The odds of finishing another book before tomorrow night are not in my favor. Sooo…

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
I already posted about this here. LOVED IT.

The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty
Evelyn is the daughter of a single mom, growing up in a tiny Kansas town during the 80s. This quiet but well-written novel follows her from fourth grade to high school graduation, as she makes and loses friends, falls in love, wrestles with faith, and breaks out of the cycle of poverty and dysfunction that she’s mired in. In lesser hands, this plot could have been either too soapy or too political, but Moriarty makes it feel natural and authentic. She really knows how to interpret the harshness of life through young eyes. I liked Evelyn, and in the end, felt hopeful for her and the people she loves.

The War of Art: Break Through The Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
A classic motivational book that I recommend for all artistic types. While Pressfield and I have, uh, different worldviews, I gleaned a lot of good insight. I’m definitely keeping this one around to re-read in the future. It also got me thinking about the responsibility to create, which I may post about another time.

 

Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis by Lauren Winner
At the outset, Lauren Winner insists that this book is not a memoir. It’s more of a series of reflections, with the Notable Event (in this case, her divorce and the death of her mom) as the catalyst rather than the focus. As she tries to make sense of where she’s found herself, her faith falters, but is ultimately reborn.

I appreciated Lauren’s honesty and (as usual) great thoughts. I think the concept of “the middle” in the life of faith is underaddressed, so I’m glad she had the guts to speak up about it. But honestly, as a divorced person who was the one left, I lost some sympathy for her as the “I just wasn’t happy” leaver. I realize that she didn’t end her marriage lightly and we all make mistakes, but I can only take so much navel-gazing over a situation that she created. So this book, while excellent, is probably my least favorite of her work.

I also re-read Hunger Games and Catching Fire this week (I couldn’t help myself), but it was more of a skim, so I don’t feel like I can count them.

Books for March: 4
2012 year to date: 16

1 Comment + Posted in: book reviews, reading

I ponder a lot of weird things. One odd subject on my mind lately is the role of sports as they relate to war and peace. When players and coaches speak about their sport, they use the language of warfare. They talk about fighting, going into battle, being in the trenches with their brothers. The higher the stakes, the more team-oriented the sport, the more you hear those terms. As fans, we go to war too. We wear our colors, paint our faces, cheer as one, shout threats at opponents and referees. Our shared love for the team binds us to people with whom we have nothing else in common. We are loyal and passionate, and when our team is victorious, we’re joyful.

What I wonder is, if we were seriously at war and had a real enemy to band together and fight, would we be so invested in sports? I’d like to see a study about, like, soccer in England during WWII. I have a hypothesis that, just as humans were built to worship, we were also built to fight and root for something. We have an innate need to overcome conflict, preferably as a group. So if there’s no obvious, unifying enemy to defeat together, we’ll invent one. (As Christians, we do have a war to wage, but I’m talking in generalities. I prefer to avoid Jesus Jukes.) I think it’s interesting that sports have come to satisfy this need in our souls.

Of course, sports are also just plain fun – I’m not saying we need to eliminate them and focus on more important things. I’m just intrigued by this topic. If you don’t like it, blame the combination of the NCAA tournament and the Hunger Games movie. Then again, Suzanne Collins was inspired to write The Hunger Games by the convergence of two semi-unrelated subjects (reality shows and the coverage of the invasion of Iraq), so maybe I’m on to something. ;)

Add a Comment + Posted in: reflections, sports

♦ My sister started baby-sitting for a family here in Memphis when she was thirteen. Over the years they’ve become very close, so the boys’ mom threw Debra a baby shower on Saturday. The party had a duck theme and it was really cute. I’d hoped to share more pictures, but my mom was the main photographer, so there’s no telling when I might get copies of hers. This adorable cake was the best part anyway. :) Debra was here for most of the weekend, and I was thankful to have one last quality time with her before Sophia is born. Next time I see her, about five weeks from now, she’ll probably be in labor. CRAZY.

♦ I was invited to a midnight showing of The Hunger Games and really wanted to go, but those aren’t doable for me anymore unless I take the following day off. Instead I saw the movie on Sunday with Kathy and Daniel and a few other friends. It was the best movie adaptation of a book I’ve ever seen. For months I’d been skeptical of the casting and how they could pull off a PG-13 movie without watering down the story, but my expectations were exceeded on all counts. I have no complaints. It’s a disturbing and unsettling movie – I was stressed out for a lot of it even though, or maybe because, I knew what was coming – but it’s supposed to be. It’s a cautionary tale slash commentary on our mindless spectator society. I’ve read articles about audiences cheering some of the deaths, oblivious to the fact that they’re acting exactly like the villains of the story. Thankfully, the theater I was in seemed to get it. I’m still thinking about the movie. I skimmed back through the book that night, and am now basically re-reading Catching Fire.

♦ I’ve been working on a very stressful transaction at work. The main part of it finally wrapped up yesterday morning, and in the afternoon, I received this happy flower delivery from the client! When I got the call from the front desk, I was all emotional thinking that someone had sent me cheer-up flowers – I’ve been feeling pretty down recently. Then I saw that they were work-related and had a good laugh at myself. I think the rush of thankfulness and feeling noticed helped all on its own. In a way, I feel like they were cheer-up flowers from God. In any case, it was very thoughtful of the guy to send them. Maybe they were the kickstart I needed, because I’m feeling more energized and like myself today than I have in a while!

4 Comments + Posted in: family, life lately, movies

Last fall, I was hired to edit a children’s book. I really enjoyed working on it. It’s called The Birthday Party, and it’s about a girl who’s never celebrated her birthday because she doesn’t know when she was born or how old she is. (I had no idea that this is a somewhat common situation in many parts of the world.) Her friends conspire to throw her an unforgettable birthday party. It’s a really cute story.

The book is the first in a hoped-for series of children’s books released by Tjeko, a children’s ministry based in Uganda. Conditions in Uganda and much of Africa are difficult for children. Due to hardship and political unrest, many kids are forced to grow up way too soon. Tjeko’s philosophy is that every child deserves a childhood, and this book is one of their avenues for providing one. The book will be used in a school curriculum, and the sales will generate funds for other projects (such as building playgrounds). However, first Tjeko has to raise the money to publish and market the book. They’re about $3,000 short of their goal, with 35 days to go. If you want to support this project, please visit The Birthday Party’s Indiegogo page and/or pass the word to others who might be interested in contributing.

THANK YOU! Regular content will resume tomorrow. :)

1 Comment + Posted in: the writing life

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I saw a version of this beauty meme going around and thought it looked like fun, and then my friend Amy asked me what I’m using on my hair these days. So I decided to go for it! It’s like an Into The Gloss post for us commoners. I often say that I’m a low-maintenance girl in a high-maintenance body. I’d love not to need a lot of products, but since I do, I try to embrace and enjoy it. I love to talk about beauty products and routines and hear what’s working for everyone else.

SKIN CARE

Facial cleanser: Biore Ice Cleanser, and the accompanying Biore scrub (I can’t remember what it’s called).
Toner: I don’t use it much – it seems to make my skin worse.
Moisturizer: I don’t need it, except under my eyes during the driest part of winter. I love Mary Kay Oil-Free Hydrating Gel for that.
Eye cream: I just started using Biore See the Future Fortifying Eye Cream. I found it at Ulta. It’s supposed to help with dark circles too.
Eye makeup remover: Mary Kay is the best, hands down. But Neutrogena is a good cheaper alternative.
Sunblock: I love Aveeno sunscreen (the kind with the yellow labels). It feels light, smells good, and doesn’t make me break out!
How many times a day do you wash your face? Twice, usually.
Is your skin oily, dry, or combination? Very oily. I’m thankful that it’s keeping me young, but it’s embarrassing to need prescription creams and look shiny all the time in your 30s.
What is the best thing about your skin? Like I said – it keeps me youthful!

MAKEUP

Foundation: Cover Girl Clean Liquid Makeup.
Powder: I ordered an Everyday Minerals Try Me Kit about two years ago and am still layering it over my foundation in the mornings! It lasts forever. I wish I could use mineral makeup alone, but it’s not enough to even out my skin tone. I use Cover Girl Clean Pressed Powder for touch-ups throughout the day.
Eyebrow pencil: I’m deeply weirded out by the idea of coloring in my eyebrows. Never have, never plan to.
Eyeliner: I’ve yet to find a really great eyeliner, but Rimmel’s are probably my favorites. They’re cheap too!
Eyeshadow: Eyeshadows are my cosmetic kryptonite. I have way too many and am always tempted to get more. My favorites are the Almay trios for your eye color – I have them in brown, hazel, and green! Cover Girl also has nice eye-color sets, and the brush that comes with them is great. Ulta, Revlon, and Mary Kay make pretty, complementary, long-wearing colors. And lately I’ve been curious about the Urban Decay Naked Palette. Is it as great as everyone says?
Mascara: I’ve used Cover Girl Exact Eyelights a for few years, but I just bought a new kind. Unfortunately I can’t remember what it is!
Lipsticks/glosses/balms: My other major cosmetic weakness. I’m more of a gloss and balm girl – lipstick is too high-maintenance for everyday. My staples are the Burt’s Bees tinted balms. I also like the Revlon Just Bitten lipstain and Color Stay liquid lipstick (though they are very drying). Oh, and I’ve been addicted to Carmex since ninth grade. I don’t care if it may contain rat poison. If so, it’s very moisturizing rat poison.
Nail polish: OPI is the best in every way. I also like Revlon, and Wet N’ Wild is incredible quality for a dollar. I’m currently using Nailtek II basecoat (I have ridgy problem nails) and Seche Vite topcoat. Seche Vite is the reason I can do my nails so often – in 10-15 minutes, it’s dry enough for you to go about your business. (Though, as a friend memorably told me, you wouldn’t want to make a meatloaf.) It’s worth every penny.

HAIR

Shampoo and Conditioner: Herbal Essences Totally Twisted (the purple kind). It smells great. I alternate with an organic tea tree shampoo to help my scalp, and Garnier Fructis Triple Condition deep conditioner. But if I could justify the expense of Ouidad products, I’d use those all the time
Leave-in conditioner: Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Defining Lotion. I will cry if it ever gets discontinued.
Gel: Tresemme Bouncy Curls gel. I’ve heard that this has been discontinued, but the Wal-Mart near me still stocks it, so I buy multiple bottles at a time and hope for the best. I also have a bottle of Biosilk Glazing Gel and use it sparingly.
Mousse: I used mousse poorly and excessively during my Awkward Years, so now it scares me. On a whim I bought a can of Tresemme mousse last summer, but so far all I’ve done is stare at it.
Blow dryer? I’m on my second Conair Infiniti Tourmaline dryer with retractable cord. It’s fantastic, under 30 bucks, and comes with a good diffuser.
Curling iron? Not necessary.
Straightener? I own a generic ceramic-plate straightener, but the last time I used it was for a friend’s wedding in 2007, and I scalded my head. True story.
Do you color your hair? No. I like my natural color, and I’ll have to start covering it soon enough.
What is your stylist’s name? Susan Harris at Gould’s Cordova. She is AMAZING.
What is your natural hair color? Dark brown with natural highlights (especially in the summer).
Do you have straight or curly hair? I’m a 3b on the official curl scale.

FRAGRANCE

Body wash: My all-time favorite is Aveeno Calming Body Wash. I’m sure it’s a placebo effect, but it does make me feel relaxed. They recently changed the formula, so it doesn’t smell like lavender anymore (which makes me sad), but it’s still a nice smell.
Perfumes (name five): My current perfume perfume is Clinique Happy Heart. Everything else I wear is Bath & Body Works – Cotton Blossom, Sheer Freesia, White Tea & Ginger. But if I could afford it, I would use nothing but Kai. I imagine that Kai is what the Garden of Eden must have smelled like.
Do you always have to smell good? I prefer to! I looooove fragrances.

JEWELRY
Are diamonds really a girl’s best friend? Not necessarily a best friend, but definitely in the circle of trust.
What is your jewelry essential? I like necklaces.
What jewelry do you wear most? My Hope ring. It’s just a plain silver ring with Hope engraved on it. It was an impulse buy ten years ago at a Catholic bookstore, but it’s become a sort of amulet.
What jewelry do you crave most? I gravitate toward simple jewelry, though I have gotten more bold in the past few years. Actually, I just made some Etsy purchases that I’m very excited about:

Earrings by Moorea Seal. Horseshoe necklace by Olive Yew Jewels.

Happy weekend!

2 Comments + Posted in: beauty