Friday, August 27, 2010

Becoming A Better Blogger - Part One

Blog Status: Ella is hearting her new car!

I've seen a lot of bloggers do this 30-day blog challenge, and I think it's a really good idea. I've really enjoyed reading all of your answers so I'm officially hopping on the bandwagon. But because school starts for me on monday, I don't know if I'm going to have time for the next 30 days so I'm doing what I've seen some of you do and combining different parts into one.

Here goes:

Day 1-your favorite song:
This is a really tough one, I have so many for so many different reasons.

Day 2-your favorite movie:
This is a little easier, I would say either Dirty Dancing or Eurotrip, both for vastly different reasons

Day 3-your favorite television program:
Right now hands down Big Bang Theory, which is funny because when it first came out I thought it was the stupidest show in the world, but it's grown on me now to the point that I own the first 2 seasons and I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of season 4 on tv and season 3 on dvd!
Some close runners-up are Mad Men, Glee, Grey's Anatomy and Gossip Girl

Day 4- your favorite book:
Humm. I really only read a lot when I'm in Germany and then it's mostly Chick-Lit with the Twilight and Harry Potter series' thrown in for good measure. If I want an easy read that will always entertain me I grab the Shopaholic series, especially "in Manhattan" or "and baby". Those two are probably my favorites.

Day 5-your favorite quote:
"What defines us is how we rise after we fall"
It's actually a very inconsequential quote from Maid in Manhattan but I've always loved it

I have already have a post planned for sometime in the next few days, and then I'll post the second installement of this series

Have a good weekend!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Favorite Fridays - Chick Lit!

Blog Status: Ella is reminiscing about some very old pictures that just showed up on facebook courtesy of the bestest

Jumping right back into the swing of all things blog, I've decided to participate in Jen's Favorite Fridays topic this week - Chick Lit!

Favorite Fridays

This one is right up my alley since 75% of the books I read can be considered Chick-Lit. It's also hard because now I have to go through and pick the best. My bookshelf is covered in bright pastel colored books with sparkly or script writing. The tell-tale signs of Chick-Lit.

I'm going to pick some of my favorites but also lesser known authors and books. I'm sure most of you have either read or heard of both Sophie Kinsella and Emily Giffin (both good Chick-lit authors!)


A few weeks ago I read "Hope in a Jar" by Beth Harbison and loved it. I thought her characters were very well developed and the plot actually had me guessing pretty much until the end.


Another one of my more obscure favorites is "Paris Hangover" by Kristen Lobe. A woman gets dumped and takes off to Paris and discovers what life is like in the city of love. The novel is both funny and heartfelt, definitely a good read if you love Paris.
Another wonderful Chick-Lit author is Gemma Townley. She's british so her writing has a bit of an English twist to it but I've thoughroughly enjoyed the 2 novels of hers that I've read so far.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

these days..

Blog Status: Ella is missing her little blog

I feel like I haven't stopped in weeks. Ironically pretty much since I stopped working mid-July. There has just been SO MUCH going on as of late, I believe my last post was the beginning of August!

Since then I have safely and successfully returned from Germany. I say successfully with a bit of trepidation because the flight was COMPLETELY overbooked so Ella had to spend 8.5 hours in the middle of a row of 4. Not to mention in a row of 4 who's in seat entertainment did not work for the first hour or so of flight. Not my cup of tea. Needless to say I was cranky and exhausted when I finally got home.

Less than 48 hours later I left on a whirwind bus trip to New York City for 4 days. My mom and her friend do an annual bus trip for a group of ladies every August. Through word-of-mouth it has grown tremendously, and this year they even had a waiting list! I'm so very proud of how it all plays out each year.

We arrived back exhausted but happy on sunday and since then I feel like I've been going non-stop. I've been very busy car shopping, which I'm starting to like more and more and yesterday I had my orientation for school!

I'm both excited and nervous to go back to school, especially to Teacher's College. They're actually putting us into real schools the first week, so it's a bit overwhelming.

I hate that I've been neglecting my little blog, and I really hate that I haven't been able to update the layout, hopefully I'll find some time soon

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Life with GG Volume 2

Blog Status: Ella is wishing for less rain and more sunshine in Germany

It's that time again! More Life with GG snippets. In case you're just tuning in now, during my stay in Germany, I'm broadcasting my life with my German Grandmother. GG for short. I preface these segments by saying that I love her dearly and unconditionally, but sometimes she drives me crazy.

If you're at all familiar with the show "Gilmore Girls" imagine a German (and brunette) Emily Gilmore.

The first 2 segments of Life with GG can be found here and here

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One thing to know about GG is that time seems to move differently for this woman than the rest of the world:

*Ella getting ready to go out for the day with GG. All dressed and putting shoes on*
GG: Ella! Why are you getting your shoes on already!? We have LOTS of time!
Ella: Oh, okay. *takes off shoes and settles down on the couch with a book*
*30 seconds elapsed time*
GG: Child! Why aren't you ready! We're heading out now! Come!
Ella: ........................

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Setting: In the car. Grandfather (GF) is driving, I'm in the passenger seat and GG is in the back*

GG: GF! Slow down, this is a residential area. You're going to get us all killed! The speed limit is 30 (km/hr)! Ella how fast is your grandfather going?!
Ella: *looks over at the speedometer* ..25

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I really need to start carrying a notebook with me. There are so many more conversations I wanted to post, but right now I can't think of any! I'll post another segment when I successfully come up with more stories