We’re so close to the weekend… I can feel it. Since I changed jobs I haven’t been counting down the weekdays but for some reason I am over this week.
Today I’m joining the blog world in linking up with Kristen and Gretch for What’s New With You. Have you been dying to know what I’ve been doing lately?? Well you’re in luck.
Eating… a mixture of home cooked meals and takeout. We were doing great with meal planning but all the time away from home has left our kitchen a little bare…
Drinking… coffee and tea and smoothies with Califia Farms Toasted Coconut Almond Milk. It froths up just like milk and gives drinks a little extra flavor. I’d like to make some soup or ice cream with it!
Reading… Heartless by Marissa Meyer and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
Listening to… audiobooks for the first time. Last week I had a very long solo roadtrip so I downloaded Audible and listened to A Wrinkle In Time. I’m not sold on book-listening, but it might have been my choice of book. I’ll give it another shot before I nix it.
Watching… The Voice. For some reason K and I have been tuning into this show for the past few seasons. I read during the obnoxious (Gwen and Blake) parts. I’d also like to start watching Victoria (PBS) and The Crown (Netflix).
Planning… K’s 30th birthday party! We’re having all our friends over to the warehouse and doing things up like a backyard cookout (inside) with cornhole and giant Jenga and more. Except we’re having a taco bar and margaritas- not grilling burgers and ‘dogs.
Receiving… these adorable LuLaRoe leggings from Erin!! She’d heard I had never tried these leggings and then sent me a pair. How did I find such a sweet blogger friend??!
Giving… away some books. (Idea inspired by Erin & the beautiful people in her book challenge.) Free to a good home- I’ll even cover shipping. Comment w/ the title(s) you’d like to receive 🙂
Feeling… a little burnt out from our social calendar and a little bit sad that winter is disappearing so quickly, but also very thankful that we have the means and health to travel and the business to keep us busy and the fresh, clean air to flow in through open windows.
Celebrating… so. many. birthdays! K’s uncle and dad both celebrated February birthdays. K is turning 30 next weekend. One of the guys in the warehouse just had a b-day, too.
Praying about… the violence and hate we’re seeing in the world right now. I don’t know what else to say about it.
Giving up… yelling at the dogs (for Lent). I rarely yell at Enzo, but Lylee gets scolded quite a bit. (She’s a teensy tiny bit headstrong. And stubborn. And downright defiant.) Anyway, I know she responds best when I’m calm with her, so I’m going to give it a shot until Easter.
And there ya have it. What’s new with you?
Life as Louise 
You know I love The Voice, but we only get the Australian version here. I am still not sure how I feel about Gwen & Blake.
I got shout-outs! 🙂 I’ll put my hand up for The Wind in the Willows. I’m not really a “classics” fan with the exception of The Secret Garden being my FAVE! So, I want to give a try with a few other classics of children’s literature. Thanks for passing along this idea.
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Ugh. I really enjoy (most of) Blake’s music, but Miranda is my gal. Obviously I have no idea what happened and it’s none of my business, but I just don’t want to get on board with the flirtations between “Gwake.” Lol
The Wind in the Willows is alllllll yours 🙂
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Those leggings are adorable! Foxes. Squeeee!
Can I have Island of the Blue Dolphins please? I’ve never read it but it’s supposed to be a classic so… I would be happy to swap with you if I have anything you might like? (I can tell you what I have via e-mail).
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I love foxes 🙂
The book is all yours! Send me your address via email (and the books you have if you want to! 🙂 I’ll take a look!)
audreylou09@gmail.com
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I’m not sure if you’re drawing names or if it’s first come first serve for the books, but I’d also love The Wind In The Willows! If it’s first one first serve, don’t worry about it though! What do you think of Heartless? I’m contemplating reading it. Try “The Help” as an audiobook. It was one of my favorites with all the characters and accents!
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I should’ve said something about a first come, first serve policy. Oops… That’s how I was going to go. I’m sorry, friend!! (I actually have two copies, which is why I’m giving this one away. My other copy is part of a literature box set or else I’d send it to you!! The one in the photo is from Target- I think I bought it for $3? Often I find classics on clearance at book stores. Hopefully you can find that one!!)
So far I’m enjoying Heartless, although it’s no Lunar Chronicles. Hopefully it’s not as predictable as it seems.
I will definitely try to listen to “The Help”! I’ve tried to read it twice and failed so maybe audiobook is the way to go!
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Commenting again because somehow my profile wasn’t linked above! You know, in case I get the book. 😉
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I should’ve said something about a first come, first serve policy. Oops… That’s how I was going to go. I’m sorry, friend!! (I actually have two copies, which is why I’m giving this one away. My other copy is part of a literature box set or else I’d send it to you!! The one in the photo is from Target- I think I bought it for $3? Often I find classics on clearance at book stores. Hopefully you can find that one!!)
So far I’m enjoying Heartless, although it’s no Lunar Chronicles. Hopefully it’s not as predictable as it seems.
I will definitely try to listen to “The Help”! I’ve tried to read it twice and failed so maybe audiobook is the way to go!
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Audibooks are so tricky! I’ve had good luck with a couple of non-fiction ones, but am listening to my first fiction book and I like it, but I think I’d like it more if I was reading it instead of listening, but we’ll see. I love seeing all of the book giveaways– such a good idea! Island of the Blue Dolphins is one of my favorites.
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A lot of people have suggested nonfiction books on audiobook. I might have to try that! Thanks!
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Oh my gosh! KC’s bday is the 7th of March. I’ve got my bday week planning on. Eep. How funny! So fun that you are giving away books and that you got leggings from Erin. They’re so soft! 🙂 I hope Heartless is good! 🙂 I haven’t done Audiobooks.. but I’ve heard that The Help and The Martian are great. Also, I have seen one of Tom Sawyer (or Huck…?) narrated by Nick Offerman. OMG. Perfect! XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
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Haha, verdict is still out on how I feel about the audiobooks. I really wanted to love them, but I’m afraid I don’t. Still, I’ll give it one more shot 😉
What kind of fun things are y’all going to do for KC’s birthday??
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Those leggings – the BEST gift! How nice is that.
Good for you giving your books a home. I have 2 piles of books to give to friends still that do their own free libraries.
I just started watching The Voice this year because I love Blake & Gwen together… I think they are adorable. haha
I love all the new coconut & almond milks out there – some good stuff!
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I seriously love the leggings so much! And the print is perfect!
Ughhh…. I don’t know. I’m not a huge Blake person to begin with. (I like his music, I’m not sure about his personality.) I’ve never been a Gwen/No Doubt fan. On top of that, I love love love Miranda. So…. yeah. I’m just a little *bleh* about the coupling on The Voice. Lol!
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I tried an audiobook once for five minutes and couldn’t do it. I found it hard to focus on the story while driving so I determined they just aren’t for me.
I’ve seen those leggings before and think they are so cute! I hope you love them. I went bonkers with LLR for a little while and now I have a million pairs so I’m stepping away from buying anymore now hahaha.
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It took a few miles before I got myself to stop daydreaming and losing focus. I felt like it was a good sign when I’d stop at a rest stop and think about the book while I was getting food or washing my hands. I mean, it kept me engaged but it seriously challenged my listening skills. Lol
The leggings are SO soft. I really do like them 🙂
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I’ve read both sides of the spectrum on LLR leggings, but now feel like I need to find a pair to try, haha. That toasted coconut almond milk sounds amazing! I’ve seen a similar kind here in Amsterdam, so will need to pick it up and give it a try 🙂 Stopping by from the linkup! xo
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To be totally upfront with you, I have found similar leggings that hold up wonderfully and come in lots of colors and patterns from WalMart. Like, people think they’re LLR when I wear them. $5 or $6 at WalMart in the junior/ladies section. SO comfy.
K hates the coconut almond milk, ha. I made him a milkshake with some and he wrinkled his nose and told me not to do it again. Hahaha. I love it, though!
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How sweet of Erin to send you some LLR leggings!
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Total surprise! She’s such a wonderful human 🙂
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That’ so sweet Erin sent you those leggings! Blogging friends really are the best! I have never been able to do audiobooks either. I feel weird listening to them at home, like I need to be doing something else too. I don’t have a commute so …. yeah. K’s birthday sounds like it will be blast. Who doesn’t love a good taco and especially a margarita!
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I don’t have a commute either. And when I’m at work I have to keep my mind engaged so I can’t focus on a book. Maybe if I colored more often or tried to listen while I made dinner…? I don’t know. I’m still working on trying to make it work. Haha!
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Those leggings are adorable!
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I think so, too! I’m a sucker for anything foxes or elephants!
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That coconut-almond milk sounds so good! I’m always trying different brands of that.
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It’s sweet and yummy! The perfect addition to coffee or tea!
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Heartless!!!!!! that’s sitting on my desk at home and i keep wanting to pick it up but i’m scared! let me know haha. i love audiobooks… but i have never read (or listened to) a wrinkle in time. have you read it before? i thought about getting the audio but might stick to real book. for me, fiction rarely works. i hate non fiction, but it works in audio. like memoirs and stuff. i do like listening to kate morton and liane moriarty’s books in audio though. it’s hard. a narrator can really make or break an audiobook which is why i generally stick to non fiction. keep trying till you find what works for you!
also, if you don’t like it, you cna return it. seriously. even if you listen to the whole thing. audible is great like that.
Erin really is the sweetest. I love the leggings you got!
hahahahahaha if i were you i’d donate exposure to a billionaire. i wouldn’t pass that on to anyone unless they needed stuff to burn. oh lordy that was rude. sorry.
i don’t yell at my cats often, but when they are doing something naughty, yelling/making loud noises is the only way to stop them. that and spraying them with water. haha.
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I’m like 25% through Heartless. I’m kind of afraid that it’s going to be predictable. Alice in Wonderland is my favorite book so when people mess with the story I get a little itchy…. Hopefully I’ve have it done and the review included in my SUYB post for March 🙂
A Wrinkle in Time was ok. I don’t recommend it for audiobook. Read it if you’re going to add it to your list 🙂
Man… Lylee is REALLY trying my patience this week. I feel like I made this Lent resolution and God was like, “Ok, let’s really put this to the test.” Lol. Last night she woke me up to go outside at 4am, then just sniffed around for 5 minutes. I almost killed her. Ha. (No yelling, but definitely using the spray bottle still. Haha!)
You guys are so, so right. If anyone requests Exposure to a Billionaire I’m just going to tell them NO. Ha.
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That sounds like such a fun birthday party! And those LLR leggings are so cute. I’ll take The Other Typist if no one has claimed it! I need to get on board and post some of my giveaway books too.
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Yeah girl! The Other Typist is all yours!
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I don’t do audiobooks for a variety of reasons. I can’t have someone else read a book to me.
Exposure to a Billionaire was so bad you should just put it where it belongs. The trash.
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When I was a kid I hated when my mom read to me. My brother loved it, but I liked reading for myself. Maybe that’s still a thing for me.
Hahahaha. If anyone asks for that one I’ll just tell them no. It’s be cruel to pass it on, I guess. Ha.
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AWW so sweet she sent you leggings, and how sweet of you to send books to friends! 🙂 Also. Girl. Why a Wrinkle in Time. Do you also knit. Or crochet. It could be either.
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Hahahahaha. I have A Wrinkle in Time down as my ‘time travel’ book for Erin’s reading challenge. I owned the book as a kid but I never read it. I figured it was now or never, haha. I’m just glad I didn’t fall asleep while I was driving 😉
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I also want to see The Crown, ever since I saw that it has Matt Smith in it. Taco bar and margaritas sounds amazing. Exactly what I would want for my 30th birthday party. Happy early birthday to him!
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There was a time when I was balancing 4 or 5 TV shows and catching up on old series via Netflix, but I was neglecting reading books. I tried to reverse that at the beginning of the year so now my TV watching is falling behind. Once I finish a few series that I’m on I’m definitely starting The Crown!
I’ll pass that on to him 😀 Thanks!
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Whoa! You have a jam-packed schedule! Crown was awesome! Andrew and I binge-watched it in November. I have only tried audiobooks twice, once was a good experience the other time not so great so it put me off trying for a third. Ah well. To each their own!
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I really wish our schedule would chill. Ha. I don’t see that happening for a few more weeks. At least weeknights are relatively free.
I’ll give Audible one more try before I cancel it! Ha.
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Girl, throw that Exposure to Billionaire book out right now. Dontexpose another unknowing soul to it. That was the worst book I have ever read lol. And yes, maybe try a non fiction or biography type book as your next audiobook? That is what got me started and now I listen to everything. I did Amy Pohler, Mindy, and those type of books as my first. You’ll have to let me know what you think of the leggings. Everyone raves about them but I haven’t jumped on to the craze yet. Giant Jenga is all fun and games until one of those things falls on your sandal wearing foot!
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Hahahaha. I’ll use it in the fireplace or under a sheet to stage decorations, I guess.
I think my next audiobook might be an autobiography. It sounds like a lot of people enjoy those.
So far, so good with the leggings. I’ve only washed them a few times, though. We’ll see how they’re doing by the end of this winter weather 😉 Lol
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I have to try out Califia milk! I always see it at the store and their packaging is the best. I think that’s a great thing to give up for Lent. I’ve always found that positive reinforcement works a lot better than negative (ie yelling) so hopefully that helps! Thanks for linking up with us and Happy March!
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We have two dogs who have very different personalities. Enzo is a sweet people-please critter that reacts beautifully to positive reinforcement and kind words. While Lylee enjoys those things, too, she is my stubborn, defiant alpha female that tends to push boundaries and cross the line. We don’t physically punish the dogs, but Lylee gets snapped at a few times a week. She and I are too much alike. Ha.
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I’ve got Heartless on my shelf to read! How are you enjoying it so far?
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So far it’s ok… A little predictable but I’m hoping that changes. I saw it has good reviews so I’m crossing my fingers!
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i hate audio books. i want to hold the thing in my hand and admire the way the letters fill the pages (if it’s done right, of course). also… i used to love the voice. the blind auditions were my favorite. but i missed pretty much all of last season and will probably do that again this year.
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I’m not a fast reader so I thought audiobooks might help me “read” more. I miss holding the book and turning the pages, though. I’m not sure audiobooks are for me. Lol
I like the blind audition part best 🙂
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We only listen to audiobooks on road trips. The reader makes a huge difference!
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I asked K if he wanted to listen to my audiobook on our trip and he asked me if I wanted him to fall asleep and put us in a ditch. Lol
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I love Califa farms but I haven’t tried the toasted coconut almond milk yet. I’ll have to keep a look out for it. So sweet of you to give away books on your blog! I am late to the party but I just want to tell you that I thought it was really nice. Can’t wait to hear what you think about The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy! I’m reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. I feel like I’m the last person to read it but my friend gave it to me and I can’t put it down. I tend to get on reading kicks so for a while, I was reading so many thrillers. I got this book out to get myself out of that!
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I have that book on my shelf but I haven’t read it! I’ll have to keep an eye out for your review. I am in a reading slump right now so it’s taking me WAY longer to get through Hitchhiker’s Guide than it should… Ugh.
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I hear you on the calendar burnout!
I love book circulation.
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All our weekends are so. tied. up. I can’t wait for a break!
I was looking at ‘A Wedding in December’ on Goodreads and saw you had it marked “to read”. Do you want me to send it to you?
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That’s a good thing to give up. 🙂 I’m giving up desserts and chips and now my body is at a total revolution. Like an addict on withdrawal. But I know I can do this. I did so for the past years. 😀
Is The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy any good? I think I saw a copy in our shelves.
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I am failing HARD at not yelling at the dog. She gets stir crazy (or just plain crazy) in winter so we have been butting heads. I need to try harder…
It’s a little odd. I’m not very far into it right now so I shouldn’t give my opinion just yet 😉 Haha!
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I’ve been drinking almond milk lately too and I love it! So yummy! Those leggings are super cute. I have one pair of lularoe and I love them so much.
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K HATES any kind of weird milk so I’ve been left to finish the jug on my own. I also get goat milk during the summer when it’s sold at the farmers market. I LOVE it.
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Those leggings are so adorable! What a great surprise! Yay for K’s 30th birthday! 🙂
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I had no idea she was sending them and the pattern was just an extra extra bonus! So perfect!
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I just watched the entire first season of The Crown on Netflix and loved it! Can’t wait for the second season. At first I thought it would be a little boring, but I guess it gives you a different perspective. At the very end of season 1, the Queen is having a photoshoot. The photo from that shoot (in real life), hung on the walls of every school I ever attended. That’s was all I really knew about her. The show, gives you more of sense of her as a human being.
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I love English history. I wanted to start watching The Crown and Victoria. I’m glad to hear you liked it! I don’t want to put too much on my TV-plate at the moment or I’ll neglect reading. I’m trying to find that balance right now. Ha.
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I have never tried book listening but I don;t think I’d be able to pay attention.. I think my mind would wander off and I would miss parts.
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Yep =/ That was my issue at first. I don’t know if I could listen to another one except on another long drive like I did this one…
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