Should you go see the movie Eat Pray Love?

Click the flow chart below to find out (opens larger/readable version)... :)

Source: The Frisky

E.P.L.

I was wary of reading this after hearing from multiple people that it was difficult to get through, that the author was whiney, etc.

I. Loved. It.

I want to drop everything and travel the world!

I actually listened to the audiobook instead of reading - and I think that made all the difference. It was narrated by the author herself. I would put in my headphones and listen while unpacking my condo, or listen in my car on the way to work - so I was able to finish it in about a week and a half. I actually looked forward to getting in my car and sitting in traffic just to listen to the book.

Italy was my favorite - I wanted her to stay there...probably because I LOVE Italian food. But I like Bali as well. India was kind of... meh. I think because I'm not into the whole 'spiritual' yoga and chanting. Although I would love to learn to meditate to help me not get so stressed at times and to keep focused.

I am so excited for the movie too - I have this thing where I love to read a book and then go see the movie. My girlfriends and I are going next Tuesday - dinner first at a local sushi restaurant Bambu and then the movie!

My new neighbor, mommy duck

Yesterday my boyfriend and I took a two hour bike ride down Rifle Range road in Mt. Pleasant (burbs of Charleston) looking at all the pretty houses.

We got back to my condo and my neighbor was outside fishing with his two little girls in the lake in front of our condo - he said to me, "Hey, did you see the surprise left in front of your front door?"

I was caught off guard a little bit - I've only met my neighbor once before, and I couldn't imagine what in the world he was talking about.

"One of the ducks has made two nests right in front of your condo - with about 20 to 30 eggs in it."

One of his little girls said, "I'll show you!" and promptly walked me over to my front door where we leaned over the railing looking down into my 'front yard'. Sure enough, there were two swirls of pine straw - and the mommy duck was snuggled on top of one of them - eying us cautiously.

I'll have to admit, it was pretty neat and I hope nothing happens to the nests so the babies can hatch and I can possibly watch the moment when they march down to the lake single file.

On the other hand, part of me is wary that her eggs may attract other creatures that have an appetite for eggs. {shutters}

I captured some photos this morning before work (mommy duck was still sitting there - does she stay there until they hatch??) - they aren't very good photos since it was partially shaded and my camera lens kept fogging up because of the heat (gotta love 90+ degree weather at 8:30 AM).

Should I make a little sign that says "Careful - duck nests here, stay off pine straw" to keep any condo maintenance folks, UPS, etc. from walking there? I would be devastated if I came home and the nests were crushed or in disarray because I didn't make a stupid sign... I think I will.





I'd kind of like to give the mommy duck a name - any suggestions?

Thoughts & Prayers for fellow bloggers

I'm still fairly new to this blogging scene, but one of the first blogs I started to follow (and loved) was Bumpkin of a Swing. So it was with total shock that today I read that Lisa unexpectedly passed away after a short battle with cancer.


I didn't 'know' her very well - only read and commented on her blog over the past two months -- but it's all so very sad, especially knowing how close she was to a few of my other fave bloggers. It's been hard reading their posts today as well.

And it's even sadder that it all happened in such a short time, so unexpectedly.

Finding out about Lisa today really pushes the point with me -- everything can change so suddenly and people can be taken from your life without much notice. It's so important to tell the people in your life who are important to you how much you love them and appreciate them - and how it's important to weed out the people in your life who are nothing more than negative influences.

This also is making me think more about my life and the direction I want it to take - I've been in this funk lately trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up and thinking about all of the things I want to accomplish while I'm still young. Life can be taken from you so quickly - so why wait? Act now.

And I have been talking about trying out a Methodist church close to my new condo for some time - I think this Sunday I need to finally quit talking and actually do it.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Lisa's family and to all of the other bloggers out there who were close friends with her.

So sad.

And now losing those two Lily dresses seems so very, very, very insignificant - and I feel bad for wasting time even writing about it.

Nevermind...spoke too soon!

My post from earlier today must have jinxed myself....

Just got an email (AGAIN) from Rue La La - this time, the Stephanie print dress is 'unavailable' and has been removed from my order.


Are. you. freaking. kidding. me.?

What's the point of even waiting thirty minutes before 11am, watching the clock, and racing like mad to purchase these items that sell out in seconds if a week later I get these emails that my most coveted purchases have suddenly 'become unavailable'.

There are no words Rue La La. Not sure another $20 credit will really fix this now that my two fave items from my Lily purchase have been snatched away from me.

WTF.

Has this happened to anyone else who purchased is last week's Lily Pulitzer Rue La La sale??? Why does Rue La La insist on punishing me this way? I've spent a LOT of money with them before - this is the payback?

Grrr.

Rue La La made amends

So on Friday I vented about my recent loss of a gorgeous Lily dress from Rue La La due to mysterious circumstances...

And because of my tweets and because of my email, Amy from Rue La La contacted me by Twitter, email, and voice mail to set things right.

She said that something was wrong with the dress, that it didn't meet their quality standards, so they couldn't send it to me. (Part of me wants to ask what was wrong - if it was a small stain, rip, one sleeve longer than the other, etc. - I think I still would have taken the dress!)

They credited my account $20 - which is pretty cool.

P.S. Thanks to everyone who left their condolences and suggestions in the comments on Friday's post - definitely helped with the pain. :)

So while I'm still a little upset over the loss, at least - after some whining on my end - Rue La La made amends.

And Rue La La's loss from what I would have spent on the Lily Peacock dress is Anthropologie's gain - somehow in my backwards, trying to cope, retail therapy induced mind...I felt that I should hurry up and spend what I would have spent on that dress on something else I adore... because I had already committed to the cost of the dress, right? So... it wouldn't hurt to go ahead and spend it on something else, right? And having something new - even if it isn't THE DRESS - would definitely make me feel better, right?? :-/

So I bought this lovely ivory cardigan from Anthro - and I can't wait to get it! It has stellar reviews, and I can see myself wearing this with just about any dress I own, paired with some adorable boots, this Fall.

How was everyone's weekend? I'm hoping for a productive week this week, followed by a lazy, beach bum weekend.

Oh yeah... and happy 08/09/10....does anyone else feel like this year is flying by? I need a pause button please, thank you.