Things I Love As Much as Books (17)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

So, while there are TONS of things that I love as much as books, there are also some things that I hate as much as I love books. And one of those things is cigarettes. I really, literally, can't stand them.
But this hatred, oddly enough, has led to something else that I love as much as books - my smoke detector bling.

I dressed up as a thug for Halloween this year, and, as you'll notice from the picture, I've got the awesomest bling ever around my neck.
It was my Christmas present from my little brother last year - a smoke detector that he bedazzled all up for me with an anti-smoking sign right smack dab in the middle.
One of the even more awesome things about it - if I put batteries in it, it will theoretically also go off if someone smokes around me. I haven't wanted to get close enough to someone smoking to check, though, so it remains theoretical.

Anyhow, awesomest bling ever! L<3VE! Just as much as books, for sure!

Things I Love As Much as Books (16)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

I have tried very hard on numerous occasions to get into Japanese drama - it seems like, if I could like it, it would be a super great way to practice my Japanese listening skills. And yet, I've never been able to find one I like. Until now.

I find myself OBSESSED with Nodame Cantabile, an adorable drama about two piano students at music school. I just finished the 11 episodes of the series and am DYING to watch the Europe special and then the two movies that follow. Nodame isd sort of flitty and totally reminds me of myself (which is probably not a good thing), and Chiaki is serious and super talented, and, aside from the occasional issue, their relationship is the most adorable thing ever.

My favorite character is an adorable violin student called Mine (Eita in life), who loves rock! He's super doofy and awesome, just like I like em!

Apparently he and the main actress, who plays Nodame, are in another drama, Last Friends, together, and I now MUST watch it.

Yay! Thank you Nodame for being so awesome and being my J-Drama gateway drug! :-)

Things I Love As Much as Books (15)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!



I think I've posted about them before, but An Cafe. Just An Cafe. I absolutely love them as much as books. Maybe more. I am SO devestated that, for the time being, they are disbanded, and I'm just glad I had the opportunity to see them live before that happened.



Is the singer, Miku, not just the prettiest man you have ever seen?
Love love love love LOVE!

And that's all for this week!

Things I Love As Much as Books (14)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

Simcha from SFF Chat has also started participating in this weekly feature, so be sure to check out what SFF Chat loves as much as books!

Before anything else, let me just apologize for being so absent from the blogging world lately. I have been so lately that I've barely even had time to breathe. I was also sick and being forced to keep moving despite that. Literally every second I have spent in my apartment over the past week or two has been either bathing, sleeping, or preparing to sleep. I have even been reading the same book for the past two weeks. Crazy.

Anyhow, on to the good stuff.
This week, what I love as much as books is

PEANUT BUTTER!!!!

It makes me sad that, from what I can tell, it really does seem to just be an American phenomenon. I mean, after all, the stuff is DELICIOUS! I have been out of cereal and grits and oatmeal and any other appropriate breakfast food lately,
and I find that I have just been eating spoonfuls of peanut butter (that my sister sent me in a care package!) for breakfast.
And it is DELICIOUS!

I wish that peanut butter were less expensive here, because I have been hardcore craving some African Ground Nut Soup, also known as peanut soup. This stuff is delicious, and if you've never had it before, it's absolutely worth trying! I cook it without sugar and chives and with a ground up real tomatoes instead of tomato sauce, and it is PERFECT!

So yeah, peanut butter! Rock!

Things I Love As Much as Books (13)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

Simcha from SFF Chat has also started participating in this weekly feature, so be sure to check out what SFF Chat loves as much as books!

So I don't know if these week's thing I love can actually count, as it's sort-of, well, a series of books.
Schaum's Outlines, to be specific.

Have you guys heard of them? The Wikipedia site says that they are supplemental texts for high school, but I assure you, some of these are actually super advanced. I actually used the Linear Algebra and Complex Variables ones as supplements to advanced math classes in college, and they were super helpful. If I'm not mistaken, there's even a Schaum's outline for Algebraic Topology to be used in graduate classes.

I love these things - the explanations are fun and easy, the problems are doable and well-explained, and where other math books go all crazy trying to confuse you, Schaum's Outlines mostly straightforwardly tell you what's what.

Don't be afraid by all those mathy titles, though, as there are really Schaum's Outlines for everything! The one I'm thinking of buying the one for Japanese grammar, for if the grammar ones are anywhere near as awesome as the math ones, it's going to be totally helpful! Maybe the one for Japanese vocabulary, too.

Things I Love As Much as Books (13)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

One of those things that I love is writing. I've never been a real writer, and writing classes have always been the bane of my existence. I am a TERRIBLE essay writer, and I would totally have had a 4.0 in college if it hadn't been for those pesky little essay writing classes (oh, and that one Complex Variables class).
And yet, I have a journal that I have always kept regularly (though I will admit that I have been super slacking over the last two years), and for the past two years in a row, I have participated in, and won, NaNoWriMo.

The first year was an actual book that I actually finished and that I will probably never let anybody read. The second year was more a series of short stories about my life. There is no real start and no real end, and I am sure I will also never let anyone read that.

This year, I wasn't planning on participating, as I am living in Japan to learn Japanese, and I really should be focusing on that. Not to mention the fact that I have to work as well. A lot. Today, though, when I got home at around 10 PM, I was overwhelmed with the desire to participate. And so I started, and I am now at 2,284 words. A little behind where I should be, I think, but progress nonetheless.

So I will be participating. I'll still be posting regularly in the blog, but I'm sorry if I'm around a little bit less in the blogosphere than usual.

What about you guys? Will you be NaNoWriMo participating this year?

Things I Love As Much as Books (12)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

So, this week I have a fairly odd love about which I want to write.
It's odd for many reasons, one of which being that it's a food that's not even on my top ten list of favorite foods.
And yet, I ADORE it.
And for a food that's not up in my favorites, I sure do spend a lot of time thinking about it and salivating over it. And eating it, of course.

What is this mystery food, you wonder?


TEMPEH!

This stuff is delicious. And plus, it's super healthy and super versatile. It's a complete protein, which is fabulous for vegans like me (mostly when it comes to answering the question "Where do you get your protein?"), it's high in fiber, magnesium (keep your heart healthy and keep those good enzymes working), riboflavin (which theoretically helps to detoxify the liver), it helps maintain good cholesterol, and it can help stabilize your blood sugar.

Really, though, it's just delicious. It's got the perfect texture, and mixed with a little curry, lime, and coconut milk, it is absolutely divine. It's got it's own wonderful flavor, but it also picks up the flavors of foods super easily (kinda like tofu), so it's really the perfect food to cook with.

Not convinced? Try some for yourself.
I know I had my tempeh for dinner tonight!

Things I Love As Much as Books (11)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

So I have fallen in love.

With a jacket.

I am serious, this is THE most amazing jacket I have ever seen. I walked into the store and found myself DRAWN to it, and then I just had to stare at it. And stare some more. And then a little more.

And then come home and search and search until I found it on the internet.

Annnnnnd, unfortunately my computer is not presently letting me upload photos, so you'll just have to go to the website to see how wonderful it is I'll come back and post the picture when I can.

Have you looked? Isn't it FABULOUS!

There's three colors - white, pink, and black, and I ADORE them all, and I WILL have this jacket someday, but I absolutely CAN'T decide which color I need. What do you guys think? Which color do you like best?

Things I Love As Much as Books (10)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

I LOVE UNICORNS!

I know I mentioned it before in my I am so all about the unicorns! post, but the fact is that I really do just love them. I mean, I am so totally all about the unicorns.

The greatest Christmas present I ever received was a stuffed unicorn that was the size of a small horse. I call him Uni, I cried when I saw him, and I still have him to this day.

And then this is one of my favorite puzzles that I have ever done.

When I was 12 years old, I used to dream that a unicorn would pick me up and fly me away to my new home, which would of course be a big, beautiful house with a mural of the New Kids on the Block on the side.




So yeah, unicorns. I love 'em!

Things I Love As Much as Books (9)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

I love THE TWO TAYLORS!!!!

I wish I had long beautiful hair (though I prefer to keep mine brown), like they do, and perfect skin and beautiful features and, yeah. . .

Okay, that's sort of a lie. The love thing and the wanting to be like them thing. I'm very happy with myself.

And I think that Taylor Momsen is a bratty b-word, and I think that there's no way we could get along, um, ever. But I also think that she is a GORGEOUS, extraordinarily talented bratty b-word. I mean, in Gossip Girl, Jenny is totally it - one second I am practically fuming from how much I hate Jenny and the next I'm next to crying because of how sad I feel for her. And that's all Taylor Momsen's awesome acting skills.
And plus, she has an AMAZING voice.
I mean, check this out!



The Pretty Reckless, her band, are basically pure awesome. It's totally Courtney Love/Garbage wannabe, except that I actually like it, which is more than I can say for Courtney Love or Garbage.

And then, of course, there is Taylor Swift, who seems like the happiest, sweetest most adorably wonderful girl ever. I have dreams that we could some day be friends. She also is TOTALLY gorgeous, in a way totally opposite of Taylor Momsen, but with some odd similarities.



I heard this song, Mine, for the first time tonight, and it actually made me cry. I know, I'm a cryer when it comes to most everything, but songs - for me to cry from a song is super rare.

So yeah, I love the two Taylors (even if I also sort-of don't).
What do you guys think?

Things I Love As Much as Books (8)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read.  Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading.  Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!
I love
SKELANIMALS!!!!
Seriously, these little dudes are the coolest, cutest things ever.
I have this little guy, my skelhippo:

His Skelanimal name is Thomas, but I like to call him Morty (because mort means dead in French, and well, he's sort of dead). I'm totally feeling a skelanimals collect them all need.

More that just having the cutest stuffed animals to hit the market since, well, ever, they have some super rad clothes with to die for bright colors. I'm totally all about it. I've got a few shirts, but lately I've been feeling these mega cool capris.

How CUTE is that?

And you can bet that when I move back to the other side of the oceans, I will be NEEDING this bike:

Now, if I haven't convinced you that Skelanimals are the awesomest of the awesomest, go check them out at the Skelsite, and if you're still not convinced, well then, maybe you're not convincable.

Despite it seeming like I might have been paid to write a post promoting so blatantly a company, I assure you, I was NOT paid for this.

Things I Love As Much as Books (7)

Have you entered my contest yet to win a copy of Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer?!?  NO?!?  GO DO SO NOW!!!!

So, I think it's a given that I love to read.  Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading.  Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

I am a HUGE sucker for anything related to old school games - we're talking Atari, FamCom, Nintendo, that kind of thing.  My heart seriously does a leap of happiness every time I see something old school Mario.  Which is why, when I was in Tokyo last time, I absolutely fell in LOVE with a capital HEART with this chair:

It's entirely made of original FamCom games, and the awesomeness of it is almost too much for me to handle.  It is so super rad that, methinks, it probably even surpasses a chair made entirely of books. And notice how there are arcade games on both sides. Yeah!
Now that is something that I for real love just as much as I love books.
<3

Things I Love As Much As Books (5)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

Well, I've got a huge test on Thursday, and I spent too much time blog browsing, so I've got very little time for posting. But after what a miserable June I had for blogging, I don't want to let myself get into the habit of not posting again.

And so, this week, for something simple that I absolutely LOVE as much as I love books!

ARTICHOKES!



They are totally my favorite vegetable. Just looking at that picture is making me salivate. YUM! It's a pity they are so hard to find, as the deliciousness is almost too much for me to bear!

What's your favorite vegetable?

Things I Love As Much As Books (4)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

Since today is my BIRTHDAY (yay! I'm 28!), I thought I would write about one thing that I love above all others.

Dr. Mario

I don't know if I really need to say more than that. When I got to Japan, I bought a a FamCom Emulator just so that, since I wasn't able to bring my Wii or my Nintendo, I would be able to continue playing Dr. Mario. I own one game for my FC Tech, and that game is Dr. Mario. Despite the fact that I like to fit in at least an hour of reading a day and that I have constant tests and quizzes everyday and blogs to update and homework to be doing an English lessons to be preparing, I STILL manage to play my FC Tech, and thus Dr. Mario, for at least 4 hours a week.



If you've never heard of the good Dr., well, the game is basically like Tetris, but a bagazillion times better. You have these viruses*, and Dr. Mario throws pills down, and you have to stack the pills on the viruses* to kill them. The awesomeness is almost too much for me. It's bed time, and I need to read a bit before sleep, but writing this now, I'm feeling like I might need to go play a round first.

*If this perhaps sounds weird to you, do not fear, it also sounds weird to me. There is actually lots of debate over the true plural of the word virus, as it was uncountable as a Latin word, but the overall accepted form is, indeed, viruses.

Things I Love As Much As Books (3)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

Cooking dinner tonight, I burnt my finger, and there is now a huge, sweltering blister throbbing painfully right on the edge of it. This is making typing extraordinarily painful. That is something I do not love.

Before we get to what I love, at the suggestion of Jessica from Park Benches and Bookends, a blog I love, I am thinking of turning this weekly feature into a meme.
What do you guys think? Would anyone participate?

Now, this week, I have been mega rocking out to one of the awesomest TV shows I have seen in a long time. It's fun, it's fresh, it's unique, it's emotional, it will make you cry, it will make you laugh, and it is oh so totally absolutely worth watching (though make sure you have time, because it is so addictive that you will most likely feel the need to watch all of the episodes you've missed at once).

What is it?



Life Unexpected. If you haven't heard of it, it's time to change that. The second season premiere is on the CW on September 14 at 9/8 central.

To be honest, I feel like the CW has been going downhill lately. . .they canceled Privileged, which I totally loved, and then they canceled the Beautiful Life, which I was also loving, 3 episodes in. And then they've been taking on all these shows that don't interest me at all.
The only reason I decided to check this one out is because Sherri Appleby is in it, and I ADORED her in Roswell
Because it's SO awesome that, when there was a possibility that it wouldn't be taken on for a second season, I nearly cried.

So, if you haven't seen it yet, be sure to tune in for the season premiere. I KNOW you will love it, and I want to make sure this show gets the ratings it needs to be guaranteed a third season!

Things I Love As Much As Books (2)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

As much as I do love things that aren't books, this week I really feel the need to write about something I love that IS book related.
And that thing is a book character, Ramona Quimby.
Growing up, I absolutely ADORED Beverly Cleary, and the Ramona and Beezus books were some of my favorite books. And then there was the TV show, which I also recall adoring.
It was impossible not to fall in love with Ramona and her spirited, curious, engaging, troublemaking personality. She reminded me of the person I would have liked to be. And sometimes of the person I was.



One of the reasons that Ramona (and Beezus, of course) is so awesome is that every child can relate to the things she does and the situations into which she gets herself. And then, as an adult, I can still relate to her in a childish, wondrous way.

You've really just got to love Ramona. Which is why I am SO psyched about the upcoming movie!!!!




I'm also a Selena Gomez fan, so I have to say I'm psyched! Doesn't it look like it's going to be amazing?
I'm thinking I might have to pick up all the old Ramona books and give them a read before seeing the movie! Yay!

Things I Love As Much As Books (1)

So, I think it's a given that I love to read. Don't we all?
The thing is, though, there are a TON of other things in my life that I love just as much as reading. Sure, most of these things aren't as constant as reading, but they count just as much in my life when I'm loving them.
SO, I decided to start this weekly feature in which I write a short post about something in my life that I am loving just as much as reading!

Recently, I took my Kanji dictionary out of the DS and put in Zelda spirit tracks. And I've found myself addicted. When the Phantom Hourglass came out, I played basically nonstop until I beat it. And, while I'm only at the beginning, so far Spirit tracks is proving to be just as awesome!



I TOTALLY love the Zelda games just as much as I love reading. I think I might even have a slight fangirl crush on Link. Sometimes I feel jealous of Zelda. I actually am almost excited to get back to my Wii in order to play the newest Zelda: the Skyward Sword. Not that I am in any way ready to leave Japan, but it is nice to have things to look forward to, so I won't feel toooooo terribly sad when the time comes that I have to leave.


Yay <3Link<3!!!!

What do you love as much as reading? I'd love to hear what you guys love as mhave to say, so feel free to copy, but you know the drill; just be sure to mention this post if you do!