The Wonders of a Book Jar

Ah Yes.
Here we are, well into the first month of Two Thousand Fourteen (even though I still write 2012 on all things, this is what happens when you get old kids). Eighteen days into January and we are in that golden era where everyone's New Year's resolutions are looking good, going great, maintaining the I-can-do-this mentality. I've never been one to make big New Year's resolutions. I just never really get around to thinking about it much (maybe my resolution should have been to make a New Year's resolution?)
But this is the year that changes, I'm going big, I'm going crazy, in the words of a certain four legged animated character, "I'm a donkey on the edge":

This year I shall read new books.

Yep, ya got that right.
Let me explain. I love books, and I mean LOVE books. I am an impulsive book buyer (on the reals though, as my friends DO NOT let me go into a half-price books alone). I love having them around. It comforts me to be surrounded by shelves and shelves of wonderful books, full of stories and knowledge and joy. But here's the thing: I find even more comfort in rereading books I have already read. I love smiling at my favorite sentences, anticipating the great moments that I know are to come, laughing with characters close to my heart. Now you see the predicament. I have an VERY extensive list of books I want  to read and I do choose books off of this list, but alas time and time again when I have free time my hands drift towards the friendly well-worn pages on my book shelf, rather than the unfamiliar book from the library sitting on my night stand(I think its safe to say that we can zoom out and call this a metaphor for my life....but lets not talk about that right now). The result is me having read a handful of books/series way more times than should be allowed and all of those books on my reading list remaining there. But, huzzah!, this is the year that changes!

Here are the Book Rules of 2014:
1. NO PREVIOUSLY READ BOOKS ALLOWED
I'm looking at you Jane Austen, J.K. Rowling, and the many more (Jane, Elizabeth, Ron, Hermione, Harry, Katniss, Gale, Peeta(I guess), Sam, Aragorn , Emma we can still be friends we just have to take a break for a little while; it's not you, it's me?)

One of the many banned books of 2014 *silent tears*

 

2. May I introduce (drum roll please) The Book Jar!

This little guy is filled with 53 books and counting

All new books ever wished to be read are compiled, written on a piece of paper and placed in The Book Jar. The goal is to draw a book out of the book jar every two weeks and read it(I'll be "booking it" hardy har har)
3. Expand the mind and have a grand ol' time!

Woohoo here we go! You guys should take a whack at it too. The jar concept can be used in so many different ways to get you out of the mundane, whether it be places to go, foods to try, movies to watch, verses to memorize, etc. so go for it!

Well, I'm 20

Hello there dear friends! I hope everyone has had a fantastic holiday season!
Mine was full of adventures, smiles, and, well, becoming old.

Yes friends, I turned 20 last week. I know everyone says you're an adult when you turn 18, but I feel like its officially official when you hit 20. Unfortunately on my 20th birthday knowledge of political events, how to do my taxes, and other adult stuff didn't just pour down on me from the heavens. It appears that while on paper I'm an adult, I will have to educate myself on adult things to actually sound like one.
The 20-something decade is a big one: So many changes and so little time! Here are 5 things I want to see happen in my next ten years. Now you may call me naïve for some of these, but hey dream big or go home am I right?

1. Travel to AT LEAST 3 different countries
That will bring the grand total of foreign countries I've been to: 3
And one of these countries will be England which leads me to...

2. Happen to run into a member of one direction years after their careers are over
Lets be real here: the boys of 1D have two years tops left of this cloud 9 they are floating on. Pretty soon they will all be hitting their mid twenties, and that my friends is the time when it officially becomes creepy instead of cute for 13 year olds to be obsessed with them. So by the time they reach late 20s, they will all be living their lives away from the spotlight( except for the one that will try to be the JT of the group...cough cough Harry) and I shall run into one on the street and hardly recognize them and it will be great.

3. Have a job, or be on the path towards a job, that allows me to shop at J.Crew
It might be sad, but this may actually be how I measure my success. Once I hit 30s, it'll be time to work towards Anthropologie(and I ain't talking about the sale room).

4. Find a Passion
#cliché I know, but I think its important for everyone to have something that sets a fire under them and makes them want to work for good and change

5. Be Adventurous
Y'all know that I tend to be a little on the cautious side, but ya know what? Its time to take some chances, throw some(not all) caution to the wind.