* Get it done! is a great post by Gala Darling. This is something that I really need to do for myself. I’ve already downloaded the book on my nook and plan to do some reading for myself.

* I just found a great idea for how to organize my blog posts in advance. Kaelah of Little Chief Honeybee and Kaylah of The Dainty Squid had great posts about using a blog planner with post-it notes. I’m a huge post-it note person, so this is right up my alley. I think this will be a huge help.

* Speaking of blogging, here a great post about blogging on the go. I just need to get an iPad and that could be me!

Original Image by Gabriella Fabbri

* A list of great things to do with your friends.

* Rainbow flowers! I want to do this just to see the magic in person.

Image by Allie Hylton

*I already use a chair as a nightstand, but I had no idea that it was actually used in design. Of course, mine is nowhere near as pretty as those. Guess I have a new project!

* Pinterest has a lot of great organizing ideas and this post puts together a great list of them that require little to no money.

* Ash has a added to her great wardrobe building series. It’s about finding your own basics.

Greece is officially the Hellenic Republic and is located in Southern Europe. The capital is Athens, which is one of the world’s oldest cities. Greece has one of the longest coastlines in the world, consists of many islands, and 80% of it consists of mountains. Greece has a long history, going back to ancient Greece, which was thought to be the cradle of Western civilization.

Original Image by Gölin Doorneweerd

Original Image by Andrew Slifkin

It’s an ancient country with a great history that influenced the entire world. Ancient Greece was the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, Western Literature, mathematical principles, Western drama, and more.

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Original Image by Zsolt Zatrok

When I was younger I loved Greek Mythology and would story after story about Greek Gods and heroes. I always wanted to visit the country of Greece to see the sights that I read about.

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Original Image by Gölin Doorneweerd

]]> http://www.sincerely-valerie.com/2012/08/26/globetrotting-greece/feed/ 2 http://www.sincerely-valerie.com/2012/08/22/quick-quotes-7/ http://www.sincerely-valerie.com/2012/08/22/quick-quotes-7/#comments Wed, 22 Aug 2012 23:26:54 +0000 Valerie http://www.sincerely-valerie.com/?p=378
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Sorry, guys! It’s been a bit busy at work and slow in my personal life. Lol. So not much to really post about. This weekend, there’s not much going on either. I have some chores to catch up on and I also bought a new book. It’s 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. It’s title is a play on Orwell’s 1984 which I haven’t read yet. So I decided to read Orwell’s version first and then read 1Q84. I’m going to get started on that today in between cleaning and laundry.

Original Image by Pop Culture Geek

Speaking of books. A movie based on a book is coming out on DVD this weekend! If you haven’t guessed what I’m talking about, it’s The Hunger Games! I will definitely be picking up this movie this weekend as well. I loved this book series and the first movie was amazing as well. Can’t wait to get it tomorrow!

I guess between the books and the movie I’m in a dystopian society kind of mood at the moment. lol What about you guys? Are you fans of dystopian books and movies? If so, what are some of your favorites?

* Here are a couple of great links from Lovely Undergrad. Skeleton keys make great accessories and great decor! I love multitasking. And there is also a big plus to doing a google search on a guy to meet. It can definitely save you some heartbreak.

* Those of you that work in customer service like me, know that some customers can get pretty ridiculous. Reditt has some stories shared by customer service workers from all over. Oh the stories I could tell.

Original Image by Samantha

* It never hurts to learn to be more productive. It’s a problem that I’m still working on.

* And for those of us still working on our wardrobes, Mane and Chic has a great post about it, along with a worksheet to help you along. I’m a sucker for a worksheet.

Original Image by Jesse Therrien

* I have problems sleeping occasionally. I’m trying to reform my night owl ways since I have a job now. These tips may help out a little. I have been thinking about getting a humidifier.

* And my trip to Orlando has rekindled my travel fever. Here are some great tips to experience travel in new ways!

I’m back from my way-too-short vacation! I actually came back Friday afternoon but I had to unpack that day and then I spent all of Saturday doing laundry and getting ready for work on Sunday. *sigh* I’m ready for another vacation already. As I mentioned, I was in Orlando for the first few days for a family reunion. It was great to see the family that we don’t normally get to see during the year. I spent most of the time with my aunts, my brothers sisters, and their families. There were so many kids! lol Honestly, it just reminds me that I’m not ready for any of my own. Even if they were adorable…while asleep.

Original Image by Sam Howzit

We basically did a little sight seeing and we spent a lot of time bowling or at Dave and Busters. That place was amazing! I’m so upset that the closest one to me is actually 2 1/2 hours away. We also went to this great little interactive CSI exhibit. It was called CSI: The Experience. It was so cute. Our group got a ‘crime’ to solve and we went to the crime scene and the different labs to try to find the cause of death and suspects. Then you enter your information in a report and figure out if you were right.

Original Image by Krystal International Vacation Club

After the family reunion was over, which was Tuesday, I drove up to Hinesville to stay with my sister for a couple of days. If you’ve never been there, let me just say that you really don’t need to. lol I love to visit my sister but it’s so boring there! It is close to Savannah, so that’s nice. But driving there everyday is just not feasible. But we hung out and went to see the movie ‘Ted’, so it was still fun. Then I had to drag my reluctant butt back home so I could go back to work. I don’t know when I’ll be able to take my next vacation, but hopefully it will be soon.

I’m going on vacation! I can’t wait, since I haven’t had a vacation in so long! I’m going to Orlando for a few days for a family reunion, then I’ll head to Savannah to stay with my sister for a few days. It’s going to be so much fun hanging out with family, especially my sister since she moved away. Anyway, I’ll have my laptop with me since the hotel is supposed to have free wi-fi. I will definitely try to post if possible and I’ll be checking in occasionally. Hope you guys have fun during this next week like I will!

It’s another edition of Top Ten Tuesday. This week’s theme was a freebie in which I could choose any theme that I wanted. So I chose to do a post about my favorite characters.

1. Little Women’s Jo March – This was probably the first ‘adult’ book that I read and I absolutely loved Jo March. I loved her attitude and intelligence, especially considering the time period she lived in. I wanted to be just like Jo when I was younger. I wanted to write and open a school like she did in the later books.

2. Harry Potter’s Severus Snape – I loved a lot of characters in this book. They were all great, but Snape always held a special place in my heart. Everything he went through in his life and how he spent it atoning just touched me. It seemed like he could just never catch a break. He was bitter, which was understandable, but he was only human. I literally cried when he died, in both the book and the movie.

3. The Boxcar Children’s Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny – This has to have my absolute favorite series when I was a kid. I loved the thought of living on my own and being independent, just like these siblings did at first. Even after they live with their grandfather they are still responsible and self-sufficient. I loved the mysteries that they solved and the way they always stuck together.

4. The Fairy Godmother’s Elena – This book and entire series is a spin on the traditional fairy tales. I loved all of the books, but this one the most. In this book, Elena had all of the makings of being a Cinderella type character, except for the small problem of her prince being way too young. So through some other machinations, she becomes a Godmother instead. I loved Elena because she was so practical and refused to feel sorry for herself. When she was being abused by her stepmother and stepsister she kept her head up. When her fairy tale didn’t come true she decided to get on with her life. Elena worked with what she had and was content with her life. Which is why it was so much better that she got her happy ending.

5. Charlotte Web’s Wilbur and Charlotte – This was a gorgeous book with wonderful characters. Who wouldn’t want to meet the adorable Wilbur and his best friend Charlotte? Despite my fear of all things insect, I would definitely make an exception for these two.

6. To Kill a Mockingbird’s Finch Family – I fell in love with this family when I first read this book in middle school. It was required for school, but I never regretted it. (The movie was amazing as well.) Atticus Finch was a father that anyone would be lucky to have. And Scout and Jem would have been a lot of fun to play with as kids.

7. Ender’s Game Ender – I think that Ender would be a fascinating person to meet. Highly intelligent, rational, and yet young at heart when allowed to be. He was a great character to read about especially when he was younger.

8. The Heist Society’s Katerina Bishop and friends – Maybe it’s just my inner criminal, but I’ve always wondered what it’s like to be a thief. What’s it like to crack a safe or pick a lot or steal a painting? Maybe that’s why I love movies and shows like that. (‘The Italian Job’ and ‘Leverage’, anyone?) This books was great in that the people doing this were teens! It’s like twice the fun! I would love to meet this group and maybe even join them on a job or two.

9. Frontier Magic’s Eff – This is a series based on an alternate history of America in which magic exists. The main character Eff is a girl that has grown up thinking she’s unlucky and cursed, and manages to be stronger than she ever gave herself credit for. In case you hadn’t noticed, I love a strong female character.

10. Winnie the Pooh – Who wouldn’t want to meet this cuddly bear? Everyone’s friend, kind and thoughtful. Even if he is a little forgetful and loves honey just a little too much, he would still be a great friend. And Tigger, too!