Obscure and Outstanding

I like Mondays as much as the next person (I know I know...it's tuesday...just hold your horses) and so today I was trying to be as positive as I could be (seeing as it is only the third of this new year and I want to start it all off right).  So I had this brilliant idea...actually this girl did, and I think I may just have to copy.  Today my mind kept thinking about good things that were happening, but those good things kept being accompanied by two or more awkward and obscure and funny things that were happening.  So I decided to do a list.  A weekly list.  Probably Mondays, but if my Mondays are ever as they were yesterday it may just have to wait.  So here I am, Tuesday, putting up my Monday list.  Here we go!

Obscure

--  My progressively worsening crowd phobia.

-- The fact that I keep putting more and more pieces of gum in my mouth when I am hungry and there is no food in sight.  2 1/2 pieces did the trick today before lunch.

--  The fact that I am now beginning an addiction to pawning and picking types of shows.

--  That on NYE, my dress ripped (I am still not over this), and when I went to return it yesterday, seeing as it was clearly a construction flaw, the store clerk lady gave me rolley eyes like I was asking her to give me the money out of her personal wallet.  

--  Having a silly face contest with a four year old and getting caught by several adult strangers.

--  Then later teaching that same four year old how to speak in a british accent so later she could impress her parents by calling them "mummy" and "datty."  I actually don't know how impressed they'll be.

--  A closet full of clothes and nothing to wear today.

--  The creepy old man in a little black sweat suit with his hood up buying sci-fy movies behind me in line at Target.

Outstanding

--  Target.  You agree, I know you do.

--  That The Bachelor started last night.  I hate that I am so intrigued.

--  A parking spot so close to the door of the store and the fact that I didn't even have to fight for it.

--  The big jar of almonds and dried blueberries that I have stashed in my room...there may also be chocolate.  A girl's gotta eat! 

--  That I have a friend who sticks by my side in the most painful of circumstances...(ahem, you know who you are...)

--  Trident Layers...who would have thought it was so delicious?  Thanks, dad, for always stuffing my stocking with good gum and mints.

--  My dad.  He is outstanding.

--  The fact that I didn't get to post this last night because I was so wonderfully interrupted by a friend's phone call.  We talked for an hour and nine minutes.  It was lovely.

So...I think this could work.  It made me happy.  

See you tomorrow!

p.s. I went to the gym today.  Woo!  I better go back there soon or else that was the most expensive day at the gym ever.  ever.

A time for toasts

Goodbye! And well hello new year!

2010...eh, it was OK. I mean, it was good. Not too shabby at all. But I only say this in comparison to this coming year. 2011 is going to be the best year yet. I feel it. I feel it deep in my bones and in my toes. They tingle with good feelings, I tell you. And I think my list of to do's will help get me there.

-- Travel somewhere warm. Even for a quick weekend. Road trip anyone? I'll provide snacks and the perfect guilty pleasure music.

-- Actually use my gym membership that I have been paying for each month. I feel like I have been robbed, lifetime, ROBBED.

-- Floss everyday, and then make a dentist appointment.

-- Collect more shoes. Good ones make even the dingiest t-shirt and jeans look fab. This is a need.

-- Master NCLEX questions (this is nursing school junk...did I tell you I am in nursing school? Well I am...and it is hard, people!)

-- Paint a picture.

-- Buy a good camera...this will happen within the first two months...I promise. This blog is gonna be off the hook (I don't think I have ever said that before this) after this plan comes to fruition.

-- Stop buying hair styling cream. I have like 8 full bottles of hair cream.

That is good for now.

Can you guess what dance we are doing?

Last night completely redeemed new year's eve. It was amazingly fun. And even though there were only a mere five of us, it was special. It was spent with good friends with whom I can't wait to spend another year with. The evening was filled with prosciutto and mozzarella on crackers, dark chocolate covered almonds, olives, fancy drinks, catch phrase, a trip down the street, mini dance parties and champagne to toast in the new year....yeah,we are classy broad.

However, there was one casualty. One major casualty. Remember my pretty dress from the above photos? Well, it ripped. Like really ripped. All the way down the back exposing parts you usually keep covered. And the worst part was when I had to be told, by a boy, that my rear was now open to the elements. It was all just embarrassing. And I am super forlorn about my pretty dress that I had just purchased. I mean, it was perfect for both winter and summer. Perfect,I tell you.

Here is the after:

Nonetheless, even after this wardrobe mishap, new years was great. And this new year is bound to be the best year yet.

Happy New Year!

A date at Whole Foods

Yesterday was a good day for a good lunch with a good friend. She and I went to whole foods to dabble in their buffet of food labled "natural" and "organic" that made me feel no guilt while I ate cornbread dressing and drunken Thai noodles. It was delicious and fun and we drank the best tea ever. Seriously, it was amazing. It made my tastebuds sing. I think I need to go there again today to stock up on this stuff. You should too. Mint and honey green tea by Sweet Leaf.

Yes, I did have cornbread dressing and drunken thai noodles, but do you see those brussel sprouts? Turkey meatballs? And detox veggie salad that was surprisingly tasty? Yup.

FIN!

Did I also mention we are having a winter heat wave? 50 degrees, snow gone, water in the basement, and the perfect weather for wearing high high heels this new year's eve...no clumsy slipping :)

Happy New Year's! Cheers!

New Year's post tomorrow. Lots of sparkles, champagne, good shoes and friends.

SPRUCE UP!

Yes, you heard me...it's time for a spruce up! I am considering doing a monthly "surprise style spruce up" where I go to a friend or family member's home and surprise them by going into their closet and put together some of their pieces that they would have never thought to pair.

So I did it.

I ambushed my brother-in-law, Jared.

It was so fun. For me. Ahahahaha!

Now let me give you a little background on Jared...Jared is my sister's husband, a highschool english teacher, and a die hard cubs fan (go cubbies!). He is a simple guy who loves his wife, a good bacon cheeseburger, the cubs (he really loves them...they get a double mention), sports, family time, simple t-shirts and jeans, and always puts a white undershirt underneath his button-up. We love Jared in this house and I couldn't have asked for a better guy to marry my sister.

And because of all this he was my first victim.

Woohoo! Here goes!

(Pre-ambush awkward posing for my sister)

(Ambush!)

The goods!

(Now we were limited to button-ups, t-shirts, jeans, one blazer, and a few sweaters)

TA DA!

OK, no more serious photos, here is a cigar...

It is hard for us to stay serious for long...

Ambusher and ambushee

See, I told you, it is hard for us to stay so serious!

THE END

In celebration, Lindsey, my sister and Jared's wife, cooked us dinner and one of my favorite salads! Cabbage, bell peppers, black beans, roasted corn, onions, pulled pork, bbq sauce and an oooh so vinegary dressing. YUM!

Thanks you guys!

p.s. Here is a sneak peek to my new year's outfit. Not the pants from H&M that I got 5 years ago, but the shoes! Jeffery Campbell always does me good.

New nails

In celebration of quitting my job (I worked at Starbucks--did I tell you I worked there? and well I technically still work there until the 16th, oh well...I still want to celebrate) and moving onward and upward, I went to Target to play. And while there, I painted and severely discolored my hands in nail polishes and eye shadows and enjoyed all the thrills of being a girl. I ended up buying several (I mean, 4) new nail polishes all composed of sparkles, metallics and purples. My fingers and toes are beautiful I tell you! And yours can be too! New years eve is just 2 days away and there is no better time to indulge your girliest self by doing your nails up good. My sister and I indulged in several ways yesterday as we sipped a glass of wine, watched cupcake wars and painted our fingers and toes. Even though our toes are tucked in our boots all winter, it doesn't matter, because we know they're sparkling.

Sally Hansen -- Commander in Chic

*Advertisement*Go buy it, it's awesome*

Sweet treat

Do you ever have those cravings that no matter what you do, where you are, or who you call to distract you, they just won't go away? Well I most certainly do and last night a large diet coke from McDonald's was on my mind and wouldn't leave till I satisfied it.

I promise that I normally don't take photos of myself with diet coke in hand, but seriously people, this craving was intense and it made me do it.

New year's resolutions aren't usually my thing, but this year cutting back on DC may make it on my list of to do's. Probably not though.

Just one more...

It's Christmas and I think today, because it is my favorite holiday, deserves another post.

Here in our house we do this holiday the casual way. Even our Christmas dinner consisted of leftover taco salad (but don't worry too much, turkey and potatoes and my mom's famous rolls were on the menu also). One of the joys of this lazy day is our annual viewing of home videos (though some may argue "annual"). And I don't know another family who enjoys their home videos quite like ours. Power Ranger karate dances around the living room, snow forts, and a family so in love makes me feel beyond blessed. Life is good and with these folks the future is bright.

Lounging around the house with your favorite people inspires you. It was all so much fun. I can't wait till next year, but for now I am going to go grab another roll. xo.