Monthly Archives: June 2018

06.15.18
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Getting Personal #127: My Skin & Makeup Routines (Part 5)

Lush

Image Credit: LUSH UK

I’m trying some new things, so it’s time to write another Skin & Makeup Routine post!

Here are the links to my original posts:

Skin

I’m continuing my normal routine with a combo of my standard LUSH and Young Living products, but I wanted to share some new things I’ve purchased since my last post.

I took the Wolfberry Eye Cream with me on my recent trip to Blacksburg, and I love it!

Karma Kream is my new favorite body lotion. It’s perfect for right after I shave my legs!

These are three face masks that I received for free during my last trip to LUSH, which was at the end of April. If you redeem five empty and clean pots, you get a free face mask of your choice! Since I had 16 empty and clean pots, they gave me all three at once.

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Since the last update, I started supporting a friend’s business with Rodan + Fields. I started with their Lash Boost. I’ve been using it for nearly two months. In just seven weeks, I’ve seen a massive difference! My eyelashes are fuller, darker, and I’ve lost less of them. I also don’t wear a lot of mascara anymore!

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Using Lash Boost is super simple! It’s the same concept as eyeliner on your lids. Once a day, swipe, swipe, and done!

I also took the quiz called “Finding Your Regimen” with their Solution Tool. Since skin cancer is very prevalent in my family, and I have the “fair skin curse,” I wanted to see what this said. After all, Rodan + Fields are two dermatologists!

My personalized recommendation was Reverse Lightening. So, I ordered it. Granted, I haven’t had a chance to start using it yet, since it’s a new regimen from what my skin has been used to. Hopefully I can start it over this weekend!

 

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In addition, a while back I saw that Young Living offered something called the Bon Voyage Travel Pack. I added to my monthly order, and I’m so glad I did. This was wonderful to have during my flight to Florida – No issues with the TSA!

The travel pack includes:

  • Thieves® AromaBright Toothpaste
  • Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier
  • Thieves Dental Floss
  • Thieves Fresh Essence Plus Mouthwash
  • Young Living Toothbrush
  • Lavender Shampoo
  • Lavender Conditioner
  • Cinnamint Lip Balm
  • Morning Start™ Bath & Shower Gel
  • Genesis™ Hand & Body Lotion
  • ART® Light Moisturizer

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Here’s my updated LUSH wish list:

Makeup

I’m loving my Savvy Minerals. I don’t have any recent photos, but I recently used Essential Rewards (ER) to purchase a bigger variety of the eyeshadow offerings. More photos to come!

Here is the list of eyeshadow that I currently have:

  • Best Kept Secret
  • Diffused
  • Determined
  • Envy
  • Freedom
  • Inspired
  • Overboard
  • Spoiled
  • Unscripted
  • Jet Setter (eyeliner)
  • MultiTasker

I use either Jet Setter or MultiTasker on almost a daily basis! I’m excited to experiment with the different colors that I now have, too.

 

Hair

As much as I love Young Living’s shampoos and conditioners, it just wasn’t working out. Products with essential oils don’t mix well with hair that gets oily and greasy easily. I donated my unopened products to my church’s food pantry, which collects toiletries as well.

At the new LUSH store, I found their “Big” shampoo and solid conditioner. These were game-changers for me!

I also love their Sea Spray Hair Mist!

Everything I have reminds me of the beach!

What about you?

Do you have a certain skin routine? What about makeup?

Have you tried any homemade recipes related to skin or makeup?

Check back in a few months – I’ll likely have another update post to share!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.14.18
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Tag #59: Sage Advice From Ancient Times

Ancient Times

Image Credit: StatusMind.com

I found this really interesting tag from Kim. She writes at Over The Andes. Check out her blog! I think you’ll like it.

Here’s the link to Kim’s original post:

The Rules:

  • Choose the author or philosopher (it should be one from the Ancient Time). Don’t know anyone? Google it. It shouldn’t be so hard.
  • Choose 3 quotes of this author/philosopher. The country of origin – doesn’t matter (Egypt, Greece…Italy). Add any info or explanation if you like.
  • Share those quotes and nominate 3 to 6 people; Ops, that’s not obligatory.
  • The title for the post? Choose something cool.

My Choice

I chose Lao Tzu, the honorary title of Li Er, from ancient China. Lao Tzu means “Old Master.” As a saint or deity, he is known by multiple names (Lao Jun, Lao Dan). He is credited with founding Daoism.

Source: Lao Tzu Biography

Quotes

“Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”

“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”

“Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.”

Tag – You’re It!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.13.18
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Tag #58: The “All About The Reading” Tag

All About The Reading Tag

Image Credit: YouTube

Thrice Read! Happy two-year anniversary, by the way! Thanks for publishing so many awesome tags!

Here’s the link to their original post:

What do you look for most when you pick up a book?

A) A beautiful writing style
B) A character driven story
C) A plot driven story

Honestly, I’m picking C. The plot has to hook me from the get-go.

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What are your pet peeves in books?

  1. Multiple POVs that are poorly executed.
  2. Characters that diminish their self-worth to attract the love interest.
  3. I agree with Thrice Read – Using / having pregnancy as a conflict? No, thanks!
  4. Most love triangles. They don’t typically end well in real life, so I don’t really want to see it play out in a book. Next!

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If you could print one quote on your wall, which one would it be?

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

~ Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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Which genre would you like to explore more?

Science fiction. I want to re-read Ender’s Game, and then finally read more of Card’s books. Then, we’ll see what happens from there!

I also want to try my hand with Dark Matter, by Blake Crouch.

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Was there ever a movie adaptation you liked better than the book?

The Notebook (2004) was one of the best adaptations.

However, no movie adaptation will likely top a book, for me. Books will always win.

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If one of your favorite books would be adapted or get a new adaptation, which book would it be and which role would you like to play?

I would love to see a modern retelling of The Great Gatsby. I think I’d like to play a female version of Nick Carraway – How’s that for turning something on its head?

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A hyped book you wouldn’t recommend at all?

As much as I want to say Fifty Shades of Grey, I didn’t get past the first few pages before I completely stopped. I will never read any of them, ever. So, technically, they don’t count.

So, I’ll go with Twilight. Initially, I though it was an intriguing series, but I never truly bought into the vampire side. This is also coming from someone who was basically forced to watch the first two movies while in college. I haven’t seen any of the others.

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A book that highly influenced your life and way of thinking?

Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card.

Double points for using the same answer twice!

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Are you a fan of re-reading books, do you do it often?

Yes.

I re-read The Great Gatsby and To Kill A Mockingbird every year.

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Which book title could easily be the title of your life?

Eat, Pray, Love (I’m horrible with questions like this!)

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Which book should be required reading for everyone?

I don’t like to use the term “required reading,” but here’s my list of my recommended books (in no particular order):

  • Dear Mr. Henshaw, Beverly Cleary
  • Holes, Louis Sachar
  • Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone, J.K. Rowling
  • The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
  • Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card
  • To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee
  • Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
  • The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank
  • Looking for Alaska, John Green

What would you recommend for required reading? Why?

Thanks for another great tag!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.12.18
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Adventure Time: Blacksburg, VA Edition (P.E.O. Virginia State Convention 2018)

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This is my first-ever P.E.O. State Convention post!

What is P.E.O.?

  • From P.E.O. International: P.E.O. is a philanthropic organization where women CELEBRATE the advancement of women; EDUCATE women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans, and stewardship of Cottey College and MOTIVATE women to achieve their highest aspirations.
  • Motto: Women helping women reach for the stars
  • There are 230,000 members throughout the United States and Canada
  • More information: https://www.peointernational.org/

This was at least my fourth Virginia State Convention. I have been to Convention in Roanoke, at least twice in Richmond, and this year was in Blacksburg, at The Inn at Virginia Tech.

I was one of two delegates. Each chapter – There are 76 chapters in Virginia – are asked to send at least two delegates to Convention every year. I was thrilled to be a delegate with Darcy, a newly-initiated sister into our chapter. We are from Chapter L, based in Norfolk.

Convention was held from June 1-3, 2018. Come along for the ride!

Friday, June 1st

Darcy and I left my house around 8:30 a.m. for the long drive. It was roughly 440 miles from Hampton Roads. I wanted to make sure we got there before 4:30 p.m., where I was supposed to be in rehearsal for one of the convention workshops.

Thankfully, we didn’t have a lot of traffic. We arrived around 2:00 p.m., and the hotel was already buzzing with activity! We checked in, and then went toward Virginia Tech’s campus in search of food, and to stretch our legs.

We discovered downtown Blacksburg, and we stopped at Bottom of the Stairs (BOTS, for short). They weren’t busy, and the food was delicious!

My Slider Trio – Chicken, pulled pork, and their “veggie BBQ,” which was pulled jackfruit. Yummy!

After our early dinner, we took a Lyft back to The Inn. My workshop rehearsal was successful, and we were able to relax for a bit before the evening activities began.

I was part of the Friday night membership workshop, which was stylized as a live radio show from “WPEO.” It was a blast! I was “selected” as a Region 3 contestant, where I was a panelist with Ibani, a sister from Chapter AS in Richmond.

The Convention theme was “Catch The Waves To Better Futures.” Our outgoing President, Sherry Arendt, lives right on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, so she brought “the ocean to the Alleghenies.”

After our evening workshops, Darcy and I spent several hours with the Franc 7’s group. Franc Rhodes was one of the seven founding sisters in 1869, and she was the youngest of the group. So, Franc 7’s are the women who are under 40-years-old. We had 21 Franc 7’s present during Convention, which was awesome! We pushed couches and chairs together, and enjoyed a nice, productive, unscripted conversation. Darcy and I hit the hay around 11:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 2nd

Saturday is easily the busiest and longest day. Breakfast usually starts around 7:00 a.m., and the day ends with the Saturday Night Banquet at 10:00 p.m.!

The P.E.O. flower is the marguerite, a flower much like a daisy. When I saw this dress for sale in the Darby’s Dresses Facebook group, I knew I had to have it!

One of the highlights of Convention is honoring our Golden Girls – Women who are celebrating 50 years of membership in P.E.O.! We had one sister that we celebrated this year – Our current chapter president, Jeanne Brody. She was initiated into a New Jersey chapter in 1968.

The handmade gold centerpieces!

The Golden Girls luncheon was fabulous. Ethel Muter, the State Organizer, did an amazing job with the presentation. In addition to displaying the 29 Golden Girls, their photos, and fun facts, she also did a ton of research on things happening during these ladies’ initiation dates in 1968!

One of Sherry’s challenges for the past year was using our special sand castle bucket for collecting spare change and fundraising ideas. All 76 chapters decorated their buckets, and proudly displayed them for all to see!

$2,000 in one fundraiser!

On Saturday afternoon, there were a few hours between the end of the day’s Convention business and the Saturday Night Banquet. Darcy and I walked around campus, and enjoyed the Duck Pond area.

On Saturday night, there’s a great banquet. There are project speakers who thank the P.E.O. chapter or chapters that helped nominate or sponsor them, and all of them are incredibly inspirational and humble.

We had dinner, and then an awesome trio played beach music. Imagine around 200 women dancing for two hours!

There are six International projects:

The state / Commonwealth of Virginia has two state projects:

Convention also has what’s called a “Projects Room,” where attendees can learn more about the projects, and see the recipients from the last year.

Sunday, June 3rd

I wanted to get as many photos as I could!

The sign outside the Projects Room.

The photos below showcase our seven founders, who started P.E.O. at Iowa Wesleyan College on January 21, 1869.

P.E.O. is celebrating its sesquicentennial – 150th anniversary – in 2019!

The year 2019 is also a P.E.O. International Convention year – So the 150th celebration will be held where it all began – Des Moines, Iowa. I’m already saving my money for next September!

I love this handmade quilt that showcases all 76 chapters, and where they are in Virginia.

Sunday morning is always a whirlwind. There are just a few hours to finish the Convention business, install the new State Officers, and say goodbye!

P.E.O. also takes time to remember sisters who have died, or passed on to “Chapter Eternal” every year. This year was particularly emotional. There were 69 sisters who passed away, including two Past State Presidents (PSPs).

Tragically, one of those deaths was the accidental death of Liz Jackson, who was the sitting State Secretary. I met her when my church was host to one of the Reciprocity Rallies (Reciprocity is a group of chapters based on geographic location – There are many throughout the state) in September 2017. Sadly, she fell off a balcony in February 2018, and never recovered.

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After the Time of Remembrance, Convention business was concluded for the weekend. The new State Officers were installed. Our new State President is Rhesa Janice, from Chpater AZ, Herndon.

The 70th Annual Virginia State Convention will be held in Richmond, Virginia in 2019. The year 2019 will be an exciting one for P.E.O.!

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Rhesa’s theme is “Value The Past, Vision The Future.”

I hope you enjoyed my post about P.E.O. and the annual Virginia State Convention!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.11.18
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Blog Awards #18: Liebster Award – Number Three!

Liebester Award

I was tagged by Rory, who writes the awesome A Guy Called Bloke and K9 Doodlepip! Thanks, Rory!

Here’s the link to the original post where I was tagged:

The Rules

  • Thank the person who nominated you.
  • Answer 11 questions about yourself provided by you nominator—or 11 random facts.
  • Nominate 5-11 fellow bloggers with fewer than 1000 followers who you think deserve the award.
  • Create a new list of questions for your nominees.
  • List the rules in your post.
  • Let your nominees know of your nomination personally.

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Rory’s Questions To Me

Do you read question lists from the top, the bottom or from the middle first?

Did you ask yourself why l asked you that first?

If l didn’t want an answer for question 4 would you supply it anyway?

Can you see what question 4 is yet?

How many questions are asked on this nomination in total?

If there was one big question you wanted this list to ask of you, what would it be?

What would your answer be to that question?

I don’t want you to answer any of these questions with the exception of number 7 and maybe 11, ok?

Who invented FAQ’s?

For this Liebster Award nomination who asked the 12th question?

What was it, and more importantly of all the questions asked, how would you answer the 12th question found in question 2?

Think about it numerically…

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My Answers

I hurt my brain trying to sort the questions correctly. For several days.

But, here we go.

If there was one big question you wanted this list to ask of you, what would it be?

What would your answer be to that question?

  • What is your favorite decade, and why?
  • Answer: The 1950s, because it was a time of amazing fashion, recovery from World War II, and progress.

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My Questions

  1. Do you play games?
  2. What are your five favorite movies?
  3. Do you have a favorite animal?
  4. Where is your favorite place to watch movies?
  5. Where is your favorite place to read?
  6. If you could have a dream breakfast served to you, what would you order?
  7. Do you have a favorite alcoholic beverage?
  8. What is your most vivid childhood memory?
  9. If you could have a house built anywhere in the world, where would it be?
  10. Where is the one place you want to visit, but haven’t yet?
  11. What is your favorite city?

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My Nominations

I offer a similar disclaimer – Awards are meant to be fun, so please don’t feel obligated to participate if you don’t want to. It doesn’t hurt my feelings!

  1. Destiny – Howling Libraries
  2. Laurie – Work, Play, Chardonnay
  3. Hannah Undecided
  4. Kim – Over The Andes
  5. Vinnie
  6. Fiction No Chaser
  7. Tony – The Tony Burgess Blog
  8. Jenna – Bookmark Your Thoughts
  9. Thrice Read
  10. The Book’s the Thing
  11. In A Messy World

Thanks again, Rory!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.10.18
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Getting Personal #126: Movies That Are Inspiring My Travels

Travel - Adventure in You

Image Credit: Adventure in You

I love Paige Wunder’s blog, For The Love of Wanderlust. Check her out!

I was inspired to write this post by Paige’s recent post:

Chicago, Illinois – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

As a kid, I visited Chicago a couple of times, since my Aunt Nancy, Uncle Larry, and cousin Missy lived in nearby Gurnee, Illinois, for years.

However, I’ve never been back to visit as an adult. I’d love to visit the Art Institute of Chicago, Wrigley Field, and Willis Tower.

Other movies filmed / set in Chicago:

  • The Blues Brothers (1980)
  • Risky Business (1983)
  • The Breakfast Club (1985)
  • Adventures in Babysitting (1987)
  • Backdraft (1991)
  • The Fugitive (1993)
  • Never Been Kissed (1999)
  • On the Line (2001)
  • The Incredibles (2004)
  • The Incredibles 2 (2018)

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Mountain Lake Hotel near Pembroke, Virginia – Dirty Dancing (1987)

I’ve had the opportunity to stay at the Mountain Lake Hotel twice. Longwood’s S.E.A.L. organization has held their annual Leadership Conference there several times, and I was able to go as both a participant and a workshop presenter. If you ever get the chance, it’s such a beautiful area!

I would also like to eventually visit Lake Lure, North Carolina, where the rest of filming took place.

Other movies filmed / set in western Virginia and/or western North Carolina:

  • Shenandoah (1965)
  • Firestarter (1984)
  • Bull Durham (1988)
  • The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
  • Richie Rich (1994)
  • Patch Adams (1998)
  • Big Stone Gap (2014)

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New York City – Ghost (1990)

I’m a bit biased, since I was born in Manhattan. Plus, there are so many movies that have been set in or filmed in the Big Apple. Oodles of them!

It was so hard to pick one movie that makes me think of New York. But, Ghost is one of my favorites. I still remember the very first time I watched it – With my mom.

If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out. It’s dramatic, it’s a love story, and it’s also very funny.

I can’t wait to show Al the Big Apple for the very first time this fall!

Other movies filmed / set in New York City:

  • Rear Window (1954)
  • North by Northwest (1959)
  • Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
  • The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
  • The Great Gatsby (1974)
  • Saturday Night Fever (1977)
  • Superman (1978)
  • Ghostbusters (1984)
  • The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
  • Romancing the Stone (1984)
  • Big (1988)
  • Coming to America (1988)
  • When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
  • Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
  • Quiz Show (1994)
  • Men in Black (1997)
  • You’ve Got Mail (1998)
  • The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000)
  • Finding Forrester (2000)
  • Catch Me If You Can (2002)
  • The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
  • National Treasure (2004)
  • Night at the Museum (2006)
  • Enchanted (2007)
  • WALL-E (2008)
  • Julie & Julia (2009)
  • Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)
  • American Hustle (2013)
  • The Great Gatsby (2013)
  • The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
  • Whiplash (2014)
  • The Big Short (2015)
  • Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
  • Ghostbusters (2016)
  • Sully (2016)
  • The Secret Life of Pets (2016)

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New Orleans, Louisiana – The Pelican Brief (1993)

This is one of my favorite John Grisham book-to-movie adaptations. Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington are a great pair, and it’s a gripping thriller.

Roberts’ character is a law student at Tulane University, and seeing the variety of locations they used for filming is one of several reasons why I want to visit New Orleans.

Other movies filmed / set in New Orleans:

  • Gone With The Wind (1939)
  • A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
  • Live and Let Die (1973)
  • All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)
  • JFK (1991)
  • The Client (1994)
  • Interview with the Vampire (1994)
  • Ruby Bridges (1998)
  • The Haunted Mansion (2003)
  • The Princess and the Frog (2009)

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Beaufort, South Carolina – Forrest Gump (1994)

Forrest Gump is one of my all-time favorite movies. I’ve watched it at least 20 times.

I’ve only been to South Carolina once on a trip – To Charleston, for a family friend’s funeral, when I was 12. I’d love to go back as an adult.

Just the antebellum architecture and gorgeous old oak trees is enough to lure me there.

Other movies filmed / set in South Carolina:

  • The Big Chill (1983)
  • Glory (1989)
  • The Prince of Tides (1991)
  • G.I. Jane (1997)
  • Radio (2003)
  • The Notebook (2004)
  • The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)
  • The Secret Life of Bees (2008)

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British Columbia, Canada – Juno (2007)

I had the opportunity to visit parts of British Columbia while on a trip to Seattle and the San Juan Islands with my parents in the summer of 1998. I saw parts of Victoria, and Buchart Gardens. However, I’d love to go back and explore more.

Other movies filmed / set in British Columbia:

  • Jumanji (1995)
  • Double Jeopardy (1999)
  • Lake Placid (1999)
  • Agent Cody Banks (2003)
  • I, Robot (2004)
  • Miracle (2004)
  • Saved! (2004)
  • Fantastic Four (2005)
  • Shooter (2007)
  • Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)
  • Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)
  • Tomorrowland (2015)
  • Star Trek Beyond (2016)

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Greece – Mamma Mia! (2008)

Mamma Mia! has become one of my favorite musicals. I need to see it on Broadway! Until then, I can’t wait to see the sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, with my mom when it comes out in theaters in July.

Other movies filmed / set in Greece:

  • The Big Blue (1988)
  • Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001)
  • The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)
  • The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008)
  • Before Midnight (2013)
  • Jason Bourne (2016)

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Boston, Massachusetts – Spotlight (2015)

It’s a tough subject – Child sex abuse within the Catholic Church – but Spotlight is one of those movies that I’ve seen multiple times. Maybe it’s the journalist in me?

I’ve always wanted to visit Boston. It’s one of those historic cities that I haven’t had a chance to see. In addition, I’d love to explore New England as a whole. But, Boston is a good place to start.

Other movies filmed / set in Boston:

  • The Firm (1993)
  • With Honors (1994)
  • Good Will Hunting (1997)
  • A Civil Action (1998)
  • The Boondock Saints (1999)
  • Legally Blonde (2001)
  • The Departed (2006)
  • The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (2009)
  • The Proposal (2009)
  • Ted (2012)
  • Ted 2 (2015)

This was a really fun post to write!

What about you? Do you have movies that have inspired you, or are inspiring you, to travel? Let me know in the comments!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.06.18
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Tag #57: First Date Book Tag

First Date Book Tag

Image Credit: Pinterest

Thrice Read does some of the best book tags! Here’s another one!

Here’s the link to their original post:

The awkward first date – A book where something felt off. It wasn’t a bad book, but lacked that spark for you.

Go Set A Watchman, Harper Lee.

I wanted to like this book so much. But, it felt weird almost the whole time I was reading it. However, I can’t rate it higher than a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

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The cheap first date – A book that turned out less than you expected.

This Is Where It Ends, Marieke Nijkamp.

This is one of those books where I was really intrigued by the synopsis, but ended up being let down. It didn’t help that the main plot coincided with a real-life national tragedy, either.

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Well-prepared first date – A book that was better than expected.

The Woman in Cabin 10, Ruth Ware.

I’d heard good things for a while, before Al bought me my own copy for Christmas. But, this book knocked it out of the park. One of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read so far. Give me more!

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Hot but dumb – A pretty book, not so hot on the inside.

Twilight series, Stephenie Meyer.

Vampires aren’t for me.

 

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Blind date – A book you picked up not knowing anything about it.

The War That Saved My Life, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.

I found this book purely by chance during a Barnes & Noble expedition. Completely worth it!

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Speed dating – A book you read super fast.

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne.

I was writing the Book Review just two days after starting it. I couldn’t put it down! I think that’s nearly a record for me.

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The rebound – A book you read too soon after a book hangover and it kind of ruined the book for you.

Camino Island, John Grisham.

I ended up in a two-week reading slump right after starting it, and once I picked it up again, I knew I needed to set it aside. It’s back on my nightstand after several months, and I look forward to reading it all the way through very soon.

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Overly enthusiastic date – A book that felt like it was trying too hard.

Allegiant, Veronica Roth.

See my review of the trilogy for more.

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The perfect first date – A book that did everything right for you.

Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide, Patrice Banks.

I loved this book. She offers excellent advice, tips, and experience. Be a #shecanic like Patrice and I!

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Humiliating first date – A book you’re embarrassed to admit you liked / embarrassed to see reading in public for whatever reason.

I’ve read quite a few of the Gossip Girl books.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.05.18
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Adventure Time: Portsmouth, VA Edition (The Visit From The Vacationing Doll)

American Girl Dolls Sandcastle

Image Credit: Flickr – Julia Monroe

As most of you probably know by now, I love American Girl.

I’m also a part of a huge Facebook group called Obsessed BST (Buy/Sell/Trade), which has well over 14,000 members.

At the beginning of May, a woman named Kammi proposed an intriguing idea: Doing a traveling doll, kind of like a Flat Stanley idea. I immediately wanted to sign up!

Kammi lives in Ohio, and was great at keeping in contact with me!

The doll, Emily, belongs to Kammi’s 7-year-old daughter. Emma is one of nine children! Amazing!

Emily came to Al and I on Tuesday, May 29th. Kammi included a journal, and asked everyone to write in the journal, add pictures, and write a short bio of the family who has her. I was so excited, and Al got in on the fun, too.

Emily is now on her way to the next destination – North Carolina! – so I wanted to share my photos of The Visit From The Vacationing Doll!

Tuesday, May 29th

Emily was so excited to get out of her box and get the packing peanuts out of her hair. She made seven new friends almost immediately. Here she is spending time with my dolls.

Emily meets Autumn, Chrissa, and Z. The photo got cut off – I was so excited!

Emily meets Stephanie, Molly, mini Molly, and Kit!

They apparently had a nice slumber party. I thought I could hear them trying to be quiet!

Wednesday, May 30th

Emily spent most of the day with my dolls, when we were at work.

Once I got home, Emily joined us on the couch while we ate dinner and watched TV. We’ve been re-watching Chuck on Amazon Video.

For dessert, we made s’mores in the microwave! We had the traditional Hershey’s chocolate, but I also had one with a Reese’s peanut butter cup. Yummy!

“Oooh, yum!”

Yummy!

Emily wanted my extra candy!

As much as Emily wanted a taste, I didn’t want her to get messy! S’mores are really sticky!

Thursday, May 31st

Today was my Friday, since I was off work on June 1st for my P.E.O. Virginia State Convention! Al proposed the idea of going out to dinner, like we normally do on Friday nights, and showing Emily downtown Portsmouth.

This is the historic Commodore Theatre. The Art Deco-style movie theater was originally built in 1945, and was fully restored in 1989. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

This is just one of several murals in the downtown area, honoring local musicians and other celebrities.

We stopped by the Portsmouth Courthouse. Built in 1846, it’s now home to the Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center. The fence was beautifully decorated for the recent Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Naturally, we had to stop by the Children’s Museum of Virginia, also on High Street. I think Emily was sad that it was already closed for the day. It’s been open since December 1980, but it’s been at this location since 1998. From 2009 to 2011, the entire building was gutted, expanded, and revamped to offer more interactive and spacious exhibits.

I think Emily really loved our mini-adventure!

Friday, June 1st – Sunday, June 3rd

I was in Blacksburg, Virginia, all weekend. I thought about taking Emily with me on the road trip, but was afraid something would happen to her. So, she happily stayed home with Molly and all her new friends. Al tells me they had slumber parties every night!

Monday, June 4th

Emily had to say farewell to her friends today. But, everyone was very excited for her next leg of the journey. I even wanted to send her along in a new outfit!

Before. I kept the pretty handmade dress, but the pink shoes were specifically requested to come back to Ohio. They’re in a secure baggie in the box, I promise!

After. She’s ready to go!

The School Stripes Dress was introduced in 2014. Emily is headed to her next destination in style!

We loved having a visit from the vacationing doll this past week!

Have you done anything like Flat Stanley?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.04.18
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Tag #56: My Bad Reading Habits Tag

Let's Talk Bad Reading Habits

Image Credit: She Latitude

Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts did this amazing tag recently!

Here’s the link to her original post:

Bad Habit #1

Not finishing books that I’m semi-interested in.

I don’t typically do this. I have definitely Did Not Finish (DNF’ed) a few books in the last year or so, but mainly because I was in a reading slump for a while and needed to set that particular book aside for a while. If I do DNF a book, I usually find my way back to it to finish it, eventually.

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Bad Habit #2

Switching between books but never finishing them.

I rarely do this. I’m a one-book-at-a-time person, so I rarely switch between books at all.

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Bad Habit #3

Buying books … because “I have nothing to read.”

THIS IS DEFINITELY ME!

I’m completely guilty of this. Ugh. I need to “shop my own bookshelf” much more frequently.

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Bad Habit #4

Not reading books on my TBR list.

I’m getting better at this … Slowly.

Doing my own version of “Down The TBR Hole” at the beginning of May really helped me with this habit.

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Bad Habit #5

Not getting out of a book slump.

My longest book slump, in recent memory, only lasted about two weeks. I was just physically and mentally exhausted by the time it was bedtime, so I had zero energy or desire to read.

Tag – You’re It!

  • I tag anyone!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.01.18
by

Getting Personal #125: June Goals

BeautyBeyondBones 2

Image Credit: BeautyBeyondBones

Hey there, June! Nice to see you!

We’re halfway through 2018. Wow!

Here are my goals for the month of June:

  1. Attend P.E.O. State Convention.
  2. See Incredibles 2.
  3. See Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
  4. Work on a goals list with Al for the remainder of 2018.
  5. Update the Household Bills spreadsheet.
  6. Write at least 1,000 new words for my 2012 NaNoWriMo endeavor.
  7. Download Evernote.
  8. Host a “vacationing doll” from Ohio!

Here’s the breakdown:

Attend P.E.O. State Convention.

  • P.E.O. State Convention is in Blacksburg, Virginia this year!
  • The theme is “Catch The Waves To Better Futures,” so we’re having a beach party in the mountains!

See Incredibles 2.

  • Finally! Fourteen years in the making, we’re finally getting a sequel!!

See Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

  • We really liked Jurassic World when it came out in 2015, so we’ve been intrigued about the sequel for a while now. Bring it on!

Work on a goals list with Al for the remainder of 2018.

  • I’m determined to make this happen in June!

Update the Household Bills spreadsheet.

  • This has been been bugging me for at least three weeks. It’s absolutely happening!

Write at least 1,000 new words for my 2012 NaNoWriMo endeavor.

  • This is another thing that’s been bothering me. After all the work I did for Camp NaNoWriMo in April, I didn’t write a single new word during the month of May. Challenge accepted!

Download Evernote.

Host a “vacationing doll” from Ohio!

  • One of my American Girl doll Facebook groups is full of ideas. A woman in Ohio has nine kids, so vacations are expensive. Her 7-year-old daughter loves AG, and wanted to send one of her dolls, Emily, on “vacation.”
  • Al and I will have her for a full week, before I ship Emily off to the next destination!
  • I’m so excited to be participating!

Do you have any goals for the month of June?

If so, I’d love to hear about them!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂