Weekly Book Roundup

Hope everyone is staying nice and toasty! I thought, as we're starting a new year, that I would introduce a couple of new posts. As the voracious reader I am, I think it comes as no great shock that one of those posts would be book related. As time goes on, I will come up with a much more clever name for it (suggestions? Bueller? Bueller?). Until then, I'll just stick with the Weekly Book Roundup. I'm nothing if not straight to the point.

Currently, I'm on a classics binge. Reading or re-reading my way through some of the great literature of our time. Right now, it's Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger, two interrelated short stories about brother and sister in 1950's New York. Prior to that it was Little Women and Pride and Prejudice. I still have a stack to make my way through, including the other 5 works of Jane Austen.

In terms of more recent works of literature, a list of books that I've really enjoyed and am recommending to everyone I've ever met, and some I haven't: How To Build A Girl by Caitlin Moran, Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, Yes Please by Amy Poehler, the list goes on and on. I could talk about books all day, errrrry day. 

What are you currently reading? Do you keep a stack of books on your bedside table like me? Or decorate your living room with them? No? Just me? Cool. 

Stay warm, drink some wine, and hunker down, you beautiful tropical fish! (Please tell me everyone knows these Parks and Recreation references, otherwise I'm sure I seem insane). 

Winter Netflix Binges

Ugh, January. You and I have a love/hate relationship. On one hand, you're the start of a new year, the beginning of a fresh start; on the other hand, your weather leaves little to be desired. When they find a fashionable way to go out socially in a blanket and footie pajamas, maybe our relationship will be better. Until then, I'm content to curl up on the couch binge-watching shows I've never even heard of.

A couple of months ago, I bit the bullet and got rid of cable and switched strictly to a Roku, which is such a great invention. There are channels I didn't even know existed, for every interest possible. I tend to lean more towards British television, and I am most certainly not disappointed. While I am by no means an authority on such topics, I thought it would be a great idea to share what I'm currently binge watching and maybe get some ideas on what to watch next. While we're all home bound for the next few months, here are my ideas for what to watch. (Each link will go to the show's IMDB page).

The West Wing -- I'm currently halfway through the show's second season and have no qualms saying that it's in my list of top 5 favorite shows ever. Well written, well acted, wonderfully smart and funny, The West Wing tells the story of the administration of President Josiah Bartlet. Running from 1999 to 2006 on NBC, there are 156 glorious episodes to keep your eyes glued to the screen. I've never been incredibly wild about politics, but this show frames it in a way that gives you an understanding of what goes on in Washington in a simple, straightforward manner.

Doctor Who -- I never thought I'd really get into this show, as I'm not really a sci-fi person. 9 episodes in, and I'm singing a different tune. I was looking for something a bit different and came across this while browsing Hulu Plus one night. Beginning in 1963, Doctor Who is one of the longest running television programs, telling the story of a Time Lord who travels by TARDIS. It's a bit odd, but I can totally see how it has gained the cult following it has. If you're looking for something a bit off the beaten path, I'd definitely recommend it. Plus, cute boys with British accents abound. How can you go wrong?

House of Cards -- A Netflix original series, House of Cards tells the story of Frank and Claire Underwood, a married couple who will do anything it takes to become the most powerful people in Washington. And I do mean, ANYTHING. I only started it because I had heard other people talk about it with such fervor. So, I started it, not thinking I'd last more than a couple of episodes before I'd lose interest. Cut to a woman obsessed. I'm already counting down to the show's third season premiere on February 27th after binge watching the first two seasons in record time. Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright are really fantastic, with a supporting cast that will blow you away. While some storylines are a bit ridiculous, the show as a whole really is great and I can't recommend it enough.

I'll leave it at three shows today. :) If you have any other suggestions, please let me know in the comments! I'm always looking for new shows to watch. And if you do have a Roku, you also need to check out Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with Jerry Seinfeld and Miranda, such wonderful comedic half hours! 

Hope you're all staying warm on this blustery Tuesday! 

Happy 2015!

Hope all of you beautiful unicorns had a wonderful holiday and fantastic start to the new year. 2015 I'm hoping will finally be the year of the hover board! If you haven't started off the year with a Back to the Future reference, have you truly lived?

5 days in to the new year and already, I've started to make small changes. I've begun to purge myself digitally and not have such a social media presence anymore. I've deleted Twitter, I've unfollowed literally over a 100 accounts on Instagram, and deleted nearly that same amount of "friends" on Facebook. I've never really been one for resolutions (eat less sugar! Look, sugar is delicious and I will eat the hell out of it), instead, trying to rectify and tweak the habits and ideas that I know I could be better about as I approach the start of my 30th year. Which, rereading that sentence, does sound a lot like another definition of resolution, but let's move on.

I want to establish a bigger and better blog presence and just focus on the people I have in my life. Purging myself not only digitally, but of negative and toxic friendships is also something I've worked on doing and I find myself the better for it. I've felt, especially over the last few years, that I've let a lot of friendships dwindle because I was so focused on something else, being somewhere else. That needs to change. I won't be spending a whole lot of time anymore where I had been in previous years and summers. This past summer was the start of that, and it felt really good. My reunion a month ago, opened my eyes to what and who I needed to surround myself with. While I'm an incredibly lucky lady to be surrounded by the love and laughter that I am, it's also time to expand that and rekindle old friendships. Also, how can there be anything wrong with the addition of MORE love and laughter to your life?

The biggest lesson I've taken from 2014 is that I can't care for anyone romantically, until I care for myself. Really, honestly love myself for the badass, intelligent woman that I am. And that's started to happen, slowly but surely. I've made some mistakes with men, some GINORMOUS mistakes, but that's the only way to learn. And I feel confident that the next gentleman caller (why don't we say that more? I dig it) is going to be one who can keep up with me and one that loves me the way that I love me.

I really have a good feeling about you, 2015. Don't let me down.

2015 Resolutions/Goals/Ideas, etc.

The last few days of any year are usually cause for some reflection; a look back on the preceding year, how it changed you, the hurdles you overcame, the laughter you shared. What also strikes me as interesting is the amount of people on social media proclaiming that taking to Facebook, Instagram, what have you, to put down other people for explaining how they want to grow in the coming year. Why do you take time out of your day to tell others how to convey their feelings about a new year? Maybe their resolution to eat less McDonald's won't last very long, maybe it will. Maybe their desire to spend more time with family will just culminate in World War 3, but we don't know that, and to vocalize on a social media platform that people SHOULDN'T do that, is ridiculous.

Let people facing a new year (so, ALL OF US), handle it how they choose. If that means making a list of resolutions, than you do you! If that means going out and volunteering, than holler! Also, can we talk about the good deeds that take place and than people IMMEDIATELY take to social media to proclaim how good of a person they are for doing said deed? Look, it's wonderful that people are kind and wonderful, with so much love in their heart. But, when you have to take to social media to brag about how great of a person you are, it takes they selflessness right out of it. If you're really such a great person, do the deed and than shut up. Go about your day. Pay it forward some more. Stop looking for validation. The only validation that matters is your own. Did doing what you did make you happy? Great! It should have. Let that be your reward. Not comments from people praising you that, let's be honest, you probably haven't talked to since 1987.

2014 was a roller coaster of a year, professionally, as I've mentioned before. It's been a kick in the pants and allowed me to fall flat on my face with no sense of direction. I'm very much looking forward to 2015 and what it may bring. Also, the year I turn 30? Hashtag....say whaaaaat?

I want to be better about a lot of things in the coming year:

-- I want to have more girlfriend time and wine dates with the women that I'm lucky enough to call friends. Especially the last few months, I've found myself getting closer with females that I've known for a long time, but never spent a ton of time with. I'm very much looking forward to rectifying that in the coming year and spending time with like minded, intelligent and love filled women.
--I want to get myself to London.
-- I want to do more reading.
-- More saying yes to things!
-- No more pressure put on myself to be somewhere in my life that I'm not meant to be yet.
--Attempt to cut down on usage of the F bomb, but realize that will probably never happen.
-- And while I have no desire yet to have a ring on my finger, I want to be around men with ambition. With wit. With intelligence. Men who challenge me in good ways and don't leave me crying by their drunken words (Trust me, I'll be very glad to put 20 something Tara behind me and make way for the badass woman that 30 something Tara will be). Assholes are constants in the population, you just have to blaze your own way and not listen to their bullshit.

I'll leave you with my most favorite quote to end a year. Cheers to a wonderful and love filled 2015! See you on the other side! :)

End of the Year Wrap Up

As 2014 winds down, and we start to gear up for 2015, I just want to use this platform to tell everyone who reads this little ol' blog, how grateful and over the moon I am that you are part of my life. 2014 has been such a roller coaster, professionally speaking, and as it comes to a close, I've realized that I'm not the same person at the end of it as I was at the beginning. For that, I could not be more thankful.

I've become more comfortable in my own skin, I've started to not be afraid to tell people "no thanks," which is a very big deal for me, I've become closer to people that 10 years ago, I wouldn't have imagined. To everyone that tells me how much they enjoy this little section of the Internet, please know that you fill my heart with such joy and happiness. I really am an incredibly lucky lady to have the people in my life that I do and that enjoy reading what I enjoy writing. I'm hoping 2015 will bring about more of the same and I cannot wait to see what it has in store for me.

I'm not sure how much more I'll post in 2014, but rest assured, I will be back with a vengeance in the new year! If you're reading this -- I think you're the cat's pajamas and a beautiful human being with so much to offer this world.

All my love for a wonderful, love and laughter filled 2015.

Social Media's Takeover

Like all things, there are good points and bad points with social media. It has become such a prevalent part of our society, that mere minutes cannot go by without someone checking their Facebook/Twitter/Instagram, what have you, while in the company of others. I'm incredibly guilty of it and am trying to slim down on the amount of time I spend on there. And when I am on there, I try to bring about some levity. I want to be funny and ridiculous, because honestly, that's what makes me feel the most comfortable and what makes me feel good.

The last few weeks and months especially have been very hard to get a grasp on, as Americans, and really, as human beings. I've tried to keep my mouth shut as often as I can, and scroll through. Some days it has taken all of my strength. Some days, I've reached for the wine bottle. What is going on not just domestically, but globally, is a tough pill to swallow and incredibly scary. I get on social media to be entertained, to laugh, to be educated, to see how friends are that I'm not able to keep up with as often as I'd like. I am not on social media to be bombarded by racism, sexism, ageism, any other kind of -ism that makes me want to punch people in the throat.

I understand that everyone's opinions are their own and they are entitled to them. Absolutely. It's just difficult when you get on social media expecting to see cat videos or a funny picture of your friends, and instead hatred is all you see. The worst and most vile words spoken against every type of person. Fighting hate with more hate. It's heartbreaking. Social media is meant to bring people closer, not tear them apart.

Especially the last few days, when I want to take a picture of something or someone, in my head I've started asking myself "why are you putting a camera in front of your face? Enjoy the moment." There are many moments that call for being captured on film, phone, beaming into the eyesockets of the future I'm sure we can all look forward to (watching too much Jetsons? Sorry). Then, there are many moments and feelings and surroundings, that you should put down your phone and experience as a human being; relishing in how small you really are and how big this planet is. It always baffles my mind every time when I see people on vacation (and especially those on their honeymoon), who can't seem to put their phone down long enough to enjoy it. When pictures are being posted every 10 minutes of how much fun your vacation is. Obviously it's not, if you're on social media 98% of the time. It's almost as if you need to prove a point or to make others jealous, when really, you just need to be enjoying yourself and the company of the people you're with.

Social media is a wonderful thing. I enjoy it and know that it does wonders for restoring friendships, families, finding a laugh when you're having a terrible day, the list goes on. Just don't rely on it as your sole source of news, entertainment, what have you. Take it for what it is, and keep to your diary for the really salacious stuff that I seriously cannot believe people put on the Internet.

                                                           Credit: (Pinterest)

Hi, I'm A Pollyanna

The last 6 months to a year has been a real growing experience for me. I've learned that the people I surround myself with needed to change; I learned that what I think about me is light years more important than what you think of me (unless you're family or close friends). It's still an ongoing process, I don't think you wake up one day and all of a sudden are this positive, determined, badass who knows how to take on the world. It's something you take day by day. And quite honestly, since I began taking Paxil earlier this year, it has made such a world of difference. I don't find myself coming home and sobbing because I'm not in the same place in my life that others are. I don't find myself freaking out over THE TINIEST THINGS. I've learned to relax, come out of my shell a bit more and just embrace life a bit more than I had.

The last few days especially have done such wonders for my heart and soul. Being around people that are so non judgmental, intelligent, witty, hilarious and kind make me feel incredibly lucky. I know I preach so much about surrounding yourself with positivity and owning yourself, but I guess I never realized how important that actually is/was until these last few days/weeks. I realize this might be construed as a very Pollyanna post, but you can deal with. Exuding happiness and positivity has been what seems to do the trick. Funny how that works out. Also, wine helps. A LOT. 

My 20's have been an absolute roller coaster both professionally and personally, and I can't say I'm terribly to see them go next year (WHAT??? NEXT YEAR?). I'm actually really looking forward to my 30's because I think I've finally got it right. I think I have found the best people to surround myself with, the best mindset to go forward (there is lots to be said for the whole "GFY" mentality), the best way to express myself instead of biting my tongue or hiding behind someone else's words. 

Now, if someone could just tell me how to go about finding the perfect British husband, I'd be ever so grateful. ;) Back tomorrow with LadyFriend Friday!