New Location

I know I've been seriously slacking on the blog front. Yes, guilty. But if you enjoy my blog, please don't give up on me! Come to my new blog caitlinherzog.com and keep on following me there!
xoxo everyone,
cait

Wow, Time Flies!

I have not been able to keep up lately! I have never felt like time is moving so quickly before, but January freaking flashed by and now we are almost halfway through February!

 Life has been keeping me so insanely busy. School started up again and I am taking a 12 credit schedule, which is less credits than I usually take, but still a full-time schedule. With my new job, I now work fulltime, which obviously is a whole lot of work! I really like my job though. I am now a full on Level 1 Technical Engineer (sounds fancy, right?) and I have been learning so much at my new job. I have kind of a crazy schedule now though, and I work weekends, so tonight is like my Sunday night.  I am slowly getting use to it, but hopefully I won't have to work weekends for too long!

After a crazy couple of months, I finally feel like I am catching up a little bit. I am enjoying a great night in, eating a bowl of ice cream, blogging, and catching up on my TV shows. Brad is playing some basketball and when he gets home we can have some awesome cuddle time.

Speaking of my hubby, can I just say he is awesome? He realized how stressed and crazy I have been lately, so he spent a whole day cleaning and organizing our bedroom and living room! He even did all the laundry and put it away. I almost cried. This was one of the sweetest, most thoughtful gestures and I definitely appreciate my wonderful husband. He is amazing!

Here are a few updates on the last couple of months:

I went to the Opera for the first time with my Aunt Kris! We saw Florencia en el Amazonas. I had a blast, especially since it was my first opera, and I hope I can see many more. Kris and I also just had a great girls' night out, we went out to a wonderful dinner at Trio and counted how many fur coats were worn at the opera (which was pretty fun, if I do say so). Thanks Aunt Kris for a great time!

Our little niece is getting so big! Check out these adorable pics of Adi.

Everbound was released! I didn't get to go to the release party this year (which was depressing), but my grandma got a book for me and Brodi signed it. I can't wait to read it! 

I finally, finally, finally went to my Field Day for Hunter Ed and passed all my tests! I am now officially a licensed hunter and can go hunting with Brad and his family! Took me long enough..

I will hopefully be blogging more, now that I have weathered the craziness of starting a new job and making some big life changes. Also, I don't have a books post for January because (super sadness) I only read one book! I will just include that one in my February post. Have a great week, y'all!

As always,
Cait

Books: November & December Edition

Wow, the last month has been insane. I never got my November books post up, so I am just combining November & December into one post, and I'm gonna try and keep it short, so I am not including book summaries. Sorry, y'all. Anyhow, here it goes:

First I read Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. This book covers a tough topic (suicide) pretty well, but I had some trouble connecting with the characters. It was a good read, though, and an interesting exploit into high school difficulties. Four out of Five stars.

Then I read Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse #1) by Charlaine Harris. Honestly, I have avoided these books for many years, and I don't really have a good reason why. But finally, I said what the heck, picked it up, and read it. And actually loved it. Sookie is hilarious and the characters are all unique and wonderful. This was a fun and easy read, a bit of mystery and the supernatural with a touch of romance. Four out of Five stars.

After that, I read Captain Wentworth's Diary by Amanda Grange. I love Jane Austen spin-offs, so I was excited for this one. Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen, so reading this in Wentworth's point of view was a nice change of pace. This was a sweet, romantic book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Four out of Five stars.

Then I had to read Persuasion by Jane Austen again, since it had been a while. Still my favorite of hers! I just really love this book and all the ways it makes me reconsider life and love. Five out of Five stars.

Then Reached by Ally Condie was released and I pretty much dropped everything and devoured this book. I now want to reread the whole series. I just have a serious love for these books. I could not put Reached down, and absolutely loved the ending to this series. Five out of Five stars.

I went back on my Jane Austen kick and read The Man Who Loved Jane Austen by Sally Smith O'Rourke. This was a cute, slightly cheesy little spin-off of Pride and Prejudice, and honestly surprised me. It was sweet, an easy read to make you smile. I gave this one Four out of Five stars.

Lastly, I read A Game of Thrones (A Song of Fire and Ice #1) by George R.R. Martin. I have heard many good things about these books and since I love fantasy, I picked this up at the library. Just a note: This book is huge! They all are. But I loved this book and plowed my way through it. I love all of the characters, the many story lines, the interwoven plot, the history, everything! Even though some bits were predictable, I loved the book anyways. I give it Five out of Five stars.

I have been so busy with my new job, that I haven't had much time to read since starting it. I had planned to read my winter break away, but so far I have only made small headway in A Clash of Kings (A Song of Fire and Ice #2). It is worth it, however, as I am still loving my new job and what I have been doing. 

At the beginning of the year, I gave myself a goal to read 45 books this year. I read 50! Maybe for this next year I will make my goal 60? I just love reading so much. Enjoy some of these awesome books over the winter break, curl up next to your fire with a cup of coffee/cocoa and escape into another world. 

Enjoy,

Cait

A Lot of Things

Holy cow, I'm alive! I cannot adequately describe how busy these last three weeks have been. I seriously am exhausted just thinking about it. Here is an update on what has been happening in my life:

-Lived through finals! Yeah, I'm shocked, too (I always am, mainly because finals make me want to die). But I managed to get everything done and now I get a nice little break before classes start in January.

- Another shocking development in my crazy life: I got a new job! I know! It's crazy. I worked at the bank for two years, so having all these changes is throwing me for a loop. But  I have been at my new job for almost a week, and so far I am loving it.

- Lots of fun Christmas prepping with the family. We had a girls baking party, I went shopping with Brad, and even hung up mine and his stockings in our little basement. Aw! I love Christmas time! Also, listening to LOTS of Christmas music (love you, Pandora!).

-Found out Josh Groban is coming out with a new album to be released in February! So excited!

-Just watched the season finale of The Voice, and my girl Cassadee Pope won! I knew she would be the winner, from the moment she did her blind audition. I am definitely a huge fan of this girl! (She always has the best outfits and hair! She is just all around amazing.)

I am a bit behind on my book post for November, so hopefully I can get that up soon. Otherwise, I am ready for the Christmas and New Years holidays, lots of family, fun, good food, and best of all, relaxing!

As Always,
Cait

Thursday is the New Friday

I just love Thursdays. Thursday means my last day of school for the week, Friday is almost here, and it's Vampire Diaries night! How great is that? And so far, today is off to a good start. Two of my classes are cancelled, which is giving me extra (much needed) hours to work on homework (and blog, but a ten minute break is nice). I have my Peppermint Mocha coffee (yum!) and a delicious clementine orage to snack on. I am a very content girl right now. No stressing allowed, I am determined to just work hard and be happy.

Always,
Cait

A Little Late...

But I still wanted to do a "I'm Thankful For..." post. Thanksgiving was a great holiday, and I got to celebrate it all weekend. On Wednesday, my sister-in-law had her baby. I am so excited to have a niece! Her name is Adisyn and she is legit adorable. I mean, look at those chubby cheeks! She made the holiday even more wonderful.

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for:

-My sweet husband, who always makes me laugh and challenges me to be a better person every day. He is my inspiration.

-My family. I am surrounded by amazing people in my life. I don't know where I would be without my loved ones. Especially my mom, who is always there for me. She's the best.

-My puppy, Molly. She's the sweetest and always lets me squish her when I need some cuddling. She puts up with me and doesn't seem to mind.

-Each new day I have to work harder and get better at this thing called life.

-Coffee. I love me some coffee, especially with all the great holiday flavored creamers.

-Warm sweat pants, pumpkin pie, and a good book. Best ever.

-My life. This really goes without saying, but I am so blessed to have the life I do. It really is amazing.

-Plants vs. Zombies. Cause I'm addicted and it makes the work hours fly by. :)

I am grateful for so many things that aren't listed. Some of these things may seem small or shallow, but one thing I feel is that sometimes, it's the small things that make me smile and can turn around a bad day. I had a great Thanksgiving, and I hope you all did, too!

Yours,
Cait

What I've Been Up To

Lately I have been....

Reading Reached by Ally Condie and A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. I'm still not really sure how to talk about Reached, but I know it made me happy and I loved it. And so far, I'm really enjoying A Game of Thrones.

Drinking... Lots of hot cocoa and coffee. Mmmm!

Listening to Taylor Swift's new album Red, and my favorite contestant from The Voice, Cassadee Pope.  Dang, that girl can sing.

Crafting another scarf for the cold winder that I know is coming.

Watching Gilmore Girls, starting with season one. Gosh, I just love this show.

And now, I probably have to be a hermit for three weeks while I get tons of school work done before the semester ends. Oh, joy!

As always,
Cait