Thursday, December 16, 2010

Learning Curve


Our Apt is decorated, the tree is up, and the gifts are wrapped. Hooray, Christmas Season is finally here! I've learned a few things this year that hopefully will help me be more prepared come Christmas 2011.
  • Start Projects Early - Every year I find great things to make people and every year I wait until the last minute to create them. I am a procrastinator but I do not thrive under pressure, which is very unfortunate. Mrs. Attempted Domestication, on the other hand, is a first-class procrastinator. In college she would wait until the night before a term paper was due, grab a box of cheap wine, and go to town. by 7 am she had written a masterpiece professors would fawn over.
  • Take time for yourself (and your spouse if you have one) - Last night The Husband wanted to take some time and relax together, but I told him I didn't have time. After all, the floors needed to be swept and mopped, I needed to continue my sewing projects, and he had dishes to do! However, I then decided that those things could wait until tomorrow. The Holiday Season isn't about a clean floor and dishes; it is about the love that God gave us through Jesus and each other. Spending time with yourself, loved ones, and fabulous friends is not only a great gift, but it is also a necessity! So we relaxed, and it was wonderful. It gave me time to refocus, which was just what I needed!
In therapy I am learning to take responsibility for my actions and thoughts. In essence, it is up to me to change this behavior. It is hard to re-learn how to do things, but it is also empowering. I have the power to change things in my life in order to make things better! So, I am going to change this for next year. If I fail at it next year i'm not going to kick myself over it, I will brush myself off and try again.


Happy Holidays!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Potpourri

Sorry for the blogging break friends, but I was actually working... as a volunteer coordinator it always gets a bit busy before major holidays. Everyone wants to give back at the same time!

Anywho...

Things are going well here in good ole Indiana. Since it is the holiday season (YAY!) the husband and I will be spending a lot of time in the car traveling from here to there... which really means that he will drive and i will play sudoku and we will both listen to NPR for 3 hours straight. Because we are slightly obnoxious NPR fans, almost all of our stories start with "I heard on NPR that..." We are okay with this, but I'm not sure everyone else is.

My sister's baby shower went so well! My sister looked beautiful of course! We played the required game, ate delicious food, and she got a crap ton of awesome stuff! It was a great time and I got a ton of compliments on the invites, which was nice. Okay, very nice.

Now that the shower is dont I have to get cracking on the Christmas presents I am making. I am only making gifts for 2 people, but I am also going to make a ton of coffee sleeves... they will be great stocking stuffers! Speaking of gifts, the husband and I decided to forgo expensive gifts and to go on a trip/adventure instead. We still wanted something to open on Christmas though, so we are giving gifts of 20 bucks to each other. I'm pretty excited about this!

On another note, the husband and I are starting to build actual adult wardrobes. We are shopping clearances, sales, and consignment stores for all the 'essentials.' Goodbye ironic t- shirts! Hello v-neck sweaters and knee-length dresses! Of course I will still be wearing my vintage wear and retro dresses; they are the epitome of classy! And to top it off, this was not even my idea; the husband stumbled upon a mens fashion blog and the rest is history!

Okay, one more thing: I have started going to therapy again, and let me say the it. is. life-changing. I REALLY like my therapist. She knows what shes talking about, she gives me practical exercises and tips on how to manage my anxiety, and she makes it fun! We are focusing on my fear of storms, tornadoes, fire, water, and anything else that can potentially kill you and/or your loved ones. We are using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to treat the anxiety, and let me say... it is empowering!

I hope you all are doing well too; enjoy the holiday!


Monday, November 8, 2010

[Insert Clever Title Here]

Sorry i've been MIA lately friends! Many things have been happening here for the husband and me. Here is a quick run down:
  • Ive started therapy again! I like my therapist so far; she seems to know her stuff and she also tries to make things fun. Plus she called me smart. :) I'm doing therapy for my anxiety.
  • My sister's baby shower is next week (yay!!) so i've been busy preparing for that as well. I can't wait to see her and Baby Girl!
  • The husband and I have paid off about 22% of our school loans! 3% more and we are upping the allowance we give ourselves each month! Woo-Hoo!!
  • Our anniversary trip went splendidly! We piddled around small towns, ate out a lot, went to a state park, and finished the weekend off at Apt 16's Werewolf Bar Mitzvah Party. We had SO MUCH FUN!!
Ill post pictures of our fun times soon!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

On Clothes

I can't wait until the time change happens. Waking up and being functional in the a.m. is more difficult for me when it is still pitch black outside. This past week I have not quite been myself, fashionably speaking; I believe I wore pants and came into work with wet hair twice!! While it is no sin, it is just weird for me these days because of my vintage obsessions. Proper ladies never did those things! :)

I was thinking about this last night in bed and said to the husband something like "when we become grown ups can I have nice clothes so I never look frumpy?" He look at me and apprehensively questioned "is that possible?" I thought for a while and concluded that no, it is not possible, at least for me. While I love to feel feminine and pretty, I also love sleep and being lazy. I responded that I guess it is not about the clothes I have or don't have, but rather about my laziness and decisions to sleep 'just another 15 minutes.'

However, I stick to my guns that I need better clothes. I mean, if I had no bad clothes I couldn't look frumpy...could I? :)

In other news, I finally finished the invitation to my sisters baby shower! Now it is time to start on the many Christmas gifts I am sewing!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

A bit of this and that


I haven't posted lately mostly because I have been very busy making my sisters baby shower invites. I would LOVE to tell you all about them and the kick ass party coming up (on NOVEMBER 14th at 2:00pm), but the theme is a surprise! So the post about that will have to wait until I mail out the invites, which will be early next week.

Another thing I have been up to is vintage hairstyling. I am proud to say that after about a year and a half I have mastered the victory roll! My hair is long enough to roll the front now, so thats exciting! I haven't quite figured out how to marry my hairstyles (ie rollers) and morning exercising though. While I have no problem with people knowing that I wear rollers to bed, I do have a problem with people seeing me in my rollers whilst walking downtown at 6:15am. this may be another reason to try pincurls though; you can put a bandana around your head and no one can tell you have them in!

The husband and I have also been watching Mad Men. It has been praised for its realistic settings, outfits, and hair. It also has been praised for its accurate portrayal of life in the 1960's, which is a bit scary to me. This is because of the way that men treat women in the show. Only 1 woman so far has a high position in business, the men all treat women like they are not as smart as the men, and the men are also constantly making jokes about women and sex. ugh. No wonder there was another surge of feminism! While it has taken me a while to get used to seeing that, I do like the show. It is not my favorite (big love is better), but it is good!

So thats what this lady has been up to lately. I hope that you are all doing great!


Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Holidays

I know its just the beginning of October, but I can't help but be excited about Christmas!! In my mind, Halloween and Thanksgiving are just precursors to a better holiday. I love the music, the atmosphere of happiness, and of course the Christmas gifts I give and receive!

This year, since I started up this new hobby of sewing I have decided to make a few of my gifts. I'm not quite sure if it will be cheaper, but it will be more fun and definitely more special to the gift-getter. I have most peoples presents figured out already, but others are more tricky to buy/make things for... but the good thing about starting shopping early is that I have plenty of time to figure something out.

This year also brings a new challenge - the ever dreaded budget. Working on a budget is not something I like doing, but I am getting better at it and it forces me to be creative, which is fun! The husband and I are also considering going somewhere or doing something special for Christmas instead of presents for each other... which is exciting!

Technically it is not the time for busting out the greenery and holly, but it is coming... I can feel it!

Monday, September 20, 2010

I didnt mean for all 3 to start with an H; i'm not that kind of girl.

Sorry it's been forever friends; i've actually been busy at work! I think things are a bit slowed down now, which is good. I like being busy, but I do not like being stressed out!

Anyway, I thought i'd give you an update of sorts.

1. Health - I went to the Doctor for my newest lab results and my cholesterol went down 30 points! It was my triglycerides that made the biggest difference; they went from 360 to 153! Im excited about that, but I still have work to do. My good cholesterol is still too low and my bad cholesterol is still too high, as are my triglycerides. I am going to start taking a supplement that my doctor recommended. It is an Omega 3 pill that is filled with high quality healthy fats from fish. I also will continue to eat healthy. I am also trying to up my exercising... that is the key for the good cholesterol to increase. my dictor also said that my thyroid levels are good. My next update is in 6 months. Oh, and I've also lost 12 pounds, which is 1 pound a week! I am happy with that.

2. Hobbies - For my wonderful sister-in-law's birthday I sewed her a laptop case. I forgot to take a picture, but trust me - it is awesome! I was impressed that it turned out so nicely! Right now I am in the process of making a headband for one of my good friends baby. I am also attaching a flower made out of ribbon on it. As it is going to a little one and will most likely end up in her mouth and not on her head I am being extra careful in constructing it with child friendly materials (ie... I am not using my vintage buttons). I also got my first real pattern in the mail; an apron. I am excited to make it; it will be a great challenge! It also is a good step towards my goal of sewing vintage dresses.

Might I also add that I am PUMPED about my sister finding out if she is having a boy or girl so I can get to sewing multiple things for her or him!

Oh, and it is also vintage hair weather; thank God! I was getting so bored with styling my hair the same way. I hope to post pictures soon. I also have decided to take a big step and try pincurls. I have been avoiding them like the plague, but I think it's time.

3. Halloween - I am going to be a sailor girl for Halloween - words cannot express how excited I am! The husband has not idea what he wants to be, so any suggestions would be helpful!




Wednesday, September 1, 2010

My New Favorite Things: Vintage Inspired Faves

The Apron - I completely understand why the apron is no longer an essential part of a woman's necessities. In its heyday every woman wore an apron daily; she did not want to get her dress dirty while she was cleaning, baking, cooking, and taking care of the house in general. Pants or grungy clothes were not an option for the 'proper' lady. One certainly had her day dresses that she would wear in the house but not outside the house, but even those had to be protected by an apron. When women began working outside of the home, wearing *gasp* pants, and sharing household duties with her partner, the need for the apron declined.

These days the only people that wear aprons are older adults and the vintage lovers. Of course, I also wear an apron, seeing that I am a vintage lover and older adult at heart. I find my apron to be a necessity. I am so messy in the kitchen! When I wash dishes, clean, bake, or cook, I always end up dirty; therefore, the apron is my BFF for life. Plus, it has pockets to put a rag in or your cell phone! It also makes me feel feminine, even if I didn't do my hair that day... and that in itself is worth way more than the cost of the apron.

Dresses - I was never a big fan of dresses until I began loving all things vintage. Growing up I was always the jeans and goodwill t-shirt kind of girl. However, the bigger my waist got the less I started liking jeans. If they fit around my waist they were too baggy on my butt. If they fit my legs they were too small around my waist. Jeans shopping is the worst. If I had to pick between going to a Justin Beiber concert or going jeans shopping, I would choose the concert.

Anyway, I realized that there was a better option for me than jeans; skirts and dresses to the rescue! They look super cute, make me feel feminine, and I don't have to worry about pulling a whole outfit together. I have a hard time figuring out if my clothes match, and since the husband is no help in the fashion department I opt for simple outfits instead of taking my chances. I also don't have to worry about finding tops that flatter my body type (which is - big belly and little everything else). I know some women prefer jeans/pants/leggings/shorts, but I love a comfy dress.

ps... speaking of Beiber Fever, watch this video.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

What Outfit Makes You Feel Your Best


Last week Mrs. Attempted Domestication, Ms. Apt 16, and I were discussing the new real Simple magazine. Well, more like drooling over it. I didn't have anything to offer to the conversation since I hadn't read it yet (my mom gives me her copy when shes done reading). I have since read it and agree that it was FANTASTIC! Mrs. Attempted Domestication came up with the glorious idea that all three of us blog about the editors question of What outfit makes you feel your best?

If I were 9, I would have said a sweat-suit (matching with my Granny of course).
If I were 12, I would have said baggy Nike Shorts and an over-sized t-shirt.
If I were 15 I would have said a child sized goodwill t-shirt and my holey Mudd bell- bottom pants.
If I were 18 I would have said 'anything my friends would tell me'.

Right now, at the age of 25 I would have to say the outfit I feel best in is my teal 1940's inspired dress I got at Banana Republic in 2008. The dress is perfect for me: it highlights my natural waistline, has ruched shoulders, and falls perfectly at the knee. It is also silky and oh so comfortable! I bought it on credit for my cousins wedding when I was a VISTA and making 9,000 dollars a year. I justified buying it because it was on sale (as is everything I buy at BR) and because it had been such a rough year for me I decided that I deserved to splurge once in a while. Even though it might not have been the responsible thing to do, I believe it was the right thing to do. Ive had the dress for 2 years and still feel gorgeous in it!

I have worn the dress to weddings, swing dancing, and to a housewarming party I threw for myself! When I wear this dress I am completely in my element. I put seamed stockings and small heels on , and complete the look by adding a vintage hairstyle. This is when I feel my best (however, a close second are my pajamas. When I get home from work everyday, the first thing I do is change into a comfy nightgown).

What outfit makes you feel your best?

Monday, August 16, 2010

The Weekend

This past weekend our 4 friends that live in Lafayette were gone, so the husband and I decided to drive to southern Indiana to visit 2 of them who happen to live about 1/2 an hour from each other. They both also live in the country, so finding their houses was fun! Our direction to Lynns included counting houses on the right side of the road and turning left when we see a brown trailer!

It was nice to be in the country. Lynn's mom came home from town and was talking to Lynn about who she saw at the grocery store and I couldn't help but smile and feel right at home, even though I didn't know these folks. While I loved living in the city and am enjoying living in this mid-sized town, I can't help but look back on fondness of my home of 500 (and now 700) in Illinois.

Of course, the grass is always greener on the other side. Towards the end of my college career I was very tired of seeing the same faces all the time (family and friends excluded). It always seemed that I never ran into the people I liked but rather those that I didn't. Plus, you couldnt get away with anything since you knew everyone.

While in Lynn's neck of the woods we also went to her church. I swear it was my home church, just with different people and at a different location. Seriously, it had everything my church back home had: a small church, long prayer requests shouted out by members of the congregation of 30, a lot of family ties, a children's moment, and various hymns. The church is set in the country too, so we were the only visitors. :) We felt very welcomed by the congregation and I loved the hymns (the husband, not so much).

After church we went back to Lynn's house and had lunch with her family. It was delish; and by delish I mean it had butter. Yum. Lynn also made an ice-cream cake for dessert. I have one word to describe it; heavenly. Obviously it was not a healthy dessert. She made 2 flavors of ice cream and separated them with fudge and oreo crumbs. To top off the ice cream she made whipped cream and covered the cake. So to make up for this decadent treat i am promising to eat salad for lunch the rest of the week and to exercise via walking.

We left for Lafayette shortly thereafter. I was so relaxed that I slept almost the whole way home! It must have been the sugar and butter... or maybe it was fresh country air.


Monday, August 9, 2010

My New Favorite Things: Food Edition

I always get ideas for blog posts right before I go to sleep. That usually means that I forget them, but I didn't forget this one. I'm not one to brag (okay, I am), but I am so proud of myself for remembering!

I remember 3 dreams I had last night. Two of the three were about chocolate cake and cereal. I obviously miss these things, but I do have some yummy substitutes!
  • Fresh Dates - Seriously folks, these things are delish! They are great with your morning oatmeal or just as a little snack. I would recommend getting the fresh ones though; the ones that are dried are not nearly as flavorful. On a side note, they are also full of potassium!
  • Splenda - Mrs. Attempted Domestication has raved about this sugar substitute for years, but being a sugar purist I never even tried it. Now that my triglycerides are high, however, I have given in and joined the Splenda wagon. I get the granulated variety and it tastes pretty darn close to sugar.
  • Fruit, Fruit, Fruit - I have a hard time limiting myself 3-5 servings of fruit per day, especially if it is a weekend as I eat when I am bored. My favorites are honeycrisp apples, strawberries, dates, and peaches, but I like virtually all fruits.
  • Frozen Yogurt - I get a craving for ice cream nearly every day, but once in a while ill indulge in some frozen yogurt instead. Its not as creamy as ice cream, but that also means that you don't feel as if you're about to explode if you eat a bit too much of it.
  • Natural Peanut Butter - JIF and Skippy have really yummy natural peanut butters. I know I eat too much PB, but they are so good! I should get the PB with less sugar in it, but that stuff is like a chore to eat.
Okay, so obviously I have a sweet tooth as all of the above foods are sweet... but that is where my life has changed the most in the past 7 weeks. Thanks for all your support friends!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

music musings

We had a good time while home this past weekend. We got to see 2 of my friends from high school and their children, both our families, 1 friend from college, and I went shopping at my favorite second hand stores! Also, I splurged a lot and ate too many sweets and delish fattening dips. No worries all, I paid for it on Monday with a killer stomach ache. I also am finding myself craving more sweets than I had before we went home... I hope my detox is not as bad as it was when I first 'quit.' However, I am learning about more and more slightly-better-for-you sweets. Thanks to my family for being supportive of my new lifestyle change!

This past weekend the husband and I were driving and one of my favorite songs from high school came on the radio. I cranked up the volume and went into a full on rendition of the song, microphone and all (ps. the mic was also my thumb). The song was "Grand Illusion" by Styx. For those that may not know, I was a HUGE Styx fan circa 2000-2002. While most of my peers were loving Usher, Destiny's Child, and whoever wrote 'who let the dogs out', I was lovin 40 year old dudes who used to have mullets. Whatevs, they got me through some hard times (aka hello clinical depression). Anyways, this got me thinking about favorite artists and bands that I had growing up... so here is a list about it.

5th Grade - Hansen: Sorry, but I was 11. I had no musical taste. My favorite one was the drummer. Its always been drummers...). The spice Girls were a close 2nd though.
6th Grade - I dont remember really being into music this year... except for Mariah Carey and No Doubt
7th Grade - Puff Daddy and the Family: This was my brief stint into the rap scene. I loved me some Puff Daddy, Ma$e, and Usher. Coincidentally this is also when I discovered contemporary christian music (Avalon, anyone??!?).
8th Grade - Aerosmith, Steve Miller Band, Styx, FFH. This was also the first year I went to a real concert. my parents took a friend and I to see Steve Miller Band. it truly was trippy.
9th Grade - Styx, Carole King, tons of Christina bands (Jennifer Knapp, Jars of Clay, Third Day, SuperTones).
10th Grade - Styx, Creed, POD, Kirk Franklin, Jars of Clay, bad worship music, Jennifer Knapp, and Skillet
11th Grade - Any and all Christian Rock Music. I owned a lot of of 2.99 music samplers.
12th Grade - Dave Matthews Band, early-mid 90's music, Carole King, Jars of Clay

These days I am enjoying the occasional classic rock, but I am mostly sticking to Rilo Kiley, DMB, Gillian Welch, and Sufjan Stevens. I may stick with this folky scene for a bit... I'm really enjoying it!








Friday, July 23, 2010

Today's Potential

This has been a pretty boring week. I can't pinpoint exactly why. Perhaps it is that nothing exciting has happened lately (except for Kagans Baby being born). I think the most thrilling thing that happened this week was that I made a really healthy and delish dinner last night.

But, today has potential. After work Tim and I are going to Indy. I am getting my hair cut there (woo-hoo!!) and then going out with my friends I met through VISTA. Emily and Mark are moving to DC in August, so it is our farewell dinner and drinks. We are going to the Elbow room of course! We weighed other options, but there is just no place better than the Bow for us. We can be loud, don't have to be really dressed up, and they have cheap drinks and meals.

So, here's to hoping tonight makes up for the boringness of the past week; and knowing my friends, it certainly will!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Random thoughts

  • Well, today I walked to work. Hooray. However, I am dreading the HOT walk home. I know its only a 7 minute walk, but I really hate being sweaty.
  • Tomorrow I am going to a diversity symposium for work. I've had diversity training before, but its always just been people coming to my work and giving a speech. I have a feeling this will be a bit more 'hands-on'. Im interested to see what happens.
  • My friend Kagan had her baby!!! Welcome to this awesome-crazy world Renzie Jordan Masters!
  • I found a new website where you can swap all things vintage. I am so excited about this! I have quite a few things that are 1960's and 1970's that I no longer want (and most friends wouldnt let me leave the house in) ... and would love to replace them with more 40's and 50's things! It's a form of shopping that basically costs nothing but shipping!
  • I reconnected with Yacko, Wacko, and Dot today by watching Anamaniacs!
Thanks for letting me ramble...




Monday, July 19, 2010

Movie: No Impact Man

I recently watched the Documentary "No Impact Man." This man, his wife, and his 3 year old child try to live a full year without impacting the earth negatively. Obviously not everyone can or would want to do this, but it was a neat social experiment. The whole point of the movie/blog/book project was to question what you could live without and still enjoy a productive and happy life.

I think the movie worked, at least for me.

I see myself as a pretty ecologically and ethical person. The husband and I recycle, use CFL's, and try not to buy firsthand if we can buy secondhand. I love garage sales, thrift stores, and resale shops. However, there are things I could do to lessen my impact on the earth in which God entrusted us.

Here is a brief list:
  1. Stop driving to work - I work about 4 (town) blocks away from our apt. However, I often find myself driving to work for multiple reasons, but mostly because I am always running too late to drive. I know you city folks think im ridiculous, but just remember when we all drove to class when it was a 3-5 minute walk?
  2. Actually remember my grocery bags - I always forget to bring my reusable grocery bags to the store! I have so many of them yet they do me no good since I always forget them.
  3. Walk more- Again, this relates to always running late. Also, I am lazy and hate being sweaty.
  4. Air dry clothes - Since we got this new dryer I have not air dried much clothing. this is mostly due to the fact that we have no convenient place to put the drying racks in our small-ish apartment. Call me crazy, but it just feels weird when laundry is drying in the kitchen.
With that being said, there are a few things that I feel I need in order to be a happy and productive member of society. Those are things such as air conditioning, electricity, and a washing machine.

We all have our limits. What would yours be?


Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Website Wednesday

I found myself laughing out loud today in my office when I was reading the website Sh*t my Dad Says. The tagline says "I'm 29. I live with my 74 year old Dad. He is Awesome. I just write down sh*t that he says."

This man is hilarious; and not in the 'dad joke' kind of way, more in the 'im-old-so-I-can-say-whatever-I-effing-want" kind of way. Therefore, do not read it if you are not okay with various vulgar curse words.

For those not into vulgar humor, I found another website I really like: EatingWell.com. Mostly I like it because it gave me a recipe for watermelon sorbet... but it has other good stuff on it too.

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In other news, on Friday I will have been eating healthy for 4 weeks! I'm mostly excited about that, but I dont think I have lost any weight since my clothes all fit exactly the same (I don't believe in scales). Granted, I am not eating healthy to lose weight; i'm doing it to lower my cholesterol and take care of physical self.... but I would have expected to lose something! It's a bit maddening really.

It might have something to do with the fact that I still have a goiter, but the Doc said that it wasn't inhibiting my thyroid functioning. Oh well. Even though I haven't lost weight I have had positive results from this lifestyle change; I don't get stomach aches anymore and I have more energy!

Speaking of energy, here is my to-do list for tonight:
  • Eat Dinner
  • Grocery Shopping
  • Water plants in community garden for at least an hour
  • Work on current sewing project
Hope all is well with you folks!


Thursday, July 8, 2010

Website Wednesday: Thursday Edition

Sorry about not updating my blog lately! I was going to yesterday, but I was super-cranky for no reason, so I thought I would spare you. You are welcome.

Anyway, since finding out about my high cholesterol I've started to live a healthier lifestyle; a lifestyle that involves far less sweets. I've been doing pretty good about things, but I often get cravings for yummy things like muffins, hot fudge sundaes, waffles, and buttercream frosting. I may sound a bit crazy, but it's the truth!

I was pumped to stumble across the blog How Sweet it is today. It has a good mixture of typical sweets (i.e. things that include buttermilk, cream, and a lot of sugar) and healthier sweets in which to indulge. The recipes that really got me were the strawberry-yogurt-granita and frozen hot chocolate. It's pretty obvious I am in an ice cream mood. ;) So while I may not be eating my sister-in-laws almost famous frosting, I am able to satisfy my taste buds with a wonderful substitute.

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On a completely different note, I am considering cutting my hair again. I have my hair cut in the traditional "middy" style of the 40's in order to make putting my hair in rollers easier. The cut is wonderful in that sense, but the problem is that I have not been rolling my hair much due to the humidity and all around hotness that is Indiana summers. Therefore, i'm thinking about going with a bob or some other shorter style that doesn't require much work but still has a bit of versatility. I think when fall or winter hits I would go back to the middy - but another style might be best for now.

Any thoughts or suggestions?







Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Website Wednesday

Nothing makes me more uncomfortable than a spreadsheet full of numbers and dollar signs.

While some out there (ahem, husband and other like-minded folk) appreciate having their finances fit neatly into excel, exposed for the whole world to see, I do not. Numbers have never been my friend. I struggled in school with math and still struggle. Numbers do not make sense to me... which makes budgeting extremely difficult.

Before the husband and I got married we did some pre-marital counseling. The hardest session was the one that focused on finances and budgeting. I am pretty sure I wiped the pastor out of kleenex from all my crying! It was the longest hour and a half of my life, but we made it through. We decided before the meeting that we needed to create a budget and stick to it, and after the session we made the budget in excel. It was rough and not without a ton of anxiety on my behalf, but we completed the task. The husband learned soon thereafter that talking to me about finances is most successful late at night when I am sleepy and cant work myself up. :)

There is, however, one simple internet site that has made things easier for me in regards to finances. This website helps me understand money and budgeting with applications such as pie graphs (I mean, everyone understands pie graphs). The website is also pleasing to look at -unlike excel, which gives me the shivers to even think of because of its coldness and matter of fact layout.

Mint.com is a godsend. Seriously people. Check it out and see if it can do for you what it did for me (and my husband)!


The husband finds his security in facts, science, and numbers. I find mine in easy-to-use internet sites and chocolate.

Monday, June 28, 2010

What the health?!?

Last week I found out that I have high cholesterol and even higher triglycerides. What does this mean to this particular 25 year old?

Well, for starters I have to eat healthy: no more ice cream, enriched pasta, cereal, or beef for this girl. Now it is fat free frozen yogurt, whole wheat pasta, oatmeal, and turkey or chicken. It's not that I dislike the latter foods, but it is quite a change, especially since i've never been on a diet.

I am not considering this a diet. It is a lifestyle change. I started this so-called lifestyle change Friday. I handled it pretty well over that weekend, and the husband was very helpful and supportive. However, yesterday I got cranky. I feel bad for the husband! This is going to be touch-and-go for a while, so please be patient with me while I go through sugar detox.

There are perks to this of course: The husband decided that he can't handle me being cranky about having no air conditioning and not having sweets, so we are finally getting a window unit for our living room! No more sweating while sitting down! Woo-hoo! Another perk is that I haven't had a stomach ache in 4 days! And of course, I wouldn't complain too much if I lost a few pounds through all of this.

Exercising is a while other story for a whole other day. For now the husband and I are going to be going for walks after dinner.



Thursday, June 24, 2010

Website Wednesday: Thursday Edition

I just stumbled upon the worlds coolest furniture designs: Straight line Designs Inc. No no one I know would be able to afford anything they make (they don't even have prices listed!!), but they are awesome to look at and admire.

I love these drawers! And think how fun it would be to have these in a little girls playroom!

Ah, to dream.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Just Some Thoughts

1. I was Facebook stalking some people from high school and stumbled upon the page of a classmate I really disliked. He was your typical 'popular' a-hole, except he wasn't cute. at all. He still isn't. Anyway, whilst looking through some pictures I realized that he had a child. This creeps me out on many levels... mostly because I still picture him as the jerk I grew up with (we went to school together from kindergarten-high school). He could be different now, but I doubt it. He is probably just a jerk with a kid now. Sorry that I am so jaded... high school was not a pleasant experience for me. College redeemed my view of education.

2. I have not had a house plant die on me yet (besides my herb garden; it got fried one weekend while I was gone). Herman, Peter Parker, Spartacus, and the un-named Aloe plant are all doing well!

3. I tried to make coffee at work today. My co-workers told me that I made great espresso - the coffee was really strong. For the record, I have never made coffee before.

4. I wanted to get mirrors shaped like birds to put in out living room behind the couch. I thought it would be a great idea since the husband has become a birder. Well, I was wrong. He wrote me an email back saying that he hated them (actually it was 'Are you serious?') and that "the descriptions says they are sparrows, but they are clearly swallows." :)

5. Happy 50th post to me!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Bucket List, Life Goals, and Website Wednesday!

Ive had a bucket list since I was in high school. Some things on the list have changed (I no longer have the desire to get a tattoo), some have come true (get married, go to Ireland, graduate college), and some remain the same (learn to play 'brick' by ben folds five on the piano, be happy with my job - which has also come true).

Lately I've been thinking about some things on my to-do list...
  • Getting a Masters Degree: My sister graduated with her masters this year and it really got me thinking about finishing my formal education. I've been wanting to get a Masters of Social Work for a couple years now. I am still not sure what concentration to focus on, but my current job allows me to see social workers providing a wide variety of services to the public, so hopefully I will settle on one soon.
  • Having Children: I have had baby fever lately. I blame it on my extremely cute nephew and the fact that 90 million girls I know are having babies. Seriously, 2 girls from my freshman college floor, one friend from college, my hairdresser, a good friend from high school, and my cousin are all pregnant/had their baby in the past 2 weeks. And this is not even talking about the babies some of my friends already have! I just keep reminding myself that I am not ready for such a drastic (albiet wonderful!) life change. The husband and I would like some time to ourselves before devoting our lives to our eventual little one. But that doesnt stop me from buying baby things at garage sales and sometimes TJ MAXX for my friends with babies!
So those are the topics that have been consuming me lately. Well, that and hot fudge sundaes.

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Also, todays Website Wednesday link: Jims Pancakes. This man makes the most kick ass pancakes ever. Words cannot describe how impressed I am by his creativity and ability to make art out of a breakfast food. He has made a 3D ferris wheel, bacon and eggs, giraffes, ducks, etc. I don't know how he does it, but I'm glad he does.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

The Worst of Times

2 Words Folks: Middle School.

Lately, thanks to Meghan McBlogger of 2 Birds 1 Blog fame, I have been thinking back to the most awkward times of my life. And i'm an awkward person all around, so that in itself says something.

I have yet to meet an individual that enjoyed this time of their life. My bff Kassi and I were talking about it last weekend. There are wounds from middle school that took a long time to heal. For me most of those wounds usually had something to do with catty gossip. A big traumatic event in my middle school life was this: 2 people (yes, I still remember their names) decided to make a list of all the girls in the school and give them awful nicknames that centered around their faults. The list got found by some who were one the list, including me. Now I dont remember my nickname, but it had something to do with the cellulite on my legs. I wasnt a skinny girl, but I wasnt huge either. I was, of course, self conscious about my body like every other 13 year old girl. This really helped.

In order to deal with this embarrassment I did what (I assume) all girls did at that age; trash talk the enemies by calling them names in letters to friends. I believe the letter included words describing the enemies as whores, sluts, and I probably dropped the 'B' word too. Im sure I also included something about one of the girls teeth because they were by no means straight. While this was not a good way to deal with my feelings, it seemed appropriate at the time.

My mom would sometimes find my notes in the pockets of my jeans during middle school and would read them. I would get madand she would quickly reply with either 'if you dont want someone to know whats in here maybe you shouldnt write it' or 'then empty your pockets!.' Well, with this particular situation my mother didnt see the note, but a teacher did. He yelled at me in front of the whole class and I cried. He also was the basketball coach and it was tryout season. Needless to say I did not make the team that year (it had nothing to do with my fouling and inability to make a shot... it was all the note).

So I was humiliated twice in a day and ended up in tears in the girls bathroom. Actually, that seems to sum up my entire middle school experience.

While I felt like I was being treated unfairly, I was doing the same thing to girls that were part of the lower social status in school... and I feel terrible about it now. Finally I have the foresight to see that the people I was making fun of were the underdogs in life who didnt have it as good as my family. I now work in the social service sector to help the same individuals I talked about behind their backs in order to feel better about myself and fit in with the popular crowd. Eventually I got tired of trying to impress the popular crowd and began to hang out with kids that I related to better... besides their affinity for drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol. But that is a story for another day.



Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Another step towards adulthood...

Yesterday the husband and I bought a new washer and dryer. Our dryer had broken and it wasn't worth fixing, so we decided to take advantage of Memorial Day sales and get a whole new set.

The whole process was gut-wrenching for me for a few reasons, but mainly because I take things very personally, I do not make decisions, and I feel that I have a moral obligation to not buy from big box retailers if there is another option.

Lets just focus on this moral obligation for a bit, shall we?

I believe it stems from the fact that I worked at small local businesses while growing up. I am thinking particularly of the lumber store my Aunt and Uncle owned. Well, after they and the other full time staff members put their heart and soul into building this wonderful company they were eventually forced to shut down because they couldn't compete with other big box lumber yards prices. Customers would come and get small purchases like screws and a couple pieces of wood from the local company (not to mention a wealth of knowledge from staff members), but ultimately they would buy their big purchases from the larger stores that could offer more competitive prices (and had un-knowledgeable staff).

So here we were in that very situation. We went to the local store and got a good estimate. We then went to the big box appliance store to compare prices. While there I am stressing out to the max because we had to make a decision and because the big box retailer offered us a slightly better deal for 20 bucks less... and the longer the husband and I talked the more the salesman kept taking off the bill. Finally I said to the husband:
you know how I take things really personally and sometimes think irrational thoughts? Well, I just feel like we are stealing money away from the salesman at the local store if we buy something here...
The husband laughed and said he knew thats what I was thinking. Ultimately we decided to go with the local store. We went back to the small store and the husband haggled the price down to the same amount the big box retailer had given us!

I am happy with the decision we made, and so is the husband. I guess it was a good Memorial Day.

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Side Note: After shopping we were going out to eat to the local Mexican Restaurant but they had a note on their door in English and Spanish that read:

"We will be closing at 5:30 on Labor Day"





Friday, May 28, 2010

Entitlement

my morning ritual when I get to work goes like this: turn on computer, check on plants, check email (personal and work), read my favorite blogs, and check my favorite news sites (BBC, CNN, and NPR). Today while perusing the sites I came across this article about how recent college grads are not prepared to enter the workforce. I generally agree, but not for the same reasons as the article states.

As a recent college grad I had a hard time adjusting to my new life as a working adult. It was difficult for me to know that I would be doing the same thing every day... it seems boring. When I graduated I had the idea that I could change the world in a year or so. I now know that changing the world means changing yourself and hopefully meeting others who want to do the same (I have the best friends ever... what a bunch of movers and shakers!). So in that respect, college did not prepare me for the 'real world'.

The article states that college grads aren't ready for the workforce because of the lack of professionalism (i.e. dont care about appearances and are late to work too often), but what they really focused on in the story was a presence of entitlement in the students.

Now I know that some of my peers have this view post-graduation, but not all newbies do. Maybe it has something to do with the specific school I attended (WE ARE EUREKA!), but I don't think any of my friends have this view. We all took jobs that didn't pay much because we understood that we are beginning our careers. I'm not saying we don't complain about it, but that is mostly because we all have a huge amount of debt to pay off.

And might I add that the generations before us told us that the reason we were going to college was to get a good paying job - and then when young adults expect that, they are labeled as 'those kids with a sense of entitlement'.

I'm sure a lot of this is just caused from a generational gap. For example, a lot of younger adults do not find it necessary to get dressed up for work when all you are going to do is sit behind a computer all day and see co-workers. The older generations feel that dressing up for work is a necessity...

I know that I am making a mountain out of a molehill, but this is whats on my mind right now.
_________________________

Side Note: I hope everyone has a FAB Memorial Day weekend! The husband and I will be extremely busy sleeping, playing video games, sewing, birdwatching, and the like. oh, and I have to do laundry and our dryer is not working... so it looks like we will have clothes strewn all over the apt for the time being.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Happy Birthday to...



The modern brassiere. A woman named Caresse designed it (her handmaids sewed it) in order to go with a dress she had gotten for a débutante ball. You can read all about it in the link above.

I have mixed feelings about the bra, but i am grateful that we women no longer have to wear corsets!




Friday, May 21, 2010

Ode to the Internet

I seriously don't know how anyone knew anything before the internet. I mean, I guess you had to read encyclopedias to find out useless knowledge, but for some reason that seems far more intense than googling whatever is on your mind at that moment.

For example, yesterday I googled spaniel dogs. Spaniels are my favorite dogs and I was trying to think of the type of spaniel Aggie was (Aggie was my great-grandpa Reeser's dog. Every night after supper he had an after dinner mint. True story.), because I always forget. I think I found the answer: American water spaniel. Note: Mom, if I'm wrong let me know. Anyway, one thing led to another (thats what she said) and I ended up looking at a list of the worlds most expensive dogs. And I fell in love with one: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Come on, if that dog is not adorable to you then you are blind or dont have a heart. I mean, it's not that I want a dog right now, but if I had unlimited resources, space, time, motivation, and money, I would def adopt a pup like this one.

So far today I haven't fell in love with anything online, but then again I have only really googled what the Stonewall Riots were all about.

This weekend the husband and I are headed home for multiple celebrations; it will be a fun and busy weekend!

ps... happy B-day to my H-O-T Mother tomorrow!




Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Website Wednesday with a dash of snarky-ness

Last weekend the husband and I went to a great concert. The opening act was amazing and the headliner was one of the best entertainers I've seen in a long time. We had a blast, except for some folks who don't know the unwritten courtesy rules of concerts. Therefore, I give you...

The (Un)Written Rules of Concerts

1. It is only appropriate to sing loudly if everyone else is singing loudly too. While we didnt have this problem at this particular show, it has been a problem in the past. I came to the show to listen to the musician on stage, not Johnny Bravo behind me. Dont get me wrong; it is very acceptable to sing quietly to yourself, but if you cant sing quietly, dont sing at all.

2. Do not try to create a space for yourself to stand. This is also known as if-you-dont-back-off-me-I-will-elbow-the-crap-out-of-you. This was a big problem last weekend. This guy tries to squeeze in behind me and in front of someone else about 3/4 way through the concert. He was so close to me his hand kept hitting my butt and I could distinctly hear him slurring all the words to the song even though he was singing quietly to himself. I decided to remedy this by elbowing him nicely (a warning shot, if you will) and shifting my body so I was perpendicular to him so he couldnt touch my butt...it didnt work. Eventually the husband told him to back off and he moved. The husband also had a (large) man lean on his fingers for an extended amount of time. Apparently the guy didnt mind, but Tim did.

3. Don't talk all the way through the show. You would think this would be obvious, but it is not. If you paid money to go to a show, why wouldnt you want to listen to it? Comments here and there are fine, but not through the whole show. There is bound to be some murmuring during the opening act since they are usually not well-known, and i'm okay with that. That is totally different than talking through the whole show.

4. Dont text all the way through the show. I mean, really? Are we that distract-able that we cant turn our phones on silent for 2 hours? I mean, im sure your text to your BFF about her hot date last night is super important, but cant it wait? It takes away from the ambiance of the lights, music, and presentation in general if all you notice is the bright screen on the blackberry in front of you. Side Note: The husband and I were at a concert once and saw 2 guys looking at pron on a cell phone while waiting for the band to start... it was very uncomfortable.

Okay, sorry that was a snarky post. To make up for it, here is your Website Wednesday Link!

:)

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Hobbies do a body good... plus website wednesday

Sometimes I find myself getting bored with life; not that I am not like 112% happy to be living... it's just that I want things to be a bit more exciting. However, I'd like to tell you of some little things I've been doing in order to break up the day-to-day stuff:

1. Gardening - we live in an apartment, so while I cant have my own garden, I am able to help out with a community garden that my church is starting. All involved pay a small fee and water/weed the garden in exchange for fresh produce! Leftover produce is given to local shelters. Today is my first day there... so wish me luck!

2. Sewing - this hobby has been a long time coming. Since i adore vintage clothes and its very rare to find vintage clothes for big gals I knew I would eventually want to learn to sew. Also, I could make a lot of awesome presents for people with a sewing machine! This past Christmas I got a sewing machine and have finally learned to thread it, wind bobbins, and all that jazz. I'm practicing my straight lines now. Also, I have my first sewing lesson tomorrow at the local handmade store! I am so pumped! We are going to learn to use my machine and make a pillow. yay!

3. Cooking - I haven't been very good with this one lately as i've felt lazy after work... so ive been making things I am confident will taste good. Hopefully i'll get back into the swing of things soon.

4. Vintage Hair - This hobby has been lacking too; my hair is a bit long (shoulder length) for some styles, so i've mostly just been teasing the top and making it a 1960's look. It looks good, but im ready for a haircut! Oh, I've also mastered the victory roll, but they don't look good on me, so I wont wear them. The next goal is learning to pincurl my hair!

Also, since its Website Wednesday, I give you... My Parents Were Awesome. My parents are still awesome, but for those who aren't as lucky there is this website.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Funny Tidbits

This past weekend some funny things happened:

  • While turning off the lamp on his night stand before going to bed, the husband knocked a full glass of water on his head and on his side of the bed. It was awesome. We covered it with a towel and promptly went to sleep.
  • While napping this weekend, I was dreaming about knitting, sewing, and crocheting when the husband woke me up. I responded with "big crochet." What that means I have no idea, but apparently he can crochet big. Also, I was very mad at him because he laughed after I said "big crochet." After all, he was supposed to know what I was talking about! :)
  • Our nephew apparently sneezed on the communion at church on Sunday; we were in the second row.
Also, a no-so-funny but rather important tidbit of info: my sister officially received her masters of Education Diploma! Congrats Sister!!! I am proud and a bit jealous!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Website Wednesday

I am an avid blog reader... and seeing as it is Website Wednesday I thought I would share my faves with you. Note: blogs written by friends are the best, but the following blogs are my fave non-friend blogs).
  1. 2Birds1Blog - If you are offended by cursing, inappropriate talk of various body parts, and gossiping this blog is NOT for you (I'm looking at you Nancy and Jen)! It is written by 2 twenty-somethings. They talk about their ridiculous lives, awkwardness, and lack of money. So, if you are an awkward, poor, 20-something with a twisted sense of humor check it out. If not, i'd recommend steering clear of it or it may give you a heart attack.
  2. Vixen Vintage - This is my all time favorite blog about all things vintage. Solanah, the blogger, is an inspiration to me. She sews clothes from vintage patterns, always has cute hair (she is a fan of rag curls - one of the few curling techniques I haven't tried yet), and always has fun pictures on her blog.
  3. Advanced Style - This blog is dedicated to the more refined people in life (i.e older adults). The blogger, Ari, takes pictures and writes about the lives of the older women he meets living in NYC. the women he talks with are so fun, daring, and beautiful! Someday I will have an advanced style, and I only hope that people will appreciate it as much as Ari.
So there's that folks.

Enjoy. I'm off to use some gift cards; thanks mom and mom-in-law!



Tuesday, May 4, 2010

on blogging... or a lack thereof...

wil: you haven't blogged in a while
me: i know...
i go there and start to...
but nothing comes out
wil: aha
me: i have bloggers constipation
wil: like a phantom poop.
YES!!!
wil: i like how we both turned to s%#t jokes.
:)
me: its the way we roll
haha
wil: we heart poop.
me: ABSOLUTELY!!!
I tihnk I may blog that
wil: clever.
stealer

So there you have it folks... the raw, unedited truth.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

An Update of Sorts

This past weekend the husband and I had so much fun with our friends! On Saturday we went to the college. The husband went on a nature walk, to a presentation, to a college bowl competition (its like scholastic bowl on steroids), and ate lunch with our music professor. I had a celebration for our 100th year anniversary of our sorority! I had a lot more fun than I thought I would! After my sorority thing was over we went out to eat with friends. It was great, except for the fact that we forget how loud we are... and before I knew it everyone else in the restaurant had left! Oh well. :)

Saturday evening we were supposed to go to the local bar but decided to play a game with my sister and her husband instead. We all had a good time, even though the husband won. Side note: I don't think my sister and I had played a game together since Girl Talk circa 1994. Luckily this game didnt involve prank calling our crushes.


We got to spend time with some family on Sunday, which was also nice! Our nephew Rett learned to say our names; it was adorable! my sister-in-law also made a FABULOUS and DELICIOUS cake for my birthday (yes, I m still celebrating my birthday.... weeks later). The frosting was to die for!!


So this week the husband and I don't have anything planned... which is awesome. I am hoping to go to Hobby Lobby and Lane Bryant to spend some gift cards that are burning a hole in my pocket. We also need to clean the apt, which is never fun... but life in generally more enjoyable when the apt is clean-ish.

I also plan on taking the second step in my sewing adventures; sew a ribbon onto a washcloth. it may not sound like much, but it is a good first project. I also finally found someone who gives sewing lessons, so I am going to start those sometime soon. I decided that if the husband can spend 40 bucks a month on a gym membership I can spend the same amount of money on sewing lessons.

So that's life these days. Nothing too exciting, but also nothing to complain about. I'd consider that a good life thus far.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Friday's Thoughts

It's definitely Friday; I cannot focus on work to save my life. Also... the boss is gone today, so that doesn't help. The main reason I cant focus today is because I cannot wait for the weekend! The Husband and I are going home to IL for our Colleges Alumni Weekend and my sorority's 100 year celebration! I am so excited to see my sisters again (well, the ones that I like anyways). I haven't seen most of them since my wedding, which will be 6 months ago tomorrow! Now that I think about it, two people I am super excited to see arent technically sorority sisters... so here's a shout out to Meg Laz and Yuan (aka OneShoe). Love you girls!

Gosh, I've been married 6 months! I cant even believe it! Sometimes I will look at my Facebook status in disbelief. However weird it is, I do love it. The husband and I have a ridiculous amount of fun together doing our respective old people things; he is taking up bird watching and I am already enamored with vintage clothes, household items, and hair. We are the coolest old people ever.

On a completely different note, it is the husbands birthday next month. I am a very horrible secret-keeper from him. He told me to get a video game for him so he already knew about that. But then I accidentally told him the second present I got him!!! So now I have to come up with something else to surprise him with and it has to be free since I went over our set budget... so if you think of anything let me know!

Ill leave you with a picture of me today... I look pretty hot if i can say so!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Website Wednesday

Sorry for my lack of posts folks; on Monday I found out a client of mine had died... so I wasn't in the mood for writing. Yesterday I was weirdly busy at work and didn't have time to post. So here we are...


Have you ever wanted a brief history of presidential vacation or wondered what the difference was between impressionism or expressionism? No? Well, i'm sure your life would be incomplete without knowing 15 reasons why Mr. Rogers was the best neighbor ever; mine was until I read the list (seriously... this guy is freakin awesome; his mom made all of his sweaters).

This is my go-to site for random facts and even more random quizzes (i.e. who said it quiz: Jane Austen or Steve Austen).

Side note: My b-day weekend was fantastic! I had so much fun with the fam (I missed those who weren't able to make it of course). Now that my birthday week is over it is time to focus on The Husbands birthday... but I've already gone 10 bucks over our spending limit! eek!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Let the festivities begin (or continue)...


Today is the official day of my birth! My poor mother, bless her heart, toiled and toiled to bring me into this world... and she did it without pain meds!! What a strong woman (love you Mom)! my father is strong too; after all, he was with mom while she was delivering me and he made it through alive (love you too Dad)! And while i'm thanking people, thanks to my Gran and Hasha for watching my older sister during this monumental occasion... :)
Best costume for the day

Fast forward 25 years: I have grown from adorable infant to chubby- grade schooler to awkward-boys-clothes-wearing-adolescent to lazy-high-schooler to sorority-girl to the married-vintage-queen I am today! All in all, life has been good thus far and i am looking forward to living another million years.

So, here is the rundown for this weekend:

Friday - Wear a crown to work (done and done), have a dinner picnic with friends, use my new picnic basket (thanks for the early b-day present husband), eat ice cream, have the husband roll me home.

Saturday - last minute cleaning before Mom, dad, and cousin Paige get here, Eat lunch at best Mexican restaurant ever, got to Indy zoo, eat dinner with friends, go back home.

Sunday - Get up early to get Mary-Lou's donuts, church, lunch, shopping with mom, say goodbye to parents and cousin, relax.

Doesn't this sounds like a great weekend?!?! I think so.

No, I know so!!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Website Wednesday

While perusing the NPR website today I found this awesome article. It discusses the jobs of yesteryear.


I hope your week is going well. My birthday week is in full swing!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

a-not-so-thought-out-post

I am so thankful to have a job. I remember being jobless, and it sucked big time. I couldnt even enjoy the nice weather whilst jobless because I felt guilty for not having a job and because I was too busy filling out job applications, sleeping weird hours, and refining my resume. Also, I got extremely good at spider solitaire... which is a bit creepy.

Nowadays, since it's nice out, I find myself day dreaming about being out in the weather and enjoying life... which is weird. For one thing, the most outdoorsy things I do are rollerblade, eat outside, and shop. Secondly, if I did have a gorgeous day off I would most likely spend it sleeping in, watching crappy 80's movies, and dancing around the apt in my t-shirt and undies.

I dont remember having this problem last year at this time, but that may be because I was so thankful to finally have a job. Also, I was planning a wedding, which is a bit time consuming. Perhaps it doesnt help that it is my BIRTHDAY WEEK!!!! I am super excited about it and am finding it hard to focus...

Sorry if this post is more of a thought process than a well-constructed blog post...



Friday, April 9, 2010

The Ultimate Challenge


Anyone who has ever met me knows that I love chocolate as much as I love life. I am not exaggerating here... many times the husband tells me to "stop cheating on [him] with that chocolate". If I could eat chocolate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I would (okay, i'm sure I have before).

Like I said, I love chocolate... okay, okay; perhaps it is unnatural to love chocolate this much.

I have to admit- I can't remember a day where I did not have some form of chocolate, which brings me to the title of this days post; The Ultimate Challenge.

I have decided to go chocolate free for 1 day. Hopefully after I conquer that I will be able to go 1 week... but let's not get ahead of ourselves!

After I decided to do this, I realized I need someone else to give up something that they are addicted to so I could have a support system...and since the husband has no vices, I decided to call upon my weird friends. Em Hunt said she would give up sweets altogether; what are you willing to give up?

I haven't set a day for the event yet, but im thinking it HAS to be after my birthday!!! Ill keep you all posted when I am emotionally ready for this.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Swingin Weekend!


No, not that kind of swinging, swing dancing!

This weekend the husband and I are meeting some friends down in Indy to go swing dancing! I am very excited! I've been daydreaming all week about my hair and outfit... here is what I have so far:

Hair: Faux victory rolls as taught by Lisa Freemont. This style is so easy to achieve with my haircut (called a middy) and it looks kick-ass.

Clothing: Not this is a bit more difficult to decide because most of my cute dresses don't fit very well these days. However, I am thinking that I may wear my wedding dress with a colorful cardigan. I'm hoping the cardigan will make it look less 'wedding-ish.' Seeing as it is was a casual wedding dress, I think I can pull it off. Plus, I really want to wear my awesome petticoat again! Im debating on the fully-fashioned seemed stockings. Oh, but if that doesn't work out I have a back up dress.

Shoes: Something stylish and comfortable!!

Arm Candy: Husband

The last time we went swing dancing we got our picture in the the local newspaper; it was so fun! The above picture is me in all my vintage glory on that night (40's inspired dress was bought at Banana Republic).

And now for something completely different; congrats to Rosy and her live-in for a successful move to Chicago! We are slowly and surely becoming adults. I am very excited to visit her this summer so I can see her place and have her cook me a delicious meal!

Well, I am off again to search for the perfect summer dress... wish me luck!

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*Note: Myrtle, my fish, is miraculously still alive! He is mostly dead, but as we all know there is a big difference between mostly dead and all-the-way dead (for those who don't know that Princess Bride reference, shame on you!)*



Monday, April 5, 2010

Today's Day Thus Far

  • Wake up, extremely exhausted
  • Call in to work, go back to bed
  • Wake up
  • Get a stomach ache
  • Take a shower
  • Take 3 chunks of skin out of my right leg while shaving
  • Turn off shower
  • Put pressure on cuts while reaching with one hand for the first aid kit
  • Cover up cuts with gauze and tape
  • Clean and sanitize mess
  • Pick out a new outfit that does NOT include a skirt
  • Eat lunch
  • Go to work
  • Realize that goldfish is yet again stuck behind the water filter upside down.
  • Block ways to get behind filter with plants
  • Realize that fish is dying
  • Poor fish...
Tonight is bound to get better!!!!! GO Butler!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Website Wednesday: Thursday Edition

Well, I was so astounded by my 'Thank You' note that I completely forgot about website Wednesday... so here it is!

Old Jews Telling Jokes - Okay, I admit it; I (along with a certain MegLaz I know) have a huge fascination with Jews. Perhaps it is because I didn't have a Jewish friend until I was 22, so there is a certain unfamiliarity. Perhaps it is the sincerity and traditions... who knows why I love them, I just do!

So this website is exactly what it says; it is old Jews (mostly men) telling jokes. And they are GREAT! I really enjoy a good and dry joke. If you don't, i'm not so sure this site is for you. But you should check it out anyways!

ps... Happy Passover and Easter!!

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Dear Ms. Zobrist,

A student that interviewed me in January for a class came to my work today to drop off a 'thank you note'. You may be thinking this was a kind gesture on his behalf. It was not for the following reasons:

1. During the interview he told me he was required to send one. He also told me this with a hint of disbelief in his voice... like he was thinking that it is passe to write them (note: It is not).
2. He did not mail it... he gave it to me. call me old fashioned, but it just seems odd for a person to drop off a thank you note. 44 cents for a stamp is not that much.
3. It was written in PENCIL and on a piece of LOOSE LEAF PAPER! Seriously?!?!

That is not only lazy, it is insulting. I know my job is not very busy... but I took time out of my day to answer his questions (of which 95% of them can be found on our website) and he thanks me by writing me a 'note' that is not even folded into fourths correctly. I about had a flashback to fifth grade in Mrs. Kelso's class while taking it from him (except for the fact that we folded our notes way cooler - of course)!

I showed it to my boss. She just stared at it and shook her head in disbelief. We then had a talk about how unbelievable it is that kids like this are getting degrees (yes, this guy is graduating in May... and to top it off, he is going to be a nurse. God help us all).

I don't know... am I being a snob? Perhaps, but we all have our standards.

Friday, March 26, 2010

On Living Things...

Today I took a big step towards adulthood; I re-potted my plants that are in my office. My Granny gave me a plant a while back and recently it has grown so much that I needed to re-pot it. It was actually 2 plants on one pot, so I separated them too. And I did this all at work! Luckily for me the boss was gone today and a co-worker used to work in a flower shop! So Amy helped me re-pot them; so far they are surviving!

I actually have 4 plants now. Unfortunately Spartacus isn't doing too well... but Herman, Harriette, and Peter Parker are beautiful! 4 little plants, a goldfish (named myrtle), and a husband... oh my! I think it is officially time to turn 25!

(21 days and counting!)

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Website Wednesday

The time has come, dear reader, to start a themed weekly post. This post is cleverly named 'Website Wednesday.' Obviously I will post a website/blog that I read often and gush about why I love it so much.

So, here goes:

Apartment Therapy: I might be a closet voyeur... I LOVE looking inside homes (not is a creepy way, just in the 'i'm a nosy american ' way). Apparently I am not the only one, as Apartment Therapy is basically pictures of really neat apartments. I love getting ideas on how to decorate, especially when the ideas (and hopefully supplies for the project) are free or cheap! Since we live in an apartment, storage is always an issue; apartment therapy has given me some good ideas! Most of the homes are more modern and not my style, but sometimes you see one and think "I could live there"... and that is so refreshing.

p.s. They also have great sister sites; The Kitchn is a great site for recipes and tips!

I hope you enjoy it!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Opinions

Everyone has an opinion on the healthcare bill passing... and I appreciate those opinions. I am glad that we are able to express our feelings without being afraid of persecution. However, I am not a fan of uninformed opinions.

I understand how hard it is to find a balanced news-source, but they are out there. The husband and I are frequent visitors to Politofact. It is a GREAT website! Basically they take claims politicians have made and check them for accuracy. It's so simple and informative!

So please, for my sake, do your homework before you update your facebook status!

Thank you.


ps... I am ecstatic about the health care reform bill passing! it's not perfect, but it is a start!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Irish Feast update



The Irish inspired dinner was so delish! I seriously could not believe I made it! I think i'm beginning to realize that cooking isn't as scary or hard as I thought. It does take patience and time though... and when i'm hungry I dont want to wait. maybe that is why cereal is the best food ever!

The meat was tender, the veggies were not too soft and not too crunchy, and even the cabbage tasted divine! I also made green mashed potatoes; they were good, but mashed potatoes aren't my favorite. Of course my favorite was the mint dessert brownies. I used a box for the brownies (I didn't want to chance dry brownies) and made the mint cream and chocolate toppings. Friends brought over soda bread and salad with homemade dressing. Overall I would say it was a perfect evening!

I have three regrets though:
  1. That I couldn't invite more people
  2. That I didnt have a green tablecloth; we have 2 tables pushed together
  3. That I made place-cards for everyone and labeled mine "Jayme Z (D)". I did that because while I didnt officially take The Husbands name, I wanted to put it on my place-card. However, it ended up looking like the '(D)' was there to say Im a Democrat (which is true, but still...)!
The wonderful-ness of the night greatly outweighed the regrets though, so I would label the night a great success!

I hope you all have a great weekend; I plan on doing nothing and relaxing afterwards!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Irish-like dinner

well, today I am preparing a dinner feast for the Husband, a few friends, and myself.

I have Corned Beef, cabbage, a rutabaga, a leek, and a pound of carrots warming up in the crock pot as we speak. I also have my mint brownies done, and boy do the look yummy!! When I get home the husband is going to help me peel the potatoes and then we will have green mashed potatoes as well. Yum! Some friends are completing the meal with a salad and soda bread. The only thing missing is some yummy beer, but seeing as it is a weeknight and I forgot to pick some up, it looks like we will be having organic sparkling lemonade.

ps... youtube is wonderful... thank goodness for instructional videos on how to cut rutabagas and leeks!

I think i like being a hostess.. I might host another one next month in honor of my birthday. 30 days left!


Tuesday, March 16, 2010

31 Days!!! But who's counting...

T-31 days until my birthday!!! Just thinking about my birthday puts me in a better mood! I guess when you think about it, 25 is a pretty monumental birthday; after all, you are a quarter of a century old! Plus (and this is a big plus), now you can rent a car! The next milestone birthday isn't until you're thirty... and even then, it's not looked upon as a happy one. However, if it's an excuse for cake and food, chances are I will want a celebration.

A lot of my friends have odd feelings towards the big 2-5. I guess it's because none of us are where we thought we would be. Many of us thought our lives would be more permanent; we would have a house, a good job, and/or possibly a family. Others thought our lives would be more exciting... but here we are, most of us working in jobs for which we are overqualified, bored and sometimes underpaid. Some of us are wondering how we got stuck in this monotony when we were supposed to be changing the world and traveling.

I think reality sets in around this time in our lives. We are realizing that it is a lot harder to change the world than we thought. It takes more than a passionate heart, it also takes organization and ingenuity. Yet it is still not impossible... just harder.

So take heart, 20-somethings everywhere! maybe our time has not come, but when it does, they will feel our velocity!




Monday, March 15, 2010

Ah, the weekend

This past weekend The Husband and I made it a priority to do nothing of significance. Of course the goal was achieved. We wrapped up odds and ends, he played a lot on his new Xbox, and i kept on at the puzzle I am putting together. Yes, we are officially lame. No, we don't really care... mostly because we had a great time doing nothing! Also, we have been on the go for the past 2 weekends so we deserved a break.

The Husband did make supper Saturday and it was delish! I am so glad to have someone who is able to share cooking duties with me! We had eggplant and spaghetti; yum! Today I am making hot ham sandwiches... and hopefully going grocery shopping later tonight. After all, I am trying my hand at an Irish inspired meal on Wednesday; corned Beef and cabbage, green mashed potatoes, and brownies with this delicious mint creme on top. I think I will make the brownies tomorrow so I am not so overwhelmed on St. Patty's day. However, the beef and cabbage will be in the crock pot, so hopefully i will only have to worry about the mashed potatoes.

On a completely different note, The Husband and I watched (500) Days of Summer last night. the movie was good, but even better than the movie itself was Zooey Deschanel's (or Summer, in the movie) wardrobe. Seriously folks, if I had all the money in the world I would own THAT wardrobe. It was so beautiful and 50's feminine, but not costume-like. I commented to The Husband on all the outfits throughout the entire movie! Sorry! :)

I am attaching a link to another blog that posted a bunch of Zooey's clothes from the movie. I would make one myself, but i'm too lazy. Sorry!

Friday, March 12, 2010

series yet to be named... part 2

Growing up in a small town of 500 had it's perks and disadvantages. It was great in the summer as a younger child;one of my favorite things to do was jump on a neighbors trampoline with my BFF's and sister. I distinctly remember choreographing a dance to Ace of Base's "All that She Wants" on my friend Emma's. Those were the days.

Another great (and awful, depending how you look at it) thing about living in a small town is getting to know everyone in town. One woman in town that I always admired was an older woman named Clara. Clara and her sister lived in what used to be Goodfield's schoolhouse (now it is turned into 2 apartments). They were devout Christian ladies who were the epitome of hospitality. They were always baking pies and rolls for people and businesses in town (however, since they grew up in the depression they didn't use enough sugar!). Clara took a walk every day and, from what I could tell, was in pristine shape until the very end. She had so much energy; maybe it was the walking, the baking, or the constant gardening. I guarantee she had more energy at 80 than I do now.

My favorite thing that Clara did was pick flowers from her (or a neighbors... love knows no property laws) garden, put them in a lovely vintage vase and place them on the door step of the Baptist Church I attended. Sometimes she would add a poem she had written and typed out (on a typewriter folks!). Now this may not seem that powerful and moving, but the church she attended has the reputation of not fraternizing with others; even other Churches. The fact that she did this seemingly small act all summer still makes me smile.

I was so saddened to hear of Clara's death when it happened; I had always planned on writing her to tell her what an inspiration she was to me... but I never got around to it. So she will never know what an impact she had on me, but I can only hope to pass on her story through actions, and when necessary, words.




Thursday, March 11, 2010

The Underdog

Confession: I have a serious crush on 'the underdog'

It started surfacing in High School. Well, maybe in middle school; after all, I really liked "God help the outcast" from the Hunchback of Notre Dame... anyways... My friend Kagan and I did our own part in the Iraq War effort by printing off protest signs (at school) and posting them on our lockers. Sure, the "No War for Oil" posters didn't stay up there long, but it was our way of 'sticking it to the man'. In high school I also started seeing the way my classmates treated those that were gay, and that really ticked me off. I'm not really sure why, but it did. Also, I started getting heavy into researching mental health and its effects on belonging.

I decided in college that my major would be sociology/psychology mainly because I wanted a job helping the under-served. I went on 2 work/mission trips and also worked at a day camp for kids in low income families. All of these events increased my passion for the underdog even more. Also, I did a crazy long report on sweatshops in the garment industry. Man, was that an eye opener!

Then Camp Kindle came... Whoa. Words cannot express how much those 10 days affected me.

After college I joined AmeriCorps*VISTA and worked at a day shelter for homeless neighbors. That was one crazy year. I was also on food stamps during that year... and let me tell you this; NO ONE that is on food stamps should be considered lazy. it took me 3 MONTHS... and I had a college education! Not to mention i had to take 1/2 a day off of work to renew them! If someone is willing to endure that humiliation and agony they deserve that money.

After my term was up I eventually found a job working at another day shelter for the homeless in another town. By the grace of God they promoted me in a week to the job I have now, helping those with a severe mental illness. So there that is folks; these are most of the philanthropic issues I am interested in so far... and i'm only 25 (well, I will be in a month)!

Tomorrow I might post about another person who has changed my life; and it's probably not you. :)

Loves!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Cooking and Such

Well, it's finally happened! The Husband is done with his second job! Wa-hoo! Obviously I'm excited to spend time with him, but i'm also very excited that we will now be sharing the cooking duties! Tonight he is making this chicken and veggie thing; I think he made it up. It's good, easy, and doesn't dirty many dishes!

Which is good, because all of our bowls are dirty. However, we use bowls for everything. And we (okay, I) eat a lot of cereal. We normally don't let the dishes get too out of control, but they just sneaked (apparently snuck is not a word) up on us! I can not WAIT until we get a dishwasher... someday.

In other news, it is a whopping 68 degrees outside! I was so happy that I could finally start wearing my spring dresses again! Perhaps this will motivate me to try some new hairstyles... I have so many I want to try, but I am finding that i am not patient enough for all of them. We will see!

One style I do not want to try; a Farrah hairdo from the 80's. No disrespect (RIP Farrah), but I am just NOT a lover of the 80's hair. A co-worker saw a lady with this hair today and told me that this could be inspiration for me. I'm not very good at hiding my emotions off-the-cuff... so I think I looked mortified. Good thing she was walking away when she said that!

Well, only 1/2 an hour until I am off of work and with my love! I'm thinking that I might be able to persuade him into going to a coffee shop after supper... I want to enjoy this weather (and perhaps a sweet treat)!