammar. I am creative. I am knowledgeable. And helpless guys are always wandering into the library requiring my assistance.

So perhaps it all evens out in the end.

An Interest in Pinterest

Judy Smith has pinned a pin to pinterest.

What? What is this nonsense?

I stayed away as long as I could, I'm telling you. I'm not super crafty. I don't consider myself the kind of Susie Homemaker type that would need Pinterest to inspire me to do crazy creative things with ribbon, paper clips, and nail polish. Or whatever.

Seriously, everything I saw on Pinterest seemed so daunting and crafty that I was turned off. And plus, I didn't want to be a typical girl. I like to go against the grain on occasion. And everyone expected me to be on there.

Then I finally thought I might as well check it... out for the sake of the library. That's right, the library. I already take care of Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger for the library. Why not see if I can add Pinterest to the list? I saw that other libraries use it successfully as another way to increase awareness of their usefulness and to provide information. For instance, the New York Public Library has dozens of boards, including a neat one with fashion pictures around the time of Downton Abbey, taking advantage of its current popularity.

So I dove right in. I take it back; I actually stared at pictures for hours. Wait - time has passed? All I did was look at a few puppies. And cookies. And muscles.

I just think it's so ironic that I can be waffling between wanting to just eat every-freakin' thing I see on these boards and wanting to never eat again yet exercise continuously so I can look as awesome as that model. Only you, Pinterest, can torture me in this way.

My favorite are the sarcastic/witty comments. They just crack me right up. I'll take something snarky over something inspirational any day of the week.

So now I'm a pinner. Or whatever. I only have an account for the library, but I'm thisclose to getting my own. It's only a matter of time until Pinterest wears me down...

7 Secrets Your Librarian Won't Tell You

You ever read Reader's Digest? It may be for old people (as evidenced by the certain types of medical advertisements), but I read it when I can get my hands on it. I've seen articles about what your waiter/house cleaner/mall Santa/flight attendant won't tell you, and I keep waiting to see a librarian version.

As I have yet to see one, I thought I'd create my own. If you read this blog, you probably already know more than the average library patron. But here's a quick list of secrets for you anyway.

1. We talk about you. It's a customer service job, and we get to know the customers. We talk about you if you're nice, we talk about you if you're mean, we talk about you if you're weird. If we don't talk about you, you're really, really average.

2. We will work with you. We want you to have a good library experience. If you have legitimate reasons for wanting us to reduce your fine, speak up! If you can't pay everything all at once, let us know. Our job is to make you have happy at the library so you'll come back. And bring your children. And friends. And donations.

3. We don't get to read books all day. We all have responsibilities other than standing at the desk and waiting on you. To stay up-to-date on current books, we put them on hold and check them out and read in the evenings just like everybody else.

4. We won't shush you. All right, sometimes we will. If you are being unreasonably loud, we'll ask you to keep it down for the benefit of people around you. But more and more, public libraries are becoming community centers. We want people to come visit, so we encourage things like live music in the library once a month. If you want an ultra-quiet study room, try a university library.

5. We know a lot. What we don't know, we'll find out for you. Seriously, take advantage of your librarians! Make friends with us, give us cookies, get to know us. When you have a major paper to write and need research assistance, you can count on us.

6. Being a true librarian requires a masters degree. Yes, this is a real job. People on staff at libraries often have multiple, varied responsibilities. We help you find books, we help kids with research, we run programs, create flyers, manage book and monetary donations, keep up with social media, catalog items, repair books, prepare crafts, learn the new technology so we can teach you...we do it all. (The plan is for me to earn a masters degree in the near future, fyi.)

7. Sure we're concerned about libraries "dying out." But most of us are hopeful. After all, time and time again people have said the library wouldn't make it. Like when the internet got big, for example. But we're still here and we're making ourselves needed. More people than ever are coming to the library for job searches, eBooks, school projects, community events, story times, even just reading the newspaper. I feel passionately about what the library can do for every person in the community, and I'll talk to anyone who'll listen about it.

Well, that's all I got for now! Maybe there will be a part two in the future.

Enjoy your library.

Go Ahead. Be a Cookie Monster.

Usually, I'm a planner. But some things you just have to go for when you feel like it. No second guessing. Just do it.

For me, that means spontaneously baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

What a great stress reliever! Measuring ingredients, mixing dough, plopping spoonfuls of chocolatey goodness onto the baking sheets...then enjoying the end product!

Want to make some of my world-famous chocolate chip cookies? I'm going to share the recipe that has been passed down by my family for generations. Either that, or copied off the back of a chocolate chip bag. Can't really recall...

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Also, pour yourself a glass of milk in preparation.

2. In a large mixing bowl, beat 1/2 cup margarine, 1/2 cup shortening, 1 cup brown sugar, and 1/2 cup sugar.
Make sure the margarine is nice and soft. If I don't plan far enough ahead and set the margarine out on the counter, I just zap it in the microwave. Don't let it melt!

3. Beat in two eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
Now, this is the step everyone used to be worried about. Eggs! Bad! Raw! Ignore that silliness. Taste away!

4. Beat in 2 1/4 cup flour, 1 teaspoon soda, and 3/4 teaspoon salt.
I don't put in all that salt anymore, ever since my one friend claimed to be able to taste the salt in cookies. Thanks to her, I can now taste it. So I usually just throw in a pinch.

5. Stir in 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips.
If you like more, add more! But I prefer less, myself. The gaps with no chips are just as important as the chocolatey bits.

6. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Don't forget to keep tasting. You want to make sure they're still good.

7. Bake 6-7 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Make sure you take them out in time! Watch closely...

8. After each batch comes out of the oven, put them on cooling racks.
This helps them stop baking! Don't let them cool and stick right on the cookie sheets.

You're done! Hooray! Share these cookies with your friends, and they will compliment you on your sweet baking skillz.

Enjoy!

Mad Skillz

I think I need some crazy skill. Something I can impress people with.

Like a handspring or flip or cartwheel. The problem would be working it into the conversation. If I could do something like that, I would want to show it off every chance I got, obviously.

"Oh wow, my purse is all the way over on the other side of the room. Let me grab that real quick. Be right back."

Hm. Maybe not.

Or I wish that I could make something really creative and unique. Like, if I could knit, I would never have to buy gifts for people! I could just knit them things!

"I know you asked for jewelry, but I thought that you would love this Kleenex cozy that I knit for you! It's the thought that counts, right?"

Maybe my skill could be juggling. I bet that would be impressive at the library desk.

"Here're your books! Give me one second, and I'll stack them for you!" *hums circus-themed music*

Ugh. Why am I so boring? Of course, I don't want to actually put time into learning these skills. I just want to be born with them. It's like when I gave up piano lessons when I was younger. Sure, I know the boring exercises would help me in the long run, but I just wanted to have the talent without the work.

Well, at least I can make pretty awesome chocolate chip cookies. It's more of a subtle skill; not too flashy. I'm just an unassuming librarian, after all.

Post-Christmas, Or, Now What?

The days right after Christmas are kind of like Mondays after weekends. Times a hundred.

You get  kind of confused, like what's work? What's healthy food? What's exercise?

I ate some raw vegetables last night and marveled at the freshness of them. My stomach is like, Where's the butter? Where's the chocolate coating? Where's the whipped cream on top?

I got up this morning and ran. My legs wondered, Where's the couch? Where're the pajama pants? Why are we moving so fast when there're no Christmas cookies ahead of us?

Come on now, you spoiled body! Get back into your routine! Here we go!

Well, my Christmas was lovely and I had a great time with family and friends. The anticipation of Christmas always makes me wild with excitement, so now there's a little getting used to normal life again.

Now comes the tough part. Now we slog through these remaining winter months without Christmas to look forward to anymore.

Time to buckle down and embrace the Monday.

If chocolate helps you deal, so be it. Nothing to be ashamed of.

These Feet Were Made for Running

And now, a post about exercise. I'm warning you now so you have the chance to leave if you'd like.

Still here? Awww, thanks.

I am a recent convert to exercise. I've done it off and on, sometimes with frequency. But now I'm a regular. Being able to run five miles was a big accomplishment for me. I finally feel like I had a "right" to call myself a runner.

I know a lot of people think exercise takes up too much time, or it's too hard, or whatever. Like anything important and meaningful in life, you have to work at it. Luckily, you receive benefits from the effort you put forth, otherwise there is no way I'd be hanging in this long. I mean, what have cookies ever given me? Other than acceptance. Or comfort. Or a comforting chocolate-y mouthful...

Anyway, I suppose I’m stopping to think about how grateful I am for exercise. Our bodies were made to move, after all. And it’s pretty incredible what we can train ourselves to adapt to.

A lot of times I look at athletes and subconsciously think their bodies are made of different stuff than mine. But when I look at how far I’ve come in a few months, I’m really amazed at how strong I am.

I always had those dreams where “Something” would be chasing me and I would try to run, but couldn’t. Like I was bogged down in molasses, like that poor guy in CandyLand. Anyway, a little while ago I had a dream I was running. Really running.

Now I feel like I can do just about anything.