HERE ARE SOME BOOKS THAT I LIKE.

It's my senior year of high school and I'm taking two English classes. Can we talk about how absolutely crazy that is? Some days I really regret switching into AP Lit and wish I would have just stayed in sculpture 1 with the rest of the freshmen, but most days I actually really love it.

I've read more books this year than I have in my whole entire life, I think; which is really saying something because I've always been a reader. I'm no literary critic by any means, but I do what I can.

So, without further ado, here are my top 10 books I've been really enjoying as of late:

1: The Social Animal- David Brooks // I have literally been reading this book since the beginning of the school year and I am still only half way done with it because it is just so mind blowing and WOW. I can't even get over how cool this book is.

2: Eat Pray Love- Elizabeth Gilbert // Okay, okay. You can go ahead and laugh but I'm pretty sure this book changed my life. I finished reading it and didn't know what to do with my life, except for like, fly to India and meditate or something.

3: The Great Gatsby- F. Scott Fitzgerald // I read this book last year in Advanced Junior English and absolutely loved it. Then I read it two more times. Then I wrote an essay on it and the symbolism found within it and (bragging moment) my teacher said it was the best she'd ever seen. Then I went and saw the movie and couldn't believe my eyes because of how beautiful and perfect it was. Then Whitney and I went and saw a play version of it downtown and it was absolutely terrible and we laughed and laughed and laughed and basically, I just really love this book.

4: Their Eyes Were Watching God- Zora Neale Hurston // I wouldn't necessarily consider myself a feminist but I loved every single part of this book in all of its feminist glory. Zora is some kind of beautiful genius, I tell ya.

5: Tuesdays with Morrie- Mitch Albom // This is another one of those cheesy memoirs that gets a lot of flack but I don't even care because I thought it was beautiful. Super easy read with a lot of heart and depth and a lot of really great one-liners to live your life by/pin on pinterest.

6: Slammed- Colleen Hoover // A little YA every now and then is a good thing, right? This book is all about a girl who moves to a new town and dates her super hot neighbor only to later find out that her super hot neighbor is her POETRY TEACHER. You guys, this is my favorite plot line ever. Give me a book/movie/tv show with a student-teacher relationship and I will EAT IT UP. Seriously so good. Also, this book includes my two favorite things: Slam poetry and the Avett Brothers. What's not to love?

7: Fahrenheit 451- Ray Bradbury // It's a classic. Burning books and stuff like that. I read the whole thing while sitting in Starbucks the other day (sidenote: this is my favorite thing to get at Starbucks and the cute barista laughs at me every time I order it and says, "ah, you and your funky drinks") and I was completely enthralled by it.

8: 1984- George Orwell // I'm currently about half way through with this book and I can't put it down. I'm writing my end of the year final essay for AP Lit comparing/contrasting this, Fahrenheit 451, and Brave New World and it's some CRAZY SHIZ I tell you.

9: The Joy Luck Club- Amy Tan // I hated this book at first but then I sparknoted it (lol oops) and thought about it for a while and then wrote an essay on it and realized that I actually loved it. And those are some of the best books, you know?

10: The Fault in our Stars- John Green // Yes, yes. I know that every single member of the female species is currently fangirling over this book right now but just believe me when I say it's totally worth the hype. John Green is a literal genius and this book has so many layers. Read it, cry your eyes out, go read The Great Gatsby, then read it again. It will have a whole new meaning and you'll freak.

Now it's your turn. What are some of your favorite books? I'm going on day 7 of being absolutely, completely sick as a dog and bored out of my mind, so I'd love to pick up something new.

YAY FOR READING.

LATELY

The church history tour posts are coming soon, I can promise you that. But until then, here is a little list of current happenings/things I'm loving lately:

 

-This poem by Sarah Kay. (the rest of the video is pretty good, too). (yay for TED talks).

-Planning new upcoming photo shoots.

-This documentary, because I love photography & I love fashion & I love old men & I love documentaries in general, so this one is basically made for me.

-How everyone is wanting to set me up with their friend/nephew/coworker/boy they took braces off the other day. Is this what being almost 18 feels like?

- I'm really into the work of Tyler Knott Gregson lately; he's attractive and has some rad tattoos and is a pretty great photographer, but mostly I just love his poetry. Check out some of my very favorites of his here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here. Also I'm really excited about the new book deal he just got! Definitely buying that one. 

-Photographing a wedding.

-Old friends that move back to Oregon (Hey Haley! Here's your shout out!)

-This blog. Not only is LL cute & stylish, but she's also a super inspiring writer. I may or may not have started following her on instagram & twitter, too. & she may or may not be my newest girl crush.

-Knee length destroyed denim skirts. (two of my favorite examples found here & here). I mean, 90s much? Fantastically terrible much? I'm in love.  

-& last but not least- this is the story of my life.

 

 

LIFE IS GOOD

I have so much to blog about, you guys.
Like how wicked awesome my life is right now. Junior year has treated me soooooo well.
I want to blog about how so many of my friends graduated today & woah, since when did I get so old? & how much I am going to miss my exchange student friends, especially that boy up there. I mean, who am I going to carpool with senior year?
Also, I got a job. A job! I work with lots of attractive college aged boys & I'm pretty sure everyone thinks I'm just this weird little girl but whatever, it's an adventure.
I also want to blog about the vampire weekend concert and the blind pilot concert and my trip to seattle and that time I skipped school and went to the zoo with some of my favorite people ever. (pictured on the left).
& then there was that seminary testimony meeting two days ago that I don't even know if I could possibly put it into words, it was that amazing.
& also I want to blog about Jack Johnson & yearbook signings & parties & the crazy amount of awkward encounters I've had with boys lately & making it onto the teen advisory board for my future, my choice & summer plans & how one of my very best friends got baptized the other day & my goodness, there is a lot to blog about.
Life is good.
There are post about these things, and so many more, coming soon. I promise!

A PLAYLIST FOR YOU

 

i and love and you//the avett brothers
flowers in your hair//the lumineers

missed the boat//modest mouse
dance me to the end of love//the civil wars

hero//family of the year
cooler than me//jayme dee (cover)
lost in my mind//the head and the heart
tonight//lykke li (piano version)

the freshmen//jay brannan




BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE I'M ADDICTED TO READING BLOGS,

Here are some of my favorites:

FOR THEIR WORDS:
all my love, addy
c. jane kendrick
heart distance
nat the fat rat
the diaries of a fly on the wall
in the head of al fox

FOR THEIR PICTURES:
alexis mire
matt clayton photography
definitions of chelsie
rebekah westover photography

FOR THEIR CRAFTINESS:
cotton & curls
dear lizzy
rainbows in wonderland

FOR THEIR CLOTHES:
awkward girls
pink peonies
the daybook

FOR THEIR ALL AROUND CUTENESS:
hunter's dialogues
something devine
smile me pretty
rockstar diaries
the girls with glasses
the m(squared) story

I FOUND THIS POST IN MY DRAFTS. IT'S REALLY OLD. OH WELL.

It's time to get real here, okay guys?

If I'm being completely honest, these last couple months have been really sucky. Like in a everything-little-thing-is-going-wrong-but-i-don't-really-have-a-good-reason-to-think-my-life-sucks kind of way. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, I don't either. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm a big baby. Lately I've been finding myself complaining about the little things and not trusting in God and his timing. I could sit here and name off all of the dumb things that have happened since school started, but I wont, because that would be obnoxious and no one would want to read it. Instead, I'll share all of the things I am thankful for. Because it's November, dangit. And looking on the bright side of things always helps. 

  

THINGS THAT I AM THANKFUL FOR:

//taylor swift and her new cd, because it's perfect in every single way//friends that make me laugh//the temple//movie marathon parties//oregon in the fall, because i'm pretty sure this is exactly what heaven will look like//dutch brother's peppermint hot chocolate//a loving family//my three best girlfriends, and talk about a little 'last hurrah' in disneyland//having my licence and a car that i can drive in//a mom that will take me out of school for the day to go shoe shopping//playing the guitar and piano//hunter hayes//real, paying photography jobs//missionaries; past, present, and future.//the new missionary age change, and other answered prayers//sweater weather//my advanced junior english class, because we're basically like a family and i've never, ever laughed that much in school//instagram//blogging//the talents i have been given, because they make me special//seminary//journaling, even though i am terrible at it//pink hats that i am pretty sure are magical//cherry vanilla sprites//"no school november"//the beatles//boys with nice hair//

little handwritten notes & other random thoughts

today i wrote some little notes to leave in library books.

it was kinda sorta on my "mid-year goals" list. (send handwritten notes to people.)

i guess it could also go under the "stop being such a perfectionist" goal too. i wanted to throw a lot of  almost all of all of the notes away because of stupid reasons. the edges weren't perfectly cut, or my handwriting didn't look perfect. Seriously guys, it's like i'm OCD or something...

in other new, i'm obsessed with this song and this song.

i went shopping the other day. j.crew outlet like woah!

while i was out shopping, i met the man of my dreams.

(according to Laura and my mom, at least.)

he was super super tall and super super skinny.

he parted his hair right down the middle.

it was long-ish, so it sat very awkwardly on the sides of his head.

it was also very greasy, but i wont mention that...

his jeans: light wash, super flare, and the best part? back pockets as front pockets!

he walked around with his hands on his hips.

he tucked his blue checkered button up into his jeans.

and the deal maker?

red bow tie.

i went to my school the other day to get my schedule changed.

okay, so maybe i am a little bit excited to start school.

but just a little bit.

i really wish i could pull off red lipstick.

or any lipstick, for that matter.

i'm learning to play "the sound of silence" by Simon and Garfunkel on the piano.

cool, i know.

the end.

may the force be with you.

love,

CasiDee

 

Thank Heavens

Thank Heavens for crappy pictures of my new Swatch watch.

I love it with all my heart.

I cant take it off.

(I totally bought this Amsterdam. Woo Hoo! 

I could have bought it in the states for half the price,

but that wouldn't have been as cool...Right?)

Thank Heavens for Adele and Meiko 

and the new Joshua Radin song

and the mixed cd of Muse B-Sides

my friend made for me.

Thank Heavens for my family.

Thank Heavens that I now have an Iphone

that actually works.

Thank Heavens that THE SUN IS OUT.

Seriously.

It's about time.

Thank Heavens for

Nat The Fat Rat's posts on The New Testament.

I have read these over and over again.

So funny and so inspiring!

I wish I could write like her.

Thank Heavens for frozen yogurt.

Chocolate with oreos and Carmel sauce, to be exact.

Thank Heavens for Zumba.

Funnest workout ever.

Thank Heavens for blogging.

Because I am really really horrible at keeping a journal.

Thank Heavens that EFY is in TWO WEEKS.

Thank Heavens that my friend Laura has cool Manny Pacquiao

and Star Wars T-shirts that she lets me borrow. :)

Thank Heavens for Modern Family.

Thank Heavens for bow ties.

Thank Heavens for spell check.

Thank Heavens for my friend Caroline that

teaches me fun sayings like

"Thank Heavens".

Thank Heavens!

5 Things I Love Sunday!



1. The Uke Song by Lady Danville. They were one of the opening acts at the Dashboard Confessional concert I went to Friday night and I absolutely loved them!

2. Mini Dr. Peppers!

3. My cute friend Elsie.

4. The Beach.

5. And of course, James Dean. :)

Happy Happy Sunday!