Hey, hey! Welcome to Tuesday!
Everyone feeling refreshed and recharged after the long weekend? I certainly wouldn’t say no to having a few more days off (all in favour of swapping a 2-day weekend for a 4-day weekend, say “I”), but I’m definitely happy with what I got… especially since what I got ended up being not one but two days at the lake…
Yesterday was another gorgeous day here in Edmonton, and after a mild SNAFU that dragged me into work in the morning, I got to spend the rest of the day relaxing by the water. Bliss. The only downside is that I was originally planning on doing some baking this weekend so that I could share a recipe with you guys today, but… well… kitchens are a little hard to come by in the woods, so I had to go with Plan B…
What exactly is Plan B? A “currently” post. I like to do these once a month to keep you guys up to date on some of the happenings here in Spoons land, and seeing as my last one was in August, it’s high time for another! But don’t worry… I promise I’ll get that recipe up by the end of the week.
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Current books: Another month, another 30 days without a book. It’s not that I haven’t been reading – I still do everyday – but my reading involves grabbing an old book, flipping it open to a random page, and reading a few chapters (usually before I pass out at night). Some of my go-tos? The Name of the Wind, The Alchemist, Delirium, and Life of Pi. I need something new.
Current music: As we speak? Let’s Fall in Love by Mother Mother is what’s titillating my eardrums.
[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ5CPWKEKLw&w=560&h=315″]
Current guilty pleasure: These bars. I may not have managed to do any baking this weekend, but I did manage some non-baking. 1o minutes very well spent.
Current nail colour: My fingers are currently rocking their birthday suits, so let’s take a look down at my toes. Oh, would you lookit that… my toes are still rocking Essie’s Sunday Funday.
Current drink: Coffee with a tea bag thrown in. Can we say obsession? And can we stick delicious in front of that? I’ve been experimenting with different flavours of tea, and while Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride continues to be my favourite, I have to say that it’s definitely made my morning coffee more interesting.
Current food: Peaches! Nectarines! And from what I’ve been seeing around the blog world and Instagram, I’m definitely not the only one. Those and… chia seeds… but more on that tomorrow.
Current favorite show: I can’t even remember the last time I turned my TV on, so I guess that answers that question…
Current wish list: A dress for HLS! I more-or-less know what I want, but I’m absolutely horrible at shopping for dresses. I wear one maybe a few times a year, so going to buy one feels somewhat awkward. Would it be a faux-pas to show up to a cocktail party in jeans and a tee shirt? Yes… yes it would.
Current needs: Aloe! Who gets sunburnt in September. WHO?!
Current triumphs: Overcoming my aversion to healthier foods. I’ve talked about this a few times in the past, but I went through a serious rebellious phase with healthy food. My mind had a hard time separating healthy from disordered after I recovered from my ED, causing me to want to avoid all veggies, whole grains, etc. But lately? I can’t seem to get enough…
Current bane of my existence: Fruit flies. Begone you saccharine-obsessed, cleverly disguised spawns of the devil! The fruit is mine!
Current celebrity crush: You know, besides the ones I mentioned in the past, I don’t really have one. Of course there are guys that I find attractive, but to actually call it crushing? Not so much. I don’t pay enough attention to the celeb world.
Current indulgence: A weekly trip to Duchess Bake Shop…
Current blessing: ALL the things! If you read my last post about choosing happiness, you probably know that I’m pretty big on doing my best to see even the smallest things as blessings.
Current slang: It’s not really slang, but I have a tendency to say things that make me sound a bit like a grandma. Case in point: “oh my” and “oh dear”…
Current outfit: Keeping things simple and summery in a tee and shorts.
Current excitement: I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around this fact, but Healthy Living Summit is less than two weeks away, which means that in about 10 days I’ll be jumping on a plane to finally meet some of my favourite bloggers. Holy.snap. I’ll spare you the ridiculous giddiness for now and save that for the last few days before I leave 😉
Current mood: See above 
Current link: Bebe.com. I may have mentioned being in dire need of a dress?
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Have a happy Tuesday! If you haven’t had enough of me already, you can go check me out over at Arman’s.
Are you big on wearing dresses? I love makeup and beauty products, but when it comes to my clothes? I definitely lean more towards the tomboy side.
What are you currently (in general)…
1) … reading? (I need something new!)
2) … doing?
3) … eating/drinking?
I’ll have to try your coffee/tea combo. I’m currently loving coffee, which is new for me. I don’t like it black, so a little flavor is perfect!
I love wearing dresses, but I always feel so fancy when I wear them, so I feel obliged to wait until I have an ‘occasion’ to wear one. Which is hardly ever, unfortunately.
I’m intrigued to hear your take on chia seeds. I’ve never tried them, as they seem kind of fad-y in the health world, although I don’t doubt they are good for you.
Favorite food of the month would be black beans and rice with avocado. Never gets old. I’ve actually been eating this way too much in the past 3-4 months. Sorry but I’m not sorry.
I LOVE wearing dresses and skirts. If I never had to wear pants again, I wouldn’t. Love them! I’m not currently reading anything, but I recently finished The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Loved it! I’m currently getting ready to head to work/class… and eating a snack. Super exciting!
Wow, what a beautiful view at the lake!! I should eventually make my way up to Canada!
Sugar cookie sleigh ride is one of my all time favs!!! But what did you do? Stock up during the winter season!? I guess I should have done the same! Although it will be here soon enough… eeek!
Have fun at HLS, wish I were going!! 🙁
I definitely stocked up! Between picking up a few boxes when I was down in the States and the boxes that a few other girls sent me, I think I ended up with like 5 or 6… and since I didn’t drink much tea during the summer, I still had plenty lying around 🙂
I’m a huge dress lover (apparently yoga leggings and tunics is not quite “professional”) so to me they’re almost the same level of comfort with a little more polish. No reads currently except my Praxis test prep book… though if you ever have really bad insomnia let me know I’d be happy to share it!!
I was never been one for dresses until about a year ago. Now I wear one almost every day. I love how lightweight sundresses are, very comfy!
One of the best books I read this summer is Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple. Hilarious! I’m not sure if non-Seattle natives would find it as funny as I did because it pokes fun at Microsoft and the Seattle culture. The last third of the book is a little far-fetched but the first part is so delightful it more than makes up for the lack of reality.
I recently joined a comedy improv club and I absolutely love it. In almost every other area of my life (especially food and exercise) I am incredibly rigid. Improv is one area where I have been able to let go and not censor my every word and action. Additionally, a side effect of the eating disorder has been a huge decrease in self-confidence (not that there was much to start out with.) Performing each week is helping to draw me out of my shell. I don’t consider myself the scum of the earth all the time anymore.
As for food, I never seem to tire of berries, greek yogurt, and almond butter but recently have I have been digging frozen cantaloupe (particularly delicious when blended with part of a frozen banana in a smoothie) homemade dal, and Ezekiel tortillas with avocado.
Enjoy your shortened week Amanda!
Dresses all the way for me. People even comment on that and I can’t remember the last time I wore trousers. I’d be happy to go dress-shopping with you because they’re not just on my current but constant wish list :).
Can we say coincidence regarding our current bane of existence? Gah, how to get all of those nasty fruit flies out of my kitchen? I was going to include them in my ‘currently’ post, too, but now I’ll think of something else ;). But let me know if you find a way to get rid of them in anyway, okay?
I started Laurie Frankel’s ‘Goodbye for Now ‘ as part of a book club a while ago but am not too fond of it. Too much tech nerdiness and it keeps dragging on by now but I’ll have to finish it anyway. Looking for a good read after that already, though.
Oh, also: those pictures of the lakeside are great. No surprise you had a great weekend there.
Oh I’d more than welcome a shopping partner! I need all the help I can get when it comes to figuring out what kind of dresses look good on me. And with the fruit flies, the only thing I’ve found that helped was storing fruit in airtight containers or in the fridge… The moment I leave anything out in the open, the little buggers seem to appear out of nowhere.
I’m like you – love the make up/beauty stuff but dresses, awkward. Had to get a dress for a wedding a few weeks ago and somehow ended up shopping for it with my best friend and his mom and brother…yeeeaaah.
I read “Gone Girl” after you mentioned Gillian Flynn and loved it, have yet to read “Dark Places”. If you like mysteries you should try Dick Francis’ “To the Hilt” – It’s hilarious and a fast easy read (not really in the same vein of mystery as Flynn’s writing though). The Lee Child/”Jack Reacher” books are also quite good.
Currently doing.. enjoying my guilty pleasure. Revenge Season 2 just came out on Netflix. OBSESSED! 🙂
If I were going to HLS, I would definitely rock a T-shirt and jeans with you! I wish I was going so, so bad. Please have fun for me! I’m sure it won’t be too hard 😉 I love the fact you put chia seeds in tiny letters. I SEE IT! 😛
Currently reading: Wild. My brothers’ girlfriend recommended it to me!
Currently doing: Still trying to figure out how I can somehow get myself to HLS.
Currently eating/drinking: Coffee, duh!
PS. Fruit flies are little spawns of Satan. Damn them all.
If I pack light, maybe I can stash you in my suitcase? I’ll leave it a little unzipped so that you don’t get too claustrophobic 😉
Looks like you had a great Labor Day weekend outside!! I’m currently reading Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and am about to start A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man by Joyce. Both are for a British fiction class so I have to read them haha the pastry you got at the bake shop looks delicious!! I’m so jealous you are going to HLS but I’ll look forward to your recaps!
Laughing since I currently have this in my drafts right now to publish tomorrow. So I’d say currently we’re twins 😉
I love bebe.com. I get basically all my dresses from there. I’m pretty sure I have about 10 of them that are on the site…oops. Clearly I have an online shopping problem.
I definitely am a dress lover. I love my makeup and dresses I guess. For some reason I just hate pants ha.
I’m pretty sure it was you that told my about the book thief? I may totally be wrong in that thought but I’m kind of excited that they’re coming out with the movie version of it!
I’ll be going in to Bebe some time this week to try on dresses, and hope that I don’t get too overwhelmed 😆 Wanna come over and help me pick one out? 😉 And I’m pretty sure that it wasn’t me who told you about The Book Thief because I’ve never read it. It sounds like a good one, though, so I may end up picking it up myself.
I wanted to go to the healthy living summit so bad! next year, I’m going for sure.
I’m a tomboy but I LOVE LOVE LOVE dresses. I make them casual with “fancy” sneakers/flats and a jean jacket or something.
Yay for HLS!!! I am beyond excited :).
Aw I’m so jealous you are going to the HLS! It looks like so much fun :)! I am all about dresses in the summer. I wear one pretty much every day to work. Or I wear skirts, love those too. I get most of my work dresses at Banana Republic, the Gap, Club Monaco, and J Crew. I just finished reading The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls.. it was an easy light read. All of her books are pretty good!
I need to try Duchess Bake Shop, I keep hearing great things about it and your pics on IG always make my mouth water! I have finally decided on a new book to read because I’ve been reading random old books too, The Great Gastby being my fav. I thought Jobs would be a good one so hopefully it lives up to my expectations 🙂
Lovin’ these photos girl!!
Coffee with a tea bag? Honestly, I have never even thought of that but now I’m intrigued!!!!
Some of mine:
Current TV obsession = Pretty Little Liars (not even a little shamed to admit it)
Current book = Orange is the New Black (I’m struggling to get through it. I know the TV show was pumped up for dramatic purposes but the book is kind of a snoozefest.)
Current nail polish obsession = greens! all shades of greens.
Definitely give the coffee with tea a try! I find that it works the best with sweeter teas, but a lot of people like chai as well.
Ah, I wish I was going to HLS! It’s going to be so much fun. Can’t wait to se what dress you choose.
That bison is huge!
I’m currently reading Me Before You and it is really good so far.
Don’t even talk about HLS in front of me. Yes, I know I’ll be jet setting across the ocean for the trip of a lifetime and blah blah blah, but I cannot believe I’m missing out on a chance to meet you. Arghhhh. I don’t wear dresses often since I usually go the jeans route even when dressing up, but a good dress can do amazing things. Can’t wait to see what you pick!
I actually think that dresses can be more comfortable (depending of course on the type you get). Maxi dresses are one of my favorites because they are roomy and airy. haha! My current read is “Crossed” a book in the “Matched” series. It’s not my favorite but it’s a pretty easy read. Something to help me fall asleep at night.
I’m going to try to hit the mall later this week for dress shopping…I still need to find something new for the cocktail party too! I like wearing dresses as long as I have an actual occasion to wear them too…otherwise I tend to run in the jeans and tank top sort of direction for casual, everyday wear. Although, I do hate wearing pants so dresses and skirts tend to come out a little bit more in the summer. But ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod Like 9 days until I get to see you…SO EXCITED!!! Ahem.
Right now, I’m reading Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. Although i’m only like 8 pages in, I tried to read before bed last night but I pretty much passed out the second my head hit the pillow.
Currently drinking water, although I was drinking pumpkin spice tea yesterday. And finishing up my breakfast, which is a protein pancake with banana slices and peanut butter.
I’m with you on the current veggie obsession – it’s all I want right now, but that might have something to do with the fact that I ate takeout for breakfast, lunch and dinner Saturday, and lunch Sunday…
It still hasn’t -quite- hit me yet, but I’m sure I’ll be a scatterbrained ball of nerves 2 or 3 days before when I try to pull everything together at the last minute 😆 And I have pumpkin tea in my coffee as we speak – even though it’s still ridiculously hot outside…
This was a cool post! I love hearing about other bloggers’ favorites and such. I hope you have an amazing time at the HLS! I’m so jealous! I’ve been wanting to go for years but next year I will be there!
I’m totally with you on the 4-day weekend. We should institute a world-wide change declaring that working on Mondays and Fridays illegal. I’m so jealous that you get to go to HLS…one day, I will find myself at a blogger meet-up. But for now I’m picking spending my money on races instead of meet-ups…those poor college student problems, man.
No idea you were going to HLS! I am as well, and I’m so excited/nervous! I’m having a tough time figuring out what to pack for outfits…first blogging conference for you as well?
Oh girl! I’ll have to make sure I find you there! It’ll be my first conference as well, and while I’m definitely a little nervous (especially about flying alone!), I’m looking forward to finally meeting all my favourite girls 😀
I love my cut off shorts but love summer dresses just as much…wish I was coming to HLS but I am not and good thing I didn’t book it as I realized now that it is the same weekend as Yom Kippur…I must add a tea bag to my coffee tomorrow morning, totally forgot I wanted to try that!
I cannot wait to meet you at HLS!! Oh my gosh I’m so excited you’re going! I think I found my dress this past weekend. So pumped!
I really want to try the tea bag in the coffee shenanigans. I even have Celestial’s Sleigh Ride tea in my cupboard as we speak.
You’re going!?! Eee! I’m definitely going to try and seek you out 😀
Currently things seem to be going quite well for you. I’m happy for your current triumph, and I’m jealous of your current indulgence. Balance. 😉
So bummed I’m not going to HLS this year! You are going to have such an amazing time. That coffee tea combo is genius too. I’m definitely going to give it a try. Happy Tuesday Amanda!
Awwr! And it would have been so great to meet you! Hope you’re having a great Tuesday as well, Danielle 🙂
I could get sunburn any time of the year so I feel your burn haha. I am always putting sun block on ALL the time. I feel better dressed in a tee & jeans than a dress. I can’t wear maxi dresses. I feel like they look so weird on me.
Your toes make me miss summer already. Treated myself to a pedi yesterday but I’m sporting a fall color. So sad (but still pretty!) Have a lovely Tuesday friend xo
Oh I would SO love to go shopping with you! My friends always say they find the best stuff when I am with them – maybe I have some kind of a shopping karma? Lol.
I am with you on the dresses – I don’t really know what this girls fuss is all about, but I just absolutely LOVE my jeans. I feel so uncomfortable in a dress- no matter how well it suits, i just don’t like wearing them.
I want to cry all day that I won’t be at HLS 🙁 At least wI get to see a pic of you in a dress when all the recap posts pop up 🙂
I do love dresses, but they’ve gotta be comfy! Unless I’m going to something like…prom.
Peaches are slowly fading from our household as the summer drifts away 🙁 But now we look forward to fall fruits! (What are they anyway? Pumpkin trumps everything everywhere, so I don’t even know).
Currently loving “Counting Stars” by One Republic. Also currently trying to write college essays. Ahhh!
There aren’t a lot of fall fruits, unfortunately 😕 BUT! There are apples, figs, pears, and pomegranates! That and the plethora of sweet squashes <3
Ah how could I forget apples and pomegranates? Two of my favorites!
The lake looks absolutely gorgeous! Sounds like a weekend well spent!
I love wearing dresses! I find there the easiest thing to throw on in the morning and don’t require much thinking. I’m currently reading Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand. I’m currently reading/commenting on my favorite blogs, and I’m currently not eating/drinking anything yet. Still deciding what to eat for breakfast. 😉
I secretly love dresses for how easy they are, but the problem is that I’m so inexperienced with them that I have no idea what style looks best on me 😆
So so excited for HLS too!! Dreading the flight though…I hate to fly. I’ve been trying to decide if I’m going to get a new dress….we’ll see.
Living in a hot country means that my dress wardrobe only keeps increasing- it’s just too darn hot to throw on a pair of jeans sometimes! And wait a second- there’s no kitchen in the woods?? Backwards or what! I kid I kid…looking forward to this recipe :)! I might have to boycott your blog until the HLS is over, only to keep my jealousy at bay! Pssh not possible but pleeease put up lots of recaps when you guys are back! I am currently drinking some canarino a.k.a. a fancy name given to hot water & lemon.
“Oh my!” is one of my utterances too – dang didn’t realize it till now .. and so love the Alchemist!
I just finished re-reading “Mr. Maybe” by Jane Green – and gonna start the first of the City of Bones next…soon…
Nope – am definitely a less-is-more aka lazy aka tomboy when it comes to dresses and makeup – but I do like creams and perfumes and all things bath related.
I am currently responding to your post and I have a bowl of choc. oatmeal with peanut butter drizzled in and a humungous cup of coffee 🙂
I would be so excited to be meeting other bloggers at the summit too – is this your first time going?
Yup! This’ll be my first time 😀 I’ve been wanting to go to a blogging conference for so long now, but I’ve always chickened out and regretted – not this time! I’ve been eyeing the City of Bones series myself, so maybe we’ll end up getting into that at the same time 😉 And omigosh… chocolate oatmeal with coffee? Tlk about giving me breakfast envy 😛
My chest got a little burnt this weekend, too. I’ve been pretty good at not getting fried this summer – I hate wearing sunscreen unless I absolutely have to, so I usually try to plan my outdoor walks/runs/gardening, etc in the morning or late afternoon.
Omg, Elk Island!!! We used to go there in elementary school (I grew up in Vermilion/Viking).
One of the best books I read this summer was Kelly Oxfords book – Everythings Perfect When Youre A Liar. She’s so funny! The story about the time she went to LA to try and find Leo DiCaprio is my fav.
Other than that, I’ve been struggling with getting into a book. I need suggestions, too.
See you at HLS! Can’t wait!!!
I’m looking forward to your talk 😉
Please don’t think I’m the weirdest person ever… But I fell asleep after reading this post and dreamt I forgot EVERYTHING I needed for hls. Clothes, shoes, prep stuff, clean underwear. Whew! Only a dream! Haha!
I’m all of a sudden all about the salads too and I’ve NEVER been a salad girl. Like, in my entire life. It’s kind of weird to me but I’m also loving it. I’m all about wearing jeans and t-shirts whenever possible. As in, even during the most inappropriate times 😉 I just like to keep it casual! I’m even more of a fan of the yoga pants phenomenon… but I feel like that’s even less appropriate for a fancy event. Anyways, have a great day lady!