what i'm listening to: june

 "Boogie Shoes"  || KC & The Sunshine Band

 "The Long Way Home" || Norah Jones

 "Shut Up and Dance" || WALK THE MOON

 "Gotta Have You" || The Weepies

"The Story" || Brandi Carlile

"Bright" || Echosmith

"Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" || Creedence Clearwater Revival

"Fight Song" || Rachel Platten

meg is home

After 18 long, trying, beautiful months, Sister Gowens is {finally} home!!

We picked Meg up from the airport late on June 9th and life has been a really fun whirlwind of family visiting, homecoming parties, talks at church, and lots of sister time. That's partially why I've been missing over here for awhile, but I just couldn't justify doing anything other than soaking up the time I had with family I rarely get to see. 

Disclaimer before we go any further, if you think this post will be filled with lots of family pictures, you would be wrong. 

Who doesn't think to take pictures at important family events?

Yup, that would be me.

 ^^I love this little crew of ours!^^

I managed a few shots at the airport while we anxiously waited for Meg to arrive. I think my mom said, "She's almost here!" every five minutes to give you an idea of how excited we all were. The day she was coming home I kept feeling so bummed that it would only be our family {plus our close family friend, Ryan} at the airport. I've seen videos of missionaries coming home to crowds of people waiting for them. We don't have a lot of family that lives really close and sometimes I wish I could force all my favorite people to live ten minutes down the road. But, in the end, I can honestly say, our little group of six was just perfect! And we were pretty darn loud too!

Meg was so cute when she finally came through the gates. She kept saying, "I think I'm in shock!" Which is totally understandable since she hadn't seen any family in a year and a half. It was such a sweet moment getting to give her a squeeze for the first time!

P.S.-I made all those awesome signs about two hours before she got home because that's how we roll. I was genuinely concerned that some of the paint wouldn't be dry in time :)

 ^^Meg was so nervous and sad when she went to be released from her mission with our stake president. She just did not want to take off that badge! It was a pretty tender evening all together.^^

The rest of the week was spent laughing and hearing all of her hilarious missionary stories. On Friday we had a big homecoming party for Meg and invited everyone we know. She had such a great turn out, but I can't say I'm surprised. Meg was such an example of strength and resilience while she was gone and I know she touched a lot of hearts with her weekly emails. If you can't tell, I'm a pretty proud big sister! The night flew by with lots of little treats {I literally ate my weight in cream puffs}, cute babies running around, and lots of quality time with awesome people.
My idea of a pretty perfect evening!

The next day we all loaded up to head to Ryan, OK. My mom's Aunt Rebecca passed away and they had a gathering at her favorite cafe to honor her life. The people in the picture below are my Aunt LeVita and Uncle Rash. They are so so special to me! We spent every Thanksgiving and Christmas at their house growing up and they sort of filled the "grandparent" role in my mind for most of my life. I love getting to see them any chance I get because it's not nearly often enough.

 ^^And this is my sweet Aunt Mel! She is one of my mom's siblings who came into town for Meg's homecoming. {I'd show you my Uncle Lance, Uncle Paul, and Uncle Ster who also came, but I can't because I didn't take any pictures of them. #strugglebus} Ask me or any of my sisters who we think is awesome and I promise you Aunt Mel will be in each of our top three names mentioned. We just love her to pieces!^^

On Sunday Meg gave her long awaited homecoming talk at church. This is something that each return missionary has the opportunity to do and each time I have the privilege of being there to hear their strong testimonies, mine grows as well. I can't even express how touched I was by the words Meg shared. It was like she was exuding the Spirit with everything she said. I, along with everyone else there that morning, had tears in my eyes more than once. She is just a powerhouse of faith and I think she is amazing.

After she finished speaking, a group of return missionaries and other young adults in the area sang a beautiful song together. And then the tears just weren't in my eyes...they were rolling down my chin and onto my shirt and running my mascara all over the place. It was worth it.

 ^^We had to have a picture of Meg with Dad in this tie. He wore it every Sunday for the 18 months Meg was gone because orange is her favorite color. It is falling apart at this point! That Dad of mine is seriously the sweetest.^^

^^Only missing Tara Rose! I swear the next time we are all together we are taking 5267 pictures. And squinty eyes, pool cover in the background pics for the win.^^

I'm so grateful for Meg and the rest of my wonderful family! 

And I'm especially grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Learn more about it here.

the hits + the misses

the hits

strawberry nerds candy....getting back in the gym {finally}...."Friday Night Lights" the T.V. show {I'm obsessed}....lasagna soup....late night phone calls from Trager...."Hooked on a Feeling" Pandora station....pink otter pops....dad opening the pool this weekend....Trager getting an A in his online class....bike rides....11 days until Sister Gowens is home....26 days until my trip to Arizona....oil parties with my mom....waiting tables on the weekend and having friends drive quite a ways to eat at your table....an awesome birthday package from Tara {she's going to teach me how to contour!}

the misses

flooding in my poor hometown....more rain coming this weekend....humidity level a million....not sleeping....burning my foot on the little heater under my desk....feeling discouraged....tornadoes while working....driving Trager's truck while he is out of town {it seriously feels massive compared to my little car}....laundry for days....veggies going bad before we can eat them

a lil lavender oil + bloke body love

 

Ladies, I'm a big believer in the "pamper yourself" mentality! And with Trager out of town for work my need for one of those in-home spa nights was much needed yesterday. After my little pamper party last night, I thought I might share a couple of my new favorite skin care finds! 

This Bloke Body scrub is something I've had my eye on for awhile now via their beautiful Instagram page. And it did not disappoint! This vanilla chai + sugar scrub smells a little like a gingerbread cookie and it's all natural to boot! My skin is super sensitive so I have to be really, really careful with the products I use. When I first put the scrub on my face I gave it a minute to see if it would burn {that's my signal to wash off a new product pronto} and it felt so nice! I scrubbed a little too hard in the beginning {this scrub doesn't play around...it is there to ex-fol-iate so don't be too rough!} but once I backed off a bit the scrub was amazing! I've gotta say my favorite part would have to be the silky smooth after effect of the coconut oil in the scrub. My face was still soft and supple this morning! This is a new must have for me :)

You can get your hands on some of their awesome products here. 

Be sure to check out their Instagram page as well...they're always posting discount codes! 

There might even be one that ends tonight ;) 

So back to that sensitive skin of mine! I've used doTERRA oils for a while now for all sorts of things, but had a hard time using some of them for my skin issues because they were a little too intense. Recently, I was reading up on lavender oil in relation to it's sleep benefits and stumbled across what it can do for skin problems as well. It helps prevent acne forming bacteria, redness, and tenderness. So for about a week now I've been using lavender oil on my t-zone and chin. People, it is has seriously made such a difference in my skin in just a week! Any problem areas I had are clear and areas of tenderness are no more!! It's definitely my new go to for clearer skin!

If you're interested in lavender oil or any other oils I highly recommend you check out this page. 

Let me know if you try any of these products! I would love to know if they worked as well for you as they did for me :)

**This post is not sponsored. These are just products that I have used and loved!**

Review #18: "The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame

Favorite Quotes:

"he sat on the bank, while the river still chattered on to him, a babbling procession of the best stories in the world, sent from the heart of the earth to be told at last to the insatiable sea." -page 8

" The Mole never heard a word he was saying. Absorbed in the new life he was entering upon, intoxicated with the sparkle, the ripple, the scents and the sounds and the sunlight, he trailed a paw in the water and dreamed long waking dreams." -page 11

"we must all live and let live" -page 52

"and they braced themselves for the last long stretch, the home stretch, the stretch that we know is bound to end, some time, in the rattle of the door-latch, the sudden firelight, and the sight of familiar things greeting us as long-absent travellers from far oversea." -page 56

"Indeed, much that he related belonged more properly to the category of what-might-have-happened-had-I-only-thought-of-it-in-time-instead-of-ten-minutes-afterwards. Those are always the best and the raciest adventures; and why should they not be truly ours, as much as the somewhat inadequate things that really come off?" -page 151

About the Main Character:

The Mole is probably the main character of the story although there are four animals that take the lead at different parts of this novel. He lives a modest, uneventful life until he decides to venture away from his home one day. He quickly befriends the Water Rat and his adventures begin!

Another Character to Note:

Mr. Toad is the conceited, boastful, wealthy animal of River Bank. He keeps the story interesting with his constant mishaps. From stealing cars to breaking out of prison, he just can't quite figure it out. That is until he loses his home to a few unwelcome visitors from the Wild Wood.

Plot Breakdown:

This is a novel about the Mole, the Water Rat, the Badger, and the Toad and how they band together in friendship to explore the land they live in and all the trouble they can get into.

And that is basically it. The writing is very elaborate and each noun gets about six adjectives. 

 The kindness and dedicated friendship is my favorite part of the novel, but overall I found it to be a really slow and rather boring read.

Something Interesting to Note:

I don't know if this is something to note, but I couldn't decide for the majority of the novel what a "Water Rat" was? I still can't decide. I mean I'm assuming it's a rat, but did Grahame make up this "Water Rat" title because his personified character lived on the river? Or are there actual animals called "water rats"? I would love to know what anyone else thinks!

Should you read The Wind in the Willows before you die?

This one is a no for me. It's only 165 pages and I swear it took me over a week to read it because I was so bored. The stories are sweet, but way too fluffed up for my taste.

what i'm listening to: may

 

"That's What Up"....Lennon and Maisy

 

"Where You Lead"....Carole King and Louise Goffin

{I blame Gilmore Girls for this one!}

 

"Pennies From Heaven"....Louis Prima

 

"Take Me As I Am"....Faith Hill

 

"All About Your Heart"....Mindy Gledhill

 

"I Can Love You Better"...Dixie Chicks

 

"I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus"....Emily Brown

{I dare you not to get choked up listening to this one. Dare you!}



L+L Reader Survey!!

I started this blog to share literature and life experiences, but I also really, really wanted to connect with others! In order to better do that, I've created a little {well...kind of little} reader survey so I can get feedback from YOU to take into consideration in future posts.

To complete the survey, leave your email below or send me a request at lovenliterature@gmail.com.

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking the time to fill one out! It means so much!

 



Review #17: "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell

Favorite Quote:

"'Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes--the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters."

"Whenever he looked up from his plate he found the general studying him, appraising him narrowly."

"'God makes some men poets. Some He makes kings, some beggars. Me He made a hunter.'"

"'There is no greater bore than perfection.'"

"'I have electricity. We try to be civilized here.'"

"'Hunting at night is so much more exciting than by day, don't you think?'"

"like some prehistoric beaver, he began to dig."

About the Main Character:

Sanger Rainsford is an experienced hunter from New York City who revels the sport. He is on a boat headed for the Amazon to hunt jaguars when he accidentally falls overboard and is stranded on a mysterious island. His hunting and reasoning skills serve him well as he tries to survive all that awaits him there.

Another Character to Note:

General Zaroff is the millionaire who owns and resides on the mysterious island Rainsford happens upon. He, too, is an exceptional hunter who became so great at hunting that he got bored of such primitive prey. He decided to go after a more dangerous opponent...no matter the moral cost {and let's be real...he doesn't seem to notice any immorality issues!}

Plot Breakdown:

With this being a short story, it's hard not to give away the entire plot when summarizing it. Essentially Rainsford is faced with a dilemma on the island that changes some of his major perspectives in life. It's about right and wrong and how the line can be blurred by simple disregard for anyone else's well-being but your own. This story is face-paced and charged with action which keeps you reading until you're done and then starting over again because you can't quite believe what happened!

Something Interesting to Note:

Connell writes with a very clear and calculated plan. General Zaroff is deeply intrigued by Rainsford cunning ability to reason. So as Connell introduces us to Rainsford he tells us that he can tell time by the position of the sun; Rainsford's happy that he heard a pistol fired because that means there are men with food on the mysterious island; he can tell what kind of gun was shot by simply looking at the cartridge; and he can pick up a trail easily by finding hunting boot tracks. 

These skills will serve him well while on the island and Connell made his experience more believable because he included these details early on in the story.

Should you read "The Most Dangerous Game" before you die?

At first, I wrote a paragraph as to why I didn't think this was a must read, but my reasons didn't out-weigh the fact that this is simply entertaining, engaging, and well-written....so it's a yes!!

the hits + the misses

the hits

rescuing a baby bunny last weekend {we named her Harriet + she was fiesty}....spending Mother's Day with my cute mom...talking with Sister Gowens on Sunday {25 more days!!!!!}....finding out I will be an aunt for the first time {baby girl Ence can't come fast enough}....my birthday and all the love from family and friends...jamba juice runs with Ann and Hallie...anything and everything ROOLEE Boutique {that's where my new favorite top in the photo is from}....Dario Marianelli pandora....Norwegian pancakes....a few sunny days this week....a Kate Spade necklace from Laura....getting to sleep in a little longer this week....trips to Barnes and Noble with Trager....dinner and chocolate cake with my dad for my birthday....getting a gym membership again

the misses

more rain....taking Trager to the airport on my birthday....taking my mom to the airport on my birthday...having to let Harriet {the bunny} back into the wild...another week of not going to the gym {I got the membership today haha}....staying up way too late for silly reasons....sinking in mud walking into work....failed shopping adventures....bad dreams....not getting near far enough in the book I'm reviewing tomorrow {always}....only shaving one of my legs in the shower {yes, that is real life}

24 Birthday Reasons

24 Reasons Why This Will Be The BEST Year Yet

++ Trager starts pharmacy school in 99 days! And we couldn't be more excited :)

++ Megan comes home from her mission in 27 days!! 

++ I just finished my teaching certification and will {hopefully} be teaching high school English or seminary this fall.

++ Trager and I will become an uncle and aunt for the first time this year! Baby Ence can't get here fast enough!

++ Our cute little rental house in Idaho! It's only a block from the school! Decorating it will be a blast!!

++ Lots more Hintze time!! 

++ Getting together with my sweet cousin Rosemary to learn more about this crazy blogging world :) 

++ Having a chance to attend General Conference in October and April! {This is HUGE people.}

++Being closer to Tara and Riley in California and Hunter in Idaho!

++ I have lots of new recipes I want to try {thank you Pinterest!} It's a goal to get more savvy in the kitchen.

++ Finally learning "Dawn" by Dario Marianelli on the piano!

++ I keep seeing friends of mine at Tulip Festivals in Utah, Oregon. Washington, and....IDAHO! We will be going next year!

++ Visiting more of the LDS temples. There will be so many more close to us!

++ I'm currently pinching my pennies for a new computer! That will be a game changer with my blogging when that happens :)

++ Visits from the Gowens family in Idaho! {Yes, mom and dad, I'm talking about you!}

++ Lake Mead and Lake Powell {need I say more??}

++ Trying the potato flake chocolate milk :)

++ Buying and reading new books!!! Our little library will keep growing and growing!

++ Our first autumn in Idaho...and all the other firsts we'll have this year!

++ Hopefully attending a few blogging conventions!

++ Hanging twinkly lights in our very own backyard!

++ Creating new traditions in Idaho and in Utah with our family! Visiting my cousins and in-laws in Utah is always a good time and we'll be even more available now!

++ Taking some online courses in photo-editing and branding!

++ Trager teaching me how to snowboard this winter!!

24, you're looking pretty wonderful!! 

Mom

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." -Abraham Lincoln

I take it as the highest compliment whenever someone tells me I am like her.

 I never doubted her love for me and I'm so grateful to have grown up with her as my guide. 

I don't think I could quite put into words how much I look up to and love my "angel" of a mom! 

Happy {late} Mother's Day!!!

Review #16: "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes

Favorite Quotes:

"Burt took a white mouse out of the cage and showd him to me. Burt said thats Algernon and he can do this amazed very good." -page 7

"I dint know they had majers in collidge. I thot it was onley in the army." -page 20

"This morning Gimpy hes the head baker and he has a bad foot and he limps he used my name when he shouted at Ernie because Ernie losst a birthday cake. He said Ernie for godsake you trying to be a Charlie Gordon. I dont know why he said that. I never lost any packiges." -page 23

"What bothers me is that I can't put into words the way I feel." -page 80

"They would always find excuses to slip away, afraid to reveal the narrowness of their knowledge." -page 98

"Nothing in our minds is ever really gone." -page 195

"Watching Algernon squirm under those tiny bands this afternoon, I felt them around my own arms and legs. I started to gag and choke, and I had to get out of the lab for fresh air. I've got to stop identifying with him." -page 232

"I wept as I put a bunch of wild flowers on the grave." -page 258

About the Main Character:

Charlie Gordon works at a bakery where the other employees make fun of him, but because of his retardation he doesn't notice. His parents sent him away at a young age because he couldn't be normal. He takes classes for handicapped adults where he works hard to read and write. He stands out simply for his strong desire to learn. As a result of the recommendation of his teacher, Charlies has been selected to be the first human in a trial operation to increase his intelligence. After the operation, Charlie's life changes dramatically. He just can't decide if it was for the better or not.

Another Character to Note:

It's hard to pick only one supporting character to mention because so many of them are well developed. Charlie's mother, Rose, is interesting because of her drastic change of emotion towards her son once she realized he would never be like the other children his age. Alice, his teacher turned love interest, is engaging because she cared for Charlie deeply before his operation and that affection only grew. Alice represents the balance between intelligence and emotion that Charlie struggles to find throughout the novel. Professor Nemur is curious because he highlights faults in Charlie that he also contains, such as arrogance. He views Charlie as an experiment, not a person, which makes him very unlikeable. 

Plot Breakdown:

I feel like I've been giving too much away in these little breakdowns so I'm going to try and switch up this week :)

Charlie Gordon is chosen to undergo experimental surgery to increase his intelligence. Algernon is the mouse that they've seen the most success with in their trials. Charlie experiences a huge influx of genius and, as a result, his life is completely altered. He begins to see what his life was really like...full of ridicule he didn't understand and struggles because of his handicap. 

Emotions become difficult as he becomes cold with the increase in knowledge. Keyes creates a lot of intrigue with Charlie's skewed sexual perspective as a result of mistreatment as a child and a lifetime of ignorance on the subject. The way his emotional disconnect plays into his new life is riveting and heart-breaking all at the same time. 

What I loved most about this novel was the insight Keyes gives on how Charlie feels about the way people treated him before he had the operation. There are those who misused him because he didn't know any better. While Charlie is infuriated and hurt by the realization of that mistreatment, he seems to be equally as hurt about the condescending pity that he was shown. Even though the pity was not intended in the way the hateful acts were, they belittled Charlie just the same. 

All he ever wanted is for people to see him as a person.

Something Interesting to Note:

One of my favorite aspects of this novel was the way Keyes changed the usage and grammar to coincide with Charlie's progress. The book is written in the form of progress reports from Charlie's perspective. At first he has no grammatical tools other than a period at the end of his sentences. His early reports are full of fragments and run-ons and words written as they sound rather than their correct spelling. There is obvious confusion on very basic subejcts, but Keyes also includes a warmth and obvious kindness in the early Charlie Gordon that makes him very likeable. 

As the transformation occurs, Charlie's grammar and usage develop with the level of his intelligence. But as he progresses, the warmth leaves his writing and is replaced by objectivity and directness. 

This affected speech makes the operation and Charlie's change more tangible to the reader. 

Keyes is extremely effective with this tool!

Should you read Flowers for Algernon before you die?

Simply because of the eye-opening effect it had on me, I would say yes! My instincts tell me to feel sorry for someone who is handicapped like Charlie. I automatically feel like I need to do anything and everything I can to make their life easier. I remember sitting in an airport cafeteria once waiting for a flight. While I sat their I noticed that the middle-aged custodial attendant working was limping and seemed to have other mental handicaps as well. My heart strings were immediately tugged. When he dropped some of his cleaner and went to reach for it and his broom fell over, I instantly jumped up to help him. But he wouldn't let me. I went back to the table with my feelings a little hurt and a touch embarrassed. I didn't get it then, but I do now. That man didn't need my pity; he simply needed me to treat him like a person who was capable of doing his job without my help.

 Charlie Gordon helped me learn that lesson.

the hits + the misses

the hits

rewatching "Gilmore Girls" from the beginning....hawaiian grilled cheese sandwiches....essie "play date" nail polish....trager's sideways grin and headshake when he thinks something I said was funny, but he doesn't really want me to know he thinks I'm hilarious {even though he totally does!}....lunch at Ann's house....ice cream flavored snow cones....sweet mint gum.....new mascara....reading for hours and not realizing how much time has passed....guacomole....rachel portman pandora....finding colorful walls all around my hometown just like Ginger Parrish's IG guide said I would {love that thing!}....thank you cards from the tutors I work with that made me cry and cry....getting the rental house we were hoping we would in Idaho....The Theory of Everything movie....falling asleep to the rain...my cute dad winning his 5th state championship

the misses

tornados, tornados, tornados....the excruciatingly slow period I'm coming up on at work {the days drag on and on}....not working out consistently for the last two weeks {struggle bus}....the homework that seems to be dating my husband....the friendly fleas on the family dog....never getting up quite early enough to put my make-up on anywhere but the car {again, struggle bus}....the glow-in-the-dark status I've reached with my skin tone....humidity....Trager leaving town for work

camping at turner falls

When Trager and I were registering for our wedding we decided we needed a tent and camping chairs. Looking back now, this seems sort of odd because neither of us were big campers. I guess it was wishful thinking that one day we would have to be outdoorsy! We've used them a few times over the years and this past weekend was one of them. We'd never been to Turner Falls in Davis, OK so we didn't really know what we were in for but it seriously could not have been more fun! There are rivers and pools everywhere and lots of hiking trails. It was the first day of the summer season so when we first got there the woman who gave us our car tag told us to walk down to the falls before we set up camp since it might get more crowded as the day went on. It wasn't a very far off the road and it was so worth seeing! The water was a pretty teal color and was so clear. It was a little too cold for swimming, even though that didn't stop the 63 teenage boys who were literally swimming everywhere.

 

^^^This is me testing the water...and this is also me deciding there was no way we were swimming even though we brought out suits! Way too cold! ^^^

 ^^^Cutest prisoner I've ever seen^^

 

On our way back to the car from walking to the falls, we stopped at this old castle that was up in the trees off  the walking trail. Turns out we ended up crashing a birthday party at the same, but there were so many levels to the castle they didn't seem to mind. It was the summer home of a professor that worked at the University of Oklahoma back in the 1930s. It's made of super steep, narrow stairways and lots of little rooms that really just look like dungeons. {Kind of creepy for a "summer home!"}

 It was really neat to walk around such an old and unique structure in the middle of all the overgrown trees! After that we headed deeper into the park to pick our campsite. We wanted something by the river, but everywhere close to the main offices {bathrooms} were occupied so we ended up in the heart of the park next to a tiny bend of the river. Since it's been so rainy this spring everything was green and blooming. It was really, really lovely!

 ^^^We were definitely cozy with our blow up mattress and quilt!^^^

 ^^^Am I the only one who could eat hobo dinners weekly and never get sick of them? These were especially yummy...recipe to come later this week!^^^

After we gathered firewood for about an hour Trager got our fire going and started working on dinner. While we were waiting for it to cook we listened to music on my bluetooth speaker {thanks Ty and Papa D!} and talked about all sorts of subjects. It was dark before it really got quiet at our camp. Almost as soon as we stopped talking I started to hear something behind me. As I turned around to check out the noise I swear I saw the top of a little kid's head burrowing into our food sack and about jumped out of my chair!!! {Because we should all be terrified of hungry 7 year olds, am I right?} After further investigation, it turned out to be the fattest raccoon alive feasting on the marshmallows we brought for s'mores. Trager ran him off and threw the last of the mallow he was munching on towards the trees across the path from our site.
I guess the chunky little guy still got his feast because the marshmallow was completely gone in the morning!!
  

^^^When we were driving up to our campsite we kept noticing the fields and fields of wild flowers. It was actually pretty sweet because Trager kept pointing out when we saw a new color! 

That guy is my favorite ever. 

After we gathered firewood and Trager started to build the flames, I had to go pick a few. They really brightened up our little spot!^^^

^^^What a nice view to wake up to!^^^

I think my favorite part of camping this time had to be slowing down long enough to take in the magnificent views! Life is busy and hectic; the doing and going demand all attention at all times. It was nice to take a weekend with my man and make a wild flower bouquet and fall asleep to the sound of a river flowing rather than the passing cars. 

We both agree that we're going to have to hit pause like this a little more often this summer!

Review #15: "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

Favorite Quotes:

"Mary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how." -page 7

"To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love;" -page 9

"He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and every body hoped that he would never come there again." -page 11

"Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed that, were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger." -page 48

"Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then. It is something to think of, and gives her a distinction among her companions." -page 131

"What are young men to rocks and mountains?" -page 145

"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." -page 176

"She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think, without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd." -page 191

"'Yes,' replied Darcy, who could contain himself no longer, 'but that was only when I first knew her; for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.'" -page 246

"But how little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue, she could easily conjecture." -page 283

"Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her." -page 296

"'I often think,' said she, 'that there is nothing so bad as parting with one's friends. One seems so forlorn without them.'" -page 299

"I was sure you could not be so beautiful for nothing!" -page 316

"I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to any one less worthy." -page 343

About the Main Character:

Elizabeth Bennet is my favorite literary heroine. She is the second eldest of five sisters. She is her father's favorite and, I would guess, her mother's least. Lizzy "gives her opinion very decidedly for a girl of her age." She's described as second in beauty to her sister, Jane, who is basically supposed to be a babe and a half. Her downfall is her strong prejudice throughout the novel. She's pretty quick to decide what she thinks about a person and sticks with it until she is very clearly proven wrong. Yet, Austen makes Lizzy endearing despite her flaws. And don't even get me started on her love story with Darcy!

Another Character to Note:

Charlotte Lucas really stuck out to me in this reading! Before I really get into her character I want to share a couple of quotes about her:

"Without thinking highly either of men or matrimony, marriage had always been her object: it was the only provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and, however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want." -page 115

"She had always felt that Charlotte's opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her own; but she could not have supposed it possible that, when called into action, she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage." -page 118

I remember once talking with a friend in college about Pride and Prejudice and about how much I love it and she agreed. She said she especially loved the risk Austen took with Charlotte Lucas and I didn't really understand what she meant. This friend then explained that it was a widely speculated opinion that Charlotte Lucas might have, secretly, preferred women. It completely blew my mind and as much as I wanted to discuss this idea, I hadn't read the novel recently enough to bring weight to the argument. 

As I read it this time, these two quotes stuck out as what might lead a reader to this assumption, especially the "without thinking highly of men" statement. I'm definitely not convinced, but it was interesting to read her character with that perspective in mind. 

I personally think that for many women at the time the concept of marriage was convoluted by fortune and security. I think, in those circumstances, it would be easy for a woman to think of men and marriage as a responsibility rather than a novelty to gush about. Charlotte was not a great beauty and had no means to care for herself without marriage, why would she be selective or even excited about marriage? She was just happy to have fulfilled her requirement as a woman and to eliminate the worry of being a burden on her parents; not everyone was as bold as Elizabeth to wait for actual attachment to form. 

Plot Breakdown:

This will likely be the most thorough plot breakdown I ever do, but it's Austen and I'm playing favorites :)

1. Netherfield Park is let at last...and who shall be the bride of Mr. Bingley?

2. The Prideful and Disagreeable Mr. Darcy...and so begins Lizzy's dislike of him.

3. An Invitation from the Bingley's and a Most Severe Cold...Mrs. Bennet's got game.

4. Darcy's affection for Lizzy develops...4and Caroline Bingley is a brat.

5. Jane and Lizzy go back to Longbourn...and Mr. Collins comes wife hunting.

6. Dear Mr. Wickham...and his story of misfortune at the hands of Mr. Darcy.

7. A Ball at Netherfield...awkward Darcy-Lizzy dancing!

8. Mr. Collins condescends to propose to Elizabeth...Mrs. Bennet is not pleased with the outcome.

9. Bingley leaves Netherfield and Caroline leaves Jane a letter...and she's still a brat.

10. The Lucas Marriage...Mr. Collins and Charlotte shall live a happy {and boring} ever after.

11. Wickham loses interest in Lizzy when another girls relative dies and leaves her a large sum...because he's slimy like that!

12. Lizzy visits Charlotte at Rosings...she meets Lady Catherine de Bourgh and sees more of Darcy!

13. Lizzy learns that Darcy sabotaged Jane's chances with Bingley even though he obviously loved her...because the Bennets are embarrasing and Jane didn't seem that into it. {She's just shy people!}

14. A Rather Poorly Worded Proposal...seriously Darcy "you're poor and you're parents and sisters are ridiculous...marry me anyway!" Uh....no, thank you!

15. Elizabeth tears into him about Wickham and Jane...and he writes her a note letting her know his side of things.

16. Lydia goes to Brighton and Elizabeth goes with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner {her uncle and aunt} to Pemberley...yes, Pemberley as in where Darcy lives.

17. The Most Adorable Tension Ever...Lizzy affections blossoms for Darcy as she sees his house and meets his sister. He also fishes with her Uncle {too cute!}

18. Lydia's Embarrassment...and the demise of her whole family.

19. Lizzy starts to realize that maybe, just maybe Darcy is the one to make her the most happy...but did she miss her shot?

20. A Botched Marriage and a Visit from the Wickhams...and silly Lydia lets it slip to Lizzy that the Bennet's owe their saved names to Mr. Darcy.

21. Bingley's Back, Back Again...and with a marriage proposal for the agreeable and lovely Jane. Darcy is with him for some of the trip and Elizabeth just wants his attention.

22. Lady Catherine pays Lizzy a visit...and they have an all out argument about Darcy and who is and is not appropriate to marry him. It's salty to say the least.

23. The Return of Mr. Darcy and Love at Last.

Something Interesting to Note:

Like I said before, it had been a while since I read this novel. Since I read it way back when, the Kiera Knightley version has been my favorite movie of. all. time. And let's be honest, it will probably remain as such. But, as I reread this little gem I kept thinking..."This is so different from the movie!" I have seen the 6 hour version before and didn't really love the actresses who played Elizabeth or Jane, but I'm going to have to re-watch it because 1. I think it is probably a lot more accurate and 2. Colin Firth as Darcy. As a result of these obvious differences, my something interesting to note would have to be a few of the major things I noticed from the novel that didn't quite make the cut in the Knightly adaptation.

1. People call in Elizabeth "Eliza" along with "Lizzy" in the book, but she's only ever nicknamed "Lizzy" in the movie. It was hard to even think of someone calling her that because I'm so used to thinking of her as "Lizzy."

2. Darcy flat out tells Caroline Bingley his interest in Elizabeth in the book which is a sore disappointment as she obviously favors him. In the movie it is pretty clear that Caroline likes Darcy, but he never tells her he likes Elizabeth.

3. Caroline tries to convince Jane that Mr. Bingley is interested in Georgiana rather than in her in the book. This happens in the movie, but it is far bigger deal in the book. Jane is very distressed over and Elizabeth refutes the point by telling her that it is only Caroline trying to discourage her.

4. In the book, Colonel Fitzwilliam {Mr. Darcy's friend that Lizzy meets at Rosings} has some interest in Lizzy, but in the movie this doesn't happen. It has an interesting effect in the book because Lizzy has him somewhat on her mind when Mr. Darcy proposes to her the first time.

5. Both Mr. Bingley's and Mr. Darcy's proposals to Jane and Lizzy are different in the book. They're a little more tender and sweet in the book, but I'm not entirely disappointed in the movie version either.

I guess the book being better than the movie is truer in this case than I remember!

Should you read Pride and Prejudice before you die?

My love for this novel runs deep. I love the Bennet sisters and how they aren't all the same and some have strong attachments {Jane and Lizzy/Lydia and Kitty} and others kind of do their own thing {Mary} and they embarrass each other, but at the end of they day still love each other {okay, maybe not Lydia.} I love that the love stories aren't predictable and keep you intrigued the entire time because they aren't all kisses and rainbows. I love that even in the smallest of ways, Lizzy took a stand for her right as a woman to risk being impoverished for the rest of her life because she would not marry without affection {sorry Mr. Collins.} I love that Mr. Darcy became unabashed for the sake of love. He became Wickham's brother-in-law for crying out loud! And I love Jane Austen. In closing, she's one of my favorites because in a time when many women were using male pseudonyms for their novels in hopes of achieving better sales, Jane used a pen name of a different sort.

Her books were written by "A Lady" because she was just that awesome. And they still sold.

So yes, read Pride and Prejudice again and again and again :)

forget not to...

 Twice annually the LDS church hosts a General Conference. At these meetings, the prophet and other leaders of the church share inspired talks about all sorts of gospel topics. They are enlightening and uplifting. Lately, I've bee trying to read one of these talks per day. It's something that has helped me feel more in tune with the Spirit and focused on the things that matter most. 

Yesterday I reread President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk called, "Forget Me Not." The talk is from the October 2011 General Women's Meeting that just preceded the weekend of General Conference. It has always been a favorite, but yesterday was kind of a perfect day to look it over again as there were a few of the messages that exactly fit what I've been feeling lately.

In the talk, President Uchtdorf describe the tiny "forget me not" flower that is often over-looked in favor of the larger blossoms in the garden. He then outlines five things that women often forget to focus on in the hustle and bustle of life. There are two that stuck out for me.

Forget not to be patient with yourself.

and 

Forget not to be happy now.

Patience. This is not my strong suit. I've always been {and probably always will be to some degree} the type of person who likes to check things off her very literal list. If you give me a task, I will do it to the very best of my ability, but I will also complete it well before the due date because it legitimately stresses me out to wait. I want it done as soon as possible. I'm the same way once I set my mind to a goal...like reading a book a week and reviewing on a blog {or something like that haha.} But, that goal has just not been doable for the last couple of months. I could list all the reasons why, but at the end of the day it just hasn't been happening. It's still something I strive for, but after I read this yesterday I decided not to let it bother me so much. I'm consistently reading and reviewing at the pace that lets me enjoy the reading rather than have it feel like work. 

And that's okay.

I"m generally a happy person. I know I live a very blessed life and am so grateful for it. I'm also a serial day-dreamer. I'm always looking ahead of me to the potential happiness that could come. Before Trager got into pharmacy school and we knew what we were doing with our lives, I would spend at least an hour a day in my head dreaming of what would come when we knew our plan. Once we heard back about Idaho the happiness came!! But almost as quickly as the happiness and relief that flooded me with the news of pharmacy school, bigger dreams came with it. We now have a deadline of when our inconsistent "student life" will end and our more stable " real life" will begin.

Then I remember that right now, today is real life and it is just as sweet and happy as my life can always be if I will just let it. President Uchtdorf said in his talk, "...if we spend our days waiting for fabulous roses, we could miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us." He is so very right! I have all the tools for happiness today...I've just got to start using them! If I can be a little more present and a little less urgent to move forward, I will be better at seeing the happy tender mercies of my day to day. This is the current #1 goal. Be happy now.   

I figured {hoped} I'm not the only one who could relate to this sweet talk. I highly recommend reading it here. 

Pride and Prejudice review to come later this week... 

curry chicken salad!

The summer after my senior year of high school I took a job as a nanny for a little boy named Gage. His parents were in the business of reining horses and their home was just a few yards from the barns. Each day after hours of playing with "hopper boppers" {frogs} and swimming in the kiddie pool in the backyard we would all gather together for lunch. It was here that I was first introduced to my very favorite chicken salad recipe! Gage's Nana would make it and we would eat on toasted bread. In full disclosure I usually had two! They are that good!! 

I've been craving this recipe for weeks now and finally took the time last night to make it again. It's really an easy recipe, but it takes a minute to cut up the veggies and the water chestnuts...worth it! I had it in lettuce wraps for lunch today and that's when I decide I had to share! 

Since having it that summer I've made a few tweaks to it, but the bones of this recipe come from Nana and Heidi Arvidson, two really awesome ladies!

Curry Chicken Salad:

2 cups shredded chicken

1/2 cup chopped pineapples well drained

5 oz water chestnuts drained + sliced

2 Tablespoons soy sauce

3/4 teaspoon salt

1-2 teaspoons curry powder {depends on how strong you want it...I usually do at least 1 1/2 teaspoons}

3/4 cup light Miracle Whip

1/3 cup red bell pepper

1/2 cup chopped celery {mine is usually more like 1/3 cup because celery is not my favorite}

Mix it all together +chill {I think it tastes best if it can chill over night}

And that's it! It's good in lettuce wraps, on crackers, or some yummy toasted bread like I had that summer. 

^^^Again, food pics are not my forte!^^^

Hope you enjoy them! I think it's the perfect way to welcome the warmer weather!! :)

What I'm Listening To: April

1. Be Be Your Love...Rachel Yamagata

2. Forrest Gump Suite...Alan Silvestri

3. Girl Crush...Little Big Town

4. Think Of You...A Fine Frenzy

5. Gentle On My Mind...The Band Perry 

6. Can't Help Falling In Love...Ingrid Michaelson

7. Heartland...George Strait {and Son}

That last one is currently making me cry anytime I hear it. Okahoma is the "heartland" for me and I'll be sad to leave it behind!