Christmas 2011 Highlights

*Enjoying all the Christmas decorations at my parents house. My favorite:



*Watching Regan's face as she opened each gift.
*Christmas Eve hors d'oeuvres. We introduced three new ones this year - orange ginger chicken wings, buffalo chicken dip, and stuffed mushrooms.
*Seeing my dad peek his head in the room on Christmas morning. (He had to go work the night of the 23rd and was gone all of Christmas Eve)
*Watching the Holiday with my mom while both of us did some laptopping. (She got one for Christmas)
*Staying up with my sister watching TV after everyone else went to bed - a "sisters" tradition we've done for years.
*Visiting my grandma. She doesn't say much but she still manages to make a funny comment every now and then. One of my favorites is from Christmas time many years ago and we were talking about Christmas specials that are on TV and she said, "Yeah, but some of them aren't so special." This time, after telling my grandma her face looked better than a week ago (she had a procedure done) she said, "My beauty has returned, huh?" and my dad, still sucking up to his mother-in-law after 37 years replied with, "You've never lost your beauty, Mary." :)
*Visiting with our family friends/neighbors.
*Reading Regan's new books to her.
*Making Rachel laugh, despite her having a bad cold, with her mini lion pillow pet.

Another great Christmas for the books - I came home with wonderful gifts, delicious leftovers, and tasty goodies. And although those things are great and appreciated, it would all be meaningless without a wonderful family to share in it all with.

My First Climb

Saturday I finally used up my birthday present Jake gave me, and we headed to Climb Iowa for an afternoon of rock climbing. It was on my "firsts" list, and was thrilled to be checking it off. I got nervous as we pulled in the parking lot and saw some guys walking in with their own equipment - "woah, they are legit" was my exact thought. I got a little more nervous after getting into our harnesses and listening to the employee's explanation of instructions. Halfway through her talk, I'll admit that I was thinking such thoughts as, "why did I say I wanted to do this?! I don't want to do this anymore!" But, after seeing a 6 year old girl do it, my fears subsided some. "I mean, if she can do it, I can do it", I thought. After the explanation, we were left on our own to climb freely.

We had several "paths" to choose from, with varying levels. We mostly stuck to the easy ones, since we were both beginners. On my first try, I got about halfway up the wall. Then we moved over to a different path that was a little easier and I made it all the way to the top! I was so excited. I looked down towards the ground at Jake with what I'm sure was a goofy grin on my face and exclaimed, "I did it!" They also had a couple of boulder walls (shorter walls with no belays, just mats surrounding the wall) and we climbed around on those for a while too.

My first rock climbing experience was definitely a positive one. I did a lot better than I thought I was going to do. Having little upper body strength, I figured I wouldn't make it very far, but I made it up to the top twice on two different paths. I wasn't really scared at all, looking down from the top, nor was I nervous about allowing the auto belay to bring me back down safely. My arms were definitely feeling the workout by the end of it and I'm still sore, especially my forearms. But, it was totally worth it. And everyone was really nice. A couple different guys gave us some tips along the way.

As I've said many times, I love trying new things and this was a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon. It was something different, active, and very fun. Sadly, no pictures were taken - we both forgot our cameras. Oh well, I can use it as an excuse to go back again sometime.

For a Laugh

I came across this video today, based on the Twitter feed, "Shit Girls Say".

Enjoy!

That's One Small Step For Mankind, One Giant Leap For Me

"Back to school, back to school, to prove to Dad that I'm not a fool. I got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight."

After many tears, frustration, self-reflection, research, conversations, and a LOT of thinking, I finally made the decision to enroll in the Human Resource Management program at DMACC. I applied last week, got my "acceptance" email Tuesday, and attended orientation/registration on Wednesday. I'm excited to take this next step in continuing my education and to start what I hope is a stepping stone to a successful career path.

"Ohhh, back to school, back to school, back to school. Well, here goes nothin' "

DIY Friday

In sticking with my Goals post, I tried out my first crafty project Friday evening, thanks to an idea I found via Pinterest - penguin light bulbs! I thought they would make cute ornaments so I bought gold string to attach to the light bulbs (which still has to be done).



It was a good starting point to try and bring out the crafty side in me. The thing I learned from this project - don't rush it. I was too impatient and didn't let the paint try well enough on a couple of them, leaving some rough spots, but overall I was happy with how they turned out.

Cha Cha Cha Chia

As I was getting ready for work this morning, I heard a commercial come on, "...in honor of the 44th President Barack Obama, the Chia Pet company presents this Special Edition Chia Obama" I quickly went over to the TV and saw this:



I found this hilarious...not only because it's an Obama Chia Pet, but because it reminds me of my brother-in-law. Within the first year or so of him and my sister dating, he got her a Chia Pet for Christmas. (along with 2 mens-size large flannel shirts.) It seems the perfect opportunity to give him the "gift that grows" back, as he is an Obama supporter. I texted my sister immediately to tell her the good news :)

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

Saturday evening we did some more shopping, only this time it was all about my sister. Katie rarely gets the chance to shop for herself, so we took the opportunity when we got the chance that night.

Another thing about my sister is that she is pretty conservative when it comes to her clothes - she doesn't ever get too trendy and always leans toward the "safe" side. Saturday night I told her she was going to step out of her comfort zone and at least try some pieces she would steer clear of otherwise.

I tried to pick out some items I know she would never pick out for herself, knowing she would think, "I can't pull this off" or "this wouldn't look good on me", but not go so far out, that she would be too uncomfortable. She was a team player and tried on leggings w/ sweater dresses, skinny jeans (her "biggest fear"), and lots of tops w/ both color and patterns. I was proud of her for trying new things and happy that we made that trip all about her. She walked away with a great new pair of jeans ($28), and 4 shirts (for a total of about $75), 3 of which were completely different from anything she would've picked out/gotten for herself, and all of which she looked great in.

Black Friday

I've never ventured out on Black Friday to snag some good deals - until this year. Friday my mom and I went down to Davenport for the day to try and get some Christmas shopping done and we had a lot of success. It wasn't the traditional study the ads the night before, get there at 5 A.M., and go to all the "hot spots" - our only stop was the mall, and we didn't get there until about 10. But, it worked for us and our goal, which was to pick out a few things for me for Christmas.

We made up a loose game plan in the car on the way down - hit up Younkers first to see if a couple of door buster items were still available, then Express to take advantage of the 40% off before noon deal, and then any other stores that caught our eye, ending with Von Maur.

No luck at Younkers, but we hit the jackpot at Express. I tried a lot of things on and left the dressing room with several "keep" items. We had about a 45 minute wait to check out, but we passed the time by figuring how to get the best bang for our buck with the coupons I had and figuring out how much we were saving (over $250). After a few more stores and a lunch break, we ended the day at Von Maur, where I had more success (every item was off the sale rack, with the exception of a pair of boots) and managed to spend the rest of the balance on my gift card.

Although my first Black Friday experience almost felt a little selfish, since the majority of the day was spent looking at stuff for me, it was successful and a lot of fun. (For the record, I did ask my mom if she wanted to go into a few stores, and I did get one thing for Rachel) My mom was/is an awesome shopping partner - we may not always have the same taste, but she is always helpful, patient, and seems to have fun, even if she's not looking for herself.

Weekend Fun

Friday night Jake and I went to Wicked at the Civic Center, and although it was my 3rd time seeing the play, I enjoyed it just as much as the first. Our seats were the closest I've ever had, so it was fun to see the costumes and set in detail and Elphaba knocked "Defying Gravity" out of the park (the highlight of the play for me).

Before the show, we dined at Sbrocco, a place I've been wanting to try out for a while. We decided to pick 3 items off the social plates menu, and although I wasn't absolutely blown away, it was definitely enjoyable. We ended the night with a few martinis at the Lift and had fun making some "top ten" lists of places we want to travel to, both in the U.S. and internationally. (possibly a future blog topic).

Saturday I went to my friend Mike's wedding. I was so happy to be there and couldn't help but shed a few tears at the ceremony as I witnessed this great couple, who have been together for 17 years, come together in marriage. The reception was also a great time. It was nice to spend some time with my co-workers outside of the office.

Today I've had a laid back, but productive day - laundry, target run, grocery shopping, cooking (and by cooking I mean throw some ingredients into the crockpot), reading, and knitting were all on my to-do list and all have been checked off!

Excited for a short week at work and looking forward to a nice Thanksgiving weekend with my family.

Fil-A to the Rescue

Tonight KC and I were planning on meeting at Cheesecake Factory for dinner. I arrived before she did, so I sat down at a table in the bar area. I waited for about 10 minutes and once KC got there, we waited for about another 5 and still no one had come by to take our orders or even to say that they would be right with us. We were pretty disappointed so we decided to just leave and go elsewhere.

We decided cheap was the way to go, so we just ended up at the food court. I got in line at Chick-Fil-A and per usual, received prompt and polite service. Soon after KC and I met back up and sat down to eat, a Chick-Fil-A employee came by and asked if there was anything else he could get for me. Not only that, but he asked KC if he could get her anything, even though she had gotten Wendys. Wow!

I normally don't ever email comments to restaurants, but I decided to write to both restaurants tonight. One to Cheesecake, informing them of the lack of service we received. I also told them they should be embarrassed to know that a fast food restaurant provided me better customer service than they did. And one to Chick-Fil-A, giving them high remarks for the service I received tonight.

Valued Customer

Last Wednesday, Jake and I went to Pablos for lunch. As we were about to get in line to order, I remembered I didn't have any cash and needed to stop at the ATM (because they only take cash). So, we walked back to where my bank is and then back to the restaurant.

As I placed my order, the owner said, "Did you just go get cash?" and I said yes, and he replied with, "I saw you guys stop and then walk away. You didn't have to leave and go do that. You could've just evened up with me the next time."

Now, it probably helped that I was with one of his most valued customers, but I was still very impressed. Definitely makes me want to keep going back to give him my business, knowing he appreciates mine.

Quotables

After seeing Roman Holiday for the first time back in the winter, I immediately admired Audrey Hepburn and her style (and sidenote - fell in love with Carey Grant), so I was intrigued when I saw this headline. After reading that article, I came across some of her quotes and decided it would be fun to share a few that I felt spoke to me:

*If you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm; as you get older, remember you have another hand. The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others.

*I believe that happy girls are the prettiest...I believe that tomorrow is another day....I believe in being strong when everything seems to go wrong.

*I decided, very early on, just to accept life unconditionally...

*People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

*Your heart just breaks, that's all. But you can't judge or point fingers. You just have to be lucky enough to find someone who appreciates you.

*I was asked to act when I couldn't act. I was asked to sing "Funny Face" when I couldn't sing, and dance with Fred Astaire when I couldn't dance - and do all kinds of things I wasn't prepared for. Then I tried like mad to cope with it.

*The best thing to hold to hold onto in life is each other.

Goals

I've been thinking a lot in the past couple of months of some goals I'd like to set for myself. I thought about waiting until the new year and start fresh in 2012, but after giving it some more thought, why wait when I can start some of these now?

The list I've made so far might be a little ambitious, but still attainable. And the hope is that posting this will hold me a little more accountable.

Here are a few goals I've set for myself to start working on now, and continuing through 2012:

1. Advance my career. I'm very lucky to have a job that pays my bills and know that that in itself is a blessing. And, without trying to sound egotistical, I am very good at what I do. But I know I need to step out of my comfort zone and take on a new challenge.

2. Read 1 book a month. I've fallen off the reading wagon since my laptop purchase. I think I've only gotten through 2 or 3 books since then. Yikes. It'll be good to focus my eyes on something other than a glowing screen all evening, every evening, and it's a very doable goal. Any good reading suggestions are welcomed, as I sometimes choose the wrong book (*cough* The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter *cough*)

3. Try out some DIY projects. I've never really been a crafty person per se, but I think it would be fun to try out a few different projects and see what I can do. I'm not the most artistic person in the world, but that shouldn't stop me from trying. Maybe one or two will actually turn out....stranger things have happened! And with the assist of Pinterest, I shouldn't have any trouble coming up with some ideas.

4. Learn to sew. This kind of relates to #3, but I consider it to be a bit of an undertaking. My interest in sewing was pretty non-existent up until a year or two ago. But I've definitely warmed up to the idea of wandering through the fabric store and online to see what cool material and patterns I can find. This will shock my mom, as it was one of my least favorite errands to go on with her growing up. I loathed the fabric store!! I know I'll need to start small - like maybe some pillow cases or something, but I know with the teacher I have, (yep, Mom, that's you!) I'll definitely learn a thing or two. I'm hoping for a lesson or two when I'm home for the holidays.

5. Up my fitness routines. After quitting the Y several months ago, my main source of exercise has been running. And running is great, don't get me wrong, but I think it's important to incorporate other forms of exercise into my fitness regime, especially on the days I don't run. I've been saying for about two years now that I should start lifting, so, this is how I plan to start "upping" my fitness. I haven't decided if I'll join back up with the Y or utilize the gym at work, but it'll be nice to work and tone muscles that don't really get worked while running. I'd also like to try out the Nike Training Club. Since I don't have an iPhone or iTouch, I won't be able to use the actual app, but You Tube has a bunch of different "Get Fit" videos I can rely on. I've heard great reviews and it's free!

I think these 5 are some good starting points. Here's to successful months ahead.

Pinterest

I finally hopped on the Pinterest (not Pin Interest, as I mistakenly say sometimes) train and I gotta say, I'm kinda hooked. I've spent several hours looking at all the different "pins" and "boards" and am slowly creating a few boards of my own. I like the idea of sharing all kinds of creativity in the areas of food, fashion, DIY projects, and home decor.

I've been wanting to try my hand at some "crafty" projects, and Pinterest seems to be a great platform for getting some ideas going, like these bracelets, for example.




It's also great for generating ideas on different hair/makeup/clothing "looks", so many delicious-sounding recipes, as well as ideas on different fitness regimes.

My initial thoughts are positive and I plan on continuing to give Pinterest some of my time.

5 Reasons Why 11/1/11 Is Good

1. Drank out of the red Starbucks cup today
2. Got my "Indivisible" Starbucks bracelet (thanks Jake!)
3. Spent my lunch hour at St Ambrose for All Saints Day, followed by a quick lunch at Pablos
4. Went for a short run but wasn't ready to come back inside quite yet, so I walked around my neighborhood while listening to a podcast
5. The weather - 73 degrees and sunny!

31 Days To Be Thankful - Wrap Up

My attempt to write a thankful post everyday in the month of October was a success and I had a lot of fun doing it. I think it's healthy to take the time to see all the good that is out there, even if it is something as small or common as a voicemail or having a productive day. If it makes you feel good, then that's all that matters.

Surprisingly, some days were a bit more challenging than they probably should have been, but it was good for me to exercise the "positive" side. For some, positive thinking is like second nature and takes nearly zero effort. For me, it can require a little muscle work. And although some days seemed to take a little more effort, it never seemed like a chore. I never dreaded sitting down with my computer to write the post. In fact, it was quite the opposite - I looked forward to it.

I noticed that as time went on, the more positive I became in my overall daily thinking. (minus "debbie downer") I hope to continue making it a habit to take time out of each day to be thankful and think of the good things in life.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 31

Oct 31st: Friends

I started this project off with family, and am ending it with my friends. It seems fitting, as family and friends are easily the things I have been blessed with the most in my life.

My friends, each and every one of them, has a special place in my heart and I appreciate the happiness they bring to my life. Descriptive words such as supportive, thoughtful, trustworthy and reliable come to mind when I think of them. Without these people, my life would be empty. I have a friend who I've known my entire life, friends from high school and college, and friends here in Des Moines. Regardless of where I met them or how long I've known them, each person has played a significant part in my life - each has attributed to my growth as a person and each has helped me see this world differently. It is truly a blessing to have people in my life that I can count on to help me get through the tough times and help me to celebrate the good. It is truly a blessing to have the security of knowing I can rely on so many people whenever I need them, with whatever the need may be. And it is truly a blessing that there are people in my life who accept me for who I am. I truly believe that each one of my friends is in my life for a reason and today I take the time to say thank you. Thank you for making my life colorful, adventurous, and fun. Thank you for your support, your kind words and gestures, and your love. Thank you for being you and for being that "you" in my life.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 30

Oct 30th: A Productive Morning

I appreciate those days when you feel such a sense of accomplishment for getting "x" amount of things checked off your "to do" list. This morning, I went to church, did my grocery shopping, put gas in my car, and washed my car all before 10 AM. I also got caught up on my laptopping items, including blogging. Now I have the rest of the day to do a few more chores and hopefully spend some time with my book.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 29

Oct 29th: A Lazy Saturday

I would much rather be busy than have nothing to do, however, every once in a while, it feels great to have a lazy day. My lazy day occurred on Saturday. After getting out of bed that morning, I came downstairs, only to lay on the couch and watch TV for a couple of hours. Then I heated up leftovers for lunch, went for a short run, then over to Jake's to watch the Iowa game. Dinner out and more football wrapped up my relaxing day.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 28

Oct 28th: Comedic Relief

There's nothing like Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake to keep you smiling...

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 27

Oct 27th: A Sweet Message

I listened to a message from Regan the other day, telling me "thank you" for the Halloween treat I gave her. It melts my heart to hear her little voice.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 26

Oct 26th: A Compliment

It's such a great feeling to be complimented for something and can brighten one's day. Yesterday I was lucky enough to get several for the outfit I was wearing. (I think it was mainly the belt) I paired the red belt, which looks like a tie, with black pants and a white button up. What makes it even better is that this tie-like belt came with a denim mini I bought back in high school. I'm glad I decided to keep the belt and can bring it back after all these years. Vintage!

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 25

Oct 25th: A Bail Out of Sorts

I went to the post office over my lunch break today to mail a few things. Thankfully, Derrick went with. Why thankfully? Well, we got about halfway there when I realized I forgot my debit card. Huge "duh" on my part. Without even flinching, Derrick said, "Don't worry about it, I've got money." So thanks to him, we didn't have to turn around and walk all the way back to my building, get my money, and walk all the way to the post office. What a good friend! And just in case you're wondering, he will be paid in full tomorrow :)

10 American Companies That Give Back the Most

I ran across an interesting article today that referenced Forbes' list of the top 10 American companies who give the most to charities. Here's a quick rundown of the list, feel free to click the link to read more details.

1. Kroger Company
2. Macy's
3. Safeway
4. Dow Chemical Company
5. Bank of America
6. Morgan Stanley
7. General Mills
8. Xerox Corporation
9. Target Corporation
10. Whole Foods Market

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 24

Oct 24th: Surprises

I love surprises. I love surprising others and I love getting surprised myself. Today I walked into work and was welcomed by a wonderful gift on my desk. It was fabulous to start my day off on such a positive and thoughtful note from a co-worker.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 23

Oct 23rd: A Walk

I love taking walks, especially in the evening hours, after dinner. Yesterday, although I was not feeling well, I knew I had to get out at some point and enjoy the beautiful day. I was going stir crazy being cooped up in the house, so I went for a very short walk. Although it didn't last long, it still felt great to get a little fresh air, sun exposure, and very light exercise.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 22

Oct 22nd: A Good Book

It's hard to beat spending a few hours with a good book and no distractions - just you, in peace and quiet, with a book in hand.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 21

Oct 21st: Happy Hour

Happy hour is a great way to kickoff the weekend - unwind from the week with a cold beverage, while being surrounded by friends. Friday KC and I met up after work for a drink, had some good laughs, and walked around the mall for a bit.

Bonus - I've been on the hunt for some new hoodies and found one at Scheels for a very decent price!

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 20

Oct 20th: Music

Music can be such a powerful thing. It can inspire and evoke emotion. It can enhance your feelings and completely change your mood.

I thought about this on Thursday evening while at the Mews to see some local bands, including Cashes Rivers. I've been to a handful of Cashes Rivers shows, but no matter how often I see them play, their music never fails to spark some emotions out of me.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 19

Oct 19th: A Reason to Celebrate

I'll make up any reason to go out for an evening with friends. It just so happens tonight, we had a special reason - to celebrate the engagement of Les and Greg! It's hard to beat being surrounded by some of my favorite people with a plateful of Mexican food in front of me, and a good margarita in my hand.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 18

Oct 18th: Heat

Monday Les and I finally broke down and turned the heat on and set the temp at a blistering 68 degrees...afterall, it isn't cheap to heat a home. But, I am lucky to have the option of turning the heat on, and up the temp when I see fit, for that matter. As the temps outside continue to fall and we slowly ease our way into the winter months, I know I should count my blessings that I not only have a home, but a warm home to come home to.

Debbie Downer

In the elevator this morning:

Guy: Man, it didn't take long for it to get cold

Me: Yeah, it's only going to get worse

As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I immediately regretted it. "Yeah, it's only going to get worse?? Easy Negative Nancy" I think was my exact thought. As he got off on floor 3 and I continued my ride up to 5, I was thinking about what the better response would've been. If I could go back and redo that conversation it would go something like this:

Guy: Man, it didn't take long for it to get cold

Me: I know, but it is going to get back up into the 60's this weekend!

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 17

Oct 17th: Volleyball

The Horrific Killer Pandas are back in action and I'm happy to report we started off our fall indoor season with a win! I'll admit, this morning when I remembered we had a game, I wasn't super excited about playing, but it felt great to get back out on the court. I really enjoy playing and thankful to have a fun team to play with.

Everyday I'm Shuffling

I saw this video a couple weeks ago and have been meaning to post it - Ohio University's marching band doing LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem"

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 16

Oct 16th: Good News

Sometimes I feel like you shouldn't be able to watch the news unless you have a prescription for Prozac, because it is usually filled with disheartening stories of war, scandal, and crime. It is so refreshing and uplifting to hear good news, especially when it hits so close to home. Today is a day to give thanks for the good news in life!

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 15

Oct 15th: Tailgating!

Jake and I went to Iowa City to tailgate yesterday and had a lot of fun. We were lucky enough to join Stacy and Jared and their family at their tailgate spot. It had been a couple of years since I'd been to Iowa City on a home football game day, so it was fun to be in the heart of it all. On our hunt for some tickets, I randomly ran into a few friends and was able to meet up with my aunt, which made the day even more fun. Good weather, good food, cold beverages, and being amongst good friends - it doesn't get any better than that.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 14

Oct 14th: Weekends

I LOVE weekends. 2 days of freedom from the office, usually filled with fun activities, a chance to catch up on some odds and ends around the house, and some relaxation. When 3:30 rolls around on Friday afternoon, I breathe a sigh of relief - ahh, the weekend is here.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 13

Oct 13th: My Faith

I've grown up looking to my faith as a source of guidance, comfort, and hope. Good times and bad - my faith serves as my stronghold. I'm always reminded of what my religion teacher told me once - God does not give you anything you cannot handle. It's something I truly believe and always keep that in mind, especially during the harder times in life.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 12

Oct 12th: Leftovers

I love when "cooking" consists of pressing a few buttons on the microwave to heat up leftovers. Forget 30 minute meals, 2 minute meals are where it's at!

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 11

Oct 11th: Taking a Risk

I am not a big risk taker, so even the smallest ones I celebrate. Tonight I had S&J over for dinner and tried out a new recipe, Rachael Ray's Mexican Lasagna. I was a little nervous since I had never had it, nor made it but it turned out to be a success. Jared didn't ask for the mustard and even went back for seconds! I'm not a master photographer, especially with food, but here was the final product:

Running Away To Home

I came across this article in the Des Moines Register today, telling the story of how a family uprooted their life in Des Moines and traveled to Croatia to live for a year, in search of the mother's family history.

It's something I often fantasize about - being brave enough to leave everything behind, travel to a foreign place, and live for at least a year, maybe more. Where I would go often changes, but most places I dream of are in Europe. I actually just had a similar conversation with Jake about a week ago and I think my answer that day was to go to Ireland, where I'd start a B&B. I've also thought about Spain, Italy, and moving out of Europe, I've dreamt of South Africa or somewhere in South America. I love to travel and experience new things, so to travel abroad and be fully immersed in one's culture is a very appealing thought to me.

But, back to reality, and the article. I really enjoyed reading it and rather than try to summarize any further, I highly recommend clicking on the link and reading it. I loved the last paragraph of the article - "Ultimately we found what we already knew: That we only need each other, and a little bit to live on. Everything beyond that is extra, and you can probably live without it. We’ve tried to keep our lives pared down, not only because it’s sensible and less stressful, but because it’s better for the rest of the world, too, when we don’t just take, take, take.”

The mother, Jennifer Wilson, also wrote a book about it, "Running Away to Home: Our Family's Journey to Croatia in Search of Who We Are, Where We Came From, and What Really Matters." Long title, but I'm looking forward to reading it. I'm currently 3rd in line for it at the library, so it may be a couple months, but I'll post a book review once I finish reading it.

It's Back

After a 9 year hiatus, Pop Up Video is back on air and I'm pretty excited about it! I caught an episode last night and was reminded of how entertaining it can be.

I was going to embed a couple of the videos I saw but I couldn't get it to work right. So, here's the link instead, where you can view the new videos as well as some classics.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 10

Oct 10th: A Place To Call Home

I'm reminded nearly everyday as I walk into work that there are people out there who are homeless and spend their days on the streets and if they're lucky, spend their nights in a shelter.

I am very fortunate that I have a place I call home to retire to every night. A place where I will always find food, a place where I will always stay safe, and a place where there will always be a warm cozy bed at night for me to sleep in. It's an easy thing to take for granted, but today I am taking a time out to be grateful for my home.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 9

Oct 9th: Debt Free

Friday I submitted my last payment for my computer. Although I was not being charged interest, it still feels pretty great to have it paid in full.

New Jam

I've been in a bit of a musical rut and going through one of those times where I seem to skip over the majority of songs on my iPod. I came across this new Willow Smith song featuring one of my favorites, Nicki Minaj, while perusing the music blogosphere today. And I'm not embarrassed to say I'm a pretty big fan.

No video out for it yet, but you can listen to it here.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 8

Oct 8th: Changing of Seasons

I know I've already mentioned my thankfulness for the nice weather we've been having, but I have to mention how much I appreciate the changing of seasons. Living in Iowa grants me the gift to experience these changes. Jake and I went to Ledges State Park this past weekend and hiked a couple different trails. We were surrounded by hundreds of big trees, with their leaves in vibrant red and yellow hues, complimented by the warm sunshine. It was a beautiful sight.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 7

Oct 7th: A Good Deal

Thanks to a tip from J-Rod, I scored this great eye shadow palette from Urban Decay for $13 (normally $34)

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 6

Oct 6th: My Health

My health is yet another thing I know I take for granted. I wake up most mornings feeling good and am thankful that my health doesn't hold me back or place limits on what I can do.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 5

Oct 5th: Nice Weather

80 degrees in October! I'll take that any day. Windows down in the car, windows open at home, leaves changing color, sun shining, a nice evening walk with my roomie - it's hard to find things to complain about on a day like today.

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 4

Oct 4th: The Ability to Run

Running is where I get most of my exercise from. It's a way to stay in shape and escape my sometimes stressful world. At times, it's hard to get motivated to run, but I'm always happy once I'm done and feel good about getting the run in. And although I've felt some aches and pains in the past year and half, I am still able to run. I definitely take that ability for granted. For some people, running is simply not physically possible.

And - I can't have a "thankful" post about running and not mention my running partner. He not only makes running more fun, but pushes me past what I think my limits are and keeps me going when I'm ready to give up on a hard day. Thanks Jake!

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 3

October 3rd: Morning breaks

I love being able to step away from my desk for a few minutes and take a little walk, usually with Derrick. We spend this time getting a little exercise and talk about anything and everything. It's just a nice way to recharge and helps me get through the rest of my morning.

Starbucks to the Rescue

Starbucks jump starts hundreds of thousands of people each day with their beverages, but starting November 1st, they'll go on a mission to jump start the US economy as well.

Read their "Create Jobs for the USA" initiative here.

Pretty unique idea and loving the wristband!

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 2

Oct 2nd: Means of Communication

It's hard to imagine life without a text message, phone call, instant message, or email. Although every once in a while, it's nice to be disconnected from technology, sometimes there is nothing better than receiving a text message that reads of an old inside joke with an even older friend that you can't help but smile at.

October - 31 Days To Be Thankful

In looking back over the past 9 months, my blogging activity has been pretty low, averaging about one post a week. Now, I don't want to ever force a post, but I would like to up the ante on my blogging a little. So, I decided that my goal for this month is to blog at least once a day. I knew the likelihood of completing this goal would be contingent on coming up with some sort of topic or theme, or else I'd be setting myself up for failure - tortured by a white screen and blinking cursor daily. So, I decided on the theme of thankfulness. Sometimes it's easier to focus on what's missing or to complain about all that is wrong in your life, rather than think about all that you have been blessed with. In an effort to focus more on the positives (and blogging daily), I'll be posting a "What I'm Thankful For" entry each day this month.

Oct 1st: Family. It seems obvious and cliche, but I have been so blessed in this area of my life. I went home this past weekend to get our family pictures taken, and although I grumbled a little and was not thrilled to be having that taken, I am so thankful I have a family to take a picture with.

Growing up, I thought family was just a given and everything that I experienced was something everyone experienced. Everyone has dinner as a family every night. Everyone gets asked how their school day was and what homework they have. I didn't even think it was possible to not have anyone to come home to or not wanting to go home because of what one would come home to. It wasn't until I was much older, branching out of my Catholic School bubbled world, and having my eyes opened by hearing stories of others' experiences that I began to realize just how lucky I am.

My parents have always put my sister and I in front of themselves. They have always been there and I know will continue to be there till the very end. My sister has always taken an interest in me. She embraced her role as the big sister and always watched out for me when we were younger. And now that we are grown adults, she has become my ultimate confidant and one of my closest friends. 8 years ago we welcomed my brother-in-law into our family. On the lighter side, he entertains me with his jokes, his inappropriate commentary while we watch TV, and his notorious laugh. And on a more serious note, he is a true family man and makes taking care of his family his number one priority. And then of course the two little ones. My nieces have brought more joy to my life than I ever could've imagined. They have the ability to turn my mood 180 degrees, with something as simple as a smile.

Family is truly a blessing and I'm so thankful of the support system my family has provided me.

What's That?

Last week, 'Lil and I went to the "Body Worlds Vital" exhibit at the Science Center. I'd been wanting to go for sometime and was thrilled when I saw a Groupon for it (2 tix for the price of 1) so I snagged one and took 'Lil as my date.

I wasn't sure how into it she'd be, but upon entering the first room of the exhibit, she was already asking, "what's that?" and "what does this do?" and "oh my gosh, look at this!"

I am not an expert in Science and never took an Anatomy class, so what little knowledge I do know of the human body, her questions kept me on my toes. Sometimes I was able to answer, sometimes I'd have to respond with a, "well, let's read what it says..." And then sometimes I wasn't able to answer at all. Of course, we had to go when a group of med students was there, so I was a little self-conscious when answering her questions and can only assume my juvenile-sounding responses were highly entertaining for them. But, no one laughed at me (to my face anyway) and 2 of them even chimed in with some answers when we were looking at the same display, relieving me from coming up with the answer.

When we got to the display of the reproductive organs, 'Lil shared some fun facts with me about what she's learning in her child development class this semester and I was able to put in a plug about the ill effects of drinking and smoking when we saw the "smoker's lungs" and liver displays. (side note - while looking at a liver with serious damage from alcohol abuse, I stepped on my box for a minute with an alcohol speech....and when I looked up, I saw a guy who worked for Miller on the other side of the case, sporting his Miller work polo on :) )

Although being put on the spot isn't always fun, I was more than okay with her inquisitive little self, because it showed me she was really interested in what we were seeing. I marked that outing down as an educational, fun-filled success.

Darker = $$

It's no secret I spend a lot to get my hair done....probably way more than I should. Although spending that much on my hair is tough to swallow, I've continued this somewhat lavish habit for years. After signing off on another expensive trip to the salon this past week, my pangs of guilt somewhat subsided when I thought about how much less I'm spending now than I used to on my hair.

When I was still dying my hair blond, I would have to go about every six weeks. (the alternative was having my dark roots showing - a lot. ugh, bad look.) So, I swiped my card between 8 or 9 times a year, at a pretty penny at that.

In comparison, Wednesday marked my third time THIS year of going to the salon. (and most likely my last time dying my hair for the year)

Now, at the risk of being harshly judged, I'll let you in on what I roughly calculated my savings to be on hair care from my blond days to now:

$750

Holy s#%t.

It definitely pays to be a brunette.

Planner

In the past, I've used a planner to help me stay organized with my schedule but for whatever reason the last couple of years I've gone without. I've been wanting to get back into the habit of utilizing a planner for sometime now, so when I saw some on the clearance rack at Target today, I decided it was a sign that the time is now, so I snagged one.

$2.50 to stay organized is definitely worth it.

I'm an Adult

Does drinking chocolate milk make me childlike? Perhaps

Does drinking chocolate milk out of coffee mug make it more adult like? Absolutely

Countdown To the First Day of Fall

The first day of Fall is Friday and although I'll be sad to see Summer go, there are several things that come to mind that I'm looking forward to as the new season arrives:

*Fashion - Jeans, hoodies, sweats, tights, arm warmers, knee-high socks, sweater dresses, coats/track jackets

*Food - Soups, casseroles, and hearty dishes

*Keeping warm by the ever classy electric fireplace while watching movies, reading, knitting, and laptopping

*Taking note of nature's changes, especially leaves changing color, during my runs

BBBS Outing

'Lil and I went to Artistic Beads for our outing today to make some jewelry, something neither one of us had done before. It was a great activity for us, where we could sit and talk while doing a fun project at the same time.

There was so much to choose from - what type of jewelry (necklace, bracelet, earrings...), then what kind (elastic, memory, clasp...), and finally what you're going to put on your piece.

We each decided on an elastic bracelet. We thought it would be fun to do similar ones, so we each did colored beads with letter blocks of our initials. 'Lil picked white and blue for her colors and I went with yellow and green.



sidenote: the picture was taken from my phone, and believe it or not, it's the first time I sent a picture from my phone! It feels good to take another step into the 21st century :)

Ben & Jerry's Newest Flavor

Schweddy Balls coming to a frozen food section near you! Well, in 30% of stores that carry Ben & Jerry's at least.

Ben and Jerry's announced the new flavor today. Schweddy Balls, of course, comes from the SNL skit, "Delicious Dish."




The new flavor consists of vanilla ice cream, rum flavoring, with fudge covered rum balls and milk chocolate malt balls.

You can read more here.

Cross That One Off the List

One of my favorite ongoing lists is my "list of firsts" and I love when I get to check things off that list. A couple of the things I've checked off recently include shot gunning a beer and hot yoga. Today I was able to cross another thing off my list - go to a movie by myself.

It was a kind of a dreary day and most of my friends were out of town, so it seemed the perfect day to get this one checked off. I headed to JC theaters, making sure to hit up the early matinee to score the $6.50 movie ticket and sat down to watch "One Day".

The movie itself was okay, though a little too long in my opinion, but the overall experience was very positive and kind of liberating for me.

Countdown Is On

Top 10

Nothing like waiting until the last minute. Here is my Top 10 Metro Restaurants List:

1. Miyabi 9
2. La Mie
3. Simon's
4. Alba
5. Centro
6. Tacos Andreas
7. Proof
8. Jethros
9. Hickory Park
10. Django

Newest Buy

I usually never find anything on the clearance rack at DSW but I struck shoe gold last week when I found these:


They reminded me a lot of a pair of shoes my friend Emily had bought at the market in Spain. I think I told her several times the day she wore them how much I liked them, so when I saw these the other day, I jumped at the chance of buying them.

30% off plus my $5 birthday coupon = a good deal on a fabulous new pair of shoes.

Hot Yoga

I have always been curious about what hot yoga was like and today I found out, by attending my first ever class. I was a little nervous, being that I had never done hot yoga before and also that it has been about 4 months since my last yoga class (yikes).

I walked into the studio, a room where the temperature is set at about 104 degrees, and laid my mat down in one of the open spots, which just happened to be by one of the heating fans (not the smartest move I've made) I got set up, stretched out a little, laid down, and tried to adapt to the sauna-like heat. Soon class began and the instructor greeted us and told us she would be taking it easy on us today, which I was happy to hear, figuring I would be able handle it no problem.

I was happy I was able to follow along for the most part without doing too much looking around to make sure I was positioned correctly, however, she did use more technical terms than I am used to. We first worked on our breathing and then went into sun salutations, and it intensified from there. It wasn't soon after class began that I started to sweat and before I knew it, it was pouring down my face, as if I were standing underneath running water or something. Putting it nicely, my entire body was "glowing." It was crazy. I don't think I've sweat that much since...maybe ever. Her idea of "easy" clearly is not in line with mine, so I did have to make a few adjustments and use a block for part of the session, but I had to keep in mind that it's better to adjust to keep good form than to try and appear more advanced. And I also have to remember in any yoga class I've been to, that no one is paying attention to me, and even if they are, they aren't there to judge me and what I can and cannot do.

Overall I would say my first hot yoga experience was a good one. A few bulleted thoughts:

*The fee was $15, which I wasn't super jazzed about. I am not sold enough to buy a package, but wouldn't rule out trying it out again sometime.
*If I were ever to go to hot yoga regularly, I would invest in a yoga towel. I brought a beach towel to place over my mat, which worked out okay, but there were a few times my towel bunched up and I had to readjust it.
*I would wear a sweatband or bandana as my headband to keep as much sweat out of my eyes as possible.
*I don't know if I would go so far as to say I went through a "natural detox" but I will admit, it did feel pretty great to sweat that much.
*As I said, although I am not a fan of the price, I would be willing to try out hot yoga again sometime. I think I would enjoy it more next time, knowing what exactly to expect, and next time I would make sure I'm more in yoga shape so I can take full advantage of the more experienced instructor's class.

And for your viewing pleasure, here is what I looked like post hot yoga class: (and yes I purposely left my face out)

Weekend Fun

Saturday I went to Cedar Falls to spend some time with my sister and her family. It was a beautiful morning for a drive. My mini chocolate donuts, fountain cherry coke, and ipod kept me entertained on the ride up.

Shortly after I arrived, we took advantage of the sunshine and blue skies by walking around the arboretum. They had some beautiful flower displays and a fun kids area that Regan thoroughly enjoyed playing in. The front of the arboretum had about 15 flower beds, all donated by different groups of people (some organizations, some families) and although most were beautiful, there was one horrible looking one that, ironically enough, was from the "Green Thumbs of Black Hawk County":



After dropping the girls off so they could nap, Katie and I went out to lunch and then, in a moment of nostalgia, walked around UNI's campus. We had so much fun walking by all our old buildings we often visited and talking through some of our memorable moments. It was also move-in weekend, so there was a lot of hustle and bustle going on around us and it was fun to see the incoming students buying their textbooks and getting acclimated with their new surroundings. We ended our "tour" by walking through the book store, and although I saw a lot of cute UNI apparel, I walked away empty handed.

The rest of the evening we spent relaxing, ordering pizza from the OP, and I took in as much time as I could with the girls - playing with Regan in her tent, reading her a bedtime story, and making Rachel laugh a lot, albeit by making fart-like noises, but laughing nonetheless. Hey, you're never too young (or old) for a good fart joke, right? :)

It is also worth mentioning that I tried out the Shake Weight (yep, my sister has one) and it is just as humorous to do as it is to watch someone do.

Sunday morning we went to church and then had breakfast at the Panther Pride cafe. And then it was time for me to head back home.

You can check out pictures from the weekend here.

Golden Oldies

To keep us entertained for about half of the mini road trip to Iowa City last week, Jake and I each made a playlist to share. The theme was "oldies" and was defined as anything you'd potentially hear on an oldies radio station.

I had so much fun making this playlist and had even more fun listening to it. There is just something about the music from the '50's to the '70's - most of the "upbeat" songs you can't help bop around, or at least tap your toes. It's just feel good music.

Here was my playlist:

1. Think - Aretha Franklin
2. Try a Little Tenderness - Otis Redding
3. Down in the Boondocks - Billy Joe Royal
4. Shake Your Tailfeather - The Blues Brothers
5. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher - Jackie Wilson
6. What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
7. Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
8. You Never Can Tell - Chuck Berry
9. The Joker - Steve Miller Band
10. Knock Three Times - Tony Orlando & Dawn
11. The Longest Time - Billy Joel
12. Joy to the World - Three Dog Night
13. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
14. Ain't Too Proud to Beg - The Temptations
15. That'll Be the Day - Buddy Holly
16. On the Road Again - Willie Nelson

Check

I love making lists (of any kind) and love even more when I get to check things off of a list.

Yesterday morning I had made a list of about 10 things I needed to get done (without a specific need by date behind it) and I made the most of my free time after work and before volleyball to get over half of the things crossed off my list. Ahh, love that feeling of accomplishment, even if it's the most minute thing like, "return books to the library".

Message Bracelet

Usually I have a few ideas in mind whenever I am shopping for a gift for someone. This year, I wasn't set on any one idea for Les. While out shopping one afternoon, I walked into Blonde Genius with the intent of getting her a gift card, but on my way to the cash register, I came across the perfect gift, which is always a relief, especially when you aren't sure what you're looking for:


The message bracelet by Cynthia H. They are leather cuffs with inspirational words on them. It took me a while to decide which color/saying to go with but in the end I decided on the blush colored band with the words, "Keep the Faith". Much more personable than a gift card and I immediately thought of her upon seeing them.

I had never seen these before, so I did some research when I got home and found out that the artist, Cynthia Holvey, once a drug addict, designed these bracelets in celebration of her being 10 years sober. It's always encouraging to hear of a story of someone overcoming a hardship and turning into a success. (although I couldn't help but think how much cooler it would be if some of the profits would go towards a foundation related to drug abuse/rehab, but I couldn't find anything on that) Oh well, still a very cool idea and they definitely have caught my eye.

You can read more about Cynthia H Designs here.

BC '11

The 3rd annual Booze Cruise was this past Saturday and was once again successful. Although we were without 2 of our regular crew members (and missed them lots!), we still had a lot of fun.

I wasn't sure how the day was going to go when I got a phone call from Saylorville at 8 A.M. They called to tell me we couldn't boat because ours was broken. I panicked for about 30 seconds and then decided to call over to Big Creek to see if they had anything open and thankfully they did. Phew, crisis averted. Everyone met at the house, we packed up, and in true BC tradition, the boys rode in one car and the girls in the other, and we headed to Big Creek, with a pit stop at the Casey's in Polk City, another tradition of ours. Bobby played captain for the majority of the day and did a swell job. He looked like a professional as we sailed across the lake.

Some highlights include:
*Shot gunning a beer for the first time: My first attempt was a complete and utter failure. I was watching J-rod do it one way and Jake do it another...long story short, I got confused, most of it went all over Jake, and then I threw it overboard in a moment of frustration. My confidence was shaken but after a couple of hours and some positive encouragement, I decided it was time to try again, and that time was a true success.
*Jumping off the dock - We docked for a bit and all took turns doing jumps and flips.
*Les and I attempting to shove whole cupcakes in our mouths - a tradition we started on our maiden voyage. Stacy's cupcakes were a little too big so it took 2 delicious bites.

Booze Cruise is a day I look forward to every year. Such a fun way to spend the day - good food, good music, good friends = a great birthday celebration.

What's Goin On

Last post was July 25th?! Eek, where does the time go?

Let's see what's been going on:

*I golfed 18 holes a couple of weeks ago at Pleasantville (not to be confused with Pleasant Hill). Jake and I took on Stacy and Jared in our first ever golf outing. It was a great day to golf - a little warm, but thankfully the clouds hid the sun for most of the day. We played best ball off the tee, then best ball by partner after that. We played 9 holes and then took a break for lunch and then back on the course for another 9. (which was a great way to do it). It was a fun day and looking forward to another outing soon.

*I got to spend the majority of my Sunday with Les. We ran a few errands, made lunch, prepped for our meal drop-off, and played with Willy. It was a fun day and was happy to be spending 1 on 1 time with my roomie.

*Sunday night I played in my first ever slow-pitch softball game. Jake's team needed a sub and I reluctantly agreed when asked to fill in. I was so nervous, since I have never really played before. (I went to 1 softball practice in high school and after doing a miserable job at bat, decided the sport wasn't for me.) But it turned out to be a lot of fun. Everyone was so nice and I made contact with the ball every time I was at bat. And I even managed to score a run!

*Monday Jake and I went on a mini road trip to Iowa City for the Lissie concert. We first stopped for dinner at Oasis, a local falafel joint I've been wanting to try. We had planned on going before the wrestling meet we went to back in the winter, but lost track of time due to MegaTouch fun, so I was so excited to be eating there Monday. I had the Lamb pita sandwich and it was delicious. Can't wait to go back. Then onto the concert at Blue Moose. It was a small, intimate show, which is my favorite kind, and we were right up front to see Lissie put on an amazing show. It was a very late night, but I did get to sleep on the way home and it was definitely worth the 3 hours of sleep I got that night.

*Tuesday I celebrated my birthday and was definitely feeling the love. Lots of phone calls, texts, and facebook birthday wishes were sent my way all day. I had lunch with Lucas at South Union, got a cake pop from Stacy (yum!), and had some special visitors in the afternoon. My sister spent her 8th wedding anniversary with me and brought Regan along to celebrate my birthday, and even had homemade cupcakes in tow. (what a good sister, right?!) We went to the mall and I took Regan to Build-a-Bear (a belated birthday present for her) and then had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.

*And today after work, I headed East on I-80 for the second time this week and met my parents in Iowa City so they could take me out for a birthday dinner and a little shopping after.

So long story short, that's what's been going on lately :)

BossyPants

I'm a big fan of Tina Fey. I liked her in her SNL days and when Mean Girls came out, I grew even fonder. So, I was thrilled to find out several months ago that she had a book coming out. As soon as I heard this, I got online to put in my request for it at the library.

Fast forward a few months to last Friday...I had finally gotten an email from the library stating that they had the book on hold for me and that I could pick it up. I was planning on leaving for home right after work that day, but the arrival of this news changed my plans slightly. I decided it was worth the detour to go back out West first to get my book. After all, I had been without for several weeks and was jonesing to pick up a book and start turning some pages.

When I got to the library, I was caught off guard a little when I saw that there wasn't a hardback or paperback copy waiting for me, but an audiobook. For some reason, my first reaction was a little disappointment. But then I thought for a moment....actually this is perfect! I have about 6 hours worth of driving ahead of me this weekend - what better way to keep me entertained.

Did I mention this was my first audiobook? Crazy, right? I loved it. 5.5 of those driving hours flew by as Tina's voice filled my stereo speakers with entertaining stories. Bossypants is a great book, that loosely chronicles her life, from a young girl at summer theater camp, to her days at Second City in Chicago and then SNL, to 30 Rock and beyond, and the insights she's gathered along the way. A few of my favorite lines:

*In one chapter she addresses some "unanswered mail", as she puts it, from people who have expressed their opinions of her online.

"Tina Fey is an ugly, pear-shaped, bitchy, overrated troll"

Her response:

Dear Centaurious,

First let me say how inspiring it is that you have learned to use a computer.

I hate for our correspondence to be confrontational, but you have offended me deeply. To say I'm an overrated troll, when you have never even seen me guard a bridge, is patently unfair. I'll leave it for others to say if I'm the best, but I am certainly one of the most dedicated trolls guarding bridges today. I always ask three questions, at least two of which are riddles.

As for "ugly, pear-shaped and bitchy"? I prefer the terms "offbeat, business class–assed and exhausted", but I'll take what I can get. There's no such thing as bad press!

Now go to bed, you crazy night owl! You have to be at Nasa early in the morning. So they can look for your penis with the Hubble telescope.

Affectionately,

Tina

*When talking about unobtainable body images:

"But I think the first real change in women’s body image came when JLo turned it butt-style. That was the first time that having a large-scale situation in the back was part of mainstream American beauty. Girls wanted butts now. Men were free to admit that they had always enjoyed them. And then, what felt like moments later, boom—Beyoncé brought the leg meat. A back porch and thick muscular legs were now widely admired. And from that day forward, women embraced their diversity and realized that all shapes and sizes are beautiful. Ah ha ha. No. I’m totally messing with you. All Beyonce and JLo have done is add to the laundry list of attributes women must have to qualify as beautiful. Now every girl is expected to have Caucasian blue eyes, full Spanish lips, a classic button nose, hairless Asian skin with a California tan, a Jamaican dance hall ass, long Swedish legs, small Japanese feet, the abs of a lesbian gym owner, the hips of a nine-year-old boy, the arms of Michelle Obama, and doll tits. The person closest to actually achieving this look is Kim Kardashian, who, as we know, was made by Russian scientists to sabotage our athletes."

*Replaying the first Sarah Palin skit, "...and I can see Russia from my house." That never gets old :)

I really could go on and on, but me listing quote after quote would be both silly and tedious. It's witty, honest, and sincere, and only makes me like her more. I highly recommend checking it out.

Water Cooler Convo

*Thursday afternoon*

Dick: Married yet?

Jane: Nope.

Dick: Getting closer?

Jane: Nope

Dick: You know, Jane, you aren't getting any younger.

Jane: I know.

Dick: Your clock is ticking.

Jane: Thanks.

Dick: Have your parents had that talk with you yet?

Jane: Nope.

Dick: I'm just kidding. You're what, 26? You have plenty of time. My wife didn't start having kids until she was 30.

Jane: Great.

Appropriate work conversation with a co-worker? Signs point to no. Any suggestions on how Jane should have responded?

Fore!

Last week we hit up the driving range, in preparation for the upcoming golf outing. I was excited to use my clubs (and by my clubs I mean my dad's old ones) but was extremely nervous. As we pulled into the parking lot, I actually had some butterflies in my stomach. Seems silly, huh? Well, I am pretty self-conscious about my golfing skills, being that I don't really have any. In fact, this was the first time I swung a club in front of someone other than my parents! Because I never felt ready to subject anyone else to my below sub-par golf game, the majority of my past golfing experiences, which isn't a lot, it has just been my dad and me. And, while we're on the subject, I've lived by a few rules when golfing with him: 1. Do not tee off on the first hole if there are people waiting in line behind us. Rather, drop my ball where my dad's lands. 2. Always politely decline if offered to join a single or twosome we run into along the course. 3. When frustrated, try very hard not to cry. (Shamefully, I actually shed tears one afternoon, after an especially frustrating day.)

Anyway, back to the story...After getting a large bucket of balls, we walked far away from the other people out there (because I was convinced there was a huge spotlight on me and that everyone would stop what they were doing and watch me, and then laugh hysterically at my attempts at hitting the ball) and started swinging. I put my tee in the ground, got out my 3 Wood and.....whiff! Not the best way to start, but the good news is I improved from there. Quite a few were grounders, but I did manage to get some up in the air and most of the balls I hit, I was hitting straight. Now if I could just get some power behind it, hit them up in the air higher, and hit them a little farther out, I would be in good shape. Oh and stay focused. Golf is definitely a game of concentration. And a few things I constantly have to remind myself: stay down, do not try to smack the hell out of the ball (that's when I whiff), and do not get up to watch the ball after hitting it.

The first outing went better than I expected it to and turned out to a be lot of fun. Not to mention it's cheap entertainment. $9 for a couple hours worth of fun!

Case of the Mondays

Monday is not my favorite day of the week. The optimist in me says that it is like a new beginning and a fresh start. But the negative side always creeps in and sadly reminds me that the weekend is over and will not be here again for another 5 days.

One thing I do look forward to every Monday morning is a Facebook status update from one of my co-workers, who dubs himself the driver of the bitter bus more days than not. He is about as sarcastic as they come and I appreciate him for that. Here are a few examples of how he makes me smile as he welcomes in the week:

Dear Monday, You bring rain, wind, lightning and disturb my sleep. You frakkin' vile, dysfunctional cow. Please feel free to go directly to hell. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.00.

Dear Monday, You are dragging on and on like an unstoppable case of dysentery. Or a Celine Dion concert. Please do us all a favor, and end already.

Dear Monday. You bring downpours, flooded streets and wicked lighting. So, so typical for a skank like you. Please feel free to piss up a rope.

Dear Monday, Just because its a holiday doesn't mean you're not still a heinous dirtbag.

Dear Monday, Once again, you have arrived like a boil on the butt of humanity. Please do the right thing and abdicate in favor of Tuesday as soon as possible.

Dear Monday, There is a 10.30am train to Skankville. Please be on it.

Faux Hawk

Ever since seeing this hair tutorial a few months ago, I've been wanting to try it out. I decided 80/35 was the perfect venue to rock such a look.

It only took about 15-20 minutes to do, 5 big hair ties, 5 small hair ties, about 10 bobby pins, and some hair spray. First, I divided my hair into 5 sections, using the bigger hair ties, then used the 5 small ones to form each section into something resembling a bun. Finally, I used the bobby pins to help fill in any holes.

And the final product looked like this:

Backview:


Sideview:


Overall I was happy with how it turned out. I received a lot of compliments and felt more like a rockstar than I probably would have otherwise :) The only thing I think I would do differently next time is pull my bangs back. I, personally, think I look silly without bangs, which is why I didn't do it, but I think it would've pulled the whole look together better, because, as you can see below, from the front, it looked like I was just rocking a high bun.



But it was a fun experiment, definitely something different, and I'm always up for mixing things up. Would I do this again? Si!

Me Gusta

Homeless Kit

I'm posting this story that I heard last night, as a reminder of just how spectacular the people in my life are:

"So we were driving home and I saw a homeless man sitting on the side of the road and I decided we needed to do something to help. So we drove home, I got some shirts, a granola bar, and a powerade, put it in a bag, and drove back out to where he was. Unfortunately he was gone by the time we got back. So now we have a homeless kit in the trunk for the next time I see a homeless person"

Any guesses on who this was?!

Friends don't get much better than that :)

Newest Accessory

I'm excited to try out the gift Sarah gave us bridesmaids - an apron from Anthropologie!



I may not be the best in the kitchen, but at least now I can look the part.

Dam to Dam '11

Dam to Dam went very well this year. First, there was no rain, unlike last year when it poured for the first 6 miles or so. Second, we ran it about 3 minutes faster than the year before, which I was happy with, considering the most I had run pre-race was 8 miles. We ran it in 1:53:57. I was 151 out of 788 females in my age bracket and 657 out of 3761 total females.

A few highlights from the race stick out:

*The crowd: Even though I was extra excited to see a few familiar faces, like Lucas and the Holtgrewes, just seeing people lined up at different points of the course made a huge difference. I always seem to get that extra boost I need when I see people clapping, cheering, and ringing their cowbells.

*Flags: At about mile 7, along the Morningstar hill, (the biggest hill of the course) there were flags lined up along both sides of the road, representing all the Iowa soldiers who have died in action, since the first Dam to Dam race in 1980. There was also a group playing bagpipes and drums at the top of the hill. I got goosebumps as they played"Amazing Grace" as we ran by them, and it was a great way to keep things in perspective as I ran up that hill.

*Inspiring Words: Between mile 10 and 11, we overheard a conversation between 2 girls as we ran by them. The one girl was saying how she couldn't keep up anymore, and the other girl said to her, "yes you can. You are the reason I am running beside you right now" She continued to push her friend along with encouraging words. It was an awesome conversation to overhear.

*Smiles: Although there were several photographers stationed at different mile markers towards the end of the race, we only have 1 photo each on record of this year's run, but it was our best photo, I'm sure. For the last photo op, Jake thought we should flash a smile, and here are the results:



His photo should be on an ad for next year's race, we've all decided.

*The Isiserettes: As you round the last corner, and run the last 400 meters or so, you can hear the drums from the Isiserettes beat. I LOVE running past the Y and seeing the drummers and dancers as I give everything I have left in me, in those final meters to the finish line.

*Cheer Squad: After finishing the 20K, we were able to cheer on other members of Team Hot Sundae as they ran the 5K - J-rod, Les, and Stacy all did a great job and it was fun to see them run to the finish line.

*The Afterparty: Food, free beer, and my runner's high - all while being surrounded by the other runners and all the supporters make for a great atmosphere at the finish line. I saw a lot of familiar faces, including an old friend from college who I hadn't seen in nearly 4 years! A great way to end this year's race.

The Next One For One

Yesterday, Tom's launched it's next step in the "One For One" campaign - eyewear.




There are 3 different styles of sunglasses, several colors to choose from, and a virtual try-on feature to help you decide. They are a little pricey (more expensive than the shoes), but it's a great cause.

...and have I mentioned how much I love Blake? :)

Spanish Summary

As if I haven't written enough about my trip...I truly appreciate you sticking through these last few weeks of posts and allowing me to recount my Spanish adventure. I was asked a lot of questions about my trip, the most common, both from people in Spain and friends/family here, being: "What do/did you think of Spain?"

My answer to this question goes as follows:

From my experience in Spain, I noticed several things that I truly appreciated - things that are so different from my world here....

*Everything moves slower in Spain. Living in a world where fast isn't fast enough and everything and everyone is always "go, go, go", it was refreshing to slow down and experience the slower side of life.

*The lifestyle there is so much more relaxed than it is here - businesses closing for "siesta" every afternoon and closing on Sundays and holidays, for example. I felt as though people there "work to live", whereas I feel we (Americans), in general, "live to work". Meeting friends for a cafe con leche is a must do, pretty much on a daily basis, and usually occurs in the afternoon.

*Fashion is huge. Everyone is dressed as though they walked straight out of a magazine, especially children. I swear I never saw a little girl not wearing a dress and most boys were wearing tights, shorts, and little button ups or polos. Among adult women, I mostly saw skinny jeans or leggings, tanks and cardigans, blazers, scarves, and flats. I also noticed a big nautical theme in many of the stores. Umbrellas are an added accessory during the Spring/rainy season (April/May), and everyone carries them.

*So much more walking goes on there, as well as reliance on public transportation. I guess that's probably true of bigger cities here in the U.S. too, but living in a smaller city, I really appreciated that aspect of their lifestyle.

*I love the history and age of buildings and structures there. I walked into dozens of churches that were thousands, upon thousands years old and one thing I always thought of, as I was admiring these beautiful, well preserved buildings, was how sad it is that our answer here, it seems, is to tear down and build new.

*The scenery I saw on a daily basis - mountains, blue ocean water, lots of green spaces, etc. never got old. It was something I appreciated seeing each day.

It goes without saying that my trip was an amazing experience, one that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. I love to travel - it ranks as one of my favorite things in life - and I am so blessed to have had this opportunity and to experience all that I did.

Aventura de Espana: Dia Ocho

We had planned on going to Trubia and doing part of the Ruta del Oso, to go on a bike ride and see the bears that live there (fenced in). Unfortunately, it turned out to be a rainy day, so plans changed.

We ended up having a relaxed day in Oviedo, starting at a cafe for breakfast with some of Emily's friends, then we walked around and went in a few stores, and finally when the rain let up, we spent some time in the park.

It was Raul's birthday, so to celebrate, they had people over for a bbq and we indulged in a lot of good food, including turkey burgers, shrimp, kabobs, and potatoes .



With some of Emily's friends at the BBQ



When the clock struck midnight, just as Cinderella's carriage turned into a pumpkin, ending her fairy tale evening, so was my Spanish adventure coming to an end. I had to get on the 12:30 overnight bus and head back to the Madrid airport.

After a 7 hour bus ride, 3.5 hour wait at the airport, a pat down from the TSA agent at security, 12.5 hours of flying, and 2.5 hours of driving, I finally arrived back home, with all of my luggage, my sanity, and most importantly, memories that will last a lifetime.

History Lesson

Gather 'round boys and girls and listen as special guest, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin gives us a history lesson on Paul Revere!




...and to think people actually want this woman to be the leader of our country.

Aventura de Espana: Dia Siete

I started the day by going with Emily to her school. First, she had a conversation tutoring session with the technology teacher. Ironically enough, he doesn't own a cell phone, he has no credit cards, and does not have internet at home :) Then I observed another one of her classes, who had the same assignment as her other class, of bringing in something that represented Asturias. These kids were younger than her other class and were quite wound up, but once again, I was impressed with their English skills, especially when comparing it to my Spanish skills when I was in high school.

After her class, we headed to the market and walked around for a while, since our time was cut short due to the rain on Sunday. I bought a few things for family and friends and a bracelet for myself.

Then Raul picked us up and the three of us headed to Gijon, a city not too far away from Oviedo, and walked around for the afternoon.











Before heading back to Oviedo, we stopped for lunch at an outdoor cafe, overlooking the port. We all did the "menu del dia", which turned out to be a TON of food, but it was so good. My least favorite was the hamburger (seen in the last picture), but I had to remember I wasn't in Iowa anymore.


Patatas con aoli (potatoes with aioli)


Lentejas con chorizo (lentil stew with sausage and potatoes)


Emily and I split the hamburger and fish and fried egg for the 3rd course

When we got back to Oviedo, Emily had two more classes, so we headed back to her school. The first class showed me around the school and explained to me what things were in English. Her last class did the Asturias item assignment. Some of the items were repeats, but one girl brought in a typical Asturian dessert, that resembles a crepe. It was fantastic!

After school, Emily had a quick tutoring session, so I walked to a nearby park and read a book until she was done. After that, we met up with some of her friends at a bar for drinks and tapas. We started out with our free tapa of bread w/ a raspberry spread, cheese, and sliced ham on top. Then we ordered a cheese plate with all types of different cheeses. Later, someone ordered fried baby sardines, which I had never had before, and although hesitant due to being able to see where their eyes once were, I decided to try it. I was not a fan, so I stopped at that one, but at least I tried it! After the fun evening came to a close, Emily and I headed back to her house and watched the newest episode of Glee before going to bed.