Sound of Silent

The Fifth of November.

2011-11-05T17:35:00.003-05:00

image via

Remember, remember the 5th of November. The gunpowder, treason, and plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.

Thoughts on Facebook.

2011-09-23T11:51:00.005-05:00

It's been a long time since I've posted. And if I'm being honest, not a whole lot has happened. It's been a pretty chill month. And I like it.

I'm starting to give some serious thought to deactivating my Facebook. I love it and I think it's a fabulous invention, but I'm starting to get uncomfortable with the amount of information that is shared and sold and whatever.

With the new changes I'm seeing my friend's comments and likes on random people's statuses. Which means that random people can see things of mine. I don't need my entire friends list to see when I comment on a status, and I don't need their friends to see my status.

The downside of leaving is obviously that I'll have less access to my faraway friends and family, and less access to photos. But there are just too many individual setting to organize, and it's so much clutter. And I can't creep. No more creeping.

I'm a HUGE lover of technology and internet, but I do have my limit. I strongly dislike being constantly connected, and value the nights and weekends when I am away from my computer.

Maybe if I DO deactivate it, it'll encourage me to connect in other ways? Phone calls? Cards? I can't say that facebook distracts me from life, because I make it a point to NOT use it during my downtime. But the information shared on FB is becoming less valuable to me, and it's starting to feel like a chore to maintain it (this is how I felt about Twitter).

I'm still not 100% on what I want to do, but I'm going to give it a bunch of thought. If I can figure out these changes, and make sure my visibility is locked up, then I may consider changing. But I've heard that there are MORE changes coming, and I just don't know if I want to navigate those.

Ren Faire 2011

2011-08-29T10:49:00.004-05:00

Oh my, it's been a while! And it's been even longer since I actually made a post, you know, with words.

I can't believe the summer is already winding down! The weather is already starting to change - this very morning I started second guessing my choice of sandals as footwear. Though, it's very likely it could shoot back up to 90 degrees again very soon. (Damn, I just checked the weather and we're looking at 90s again on Thursday...)

This past weekend Mike and I went to the Bristol Renaisance Faire. It is absolutely our favorite thing to do all summer. I'm not even sure why we love it so much. It's shops, and kid activities, and shows and food. But it has, hands down, the best people watching I've ever stumbled across.
This past weekend was Steampunk weekend, which culminated in a costume contest. So many of those who were dressed up looked spectacular.

This summer has been eventful, but also low key. It's been strange.

Pottermore Frenzy

2011-08-03T10:02:00.002-05:00

I got in!
(though it was a shallow victory)

Username: CauldronLight144

Saturday, July 30th

2011-07-30T12:02:00.003-05:00

It is Saturday morning. I woke up at about 9:30am, despite falling asleep at a grandmotherly 11:30pm. I had big plans to start cleaning out closets and getting rid of things I don't need. But then, I sat on the couch, watched a little 30 Rock, had some unhealthy cereal and coffee. And now? It's after noon, and I'm still here. Only now I'm watching Parks and Recreation.

Mike came downstairs shortly after me, and now he's napping across from me on the couch. Maddie has taken up her usual spot on the back of the couch, watching for some unseen threat to our home.
We haven't had a Do-Nothing type of weekend in a while. Mike has been working on weekends for the last two months. Last weekend I was out of town and Mike hosted friends at our house. So this? While it feels so wrong, is much welcomed.

The end of an era and solidifying my fanaticism

2011-07-15T16:09:00.004-05:00

This is what my afternoon consists of....

Oh you know, after I got THIS:On a whim :)
I am madly in love with my super simple HP tattoo. It couldn't have turned out better.

And tonight, I'm seeing the movie at 8pm. As much as I love the atmosphere of the midnight movies, I'm just too, too tired to stay up and watch it. I want to see it when I'm awake and aware and comfortable.

I am so sad about this era ending, but so happy that I was able to be a part of this amazing literary juggernaut. From non-stop reading, re-reading, to midnight book releases, and midnight showings (in my younger years). Making t-shirts to buying t-shirts and COUNTLESS other HP related items. I've been a fan for 11 years. It's been the longest love affair of my life (sorry, Mike).

These books have been a bright spot whenever I'm sad, or stressed or generally frazzled. And the movies have been such an amazing interpretation of their content. I am genuinely sad to see everything conclude - but at the same time, there's still a whole other Potter-life ahead of me. I hope to someday get Mike to read the books, and introduce them to my future kids, not to mention the endless possibility of reading them over and over and over again.
As JK Rowling said at the London premiere, "Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

2011-07-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

And that is all I have to say about that.
For now.

Red lipstick.

2011-06-28T19:08:00.002-05:00

I am feeling lethargic, but hopeful.
I miss Mike, but I appreciate it far more when he's present.
I can't wait for the last Harry Potter, but am so sad that it is ending.
I am hungry, but too lazy to cook.
I'm super nervous about my future, but confident that everything will be just fine.

Wallow-y Blog Post :(

2011-06-11T12:30:00.004-05:00

Remember last post when I said I was handling everything well? Today, it crashed down around my ears. Hard.

I've been sick since Tuesday, and it's been a constant annoyance. And because of it I haven't slept properly since...Tuesday.

This morning Maddie was being a bundle of nerves, and I couldn't figure out why until I went upstairs and found out that she threw up. I tried to comfort her (throwing up terrifies her) and then she threw up some more. Sorry. That's gross. But it's been awful. She's OK now and back to psychotically watching the birds out the back window.

Plus Mike is working today, and is going to go into work again on Sunday. And worked late almost every day this week. I don't know what to think of it, because he's not some brain surgeon where people die in his absence. But it makes him feel better to make sure he's ahead of the game, and apparently this is his busy season. It's just really, really hard.

I've been cleaning all morning and I hate it, and I just burdened my poor mother with a self-pitying sob-fest. I'm a mess. I feel like nothing is going right. But, I know it's not true, and everything is going to fit into place, because, well it has to. I have so many things to be excited about and to work hard for, but right now, nothing fits. It feels like I'm wearing an too-small suit.

Image via

I've had my cry, and I've written a wallow-y blog post, so now it's time for me to buck up, buttercup and get my act together. I'm going to pull myself up by my bootstraps and whatever other cliche feel good-eries I can think of. I'm going to have some lunch, and finish cleaning and, and get in a good head space, and finally sit down and try to actually make some progress reading The Hunger Games.

A Smattering of Thoughts

2011-06-07T14:21:00.004-05:00

I've been feeling...overwhelmed lately.
Between life changes, job restructuring, travel recovery, budgeting, various sicknesses and devastatingly hot weather I'm just feeling a little overwrought, under-slept and simply drained.

All I want to do it bake a cheesecake. But, as I told Mike in a email yesterday, I feel like that's a winter dessert, and cookies with bright summery flavors seem more appropriate.
Edit: I found FAR MORE recipes for summery cheesecakes. So many more.

Image via

I want to do is go home and have a bonfire in my backyard with Mike. I want to cook a simple BBQ meal, and chill on our deck. And then, have some summery cookies. That I made. You know, with all the time I have on my hands. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

I feel like I should meditate on winning the lottery. I was watching one of the "Lottery Changed My Life" shows on TLC, and a crazy lady claimed that's how she did it. Can't hurt, right?

Image via San Diego trip

I do not have a green thumb. I can grow flowers OK, but vegetables and herbs are out of the question. However, the flowers are questionable this year. Just ask my suffering Hydrangea. :(

I think I should eat more brie. I had it on a sandwich (turkey, brie, granny smith apple and I BELIEVE dijon mustard) and it was awesome.
Also, I want to pickle something. Probably cucumbers, resulting in...pickles.

I've written a LOT about food so far. But, day-um girlfriend is hungry.

Oddly enough - even with all this random stuff floating around, and changes taking place, and stressful situations sitting on my head, I feel SURPRISINGLY calm. Like, usually, I would cry at the drop of a hat, throw a few tantrums, but not lately. I'm handling more and more with a shoulder shrug, and acknowledging what I can't control.

Image via San Diego trip :)

Also, I used to think I was a Type A personality (and maybe once upon a time I WAS a Type A), but I now believe I am a Type B...and I took a few online tests (the most reliable kind of test *eyeroll*) and confirmed it. I scored a 23/100 on an abridged test.

You possess many of the characteristics of a Type B personality. Type B persons are characterized as having a "stop and smell the roses" attitude towards life. They are very relaxed and rarely become hostile, aggressive or competitive. Open-minded and forgiving, they are of a flexible nature. Type B persons tend to follow either an "Everybody Must Win" or "Live and Let Live" credo; they have a more passive and submissive slant to their personality. In either case, whether to fight a cause or simply stand up for themselves, Type B persons sometimes lack the drive that could help them achieve their goals. You yourself may want to work on building up some more initiative and dynamism. Otherwise, you run the risk of missing out on important opportunities. Pushing yourself and competing a little bit for your place in the sun can certainly add some spice to your life.

I took a few more and got the same result. INTERESTING. But taking those tests always send me into a weird thought-spiral of "would I REALLY do that? Or is that just what I would like to THINK I would do?" So I often doubt the validity of those tests. How can you TRUTHFULLY assess yourself. I think everyone has a slightly skewed perception of themselves.

Wants and Needs: Friday!

2011-06-03T09:28:00.007-05:00

It's Friday! Friday!
Gotta get down on Friday!

Sure has been a while since I've done Wants and Needs, and today is the day!
Feel free to play along.

Without further ado:

Wants
image via

image via

image via

Needs
image via

image via my wedding

image via

Through the Pensieve

2011-06-02T12:08:00.000-05:00

I Open at the Close

2011-05-31T19:19:00.000-05:00

Book Expo ADVENTURES!

2011-05-27T21:14:00.004-05:00

Remember how I used to write here? Oh, those were the days!!

I'm planning to HOPEFULLY get back into that groove very, very soon. Very. But for the moment, I want to tell you about my travel adventures!

I attended Book Expo America in NYC this past week for work, and while I find flying to be one of my least favorite activities, I do have to say I did have an entertaining time.

My job was to tend to our booth, answer questions, direct people where they need to be directed and give/take business cards. Well, a gentleman sidled up to the booth looking for international distribution of his novel, but unfortunately, we do everything internally, and don't work with outside authors. Well, it was towards the end of the day, and I was curious so I asked him about his novel and learned that it is a western romance novel. And then? He gifted me with a copy.

AND THEN? I asked him to sign it, and he graciously complied.

So now, I am the proud owner of a signed copy of my very first western romance. And I'm gonna read the SHIT out of it.

Other than that the show was mostly uneventful. I enjoy attending trade shows and conferences, it makes life a little more interesting and I do end up learning a lot.

I was all set to fly home on Wednesday. My flight was at 10am (NYC time) and arrive home 2ish hours later, well I got to the airport WAY too early (which is fine, I prefer that) at 7:30am, and when I looked at the board a TON of flights to Chicago were delayed/cancelled, so I texted my mom and found out Chicago was being beaten on by terrible weather. At that time my flight was still on schedule.
Nervously, I kept checking, and it stayed on schedule. So I made myself comfortable.
20 minutes before boarding, I checked again. It was delayed an hour.
And then another hour.
And then another hour.
And then another 15 minutes
And then the fire alarm in the airport went up as I was dozing off. And then I had a heart attack, and died. Not really, but I might as well have.
And then I was delayed another half hour.
I finally got on the plane at 1:45pm NY time.
And then we sat on the tarmac.
Then we taxied to the runway.
And then we sat.
And sat.
And then the captain said that we were waiting for a reroute.
And THEN we took off, and the captain told us that we were going to have to go up through Canada (I waved!) and come to Chicago from the north. So the flight was (I THINK) an hour-ish longer than it should have been.
I landed, life was good, and I got on the monorail-y tram that takes me to my parking lot.
AND THEN the tram comes to a stop, in the middle of the tracks, and they make an announcement that we're having technical difficulties.
At this point I am just laughing and laughing, because this can't be real!
And we sat there for about a half hour waiting for a technician to board and fix it.
All the while, I'm stuck on this tram with a guy in real estate who is having a screaming match with his office.
AND THEN I got to my car at about 5pm, and had to drive home in rush hour traffic.

It was a ridiculous ending to a hilarious trip.

Upcoming San Diego Trip!

2011-04-21T09:11:00.008-05:00

As usual, it's been many moons since I've last updated. But, like I said before, I've been totally entrenched in to-dos, git 'er dones, and, you know, things.

BUT! Here I am, on the home stretch. In 1 week Mike and I are traveling to San Diego to visit our longtime friend, Cam, and his awesome girlfriend Dawn.

A visit in October 2008

Chicago, October 2008

At a wedding in October 2010

After the October wedding

Cam and I have been friends since...7th grade? We met in band. So we've been friends for, LITERALLY 13 years? Oh, sweet lord.

Thanksgiving break 2006

After me and Mike's wedding ceremony, May 2009

Probably one of my favorite pictures. Ever.
Me and Mike's reception, May 2009

When Cam moved to San Diego in 2005, I promised I'd visit. I think I renewed that promise every year. But this year! This is the year. Plus, Cam is moving soon, so this is my last opportunity. They are opening their home to us for 5 nights, and I couldn't be more thrilled.

Cam and Mike from our wedding, May 2009

Mike and Cam after a wedding, October 2010

Gazing deeply at each other, Christmastime 2010

Embracing lovingly, Christmastime 2010

Friends, and warm weather (when we arrive on the 28th, it will be sunny and 69°!) and a trip to the beach and not working and food. I cannot wait!

This also means that I have 1 week to wrap up my massive lists. You see, at the end of March, I took a calendar and filled in the dates with all the tasks I needed to complete before this trip.
And it ended up being an insanely huge list. There are still many small things I need to check off - but in one short week, my list will have to be done.

And after San Diego? I have 3 days to prepare for a party. And after that? All my to-dos will be to-done, and then I can focus on enjoying my summer! And maybe blog more? I have so many house makeover related things to show you!

Already planned:
1 May birthday celebration
2 June cabin trips (one of which is a birthday celebration)
1 July cabin trip
1 Renaissance Faire Trip
HP and the Deathly Hallows FINAL MOVIE
HP tattoo?
1 trip to New Buffalo, Michigan for a birthday celebration

AND IT'S ONLY APRIL.

Updates on my boring life.

2011-04-05T09:02:00.005-05:00

The last time I wrote was on March 1st. And since then:

- I went to a Boobie Bash to raise moneys for a friend who will be walking in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk in Chicago. Mike and I bought a shitload of raffle tickets and consequently won 4 raffle prizes.

- Put this on my Facebook, and am now extending the invite here:

Via Rachelle- Pay it forward 2011!
I pledge to send a handmade something to the first 5 people who comment on this post (and specify that they want to play) and who update their status/Twitter/Facebook/blog with this same offer (please link back). The rules are that YOU have to make it with your own hands and that you must send it sometime in 2011.

- Saw Rango and thought it was delightful. A wonderful change of pace.

- Started listening to Girl Talk, and physically felt my cool quotient increase exponentially.

- Got EXTREMELY excited for St. Patty's Day. Seriously, it's my favorite holiday because it's about food and drink, and there are NO obligations. However, in prepping my corned beef and cabbage, my garbage disposal clogged. I spent the next 2 hours elbow deep in drain sludge and pieces of cabbage. Luckily my mom is EXTREMELY handy, and Mike was dedicated to freeing up the plumbing.

-Fell madly in love with Rebecca Black's Friday. Seriously. I don't care what anyone says, it's a festive song.

- Have been debating canceling cable. I'm planning to write a whole post on that, but it's an ongoing saga.

- Started re-reading all 7 Harry Potter books again. I want to finish them just in time for the 2nd installment of Deathly Hallows.
- Watched the Leo DiCaprio and Claire Danes version of Romeo and Juliet and remembered HOW INSANELY AWESOME IT IS.

- Had some out of town friends visit! Had people over (then fell asleep on my own couch, because I'm cool like that)

- Had the roof and siding replaced on my whole house!

- Started painting my stairs - dark treads and white risers, like this. Quickly found out that this is not as fun or easy as I thought. Currently, the half finished staircase is giving my hives.

- Started thinking about the Derby Party
And I think that brings us about up to speed.

I've been terribly unmotivated to write, and absolutely SLAMMED at work and at home.
April is the beginning of lots of things to do, and birthdays and Spring CLEANING! So I'm up to my eyeballs in to-dos and obligations. I feel like I'm totally spinning out of control, but then I remember that all these obligations and events and whatnot are fun and awesome, and I'll figure it out.

Accidental Drunkenness

2011-03-01T08:55:00.006-06:00

Yesterday, I had a crappy day, so I called my mom and told her about it.
She then offered to make me a Bloody Mary. It was delicious.

This is not the Bloody Mary in question

Then Mike came home, and we had a beer.

After that, we left to go to Mike's parents' house to celebrate the engagement of his brother. I somehow ended up with two beers in front of me. I drank both of them.

Champagne was poured, and I had myself a little glass to toast to the newly engaged. Then I had another glass, because someone didn't want theirs.

No family gathering is complete without a tequila shot to honor Papa.

Then I had another beer, you know, to chase it.

Through all of this? I forgot dinner. Mah bad.

And THAT'S the unfortunate story of how I accidentally got drunk last night and want to cry today.

I'm an embarrassment

2011-02-26T14:41:00.003-06:00

I'm so lazy.

Today I should have:
Cleaned both the bathrooms
Done all my laundry
Changed my sheets
Unloaded the dishwasher, and loaded dirty dishes
Bought my sister a birthday present
Vacuumed
Swept and mopped

Today I:
Made waffles and coffee
Watched an episode of The Office
Watched an episode of Jump City Seattle
Watched an epidoes of One Born Every Minute
Watched an episode of Jersey Shore
Put sheets in the washer, forgot about them until now
Ordered and ate Jimmy Johns
Crept around on Facebook
Chatted on Facebook
Reopened my 20SB account
Read about the Help Nathan Buy Firefly movement - which I wholeheartedly support.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T08:43:00.006-06:00

In light of Valentine's day, and Brittney's adorable post, I shall do my own!

I love...
That most of the women in my office are wearing red today
Fresh flowers. No matter where they come from.
Talking future stuff with Mike.
Going out to dinner and eating like a fat kid.
An hour or two alone on weekend mornings.
That point in winter where you can start to see hints of spring.
When the pets play together.
Bloody Marys at my mom's house.
Knowing Jeopardy answers.
Immediately changing into slipper boots and leggings when I get home.
Mid-week movies.
Weird, punny and inappropriate vintage Valentines.

Frugal Valentine's Day!

2011-02-08T11:01:00.003-06:00

Well! I survived the 2011 snowstorm...but it JUST keeps snowing.

I'm super excited because I just booked a hotel room at Hyatt Place in Schaumburg for Saturday. It's me and Mike's Valentine's Day celebration. I stole the idea from Rachelle, when she and Jay recently did the same in Oak Brook.

I'm SOOOO excited about this because it's the cheapest Vday EVER! The hotel was $78, we have a gift card for nearby restaurants, and Mikes Vday present will end up being free because of my vision insurance!

But, let me talk about Mike's Vday present. He LOVES glasses and kind of wants to start collecting them. Like one would collect beautiful shoes - Mike wants to have a variety of glasses to choose from. So, when Kyla Roma mentioned Warby Parker a while back, and I think again recently on twitter, so I started checking them out for Vday.

AND HOLY CRAP! The glasses are adorable, but they are also $95 across the board, including lenses and shipping/returns. On top of that, they offer a "Try On" option, where you pick 5 frames you like, and they send them to you for 5 days - FOR FREE.

These are the glasses Mike chose. They're amazing. And he loves them.

Funny story. We went out to dinner on Friday, which is when I gave him the 5 "Try On" pairs, and Mike wanted to wear the frames out. Well, since they're just to try, they just have clear non-prescription frames in them, so he can't see for shit.

We get to the restaurant and there's a 30 minute wait, so we head to the bar for a beer. Shortly, our little pager goes off, and I ask him if he wants me to wait while he pays the tab, so that he can see where I go.
Well, he assures me he'll be fine and he'll find me.
I'm skeptical at this point, but I wandered off to get our table.

I sit and I'm watching him. Because I know he's BLIND. He literally cannot see more than 10 feet around him. And soon he looks up to find me, and realizes he CAN'T. From across the restaurant I see the panic on his face because he has NO idea where I am. I was dyyyyying.
I eventually waved, but the panic was priceless.

My lord - this post makes me look and sound and feel like a cheap ass - but, saving the $$s is awesome, I don't care what ANYONE says

SnOMG! Icepocalypse! Blizzaster!

2011-02-02T07:55:00.005-06:00

So, instead of updating you about the house renovations, I'm updating you on the MASSIVE BLIZZARD that has trapped me in the house. Except everyone in the universe is probably also updating you on the status of the blizzard...

We'd been hearing rumblings about it since the weekend, but as it drew closer they way they described this storm got more serious. "Life-threatening" is what they called it, saying we would have white out conditions and winds inn excess of 50mph. Some of it felt like hyperbole, like the weather people were being REALLY dramatic.

BUT IT CAME. The city of Chicago is basically shut down, and a good portion of the rest of the state is too. My office is closed, Mike's office is closed, and we're trapped. We were lucky that we didn't lose power like a lot of people!

When I tried to take Maddie out, I found that the snow was about 4 feet up the door...so even if I could get it open, Maddie is too small to forge the snow.

View from the backdoor, where we let Maddie out to do her business. To the left of the picture is a drift, and to the right? That's our grill. This is through a CLOSED door.

This is out the front door, that I could only open about a foot...with a ton of force. You can see the snow it up to the mailbox.

Looking out one of the side windows...that's a drift.

What I COULDN'T get a picture of were the cars in the driveway, and the wall of snow that the plow left at the end of the driveway. I know we SHOULD start digging out, but holy crapoli, I don't even know where to start. I'm OK with using this as an excuse to hibernate for the rest of the winter. Because this shit? This is crazy.

New floors! New stairs! New paint!

2011-01-23T09:58:00.004-06:00

We're getting new floors installed in the house!

We moved in to this little townhouse in October 2009. The house was in great condition, and we got it for a song. But one of the most awful things about it was the flooring. The carpet and linoleum flooring were 17 years old. The carpet had a nice gray walk pattern and bewildering red stains that looked like deep, dark rust. They changed and grew every time we washed it. The kitchen had the linoleum that was chipping. The design on the linoleum had indented stripes that held onto dirt and grime, and after 17 years there was just NO removing it.

So, FINALLY we found the flooring we wanted, and someone who could install it. And this weekend was what I've called "Demolition Weekend" We spent all day yesterday, with the help of my mom and sister, emptying the room of all our possessions, moving ALL our furniture to the garage and tearing up the carpet.

On top of that, I've always wondered what our stairs looked like under the carpet. So, once we were almost done, we started pulling edges of the carpet up just to peek, and what we found was AMAZING. Well constructed stairs, with rounded edges and a proper nose (or lip, or whatever).

Unfortunately, I didn't take any full BEFORE pictures, but I DID take some "in-progress" pictures.
Today, we finish clean up, make sure every last thing has been emptied from the 1st floor, and keep pulling out staples on the stairs. If I have my way, I'm going to start sanding ASAP.

On top of that, we have a painter coming today to give us a quote to have our living room/stairway painted. We have gigantor ceilings and there's no way Mike and I could have done it without dying.

The floors are being installed Monday-Thursday and I CANNOT WAIT until I can see the finished product. And to have the 30 boxes of Pergo gone.

Golumpki!

2011-01-17T08:29:00.004-06:00

I still want to spend some time recapping my NYE celebrations, but unfortunately, I don't have time at the moment.

But last night, I made Golumpki Casserole.
Golumpki are delicious Polish cabbage rolls, filled with ground beef and rice and mushrooms, and covered in tasty tomato sauce.

I was first introduced to them by my very Polish college roommate. Whenever she would visit home, she usually came back with 3 or 4 golumpki, and she usually didn't want to eat them - so that task fell to me. I was in love.

In 2008, I made them on my own, but HOLY SHIT, it took forever. I couldn't get a handle on the rolling of the cabbage leaves. But they were still tasty.

Lately, I've been craving them again, but I had NO desire to wrestle with unruly cabbage leaves. So I decided to convert it into a casserole/lasagna hybrid.
When I tried to google recipes, I came up empty handed, so I decided to wing it.

Image via - but I DID NOT use this recipe

Golumpkie Casserole
1 head green cabbage
1.5lbs ground beef
2 small cans of mushrooms (stems and pieces)
2 cups uncooked rice (I am not sure what the COOKED yield is)
2-3 cans tomato soup
3 cloves garlic, minced
Worchestershire sauce
Salt
Pepper
1 egg

Preheat oven to 325°
1) Core cabbage as best you can, and place in a pot of boiling water for 10-15 minutes.
Once the cabbage begins to soften, carefully remove individual leaves with tongs and place on a plate to cool. You will need 12-16 leaves.

2) Brown and drain ground beef.

3) While beef is browning, drain mushrooms, and dice finely (well, I diced finely because Mike doesn't like mushrooms, and they're less detectable this way)

4) Also while beef is browning, cook rice (I used instant white rice).

5) After beef is prepared, add garlic, mushrooms, rice, and about 1/2 can of tomato soup, and let simmer briefly. Season based on your preferences - I added a buttload of worchestershire, and added salt and pepper until I thought it tasted good. Turn off heat. Once this has cooled slightly, add egg and mix.

6) Start preparing your casserole dish: add enough tomato soup to cover the bottom of the casserole dish. Add about 4 cabbage leaves to the bottom, and then add a layer of the meat mixture, then cabbage, then meat, then cabbage. Add more tomato soup to the top of the casserole, enough to cover the cabbage leaves and prevent them from drying out.

7) Place in oven for about 1 hour, or until bubbling.

There you have it.
This is half for you, and half for me, because I didn't write this shiz down, and I definitely want to make this again. Mike loved it, and I did too.

Have a lovely monday!

Dear Ashley Version 2011...

2011-01-07T09:15:00.006-06:00

In my last post, Brittney pointed out that I said I had a stangnant year, regardless of the fact that I DID a ton of stuff. But, here's the thing - every year since 2003, I've had some sort of milestone or dramatic event.

Let me explain:
2003: Started dating Mike, graduated HS and went away to U of Iowa
2004: Left U of Iowa, moved home, and Mike and I broke up
2005: Moved to Champaign, IL and started at U of I
2006: Moved in with BFFs and got back together with Mike
2007: Graduated college, moved in with Mike in Des Moines, moved back to IL and got my first real job
2008: Got engaged and signed my first year lease with Mike
2009: Got married, changed my name and bought a house
2010: Stayed married, stayed with my job, stayed in my house...

So, while I DID do a lot of things, as far as the big things are concerned, I maintained the status quo. But let me be clear! I am absolutely not complaining!

I think this may mean that life is leveling out, and instead of facing Big Uprooting Changes, I am working on refining what I've built and making my existence secure and comfortable and fun...before the NEXT Big Uprooting Change rolls around (kids?)

For 2011, I'm making few resolutions and one of them is to STOP making grand sweeping declarations and promises. I spent a good portion of 2010 CHANGING! MY! LIFE! and then not following through. I feel like 2011 should be spent, as I said, refining my existence. Not trying to overhaul, or force an square peg into a round hole.

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Dear Ashley Version 2011,
Please know that in order for a year to be awesome, it doesn't need to be dramatic.

Spend 2011 doing thing that bring order to your life, and make you happy. Spend 2011 making your house a home and continuing to branch out socially. Spend 2011 doing new things, and hanging onto the old things that bring you comfort and peace.

2010 was a year where you came to terms with what it means (for you) to be an adult. You learned to anticipate difficulties and stressors and to prepare accordingly. You finally understood that no matter how much of an old soul you feel like, that actually being an adult is a juggling act that takes practice - and you're feeling pretty good about it.

This is going to be a good year. Not because of any decisive actions, or huge plans, but because I am very fortunate. I am lucky to have this life, and I need to spend 2011 enjoying it.

Have a wonderful year!
xoxo
Ashley Version 2010

2010: Year In Review

2011-01-03T11:42:00.010-06:00

2010: Year in Review

January 2010

Hosted an NYE party.

Started off the year in a slump.
Wrote my anticlimactic 100th blog post.
Re-started watching Lost.
NYE 2009 to 2010

February 2010
I got frustrated with trying to balance life.
Started a DIY: Trial and Error feature on my blog, then never touched it again.
Gave some thought to who I am, and who I am not.
I took a cringe-worthy look at my old Livejournal
Went to New York City for the first time, and assisted in doing $1.2 million in business over dinner. Felt important.
Was chosen to write for the Demoiselles: Getting Healthy.
Had a winter beach party for my sister.
Brittany's Surprise 22nd Beach Party

March 2010
Kept blogging because of her.
I celebrated my 1 year Blogversary.
Put pictures of myself in my underpants online.
Mike and I outside of Color Me Mine (may have been April) with Rache and Jay

April 2010
I wrote a post that had the highest views on my blog.
Discovered that the siding on my house was falling off. Boooo.
Downtown Chicago for Lisa's Bday

May 2010
Hosted a Derby Party!
Got my car totalled.
My sister graduated college.
Finished watching Lost, and was INTENSELY disappointed by the finale.
Celebrated my 1 year anniversary!
Britt's college graduation
1st Annual Derby Party

June 2010
Finally felt ADULT.
Turned 25 and got a Butters.
Celebrated a triple birthday in Lake Geneva.
Lake Geneva Bar

July 2010
Saw, and then slammed Eclipse.
Went to the CABIN for the first of two trips!
Visited Massachusetts.
Attended my first Pride Parade.
Taste of Crystal Lake/Lakeside Fest
Eating lobster in MA
St. Joseph backyard on the 4th
Cabin trip #1

August 2010
Made my first vlog.
Made 4 Simple Goals.
Had a moustache-themed bachelorette party!
Lauren's bachelorette party - James Hotel

September 2010
Met some awesome people.
Mike and I opened up a conversation about kids.
Saw Dave Matthews and Jason Mraz at Wrigley Field.
Skydeck with Emily and Britt
Dinner at Goose Island with bloggers!
Pre-DMB/Mraz concert in Chicago

October 2010
Two of our nearest and dearest got married!
Found out two of our closest were expecting!
Lauren and Jeff's wedding

November 2010
Was forwarded a shocking newsletter from my old church.
Celebrated the release of HP7 Pt. 1 with another vlog.
Ate Turkey Testicles!
Parkside Pub - home of the Turkey Testicle Festival

December 2010
Civil Unions were legalized in Illinois!
I got festive. Really festive.
Lincoln Park Zoo Lights

Overall impressions
I made a LOT of promises, vows, plans that I DID not keep.
I wrote mostly when I was crabby and frustrated. I wallowed A LOT.
I did NOT write enough about the good and exciting and FUN things I did.
It seems like I relied on Rachelle to fill in what I skipped.
2010 was a good, but stagnant, year.

Bob and Dan Cast

2010-12-20T11:54:00.003-06:00

Do yourself a favor and listen to this.

Two gentlemen I knew in high school have an awesome weekly podcast. They talk movies, TV, media, life, geekery, fruits, It's Always Sunny. And I find them HILARIOUS.

To the tune of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"

2010-12-15T15:58:00.004-06:00

Image via ME

Maddie the Saddest Doggie
(To the tune of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer")

Maddie, the saddest doggie
Has a very quiet life,
But if you look at her wrongly
it fills her puppy heart with strife.

And when we brought home Butters
She was very blue indeed.
She just stared at us sadly,
But, a friend is what she needs.

Then one quiet Monday night,
Butters got his way.
He made friends with little Maddie
Even though he is a catty.

Now they’re the best of pet-friends
Though sometimes it’s not a cup of tea,
“Best” may be too strong an adjective,
At least they play pretty happily…

A list of 7

2010-12-15T14:04:00.003-06:00

1) I really like baking. And cooking. Like, a lot.
My favorite days are Sundays where I'm super productive in the morning, and then in the afternoon I make a delicious treat and a massive dinner (to be used for lunch leftovers)

2) I'm going to Oregon in February!

3) I miss Mike. He started a new role at work back in October, and since he's starting from scratch, he's been working really hard, and he ends up working late most nights. He's doing an awesome job, and he really loves the people he works with, and he feels challenged and fulfilled - so it's definitely not all bad.

4) I'm doing a great job of being Christmas-y and festive! My house is decorated, I've bought 88% of my gifts and I've baked treats. I had a minor setback last week where I tried to go gift shopping and ended up in hysterics. But, I feel like that was more a result of a variety of factors. I redeemed myself by being ALL BUSINESS the very next day, and getting most of it done.

5) I feel like I need to re-think and re-vamp my blogging life. I have too many blogs that I'm trying to follow, so I end up following none at all. Now, I don't feel connected anyone anymore. It's sad really.

6) I watched 16 and Pregnant last night (I haven't watched it in FOREVER) and it kills me. Absolutely KILLS ME. How young they are. Well, duh, they're 16. But, it was shocking because when I was 16, I never saw myself as that young. Hell, I still feel 16.
Even before that I went out to dinner with my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law and by brother-in-law's girlfriend, and the two girls are in HS and were telling me about a junior at school who is pregnant with her second kid.
Mike and I are 26, own our own home, are financially stable and we're putting off having kids. Yet, teenagers are popping out babies like they're going out of style. Reminds me of the intro to Idiocracy:

7) I LOVE Firefly. I've heard about it years, and watched an episode or two in college, but never gave it the time it deserves. Mike and I played it on a whim and have fallen madly and passionately in love. If you've ever suggested it to me, a MILLION thanks. A BILLION.

Wants and Needs: Christmas Edition

2010-12-10T08:55:00.004-06:00

Wants

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Needs

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Merry Christmas??

2010-12-08T11:13:00.005-06:00

I'm pretty gung-ho about Christmas this year.
Well, actually, I'm forcing myself to be pretty gung-ho about Christmas this year.

I used to get excited about the IDEA of the holidays. I remember being in middle school band, and every year we would play a mini Christmas concert, or maybe just songs for funzies (I can't remember), but I would get AMPED when I first heard Christmas music. But after a while, it would fade and I would be over it.

Last year's Christmas party veggie pizza - FESTIVE!

As I've gotten older, my Christmas cheer has lessened even more. Part of that, I think, is just getting growing up and having more holiday-related obligations and trying to budget time and money to make all of them work. Especially now that we're married, we have to try to cram 2 or 3 whole Christmas celebrations into 2 days.

But, I think my MAIN struggle is buying Christmas gifts. Britt touched on this in one of her posts, but I'm a TERRIBLE gift-buyer. Let me preface this with - I'm a terrible shopper in general. I start out with all these great things in my arms, and by the time I'm ready to check out, I've put almost everything back.

Last year's Christmas party - MATCHING TURTLENECKS

In addition to that, I just NEVER know what to get. I over-think the gifts I pick up, then I put them back, and then pick them up again, and say "fuck it! I'm buying this!" Then I walk around for 15 more minutes, usually talking to myself about how this gift is stupid, and they're just going to return it, before putting it down and then picking it up one last time. Before you can say "Rudolph", I'm sending frantic texts to Rachelle and my mom and Mike about how I want to shoot fire out of my eyes.

On top of all this whining, I was at my parents' house two nights ago, talking Christmas with my mom, and my DAD comes in and starts hating on the holidays. And that's when it dawned on me: I am my father's Scrooge-y child.

But this year? I want so DESPERATELY to be Christmas-y. I WANT to be cheerful. I WANT to feel celebratory. I WANT to be festive.

Last night at my house
Hot spiced cider, chocolate chip cookies, Christmas Glee

So, since Dec 1, I've been listening to Christmas music...NONSTOP. My house is already decorated (since BEFORE Decemeber). I've started shopping (the earliest EVER), and I've purchased Christmas cards.

I'm going to be festive, GODDAMNIT. I'm going to be so festive it HURTS. And I'm going to be that FESTIVE, even if it kills me.

What are your thoughts on the holidays? Do you LIVE for this time of year? Or are you having trouble channeling your inner St. Nick?

Civil Unions?!

2010-12-01T15:05:00.002-06:00

For the first time in a long time Illinois is doing something good - voting YES on Civil Unions.
I know it's not 100%, but it's a step.

"If the measure passes the Senate and is signed into law by Quinn, who has pledged to do so, Illinois would become the sixth state offering gay couples the right to enter into civil unions or domestic partnerships." Chicago Sun Times

"Civil unions for same-sex couples would be allowed in Illinois under historic legislation the state Senate swiftly sent today to Gov. Pat Quinn, who is expected to sign the measure...The Senate voted 32-24 after the House, viewed as the toughest hurdle, passed the measure on Tuesday." Tribune

"Less than 24 hours after it was passed by the Illinois House of Representatives, the state Senate voted to approve a measure that would allow gay couples to enter into civil unions." Huffington Post

Pat Quinn just needs to sign it!
And he would be STUPID AS SHIT not to, because he has publicly stated that he would.

"After a heated, hour-long debate, the legislation will now head to Governor Pat Quinn’s desk. He has said he’ll sign the bill. He got a standing ovation when he entered the Illinois Senate Wednesday during debate and on Tuesday in the Illinois House." Fox Chicago

Yay!

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C'mon!

2010-12-01T11:49:00.004-06:00

So, my mom send me this badass video:

First and foremost, I love flash mobs. And I cried while watching this, because the music is AMAZING, regardless of the religion attached.

So, after watching it, I started to browse the comments, which was obviously a mistake.

While there were people praising the beauty of the music, the logistics and rehearsal that were obviously involved in putting this together - a good handful of creeps turned it into a gross religious debate.

Someone said this:
acts and celebrations of faith have their place in this country. And it's not where people are trying to eat dinner. If it was held in a public park, people would have the option of avoiding it. How can you be sure that everyone was enjoying it? They could have edited out the people who stood up and took their dinner else where. This fragrant (sic) act of flaunting Christ should not be so intrusive in our lives. They should have been more respectful of other faiths during their meal time.

And while I DO understand the point of view, to a very small degree, why is it about THAT? Why does everyone freak the FUCK out if they can smell religion in the air? THE MUSIC WAS BEAUTIFUL! Why can't it be left at that?

Beyond THAT argument, people started throwing Muslims under the bus:
...However, I wonder how people would take it if a bunch of Muslims did the same and sang God is Great in such a diner/food court. Would other have been offended? Free speech you say?

I hope not. I hope that no matter what religion you are, and what you believe, you can respect the beauty of the arts. Why don't we understand and appreciate each other better, and say "Oh yes, that was a beautiful song!" Rather than "Your God is not MY God, and I don't want to see or hear about YOUR God ever! Especially through song." Can't we all just get along? Can't we all be friends? Seriously.

My goodness, we're a country of crybabies.

Reaaaaaaaaaaally random.

2010-11-30T09:57:00.004-06:00

I stayed home from work yesterday, and I love staying home from work.
I love the quiet hours, and the TV in the background. I love making a to-do list and ACTUALLY getting things done during those stolen hours.

I'm confused, you guys. I wish wish wish I could expand on this here, but I can't.
Which is PROBABLY why this post is going to be really crazy and disconnected.

I have these dreams, sometimes, where the floor is melting underneath me. I think I looked up the meaning once, and it has to do with feeling overwhelmed or out of control. Duh.
I'm feeling exCEPTIONALLY disorganized lately. Our office has become a storage room - again.
HA!

I've been in the process of repainting one of our bathrooms (pictures to come...eventually) and it's turned into a much longer and much larger project than I anticipated (isn't that always how it goes?). Hopefully I'll get it done before 2012.

We also had a flooring place come over and give us an estimate to get laminate put in on our first floor, and HOLY SHIT - what a ripoff. He told us that our "Retail Price" was $13,000. For laminate. In a VERY small townhouse. Stop it. Right now. But, oh! Don't worry. He discounted us down to $5,400, which is still EXTREMELY high. Frustrating, frustrating.

I need to change my blog-life. I've been debating the switch from blogger to wordpress for a while. Maybe I'll get around to it? Let's add this to my ever-growing to-do list!
What I need to do, REALLY BADLY, is clean out my reader. I'm way behind on my reader (my sincerest apologies to those who I used to comment on, but haven't in a while...I'm getting there), and I want to clean it out - so if you're still here, still checking in on me periodically, leave me note, leave me a link, leave me something, and I'll make sure to bug you back.

Harry Potter!!

2010-11-19T00:01:00.002-06:00

So, I'm totally nerding out because Harry Potter comes out RIGHT NOW. I set this post to publish on 11/19 at 12:01am.
Unfortunately, I am NOT seeing it at the moment - I'm planning to see it first thing Sunday morning. I know I SHOULD be part of the gung-ho midnight crowd, but I've done it three times, and I just don't enjoy the MOVIE as much.
The crowd - awesome, and fun, and soooo entertaining to see the elaborate costumes, but unless I'm up and moving at midnight, all I can think about is my bed.

In order to make up for my movie viewing failures I put together this for your viewing pleasure (or displeasure, whichever)

Please don't judge me. I know I make some weird faces and get really close to the camera, but there was NO WAY IN HELL I was remaking that video.

For serial, I was planning this for a while, and I've been practicing nightly, and for a while I HAD it. But tonight? When I went to record it - EFF - I couldn't play it for BEANS. Mike was in the house though, and it made me NERVOUS.

You guys. I'm so excited and so depressed about this movie. I mean, Harry Potter is the longest love affair of my life. I've read those books over and over, and they are so comforting and wonderful. It's amazing to be transported to this other gorgeous world. But SO SO SO sad that this is the beginning of the end. Even when the 7th book was released, I knew that there were still movies to look forward to. But after this? We only have July.

Take a second and vote for this kid, but THIS, RIGHT HERE? is commitment:

I hope, deep down, that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is real. Even if that DOES mean that I'm a Muggle. I just want our world to have magic in it somewhere.

Bloggers and People that Blog

2010-11-10T18:09:00.004-06:00

I feel like there are bloggers, and there are people that blog.

Bloggers are those who write, and advertise and network and are good at it.
Bloggers go to meet-ups and are people you may someday get to meet in person. They're the queens (and occasionally kings) of the internetz, and all of us their loyal followers. A single post garners 50+ comments, and their passages are shared via Reader, stumbleupon and Twitter. You don't know the ins and outs of their day, but you sew together a picture of their lives. Bloggers are impressive.

People who blog are like me...sometimes we are at a loss of what to write. Sometimes our posts are inconsistent, and ridiculous, and we struggle. We posts memes when we've got writer's block, and sometimes feel weird calling it "writer's block" because that's a term for WRITERS. We occasionally share Waaaaaaaay too much about our lives, our day and our pets. But that's ok, because we're pretty cool too.

But I do wish that more of the people I know in real life would become people who blog.
For instance, Rachelle blogs. Rachelle is my BFF since 7th grade, and thanks so the internet and cell phones we're in contact almost constantly, on top of that we usually see each other at least once a month, but usually more. HOWEVER, I find her blog posts to be FASCINATING because we don't talk like we blog. Like, we wouldn't have this conversation, right here, face-to-face.

And Katie, my BFF since HS, and thanks to distance and time differences and our mutual disdain for phone calls (haha), we don't get to talk as often as we would like. But she blogs, and I can read about her weekend and her feelings and thoughts. And again, I find it fascinating because people don't write like they talk.

I mean, sure, you can "be real" in your blog, but mostly I don't speak in full sentences, without punctuating them with "AWESOME!" or "SHUT UP!" They are filled with slang and pauses and verbal fillers.
Writing a blog post is closer to writing a speech or a presentation because it is so one sided. It can CERTAINLY open up a dialogue after you've read it, but by that point the author has said their piece.

In summary, more people I know in real life should blog regularly (if for no other reason than my enjoyment). That is all.

Fawk!

2010-11-05T10:24:00.003-05:00

Remember, remember the 5th of November. The gunpowder, treason, and plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.

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Happy Guy Fawkes Day

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Haters to the left.

2010-11-04T09:18:00.005-05:00

What the EFF?!

Yesterday I got an email from a friend - he forwarded along a church bulletin from the church we both attended when we were younger. In this bulletin was a "From the Desk of the Pastor" editorial addressing the upcoming election.

It starts off addressing the importance of voting, and how Catholics make up 30% of the voting public.

"Faith is not a private matter. The Christian Faith cannot be restricted to oneself and one's family. Such an attitude would render it impossible to 'love one's neighbor.'"

But then, things take quite a turn,

"As Catholics we recognize that there are many important issues that must be addressed during an election. We also recognize that some issues are objectively more important than others because they fundamentally address the well being of our society. These issues go beyond party lines They define the kind of society we live in, and the kind of people we are. As we look at the issues, there are five non-negotiable issues when it comes to voting. These five issues concern actions that are intristically evil (evil in themselves) and so therefore must never be promoted by law. These five issues are: Abortion, Euthanasia, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Human Cloning, and Homosexual 'Marriage.' When a candidate supports these issues...they are supporting things that go against the Catholic Faith, the common good, and contrary to the law of God...and so we cannot vote for them."

Ahhhhhh, what?

And then, the same friend that brought this to my attention laid out some bible verses,

"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned, forgive, and ye shall be forgiven." Luke 6:37

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ ... " Galatians 3:28

Dudes. That article made me sick, and I spent the remainder of my day in a rage. It also saddens me to NO end that the church I grew up with took it upon themselves to call gay marriage evil. Really? We're at the point where we're specifically calling it EVIL? But in the same article, mere paragraphs away, the pastor tells us we must love our neighbor?!

What if your neighbor is gay? WHAT TO DO!? Can you love your gay neighbor? Is the allowed, or do you have to condemn them for being "evil"? How do good, bible-following Catholics deal with that?

But then! Today, one of my coworkers posted this article on Facebook, talking about the judges who legalized gay marriage being voted out...by the people. The article is very matter-of-fact , but it's the comments that are disgustingly colorful. Like this one,

"This has nothing to do with law....This is a morality issue. I agree that all human should share equal rights but this is taking it WAY to far. The human body was not designed for them to be together. The laws of physics make it abundantly clear that "Opposites Attract". Both Religious and Scientific activist alike should see this point. Besides...Their parts don't even fit!! I guess next you liberals will be wanting to make it OK for little boys to be with priest as long as the boy wants it. Anyone that sides with the homos on this is a disgusting piece of........."

Simply spectacular.

In reality, I just don't understand. Are people really basing politics on possibly mistranslated bible passages? Why is everyone so angry and up in arms over people WANTING TO MARRY AND BUILD A LIFE TOGETHER? If they want to marry, then they are in love. WHY is that not celebrated? Why do we need more anger and hostility and unnecessary debate.

Are people really concerned about what kind of sex they are having? Shit! Heterosexual people have all kinds of freaky sex. Go on a hetero porn site for like 30 seconds, and you'll see a variety of things that you cannot unsee. But because it's a penis and a vagina in close proximity to each other, it's OK?

It makes me so, so sad that everyone wants to control everyone else. As long as you are NOT HARMING OTHERS, or infringing on their rights - live and let live.

I guess I just don't get it. And you know what, I'm thankful for that.

Halloween 2010

2010-10-28T19:33:00.005-05:00

Life has been a wee bit boring this week. Nothing exciting, nothing crazy, nothing revolutionary.

Well, I guess it could be considered exciting that come next July, Mike and I will be traveling to San Diego to 1) visit amazing friends AND 2) Going to Comic-Con!! I think I've mentioned this badass fact before, but it was just confirmed that THIS IS GOING DOWN!

Halloween is this weekend! Tomorrow, I am dressing as a lazy and removable Harry Potter (glasses, scarf, tshirt). Saturday, I'll be a ghost/spirit/apparition, and Mike will be Zak Bagans from Ghost Adventures - simple, but effective.

In 2008 Mike and I were old people
And last year we were and angel and a devil

What are you going to be for Halloween?

Books and Tattoos

2010-10-22T09:49:00.004-05:00

First things first - Mike and I are going on a Ghost Tour this evening! And I am OMG-level excited. We're HUGE fans of Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel. It's our ghost show of choice.

Secondly - My work BFF had her last day yesterday, and she's moving on to greener pastures. I am TERRIBLE with goodbyes. I cry like a baby. And yesterday? It was no different. She was set to leave at 2pm, and starting at ten minutes to 2, my eyes were watering, I was sniffling, and it only got worse as I heard her walking around saying goodbye to people. When she walked into my cube to peace out - I lost my shit. Overall, it was funny because I'm ridiculous and apologized, but I'm still straight up bummed that I she's outta here.

And FINALLY - the reason I decided to write a post...Books. And tattoos.

In my fantasy world, I would be able to get a full or half sleeve tattoo, and this tattoo would be my literary collage. Among the images I would hope to include: The Hogwarts crest, the lamppost from Narnia, the apple from The Giver, Roald Dahl images, Shel Silverstein images, etc...It would be almost entirely black and white line drawings, with splashes of color where appropriate. Goddamnit, I want this.

I was driving in to work today, thinking again about how AWESOME this tattoo would be if I were to someday get it, I started thinking about what other books, poems and short stories I would try to include - Time Traveler's Wife, Water for Elephants, Geek Love, Chuck Palahniuk, A Clockwork Orange, Lolita, Margaret Atwood - and I went on Goodreads to check out some of my other favorite books, and I've realized that MOST books end up being my favorite books.

40% of the books I've reviewed on Goodreads have received 5 stars from me...because I think authors are AMAZING. I could never be one, and people who do it, and are successful ASTOUND me. I've NEVER been able to review a book well, because unless it's extremely poorly written I usually have very few complaints - because THEY DID IT. They slaved to write a beautiful story, create background information, and in fantasy/sci-fi/etc sometimes create an ENTIRE universe. And who am I to judge?
(This paragraph does not extend to faux-authors like Lauren Conrad, The Situation, Heidi/Spencer - BARF.)

I just LOVE books. And I'm currently re-reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to mentally prepare for November 19th! Although, I feel like NO amount of preparation could make me truly ready.

What are your favorite books OF ALL TIME?

Love, Like, Crabby

2010-10-20T10:12:00.004-05:00

Originally, I had this list in the reverse order. But, it's better this way.

Things I am crabby about:

The sneaky holidays. I LOVE the idea of holidays, but the reality of them turns me into a Scrooge. Plus, it's October and then SUDDENLY IT'S CHRISTMAS!
My new cubicle. Most notably (at the moment) the fact that two pieces of my desk aren't aligned, and I keep clipping my elbow on the uneven corner.
Last night's Glee re-run. NO, I ABSOLUTELY do not want to watch re-runs this early in the season. STOP IT.

Things I am liking:

My commute has been WAY easy these days. Well, except this morning. It sucked a lot this morning.
My budget is semi-OK for the rest of the month. Almost. Maybe.
My blunt bangs. But they need to be trimmed some more.

Things I am LOVING:

The fact that we are getting $16,000+ worth of work done on our house for the low, LOW price of $1,000. Oh, I didn't tell you? Apparently, in addition to part of the siding falling off, we have HAIL DAMAGE. New siding, new roof, new gutters, new soffit, and maybe more? Thanks, insurance!!
This freakishly beautiful October. Normally, things are cold and rainy and hinting at snow. But, it has been sunny and UNSEASONABLY warm.
Bo Burnham.

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Content vs Complacent

2010-10-18T15:36:00.006-05:00

I like to dream about the day that my life will be totally...in order. I want to say predictable, but that sounds terrible. However - I LIKE the thought of knowing precisely what's happening and when.

I've felt a little out of control, and things have felt a little too loosey-goosey for my tastes. But, luckily, I'm over it, and resolving to tighten things up around here.

Though, one thing that is really surprising me, and not in a good way, is the lack of inspiration I feel (WOW! That sounds totally gross and cheesy) - but when I look on etsy or favorite blogs, or Pottery Barn magazines, rather than being "OMG! That's awesome! I want my life to be beautiful/simple/serene like that!" like I used to, I'm all "meh."

I really disappointed in this development, and I'm not sure HOW to go about fixing it? I mean, is it really a problem? Am I content or complacent? Am I lazy or satisfied? (Well, duh, I'm lazy - but I needed another comparison set.)

Lately my days have involved WAAAAAAAAAAY too much TV, not enough cleaning/cooking/laundry, and an extreme surplus of...laying around. It's actually to the point where I'm embarrassed. But yes, these negatives are rallying me to get up and change it.

This weekend? I'm going to finish that sewing table I started...like, LAST winter. AND!! I have plan to get rid of the sponge paint in one of our bathrooms. It's a tiny bathroom - a ONE day project. Let's get serious, I've lived in this house for just over a year, and the only real changes that have taken place occurred within 1 month of us moving in. You guys, I'm still missing outlet covers in our bedroom...that we painted over a year ago. I'm RIDICULOUS!

Additionally, BabyTalk in our house has increased SLIGHTLY (don't get too excited Rachelle) and it was kind of a hardcore realization for me that we need to learn to be proactive and get things done for OURSELVES before we can think about having a tiny life living in our house.
(Seriously, it was like ONE or TWO conversations...about the FUTURE)

In other news: two of my favorite people got married on 10.9.10

And they had ONE BADASS party to celebrate.
I even got to recreate a ridiculous robot dance with the groom

My wedding: 5/30/09

His wedding: 10/9/10

It was awesome. And I love those two pictures side-by-side.

Bahahahaha

2010-10-13T13:51:00.002-05:00

This is all I have for today:

I got carried away trying to take REALLY unattractive pictures of myself. You should see the others...

The results: SUCCESS! Also - NAKED FACE! Bonus.

Summer 2010 Recap

2010-09-30T11:00:00.000-05:00

I did one of these bad boys last year, where I relived Summer 2010. I loved looking back at everything I did this summer - because it goes by SO fast, and you never really get a chance to digest.
As if on cue, the leaves have started changing and the weather is hovering between 50 and 70 degrees and IT IS GORGEOUS.

Without further adieu, my summer...
(OH! and many thanks to Miss Rachelle for supplementing posts about my summer!)

Hosted a Derby Party.
Got my car totaled, and subsequently got a new one.
Celebrated my one year anniversary with Mike!
Mike got me a kitteh for my birthday.
Celebrated birthdays in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
Had a BLAST at Chicago Pride Parade.
Saw and criticized Eclipse.
Gorged the Crystal Lake Fest.
Went to the cabin and blogged my first recipe.
I made THIS.
Traveled to Massachusetts to visit Nana.
Had a sangria recipe featured!
Went to the cabin AGAIN.
Made my first (and only) vlog.
Attended a mustache themed bachelorette party!
Met with a gaggle of amazing people in Chicago.
Saw Jason Mraz and Dave Matthews at Wrigley Field.

Unfortunately, though this whole exercise, I realized that even thought I had a BLASTY this summer, I was REALLY whiny and sad pandas and a Donna Downer in most of my posts. I feel like it's safe to blame that on impulsive ranting, because I genuinely didn't feel that way during the glorious summer months.

Ah well. What's done is done and I'm a happy camper now. I looooved reminiscing May through September. But now! It's fall, and I am SO happy.
Next thing you know...

It's Christmas time.

Debbie Downer

2010-09-30T10:50:00.001-05:00

So, quick story. I was on the phone with Debbie P. (my blessed, holy mother) a while back, and I made mention of someone being a "Debbie Downer" and she stopped me and goes, "WHERE did that come from?" And I laughed and laughed. She continued "I feel like I'm a really positive person, so I don't think that applies to me." And I continued to laugh and told her that I thought it came from an SNL skit, but I was met with resistance (when I retold this story). But, per Wikipedia, Debbie Downer DID, in fact, originate on SNL.

However, I made a vow to my mom that I would do my DAMNDEST to eradicate that term, or at the very least remove any reference of her name when attached to DOWNER.

The Fever.

2010-09-29T20:11:00.008-05:00

I've got a fever. And, unfortunately, the remedy is not more cowbell.

I've heard people talk about the Baby Fever before, but I was always like, "No, no. That's not real"
But, it kind of is. And, I'm a survivor of The Fever.

No, but seriously, I want kids. I think I'd make a badass mom, and Mike an awesome dad. I have no doubt (and neither does Mike) that we will have kids and it will be ahhhhhmazing. But right now? No fucking way. I know there's never a right time to have kids. But there is a WRONG time, and for me, this is it.

I'm totes off track.
But lately, I've been feeling the pangs of The Fever. Mostly in the form of facebook updates by my peers who have had kids, or are having kids, or are newly pregs. Also, the ridiculously cute bloggers who have recently given birth.

I told Mike about this scary phenomenon the other day, and the best way I can describe it is that the emotional part of my brain gets crazy-whiny and is like, "Wait! I could totes handle a baby right now. It would have blue eyes. I can name it Sally! Or Don! I'll do the bedroom a mint green and I want to use cloth diapers. WAIT! I need to find a midwife, NOW!" and this continually escalates until I'm ACTUALLY researching midwives in our area and reading birth stories and sobbing.

But while this is going on, there's a quiet rational part of my brain going "No. Kids are a bad idea. We don't have enough money saved. You drive 1.5 hours to and from work. You don't even LIKE the name Sally and Don! WHAT ARE YOU DOING! STOP TYPING THAT INTO GOOGLE!" But by then it's too late, and I've bookmarked 3 sites and added 5 new names to my "Potential Baby Names" list.

I told Mike about this and he just laughed and laughed, because when it comes right down to it, that rational part always wins, and I'm able to laugh at it too. But by god, sometimes it is REALLY fun to indulge The Fever, and start reading about how cloth diapers REALLY work and whether there ARE any good midwives in the area.

BFFS! LYLAS!

2010-09-29T09:13:00.003-05:00

OMG Guys! I made a new friend! Look what showed up in my inbox this morning!

Greetings,
My name is maryjen a good looking girl i saw your profile today in i became very interested to you .l like traveling and

meeting new
friends, So i will like to further communication
with you.

Please write to me through my email addres (redacted) so that i will communicate back to you wzith my photos.
YourS new friend maryjen Appia.thanks and god bless

I'm not sure where she saw my profile, or whether she's telling ME I'm a good looking girl, or that SHE is - but WHY question fate? The universe brought us together, and sometimes you don't necessarily understand the motives.

To my new friend - maryjen Appia!

Chicago Rendezvous

2010-09-14T09:26:00.006-05:00

Over Labor Day weekend I had the distinct pleasure of finally uniting with the stunning Emily and the amazing Brittany. In short, it was awesome.

Friday:
I finally united with Brittany at the luxurious Hotel Blake on Printer's Row in Chicago. From the moment our eyes locked, it was magical.
By the time we met up, we had to act fast in order to 1) make Emily's WELCOME sign (We had to coerce Ian into lending us scissors. And then we had to cross our hearts and hope to die that we would bring them back in one hour, because they belonged to his manager)

Ian. Lovely Ian on our last night.

and 2) take the train to the airport...which neither of us had done before.

By the time we finished our sign, we hauled ass to catch the train that would take us to O'Hare. As we neared the station, the train stopped. And we waited, and waited and waited. All the while exchanging texts with Emily who had already landed. We were getting more and more panicky, because nothing says "WELCOME!" like leaving an out-of-town guest stranded at the airport, amiright?

We wandered O'Hare, unable to find Emily, and then? AND THEN? We saw her, we clumsily held up our sign, and we grabbed her and had a wonderfully creepy three way hug at the United baggage claim.

The rest of that evening was talking and laughing and asking questions and stating opinions and chatting about the things we already knew about each other thanks to blogging.

Friday night dinner

Saturday:
We woke up early with the tentative plan to show Emily the city. We visited "The Bean" (which is actually called Cloud Gate), Jay Pritzker Pavilion, and we walked and walked and walked. And then? We walked some more.

The Bean a.k.a Cloud Gate

We were tourists to the EXTREME. Taking pictures of anything and everything. Emily and I even got to pose in front of the GLEE window! Ahhhh-mazing.

Glee window!

We then tried, at around 5ish, to go to Skydeck, and The Ledge at the top of the Sears Tower. Mistake. The line wound around the block, and would take approximately 60 hours to get to the top, so we resolved to come back the next morning.
The rest of our night? Spent trying to recover from our WALK-A-THON.

Sunday:
We got up BRIGHT and early to make it to Skydeck at 8:30am, right when it opened. And word to the wise - THIS WAS THE BEST IDEA EVER. We were among 30 people who also had this idea. We didn't wait, we were able to leisurely look around and take pictures.
***If you ever visit Chicago, and have any desire to go to the Skydeck, GO WHEN IT OPENS.**

The Ledge

After this, we met up with Nate and headed to Myopic Books, and then I died and realized I was in Heaven. Floors and FLOORS of books. Used books. Small aisles. Sweet lord, it was GLORIOUS.

By this time, we needed to figure out WHERE Goose Island Brewery was, and with the combined efforts of Brittany, Nate and myself we FOUND it, and it was a huge team victory. We waited with bated breath for Phamasaurus and Jen to arrive and for our brewery tour to start. The tour was short and sweet, but the tasting - shit, that was fun. Some beers were DELIGHTFUL, but one, as Brittany said, smelled like straight up cat pee.

The dinner crew, minus Chad, Jen's darling husband!

And yes, Pham, Brittany and I composed Team Lightweight, and I paid for it the next day.

Team Lightweight.

After a delicious dinner, the ladies and Pham grabbed a nightcap at a little bar near the hotel, and we rounded out the night with a disappointing "Lobster" shot.

Disappointing.

Monday:
The saddest of all days. Again, we were up bright and early and I went to go grab my car in order to drive Miss Emily to the airport. We said our sad goodbyes to Brittany in front of the hotel, and Emily and I jammed to her Glee mix in the car. A good ending to a very cool weekend.

One of THOSE days

2010-09-13T13:22:00.002-05:00

So today, I woke up in one of those moods. One where I feel like I am capable of eating babies. In fact, I used that very term when describing my mood today. And I'm not sure why.

Usually, I can shake it. I can look at pictures of puppies, or read some of my favorite blogs, and it will fade right quick. But today? This mood has really dug itself in, and doesn't seem to be budging. EVEN after I tried to placate it with a delicious Take5 bar. It seems as though I am on the verge of an Ugly Cry. Ladies? You hear what I'm saying?

But, I've got a plan. Tonight, I'm going to take Maddie: The Saddest Dog in the World for a leisurely walk. Hopefully, her joy will become my joy.
Then I'm going to make tacos for Mike, who will hopefully by thrilled by the prospect of OMG! TACOS! and his thrills will become my thrills.
This will be followed by cleaning the kitchen, and then I will feel accomplishment!
And then? I'm going to go to bed. Because there are some days that you just can't win, the the best option is to sleep on it.

But, tomorrow, I need to get it together. This can't overflow into another day.
On Tuesday I am waking up at 5am, and going for a walk/run (probably mostly walk), and then I am going to shower and wear an outfit I love and feel comfortable in.
I am going to put my new hair tousle-y spray in (it smells like violet, it's lovely) and make breakfast.
I am going to get out of bed on the RIGHT side, and I am going to be positive.
Because I am a GO GETTER, and a DO-er.

Wedding dramz - over a year later

2010-08-27T17:59:00.005-05:00

So I got married over a year ago.
Right after the wedding, a website called weddingwire.com was offering a free gift to those brides who reviewed a certain amount of their vendors. So when I got that offer I was all "Hell yeah!" because I had already reviewed most of my vendors on yelp.com, so it was easy to do a little copy/paste magic.

Let me digress for a moment and tell you about buying my wedding dress. In short, it was awful. In long:

Well, On my first foray into wedding dress shopping I stopped into a place really close to my mom's house. I was greeted by one of the sales ladies who was VERY nice. She explained that the dresses were simply samples and they were able to order different sizes and colors (if available).

Looking through the dresses there was an insane amount of variety, from flapper style, to big poufy princess dresses, they had it all. I explained to the 1st sales lady that this was my first time shopping and I was nervous, and she was very kind. She set me up with a fitting room and helped me and my family look for dresses.

Soon, however, sales lady 1 was STEAMROLLED by sales lady 2, who came by and absolutely took over. She started off by telling my mom that a dress she selected was ugly, and then proceeded to select and uglier one.
Once she entered the picture, the entire situation became stressful.

I found two dresses that I really liked, and sales lady 2 informed me that I really needed to buy one of them today (regardless of the fact that I told both of them that this was my first time out, I was just starting and probably not going to buy) because those were one and only dresses. She kept pressuring me into buying, so much so that I began to believe that there were only ONE of those dresses.
I soon realized that these are clearly samples, as most of them were covered in makeup, had broken zippers and were really shabby. No respectable bridal boutique would sell a dress in that condition.

At the end of my session, sales lady 2 asked me to come to the counter to fill out my information, I went alone and she lowered her voice and proceeded to scold me for not having an appointment. She told me that I would never get into other bridal salons unless I had an appointment.
I would have had no problem if EITHER of the sales ladies, right off the bat, had said, "You can browse, but you cannot try on without an appointment." But to reprimand me, after being incredibly rude, and condescending was too much. Also, the store was COMPLETELY EMPTY.

I vowed never to return...Unfortunately, I went back on my vow, and returned to buy the dress (I couldn't find anywhere CLOSE to my house that had it) But, I was mad about it.
The first time we didn't have appointment, but the second time we made one, specifically to try on the gown I liked. The only salesperson I talked to was actually the owner, who was VERY nice, but VERY distracted. However, I gave them a get-out-of-jail-free card because the day after, they were doing a runway show...or something.

The other girls in the shop, receptionists, assistants, whoever else worked there were SUPER nice. Many of them went out of their way to tell me how beautiful the dress looked on me, asking my plans for my hair. Many of them even made these comments after I had changed back into my street clothes.

So I buy the dress on July 1. Life is good. I purchased the dress the requisite 6+ months in advance (actually 10+ months), leaving plenty of time for alterations! They told me they were shipping in August and I would hear from them. August came and went, so I called them to inquire, and was told that my dress wasn't going to SHIP until February 13th, and I was terrified about how long will it would take to arrive. My wedding was May 30th, 2009. I BOUGHT THE DRESS IN JULY 2008. The only timing that was indicated to me was that they should ship in August, and no further updates.

The whole experience was sort of awful.
Back to present - this morning I get an email from weddingwire.com saying that my review is being disputed by the bridal salon, and that I needed to provide proof that I was INDEED a customer there. And I chuckled and was all, "whatever." Until I checked the other reviews on weddingwire.com.

Their average rating on weddingwire.com is 4.5 out of 5. Then I went to yelp and saw that their average rating there is 1.5 out of 5. Only 1 out of 13 reviews (including 3 of my own) gave them a positive review. So thaaaaaaaaat's a little fishy.

So, now I'm all agitated because of that fact that this bridal salon (with ATROCIOUS customer service) is probs trolling the wedding websites looking for negative reviews to dispute. I wrote weddingwire back to let them know that yes, I would provide proof of my business dealings and that I was concerned about the integrity of their vendor ratings because of the ability to dispute them, citing the discrepancy between the two review sites.

I will have JUSTICE...with a side of spaghetti.

This video never fails to bring me joy

Where things stand now is that I need to see if I still have the receipt from the bridal salon. But if I don't, my mom reminded me that I purchased the dress with my credit card - so I can get that statement and, BOOYAH, GRANDMA. Suck on that, bridal salon.

I will be over this by LUNCHTIME - swearzies

2010-08-24T10:09:00.004-05:00

Some days I am totally comfortable in adulthood.
I look around and I am proud that at 25 I have already accomplished 4 out of the 5 milestones that mark the transition into adulthood (NY Times): I completed school, left home, became financially independent and got married.

But other times, I feel so lost and desperate, it's ridiculous.
I feel like I never have my feet on the ground, and I am hanging on by a thread. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing, where I should be going and what I need to be aiming for. But these are things that no one can give me the answers to. These are things that I need to sort out for myself - and that's hard.

It's HARD to keep house, cook dinner, exercise, maintain friend and family relationships, while working 8 hours, commuting 4 (round trip) and spending time with my husband and pets. I constantly marvel at my parents, and even some of my peers and wonder, "HOW DO YOU DO IT??"

Right now, I think I'm just feeling the time and financial squeeze of a very fun and active summer (and it's not done yet). I've been going, and going, and going, and spending, and spending, and spending, and now, at the very end, I'm exhausted, drained and broke.

At this point, I need to throw in the disclaimer that my dissatisfaction is coming from a mountain of adult responsibilities that are catching up with me: I need a new bank, I need to transfer my car loan, I need to pay someone $2,000+ to fix a single panel of siding, I need to find new floors, I need to fix or replace our water softener, I need to switch our cable back, I need to take the cat to the vet.
I've really done myself a disservice by pushing all these things off in favor of more exciting social obligations. Swear on a bear that this isn't me all the time.

I need to realize that what's going on, it's not forever. I'm young, and overall I DO have my ducks in a row. I'm just a little crabby, a lot touchy, and extremely tired. I think I get a little more sensitive when I start to see kids going back to school, and I realize how much I MISS that feeling of a NEW START with a NEW YEAR. As an adult everything runs together.

On a more positive note, here's me with a mustache from the bachelorette party this past weekend:

Today...

2010-08-24T08:59:00.003-05:00

Today
...I feel strangely lost.
...I am losing patience with my bank.
...I am wearing pants with FAR more stains on them then I would like.
...I am tired of being so tired.
...I wish I was going back to school.
...I am over owning a house.
...I will be downtrodden for a little while, but change my outlook shortly.

Oh, Butters.

2010-08-18T09:17:00.001-05:00

While I was writing emails and facebooking and whatnot, the kitty climbed up on my chest and made it hard to get anything done. But, he's adorable, so I took a break.

If you turn up the volume and listen REALLY closely, you can hear him purring

Shortly after I uploaded this, Kitty abandoned me, and Maddie The Saddest Dog in the World got jealous and had her moment in the sun.

Don't judge me harshly for avoiding her tongue. You would too if you could smell her breath.

4 Simple Goals

2010-08-17T12:12:00.007-05:00

This morning I checked my reader and found a couple of these 4 Simple Goal posts started by Elsie, and I kind of love it. I've been feeling this pull to simplify my life. To throw away/donate/sell the unnecessary clutter. To make sure I make time to read. To cook and bake things because I want to, rather than need to. And this? It may provide me with the start I need.
Here are the guidelines for 4 Simple Goals:

1. choose simple goals that will make your life richer and happier on a daily basis. choose things you may not otherwise get done, but that are not difficult to accomplish.
2. do not choose result oriented goals, choose activity oriented goals. for example.... instead of "lose 10 pounds", choose something like "eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day". get what i'm saying? positive actions instead of just the end result!
3. choose goals that are personal that you believe will truly make your life richer just by doing them! they can be daily, weekly or one time experiences.
4. choose a reward for each goal as it is accomplished! it can be a small or large reward.
5. blog your goals, each one as you achieve it and a big post when they are all finished before the new year! And don't forget to link back to Elsie.

This comes at a perfect time - the changing of the seasons, the end of my summer obligations, and it completely aligns with the declarations Mike and I have made to get our shit together.

Without further adieu, my goals:
1. Spend quality time with Mike.
This means more than just being in the house at the same time. This means after dinner walks, and goofy, impromptu photo shoots and me learning to love board games so we can play together.
2. Be more selective.
About how I spend my time (do I really need to watch the Jersey Shore marathon? I've seen them all...), about how I spend my money (while I can buy 16 shirts for $5 at Discovery, is that a good idea?) and social obligations. I've been saying YES to everything recently, and I'm becoming run down and broke and lazy.

3. Fall in love with my house
I have about 384 lists of things I want to do to turn my house into my home, but I've yet to even BEGIN any of these projects. I want to be able to look around my living space and be so proud that I've done this.
4. Find a hobby
I start and stop so many projects and crafts - but maybe it's because I haven't found the right one. This goal is giving me permission to KEEP TRYING to find something that I love to do in my spare time (besides watching TV) and to keep doing it.

I hope this works.
I've made many declarations and lists here, but I feel confident in these because they are totally manageable, fun, and things I've already been itching to do.

Ode to Fall

2010-08-13T08:38:00.004-05:00

This morning when I let Maddie out, it was delightfully brisk. The heat hadn't set in yet, it wasn't stiflingly muggy, and, in short, it was lovely.

I've been eagerly anticipating fall for a WHILE now - both for the cooling weather, and for the break in social engagements. Because, you guys, I've been busy.

I've got two friends moving out of state, and so many pre-planned summer activities that I'm running on fumes. In fact, I was so gassed on Saturday, that when I went to my mom's End Of Summer party, I slept on her couch while everyone else partied. I'm that awesome.

This week marks the start of the countdown to Labor Day, and my final summer engagement (a culmination, of sorts) - Meeting Brittany and Emily. I've already mentioned this meeting before, but it's becoming time to PLAN, and ORGANIZE, and GET EXCITED.

But, before I enjoy THEIR company, I have a bridal shower and a mustache-themed bachelorette party this weekend. I CAN'T WAIT.

After all of these awesome adventures are done, I'm calling a time out. I need to get my feet back on the ground, I need to put together a life plan that will be followed, and I need to recharge.
I'm eagerly anticipating the return of tights and cardigans and boots. The changing of the leaves, and dropping of the temperature and the return of the need for blankets! I'm desperately looking forward to opening the windows to let the cool air in, the time when the bugs peace out, and taking walks in the evening (and not coming home drenched in sweat).
I can't wait to see my mom's Burning Bush leaves turn red, to buy mums for my front porch and to make SOUP! I want to decorate with leaves and pine cones and gourds.

Images via October 2009

Fall is, BY FAR, my most favorite season. It represents a break, changes, and an opportunity for me to relax. Fall is my transition period - I want to get my ducks in a row before I hibernate for winter, and hopefully, by next spring, I'll come back better than ever.

What's your favorite part of fall?

Wants and Needs

2010-08-13T07:40:00.000-05:00

NEEDS

Image via

Image via 2008

Image via my living room...

WANTS
Image via

Image via

Image via my house 2009

How to Install Google Analytics

2010-08-05T09:44:00.004-05:00

So, I recently made a couple of changes to my layout. It's nothing exciting and definitely nothing to write home about - mostly I was just playing around.

But! I failed to realize that I need to reinstall Disqus and my Google Analytics tracking code RIGHT AFTER.

For my purposes and yours, here's how to make sure Google Analytics is working properly.

First, you have to sign up for google analytics. So go http://www.google.com/analytics/ and click "Sign Up"
This is especially easy if you have a gmail account and use Blogger. Unfortunately, I don't have any info on how Analytics works if you are using something else (sorry!).

Then you have to find your TRACKING CODE. Here's what Google says:

Log in to Google Analytics at http://www.google.com/analytics
From the Overview page, select the account that has the profile for the tracking code you're looking for, as the code is profile-specific.
Select the profile from the accounts Overview page.
From that profile's Actions column, click Edit
At the top right of the 'Main Website Profile Information' box, click Check Status
Your tracking code can be copied and pasted from the text box in the Instructions for adding tracking section

Now that you have your tracking code, head over to blogger and hit the "DESIGN" tab along the top, and then the "Edit HTML" selection after that.

Once you see all the HTML code, find "<*/*head*>" (without the *s), and paste your code BEFORE that.

Done and DONE. I hope. From what I've gathered (and correct me if I'm wrong) Analytics updates once a day...so I won't know FOR SURE if all of this worked until tomorrow. But, hey! Fingers crossed.

Do you know anything more than I do? Do you have an easier method?

VEDA number 1

2010-08-04T18:28:00.002-05:00

So, this is m very first vlog. I'm awkward and frightened and OMG PLEASE DON'T JUDGE ME. I apologize in advance for the awkward ending. I just started rambling and I couldn't stop.

But, seriously, I threw that thing together in like 10 minutes. It's NICE to not agonize over what what I'm writing.

Massachusetts

2010-08-02T08:14:00.001-05:00

So, I've totally gone missing. I've disappeared (mostly) from facebook, twitter, blogging and emails. But! There's a reason!

Last week I was on a trip to Massachusetts with my family (minus Mike...booo) to visit Nana!
And this week? Well, I'm still getting my bearings about being home, and part of real life. It's harder than you think!

Seriously, you guys. Before my vacay, I hadn't been to MA since 2008.

Me, sister, sister, Mom in MA in 2008

Let's talk about Nana's house.
It's a ridiculously old house at the end of a quiet street. Nana has lived there for 50+ years, and owns much of the surrounding property. She has a creepy basement (also known as the "cella") and a deliciously large in-ground pool. This was my view for a week:

Behind Nana's house is my aunt and uncle's house. My other uncle actually lives in the basement. Oddly enough, THAT house used to belong to my mom.

When we go to MA, we spent LOTS of time hanging out by this RIDICULOUS pool (well...I hang out in the shade), but we also have a lobster and clam bake that entails eating pounds and pounds of steamed clams, and your very own lobster. It's a disgusting and embarrassing and tasty tradition that Mike became privy to the last time we visited.

On this trip, I learned that I legitimately get a sunburn after 20 minutes in the sun unprotected. I wanted to get a SMIDGE of color, and experts recommend getting 10-15 minutes of unprotected sun exposure a few times a week - so on day 1 I laid out for 10 minutes on each side. On day 2, I went for 15 minutes. The results were lovely, I was warm and happy.

But on day 3, I pushed the limits and went for 20 minutes on each side, and by 7pm, I was a red and itchy mess (but, just on my back where a bra clasp hits). In addition to a usual sunburn, I get itchy. Like, insatiable, unbearable, painful itching. I get it from my dad, who was hospitalized during Vietnam because of a terribly itchy sunburn.

I used to joke that 20 minutes in the sun would result in a burn, but now I know, FOR REAL, that 20 minutes will knock me flat on my ass. After this sunburn debacle, I got mad at the outdoors, and watched a LOT of Bravo for the remainder of the vacay. Which? Is OK by me.

This trip? We went shopping at Faneuil Hall, and rode Codzilla. Let's talk about Codzilla for a moment, shall we? It's this high speed Boston Harbor tour. They play loud music, spin the boat and you have the potential to get wet. Well, as we get on the boat, one of the men working there warns us that we're sitting in the wettest seats. But, we were all "Whatever! It's not like we'll get drenched!" Thinking that since we were so high above the water, we'd just get sprinkled.

We didn't get sprinkled. After the first 360 turn, it was like someone had dumped buckets of freezing cold ocean water on the 2 rows we were sitting in. The rest of the boat? SPRINKLED. We were the only 7 people on the boat screaming at the top of our lungs as we drank salt water.

This picture doesn't do the level of our saturation justice.

This year it was my sister's boyfriend's turn to experience Lobstah and Steamah Day first hand, and he loved(?) it.

I definitely loved it.

One night, our family friends brought over their 2.5 year old baby...well, not baby. But - holy shit, this kid basically ruined my life. He was the most articulate child, with so much personality it was ridiculous. He was doing yoga, he punctuated all his sentences with the word "actually", made fun of his grandfather ("Grandy") by hiking up his pajama pants, saluting my Army vet father. But best of all? This conversation:
Dad: "Ollie, how do you say HI to girls?"
Ollie: "Hello, Beautiful!"

My new life plans includes HAVING BABIES YESTERDAY.

All in all, good trip - even with the obnoxious sunburn. It's NICE to detach from reality for a little while. I got back last Wednesday evening, so I'm STILL working on catching up with my emails, and google reader and whatnot.

A good week.

2010-07-19T08:49:00.000-05:00

Last week?
Last was an excellent week. It moved quickly, there have been pleasant surprises and minimal drama. In addition to all this positivity, I have something to look forward to.

Pleasant Surprises
On Tuesday, I came home from work, and as usual I grabbed the mail. But this particular mail day had a SURPRISE INSIDE. There was an official looking government envelope, but I knew what it was - our $8,000 tax credit for buying the house! Holler.

So now, Mike and I have to figure out how we want to divide up this money. We've already resolved to replace the gross, stained, white carpet and gnarly, old, cracked, vinyl tile on the first floor. After that? Savings? Pay down the credit card? Rip out the deck and put in a stone patio and fence? New kitchen cabinets? New kitchen countertops? (The kitchen desperately needs help) Hire a professional to paint the vaulted living room?

On top of that, I have NO IDEA where to start when it comes to putting in a floor. We're planning to go with laminate flooring, or something similar. We've been TOLD that we can't put in actual hardwood because we have a slab foundation and the moisture will warp the wood, plus hardwood is expensive.

So, at the moment, I'm confused and excited and scared about what a commitment this floor will be.

I created this guy (above) a while ago, but I don't know if I'm feeling it anymore. I kind of like the color scheme from this Real Simple cover.
But, I feel like I need more neutrals in my house. My bedroom is blue, the office is blue-gray, and the guest room is almost a slate-blue. Do I need more blue?

Are you guys better at this than I am? Because, I. Am. Hopeless at decorating, color-coordinating and the like. Suggestions welcome, with open arms. In fact, I may even throw a parade for said suggestions.

I need help, and lots of it. Mike and I are starting a flooring search this weekend. I'm scared, hold me.

Moved Quickly
Every summer from the 4th of July, until Labor day, my office offers "Summer Hours", which means that if you work an extra 4 hours Monday through Thursday, you can leave the office at 12:30pm on Friday. Currently, I am staying 30 minutes late, and only taking half a lunch. And, even though I am working an extra hour each day, it makes the week go by a million times faster, because Friday looks that much better.

Consequently, my summer has just had the fast forward button pushed.
Next thing I know it's going to be September and my summer hours will be over, I'll need to assess my collection of tights, and Emily will be waiting at the airport for me to grab her and bring her to Hotel Blake, where Brittany will be eagerly awaiting our arrival. OMG.

Speaking of Emily
Have you voted yet? You can vote once per day, per email address. Right now, girlfriend has 51% of the vote. But there are still plenty of days left for the other girls to catch up. The bigger Emily's margin, the happier I'll be.
Vote, please? The prize is ridiculous, and I would love to see Emily and David have a beautiful honeymoon.

More recently...
Because I had a Half Day Friday, I went to see Toy Story 3 at 2:30 in 3-D. But, upon learning the PRICE to see a movie these days, my BFF and I decided that we would to sneak into Despicable Me at 4:30 and really get our money's worth. I'm a rule breaker, and a rebel.

In retrospect, we should have seen them in the opposite order, because after a Pixar movie, anything is a letdown.

Something to look forward to!
Mike and I have decided to visit one of our favorite people, Cam and his wonderful girlfriend Dawn (Hi Dawn! Hope Cam told you!) next summer.

It came about the other night because Mike and I were talking about how much we someday wanted to go to Comic-Con, which is held annually in San Diego - WHERE CAM and DAWN LIVE. So, we're going to start saving and make a journey of it. We haven't decided whether we'll make it a road trip, with stops along the way. Or if we'll fly, so we have more time to hang out in CA.
Though, after just Google Mapping the directions, I'm not sure I can handle 36 hours in the car. But if I do, I can cross two things off my 101 in 1001 list:

64) Visit Cam in San Diego
23) Take a road trip with Mike along Rte. 66, from Chicago to Los Angeles, camping along the way.

Which would be kind of awesome. We have plenty of time, just something to think about....

Best thing i've done this summer...

2010-07-18T14:24:00.001-05:00

Frozen mango, blueberry, grapes, peach, blackberry and pineapple + Simply Lemonade = Amazing summer beverage and snack.

Cabin Recap and Colors of the Wind Salsa (my first recipe!!)

2010-07-12T10:38:00.006-05:00

This weekend was everything I dreamed of and more.

I ate my body weight in ice cream, hamburgers, baked beans, pasta salads, delicious Chex Mix, corn nuts, cucumber salads, and most importantly my Colors of the Wind salsa (recipe below!)

I literally spent every moment of the weekend eating something. It. Was. Awesome. Because, duh, I love food. SO MUCH.

I arrived Friday afternoon at about 4pm. We drank Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and lemonade. Like I said in my previous post - this is the perfect summer drink. The vodka is 35% alcohol by volume, when regular vodka is 40% - so you don't lose any of the kick. It's a little sweet and syrupy alone, but with the acidity of the lemonade, it's delightful. It tastes like juice, you guys!

Golf cart rides!

Sweet Tea Vodka!

Plaid shirts!

Saturday, we hung out by the pool and grilled and (most of us) hid from some short thunderstorms. Mike didn't, and consequently, he was damp for the remainder of the time we were there.

More plaid!

Rain!
(I feel like they belong in Appalachia.)

HEADLAMPS.

For this glorious event, I made salsa. I've made salsa in the past, but it's always just been a simple tomato salsa, so I wanted to mix it up. I browsed through The Pioneer Woman, and tastepotting.com, but nothing struck my fancy. I want this salsa to have beans (OMG, I am on a HUGE bean kick), so I did a little Googling, and came up with a Paula Deen recipe, and tweaked it a little. I have since re-named it: Color of the Wind Salsa, because once all the ingredients are added, it's a beautiful RAINBOWWWWWWWWW.............

Colors of the Wind Salsa
Ingredients
2 large tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 orange bell pepper, diced*
3 ears sweet corn, cut off the cob**
1 large avocado (not too ripe), peeled and diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained (Well, they look kind of blue)
1 red onion, diced
Juice of 2 limes
A splash red wine vinegar, to add more liquid
1 whole SALSA seasoning packet (found at most grocery stores, any will do)

Directions
Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl. Taste and add salt, pepper, lime juice, vinegar as necessary.
Cover and chill overnight, and make sure to taste again before serving, the flavors will have mated overnight.
Serve with tortilla chips!

This recipes was RIDICULOUSLY easy and can be adjusted based on your taste. I started feeling crazy and throwing pinches of different spices but, you couldn't taste them in the final product. It was delicious and we actually had to put it away after 10 minutes because it was almost gone.

*I didn't add an orange pepper this time, but I plan to based ENTIRELY on color.
**I regret this decision - Paula calls for frozen corn, and I absolutely will do this next time. Cutting fresh corn off the cob is a RIDICULOUS pain in the ass.

It disappeared in 20 minutes...

CAMPING! CABIN! ROCK RIVER LEISURE ESTATES!

2010-07-08T12:09:00.011-05:00

There is one event that I look forward to. Every. Single. Year.

Since I was 16 years old (or possibly younger), I've been spending at least one weekend per summer at the Rock River Leisure Estates in Edgerton, Wisconsin, with my nearest and dearest friends.

Rock River is like a gated vacation neighborhood. Most of the houses are trailers that sit on the land permanently, and have a deck, or porch built onto it.

This cabin actually resides on the same street I'll be staying! Vacation Blvd.

Basically, it's like camping - but not. Which, is exactly my type of camping.

The cabin we stay at is owned by my RL BFF and her entire extended family.
There's room to pitch a tent, a gravel lined fire pit, beds and plumbing inside the trailer. Down the road there's a general store, and a swimming pool with locker room and showers.
Best of all? There's a golf cart we can ride around the neighborhood at a neckbreaking 20 mph!

We go, we eat ridiculous amounts of processed meat, we stay up way too late, smoke too much, drink waaaay too much, drive the golf cart faster than it's built to go, and have an overall scream of a time.

And you guys!? I'm leaving tomorrow!

2006

2007

Best trip ever. It was Rachelle's 22nd birthday, and only girls went. It was also the night of the release of the last Harry Potter book. If you look closely, you can see the lightning bolt (permanent marker...) on my forehead.

We went to a bar down the road, and I wore the Harry Potter glasses the whole night. I also danced like a maniac. Trust me, I'm a riot when I'm dancing
(because I put my arms in the air, and wave them around like I just don't care...)

2008

This was the year I decided that the plaid shirt I'm wearing was my "cabin shirt" - I wore it again last year, and I intend to bring it out again this year...along with two other plaid shirts.
Every camping adventure needs PLAID.

Before we were married

2009
This was the most epic golf cart ride of my life.

I didn't win the lottery.

After we were married.

I am leaving tomorrow at 2pm - right as I get home from work. I have so many lists to make, and so many things to do! I need to be ready to walk out the door before bed.

I need to:
Make salsa
Make a sea salt texturizing spray for my hair
Pack for me and Mike
Finish laundry so I CAN pack
Pick up beer and Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka (try it with lemonade. It will change your life. Trust.)

Hooray!

Do you have a summer tradition that you're looking forward to!?

Adorbs.

2010-07-02T17:23:00.002-05:00

This was my afternoon:
I am happy.

Enjoy the weekend, friends!

Eclipse

2010-07-01T14:28:00.009-05:00

Last night, I saw Eclipse. As we waited in line (after getting there an hour early...ugh) I realized that me, my two sisters and a friend, were the only people there that probably weren't dropped off by their moms. You know, because they were 12.

Before the movie started, I realized that, OMG, there was a very good chance I could see the Harry Potter trailer on the big screen! AND I DID. It was more epic than I could have imagined, and it made everything worth it.

My thoughts on Eclipse? It was better than the first two, and it kept me more entertained for the duration of the film. However, my unrelenting fury with the series remains. And I stand by the statement that Bella Swan is the least likable character ever. In a million, bazillion years.

But you know what? I'm a sucker for drama, and fantasy nonsense - so I'm going to read the books (and probably re-read them) and see the movies (and probably re-watch them on DVD) and power through. Because I've COMMITTED to this cause, and I need to see it to the end.

Things I could stand:
Taylor Lautner's bod that just. WON'T. QUIT.
I really don't feel like I need to elaborate on this.
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Robert Pattinson
The more interviews he gives, the more likable and adorable I find him. Self-deprecation and charm wins my heart every time.
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The Harry Potter trailer. More of this. Always and forever.

Things I COULD NOT handle
Edward Cullen
He has always infuriated me, and always will. I don't find him romantic, but I see how others could.

Bella Swan
I feel like it is commonly accepted that Bella is a ridiculous, co-dependent twit.

The EYEBROWS.
Especially on Rosalie. The character has WHITE BLONDE hair, WHY are her eyebrows BLACK? I found this very distracting, and continued to agonize over it for the duration of the film.

The awful makeup and terrible wigs.
I think this is attributed to the HD filming, but Ashley Greene's complexion looked terrible. You could see the makeup sitting on ALL of their faces.
And the WIGS. OH, sweet lord. Jackson Rathbone is KIND OF a hottie, but that AWFUL wig and those terrible pained expressions - he was difficult to watch.
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The SPARKLES.
I started giggling, uncontrollably in the first 5 minutes of the movie when Edward sparkled. I FORGOT that this was part of the movie, and I LOST MY SHIT. C'mon, Stephanie Meyer...he glitters?
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My overall impressions? As much as I sound like a hater - I still get get excited when Twilight movies come out. I read all the articles about Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson's relationship. It's fun. Lighthearted, fluffy fun.

Some nonsense...

2010-06-29T19:25:00.004-05:00

I'm TOTALLY going to see Eclipse tomorrow. No, no, no...not at midnight, or anything. I'm going straight after work.

That show, Pretty Wild, is ridiculous. It makes me hate life. But also? I love their drama.

I almost died when I watched the new Deathly Hallows trailer today. I. AM. EXCITED.

This movie is going to change my life.

I can't wait for the weekend. Mike and I are going to DO STUFF! And BE PRODUCTIVE! and HOORAY!

OMG - My tomatoes are growing! MY TOMATOES ARE GROWING! Just one single green one.
And my green beans haven't been eaten by the slugs! I have THREE BEANS!

I spent the day talking to two cool people about hotel plans, which made me EVEN MORE excited to meet them face-to-face.

I've started researching the smoothest way to transition from Blogger to Wordpress. I'm nervous. I just need a long afternoon to figure it out. And figure out Feedburner. And I've started to think about buying my own domain name. I feel like I don't have enough people who care to warrant buying my own domain.

Heidi Montag is ALL SORTS of batshit. WOW.

That is all.

Weekend Outlook

2010-06-25T10:44:00.005-05:00

This is what I hope my weekend looks like:

Friday

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Saturday
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+
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Sunday
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What does your weekend look like??

Sometimes you just need to vent.

2010-06-23T11:30:00.005-05:00

Have you ever had one of those days where absolutely nothing goes right. Not even that, but everything goes terribly, terribly wrong. Today. Is. That. Day:

Maddie isn't feeling so hot, so she's not sleeping well, and has to be let out in the middle of the night.
The cat is completely nocturnal at this point, and routinely gets bored around 3am. He keeps busy by knocking over glasses of water, and playing with his toys that have jingly bells on them.
Because of the previous two, I'm exhausted.
I was running too late to make myself breakfast.
My debit card didn't work at the gas station, so I had to use the credit card (which I HATE to do)
I didn't have enough cash to get breakfast on the way to work, and since the debit didn't work I remained hungry.
I got a bunch of unnecessary emails that made me SO stabby.
I still have to call the vet, and that makes me very anxious.

Nothing is going right today, you guys! What makes it worse is HOW TIRED I am. I turn into a raging lunatic when I'm roused from slumber, or am over tired (Sorry, Mike!)

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All I want to do is:

Make decadent cupcakes
Listen to the thunderstorms
Watch True Blood
Read Dead in the Family
Re-evaluate my life plans
Solidify a budget

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I feel very confident that if I was allowed to do these things, everything would get back on track and I would feel right as rain. But alas, I need to put on my big girl pants and power through the day, get things done when I get home, and overall, be a productive person.

On a more postive note, I had a GLORIOUS weekend in Lake Geneva with some of the finest women I know.

Shit got nuts, and I got serious when Single Ladies came on.

Oscar and I have a very intense relationship.

I believe this Sunday I will be heading to Chicago to go to the Pride Parade. I am thrilled. I've wanted to go for a long time, but going to the city intimidates me, unless I have city-savvy companions. This year, I do.

And GUYS! I've successfully cooked two nights in a row.
Monday was The Pioneer Woman's Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Apricot Sauce. Seriously, so good and SO easy.
Tuesday was honey horseradish salmon with dill potatoes and asparagus.
Tonight! I shall make BBQ Chicken and Pineapple Pizza, modified from The Pioneer Woman
Tomorrow! Pulled Pork!
I'm ALL OVER THIS.

Mild bad news: the slugs are DESTROYING my plants. They have eaten the little sprouts that were appearing on my bean plants. Those poor plants. They've been broken, and mended and sad and almost dead, but they've come back every time. But the slugs look like they're defeating them. The SPROUTS! Ahhhhhhhhh.
I need to reevaluate my garden and yard for next year. It's all about trial and error in my house...

Slow Moving

2010-06-17T09:37:00.005-05:00

This slow movement that I keep hearing about? I think I need to jump on it. But - I don't really know how.

I feel like my life pace is pretty slow now. But, maybe it's not the right kind of slow. Or it's not even slow at all - I think it's just lazy.

As much as I would like to make a declaration that "THIS IS MY NEW PLAN!!!" I'm tired of making plans, and then having them fall by the wayside because 1) I have no time to implement them 2) I have very little motivation to do anything, after sitting in traffic for two hours 3) I suck.

Remember these?
I'm going to run every day of May!
I'm going to get up at 5am to run!
I'm going to grow my hair long enough to donate to Locks of Love!
I'm going to do 101 things in 1001 days (OK, technically, this is still under way)
I'm going to volunteer!
I'm going to run a 5K in June!
I'm going to make a 25 things to do in my 25th year list!

Does anyone know where I can buy motivation?

~~You know what, Debbie Downer? Suck it.~~ EDITED 6/18: I need to relax. While I haven't gotten SOME of my declared goals done - I've gotten many MORE accomplished, and I will continue to chip away at the ones listed above.
I ~~friggin'~~ bought a house, and still have money in the bank.
I have three families to juggle, and we do an OK job of it.
According to my Wii Fit, I am not yet overweight. In fact, I am OK with my softer shape
(though, not OK with my inability to walk an incline, or climb stairs...)
I just wrote another post about how I was getting better at being an adult, and I really need to cling to that mentality.

I'm OK. I just have PMS, and looked through 354 pictures of the BP oil spill - that'll ruin your day. It's been kind of an ugly week, but thankfully it is almost over. I'm craving Panera for lunch, and I'm going to get it.

In this similar vein, I need to cut down on TV in favor of reading books. I love to read, and I'm not sure why it's a struggle. Plus, now is the TIME. Summer TV is garbage.
I still need to watch Dr. Who, however...

This was a weird post. Sorry about that.

NO WORK FOR ME TODAY!

2010-06-14T08:26:00.004-05:00

Happy Birthday to me!

This is Butters Stotch (named after our favorite South Park character), the newest member of our little family, and my birthday present from Mike!

We brought him home yesterday, after adopting him from our local Humane Society Outreach
event. He and Maddie are almost BFFs already. But he still gets a little jumpy when Maddie gets too excited.

I kind of love him and think he's adorable. He's pretty fearless, and really chill. I need to invest in a squirt bottle because he's already terrorizing one of my houseplants.

Also - Happy Birthday Momma P. !!

The best mom a girl can ask for.

Wants and Needs

2010-06-11T13:01:00.009-05:00

Because it's Friday, and because it's my work-birthday, and because it's muggy outside, and because half my office is gone, and because I'm lazy, and because it's been a while, and because I want to!
Today is Wants and Needs day!

Wants

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Needs

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BECOMING adult.

2010-06-07T20:10:00.007-05:00

So, when I was in college, I was all "OMG, I can't wait to be done with school so that I don't have to do anymore HOOOOOOOOOMEWORK. Life will be all fun and games because all you have to do is work, and the rest of your time is YOURS!!"

Little did Ashley Version 2006 know that college was the closest I would get to a nap, ever again. Once I crossed the stage and manhandled my diploma, GONE were the days of watching 6+ hours of The Hills marathons. GONE were the days of staying up until 2am facebooking, AIM chatting and drinking my face off.

I was under the impression that 1) after I got my diploma magazine editors were going to be kicking in my door to work for them (a la The Devil Wears Prada) 2) I was magically going to have a splendid wardrobe and 3) once I came home from work, I was going to have all the time in the world to do cool adult stuff - like watch rated R movies and eat buckets of ice cream.

It's taken me, what? Like 3 years to realize that - OMG, being an adult takes practice. I've spent many, many hours over these last three years beating myself up becuase I didn't feel adult enough. I felt like everything was falling through the cracks and that I was just BAD at being a grown up.

But lately, and I mean VERY lately, it's dawned on me that, just like every new skill, becoming GOOD at being adult takes practice. And, this realization came because I started to feel comfortable being an adult. Yes, I fall off the wagon and leave dishes all over, and my floor is a little dirty, and sometimes I don't make it to the bank in a timely fashion...but everything, and every DAY is an improvement.

Most days, I am able to get out the door for work, look decent(ish), make it home to make dinner, and make the house presentable. I've gotten comfortable with this routine. So now, I feel like I need to step it up a notch, and part of that will be the goals I outlined a couple of days ago. Mainly, I need to exercise more, watch TV less, and spend a little more time nurturing my creativity and reconnecting with my books.

All this? It starts tomorrow with getting up at 4:50am, so I can be out the door and jogging at 5:00am. Cross your fingers that Sleep Ashley doesn't turn off the alarm until 6:00am.
(She's known to do this in the past. And by "past" I mean this morning)

I am accepting that it takes a little longer to learn to juggle all the responsibilites that I've been putting into practice since I graduated, and because of that, I'm beating myself up less. Life is pretty chill these days, dudes.

Has anyone else had this realization? How are you adjusting to adult life? Has anyone just kind of been like "this is easy" - warning: I might eat your face.

In other news:

* I have set beer traps in my garden to try to stop the damn slugs from eating MONSTROUS holes in my sunflowers, green beans and radishes.
* I did my hair all Rosie the Riveter style on Sunday morning. I spent Saturday night watching Mad Men and pin up hair tutorials - and LOVE IT
* I realized how awkward I am at taking self-portraits. OMG. Makes my skin crawl!
* Mike has given me the go-ahead to get a cat, if I really want one. We've talked about it since before we got Maddie (hell, we went to the shelter with the intention of getting a cat, not a dog...oops), and I waffle back and forth. Worrying about the pee, mainly. But lately, I've been watching videos of Maru, and watching my neighbors fatty orange cat from a distance, and now I'm thinking this is kind of a great idea. I've ALWAYS had cats, and I think they're lovely.
* I need to start working on my 25th year life list! My birthday is coming up, and I need to make sure I do something awesome with the year. Additionally, I think I need another birthday tattoo. Maybe it's time for some Harry Potter love?

GET MOTIVATED

2010-06-04T14:53:00.002-05:00

In light of yesterday's frustrations, I've been thinking of making some changes.

Yeah, I'm not really good at this. I mean, seriously, I've made similar promises and proclamations, and pronouncements before and haven't followed through.
But, dude, I'm over the funk that I've been in for the last two years.

Starting this weekend I will:
* Visit the farmer's market on Saturdays, and be there by 9am (it opens at 8am)
* GET UP AT 5AM on weekdays to go running. (OMG, this terrifies me.)
* Go to the library on Sundays. To read, to research, to get OUT of the house.
* Structure my time better.
* Make sure my kitchen is clean before I go to bed. NO MATTER WHAT.
* Read, at least for a little while, each night.
* Make a menu and grocery list on Saturday (after the market), and shop BEFORE 10am on Sundays.

I can do this, right?

Unexpected rage?

2010-06-03T15:29:00.004-05:00

So, I tried to start this heartfelt post about having kids and my desire to (someday) be a mom, and then I had this insane outburst of rage because it came out sounding like garbage. It is now saved in the abyss I call my "drafts" and will probably never be looked at again.

I'm tired. Of life. Of my lack of motivation. Of my lack of funds.
(OMG, STOP.)
Of my bitching - HA!

I don't know which direction to travel, but I know I need to start heading somewhere. I feel like I'm growing barnacles.
I think if I were just able to cross a few things off my to-do list I would feel better. I always feel better when my to-dos are to-done.

I'm out of touch with people, and bummed about it. My 25th birthday is coming up, so maybe I'll take a page from Emily's book and make a manageable list (since my 101 list is going SO WELL :sarcasm:) of things I need to do FOR ME.

Wow, I am wallowing today! Yikes bikes.
I think it's because I'm wearing an ugly outfit.
And I forgot to go to the bank, and I'm still hungry.

Happy Anniversary

2010-05-25T13:25:00.002-05:00

Dear Michael,

In 1999, I creepily knew who you were when I was the manager of the 8th grade boys' basketball team. You were one of the 4 "Hot Guys" that me and my fellow manager kept our eyes on. You were quiet, and I assumed that you were just too cool for me, when in reality you were terrified of girls, and waaaay into Final Fantasy Tactics and Starcraft. If only I knew then, what I know now.
We never talked in those days, but I had my eye on you.

In 2001, you resurfaced. After middle school, you disappeared, and since you were so quiet, no one knew where you went. But, on New Years Eve as we moved into 2001, you reappeared in Christina's basement. Turns out you had gone to the local private school, rather than the public one the rest of us attended. You came with Ryan, who kept in touch with you through sports.
As ridiculous as it sounds, I remember when you walked down the stairs.

In early 2003, we started dating. It was extremely unexpected for me. It was our senior year of high school.

I remember in the few days before you left for college, we hadn't talked about whether we would stay together while at different schools. I asked about it while we were driving aimlessly to that huge warehouse that you used to work at, and your response made it seem like staying together, despite the distance, was the most obvious thing in the world.

When I moved into my Iowa dorm, and I was getting to know my roommates, I told all of them that you were the boy I was going to marry.

In the summer of 2004, we found the distance to be too much. I was insane while at Iowa, and I was miserable to deal with. We spent this summer hanging out, and just having fun, knowing that we were both going into our 2nd year of college single. But still friends.

In 2005, we had a phone conversation where you told me about a new girl that you really liked. I asked too many questions, because I was morbidly curious, and when I got off the phone I was so sad. It was the first time I really admitted to myself that I was still in love with you.

During the summer of 2006, I drove out to Iowa to see your art installation. I was so proud, and walking around on my own (after I had solved your mystery with Nate) I was moved to tears.

On Labor Day of 2006, after a particularly difficult day you called me. I still don't know what clicked, but you told me that you wanted to get back together. You told me you loved me. It was that day that we decided that this was it.

The summer of 2007, we moved in together in a cute little apartment in Iowa. Then we bought a little dog. To this day, I still have no idea how we managed to make it through that summer. Again, I was a miserable person. I had a really hard time coping with moving somewhere where the only person I knew was you, having no job, and being so far from my family. Thanks for not smothering me in my sleep. Seriously. I wouldn't have blamed you.

At midnight of Jan 1, 2008, you asked me to marry you. I said yes. Duh.

On May 30, 2009, we said these things to each other:

Ashley,
Since that second first kiss we shared in front of your U of I apartment, I knew that you were the woman I would spend the rest of my life with. I made a promise to myself that day that I was never going to let you go from my life again. And now here we are standing up in front of all of our family and friends, preparing to step into a new life together and a new level of togetherness. Ashley, you are the most gracious, loving and kind woman I have ever met. I am so fortunate to be the man you have chosen to live with and love. You give everything of yourself to me with selflessness and a kind heart. We laugh endlessly and share a beautiful and secret world filled with tenderness, devotion and caring. You lift my spirits before I even let you know they are hurting. You encourage and support me unwaveringly in everything that I do. You are my partner in crime and my closest, dearest companion. My great love. I am so glad we are sharing our lives with one another, because my life would be so painfully incomplete without you next to me, now and when we are older.

I promise to give you the best of me, to give you all that I have to offer in every way I know how.
I promise to share my life with you, and grow loser to you with each passing day we are together.
I promise to be there for you in any condition, in times of gladness and when times are grim.
I promise to tell you, over and over again, that you are loved and to love you unconditionally, and put yourself before me.
I promise to work everyday to become a better man, better husband, and eventually an excellent father.
I promise to love you, to honor you, to care for you, and to be faithful to you from this day forward, and for the rest of our lives.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael James,
I can’t believe I am marrying you today. I’ve loved you since I was 17 years old. I loved you when I knew it was in my best interests not to. I loved you when we were 355 miles apart. And through all that time, I knew that this day would come. However, I am still in complete awe of this moment, and I feel like it is too good to be true. I love that you remember the little things, and that you are like a lumbering, incoherent bear in the morning. I love that you worry whether you will be a good father based on the happiness of the dog, and I love that you are entertained by my whining – because you’re the only man, anywhere, that could possibly feel that way…and that’s why we are meant to be together.

That said -
With hope and optimism, I promise to encourage you to accomplish all the things you dream of. In the face of success, or failure, I will be your loudest supporter. I promise to share my achievements, and to celebrate yours.

Fiercely, I promise to stand by you in the face of adversity, and distress, sadness and disappointment. I promise to defend our marriage, our friendship and our bond. I promise be your partner as we build the life we’re looking so forward to

Unconditionally, I promise to trust you and to love you and to respect you. I promise to honor all of our differences because these are what make us who we are.

Awkwardly, I promise to dance, sing nonsense songs, and make terrible jokes, (In public. At totally inappropriate times. Forever.) As long as you do it with me.

Passionately, I promise to spend my life learning about you and delighting in each new discovery. I promise to share myself with you.

Breathlessly, I promise to be your partner, your lover, your friend and your wife. I promise to bind my life with yours.

Michael, I promise to love you always.

Happy Anniversary, my sweet

My LOST analysis (SPOILERS)

2010-05-24T10:09:00.008-05:00

DISCLAIMER: Do not read this post, or click on the link, or even skim any further if you haven't watched the LOST finale, or plan on someday watching LOST in the future (and don't want the ending revealed). This post is spoiler-city, and also my thoughts on the end of the series.

---------------------------------------------------------

This is how I feel about the LOST Finale

YES, there was a beautiful emotional reunion.
BUT I DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE ISLAND.

I think they were too ambitious and introduced too many things that they couldn't explain/wrap up in time. There are too many story lines that they planted seeds for, and just left to die.

Don't get me wrong, it was a wonderful show, and the finale was great (if not too sentimental), but they DEFINITELY bit off more than they could chew:

telepathy, reincarnation, divine guardians, electromagnetism, purgatory, ominous warnings, good, evil, smoke monsters, temples, giant statues, religious symbolism from ALMOST EVERY RELIGION, magical light, sneaky polar bears, Dharma Initiatives, landlocked slave ships - I mean seriously...how could this all cohesively come together?

My Anger:
WTF happened to Walt? And Aaron was supposed to be important, remember how the psychic (I think in season 1) FREAKED out when Claire wanted to get a reading, and he made a huge stink about how CLAIRE HAS TO BE THE ONE TO RAISE him. I assumed that's WHY she was on the Island, and Aaron would have this huge part (maybe become the next Jacob?) But...clearly not.

And HI! Remember when Ben took Lock to see "Jacob" for the first time. There was no one in the house, and Ben staged the conversation with Jacob...Then the house started shaking poltergeist style, and Locke hears "Help me" DO YOU REMEMBER THAT??
WHO WAS THAT?

Also, anyone else have trouble swallowing the fact that UnLocke was killed so easily? I understand that he became mortal after the stone was unplugged, or whatever, but for HOW MANY YEARS was UnLocke the badass smoke monster? Did he lost his smoke monster powers when the stone was unplugged? And Jack and Kate manage to kill him? I thought that battle scene would be a little more epic.

Why, if this Flash Sideways business was a transition to some sort of afterlife, some sort of Limbo...would Kate still be a fugitive? Why would Sun get shot? And Jin be captured?
I mean Hurley was able to make the Sideways life more wonderful. Same with Jack (married/divorced Juliet, who he has a nice relationship and a bright son with) Sawyer, manged to become a cop.

WTF was with the temple and the statue? With Dogan. Who built it? Where did it come from? Why did Jacob's presence on the island protect them? What was the rejuvenating water that drowned Sayid and then made him a zombie?

Was the weird and hokey LIGHT the electromagnetic radiation that has consistently been a part of the storyline? Seriously, this light nonsense made my skin crawl. And it would have been beneficial to introduce it sometime BEFORE the last three episodes.

It feels like the creators/writers of Lost started off with such great expectations, and high hopes, but quickly ran out of time.

The pace of the show started off well - meaning seasons 1 - 5 - but as we got to 6, it left me feeling like it was a clumsy sprint to the finish line. They introduced too many characters and new plot developments SO LATE that I never got the time to speculate or familiarize myself with them.

As someone mentioned in another article, it would have been nice to get more of a feel for Eloise, or Christian. Both of them were strange soothsayers who would appear randomly and drop some knowledge on the Island Folk before disappearing again into the ether. Even Charles Widmore. He was once the leader of the Island, but how/why did he get there? Did that get explained, and I've just forgotten?

It seems like I'm at the point where I'm so saturated with Lost (I've been rewatching the entire series for months) that my details are getting confused. Characters that carried weight are getting forgotten in favor of others that existed on the periphery.

I could go on and on and on about this, but I'm hoping that this blog post will put it to bed for me. I was satisfied (emotionally), but my curiosity was cheated. I invested way too much time in this show, and the mysteries of the Island to accept the finale quietly.

In short, I feel cheated.

Image here

Goals

2010-05-19T15:45:00.002-05:00

So! Good news!

I WILL complete a goal this month!

Are you ready? GET EXCITED!?!

By Sunday I will have...

...

(Have I built adequate suspense yet?)

WATCHED ALL OF LOST.

Image from here

...God, I'm pathetic.

Maybe after Sunday (THE FINALE) I'll have the time to commit to something more...worthwhile.

ADDITIONALLY, Rachelle and I have committed to being more positive. About everything. Now there's talk of volunteering. WHO AM I?

Dear Universe, STOP IT.

2010-05-14T14:07:00.004-05:00

HI!
I've been totes missing the last week or so, but at my house, we're dealing with multiple sagas at the moment.

Saga 1: A piece of siding on our house has fallen off. We saw the siding in the lawn in early March, but the color looked like our neighbors house, so we ignored it, and figured that it was theirs. In early April we started chatting with said neighbors, and they asked us if we'd seen that that piece of siding that had fallen off our house?

Cut to Mike and Ashley staring, shocked, at the GAPING siding hole on our house.

The insurance company recommended someone to fix it and we promptly called them to get a repair estimate. Well, dude comes out and we don't hear from him for days. Calls go unreturned, and still nothing. FINALLY, he gives us a verbal quote with the promise that he'll email Mike an official estimate.

DAYS go by, Mike calls almost every day, and we hear nothing.
By now...a month has passed. With heavy winds, and pouring rain.
Annnnnnd, we're done.
We figure that if this guy can't return a call, or email an estimate, than he can go without our business. So yesterday, we told him we are no longer interested in his services.

Now? We're back at square one. This time using a repair company that's recommended by friends and family.

Saga 2: On Tuesday, I was driving home, when I realized we needed a few things from the grocery store. So, I diverged from my normal route. Traffic was rush hour-y, but not bad. I come up to a red light, everyone was moving slowly, so it wasn't an abrupt stop.

Since driving on the highway everyday, I've gotten into the habit of checking my rear view every time I stop so I can see imminent death coming towards me in the event of an accident. As I look in my rear view mirror and see a Ford Escape barreling towards my car, and the driver is ABSOLUTELY NOT looking at the road, or my car, or the red light. I have a very hostile and sneaking suspicion that she was texting. I hate her.

As the bringer of pain continues to drive FULL SPEED towards me, I realized "Oh sweet mother of shit, she's going to hit me."
Annnnnd, then she did. Hard. My glasses flew off, every possession I owned flew to the front of the car, I skinned my knee hitting the steering column, and my neck got jacked (don't worry - everything is fine, just typical accident stuff. I'm completely recovered today)

By the time I pulled off and walked to her car, she had already called 911. So! On top of getting crashed into, we turned one of he most traveled roads in my town into a fucking GONG SHOW (thanks E for that phrase!). There were 2 fire trucks, 1 ambulance and at least 4 police officers, and they basically shut it down. During rush hour.

My car was pretty jacked, but drivable. Barely. The bumper was demolished, my taillights were basically hanging on for dear life, I think my undercarriage was out of whack, my gas tank WASN'T where it should be, the floor of my trunk was all raised, and my trunk was crushed.

The next day, I drove my car out to get looked at by her insurance company. They assumed liability (I mean, was there a doubt!?) and told me they would get me the estimate ASAP.

Come Thursday, I receive a phone call from her insurance notifying me that they have determined that my car is a total loss, and they offered me a settlement that is $364.56 less than what I owe on the car.

At first I was pacified because I assumed the settlement would be less than that, but the more I thought about it, and all the things I now had to deal with, the less satisfied I am.

Not only do I have to pay for the remainder of my loan (which, isn't a HUGE deal, I can swing $364.56 - but do I want to?? ) but I now have to come up with a down payment for a car I had no intention of buying (which is a bigger deal).

I have no idea if I have any room to negotiate the settlement, or even how to go about doing this. I just want to explore my options, and see what kind of recourse is available. The only things I've done so far is contact my insurance company for advice, and I started drafting an email to my claim handler expressing my concerns over the settlement....but I haven't sent it.

Oddly enough, we have a family friend who is a lawyer, and his firm deals (at least a little bit) with auto accidents. When he saw my bitching on Facebook, he sent me a message that said "Don't you know a great laywer?? Call me tomorrow!"

I shot him an email with all the info in it, and I should hear from him Monday. I don't know what all of this means. I don't really know what to do, and what my next step is.

I definitely need a new car...I'm looking at the Toyota Yaris because I've heard AMAZING things about Toyota cars, regardless of their current recall/legal drama. But seriously - this is NOT how I wanted to spend my weekend.

I only have the rental paid for until Tuesday. Tonight we're going to look at cars, tomorrow I have a birthday bonanza all day, Sunday is my sister's graduation. I don't know what we're going to do.

I was all jazzed this morning on my way to work to fight the settlement, and get a spine and stand up for myself - but I don't know where to start, which leaves me feeling like a baby.
Now, the plan is to wait until Monday and hear from our lawyer friend, while continuing to research and look for cars.

Saga 3: I don't think our water softener is working anymore. My water tastes mildly salty, and not at ALL delicious. This irritates me in a VARIETY of ways.

Image from here

Updates on May-ke My Life Better initiative: Complete and utter failure. Haven't gone running, haven't exercised at ALL. There's no money to budget. I don't have the spunk to blog.
I was really hoping I could get it together this month, because I can't turn 'June' into any kind of clever initiative title.

Maybe next time, Ashley. Maybe next time.

Time and again.

2010-05-05T15:15:00.004-05:00

I want time.

I want time to try to bake a cake from scratch and re-read Lolita. I want 10 minutes to sit in my backyard and appreciate the sun, and the work that I've put into my yard

I want to be able to have my english muffin and coffee at my kitchen table, and not while I'm driving to work. I want to cook dinner, and ONLY cook dinner. Not cook dinner, while unloading the dishwasher and folding the laundry and wiping down countertops. I want to do one thing at a time.

I want to shave my legs in the morning without making myself bleed, or missing a spot. I want to have clothes that I've been able to iron. I want to be able to make the bed in the morning, so when I come back at night it seems more comfortable than when I left it.

I want to go running, and listen to my iPod and not be completely preoccupied with the millions of things I still have to take care of. I want to run at a leisurely pace, and not push myself too hard, so I finish sooner, because I have so little time to be running.

I want to be able to stay up later than 10:30pm. But I can't. Because otherwise I'll be tired on my drive in to work at 6am, and I am terrified of falling asleep on the highway. I want more hours to be awake and aware.

Derby Party

2010-05-04T14:15:00.006-05:00

May 1st started my May-ke My Life Better initiative, and so far so good.

Among the things that I hope to improve:

My physical fitness
My time management
My interpersonal relationships
The running of my household
Our spending habits
Quality of blog posts

This is a large task, but I think I just needed that RESET to get things in order without getting overwhelmed by them.

Last Saturday we had a Kentucky Derby party. And until that silly party I wasn't really a person. I was a stressed out, procrastinating shell.
However, the party came together beautifully, and everyone looked wonderful.

Everyone, except my bro-in-law, Nick, who was graciously taking the picture.

I probably would have been more nervous and stressed about this shindig if my wonderful friends and family hadn't been so excited about dressing up. I was genuinely surprised.

My mom paid for a cleaning lady to come to my house a day before the party, and I feel like this plays a huge role in the RESET that has happened. My home is SPOTLESS (well, it WAS...) They got rid of cobwebs I never knew were there. They put away my dishes. They are amazing.

Me, sisters, Mom

Additionally, my ass was running SO behind the day of the party, my mom and sisters covered for me while I finished making food and putting on my makeup. They're pretty cool people.

Watching the Derby

Unrelated. I am 5'8 - so is Angelina Jolie. Mike is 5'11 - so is Brad Pitt. We're like the normal people versions of them. Duh.

National Runners Month

2010-04-28T15:16:00.004-05:00

According to Dick's Sporting Goods, May is National Runners Month.

And even though I am currently wrapping up my Getting Healthy tenure, I think I want a new challenge.

I am challenging myself to run, EVERY DAY, through the month of May (well, through May 28. Because I'm going out of town for my anniversary, and I'm NOT going to kid myself.)
Is this too ambitious? Maybe.
But I suck at everything. I need to not suck at something.
I'm not forcing myself to run a particular distance, but just to run/jog every day. It can literally be around the block.

If, by May 15th, I am still working on this, and haven't decided to suck at this too, then I will register for one of these 5K races.

This is part of my May-ke (you see what I did there? May + MAKE! God, I'm hilarious) My Life Better initiative. Spectacular!

I used to be a runner, and I used to have fantastic legs. But now, it's a struggle to motivate myself to walk to my mom's. I'm over this. I want to be a runner again.

Dear Universe...

2010-04-26T21:05:00.003-05:00

Dear Universe,
Every day I get an email from you telling me all sorts of inspirational things, and I read an appreciate every single one of those emails. Not going to lie, they really get me excited about living life, and doing my best, and being awesome.

But today, I went for it. I agonized and finally took a risk, and here's hoping it pays off. But, Universe, if you could help me, just a little, I would really appreciate it. I mean, c'mon, I feel like this is a long time coming.

I know I said I wouldn't start changing my life until after May 1st, but this is something that couldn't wait. So please, Universe, do me a solid?

I'll owe you one. And don't worry, I make good on my debts.
Thanks a ton!
AJM

Friday is for easy blog posts

2010-04-23T10:30:00.003-05:00

Five Reasons I Like Mike...a lot.

5) He likes me back.

4) He's good at bags and video games and basketball.

3) He does a great Christopher Walken impression. Even though I tell him he doesn't.

2) He makes me dinners consisting of turkey sandwiches, with cut up pickles and tortilla chips on the side. We call this "The Bachelor Pad Surprise"

1) He talks me down when I am being completely irrational and all I can say is "I HATE IT" and the ever-popular "DO NOT WANT"

Happy...Tuesday

2010-04-20T04:20:00.000-05:00

I'm totally behind on writing blog posts, and for that I apologize. I swear I'll be back and running soon, and there will be posts with actual content. After seeing how well received my Dan Savage: Privacy post was - I'm planning on writing about more thought provoking topics. I have a running list of things I'm hoping to write about, and get your opinion on. Not to mention a slew of home improvement projects, gardening and DIY. After May 1st - this bitch is getting a makeover.

But for today...This is all I have.

I. Love. Glee

2010-04-13T21:37:00.003-05:00

Image via

Beautiful

2010-04-09T15:35:00.001-05:00

Yes, please.

Dan Savage: Privacy

2010-04-08T11:52:00.005-05:00

I've been Dan Savage's column Savage Love for a while, and I adore it. But today, he posted a response to a previous column about privacy:

Regarding last week's reply to NORTH: Sure, it's fucked-up that this woman is doing escort work without telling her boyfriend. But he snooped through her e-mail! What you have here are two people who are both untrustworthy—they sound like a good fit to me! Because if snooping is okay, who knows what else he's doing behind her back?
JB

I knew that not including a little standard-issue snooping-is-always-wrong boilerplate in my response to NORTH—a woman who neglected to inform her boyfriend that she was sitting on other men's cocks for money—would get me in trouble with some readers. But I didn't include it because I don't believe it.

A confession: I've looked through my boyfriend's e-mail; I assume he's looked through mine. I've scrolled through his text messages; I assume he's scrolled through mine. Expecting your partner not to snoop is like expecting your partner not to fart or fantasize about other people. It's a nice thought, JB, but knowing what we know about human nature—and knowing that we ourselves snoop, fart, and fantasize about other people—it's a little unrealistic.

And I'm sorry, but when someone goes snooping and discovers that their partner is doing sex work—or is secretly gay or is sleeping with or visiting lesbian-bondage-themed nightclubs with Michael Steele—then the snooping is retroactively justified.

Then I started reading the comments, and it seems like a LOT of people are up in arms about the fact that Dan is OK with light snooping through your partner's emails/texts/phone logs.
I'm actually really surprised by this... I mean, Mike and I have each other's passwords for everything. We consistently forget to log out of facebook/twitter/emails on our shared computer...because to us, it is no big deal. Am I alone in this?

When we got married, we understood that we would be sharing everything...money, our bed, passwords, responsibilities...you get it. I guess I understand that some people like to feel like a piece of their life is private and personal and entirely theirs, but I just don't have that desire, and neither does he. I can agree that early in relationships it would be wholly in appropriate to look through the texts/emails/facebook/call log - but as I'm married, and been with Mike (in some capacity) since we were 18, I don't see the big deal.

Shouldn't you have no secrets from your partner, or am I living in an elaborate fantasty world? Mike knows more about me than anyone. He knows my dirty little secrets and I know his...isn't that the point? Don't you want to share everything with the person that you're with?

Some of the commenters have said that if they caught their partner snooping they would kick them to the curb. But that makes me think that the people who are adamant about their privacy may have something to hide. Something that needs to be kept private. I feel that you shouldn't really be concerned about privacy if you have nothing to hide.

I think Dan Savage has it almost right when he says:

Expecting your partner not to snoop is like expecting your partner not to fart or fantasize about other people.

Except, I don't even consider it snooping. Rarely do I look at Mike's emails/facebook/text messages (mainly because it's boring), but when I do, I'm not looking for anything, or suspicious of anything. If I have to give a reason: Idle curiosity, or checking to make sure he's communicating with his family, or staying in touch with long distance friends.

I feel like snooping (if I were to argue semantics) is LOOKING for something to be wrong, or when something is wrong, looking for a reason. To be clear, though, I don't think that snooping (or being idly curious) is ever a substitute for proper communication. If you feel something is amiss, it should be discussed with your partner. I feel like snooping is nosing into places that you don't have access.

Maybe that's the difference - Mike and I have granted each other that access. We have made it clear that there's nothing interesting on our phones/in our email/on facebook, so sure! go ahead and look around...but you're likely just going to find video game strategy (him) or friend and celebrity gossip (me).

What do you think? Am I an idealist? A rarity? Or do you AGREE with me? I wanted to comment on his site, but it was already overrun with comments (that both disagree and agree with my point of view) and I wanted to find out what people closer to home thought.

Pottery, Pandora, Parties

2010-04-07T14:45:00.008-05:00

I haven't written a quality post in a LONG time.
A few things

I am wearing green striped tights that make me look like the Wicked Witch of the West
I've been trying to use a gradual self tanner lotion on my legs and I realized I really like the way self-tanner smells.
I really want a dark denim mini skirt. But not too mini...just mini for me.
I'm accumulating things for my garden! I'll write about that soon. I'm really excited!
I've been planning my Kentucky Derby Party lately...anyone seen any cool blog posts about past Derby parties? I could use some more ideas.
I ALSO need a summery dress and HAT for my derby party. Where can I get something wonderful - for cheap!?
We're having grilled cheese for dinner. With Gruyere, and turkey and tomato.
DID anyone see American Idol last night? McCartney and Lennon songs? SIGN ME UP. I've now created a Pandora station because I forgot how much I luuuuuuuurve the Beatles.

Sooooo...Saturday Mike and I painted pottery at Color Me Mine with Rachelle and her man-friend Jay

Two of me and Mike's favorite people
Me and Mike.

Before we left we played around with Rachelle's new Canon Rebel.
And by "played around with" I mean I sat there, while Rachelle and Jay staged these.
This made me happy.

I made a frog scrubbie holder. My grandma always had one at her house, and when I saw that I could paint one I fell in love with the goofy son-of-a-bitch.
The colors are much brighter and lighter than it will be once it is glazed and fired. We get to pick it up on Saturday. I'm really excited to see how it turned out.

Mike made a tankard/flagon for his ale. He found a stamp of Santa Claus and covered everything except the hat in paint so it would look like a lumberjack type man.
THAT was when he was struck with inspiration for his brewery. He named the bearded man Dale.

And Beer Dale's Beard Ale #3 was created.

Seriously, don't steal it. I feel pretty confident that I'll end up divorced if someone steals it. Mike thinks the universe steals his ideas. Also, I feel pretty confident that in our old age, Mike and I will find ourselves shut-ins, wearing the latest in tin foil helmets. You know, to keep the government out.

My heart

Getting Healthy: Week 3

2010-04-02T22:53:00.002-05:00

Better late than never: my third Getting Healthy post is up.

Buckle your seatbelts! In this edition I talk about how lazy I am! SHOCKING!!!!!!

For good measure: here's a picture of Mike during his June 2006 art installation class. He treated his as more of a performance art. It was amazing, and I wish I had more pictures. Maybe someday he'll blog about it.

Another Harry Potter post...

2010-04-01T09:54:00.006-05:00

This morning, when referencing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I had a friend say "isnt it just a ride at universal studios in orlando?"

BLASPHEMY!

I was quick to tell him otherwise. However, I am unsure HOW to actually describe it. It doesn't seem to be its own self-contained theme park...it's IN Universal Studios.
It is at least a large attraction, or section of the park...right?

(Image via screenshot)

It has three rides:

Flight of the Hippogriff
Dragon Challenge
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey...which does sound a little dirty to me

six shops:

Zonkos
Owl Post
Ollivanders
Honeydukes
Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods
Dervish and Banges

and one restaurant

Three Broomsticks

And! I think I've decided what I want my SUPER BADASS HARRY POTTER TATTOO to be:

(Image via)

If not the entire thing, then just the text at the bottom

(Image via - edited by me)

Which apparently translates into "Never Tickle A Sleeping Dragon" The Hogwarts motto.

Love.

Harry Potter has my heart...

2010-03-31T08:44:00.002-05:00

Anyone want to go to the Harry Potter theme park with me?

At first I was all "I'll go someday" but the MORE I READ and the more PICTURES I saw (Oh, mercy! The pictures!), the more I realized that I HAVE TO GO. IT IS MY DESTINY.

(Images via)

So...anyone?

Getting Healthy: week 2

2010-03-26T12:08:00.003-05:00

My 2nd Getting Healthy post is up.

Stop on by and judge me for being lazy.

Wants and Needs

2010-03-26T08:00:00.003-05:00

Wants

Via Anthropologie

Needs

All image sources are lost and forgotten - leave a comment if you know and I will give credit

Have a most excellent weekend, dudes

I am proud

2010-03-23T19:49:00.007-05:00

Since Tuesday's post was all over the place and it described on my terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, I figured I could probably lighten things up a bit:

I am proud of the fact that we bought a house without any help, financial or otherwise, from our parents
I am proud of the fact that we both are paying for (and will continue to pay, for a long time) our own school loans.
I am proud of the fact that I work 40hrs a week, commute 15 hours a week and still manage to keep my household in running order.
I am proud of the fact that I am learning to cook. Maybe not well, but I'm trying.
I am proud of my relationship with Mike; our communication, affection and desire to do well for each other.
I am proud of our financial state right now. Sure, there's room for improvement, but we're not doing so bad.
I am proud of the fact that I was selected for Getting Healthy - I just need to hold up my end of the bargain.
I am proud that I made it to hot yoga last Saturday.
I am proud of the fact that we have a lovely little dog, as strange and scared as she may be.

There, that feels better.
I hope your Thursday is peaceful and soothing.

OMG SUCK.

2010-03-23T15:14:00.004-05:00

Today I created a 1.22mi route on walkjogrun.net and then I joined Daily Mile because I am learning that I am TERRIBLE at being accountable and awesome.

I can't resist the Siren Song of the Reese's Peanut Butter Egg.
And then - I went to start writing my Getting Healthy post, and I lost the draft. So I'm a little irritated.

Besides that! I am wearing pink tights today! And a leopard print shirt. I'm feeling crazy. A lot of things have me feeling crazy this week. So, I'm totally over it. I was going to post a picture of my hot pink tights, but unfortunately I forgot the username for my US Cellular online photo album, so there will be none of that.

Mike and i figured out today that within our nice little neighborhood, we managed to buy a house in the backwoods cul-de-sac. Apparently our neighbors across the street spend ALL DAY sitting in their front yards drinking beers and shooting the shit. We're unsure whether any of them have jobs, or how they afford to keep the house.
Not to mention one of the neighbors has a 3 inch (OR MORE!) handlebar moustache. It looks almost exactly like this:

(Image from here)

My day is (thankfully) almost over.
I need to start planning my Kentucky Derby Party. Mike bought me a stamp to start making my invitations.

Getting Healthy: Week 1

2010-03-19T11:39:00.001-05:00

My first Getting Healthy post is up!

Stop by and leave me a comment.

Bonus: I'm in my underwear.

Shelter Dogs

2010-03-18T16:08:00.001-05:00

Always adopt from shelters

St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-17T11:46:00.006-05:00

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Cross your fingers for Mike and I - today is Lottery Day! I've got corned beef in the crockpot, a lotto ticket on the fridge, and positive thoughts aplenty.

Snapshots of my life.

2010-03-16T09:56:00.004-05:00

Last night Mike and I were out on the deck, having a cigarette and reveling in the fact that we could be outside without shoes and jackets.

Me: Look! Orion's belt.
Mike: And right below that is Orion's dick.
Me: ...you're an idiot
Mike: (laughing hysterically) You should blog about this!

And blog I did

(image from here)

Weekends

2010-03-14T18:10:00.004-05:00

I've been totally unplugged (save for 10 minutes of Facebooking yesterday) since Thursday night. It. Was. Awesome.

Friday I had a day off, and went to the Dr., shopped at Kohls, and then spent the rest of the day watching Desperate Housewives and eating bonbons. OK, the bonbon part is a lie - but it was effing sweet nonetheless.

Saturday - had dinner at my mom/dad's house because my sister was home from school. Relatively uneventful.

Sunday - watched some Lost - cleaned the house. Made Potato-Leek Pizza. Which I will post about sooner or later.

On Sunday, though, Mike and I went outside and saw that my Crocuses has bloomed! Unfortunately we took the picture too late in the day and they had closed back up. But! In addition to that excitement - Mike gave me my first Photoshop lesson, and walked me through taking a picture of my crocuses, adding text and editing/cropping/flipping to give you the result below:
I feel so knowledgeable and worldly.

On another front- I'm a total Getting Healthy failure. I was all "OH YEAH, I'm going to start working out on Saturday! I'm going to go to Hot Yoga and sweat it out and detox and start off with a bang!"

Guess who didn't? This gal.

This is going to be a lot harder than I thought...

Nonsense

2010-03-10T13:55:00.005-06:00

Today is a stressful day. Nothing in particular - I just want to punch this day in the mouth

FALCON PUNNNNNCH

I need to relax though, because (like I've said before) Mike and I are winning the lottery next week. Actually, 1 week from today, I will have our corned beef and cabbage in the crockpot and we will hunker down in our living room to hear our winning numbers being read. We're only going to win $1,000,000 - but that's $1,000,000 that we didn't have before. We'll pay off our debts and go on a cruise.
So...that's that.

I was planning to write an elaborate post about internet haters - but like most things in life, I've lost the motivation.
Speaking of motivation...
I'm starting to panic because next Friday (the 19th) is my 1st Getting Healthy post, and I haven't yet gotten healthy. I'm debating starting off with a bang by going to Hot Yoga on Saturday - but I fear I might die. I've been reassured that even if I don't regularly practice yoga I'll be fine, I just need to take it easy.

I think we're going to cancel our gym membership - I mean if I've only used it ONCE since October, then what makes me think I'm going to use it now that the weather is warm?
Lesson learned: going to the gym isn't a practical way for me to integrate fitness into my life.

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.
Ralph Waldo Emerson