I will forever remember the awesomeness that was Natalie of Mindful Musings during banned book week. She blew my freaking mind by organizing this: Book Bloggers Speak Out.
Natalie bravely, passionately, and informatively spoke out about censoring books and advocated against it, and she reached out to the book blogging community to do the same. I’ll admit I was on the fence about speaking out or doing anything until she inspired me. (psst…I was thrilled to pieces when she included me in her e-mails because I didn’t even know she knew I existed.)
Then she goes off and blows my mind again by organizing the 2010 readers’ choice awards. Seriously. The girl has heart and she just don’t quit, which is lucky for us! So yeah, she may (unknowingly) blow our minds from time to time, but I guess that is why she is so Mindful in her own Musings, to bring back some sense to the senseless, like me.
Let’s check out what Natalie is up to when she is not blowing up minds across the blogosphere.
First of all, a huge thanks to Missie for letting me guest post on her awesome blog!
As both an English Literature major and a book blogger, reading takes up a HUGE part of my time. When I’m not “fun” reading for my blog, I can often be found with my nose buried deep in one of my lit textbooks, frantically scribbling notes in the margins. When I’m not trying to get something done for one of my English classes, I’m spending time working on Spanish, which is my minor.
I can practically see Missie glaring at me right now. After all, I’m supposed to be talking about when I’m NOT reading, and I just bored you all to death by describing my not-so-fascinating homework. Well, when I DO decide to put down the books and have some real fun, this is what my life looks like.
Outside of books, I love music, movies, and TV series. I’m constantly having to delete songs off my iPod because there just isn’t enough room for everything I want to put on it. There are TONS of musicians that I adore, but some of my newest addictions are Florence + the Machine, Sara Bareilles (her latest CD is fantastic!), Ingrid Michaelson, Sia, Imogen Heap, and Adam Lambert (who I admit is a bit of a guilty pleasure).
I watch a lot of DVDs with my friends, but what I really love about television is series. I love the extended characterization, plotline, and getting to see your favorite actors playing the same character for a long period of time. I’m really interested in film studies, and at the moment I’m considering looking into a minor in the field. Last year, I watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the first time and joined the legion of die-hard fans. I’m working on the fourth season of the spin-off series, Angel, at the moment, and combined with my love for the cancelled Firefly, I’ve become quite the Joss Whedon fan. Dollhouse is next on my to-watch list! The list of shows that I follow is a bit ridiculous, and I am NEVER caught up on the current episodes, but the ones that I enjoy(ed) most are Smallville, Moonlight, Bones, Being Human (did you see the season 2 finale?), and How I Met Your Mother.
I’m a complete night owl, and one of my apartment roomies works at a hotel until 11:00 PM, so sometimes we find ourselves wide awake and bored to death at 1 in the morning. Since there’s virtually nothing open at that time on a weeknight, we usually end up going to that dreadful place that never closes. Wal-mart. Yep. I’m perfectly aware that going to Wal-mart simply because I’m bored is pathetic. But you’d be surprised to see some of the characters you can find there after midnight. It’s downright scary sometimes.
When I get a free weekend, I like to spend time at the park (okay, so I bring a book sometimes) with my friends. There’s this gorgeous park in our town that has caves, wood trails and a beautiful lake, and it’s a great place to hang out when the weather is nice.
At Missouri State University, where I’m currently studying, I spend a lot of time with the English Society. We do all kinds of things–from inviting professors to come lecture about careers to hosting events like Dead Poets’ Christmas–where we had members of the English faculty dress up as their favorite (dead) authors and read to the audience. Last fall, as a follow-up to the Speak Loudly movement sparked as a result of a letter by Dr. Wesley Scroggins (a professor at our university), we celebrated Banned Books Week by reading from Speak for four hours on campus. As of this semester, I’m the new vice-president, so I’ll be spending even more time with the group!
On breaks and the occasional weekends, I drive back to the St. Louis area (my hometown) and work as a receptionist at the Take-Care Clinic at Walgreens in Washington, MO. Basically, I help people sign-in to see the nurse practitioner, help them with insurance questions, and manage the crowds when we get really busy. I have absolutely no interest in going into the medical field (I’m a complete wuss and can’t stand needles or blood), but I enjoy my job and getting to talk to new people on a regular basis. And I won’t lie, the extra money is always useful to a college student!
While I’m back in town, I like to spend time with my super busy family. I stay up late watching Grey’s Anatomy or Private Practice with my mother, who’s a nurse practitioner. I’m always teasing her that she works in the medical field all day, and then comes home and wants to watch more medical drama. When I can, I go with my parents to watch my two younger brothers (15 and 17) play sports. One’s on the varsity basketball team at his high school, and the other plays baseball and football, so we’re always watching some kind of game.
Since getting my degree is my primary goal at this point, I don’t do a whole lot outside of this. I’m currently a junior, so I’ll be graduating in about a year and a half, and I’m not so sure what I’m going to do after that. I’m considering going to grad school to get my masters and doctorate in English Literature so I can teach college, but I’m also thinking about going into publishing as an editor or publicist. I’m hoping to find an internship this summer that will help me to make the decision!
*ends glare* You won’t find me glaring for long Natalie because I love Barney and Buffy and now that I know you do to, I’m at peace. LOL
Wow, the English Society sounds like a lot of fun. I wish I could be a member. Thanks so much for joining me on When I’m Not Reading. I fondly remember the good ol’ college days of wandering around Walmart and watching people get arrested for shop lifting. It was fun, though perhaps not for them.
To find out more about When I’m Not Reading, click here. Would you like to be featured on When I’m not Reading? Well, I’d love to have you. Please, feel free to contact me. Or share with a post on your website/blog. Make sure to add your link below in the comments and I will go check it out. 
Thanks for hosting me, Missie, and thanks for all the sweet comments you made about me and my blog!
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Love the musician Natalie picked and also a Buffy fan
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Love this feature! I like Adam Lambert too haha But I love Imogen Heap! It was nice to read more about you, Natalie!
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Go, Natalie! The Dead Poets' event sounded like such fun, and major, MAJOR kudos to you for speaking out on campus against Scroggins, as well as getting us all heated and verbal about his nonsense. Loved this spotlight on you. You rock!
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I love that oruy free time is spent reading or watching TV sounds so much like me. I have to say that one of the projects I do with my kids duriing my poetry unit is a Dead Poet's interview. They write the questions and answer them in the poet's voice then video tape their interviews. Its a fun way to get them to research the poets.
Next time you make it to ST Louis, let me know and I will take you out to dinner. I would love a chance to hang out with you!
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English society is awesome! I too am a night owl. I think it great that you take a stand for what you believe in.
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I love Natalie's blog! Natalie – Dollhouse is AMAZING…seriously. I was SO sad when they canceled it. I swear Eliza Dushku makes the best twisted characters haha (Echo, Faith…)
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I am a big fan of Being Human (BBC) too. I am hoping the American version is good but I am going to try and not pre-judge!
(((((((( hugs ))))))) I love Natalie!
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YAY Natalie! I adore your blog. I honestly don't know how you bloggers that are in school manage to do both. I struggle to find time to blog and I work from home, so I bow down to you and your time management skills:)
So glad you're finally on the Buffy train! It took me a while to get into as well, but once I saw my first episode and got a glimpse of Angel, I was a gonner!
Thanks again for this feature Missie, I love seeing all these bloggers I know and getting a glimpse of their life outside of blogging!
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A. I want to see Being Human!
B. LOVE the pic.
C. Your reception gig sounds cool!
Great post!
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Okay, how fun was this post? It's always fun getting to know a little bit more about the blogger behind the blog…and it seems we have a few things in common. Buffy, Angel, Bones, Grey's Anatomy and some music. Haven't had a chance to see Being Human but it sounds interesting. Definitely agree…Mindful Musings is a site to be seen. Thanks for the great share ladies
(OH…and by the way….you've also won an award over at my site! http://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com/2011/01/roll-out-red-carpet.html)
Happy reading! ^_^
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Natalie is a rockstar!! I don't know how she even finds the time to be bored…lol. It's really great getting to see another side of our fave bloggers though!
Keep up the amazing work Nat
You're an inspiration to a lot of bloggers/readers out there!
♥Isalys
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Ohhhh, I love that she organized the Book Bloggers Speak Out event, and all those wonderful things she does on her campus – great insight into a fellow blogger! Thanks Missie and Natalie!
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I'm with a lot of the people here to say I love your blog! I also have to say… okay.. you are a music lover and only have ONE iPod???
Anyhoo…
I also have a nurse practitioner mother and she loves those shows too. She also loves to tell me how wrong those shows are. lol
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Hats of to you Natalie! You are so involved with school and still find the time to keep a great blog alive!
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It really shouldn't be a surprise that I also love the same shows and music since we love the same books
I'm always surprised at how you guys find time for so much! You make me feel so boring lol
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