tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3564965619597645042024-03-13T07:46:47.737-05:00aiukli: life is beautifulWhen I first made this, I named my blog "nushkobo aiukli, chokvsh weki" which means "beautiful head (mind), heavy heart." I was lost and wanting to find love in all the wrong places. Since then, I decided to switch it to "aiukli," which simply means BEAUTIFUL in Choctaw. Aiukli is also a tattoo of mine to remind me to look for the beauty in the small things. I now take a more positive approach to life than ever before. Join me in realizing all the potential that life has to offer!-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.comBlogger375125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-26220659903008643972015-05-20T21:41:00.000-05:002015-05-20T21:41:11.007-05:00Meeting the Family (inadvertently)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My Story, Part 3</div>
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(<a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-beginning.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-first-date.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a>)</div>
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I apologize for the long time delay in continuing my story. I started to tell it in the hopes that it would cleanse my system and complete the healing process. I then got a little busy with life, and then I had a theoretical kick in the butt from a friend. That kick in the tail was the final push to cleanse my system, and now I'm ready to tell it objectively and completely.</div>
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So Dillon and I met at the end of July, went on our first date on August 1. We had been dating for a couple of weeks, and had made plans to hang out one Thursday night. I being the airhead that I am, forgot that I had told my cousins I would come to their high school softball game in Sperry that night. So I told Dillon, thinking he would want to reschedule our plans. Nope, said he would tag along too.</div>
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So here we were, about 2.5 weeks into dating, and he is coming to my hometown with me to watch family members play softball.</div>
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We arrived at their game and ended up sitting in the pressbox with my aunt and uncle since they were keeping score. Then my other aunt, mom, and grandma all came to the game. So he met my ENTIRE family before we had even been together a month.</div>
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A couple weeks later, I went to an extended family member's wedding. EVERYONE asked where he was and why I didn't bring him with me. Still at the time, I had no intentions of anything serious with him. Plus I had sent in the RSVP way before I had met him.</div>
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I met his sister first. He and I both had a random week day off, and I went to his house to visit. She was there between classes, and we spent a little time chatting with her. I then met his mom. I can't remember why or where we went, but it was not too long after I met his sister.</div>
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Then I met his whole/extended family at the beginning of November. His grandparents were wonderful.</div>
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<br />-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-51659748855978223102015-02-01T15:52:00.001-06:002015-02-01T15:52:05.316-06:00The First Date<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My Story, Part 2</div>
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(<a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-beginning.html" target="_blank">Part 1 here</a>)</div>
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Even though I told Dillon I was going to bed, we continued to stay up chatting for at least an hour. I <i>finally </i>was like "Seriously dude. NEED SLEEP." I put my phone on silent and passed out. I woke up to him having sent a few more after I put it on silent, but didn't text him back right away. At the time, he had every Monday off and it was Monday (why I remember little details like this, I'll never know).</div>
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I went to work, got some coffee, and prepared for my 10 hour work day. You see, when you're in the banking business, it doesn't matter that the normal workday is 8 hours. You have to make sure there is staff for all the long hours. I got stuck with a full day's shift on that Monday and I was <i>exhausted</i>. I texted him on my lunch break to ask how his day off was going, and we chatted all throughout the hour. For once in a LONG time, I went back to work anxious about a text from a guy!</div>
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One good thing about my crazy work hours is that a majority of his workdays also ended at 7. So both of us were up pretty late most nights due to not needing to be at work early. That first Monday, he and I spent the time text messaging back and forth until about 9, when he asked if he could call me. I think we talked until 10:30 or 11. Then our text messaging was much more sporadic on Tuesday since he was working, and he finally asked me out on a date. We didn't waste any time and planned it for the next day, Wednesday August 1. I warned him that I would most likely not dress up because I had another 10 hour work day that day, and I don't really wear makeup to work.</div>
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I didn't tell anyone I had a date because at the time, I didn't think anything would come of it. I really wasn't interested in a boyfriend or dating, but he was sweet so I decided to go ahead with the date. Little did I know that would spark a longing companionship, as long as it was from him.</div>
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We wentto Olive Garden a couple miles from my house. I'm not the biggest fan of Olive Garden; I personally think there are other Italian restaurants that are better. But he even came and picked me up from my house! I was low on money so I just had water and found something cheap to order for dinner. We were at the restaurant for almost 2 hours when we realized that the restaurant was closing and we should probably head out. It was August in Oklahoma, so it was really hot outside. I had worn jean shorts, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes, and my hair was up in a ponytail. Wife material, let me tell ya!</div>
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We drove back to my place, but I told him he was not allowed in my apartment (it was a MESS). So we sat in the parking lot in his vehicle with the windows rolled down. It was so hot and about an hour after we got there, he walked me to my door--I just couldn't handle the heat anymore. We hugged good night, and I locked the door behind him. He texted me when he got home, per my request, and I asked why he didn't even try to kiss me. His response was because of something I had said in passing at dinner...apparently I said something about not kissing on a first date. So then I promptly found (Kissed You) Good Night by Gloriana on YouTube and sent him a link. No he did not come back and kiss me, but it let him know how I felt. I ended the texting there because I was SUPER exhausted from the late nights.</div>
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I will continue this story...I don't know that I will continue to go into as much detail, as our relationship did span almost two years, but I will definitely try to paint the whole picture.</div>
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<br />-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-33759838208019557932015-01-11T20:42:00.001-06:002015-01-11T20:42:26.310-06:00The Beginning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My Story, Part 1</div>
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I know I haven't consistently written in, oh, probably 4 years, but I really do love this space and everything it creates for me--it allows for me to count my blessings, make new friends, and provides a little peace when my life seems to be in turmoil.</div>
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So where do I begin?<br />I'll start with how he and I started. We truly had a whirlwind romance that I thought would last a lifetime. Because if you truly know me, you know I don't fall in love. But I did. I fell fast and hard and passionately.</div>
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AT the end of July 2012, my mother and I went on a cruise together. We planned and booked it in February. I had vacation time and money burning a hole in my pocket, and the last time I had gone on vacation was spring break 2011 just before I graduated. I was ready for something a little different and was excited for my first-ever cruise! We spent a wonderful week in tropical weather and islands. It was so much fun and relaxing at the same time.</div>
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Three weeks before I went on this cruise, I started hanging out with a couple girl friends I had made throughout my first year of being out of college. We spent our Saturday evenings at a local joint that had pool tables and an AWESOME beer special. Purchase a t-shirt with their bar's name on it, free tap from 8-midnight on Saturdays when you wear it. Perfect for the three of us as the two of them have children and I am just poor and cheap :)</div>
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I loved spending Saturday nights at this place. It was about 4 miles from my apartment at the time, and the free tap ended early enough that I never worried about driving. It was Saturday after I returned from the cruise that I met Dillon. It was one of the bartenders' birthday, so naturally I met up with my girls for a little bit. I didn't wear my shirt, so no free beer for me. I had other plans for the evening already and wanted to look cute instead of worrying about the t-shirt. We three girls hung out with a couple guys that the other two were interested in at the time, and this week, the guys brought a third. I thought he was cute but I was more worried about spending time with my girls and making sure I left in enough time to head to downtown Tulsa for a music event. I had planned on meeting up with Katy, her boyfriend, and one of my other friends.</div>
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As the night progressed, he and I started chatting while he was playing pool with one of the other guys. Me, being the cocky person that I am, made a smart remark that went along the lines of "give me your cue stick and let me show you how it's done."...mind you, I am TERRIBLE at ppol. But I made 3 shots in a row and handed the stick back to him. I could <i>never</i> do that again even if I tried! We chatted a lot off and on throughout the night, since he was playing pool and the bar was super loud due to a cover band playing that night. At one point, he said "I like you boots" and I said "Thanks? I bought them myself." very hatefully. Seriously, I was not digging this guy at first, but he was nice and made me laugh a few times, so what was the harm in flirting? I thought we hit it off pretty well, so at the end of my time there, I made sure I found him to tell him I was leaving. Just him. You know what he did? Absolutely nothing. Just said "Okay bye! Hopefully I'll see you again sometime!" So I thought, okay, maybe he is just a really nice guy. No biggie.</div>
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I had to work the next day (yes I worked on Sundays), and didn't really think much more about it. Or him. Work was its usual annoyance at the time, and I was so tired form staying up super late with my friends after our music fest. I checked my phone at 4PM and I had like 5 messages from one of my girls asking what I thought about Dillon. I told her he seemed nice but that's all I thought. She then proceeded to gush about how he had been messaging her all day and asking about me. So we DID hit it off, he was just chicken. Not 10 minutes after I got off work, I had a friend request from him on Facebook. I confirmed the friendship and within seconds he messaged me asking how work went. This was before facebook messenger (can you believe that app is not even two years old?!), so trying to have conversation was annoying. I had to purposely pull up facebook constantly. On top of that, Katy came to my apartment so we could watch the Olympic opening ceremonies together. So here I am, watching one of my favorite events in the world with one of my favorite persons in the world and trying to hold a conversation through facebook messenger with this guy. I was actually a little annoyed about the whole situation, because this wouldn't have had to happen if he had just pulled up his big boy panties and asked for my number when I left.</div>
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Katy left after the ceremonies were over, and he and I continued our conversation. I asked him if it would have been easier to just get my number, so then he asked for it. But at that point I had already found his number on facebook (one of the many reasons I have mine hidden) and sent him a text saying it was me and I was going to bed because I had to work the next day.</div>
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I think that's probably a good place to stop for now.</div>
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<br />-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-19376134340468533682014-08-13T22:34:00.000-05:002014-08-13T22:35:23.663-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Oh wow. Over a month and not a peep from my corner of the world. So sorry folks.</div>
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I can say that I successfully completed my 4th of July 5k in roughly 45 minutes. We walked it due to my friend's back injury. It was just as fun as jogging it.</div>
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THEN, I had a good friend invite me to a challenge group for fitness, with the main goal to be accountability and encouragement. So I have been so busy in a kind of routine of work, workout, shower, eat, then I've been picking up hours to drive for Lyft. (If your city has it, seriously use it! It's pretty cool!)</div>
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I've also been spending my weekends just living life. I've gone on a couple float trips, shopped for storage sheds, and had <i>one </i>lazy weekend. So I've pushed my blog to the back burner AGAIN.</div>
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So this is just a "hey I'm still here and life is busy" kind of post.</div>
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Highlights: 2 float trips. Moving in the first couple weeks of September. I will be back in my mom's house for the time being to try to save a little money and purchase a new car. new car New Car NEW CARRRRR! is my mantra these days. I began driving for Lyft to try to earn some extra money here and there to go to this new car. <i>Because</i> I enjoyed my fitness challenge group SO MUCH, I also did this crazy thing and became a Team Beachbody coach. Have you heard of those crazy fitness programs called Insanity and P90X? Yeah it's that same company. I mostly became a coach to get a small discount on some of the products, but let me tell you. A couple weeks in and I want to help just ONE person realize their fitness goals. I know how <i>great</i> my program and supplementation has made me feel, and I want to help others feel differences too!</div>
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If you want more information on my beachbody endeavors, my coach site is: beachbodycoach.com/mbattiestOKU</div>
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Now that you know the highlights, here's to hoping that I can get back in the groove of things on here.</div>
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Good night all!</div>
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<br />-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-72671188072325422442014-06-29T13:29:00.001-05:002014-06-29T13:40:46.604-05:00Races of 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Things have been pretty boring in my part of the world nowadays.</div>
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In mid-January, I joined a weight loss challenge with my aunt and uncle that was for 12 weeks.During these 12 weeks, I worked my butt off going to the gym almost every day, and did a lot of meal prep. I made myself snacks and lunches, and did a ton of portion control. I kept track of all of this using the My Fitness Pal app. I lost about 10 pound in the 12 weeks, and I am happy to say that I have kept it off. I have definitely fallen off the wagon as far as keeping my meals healthy and exercising regularly, so keeping off the weight has been a miracle.</div>
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I <i>have</i> run a little bit, but I haven't done it consistently enough to brag about it. But I have ran in a few races. The first one was in March. It was a 4k trail run, and it KICKED MY BUTT. I knew the trail would be difficult, but I definitely did not prepare myself for just how difficult it would be. We ran in the Turkey Mountain Wilderness area here in Tulsa. The trail was up and down and rocky and muddy and slippery. But I finished it in 40 minutes and 39 seconds. I was super proud of myself. AAAAAND a picture from that day:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the finish line</td></tr>
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Then in April I ran the Color Run with one of my friends from high school. We didn't keep track of the time that we finished, but I highly suggest you run The Color Run at some point in time with some friends. It's so much fun!</div>
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In May, I decided to run the Burgers & Baseball 5k, also put on by Fleet Feet so that I could have a fun 5k to run in downtown Tulsa while also getting discounted tickets for a Drillers game. This allowed me to purchase an extra ticket so that I could treat my mother to a Drillers game. She has not been to the new Driller stadium, so I thought this would be a fun way to get tickets. As I mentioned before, I have not been running consistently, and downtown Tulsa is pretty hilly. So again, this one kicked my butt too. As evidenced by the photo below. I finished this one in 43 minutes, 16 seconds.</div>
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Now, I am signed up to walk the Firecracker 5k. I would run it, but I signed up to do it with a friend, and she is having some major back issues and cannot run. So I'm excited to start my holiday weekend off in a slightly healthy manner. It will be followed by an afternoon matinee seeing Wicked with my mom. Unfortunately, after Wicked, I will be working all weekend at the baseball fields. But I guess money is never that bad of a thing to have. It's just unfortunate that I'll be spending my three-day weekend working.</div>
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Today is relaxing and doing a whole lot of nothing until I go watch True Blood with my friend Michelle later this evening. Hope you all have a relaxing Sunday as well!!</div>
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<br />-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-10029696091498931172014-06-28T21:47:00.001-05:002014-06-28T21:47:49.486-05:00Q2 2014 Readings<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388197194l/8039869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="8039869" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388197194l/8039869.jpg" width="133" /></a><i>Three to Get Deadly</i>, Janet Evanovich - completed May 27, 2014<br />
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So after I read <i>Two for the Dough</i>, I wasn't entirely sure if I wanted to continue the series or if I just wanted to quit at book #2. I'm glad that I went ahead and decided to pick this one up.<br />
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Where two was lacking in comedy, <i>Three to Get Deadly</i> started it right back up!<br />
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Of course it follows the same basic concept as one and two-Stephanie Plum gets handed a big case that <i>everyone </i>thinks is too much for her to handle. She calls on Morelli and Ranger to help her out of tough situations, and Lula is the best character of them all.<br />
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It was funny enough for me to definitely want to pick up <i>Four to Score</i>. Rated 5/5 on goodreads.<br />
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388631721l/35982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="35982" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388631721l/35982.jpg" width="133" /></a><i>My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One Night Stands</i>, Chelsea Handler - completed June 11, 2014<br />
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I had been wanting to read some of Chelsea Handler's books for quite some time. Then I found Books-A-Million at the Tulsa Hills shopping center here in Tulsa, and they have a really awesome Millionaire's Club that gives you all kinds of discounts on all purchases. Plus I went in there about 3 days after I got dumped, and I cannot be trusted in a book store when I'm emotional. Needless to say, I bought about 8 books that day, this being one of them.<br />
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<i>My Horizontal Life</i> is Chelsea's first book, and it's pretty dang funny. She seems to be completely honest in how she's telling the stories, as it doesn't seem she is holding anything back. Some of these stories are even embarrassing, I'm sure. She even admits to not being able to complete the deed at the end of the book.<br />
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The stories make you laugh right out loud as she is telling them. And the fact that she calls one of her roommates Dumb Dumb made me laugh every single time. Again, seeing as how I had recently been dumped, this laugh-out-loud book was definitely what I needed. Rated 4/5 stars on goodreads.</div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331755982l/13540868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="13540868" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331755982l/13540868.jpg" width="131" /></a><i>Desert Drop</i>, Rex Kusler - completed June 13, 2014<br />
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This is book #3 in the Las Vegas mystery series that I picked up last summer. If you haven't figured out by now, I love good kindle book bargains from amazon. Amazon had a special last summer that allowed you to buy books for $1 from a certain list of books. This series was on that list, and I decided to go ahead and purchase all three.<br />
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I read the first two last summer, but decided I wanted to wait a little on the third (and I believe there is actually more than 3 now as well). This book was a little similar to the first two, in that Alice and Jim get introduced to their case within the first few pages of the book. Then the rest of the book is about them trying to crack the case before Las Vegas homicide does. Both P.I.'s are former detectives, who both gave up the life because they decided it wasn't for them anymore.<br />
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The story is pretty good, as the big plot twist in this one is that the person who was murdered was Alice's half sister, who was supposed to be meeting Alice for the first time before she was murdered.<br />
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Who the killers are was enough of a plot twist that I guessed the entire time as to who was the second person in the conspiracy. I do not know for sure if I will look into the fourth book yet, but These first three were definitely interesting enough that I enjoyed reading all three of them. Rated 4/5 stars on goodreads.</div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361666855l/5821978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="5821978" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361666855l/5821978.jpg" width="132" /></a><i>The Summer I Turned Pretty</i>, Jenny Han - completed June 17, 2014<br />
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I decided to pick this series up after <a href="http://katytip.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Katy</a> told me she accidentally read the third book first, and that she liked it fairly well. I read the summaries on all three of the books and decided they would most likely be pretty good summer reads.<br />
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I finished this book in less than a week. I was correct in assuming the book would be a good summer read.<br />
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The main character's name is Isabel, Belly for short. She measures her life in summers, and summers at Cousins Beach. For as long as Belly can remember, she's been in love with Conrad, who is the son of her mother's long-time friend Susannah. Belly's whole existence of summers have been spent being an outsider to Conrad, his brother Jeremiah, and her brother Steven. But this summer is one that she hopes everything will change. This summer, "Belly is all grown up," and she's hoping that Conrad will be able to see just that.<br />
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But as the summer progresses, Conrad distances himself even more, and Belly finds a new boy to spend time with. And for the first time for as long as she can remember, she is growing irritated with Conrad, and doesn't want to "love" him anymore.<br />
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At the end of the summer, startling news is revealed about one of the summer family members, and it causes their whole world to be turned upside down. Belly goes back to her real life full of uncertainty. The epilogue is pretty great though! Rated 4/5 stars on goodreads.</div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1382403224l/18010355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="18010355" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1382403224l/18010355.jpg" width="133" /></a><i>The Line</i>, J.D. Horn - completed June 18, 2014<br />
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I read this book in about 24 hours. This was another one I picked up from amazon's kindle first books. (SERIOUSLY, GO SUBSCRIBE TO THIS SERVICE!)<br />
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This book is set in modern-day Savannah, Georgia. I have been to this location one time and I of course loved the history, the verandas, the Spanish Moss, the cobblestone streets, the MILLIONS of pillars on colonial homes! So when I got this particular month's options, a book set in Savannah seemed the perfect choice!<br />
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The Savannah Taylors are a group of witches who all possess different powers-all except Mercy. Mercy is a twin, and her twin Maisie was the child born with all the powers. The ancient history of the family is that they are one of 13 families who helped to separate our world from the demons, and now each of them are set up to hep protect "The Line," that is, the line between our world and theirs.<br />
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All Mercy has ever wanted out of life was to feel like she belonged in the family. So she approaches Mother Jilo in the hopes that she will help her cast a love spell to hide her feelings from Maisie's soon-to-be fiancee. She knows it's wrong, because Mother Jilo does not possess natural magic like the Taylors do. She tries to take it back, but Jilo cackles and Mercy knows that (for lack of a better term) something wicked this way comes.<br />
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Mercy's great-aunt Ginny is found murdered the next day. What happens for the remainder of the book is a series of events that keep you turning page after page. The families are now faced with finding someone to succeed Ginny in holding their part of the line. Mercy battles with her feelings between two men. Mercy goes back and forth to Mother Jilo, trying to discover truth and answers. The families descend upon Savannah to mourn the loss of Ginny and to help provide a little guidance to the turbulent Taylor family.<br />
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Mercy receives borrowed power for 1 day from her uncle Oliver, and discovers more truth in that borrowed time than she could ever have imagined. There's also two MAJOR plot twists at the end that help decide Mercy's fate...<br />
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This book was really easy to read. I enjoyed it because it is a book about mythical things, but set in a very real place that I've seen with my own eyes. It doesn't copy every other witch book either, and we all know there are plenty of those out there right now. The storyline was unique enough to keep me entertained throughout the whole book. I rated this book 3/5 stars on goodreads, mostly because I was in complete shock at the conclusion of the book.<br />
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1257803831l/6584188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="6584188" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1257803831l/6584188.jpg" width="132" /></a><i>It's Not Summer Without You</i>, Jenny Han - completed June 19, 2014<br />
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This is the second book of the trilogy by Jenny Han. This one I thought was a little better than the first. In this one, we meet up with Belly in the middle of her summer, but for once it's not at Cousins. She is stuck at home with her best friend Taylor. She attempts to make it a great summer despite not spending time with the Fishers, when she suddenly gets a call from the younger brother Jeremiah that Conrad (love of her life) has gone missing.<br />
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Jeremiah and Belly go on a little trip to attempt to find Conrad, all while wrestling with their feelings over the loss of Susannah. What I really liked about this book is that we got to see a little bit from Jeremiah's perspective intermittently. It was a nice little curve ball. The crazy thing about throwing this in there though, was that you could see that Jeremiah has loved Belly <i>almost</i> as long as Belly has loved Conrad. Totally cliche love triangle, but totally fitting into the story. Obviously, Jeremiah's feelings cause issues for all three of them.<br />
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Even though the triangle was cliche, it was a pretty good story still. Worth the read to continue Belly's story. Rated 4/5 stars on goodreads.<br />
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371864811l/18108877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="18108877" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371864811l/18108877.jpg" width="132" /></a><i>Timebound</i>, Rysa Walker - completed June 20, 2014<br />
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This is yet another book I picked up through amazon's kindle first. This one is a great story about time traveling.<br />
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I don't know how many of you are into time travel/sci-fi books, but this is a pretty decent young adult one for it. We meet Kate, whose eccentric grandmother comes around when she is either 15 or 16 and reveals to her that their family has a gene that allows them to time travel. However, Kate's grandfather and missing aunt have somehow gotten their hands on certain points of history, and have completely changed the timeline of the world.<br />
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Honestly, this book was a little difficult for me to wrap my head around at first. When Katherine (grandmother) first started explaining things and the CHRONOS key, it was very difficult for me to keep straight and understand. As the book continued to progress, I could follow the thoughts a lot better and actually began to enjoy it. And then it started making me think quite a bit.<br />
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My only big issue was that I felt Kate was too trusting throughout the entire book. I feel like if this time traveling thing were a real thing, she definitely should not be spilling her guts about <i>anything</i> that is going on. But all she does is spill spill spill. Despite that, I felt the book was very well written, just a couple hiccups with the spilling of the secrets. Rated it 3/5 on goodreads. Would have been 3.5 stars if that were a possibility.<br />
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1360206420l/11870085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="11870085" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1360206420l/11870085.jpg" width="129" /></a><i>The Fault in Our Stars</i>, John Green - completed June 21, 2014<br />
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Remember in my <a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/q1-2014-readings.html" target="_blank">Q1 readings post</a> I said that <i>Hidden</i> had shattered my soul a little bit? Yeah this one did too. But I'm sure I'm one of the last people on Earth that has read this, so I'm sure you don't need me to give a detailed summary about it. So here's the skinny:<br />
Hazel Grace has cancer and meets an amazing guy named Agustus Waters at a Cancer support group. The entire book is full of their quick and strong romance. Of course, because they both have previously had cancer, you know something terrible is going to happen to their relationship.<br />
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What I loved most about this book is how they treated each other. Yes there were a few dark moments (like Cancer Perks), but for the most part they just lived in their own world of happiness. This book. This book is just horribly beautiful. Soul shattering. So wonderful. Definitely a must read. Especially if you want to see the movie (but I always prefer to read the book before seeing the movie.) I do love just how witty both the characters are. It was an awesome part of the book.<br />
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Also, I didn't cry. Trust me I wanted to, but I made myself stop, calm down a bit, then continued. It was just a beautiful book. Rated 5/5 stars on goodreads.<br />
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327054226l/8680278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="8680278" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327054226l/8680278.jpg" width="132" /></a><i>We'll Always Have Summer</i>, Jenny Han - completed June 22, 2014<br />
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This book rounded out the series of Summer books by Jenny Han. I thought this one was pretty good as well, but slightly over-dramatic. But I also know that's what happens when you follow the love life of a 19 year old.<br />
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It's been almost two years since we last saw Conrad, Jeremiah, and Belly. We learn that Belly and Jeremiah have been together this whole time, through Belly's first year in college. It's the last week, and we find out Jeremiah is not near as perfect as we think, and they get all crazy and decide to get married.<br />
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I can't say that I necessarily liked what happened between Belly and Jeremiah, but I guess everything worked out the way it was supposed to. It was a cute little YA series. Rated 4/5 stars on goodreads.<br />
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316739261l/1274217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="1274217" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316739261l/1274217.jpg" width="134" /></a><i>Make Lemonade</i>, Virginia Euwer Wolff - completed June 25, 2014<br /><br />I picked this one up from my library after seeing a couple of my college friends read and love this book. I had a sorority sister that had an internship at World Literature Today - a bi-monthy magazine about literature worldwide. One of their cover authors was Virginia Euwer Wolff, and the sorority sister read this series due to the interview featured in the magazine.<br /><br />This was another young adult novel, told from Verna's point of view. Verna is bound and determined to go to college, to give herself a better life. She decides to get an after-school job, and calls Jolly, who posted a paper stating "BABYSITTER NEEDED BAD." The actual text is a little unconventional, and the lines are broken up into almost normal conversation. Jolly has two young children, and this story is a kind of coming-of-age story on all the hardships young mothers can face when they have children really young. Very easy to read, a little difficult to read, and a great story! Rated 5/5 stars on goodreads.<br />
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If anybody was keeping count, that is <i>nine</i> books I finished in the month of June. The reason for this? I didn't read <i>any</i> in April, and then I got dumped in May. So I guess I just decided I wanted to drown in books for the month of June. OBVIOUSLY, they were mostly young adult books, so it's not <i>that</i> big of an accomplishment, but I'm definitely glad to be reading constantly again. I may not finish that many books for Q3 because I decided that I wanted read the rest of the Game of Thrones series. I'm tired of being surprised at who gets killed!!<br />
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What books have you gotten into lately?<br />
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<br />-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-43457220769340630192014-06-27T14:30:00.000-05:002014-06-27T14:30:25.794-05:00Dear Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's just some things I think need to be recognized in today's edition of Friday's Letters (also know 'round these parts as Dear Friday):</div>
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Dear Friday: I know there's only 7 days between you and the next, but you truly are a Godsend every week.</div>
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Dear US Men's National Team: HOLY AMAZING!! You proved to all the world that you have the fight in you to come out of the Group of Death and advance to the knock out round! SO PROUD!!</div>
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Dear Soccer (Futbol) Haters: Just embrace it and be proud!</div>
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Dear NBA: You aren't as bad as I thought. I may have even cried a little. (If you don't know what I mean, go <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-nba-draft-isaiah-austin-20140627-story.html" target="_blank">here</a>. )</div>
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Dear Mallori: I'm a little ashamed of you (myself). SERIOUSLY?! <i>TWO </i>shirts is ALL you own that are red, white, and blue?! Shameful!</div>
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Dear Dogs I am Dog Sitting: If you wake me up at 3:40 am again, I may just give you away free to a good home.</div>
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Dear 9 Books I Finished in June: Thank you for letting me escape to ignore the pain of heartbreak. I forgot to be sad when I was last in your world. </div>
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Dear Readers: Thank you so much for sticking around. It is my intention to continue chronicling my journey from here on out, no matter how "busy" I get our of I chose to days again. You guys rock! </div>
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<br />-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-30783477356991923702014-06-24T10:00:00.000-05:002014-06-24T10:00:04.518-05:00Tuesday Tunes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's been a long time since I've done anything habitually over here, but I really wanted to do this post last week.</div>
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You see, I used to do this pretty regularly, but then I stopped doing anything regularly.</div>
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So this edition of Tuesday Tunes is brought to you by break up. These three songs have meant more to me in the last month and a half than you could imagine. Hope you enjoy!</div>
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1. A Little Bit Stronger - Sara Evans</div>
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2. Bartender - Lady Antebellum</div>
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3. Chainsaw - The Band Perry</div>
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I obviously like country. And these are definitely good ones to blare over and over. Trust me, I know by experience. Especially chain saw :)</div>
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-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-14791738396719845972014-06-18T18:35:00.001-05:002014-06-18T18:35:25.072-05:00Q1 2014 ReadingsHere is the first quarter readings, almost in time for second quarter! ha ha.<br />
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<i><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320399351l/1885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="1885" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320399351l/1885.jpg" width="129" /></a><i><br />Pride & Prejudice,</i> Jane Austen - completed January 6, 2014</i><br />
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I <i>FINALLY</i> finished this book! It only took me two years to finish!<br />
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I first picked this up trying to read it on my kindle, and I YAWNED almost the whole time. Seriously. SOOOOOO many people told me it was their favorite classic and that I should read it. BUT, most people also read this while they were in high school. I on the other hand, did not.<br />
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SO, what did I think. It was meh. I didn't LOOOOOVE it like so many of you did (I assume you did), but I didn't hate it either. It was just so-so. And I think I confused myself because I definitely thought Jane was going to be the main character. Well that's what I get for thinking.</div>
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You have sisters whose mother wants them all married off (as is normal for this time period). A father who is kind of cheeky, and a cousin(?) who is pushy and jerk. Then enter two men from a different part of the countryside and that's where I got my story confused because first it was Jane then it was all Lizzy (I think). AND I don't even know what to think about the officer that stole one of them away.</div>
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Anyways, glad it's over. Rated 3/5 stars on goodreads.<br />
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358962036l/24770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="24770" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358962036l/24770.jpg" width="129" /></a><i>Uglies,</i> Scott Westerfeld - completed January 22, 2014</div>
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I had read this book previously while my mother was an elementary teacher at a small school here in Oklahoma. I remember reading it and thinking it was pretty good, but not all that great. I attempted to read the second in the series (<i>Pretties</i>), but didn't make it too far before losing interest.<br />
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Throw in a couple years and many dystopian novels later, and I decided to go ahead and borrow them again from my mom and attempt to finish out the series. These are also set in a dystopian society, but I believe this books were a little ahead of their time. Dystopian novels definitely were not yet as popular as they are now.<br />
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These are interesting novels. In this first novel, we're introduced to Tally Youngblood, and a society that is obsessed with the idea of ugly vs pretty. Once the young people of the society come of age, each go through a surgery to make them pretty. Seems fair enough right? Then comes Shay. She turns Tally's thoughts upside down about "the surge." Soon Tally begins to question all things within her society thanks to Shay. The ending was a definite plot twist and cliffhanger, setting you up for <i>Pretties</i> perfectly.<br />
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Pretty easy read. 4/5 stars on goodreads.</div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388314207l/24768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="24768" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388314207l/24768.jpg" width="151" /></a><i>Pretties</i>, Scott Westerfeld - completed January 28, 2014<br />
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Book 2 of the series. I actually liked this book much better than Uglies upon completion. In this book, we learn that Tally has had the operation to become pretty. She is fitting along well into Prettyville until someone from her past arrives and turns her new world upside down (seems to be a common theme).<br />
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Once this happens, Tally is in constant struggle with trying to find herself, and trying to remember everything she learned in<i> Uglies</i> pertaining to the operation and the changes it makes to a person. You can definitely start to understand her inner struggle with finding herself.<br />
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The relationship between her and Zane is wonderful, and he is immensely supportive of everything crazy she thinks needs to be done in order to make them normal again. However, all these actions bring in Special Circumstances, a government agency that is thought to be only a rumor. Special Circumstances is headed by crazy Dr. Cable. But Tally's determination to find the truth behind the operations causes them to have Tally-and her friends-on their radar. Again, Westerfeld leaves this one on a cliffhanger, setting you up for <i>Specials</i>, book 3.</div>
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My issue with this is that these books require Tally to have a man around in order to "find herself." Can't we have a heroine be strong on her own? 5/5 stars on goodreads.</div>
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I liked this one least of the original trilogy. I just felt like Westerfeld put too much things for speculation between each book. Not much time passed between book 2 and book 3, but it was very confusing. We learn that Shay has banded together a group of people in trying to be more and more like Tally, but she is going about it all the wrong ways.<br />
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Because Dr. Cable likes this new power group, she has made them into a special group of Special Circumstances, headed by Shay. Shay is crazy about making sure that Tally knows she is in charge and though of more highly than Tally. They have made themselves kind of protectors over the town as well. </div>
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Shay goes stupid crazy in the whole book. No wonder why Tally gets sick of her and ditches her.<br />
Not the best of the original 3. The fourth book was written as a kind of after thought. Rated 3/5 stars on goodreads.<br />
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388187650l/493456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="493456" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388187650l/493456.jpg" width="141" /></a><i>Extras</i>, Scott Westerfeld - completed March 4, 2014<br /><br />This one was just meh. It wasn't part of the author's original series, and it takes place quite some time after the end of the 3rd book, Specials. The way things work in this <i>other</i> Prettytown is that everything you do is based on your fame. Everyone has a personal camera attached and everyone is trying to earn more merits. This might be why I didn't find it near as interesting. The whole story is about a character named Aya. (It took me over half the book to realize that this world was either in China or Japan.) Enter Aya craving to be one of the most popular people in the world, where she stumbles across a secret that is bigger than she ever realized would be. Once she exposes this truth, she is put on the radar of all of the officials...including Tally Youngblood.<br /><br />Tally then takes Aya and friends on the ride of their life to try to fix the problem. It was a good twist on a similar story, but I just felt like the storyline had been beaten like a dead horse--Tally tries to save humanity, someone or something gets in the way, then the whole world corrects itself just before it implodes. I was definitely glad to finish the series and move on to the next book. Rated 2/5 stars on goodreads.</div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384805680l/18819296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="18819296" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384805680l/18819296.jpg" width="133" /></a><i>Hidden</i>, Catherine McKenzie - completed March 6, 2014<br /><br />I picked up this book from either February's or March's amazon first list. If you haven't subscribed to this yet, you should definitely look into it. Each month, amazon sends you an email of four books that you can buy for your kindle at a reduced price. These books are pre-releases, they won't be released to the public until the next month. It's an AWESOME deal if you have a kindle or the kindle app!<br /><br />Anyways, I picked up this book, and honestly it shattered my soul <i>JUST</i> a little bit. The book starts off with Jeff getting tragically hit by a car on the way home from work one Friday. Two women in his life are completely devastated, his wife Claire and a coworker named Tish.<br /><br />The book is told through three different points of view-Claire, Tish, and Jeff. Claire and Tish tell their story post-accident: how Jeff's death has affected both of these women. Jeff's point of view is told as more of a flashback of things that went on in each of their three's past. It was interjected just enough into the story that it provided great history to the story to where it made everything flow so much better.<br /><br />The entire story made you wonder "did they or didn't they?" in regards to Jeff and Tish. They had great chemistry but it never really revealed whether or not they had an affair until the epilogue. And I will just let you decide if you want to read it or not. I hate spoiling endings. But it is definitely hard to put down. I WILL give you that. Rated 5/5 on goodreads.</div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1379892056l/17673271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="17673271" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1379892056l/17673271.jpg" width="128" /></a><i>Si-Cology <strike>10</strike>1: Tales and Wisdom from Duck Dynasty's Favorite Uncle</i>, Si Robertson with Mark Schlabach - completed March 29<br /><br />If you are a fan of Duck Dynasty, this one is a fun semi-autobiography. Uncle Si is my favorite character, so it was great to read more about his personal life, his family, and his faith. He talked about his early life-the trouble he and Phil used to get into as kids and what it was like growing up in Louisiana.<br /><br />You can definitely tell that he is a man of faith, as he also talks about how he found Christ and how he tries to live a life living for Him. He does admit that it hasn't always been easy (like any Christian would), but he still tries to do his best to serve.<br /><br />He also talks about his children and how it was raising them, and the difficulties he and his wife had while he was in the military. It's also told in a language that is just like the way Si talks on the show. It's definitely a good read if you're a fan of the show. RAted 4/5 stars on goodreads.</div>
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<br />-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-64111547842794634812014-06-12T17:45:00.000-05:002014-06-12T17:45:41.395-05:00I promise I'm not going anywhere!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have a lot more to say than my last semi-depressing post! I have just been keeping myself so busy that I haven't quite had the chance to catch up!</div>
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Last week, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend two concerts. That's right people, TWO!! Bruno Mars last Wednesday with my momma (amazing) and then I traveled to Oklahoma City for Backstreet Boys on Friday (double amazing).</div>
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The only issue with me keeping myself busy is that I haven't had time to pull the pictures off my phone to be able to upload here. So for now, just know that my middle school dreams came true with being able to see BSB in concert. I could have died after the concert and it would have been a life well lived! (I wish I could say I was joking.)</div>
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Last week was also my roommate's birthday, so that is another reason why I have been busy. Then we are planning a float trip this weekend. Life is freaking amazing right now.</div>
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Tonight I have my weekly beach volleyball game, so this is just a quick update to let you know I'm still here. I've also been working on a "what I've read lately post" that is taking a lot longer than I thought it would. Be looking for that soon!</div>
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<br />-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-28471042509422327592014-05-29T23:01:00.001-05:002014-05-29T23:01:20.069-05:00Day 17 A.B.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So today is the 17th day after my break up...and let me just tell you, breakups are stupid. Especially adult breakups. </div>
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Here I've spent almost the last two years with this guy who made me want more of a future with someone. Then all of a sudden it's gone. We had mutual purchases, spent two Christmases, two birthdays each together. So obviously I met his family, and he mine. So now what do I do? Do I un-friend everyone on facebook? Stop following them on instagram and twitter? And what about our mutual friends? You know, the people we hung out with together? He also met my friends and I his. I feel like disconnecting myself from them all makes me seem childish, but right now it's painful. So I just have hidden all their posts from my feed for now until I can figure out what to do.</div>
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Thank goodness I have kept myself busy. But that doesn't mean it's not hard. That doesn't mean I didn't cry tonight driving the 2 miles between the place I met up with him to return his belongings and my friend's house for dinner. That doesn't mean I don't dream about him and wake up upset...</div>
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But I'm getting there. 1 day further out from breakup is one day closer to getting back to me. But this in-between--the in-between serious relationship and getting back to the person I was--it's kind of lame. For real. I just need someone to snap their fingers and put me back to where I was back in June 2012.</div>
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1 day further out is 1 step closer. And that's all I can work with for now.</div>
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<br />-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-20872935112039943232014-05-27T19:27:00.000-05:002014-05-27T19:27:50.328-05:00So it's obviously been too long.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello my dear friends! Did you miss me? I sure missed you guys.</div>
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I haven't had a personal computer be in good operating condition in about 2 years. I attempted to blog from my phone, but the Blogger app is not very mobile-friendly in any way, shape, or form.</div>
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Anyways, I went to Best Buy yesterday to switch out my phone (I had shattered it), and my mom convinced me to purchase a laptop that was on sale for Memorial Day. NOW I'M BACK IN BUSINESS!</div>
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Some highlights from the past couple of years (I'll just hit the big ones):</div>
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<li>I left my job at Bank of Oklahoma and started working at a health insurance company. In the health field, but don't know if it's fully utilizing my degree. It could be worse! BUT, I have been at my job for just over a year and I <i>STILL</i> love it. Never regret changing careers for one minute.</li>
<li>I got a boyfriend in August 2012. We broke up a couple weeks ago. I was upset, but I will eventually be okay. Sometimes, things just don't work out, no matter how much you want them to, or how hard you fight for it.</li>
<li>I am all booked up for all kinds of concerts this year! Starting December 28, concerts in this order: Zac Brown Band, Imagine Dragons, George Strait, Bruno Mars, Backstreet Boys (eeeeeeep!!!), Center of the Universe festival here in Tulsa, OneRepublic, The Black Keys. And I wonder why I have no money. ha!</li>
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You know, I really can't think of other big things. I wish I could, but I'm still in shock that I actually bought something this expensive for myself. And that after almost 2 years, I got dumped. It is what it is I guess.</div>
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Let's hope that my blogging picks back up where it left off, and that I can stay consistent.</div>
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<br />-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-29082568114187404322013-06-12T21:40:00.000-05:002013-06-12T21:40:14.143-05:00Happy Hump Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Man, I don't know about you guys, but I feel like this week has just been dragging on. Maybe it's because I'm still recovering from getting sick after vacation; or maybe it's because I'm actually on my own at work this week. Either way, I know I am ready for this weekend. I have some very exciting things coming up and I'm ready to start celebrating them!</div>
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I think this Friday will be my favorite part of the weekend though. I probably haven't mentioned this, but I have a third cousin who is very musically gifted. He has been playing at places around Tulsa for some time now. His name is Jason, and he has been doing all kinds of things to get his music out there, and he just recorded his first EP! Friday night is his CD release party at the Historic Cain's Ballroom here in Tulsa, and I couldn't be more excited, happy, and proud of him for accomplishing his dreams. Feel free to buy his EP, The Unicorn EPisode. It's available on iTunes [<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-unicorn-episode-ep/id659118217?fb_action_ids=10151424873837181&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=timeline_og&action_object_map=%7B%2210151424873837181%22%3A564505960266591%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210151424873837181%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D">HERE</a>] and it's also available on amazon [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Unicorn-Episode/dp/B00D8QAEY0/ref=sr_shvl_album_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1370837217&sr=301-3">HERE</a>]. Yep, I'm totally spamming my cousin. I think it's wonderful, but I <i>KNOW</i> I'm biased. And I'm okay with that.</div>
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Now for some goodies to help me (us) get over my (our) Wednesday woes. It's hump day people, we're on the downhill side to the weekend!</div>
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Here's to Thursday and hoping the weekend is as awesome as it's building itself up to be!</div>
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-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-29867634424411392502013-06-11T18:50:00.000-05:002013-06-11T18:50:17.910-05:00June 11, 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
DAY TWO!!</div>
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It's really not that hard to jump back on this bandwagon. I quite missed it.</div>
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In (the last book post I did), I mentioned that I would like to start doing book posts quarterly. That means you guys get to look forward to a book post coming up at the end of the month! I'm very excited about this one, because I have a sweet deal to tell you guys about! But I'm getting ahead of myself.</div>
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Along with loving my full time job, I am able to return to my part-time job that I have had since the summer of 2007. I began working at a local baseball field here in Tulsa, where I alternate between keeping score/announcing baseball games and working in the concession stand. When I worked at the bank, it was in practical for me to keep returning to the fields because our workday ended at 7 p.m. Then I worked most weekends, even Sundays until January. I think I worked 3 days total out there during the 2012 season. With this new job, I do get off at 5 p.m. every day (which is AWESOME to have a set schedule), and I don't have to work weekends. HOLLA!!</div>
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I've already put in time at the concession stand, and now I get to work the score box two nights a week. The score box is a lot of fun to me because I actually have fun saying "Smith gets an RBI double to left center, bringing Johnson to the plate with 1 out." I know, I'm weird. Plus, you just can't beat watching baseball in person.</div>
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So even though I work OVER 40 hours a week, I'm doing things I enjoy doing. And that's not real work at all!</div>
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And just a random thought I had for you all (because that's how I am, you should know this by now!):</div>
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After a fairly cool April, May, and first week of June, it's flippin' hot in Oklahoma already. Any carymba! Walking to work will probably make me sweat, and it's just 3 blocks! Don't be jellyyyyyyy!</div>
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<br />-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-67068722579384870782013-06-10T20:59:00.000-05:002013-06-10T20:59:11.027-05:00June 10, 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent;">Hello my dear readers (if I have any left!)</span><br />
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I do apologize for being so non-existent for almost a year now. I am always constantly thinking "I should update my blog, but then I think about it a little more and I'm not quite sure where to start. So then I don't update. AND, I hate doing posts like "In this month, these are the cool things I did." I've done far too many of those to even begin to count. So here are the main points I think you should know so that I can hopefully be a little more consistent from here on out:</div>
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<li>I'm still living in Oklahoma, just now in the Tulsa area.</li>
<li>I, my belongings, my family, and my family's homes and belongings were not affected by the recent tornadoes.</li>
<li>I started a new job in the health field back in April!!!! (This is a big thing for me, as I got my degree from the University of Oklahoma in Health and Exercise Sciences. Plus I hated my job at the bank.)</li>
<li>Dillon and I are 10 months strong!</li>
<li>I went on a wonderful but short vacation to Cancun last week.</li>
<li>I am reading a lot. And spending a lot of my money at <a href="http://www.betterworldbooks.com/">Better World Books</a>.</li>
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So there is the fastest update for you guys. Now for a little more information:</div>
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Beginning about October 2012, I began looking for a new job. I had come to the realization that the banking industry, while it is a great industry and growing industry, is not the industry I was meant to be in. So I filled out application after application doing all kinds of things. I even got a few interviews here and there, and even at other smaller banks. All of these interviews didn't really lead to anything, and it was SO FRUSTRATING. I was not happy by any means, and it began to take a toll on my personal life. I would come home crying from work almost every day. I would argue over and over with my boyfriend for no reason. I would shut myself off from everyone because I didn't want to be "helped," I just wanted a new job.</div>
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Then an opportunity came about with some networking that I had done in college. The process of starting this new job began in March (that's 5 months of job hunting for those of you keeping score). I came in for an interview with my contact, was told by the HR department that I was under-qualified, then got referred back to the position I had been originally referred to over the holiday break. I was technically still waiting for a phone call from that supervisor for that position. I waited for a couple weeks for this phone call, as I had done over the holidays. Then at the beginning of April, I received a phone call from my contact in the company asking if I was still interested in the positions I was "under-qualified" for. You bet your sweet booty I was!! I immediately scheduled an interview and then got hired in a few days' time for the position I am in now. I put in my notice at the bank, which wasn't a full 2 weeks (making me ineligible to ever work there again), and started on my job on April 22.</div>
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I work for a local health insurance company in the HMO department. I answer phones ALLLLLLLLLL DAAAYYYYYYYY LONG, and I love my job more than you could ever imagine. I am 1000% happier here than I was at the bank.</div>
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And the cool thing about me updating you on my job? Today was my first day out of training. Today I did (almost) everything on my own, and it was pretty darn neat. I love having my own desk, my own cubicle, and being able to walk to work! (I live about 3 blocks from the office.)</div>
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I hope this was enough of a post to keep you guys coming back. I'm going to try to be better now that I have come to terms with the fact that I won't be able to catch you up on everything that has happened in almost 8 months.</div>
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<br />-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-71839806603275596612013-04-09T15:11:00.000-05:002013-04-09T15:11:01.839-05:00Recent(ish) Readings<br />
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So the last post I did of the books I had read was LAST JULY! Granted, this was right before I went on my cruise with my mom, and you all know what happened after that...I came home from vacation, met Dillon that weekend, and then started neglecting all kinds of stuff, including y reading and blog.</div>
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So here is an update on what I have read from vacation to now:</div>
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327878529l/9461872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327878529l/9461872.jpg" width="211" /></a><i>Sisterhood Everlasting</i> - Book 5 of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series written by Ann Brashares.<br /><br />I don't know how many of you guys read these when you were younger, but I ATE THEM UP. I loved following the lives of Lena, Bee, Tibby, and Carmen. I personally felt like I could relate a little bit of myself in each of the four of them, but honestly Carmen was never my favorite. I won't go into details about it all, but I'm sure that you if you read them you would know why.<br /><br />This book meets up with the four of them quite some time after the last time we saw them in <i>Forever in Blue</i>. It is very much like the previous four stories: Lots of drama, lots of heartache, but most of all, LOVE. Because pants = love. love yourself, love your friends. And the love between these friends, even though they are nowhere near as close as they used to be, is still the constant in this book.<br /><br />Other than that, I <i>really</i> wish I could divulge more information, just because it is <i>SUCH</i> a good finale to the series, but it just gives entirely too much away. I cried within like 5 chapters. But don't let that turn you away from reading the last of this series. Do it.</div>
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<i>Sorry I'm not Sorry, Sorry I'm not Sorry: Sucks to Suck, </i>and<i> Sorry I'm not Sorry: Shitshow Part 1</i> - first three novellas written by the infamous twitter author @SororityProblem. I started following this twitter handle after months of watching my sorority sisters retweet some of the funny ones pertaining to wine and wanting to be like Adele. I mean how could you not love an honest person who likes to tweet about these things?<br /><br />During my weeklong cruise, I giggled along to these three reads. WARNING, they are very crude and very inappropriate and filled with curse words, sex scandals, and drinking. But if you can look past all that, it's actually a little entertaining. Behind all the stories of how bad girls in college <i>can</i> get, is a story about a girl named Alexa that has some <i>serious</i> mommy issues, trust issues, and issues with staying sober. I personally think it's a pretty funny set of books, just because she never seems to stop constantly sticking her foot in her mouth. She's always constantly battling for her best friend TA's attention with her best frenemy Taylor. The stuff she gets herself into is entertaining to me. They are cheap books for your reader (or reader apps like kindle), and really easy reads.<br />
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312028061l/311980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312028061l/311980.jpg" width="213" /></a><i>The Fifth Vial</i> - Michael Palmer<br /><br />I was introduced to this book by my sorority sister Kaitlin last February when I was visiting Norman. She said that she loved it because it was a medical mystery, and since I studied health and exercise sciences and loved mysteries, that she thought I would like it. (Feel free to correct that run-on sentence.) Well you know what, she was right. I <i>really</i> liked this book.<br /><br />This is one of those books that follows the lives of a three different characters whose lives are intertwined and they just don't know it yet. Each of the three are victims of a 5th vial of blood that has been taken against their will in an international blood testing/blood typing facility. The fifth vial gives a lot of their information to a secret society, who has taken on a god-like personality to choose who lives and who doesn't. This secret society is a very complex structure that spans across the continents and truly believe they are doing the world good. This book touches on the very serious issue of illegal organ harvesting that seems to be a growing crime.<br /><br />Although I think the story is a bit far-fetched and extreme in the world of organ harvesting, I still think it is a really good read if you enjoy mysteries. About halfway through, you can see how two of the three lives are related, but the third one takes almost to the end of the book to see how he is intertwined with the other too. The very serious subject matter actually has a really good happy ending, and it's definitely worth checking out!<br />
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After I finished <i>The Fifth Vial</i>, I decided to start picking up my Christmas presents as my next read. Dillon, being the wonderful boyfriend that he is, bought me three very. awesome. gifts. for Christmas: The Nashville Soundtrack CD, the Pitch Perfect on Blu-Ray, and <i>the complete set of Harry Potter!!</i> Between the end of January and the beginning of March I read the first three in these series: <i>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, </i>and<i> Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.</i> Originally, my intentions were to read all 7 of them at this time, but after I finished book 3, I decided that I wanted a break and come back to them before they start getting really dark. After I finished book 3, my brother, my roommate, and I all decided to take a day trip to the Tulsa City-County Library. While I was there, I stumbled across a book I had marked as "To-Read" on my good reads profile, so I picked that up:<br />
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1336324862l/13636596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1336324862l/13636596.jpg" width="215" /></a><i>Man in the Blue Moon</i> by Michael Morris<br /><br />I believe that I marked this as to-read as part of a giveaway, but the summary that was on goodreads was enough to keep me intrigued, even if I didn't win the book.<br /><br />This book is set in Florida during World War I. We follow the story of a family whose husband has left them due to a drug addiction. The mother, Ella Wallace, was left to man the shop and land he left her, land that has been in her family for as long as she remembers. In fact, her father's parting lands with her were to never sell the land that is her birthright.<br /><br />Then a man stumbles upon her doorstep, claiming to be her husband's relative. He agrees to help her out with maintaining all of her property. The man, Lanier, is a very mysterious man who doesn't reveal much about his past, his family, or how he stumbled into Ella and her family's lives. Just claims it was an arrangement previously set up with her husband. Along the way, we find that Lanier seems to have some kind of extra ability that allows him to heal people who are suffering by simply praying over them. This ability also stirs some trouble in the small town in Florida, and there is lots of speculation about the kind of man he is. Being in the small town, there is also lots of speculation of the manner of his relationship with Ella.<br /><br />Throughout the book, we watch Ella struggle with money, feelings, and keeping a good image for her sons, no matter what is being spread about her throughout the town. Then the Flu plagues the town and almost completely decimates the town.<br /><br />The book is very intriguing. It keeps you guessing the whole time about Lanier, about the corrupt banker Clive, and about a reverend who makes a brief appearance in the book. If you enjoy historical fiction, it's definitely worth a read!<br />
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So that is what I have read. Not near as many as I would like, but it's starting to change. I do love having the option of what I own and being able to walk a few blocks to my local library. It's definitely helping my relationships with books.<br />
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I think I'm going to make this a quarterly thing. Definitely a lot better for remembering specifics of books to be able to summarize them.<br />
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Anything good on your bookshelf lately? I love suggestions!! And as always, you can find me on goodreads.com here: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/mbattiest">http://www.goodreads.com/mbattiest</a><br />
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-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-70842552495147690032013-02-18T08:00:00.000-06:002013-02-18T08:00:06.384-06:00On 2012's Resolutions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For as long as I can remember, neither I nor any one family member has been to keen on committing to a New Year's Resolution. I know that this is typically when people decide they want to exercise more, eat healthier, quit smoking, etc., but I also know that most resolutions never make it out of February. And sometimes even January! So I never really had any intentions of creating "resolutions" for the year of 2012. <i>(As a side note, for all of those health-related things, I know they are difficult. I also know you won't stick to them until you are TRULY ready to make LIFESTYLE changes. That takes some time.)</i></div>
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But last year, I decided, to heck with it. I'm going to do it! Because I have some fun ones that I've been wanting to do for some time now!!</div>
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The result: C-</div>
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<a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-years-resolutions.html" target="_blank">Let's recap what my 2012 resolutions were</a>:</div>
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<b>1 new local restaurant each month, totaling 12 new local restaurants for the year.</b></div>
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The Result: 9 new restaurants.</div>
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Blogged: 7</div>
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9/12 not so bad. Fail on blogging and picture taking.</div>
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See them here:</div>
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<a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/1-for-12.html" target="_blank">January</a>. <a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/2-for-12.html" target="_blank">February</a>. <a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/3-for-12.html" target="_blank">March</a>. <a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/4-for-12.html" target="_blank">April</a>. <a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/5-for-12-supposed-to-be-6-boo.html" target="_blank">June</a>. <a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/new-years-resolution-fail-6-for-12-2.html" target="_blank">August</a>. <a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/7-for-12.html" target="_blank">August part 2 to try to catch up</a>.</div>
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<b>1 book each month, totaling having read 12 books the entire year.</b></div>
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The Result: 4 out of 12 of the books I intended to read.</div>
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According to my "Reading List" page: 8 books.</div>
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According to mygoodreads.com profile: 12 books</div>
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Blogged: 5</div>
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FOUR OUT OF TWELVE?! <i>I'm ashamed!</i></div>
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Apparently the only 5 I blogged about, I put all in one post here:</div>
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<a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2012/07/book-review-more-recent-readings.html" target="_blank">Recent Readings</a>.</div>
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Overall, I'm really not <i>too</i> disappointed in reaching 9/12 and 4/12. Guess that just comes with never really having done resolutions before.</div>
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So what did I learn?</div>
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+I apparently <i>really </i>like American bistros and barbecue. and Mexican food, because one of the restaurants I didn't blog about was also Mexican.</div>
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+I tend to read A LOT less when I have people to hang out with.</div>
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+These types of resolutions are fun and not once did I feel guilty about not meeting a month.</div>
+Sometimes, you start a book with good intentions. Then it's like torture trying to finish it (Pride and Prejudice.)<br />
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+I didn't meet everything I wanted to do in 2012, but it was still a pretty kick ass year!</div>
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I never decided on anything I wanted to try to accomplish in 2013. In all honesty, it may just be "read as many books as possible," "do as many tourist-y things I can in Tulsa," and "try to eat at lots of different restaurants when we go out instead of the same ol' stuff every time (not that same ol' is bad!)."</div>
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So far, I think I've done a fairly good job of just those!</div>
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p.s. Are you on goodreads? Find me here! <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7531637-mallori">goodreads profile</a><br />
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-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-39880834531416807632013-02-01T09:00:00.000-06:002013-02-01T09:00:07.567-06:006 months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
6 months.</div>
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24 weeks.</div>
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180 days.</div>
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4320 hours.</div>
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259200 minutes.</div>
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That is how long Dillon and I have been together.</div>
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I know it was a little dramatic, but guys, this is a <i>big</i> deal for me. I had a couple serious boyfriends in high school, one that I was even crazy about for years after high school. But none of it worked out, and now I know for good reason. Even every boyfriend since high school, I've gotten bored of everything to do with the relationship within 3 months, and just let it kind of die off.</div>
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I've tried convincing Dillon that he is wonderful and can do better, <a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/remember-me.html" target="_blank">especially with the struggles we've been having lately</a>. But he won't hear of it, and that makes me love him even more. Yes, you read that correctly, <i>love</i>. Since certain relationships, I've decided that I am going to be the crazy fun single aunt the rest of my life, and I loved the thought of it. I never wanted marriage and kids, unless I could adopt them. But since Dillon, my whole thought of everything has changed. I've never met any man who has ever been so loving, caring, giving, and supportive to me. And if you knew about my daddy issues, you would understand.</div>
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I'm stubborn, I'm crazy, and I'm very independent. It's hard to love and care for a person like me romantically, but he does. And I definitely think this is meant to last. There aren't any wedding bells or anything like that, just two silly peeps hanging out, being a team, living life the way it should be, and loving each other.</div>
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To Dillon: Thank you for everything you've done for me the past six months. I never would have thought I would want to spend the rest of my life with a man until I met you. I also never thought I would ever see you outside of Torchy's after that first night. And I also never thought that you were interested in me, even though you semi-half-proposed to me the night we met. Are you sure you still want to be with me? Because I still want to be with you. I love you more than I ever knew I was capable of feeling. The last six months have been some of the best in my life. Here's to many, many, many more. Love you grease monkey.</div>
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<br />-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-66238949109950196462013-01-31T09:04:00.000-06:002013-01-31T09:04:32.677-06:00Remember me?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, it's been a while. A truly long while. Three months and counting. I'll try to fill you in on everything.</div>
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Here's a little synopsis. I work for a bank. I have for a little over a year and a half. I've changed locations. My location got robbed in October. This jacks with your psyche in more ways you can imagine.</div>
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I don't like talking about it, but I know you will probably ask and offer support. I genuinely appreciate it.</div>
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Since then it's kind of been a struggle. I've gone to therapy for the anxiety, but I've also been having a bit of an identity crisis.</div>
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I turned 25 in November. TWENTY-FIVE. That identity crisis? Even worse. ha!</div>
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One week before Christmas, boyfriend's grandpa passed away. We were supposed to spend Christmas day with him. It was a rough week for him and his family, and I think we spent maybe one day apart from each other.</div>
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Because the funeral was on a very cold day the day after Christmas, both boyfriend and I got sick. VERY SICK. I though I had pneumonia and went to the ER around 7 a.m. on New Year's Eve. So boyfriend and I spent our first NYE together sick at home. Fun stuff.</div>
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I've been looking for another job. The identity crisis has made it to where I'm not happy in my current job, and we live in 'MERICA, people! We have the freedom to change our situations, so I need to. Plus I don't like how unhappy I am. And neither do either of my two close friends, as it is causing problems in our relationships.</div>
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So that is the last 3 months in a nutshell. I know it's not a lot, but I've got to start somewhere...</div>
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<br />-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-42610216063904165242012-10-31T09:59:00.000-05:002012-10-31T09:59:39.818-05:00here's what's going on.I kept pulling up my computer all last week to write something up. Tell you about my awesome weekend and how much fun I had with my friends and family at Oktoberfest and at the Thunder exhibition game a couple Fridays ago.<br />
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Then Thursday evening, my world got turned upside down. It isn't a death in the family, but it is something very traumatic that I'm not allowed to talk about. I really wish I could give you more detail, but then again I don't really want to talk about it, or to continue answering questions.<br />
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Since then, I've been struggling with sleep and attempting to return to normal. But I'm getting help. I know I can't do this on my own.<br />
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My family, friends, and boyfriend have been the best support system. I can't imagine being in their shoes, not knowing what to do with me.<br />
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So that's what's going on here. But trust me, you're still going to hear about Oktoberfest, Thunder, and Halloween!<br />
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Happy Wednesday y'all.-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-70001764481144750652012-10-18T08:00:00.000-05:002012-10-18T08:00:14.186-05:00HAPPY OKTOBERFEST!!You guys, I'm so excited for today after work!! Today is the first day of the 34th annual Tulsa Oktoberfest celebration! I always wanted to go to the Oktoberfest celebration while I was in high school, but I never went. Last fall, I went to the festival one of the four days it was open, but I didn't get to go anymore after the first night. I loved the one night that I went, but didn't really have anyone else to go with for the rest of the weekend.<br />
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I claim my Native American heritage pretty proudly, but I don't really talk about the rest of my heritage.<br />
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I do have some German heritage, but when I go to Oktoberfest, I'm all German. The pitchers of beer, the WONDERFUL scnitzel, wursts, and strudel, the carnival rides, the cool booths with ALL KINDS of arts and crafts that are German inspired.<br />
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This year, I have both Friday and Saturday off from work, and so does Katy. So she and I decided to go ahead and buy the WUNDERBAR pass for this year...it's an AWESOME deal, where you get tickets to all four days of the festival, a stein, and other Oktoberfest-esque goodies.<br />
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Tulsa brags as having one of the top 10 best Oktoberfest celebrations in this country. Not only is there so much stuff to do while you there, but there are also lots of traditional German activities (weiner dog races on Sunday!). It's also kid-friendly with a few carnival rides and art activities....but honestly I'm glad I don't have children yet so I can enjoy the more adult things of this festival.<br />
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The coolest thing about it all?? She and I live within walking distance of one of the shuttles to downtown, so neither of us have to drive or take turns for being DD for the whole weekend.<br />
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I am anxiously awaiting getting off work tonight, changing clothes, and heading to the festival! There's a bratwurst and a pitcher calling my name!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Oktoberfest to you all!</span> Anyone else celebrating an Oktoberfest nearby? Coming to Tulsa? Come join us!-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-15230694037134789622012-10-17T08:00:00.000-05:002012-10-17T08:00:15.227-05:00Life Lately, with the roommate-<a href="http://katytip.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Katy</a> and I have moved in together again. We have a really nice apartment in the downtown Tulsa area. It's super safe, and within walking distance of a few of my favorite places downtown and to some good spots. It's also near the Cherry Street venues and Brookside, which all of them have wonderful places to eat and get drinks.<br />
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-We have a fireplace. A FIREPLACE!</div>
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-We have a hot tub. Opened year round. And we sat in it while it was cold out :)</div>
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-Katy and I have a ridiculous amount of movies. It's awesome.</div>
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-Katy and I have invented a new word--pafroomies = past and future roomies. I invented this one night when I was talking to Katy before we moved in. It's stuck.</div>
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-We have a ridiculous amount of cups. For two people, it's way too many. But we just pretend like there are imaginary children and the cups are plentiful :)</div>
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-We're addicted to Tony's pizza. Anytime it's on sale, we buy it. All of it. Tons of it.</div>
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-One night last week, she and I sat up until midnight talking about life, everyone and everything in it. It was great to just chat about all kinds of things. Girl friends are truly the best things in the world.</div>
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-Unfortunately, our late night chat caused us to neglect our boyfriends.</div>
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-We're addicted to the show Nashville. It's super dramatic and I LOVE IT.</div>
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What about you guys? Anything random you want to share?</div>
-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-14845463744074414362012-10-16T11:20:00.002-05:002012-10-16T11:20:57.715-05:007 for 12My 12 books in 12 months has kind of fallen by the wayside...I just don't read near as much as I did when I lived alone and I didn't have a boyfriend. So I'm still going to try to get as close to possible, but the restaurant thing is definitely way more fun. :)<br />
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month <a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/1-for-12.html" target="_blank">one</a>, <a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/2-for-12.html" target="_blank">two</a>, <a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/3-for-12.html" target="_blank">three</a>, <a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/4-for-12.html" target="_blank">four</a>, <a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/5-for-12-supposed-to-be-6-boo.html" target="_blank">five</a>, and <a href="http://aiukliblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/new-years-resolution-fail-6-for-12-2.html" target="_blank">six</a><br />
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So after I posted in August that I was going to try to catch up a little bit on my new local restaurant of the month. Friday, August 31, <a href="http://katytip.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">roommate</a> and I decided that we needed to go on a best friend date. While she had been home the whole summer for the first time since the summer after her freshman year in college, she and I didn't spend as much time together as we had hoped to.<br />
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She and I decided to hit up this new (ish) restaurant in downtown Tulsa called <a href="http://www.backalleytulsa.com/food-drink/" target="_blank">Black Alley Blues & BBQ</a>. Being that I am from Oklahoma, I love me some <i>good</i> BBQ. Nothing tickles my tastebuds more than a good smokey flavor and <i>good</i> barbecue sauce (I am spoiled to Oklahoma's own <a href="http://www.headcountry.com/" target="_blank">Head Country</a> barbecue sauce. It's the best ever.) Okay, pictures!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Take home cups!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House special drink. I believe it had bourbon and bitters and orange in it, and it was pretty good.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my dinner--BBQ nachos</td></tr>
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OH. MY. GOODNESS look at that plate of nachos. My mouth is watering staring at it!<br />
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I got a glass of sweet tea and the bourbon drink per recommendation of our waiter. When it came to the meal, I was torn between the BBQ nachos and the spuds. The waiter also recommended the nachos, and they were FANTASTIC. I was so full about halfway through the plate but I couldn't stop eating. Just could not stop, they were that good. I don't know if it was how good the meat was, or how good the chips tasted with the ranch and barbecue and sour cream mixed together.<br />
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The meat wasn't necessarily the best I've ever had, but I'm spoiled to my uncle's awesome barbecued meat. But, what they did with their sauce definitely made up for it.<br />
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The atmosphere is amazing, right in the heart of the Blue Dome District in downtown Tulsa, which is by far one of my favorite places in downtown Tulsa. They have live blues music ALL THE TIME, and I loved the guy who happened to be playing that night....couldn't tell you who it was, but he played well.<br />
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The price was a really good price range too, which kind of took me by surprise. Most BBQ places tend to get more expensive, especially around here. But with me getting the nachos, a refillable drink, an adult beverage, and a beer, my tab was still under $20 before the tip.<br />
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I will definitely go there again, and if you ever find yourself in Tulsa, you should definitely check it out!-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-90322932308730053462012-10-11T01:17:00.001-05:002012-10-11T01:26:45.285-05:00Women have superpowers, don'tyaknow<div><p dir=ltr>As I lie in bed (3 hours after I got snuggled up under my covers), I can't help but think that all of you amazing women out there must have superpowers. (I promise I'm not crazy.)</p>
<p dir=ltr>I love to blog. I love to write. But there are other things I love doing too, like talking my roommate's ear off until we force ourselves to stop talking after midnight. Or taking in and enjoying all the cool fairs and festivals Oklahoma has to offer, my favorite of them being Oktoberfest which starts one week from today. Or reading, which I haven't done in a long time. Or spending time with my awesome boyfriend who makes me very happy. Or planning future vacations by simply saying "we should go there sometime" with my roommate. Or watching WAY too much TV, which speaking of, Nashville is going to be super dramatic and I love it.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Where was I going with this?<br>
Ah yes. That whole superpowers thing.</p>
<p dir=ltr>You see, I love ALL the things mentioned above. I love devoting tons of time to all the things mentioned above. I love other things not included (like cooking, time with family, and the University of Oklahoma football).</p>
<p dir=ltr>But with me choosing to spend so much time with some of those things, I've neglected others. Like family time. And OU football (but that's partially because I feel like I'm scheduled to work every Saturday we play). And reading. And OBVIOUSLY blogging.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Y'all have superpowers because y'all manage to have full time jobs, your own shops, keep up reading other blogs, AND updating your own. I don't know how y'all do it.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I <i>JUST</i><i> </i><i>NOW</i> finished <i>reading</i> through your posts. There were so many I wanted to comment on, but the post was like a month old. Super lame.</p>
<p dir=ltr>So now what?</p>
<p dir=ltr>To be honest, there are some blogs I never read. It isn't fair to that blog owner, but it's the truth. I need to go through my subscriptions and take out every blog I never visit.</p>
<p dir=ltr>And as for my end of things, it needs to pick back up. This little blog is turning 2, and she got a facelift for the new year.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Also, there are already so many things different in my life in the what? 2 months since I returned from my vacation?</p>
<p dir=ltr>I have a lot to catch y'all up on. Hope you're excited to hear about the stuff I think is awesome.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Also, embrace the y'all. Apparently I say it a lot when it's 1:15 am and I should be sleeping :)</p>
<p dir=ltr>Well, I was going to leave you with a highly entertaining picture of me as a young lassie, but blogger app is wonky. So remind me to post it tomorrow. It will be better from a computer anyways! (And please excuse this paragraph. WHO AM I ?!)</p>
<p dir=ltr>Good night moon!</p>
</div>-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356496561959764504.post-30125196794086065162012-09-18T10:37:00.000-05:002012-09-18T10:38:18.863-05:00last weekend...I <i>know</i>. I know. I've neglected my blog. And my readers. I wish I had a real reason as to why I have not been writing. Honestly, I just feel like my life hasn't been interesting enough. And it probably has been semi-interesting enough to blog about, I just haven't done it.<br />
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Boyfriend and I had a great weekend this past weekend. We spend almost every weekend together, so this one was no different.</div>
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Thursday night while we were talking on the phone, we decided to have a night in on Friday and watch movies. It's been a while since we've gone on a real date, so we decided to go on a date on Saturday.</div>
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Friday night, he and I ordered some pizza, had a few beers, and watched Forgetting Sarah Marshall (he had never seen it), and then chatted for a little bit before heading to bed. He then got up at the butt crack of dawn to head to work, and I headed to my mom's house so I could get some plastic bins to pack my stuff in. [Sidebar, I'm moving on Saturday. Away from Broken Arrow to Tulsa. With my <a href="http://katytip.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">best friend</a>. Super excited!] I only meant to spend like an hour or two in Sperry, and I actually ended up staying there until almost 3. Then I got absolutely nothing packed all day Saturday.</div>
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Oh and then once I got home on Saturday, I fell asleep. Boyfriend called and woke me up after he got off work. I got up and quickly packed 2 bins and then started to get ready for our date that we had that night.</div>
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He and I decided to head to downtown Tulsa for the annual Rock 'n' Ribs festival, a festival that has quite a few barbecue competitors come to town and cook up food all day, then have a stage for some local rock 'n' roll bands. It was the first time I had gone to it, but boyfriend and I decided to go and check it out and hang out with my friend Emily and her fiance Casey. We all hung out while I ate, had a beer (or in D's case Jack and Coke) together and chitchatted the night away.</div>
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Boyfriend and I then headed out around 9 o'clock to go to the country music bar I go to with John to meet up with his friends J and his wife C. We had a good night dancing away. I got to teach boyfriend a line dance or two as well :)</div>
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Sunday was a WONDERFUL lazy day. I love lazy Sundays. They're actually some of my favorite days of the week, especially when boyfriend shares them with me. We did absolutely nothing all day, slept in way too late, watched football, and got $1 coneys at Coney I-Lander for dinner. Such a perfect Sunday.</div>
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How were your weekends?</div>
-Mallorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030898797092840927noreply@blogger.com3