Summer Reading List

Do you remember in high school when they used to assign the dreaded "Summer Reading Lists?" Jane Eyre ruined my summer and I don't even remember who she is.  I hated those summer reading lists that kept me from swimming in the pool and playing jacks or spit* with my friends.  The books were usually horrible and being the conscientious student that I was, I HAD to read them. I'm pretty sure ALL of my peers just read the spark notes or cliff notes...the day before school started. Well now that I'm a big girl I can do my own "fun" summer reading list sans Jane Eyre. 
This will be a work in progress as I get more recommendations and find new books...

1. Gone with the Wind - Margaret Mitchell
2. Sex and the City - Candace Bushnell
3. Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me - Chelsea's Family, Friends, and Other Victims
4. The Help - Kathryn Stockett
5. What Is Left the Daughter - Howard Norman
6. Uncle Tom's Cabin - Harriet Beecher Stowe (recommended by my trainer Kyle @ Crossfit Rebellion)
7. Watership Down - Richard Adams (a book about bunnies, recommended by my friend, Jokes)
8. The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship - Lisa Verge Higgins
9. Bergdorf Blondes - Plum Sykes (provided by the Ms. Calle Mendenhall!)
10. Marley and Me - John Grogan (recommended by my friend, Crane)
11. The Search - Nora Roberts
12. The Art of Devotion - Samantha Bruce-Benjamin
13. My Name Is Mary Sutter - Robin Oliveira

I usually just go for the really immature and shallow chick lit, but I decided I needed to branch out this summer.  I recently finished Stiegg Larsson's trilogy and finally realized that I can actually enjoy a book that doesn't revolve around mind-numbing plots about shopping, back-stabbing, gossiping and everything else I enjoy in a good chick lit. 

This reading list is a pretty tall order, and I am not 100% sure that I will be able to get through Gone with the Wind or Uncle Tom's Cabin, but I'm going to give it my best shot.

Any other recommendations?!?!

*I kid you not it was cool to play jacks in the 6th grade at Germantown Middle School. I had even become the jacks master just in time for summer.  In case you don't know, spit is a high-intensity game of cards that doesn't actually involve any spit, unless, of course, you are unfortunate enough to play against one of those people that lose control over their saliva and spit when they talk.  In case you're interested, I would have the pleasure of teaching (and dominating) you in a game of spit, just ask my past victims.

Summer To Dos

Since I don't have any crazy fun summer plans I decided to come up with a Summer To Do List (it'll still be fun and maybe slightly crazy).  Hopefully writing them down and telling everyone will hold me accountable.

My Summer To Do List:

1.  Start a blog.  Done!


2.  Go skydiving.


3. Train Samson not to jump up on people and to behave on a leash..this one won't be fun, but probably will be crazy.

4. Float the Cahaba River.  This will be my one allotted redneck goal.

5. Complete my "Summer Reading List" (the one I have yet to start...).

6. Take pictures - This hasn't always been a challenge for me, hence the 83 albums I have on facebook. Most, or all, of these pictures were taken during college, and although I thought I was super cool then, I've changed a lot - for the better, and so has my closet.

Exhibit A: Consider yourself lucky that I had to crop the shoes. Sad thing is, I'm a clothes hoarder and I recently threw these shoes away. That means that I, at one time, thought they were worth moving approximately 14 times over the past 4 years. Also, what's up with the midriff? Am I trying to be Ashley H from the Bachelorette? However, much to my dismay, I heard the midriff is back in style.  I don't even want to talk about those jeans, they couldn't have been comfortable.

7.  Clean out my closet - inspired by #5.

8. Challenge myself in the kitchen.  Lately I've been buying a lot of those semi-satisfying frozen meals by Bertolli, Stouffers etc.  Freezer space has become non-existent and I'm sick of eating the same thing over and over.  Bonus:  this will inspire more blog posts!

9. Go to Atlanta for a Braves Game and Six Flags!  Brittany and I were supposed to do this 3 or 4 spring breaks ago.  We're way overdue.

10. Go to the beach.  So, who has a beach house they want to invite me to?  Hint, hint!