Top Picks Tuesday | August 8, 2017

It’s the best time of the week! It’s Top Picks Tuesday! This is where I pick out some the things I have been loving for the past week and talk a little about them! So, let’s get into my top picks!

Last weekend, I got a new Vera Bradley Agenda. I had one a few years ago, but then I came to the Lilly side. But, once more I have a Vera Bradley one and since I started school yesterday, I am already loving it!

So, I have a slightly unhealthy obsession with french pop music and my favorite band recently has been Arcadian! My favorite song right now is C’est que tu m’as appris! Even if you don’t understand it, you should go listen to it.

So maybe French pop isn’t your thing, well I discovered the Wild Country playlist on Spotify this past week and this is by far the best pre-made country playlist on Spotify! It has all of my favorite songs and has all around good vibes. Again, go listen to it right now.

Confession time! I love crime TV shows! Some favorites are NCIS, Hawaii 5 0, Bones, Psych, Burn Notice, and Castle! Anyways, I have been delaying starting NCIS season 14, but it has been so good! I thought that based off of the end of season 13, this one would be lacking, but they jumped in and are doing an awesome jobs so far!

What have you been loving this week? Go ahead and comment down below! I would love to hear from you!

(Cover image designed by Freepik. Find them here.)

Invitations from Jesus

God has a plan. He sends us invitations to go places and do things. We can try and say no, but like Jonah, it will not always work out. So we accept those invitations. Sometimes they are happy invitations, like a Birthday Party, sometimes they are sad, like a funeral. But nonetheless, we listen and go where he tells us to go. This summer I have received 4 invitations from Jesus that have taken me to some pretty incredible places.  

The first invitation came in early May when the Children’s Ministry director at my church asked if I wanted to be their intern for the summer. I immediately jumped at the opportunity, as I had been looking for ways to be more involved in my church. This invitation led me to being a small group leader on Sunday’s in June, being a VBS crew leader to 1st graders, co-leading a 6th grade girls bible study, helping with TACO (Taking Awesome Care of Others) Tuesday, and going into the office 2 days a week. Through all of this, God taught me to trust his timing and his plan. I didn’t want 1st graders, I wanted 3rd, but God moved things around to teach me patience. I had to rethink what it really meant to be patient when working with those little kids. He also taught me how to work on a team. As much as I love being a lone wolf, there are so many things you cannot possibly do alone. He taught me how to work with people I didn’t necessarily like. So, in those 150 hours I was their intern, I did a lot and I learned a lot.

The next invitation has been 13 years in the making and came in the form of my Chrysalis retreat.  My mom has been wanting me to go on this since she went on her Emmaus, when I was 2. But, honestly, the thought terrified me. Going to one of their gatherings was like coming in on a friend group that already had years of inside jokes. I had no idea what I was getting into. But, I felt a tug on my heart, so despite my fears, I went anyways. And it is one of the best things I have ever done. While there, God showed me his love in ways I had never seen before. There were people praying for me by name who had never met me. There were friends back home who didn’t know Jesus who were writing me letters. I have never seen a community so full of love before in my life. To give it a frame of reference, if God’s love is a hurricane, I experienced a drop of it there. But that drop was not tiny, it was overwhelming, and relentless, and more than I could have ever asked for.

The third invitation is a bit more unique and came in the form of a wedding invitation. My mom and I were invited to my cousin’s wedding out in Seattle. (I have a whole travel diary posted here) While I was there, exploring the Columbia River Basin, Olympic National Park, and Mount St. Helens, I realized how huge God is. He is the creator and he created all of that. He created the ginormous mountains, the pure blue waters, the endless expanse of sky, and trees, on top of trees, on top of trees. A God who can do that is powerful and awesome, and he is our God. One day, my mom and I decided to go and ride horses on the beach. During that 2 mile ride, we lost our keys (You can read the more in depth story time on the travel diary). While sitting in Ocean Shores, 2 and a half hours from Seattle, for 6 hours, I thought I would be having anxiety attacks. But, instead, my mom and I prayed and took action and waited patiently on the Lord. And God did it! He not only gave us peace, but he also gave us a way to our hotel that night. Praise the Lord!

My fourth and final invitation came in my working as a camp counselor for one week at a camp for kids in transitional homes. These kids come from rough backgrounds, often take care of their younger siblings when their parents are gone, and on that note, may not see their parents that often. So, our job as counselors was to be crazy and weird, but also take care of anything they needed. None of the girls had swimsuits, so we took care of that. We made their plates at meals. We made their beds. I even taught my camper how to swim.  They didn’t have to do anything. But, the most important part of the job was the weird part. My favorite song for years was “Undignified” by David Crowder Band, but I had never before understood what it truly meant to be undignified. Saying things like, “I like kind words in my happy bubble.” or “I’ll be your turtle.” Dancing like a complete mad woman to Pharaoh, Pharaoh and the Banana song. Things like sprinkling glitter on their heads before they go to sleep or having staring contests to see who throws the trash away. Those kids got everything we had. All of our energy, all of our love, all of our joy. In my fellow counselors, I saw them pour themselves out time and time again, only to come to the Lord and ask him to fill him again. I saw in them an undeniable love and joy that can only be found in the Lord.

God invites us to some pretty crazy things. Whether it be going to Nineveh, going to camp, going on vacation, or going on the cross, he can do amazing things! Where has God been inviting you? You don’t have to comment this one, but think about it. When you accept an invitation from God, you receive something you never could have foreseen coming.

#TheReadingQuest TBR

Hey y’all! So, I know I already posted my August TBR, but I found out about this awesome read-a-thon called #TheReadingQuest and I decided to join in! It begins on Sunday, August 13th and runs until Sunday, September 10. This is one of the coolest and most intricate reading challenges I have ever heard of, so I cannot wait to start! To find out more about the rules and how it all works, you can check out the original post here.

Part of the challenge is picking a character and following that chosen path to see what types of books to read! I have chosen (drum roll please) the Mage path! You can see the game board at the top of this post, but for more instructions on the types of paths and the challenges, check out the original post. The path of the Mage is all about magical books, so I am so excited to knock out some of the fantasies on my TBR! I will also plan on participating in most of the side challenges (the squares in the middle), but I don’t know how many I will get through. If you want to see my TBR, or need any ideas for your own, just keep on reading!

Challenge #1: A book with a one word title. I will be reading (the) Diviners by Libba Bray.

Challenge #2: A book that contains magic. I am planning on reading Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake!

Challenge #3: A book based on mythology. I am hoping to read Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordain.

Challenge #4: A book set in a different world. I am going to read Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo!

Challenge #5: The first book of a series. I would like to read Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, which is the first in the Six of Crows duology, for this one!

Bonus challenges (Side Quests):

1. Potions- A book concocted by 2+ authors. I would love to get to My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows.
2. Time warp- A book set in either the past or the future. I am going to read Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray.
3. Expansion- Read a companion novel or short story. I have been wanting to read Magnus Chase's Guide to Hotel Valhalla for a while now, so this is my chance!
4. Grind- Read a book with 500+ pages. I am really, really hoping to read Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas, but it comes out September 5th, so I don’t know if it’ll make it in. If not, I’m sure I can figure something else out!
5. Respawn- Read a book you had previously DNF’d. I would like to read Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordian. I had DNF’d this a while ago, but I don’t know why because I was really enjoying it and I want to continue on with the series.
6. Open world- Whatever you want. I am going  to leave this open as a freebie for whenever I need a break.

I will be tweeting and instagram storying (is that a verb...) my daily progress over on my twitter (@aboundingbooks) and Instagram (@katiesaboundingbooks). be sure to follow me there! I will also do a weekly wrap-up every Saturday on this blog!

Also, big thanks to CW of Read, Think, Ponder for the awesome artwork for this read-a-thon!

Are you participating in this epic read-a-thon? Comment down below if you are and link any TBR’s if you made one! I would love to hear from you!

Washington Travel Diary

Earlier this summer I had the amazing opportunity to go to Washington! It is the most beautiful place I have ever been and if you ever have a chance to go, I would 10 out of 10 recommend it! I was only there for 6 short days, but in those days I did a lot! Everything I did was super fun, so if you are looking for anything to do out in the Evergreen State, these ideas should help you!

On Wednesday, my mom and I flew into PDX around 11 o’clock. We picked up our rental car and began the drive to Multnomah Falls. We stopped at subway on the way (exotic, I know). Then, we hiked up to the top of the falls and then kept on going up to Weisendanger falls. I enjoyed the second falls, but we mostly went because it shared a name with my french teacher! When you get up there, you can play in the river or go over to a landing that looks right over the waterfall! It was so cool! We then hiked back to the car and drove up to the Vista house. It was a early 20th century rest stop that was converted into a historical marker and y’all have to stop here! You get the most beautiful view of the Columbia River Basin (the picture above was taken there)! Then, we drove back down the mountain and headed up north to Bremerton, WA. We checked into our hotel, then went out to eat at the Bremerton Bar and Grill. The food there wasn’t awesome, but it filled the void. After that, we went back to our hotel and crashed for the night.

Thursday morning we walked to the Family Pancake House and got a whole bunch of take-out sides for breakfast. It was the best bacon and eggs I have ever had! After guzzling down breakfast, we went grocery shopping for lunch foods for the week. That is my #1 traveling tip- buy your lunch at a local grocery store! It saves so much money, plus if you go hiking like we do, you can't just pull up to the nearest drive through when you get hungry! We then set out for the Olympic National Forest! We hiked along a beautiful river (see above) and spent most of our morning there. Afterwards, we began the trip down to Ocean Shores, WA. While there, we went horseback riding on the beach! It was so much fun and unlike anything I have ever done before! But, on the horses, we lost the keys to our rental car, which was parked on the beach. Yikes! We went to the Best Western that was nearby and the lovely people working there let us camp out in their lobby until we could get towed off the beach. While waiting, we got Dugan’s pizza, which was worth every penny! It is the second best pizza I’ve ever had (I’ll get to the first in a minute). Then, the rental company was able to send out a locksmith and after 7 harrowing hours in Ocean Shores, we headed back to Bremerton!

Friday morning, we had our leftover pizza for breakfast before heading out to Gig Harbor! In Gig Harbor, we went paddle boarding and saw seals in the harbor! There are lots of paddling companies out there, but we went to Lee's SUP and they were awesome! After we were done paddling, we went exploring in gig harbor. They have a really cute little uptown! The whole reason we went on this trip was because my cousin was getting married. So after a day in Gig Harbor, we went to the rehearsal dinner at Brix 25. The food there was so good! We bugged out a little early to go to the Rodeo drive in, where we watched Spiderman: Homecoming. It was my first drive in and it was so fun! If you have never been to one, I would highly recommend it! The experience was pretty great!

Saturday, we woke up, had breakfast at our hotel, and went hiking at the Newberry Hill Heritage Park. It was a cute little nature preserve near where we were staying! After hiking, we came back to the hotel and got ready for the wedding! On our way to the wedding, we stopped at the Gig Harbor arts festival. I go to a lot of art festivals, but this one had a lot of unique stuff! I was expecting the same old, same old, but the artists were incredibly creative! Then, we headed on out merry little way to the wedding! It was at a farm and was your quintessential pinterest wedding! They had a low country boil for dinner and it was pretty great (see picture above)! Around 11, we left and went back to the hotel to sleep!

Early Sunday morning, we took the ferry into Seattle and had breakfast at Lowell’s in Pike Place. After breakfast, we took the monorail to Space Needle (but we didn’t go in). After we left the Space Needle, we began the trek to the REI flagship store and stumbled upon outdoor church! We stayed for a few minutes, but then we had to head out. Finally, we made it to the REI flagship store! That place is what heaven will look like and you cannot convince me otherwise. After pining away at literally everything in the REI, we walked back to Pikes Place and did a little shopping along the way. Now, here is where we get to the best pizza ever! I can’t remember the name, but it is on the corner of the alley you take to go down to the gum wall. It is a cute little Italian lunch place and grocery store, where they make the best sundried tomato and artichoke pizza! After savoring our pizza, we walked to Columbia tower. We went up to the 70-something floor, and got to see all of Seattle! If you ever go to Seattle, skip the Space Needle and go to Columbia Tower! It is half the price, double the height, and you can take pictures of the space needle from up there! That’s where the above picture was taken! Then our ferry back was delayed, so we shopped along the pier and got some clam chowder from Ivar’s. To end our day, we hopped on the ferry back and went to bed!

Monday began with the dive down to Mount St. Helens. While there, we hiked Harry’s Ridge, which is an 8 mile trail. There were times when we considered turning back, but we kept going and boy-oh-boy was it worth it! It gave the most beautiful view of Spirit Lake and the crater! The picture above is of the mountain from the trail and all of the wildflowers in bloom! We hiked back down from the ridge and drove on back to Portland. We made a stop at  Powell’s city of books in Portland. If the REI flagship store isn’t heaven, then Powell’s is! After Powell’s we wandered the city for a while, had dinner at Fathead’s brewery, and went on to the airport.

We definitely had the adventure of a lifetime out West! Did you do anything exciting this summer? Go ahead and comment below! I would love to hear from you!

25 Things You Didn’t Know About Me

Since I am doing this whole blog overhaul, I wanted to take a minute and give y’all a picture of who I am! I have compiled a list of 25 incredibly random facts about me and I hope you enjoy getting a look inside of my life!

1. When I was in 1st grade, my bus hit a hornet's nest and we were delayed getting home by 2 hours. I was very hungry by the time we made it to my house.
2. I went to the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque in 2015 with my Great Uncle and it is the most incredible thing I have ever seen.
3. I own 4 pairs of Chacos, all of which I have named after National Parks.
4. My favorite fruit is the banana and I am terrified of 1) Bananas going extinct 2)Dying from a potassium overdose
5. I can play guitar, ukulele, and mandolin.
6. I was in Chorus for 7 years and spent 3 years in a children’s honors choir.
7. My favorite store is REI. The flagship store in Seattle is what heaven will look like and you cannot convince me otherwise.
8. My favorite type of chapstick is the Vanilla Chap-et. I will kill for this stuff.
9. I have to sleep in complete darkness with white noise. It’s not weird, okay?
10. I have never left the country.
11. I LOVE professional football, particularly the Green Bay Packers. And yes, I do own a cheese hat.
12. In my lifetime, I have had 12 cats. I am convinced my mom loves them more than she loves me.
13. I have an unhealthy obsession with star shaped sticky notes. As a matter of fact, I have 4 stacks of them in front of me right now.
14. I will only eat chocolate that is darker than 70%. I love the kind that has almond slivers in it, too.
15. I am the queen of bad puns (but don’t ask me for one, they have to come naturally).
16. When I was 6, I went to a Miley Cyrus concert, except I thought she was really Hannah Montana in real life, so I wore my purple Hannah Montana shirt to the concert. I was rather disappointed Hannah never made an appearance.
17. I have seen The Lion King, Wicked, Once, and School of Rock in theater. I also got to see the Blue Man Group.
18. I was a cheerleader for 3 years and hated every second of it.
19. My favorite TV show is NCIS. DiNozzo and Ziva are life!
20. My favorite band is Needtobreathe and my favorite song is Testify. You should go listen to it now. Like right now.
21. I have been to over 20 christian concerts. I have been to 3 non christian concerts. There is clearly an imbalance here.
22. I talk to myself. A lot.
23. I am almost never bored. My mind is too exciting of a place to be bored there.
24. I get car sick very easily. It makes driving super fun!
25. Goats are my favorite animal. I love goats. Goats are life. Go Goats! Goats.

Leave some fun facts about you down below! I would love to hear from you!

August TBR

I haven't been able to read that much this summer and it makes me really sad, but once school starts, I can fall back into a regular reading routine. These are all of the books I am hoping I can read in August! Wish me luck!

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir is the second book to An Ember in the Ashes. I started this last month and am loving it, so I am hoping to finish soon! It is a dystopian that was inspired by the Roman empire and I love it! Check out my review for the first book here!  

I have Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston for my lit class this semester and I have yet to finish… I should get on that. It is a classic novel about women in the South. That’s really all I know.

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh has been at the top of my TBR since it came out and I know that this month is the month! It is a Mulan inspired story written by the queen of retellings!

Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo are the last books I am hoping to make it to this month. I am honestly ashamed I haven’t read these yet! I don’t know too much about them, but I am okay with that! I only know that everybody and their dog loves them!

What books are you hoping to read in August? Please comment down below! I would love to hear from you!  

Top Picks Tuesday | August 1, 2017

Top Picks Tuesday is a weekly tag where I share all of my favorite things with you! This can include music, blogs, foods, clothes, books... basically anything that makes me happy!

The #1 thing I have been loving this past week is my chacos! (If you look above, you can see my endearing chaco tan) I was working as a camp counselor last week and these babies SAVED my feet! They are perfect for hiking, lake time, tubing, football, gymnastics, even dance offs! P. S. @chacousa, please sponsor me! ; )
Last Saturday, I had the epic opportunity to see Tenth Avenue North in concert and since then, I have been blasting their music non-stop! My favorite from this album has to be "Control- Somehow You Want Me." In my dad's words, "That concert was so lit, it's like the rapture occurred."
On the thread of music, I heard the song  "Ain't Nobody"  by Sidewalk Prophets last week, and boy oh boy, this song is amazing! Please drop everything you are doing and go listen to it! It is fab-u-lous!

Recently, I got a double nest ENO and I have been able to use it so much this past week, since I was at camp and such! Y'all, this puppy is literally the best! Above is a picture of me chillin' like a villain in my ENO!
I have also really gotten into Boho Bandeaus lately! They are great for summer because you are running around sweating, but your hair still looks so cute! (I may or may not have gone out and bought like, 5 of them...) (I also may or may not be wearing one in the above picture...)
Yesterday, I discovered something completely magical! Popcorn! Now, I know you are thinking, I know what popcorn is, Katie. Yeah, but have you ever had Lesser Evil Buddha Bowl Foods Himalayan Pink Organic Popcorn‎? (That was a mouth full) I tried it for the first time and it is now my favorite snack! Go to Publix and get yo' self a bag, you won't regret it!
All-righty- rudy! Those are all of my picks for this week! What have you been loving recently? Go ahead and comment down below, I would love to hear from you!
(Cover image designed by Freepik. Find them here.)