tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41032443423872399222012-01-23T13:07:09.338-05:00Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428950964238426124noreply@blogger.comBlogger195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-33266492430405235872012-01-23T13:01:00.003-05:002012-01-23T13:01:49.103-05:002012-01-23T13:01:49.103-05:00

Title: The Son of Neptune Author: Rick Riordan Genre: Fiction, Young Adult Rating: **** I'm hooked on Riordan's mythology-based series. First, there was Percy Jackson & the Olympians now there is The Heroes of Olympus. The Son of Neptune is the second book in the series, and I was lucky enough to borrow it from a 6th grade teacher's classroom library. A light and easy read full

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-43756493686422593112012-01-13T21:26:00.000-05:002012-01-13T21:26:05.232-05:002012-01-13T21:26:05.232-05:00

I have been wanting to blog for a couple weeks now, but I just could not seem to get my creative juices flowing. You see, I feel challenged. I do not want my blog, or my Facebook wall, or my life to be all-consumed with baby stuff just because I am pregnant. However, the thing about being pregnant is that it does tend to become the center of attention in your life. It tends to be the first thing

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-61949536457779992682011-11-30T12:06:00.001-05:002011-12-14T12:27:49.067-05:002011-12-14T12:27:49.067-05:00

*Only two books in October? I don't know why it took me so long to post this. Title: Life of Pi Author: Yann Martel Genre: Fiction Rating: **** Life of Pi had been on my radar for years because I had heard it was a good book, especially for book clubs and discussions. What really moved it up on my list though was having it recommended to me by high schoolers. Last May I subbed in for an

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-86712355847082957492011-11-18T12:27:00.001-05:002011-11-28T15:56:21.531-05:002011-11-28T15:56:21.531-05:00

First, the amazing, awesome, exciting news - there is a half-Asian bun in my oven! Yep, that's right, people, I am pregnant. Baby Yuen aka "Dumpling" Next, let me answer a few FAQs: When are you due? May 31, 2012 Will you find out what you're having? Yes, in January. And yes, we will let you know. Do you have a name picked out? Not yet, but it will be a secret anyway. How have you been

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-79562773072776608292011-11-15T19:59:00.001-05:002011-11-18T17:06:17.202-05:002011-11-18T17:06:17.202-05:00

We were fortunate to be invited to my cousin's wedding in Chicago in October, and we decided to make a vacation out of the trip. After a six hour drive, we reached our hotel in Bensenville. In an effort to save money on a hotel, we chose to stay in the suburbs and take the L into the city every day. This is not something I would recommend or repeat. Each day, we ended up spending at least an hour

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-88606110550707381212011-11-03T15:30:00.000-04:002011-11-03T15:30:00.946-04:002011-11-03T15:30:00.946-04:00

Some may find it difficult to imagine that a church pastor could spend four weeks on one Bible verse, but not those of us who have been attending Vista Community Church this fall. Pastor Mike has been going through a series on the book of Acts. Not really the whole book though. For a month, he camped out on just the first part of Acts 2:42: "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching..."

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-4788054629333886802011-10-25T07:00:00.000-04:002011-10-25T07:00:00.388-04:002011-10-25T07:00:00.388-04:00

I had a very busy summer reading, and since I chose to focus on young adult books, I was able to read quite a number of them. In order to catch up, I decided not to write full reviews for each book. I gave my personal rating and then just provided a brief description and link for each book in case anyone wants to check them out further. Three stars are fairly easy to come by, so I would more

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-80233446128018183042011-10-18T12:27:00.002-04:002011-10-18T12:27:43.084-04:002011-10-18T12:27:43.084-04:00

Last month, Michael and I finally joined a gym. We talked about it for a long time but waited until we could fit it in the budget. There were many factors we took into consideration including price, contracts, location, and amenities. Of course, the gym first had to fit in our budget. Second, we wanted a gym that offered a month to month contract so that we were not locked in. Some people might

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-63120105858739814972011-10-06T12:44:00.000-04:002011-10-06T12:44:53.647-04:002011-10-06T12:44:53.647-04:00

So, I'm thinking about blogging again, and I'm just wondering... is it worth it? Did anyone miss me? If I come back, I'm thinking about making a few tweaks to the content. While I enjoy using the blog to update friends and family about life, I'd also like to add some value to my posts, things that might interest or help my readers in some way. I would love to hear your thoughts, so please take my

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-87461454974562897032011-07-11T19:07:00.000-04:002011-07-11T19:07:18.845-04:002011-07-11T19:07:18.845-04:00

To my few and faithful readers: This is my two hundred and first blog post, and it will be the last one for a while. For various reasons I have decided to take an indefinite break from blogging. I will also greatly reduce the number of tweets and Facebook status updates I post. While I don't intend to share the reasons here, you are more than welcome to ask me about it if you're curious. If you

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-14385713152217957942011-05-23T10:34:00.000-04:002011-05-23T10:34:48.714-04:002011-05-23T10:34:48.714-04:00

Surprise, surprise... the world did not end on Saturday as predicted. Whether you heard about it on the news or through your Facebook newsfeed, I'm sure you were somewhat aware of the talk of the rapture occurring over the weekend. To be perfectly honest, I haven't studied much of what the Bible says about the end times. I know it says that Jesus will come back.  "And if I go and prepare a place

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-56879728011424697932011-05-11T10:23:00.000-04:002011-05-11T10:23:59.888-04:002011-05-11T10:23:59.888-04:00

Three months of training really paid off when I sprinted across the finish line feeling strong with a time of 2:04:21. My goal had been 2:15, so I was very happy to come in nine minutes faster. I prayed all week that the rain in the forecast would not be a downpour. "Just let it be a mist or light sprinkling," I asked God. He did way better than that. The morning could not have been more perfect.

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-24018606632230079162011-05-02T09:26:00.000-04:002011-05-02T09:26:30.283-04:002011-05-02T09:26:30.283-04:00

Title: The Distant HoursAuthor: Kate MortonGenre: Fiction, GothicRating: **** The Distant Hours is yet another book that caught my attention at the front of Barnes & Noble. I picked it up, read the description, and added it to my "to-read" list. After placing my reserve at the library, I had to wait a few weeks for this new, and apparently popular, title to come in. As fate would have it, several

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-15506027750599468002011-04-28T16:57:00.000-04:002011-04-28T16:57:44.278-04:002011-04-28T16:57:44.278-04:00

They say April showers bring May flowers, but I say April showers bring muddy puppies. We're working really hard on teaching Polo not to run straight to the back of the yard where there is no grass aka the dirtiest, muddiest area. He does pretty well with the "just go potty" command, until he spies a squirrel or cat walking on the back fence. Then he takes off faster than we can shout "NO!" For

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-25295545914345043702011-04-20T10:57:00.000-04:002011-04-20T10:57:58.390-04:002011-04-20T10:57:58.390-04:00

Dear Readers, I hope you enjoy reading my book reviews. I've been enjoying writing them and trying to get better at the whole review thing. As I work on my reviews for April, I am wondering if you have a preference for how often I post. Please take the poll on the right to let me know what you think. Also, feel free to leave me comments if you have any ideas on how I can improve. Thanks, Amber

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-67860121246363473912011-04-11T14:04:00.000-04:002011-04-11T14:04:07.166-04:002011-04-11T14:04:07.166-04:00

When I'm not sure what to read next in my Bible, I use an old standard: read the proverb of the day. There are 30 chapters in Proverbs, so there is one for every day of the month (except that pesky 31st day when it comes around). Recently, I thought it would be a good idea to divide each chapter into twelve segments so that each month there is a specific few verses where I can camp out and focus

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-37700691861086630972011-04-08T13:17:00.001-04:002011-04-08T13:20:04.890-04:002011-04-08T13:20:04.890-04:00

Since moving out of my mom's house at the age of eighteen, I've had sixteen roommates (not including summer projects). While anyone can tell you that living with a roommate can be a great learning and growth experience, what I've noticed is that many of the things I think, do, or like I do so because of a roommate's influence. I thought it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane and see just

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-82750453724223580732011-04-07T10:17:00.002-04:002011-04-11T14:05:07.421-04:002011-04-11T14:05:07.421-04:00

Title: Les Misérables (Fantine)Author: Victor HugoGenre: Classics, FictionRating: ***** I chose to read Les Misérables for two reasons: it is a classic, and I love the musical. As an aspiring English teacher and a bibliophile, I try to read a few classics here and there mixed in with the other genres I love so much. I am finding that I enjoy them so much more now that I am older than I did when I

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-10976235228600336462011-04-06T09:30:00.000-04:002011-04-06T09:30:50.855-04:002011-04-06T09:30:50.855-04:00

Polo and I went out for a run on Saturday afternoon. I knew there was a chance of thunderstorms, so I planned to go out for four miles, beat the storm, and finish with three more miles on the treadmill, which is about as much as I can handle indoors. With a gray, cloudy sky above, Polo and I ran down to the Scioto river in the slightly chilly air. I love running along the river and looking out at

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-78561950711704188462011-03-14T14:45:00.000-04:002011-03-14T14:45:39.125-04:002011-03-14T14:45:39.125-04:00

The first three weeks of training for Cap City went surprisingly well. As I mentioned, I've moved up to intermediate level training, and so far I am enjoying the variety in the workouts. In the beginner level training I did for the marathon, I focused mostly on endurance and increasing my mileage. Intermediate training includes a variety of workouts focusing on speed, strength, and endurance. I

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-605200556054894092011-03-03T09:52:00.003-05:002011-03-03T09:52:13.434-05:002011-03-03T09:52:13.434-05:00

Title: Olive Kitteridge Author: Elizabeth Strout Genre: Literary Fiction Rating: **** ^winner of the Pulitzer Prize (2009: fiction) I often peruse the front tables at Barnes & Noble and make note of any books that look and sound interesting to me. I think Olive Kitteridge made that list a while back. Being a Pulitzer Prize winner and a best-seller definitely drew me to it as well. The

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-44826822456914618062011-02-25T15:52:00.000-05:002011-02-25T15:52:22.595-05:002011-02-25T15:52:22.595-05:00

One can only hope. As February comes to an end, I start to look forward to spring again. This is the end of my fourth "real" winter since leaving Arizona and my second winter in Ohio, which means my second winter of asking myself "Am I doing this right?" every time I shovel snow from the driveway and sidewalks. It seems simple enough, and I think I do a pretty good job of it, but no one ever

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-56342360177467199222011-02-12T11:00:00.000-05:002011-02-12T11:00:09.431-05:002011-02-12T11:00:09.431-05:00

I took a good month off from running after finishing the Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon last October.  Even in December, I didn't run much since we were gone almost half the month in Spain, but I spent a good portion of January trying to get back to it. I'll admit the winter weather has made it a challenge. Fortunately, we have a treadmill in the basement, but I find it really

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-64190925310206750752011-02-03T14:11:00.001-05:002011-02-03T14:11:25.775-05:002011-02-03T14:11:25.775-05:00

Happy Chinese New Year! We are leaving behind the Year of the Tiger and turning the page to the Year of the Rabbit. As 100 million-ish of us can tell you, the Year of the Tiger did not go out without a fight. Icy rain, thunder snow, and blizzards affected most of the country, including Columbus, OH. I think we got off comparatively easy though. The freezing rain closed schools on Tuesday, so I

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4103244342387239922.post-13226319945924083342011-01-31T18:50:00.003-05:002011-01-31T18:53:38.310-05:002011-01-31T18:53:38.310-05:00

A couple that we are friends with were expecting their first baby on February 3rd. Michael and I had agreed that when the time came, we would go pick up their dog and take care of him while they were at the hospital. As it happens with babies, they rarely come exactly when expected, and little Ethan arrived on January 21st via c-section. That meant that Polo got to spend a few extra days with his

Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01608419402531849563noreply@blogger.com0