in which I rave about a book.

Listening to: Syndicate by the Fray. 
Quote love: “I figure if I shoot for the moon on trying to find something almost impossible, then I'll learn more the closer I get.” my best friend.

I've heard about this series everywhere. Heard they're amazing. Read about how great they are, how no one could wait for the third book to be published. Everywhere: "You have to read these books!" So, me being me, I put them on hold at the library had my dad put them on hold. And I waited. And waited. And waited.

And then I wrecked my bike on Tuesday. I was a mile from home without a cell phone. I had blood dripping down my hand and my shoulder was throbbing. Somehow, when I fell I managed to knock the chain off the bike. So I walked home. A mile. With blood dripping down my hand. My elbow stinging. My shoulder throbbing.

My point: I couldn't do much after that.

Dad came home, bringing with him the first two books. I laid on the couch for the whole afternoon, wearing sweats, drinking lukewarm tea, and reading my books.

Now I'm here to tell you what everyone else told me: "Read the Hunger Games! Read Catching Fire! Read Mockingjay! They're amazing. Trust me. I've read them. Except, of course, Mockingjay, which I don't get until SIX other people have read the exact same copy I'm waiting for."

I could go on and on about them, but I have the newest Artemis Fowl book sitting in front of me and a British show playing on the television, both of which require a slight bit of concentration.

Have a great weekend! I'll be up at a camp on the edge of a lake, spending lots of time with my best friends. Yes. Fall retreat. I cannot wait. So have a lovely weekend...I know I will.

this week I'm loving:

1) My new header. I love the texture, courtesy of this Flickr set. I had a hard time finding a good font to go with the rest of it, and since I didn't have time to download another one that I loved, American Typewriter will have to do for now. (For all you font-aphiles, yes, you are correct, that isn't normal AT, it's AT thin. Better?) The header is my favorite that I've ever made. Favorite as in, I've sat here staring at it for several minutes.

2) Slice by Five for Fighting. This song is super pretty. I've been listening to it on repeat for the last few days. "Have you read my blog today, 300 million little USAs, your doorstep is just a click away, we'll get together one of these days." Now I'm wanting an iTunes card so I can buy the rest of this album.
3) This quote: "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." I love how true this is.
4) I have a question. Would any of you be interested in guest posting for me? Here in a few weeks I'm wanting to put my laptop on a high shelf and leave it there for the week because: 1) I want to be spending less time of the computer and more time with my family (specifically younger sister number deux, cause I never do anything with her.) and 2) This is on my bucket list, and one of the few things that doesn't require travel, so I might as well knock it out now. The only problem with this is my blog. I don't want to leave it for so long, and I have neither the time or the energy to prepare a week's worth of posts. So send me a post at: katiebk12@gmail.com by October 22, next Friday. Thanks so much guys!
5) New faces. Follower faces I don't recognize? Loving it like crazy. :) You guys are so amazing. Back when I first started blogging and I still thought it was weird to follow people I don't know, I told my dad that 50 followers were the most I expected, ever. Thanks for topping that expectation!
6) How To Train Your Dragon. I'm in love with animated movies. This one is right up there with Toy Story 3. Hiccup is such an unlikely hero. Those are my favorite kind.
7) Learning more and more about Darcy. This week I learned how aperture and shutter speed work together, and now I'm shooting in manual. It's a good feeling.

Have an amazing weekend! I hope it's full of apple cider, fall leaves, smiles and hugs.

smile-worthy.

Listening to: Never Alone by BarlowGirl. 
Quote love: "Not all who wander are lost." J.R.R. Tolkien. 

1) apple-orcharding. possibly one of the best parts of fall. perfect weather, perfect day, amazing apples. 

2) knocking something off the bucket list.  friday night I stayed at one of my best friend's house. we made s'mores, roasting the marshmallows over a candle. it was one of the few things on my bucket list that doesn't require travel of some sort.

3) coming to home on sunday night to a super sweet message. jana, your message made my day, and I still smile when I think about it. :)

4) darcy's manual focus button. on my camera, there's a little switch that allows me to change it from manual to auto focus. it's jammed in manual. this is perfect because I don't want to shoot in auto, and the person I bought it from is sending me fifty dollars because we can't fix it. I'm thinking books, books, and more books! (maybe the hunger games trilogy? yes? no? is it worth it to buy them?)

5) so there's this giveaway that I kinda really want to win. and because I love all you followers (and it gets me an extra entry) here's the link. now go enter!

the perfect day:

Listening to: The Ballad of You and I by Melee. (free on iTunes!)
Quote love: “I don’t say we ought to misbehave, but we ought to look as if we could.” Orson Welles
 

fresh coffee+Pride & Prejudice

The reality:

 

school, school, school.

 

leaving in my heart.

Listening to: Drifter by Decemberadio.
Quote love: "A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy." Edward P. Morgan

  

It's funny, the things that make me want to leave. A taste of Dutch cheese or chocolate, a picture of Paris, memories of my summer, reading Jane Austen or C.S. Lewis, the wind blowing that, somehow, smells like England, the lesson of French I took this morning. 

My mom came back from Europe on Sunday. She told us stories...visiting Hilversum, the town we used to live in, walking around Amsterdam, going down to our village in England. With every word I wanted to leave. I love Europe: how close everything is, the cobblestone streets outside our old house, biking everywhere, open-air markets twice a week, inexpensive fresh flowers, the languages, all the different cultures immersed in one place. I miss it.