Christmas in the Capitol!

National Botanical Garden!

Hello everyone!

We’ve been having a very mild Christmas season.  Today, December 18^th, we had a high of 60 degrees.  It’s nuts!  The warm weather hasn’t kept the Christmas spirit at bay, though! There are Christmas lights up (even in our apartment), Christmas trees for sale are lining the streets of Eastern Market, the National Tree has been lit, trains are chug-a-lugging through the National Botanical Gardens, and they’re selling hot cocoa and hot cider everywhere you turn.  You can see us frolicking in the Botanical Gardens in the picture!

We were also lucky enough to attend the National Christmas tree lighting by the Capitol Building. There was security and everything!  It was a gorgeous sight-- take a look!

Capitol Christmas Tree from Colorado!

Joe and I spent a surprisingly stressful weekend finishing up our Christmas shopping and attending holiday parties.  The parties were fun —there was food, drinks, and friends to go around—but the shopping! Goodness gracious.  People everywhere, constant traffic.  Joe and I realized we like to shop for a solid 1.5 hours and then it just isn’t fun anymore. But, hey, we survived and I think we’re a stronger couple for it.

In any case, we got a great stack of presents and it was even more fun wrapping them up. Joe had to teach me a trick or two, traditions handed down by his late Grandma Ruth. We’ve reached that point in life where giving is way more fun than receiving.  Hopefully we’ll make a lot of people happy with our gifts!

Impressive or what?!

With that, we wish everyone the happiest of holidays! We’re headed back to Lima to visit Joe’s family for a couple of days. Stay tuned—I’m sure we’ll have stories to go around!  Safe travels and Merry Christmas!

Love to you all!  

Blake's Books: Holiday Picks!

Hey everyone!

For those who know me well, you know I like to read.  Young Adult (YA) novels, mostly.  I'm constantly looking for new books to read and many ask for my recommendations. In light of the holiday season, here are my top picks! They make a great read by a cozy fire or a wonderful gift.  

1. "Divergent" by Veronica Roth. 
This is an ongoing triology.  I don't know about you, but I love to beat the bandwagon.  This is a series that is about to be big.  The first book is already in the pre-production process in becoming Hollywood's next Hunger Games, which I also recommend reading. Currently, two of three books have been published. This is a post-apocalyptic dystopian novel in which a futuristic Chicago is divided in five factions; at sixteen, one must choose which faction to spend the rest of their life serving, and it is not necessarily the faction in which they grew up.  You follow young Tris on the journey of her decision and what becomes of the bigger picture.  This book was so good that it made me want to get a tattoo. (You'll understand when you read it.)  This book also made me think about the role that politics, community, responsibility, and identity plays in our lives.  It's awesome.  Worth the read. Also, it has some great, classic romance.  None of this love-triangle crap that is permeating everything these days. Don't people know that those kind of relationships are just unhealthy and unsustainable?!

I digress. Back to the point, I like this book for a multitude of reasons.  I've read it six times and counting.

Quotes from the critic (aka Joe) sent via text message: "LOVED EVERY SINGLE PAGE!" When's the next book come out?!

2. "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" by Laini Taylor. 
 This is another ongoing triology. This is a bit of a fantasy novel, and it's absolutely fantastic.  If you're into realistic fiction or even non-fiction, just try it anyway. Please.  It's beautifully written and expertly crafted to keep you always asking questions.  The story is original. I was absolutely lost in this book.  I've read it 3 times thus far; I started it again tonight when I was thinking about my recommendations.  Yes, it's that good.
 
Here's a taste:
"Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.  
In a dark and dusty shop, a devils's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.  
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war."

If you like it, you're in luck because the second book just came out, "Days of Blood and Starlight".  The third and final installment is due out November 2013.


3. "Unwind" by Neal Shusterman. 
This book is wee bit controversial, but that's part of why I like it so much.  This is actually a futuristic novel after the settlement of a pro-life vs. pro-choice war.  Children cannot be aborted before birth, but can be legally "unwound" by their parents once they turn thirteen.  The story follows three kids who are sent to be unwound by their circumstances.  It's a heavy read, I'll give you that.  It makes you think about things that you might be uncomfortable talking about: religion, science, politics, ethics.  That's what I love about these books, they make me stop and think about my ideas and values.  Books shape me to be a better person, or at least I'd like to think so.

4. "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer
Yes, this is the same woman who wrote the Twilight series.  Don't. Judge.  This book is Meyer's first adult novel and it surpasses Twilight in every sense.  I'm allowed to say this because I'm a huge Twi-head and I'm not judging based on prejudice.  It's just a better book. Yes, singular, only one book. That hasn't kept me from reading it about four times, though.

I can sum up my review by quoting one of my literature professors: "This book makes me think about my soul."  What is a soul? What does it mean to me? to others? What is it's importance? If you're not looking to do a personal inventory on your personal beliefs, you can just sit back and enjoy the romance and alien invasions.  Be sure to beat the bandwagon! The movie is due out in March!



That's all I have for now. I hope you enjoyed these recommendations at some point in time.  If you have any suggestions for me, leave a comment and I'll put it on my to-read list!

Lots of love!
Blake and Joe