Currently Loving.

♥ A Beautiful Mess. I purchased this app last month, thanks to the Big Picture Phone Photography class. It's easy and fun to use.

my Stats from Goodreads, with a bit of Beautiful Mess applied

♥ Goodreads. It's where I keep track of everything I want to read and everything I've read and my first stop for recommendations. I guess it's kind of like Ravelry for readers, isn't it? (except there's a real app for my iPad and iPhone!)

♥ Reading (and listening). 20 books year-to-date for 2013 is a far cry from where I was back in January when I hadn't read anything for months. Love how many 4 and 5-star books I've added to my shelves - 14 in total (and even though a few are re-reads, I've savored them anew). I finished American Gods (a full cast recording to commemorate the book's 10th anniversary) on Sunday; it was so good I haven't wanted to start anything else (of course today is only Tuesday and I'm sure I'll have something else picked out in a day or two!)

♥ Short stories. I need to do a proper post to share more about this little project. Since I started it last month, I've read 29 stories in at least a dozen different books and on-line publications. Honestly, I'm kind of obsessed!

♥ Coffee with almond milk and a half packet of splenda, over ice. Funny how that last cup of lukewarm coffee from the 5am pot doesn't really seem like leftovers when it's ice cold (on purpose).

♥ Finishing (knitting) projects. I didn't have any FOs from the end of June through the beginning of last week. And in those ten days, I've finished a sweater and a scarf (modeled shots soon, I hope) and I have four more projects on my needles that I'm cautiously optimistic I'll finish before the month is over.

♥ and thinking about what to knit next. (for sure Boxy, and maybe Flourishing or Intertwine or the Churro Top?) Pleasantly surprised those three "maybe" projects all use yarn from my stash!

♥ House of Cards on Netflix (on my iPad). I know Kevin Spacey's South Carolina accent leaves a lot to be desired, but his character is so interesting - complex, likable, unlikable, unpredictable all at once - and I adore Robin Wright.

♥ My iPad. I bought it last summer to help with my classes - easy access to patterns, and Ravelry and IMDb and Goodreads and Google (all of which we regularly refer to during class). Until recently, that's really all I used it for. Whoa, was I missing out! (I still wish it were easier to blog from here - I know I'll have to put the finishing touches on this post from my laptop, but at least the words are easy to get down and that's a good start).

♥ The running group at the Y. Hard to believe it's been five months since I joined up for a twice weekly mid-distance run. I've made friends (a few of them even knit, but most don't, and I have yet to mix this group with my knitting friends...fall is coming, though :-) and learned to enjoy the easy company of a run filled with conversation about any and everything you could imagine. Seriously nothing is off limits when you're on a run. Seriously. Nothing!

♥ Summer. finally maybe it's here? School started yesterday, but for me, I'm giving it at least until Labor Day. Heat, humidity, sunshine, fresh tomatoes with basil, chilled white wine, sandals...I think I probably need a trashy book, too!

What are you loving right now?