Big Read: Moby Dick:

Andrew and I are listening to the Moby Dick Big Read. Since September 16th, they release a chapter a day, read by someone different. It's become part of our evening routine. We settle in before bed to listen to a chapter (or more, depending on how long they are) with mugs of hot tea and a sleepy puppy. I really like having different people read each chapter. It makes it more interesting to listen to. And if I don't like that person, I only have to put up with them for one chapter. It's nice. My favorite so far has been the first chapter, read by Tilda Swinton. Her timing was perfect and I think she did a fantastic job of letting Melville's witty remarks stand out from the rest of the story. Because I suspect Herman Melville of having a pretty amazing sense of humor. It's quick and if you're not paying attention, you'll miss it. But that's just how I like my humor. Really subtle.

I think it all wraps up in January so it's not too late for you to jump on board with this Big Read. Some of the chapters are so short -- you can listen to more than one a day and definitely catch up. If you've ever wanted to read Moby Dick but have been intimidated by the size or have tried it but just couldn't get through it, I encourage you to give it a listen. I think Melville's writing style is perfect for this type of medium. This way, you can stop worrying about the words on the page and just focus on the story. Just think of it as sitting around with someone (or someones) listening to them tell a story. Because it really is a good story.

To download the chapters, go to www.mobydickbigread.com or you can download as podcasts (from iTunes) and listen to them on your phone or tablet. 

P.S. Happy Halloween! We're curling up with some candy and a scary movie or two and of course, Moby Dick. I'm really excited. Hope your night is a blast. Stay out of trouble.

Also, did you love choose your own adventure books as a kid? I couldn't get enough of them. I just found a funny Halloween online version called "Would You Survive a Horror Movie." Awesome.

New clothes:

Got two new pairs of pants on super sale at J.Crew last week. Since I've been running more, none of my pants fit me anymore. I've taken most of them in but you can only take pants in so much before they start to look funny when you put them on, you know? So my solution is new pants. I went for the gray because it's neutral and corduroy will be warm in the cooler weather. I also wanted something a little brighter to pair with all the darker colored winter clothes that I have and my friend Lauren convinced me to go for the yellow. She happened to be chatting with me from Korea while I was shopping so yellow it was. Good suggestion, L. The yellow looks good.

New Reads:

This week, I'm reading Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. It's the fourth and final installment in the Beautiful Creatures series. I stumbled upon the first one a few years ago and despite my loathing for Twilight-ish books in general, I gave it a shot. I have to say that the writing is worlds better than anything Stephanie Meyers could have written. And the story is more ingenious. It's not your basic boy-meets-girl-with-magical-powers story. There are no vampires. The girl does not spend the entire novel trying to get the boy to bite her (ugh). In this series, the guy is actually the one who's normal(ish) and the girl spends a lot of the time trying to separate herself from him, which I can appreciate. I enjoy a strong and independent female character (hello, Jane Eyre). And there are a lot of other types of creatures in this series, not just witches. And there is a lot of history. I feel like I learned some new things as well as had enjoyed some pretty good storytelling. 

So here's how the last book wraps up (from the inside cover -- no spoilers):

"Is death the end... or only the beginning?

Ethan Wate has spent most of his life longing to escape the stiflingly small town of Gatlin. He never thought he would meet the girl of his dreams, Lena Duchannes, who unveiled a secret, powerful, and cursed side of Gatlin, hidden in plain sight. And he never could have expected that he would be forced to leave behind everyone and everything he cares about. So when Ethan awakes after the chilling events of the Eighteenth Moon, he only has one goal: to find a way to return to Lena and the ones he loves. 

Back in Gatlin, Lena is making her own bargains for Ethan's return, vowing to do whatever it takes -- even if that means trusting old enemies and risking the lives of the family and friends Ethan left to protect. 

Worlds apart, Ethan and Lena must once again work together to rewrite their fate, in this stunning finale to the Beautiful Creatures series."

I'm anxious to finish it to see how it all goes down. But as with all series, I will be sad to see it end. I really did enjoy it. And that's hard for me to say about something that can be found in the Teen Paranormal Romance section of the bookstore. 

Happy Weekend:

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Happy Weekend! Can you believe October is almost over already? This month has really flown by. I've been really busy so I'm looking forward to being able to relax and unwind a bit over the next few days.  I've got some knitting to do. And some sleeping in. I can't wait to get started.

On a side note, some things have changed around here. You've probably noticed. We're not in 403 anymore (we haven't been for some time now). And we're not really in limbo anymore either. Or maybe we are but we're at the very end. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel and all of that. So, I've changed the name of the blog (and have plans to change the address -- heads up). I'm not sure where we're headed, but no matter where we go, we'll always be lobsters. Some of you may get the F.R.I.E.N.D.S. reference (Laura) and you'd be right. Some of you may know the whole story of a lobster that brought us together before we were even dating (some of you may have even been there for that fateful conversation), and you'd be right there too. It's a nod to both, I think. And it makes me happy. So, there's that. And there will probably be more as we continue to make changes. So bare with us.

Have a relaxing weekend everyone!

For Rim:

My very good friend, Lauren (affectionately referred to as Rim, Reech, or anything at all, really) lives in Seoul, South Korea. And she hates to shop. So, as the weather starts to get chilly, she's finding out that her summer clothes are no longer cutting it. That's where I come in. I've put together a list of pretty basic necessities for toughing out the cold South Korean winter. Per her request, most of these things come from H&M, since it's widely available there and is attainable on a teacher/student's budget.

These are just a guideline, Rim. You don't have to seek out these exact items. These are just the things that seemed like something you'd wear. And yes, I realize that many of these items are exactly what I'd dress an old fisherman in. What can I say, I guess in my head you're out there braving the waves like The Old Man and the Sea.

For Rim:

1. Counting Sheep Sweater ($108)
2. Denim Shirt ($29.95)
3. Cap ($12.95)
4. Sweater ($24.95)
5. Checked Flannel Boyshirt ($69.50)
6. Gloves ($12.95)
7. Blazer ($59.95)
8. Sweater ($24.95)
9. Tube Scarf ($12.95)
10. Corduroy Pants ($34.95)
11. Leather Belt ($17.95)
12. Jacket ($39.95)
13. Knee Socks ($12.95)
14. Leather Shoes ($99)

I Love:

As promised, here are my favorite makeup products. I don't use them all together or even every day, but of everything I have tried, these are my faves. There isn't a lot of variety in the brands I use, but I know these companies use natural products and are passionate about the use of animal testing, so I feel good about supporting them. And their products happen to be some of my favorite out there. Win win.

Read more after the jump!

Race for the Cure:

Saturday, I ran in the Komen Arkansas Race for the Cure competitive run. Andrew came to cheer me on, I ran like mad (and kicked butt), won a medal (!), and we went home. Here are a few photos from the event:

I set a PR, helped raise money to support the fight against breast cancer, and paid tribute to my grandmother. A pretty good Saturday, if you ask me.

Half-Marathon Training:

The official Little Rock Half-Marathon training gets underway today. We're registered. There's no turning back now.

Happy Weekend:

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Happy weekend everyone! What are you doing? I am running in the Komen Arkansas Race for the Cure tomorrow morning. And I'm trying to set a PR, so wish me luck!

Here are a few other things that have been happening around here lately:

1. I thought my knitted blanket would be easy to piece together. I thought I could do it in a weekend. I was wrong. I'm still working on it.
2. Had a celebration for a running friend who finished her last round of chemo for breast cancer! 
3. I made my favorite chocolate chip cookies. Again. Two batches this time. My obsession is starting to get out of control.
4. I somehow managed to eat cheese dip for 3 meals this week. 
5. Had a really great discussion about Nora Ephron (love) with my book club. 

Knitting Projects:

I've got a long list of things that I want to knit. While I knit all year long, around this time of year, I sort of go into overdrive. Maybe it's the weather. Maybe it's the being cooped up indoors more than any other time of year. Regardless, now that my blanket is done (or almost, the piecing together is killing me!), I've turned my attention to other projects. I've got another blanket in the works, leg warmers for A and I to wear over our running tights to and from early morning winter runs to keep our muscles loose, and leg warmers for Tillie so she can stay nice and toasty while playing outside in the snow with us. And then there are cowls. I'm sort of obsessed with cowls:

Easy to make and oh so comfortable and warm. I love them. Seriously, love. I want to make all these. And I plan to. So, don't be surprised if you get one from me during the holidays. I couldn't possibly wear them all, no matter how much I want to.

New clothes:

Boden had a sale (30% off + free shipping), so I took advantage to round out my fall wardrobe a little. I got new grey cords and a Breton striped shirt. I also ordered some khaki cropped pants but they were on back order until January (!)  so I cancelled them. 

I Love:

Can we talk about skin care for just a second? Because just like my obsession with the dermatologist, I have a deep love for skincare products. I can't help it. I'm always looking for new, natural, and cruelty-free products. Here are my faves:

(read more after the jump)

Glasses:

As a kid, I wanted glasses so badly. Actually, even as an adult I still want glasses. Just like the rest of my body, my face begs for accessories. Who am I to deny it?

Enter: the Madewell Bookshop Glasses. I actually put them on my wishlist months ago. And then I forgot about them. Then, a few days ago, I stumbled onto them again. And they were on sale. Do I really need to explain the rest? Now they are happily residing on my face, making me feel smarter, and letting me get away with not wearing eye makeup.

So if you see me wearing them, just smile, and join me in pretending that they are real and I actually need them to improve my vision.

Happy Weekend:

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Happy Weekend, everyone! After over a week of being sick and not being able to do much, I'm feeling much better and am anxious to get outside and enjoy the amazingness that is the fall season.

Here's a few highlights from this week:

1. Having an excuse to stay snuggled up in cozy blankets and eat soup and ice cream for every meal
2. Getting caught up on my reading goals
3. I resisted the urge to buy new (expensive) boots for another week! This is a huge deal
4. Breaking out our cold weather clothing makes me oh so happy
5. I finished all 99 squares for my knitted blanket (read more about it here and here)!

I had big plans this weekend to get out there for a long Saturday morning run, but Tuesday I hurt my quads doing some speed work and have some serious muscle strain going on. I have to rest for 72 hours so now my weekend plans include a whole lot of drinking Mexican Coke and then sitting down to put together the elusive knitted blanket! I have been waiting for this day for months! Hopefully I'll have photos to share next week. Until then, have a great weekend.

I love:

How cute is this adorable face, which follows me around everywhere I go (like a shadow). I can't seem to get enough of those ears, that droopy lip, and that forehead wrinkle she gets when she's thinking really hard about something. And those eyes. Oh, I melt.

She used to hate having her picture taken (I think the noise and lights scared her) but with our new camera, she doesn't seem to mind it so much, which is great because I can't seem to stop taking photos of her. And with all the practice I've been getting, my shots are getting to be pretty good. I love our new camera (more on that here).

Let's Shop:

Madewell has it going on for Fall, you guys. Seriously. I covet about 90% of all their offerings. But here are the 6 things that I want most:

1. Everyday Knit Leggings ($29.50) -- I am in desperate need of some new black leggings
2. The Bootstall Oxford ($158) -- How do I not own black oxfords already?
3. Perfect Chambray Ex-Boyfriend Shirt ($69.50) -- I need a darker wash for winter
4. [BLANKNYC] Skinny Color Jeans ($78.00) -- I've passed on the colored jean trend until now, but these rhubarb colored ones are right up my alley
5. The Lovelock Tote ($268) -- I can't resist a good bag. And how cute is this one?
6. Rabbit-Run Cardigan ($88) -- Graphic print + bright colors + cardigan + bunnies = true love

P.S. Their interactive Fall Style Stars piece is so cute! Check it out here.

New Music:

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I've been jamming out to some pretty awesome tunes these days. Have a listen below and give your ears a treat:

Shirt design:

The Komen Arkansas Race for the Cure is next weekend. I am participating in the competitive run which is 30 minutes before the official run starts. I wanted to be able to actually run the entire thing without having to dodge thousands of walkers. So I've been working on my speed for a while now because I want to really kill it.

And I also wanted to do something special to recognize my grandmother, a breast cancer survivor. So, I created a design and had a tech shirt made for the race.

This is my design:

I plan on wearing it proudly on race day and letting everyone know how awesome my grandmother is and how proud I am to be her granddaughter. So, if you're there and you see this shirt blow by you, it's just me. Kicking your butt and doing it for my grandmother.

Happy Weekend:

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Happy Weekend, everyone! Any fun plans? I have had such a crappy week, that I kind of just want to step into this photo and disappear for a few hours. Because, seriously. Crappy. I feel like life just kind of beat me up this week. Don't you hate that run-down feeling? I'm feeling like I need a little escape, whether it's a weekend (or mid-week) getaway, a fun little surprise, a delicious chai tea latte, or just an extra couple of hours snuggled deep in my bed. So, if you're looking for me over the next few days, that's probably where I'll be.

Have a relaxing couple of days. Get ready to hit the ground running on Monday.

New Reads:

This week I read The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart. My mom is taking a children's literature class and they read this book and then met the author (I think he lives here in Arkansas) and she recommended it to me. The kids I used to babysit for in college were really into the Mysterious Benedict Society series and this is the prequel to that. So I read it. And it was cute. But long for a kid's book. And wordy. I hate when authors get too long-winded and spend forever describing things. I lose interest. And I grow irritated. I think things can be pared down without losing anything. This is the advice I would give this author. I liked it but I believe it could have been a great deal shorter.

Anyway, it goes like this:

"Before there was a Mysterious Benedict Society, there was simply a boy named Nicholas Benedict. Meet the boy who started it all....

Nine-year-old Nicholas Benedict has more problems than most children his age. Not only is he an orphan with an unfortunate nose, but he also has narcolepsy, a condition that gives him terrible nightmares and makes him fall asleep at the worst possible moments. Now he's being sent to a new orphanage, where he will encounter vicious bullies, selfish adults, strange circumstances -- and a mystery that could change his life forever. Luckily, he has one important thing in his favor: He's a genius. 

On his quest to solve the mystery, Nicholas finds enemies around every corner, but also friends in unexpected places -- and discovers along the way that the greatest puzzle of all is himself."

I think I will try to read the other books in the series. Apparently, it's a trilogy. But if the rest of his books are as wordy as this, God help me.

And in case you were wondering how my reading goal is progressing, find out after the jump!

I love:

I've been creeping on the new Garmin Forerunner 10 for a while now. I've been in the market for a GPS watch for my training but felt completely confused by all the different options out there. Every review I read for different models talked about all these features that I didn't really need or understand. So when I heard that Garmin was coming out with a new model, the Forerunner 10, that was apparently the smallest on the market and the easiest to operate, I was definitely interested. A friend that I run with got it a few weeks ago and I had the chance to mess around with it a little. Really easy to use, really cute (!), and just what I was wanting. So after literally stalking it on Amazon until it became available (I had an Amazon gift card to use), I finally snagged one. And the verdict: I love it!

Read more after the jump!

Baking:

I love to cook. But even more than that, I love baking. I'm not sure what it is about it. Something about working with my hands to create something warm and delicious. It's a comfort thing too, I think. Whatever the reason, I love it. So I tried my hand at homemade bagels. And they were incredible.

I seriously ate them all. Well, Andrew helped. So, really I ate half. But still, 4 bagels in one weekend = too much bagel for any one person's consumption.

Juice Beauty:

I've always been really cautious about what I put into my body but when Andrew and I became vegetarians, our whole outlook on food changed. We no longer view food as something that should be eaten because  it tastes good (okay, sometimes we do) but as fuel that our bodies need to perform at their peak. It's great. I love eating this way. We will never go back. But this new lifestyle has changed our lives in other ways as well.

Read more after the jump.