La Ti Da

Feelin Crafty

2011-11-07T11:41:00.001-07:00

As I was browsing Pinterest last night, I came across this link for 101 Handmade Christmas Ornaments. There were a lot of cute ideas, but #45 caught my eye right away. Anything involving felt and birdies is right up my alley!

After reading the tutorial at A Feathered Nest, I was surprised to find that it didn't seem too difficult. I pinned the link, ~~thinking I may come back at some point~~ totally intending to come back and make some of the ornaments. ;)

I don't know what got into me, considering it was after 11 pm. I think it was a combination of boredom, frustration with the Pinterest app and inspiration from all the pretty Christmas-y pins and tutorials. But anyway, I got the idea in my head that even though I can't sew, I could totally make one of those little birdies!

I gathered up my supplies from random drawers and boxes around my house. I found some soft, pink cotton fabric, red and white felt, and a few random spools of thread in red, pink and green.

Now, I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that this took me about 2 hours to complete... I think most of that time was spent threading needles and trying to tie knots! If you can sew, it definitely wouldn't take you that long!

I deviated quite a bit from the tutorial, based on what supplies I had on hand. I didn't have a fancy vanishing fabric marker, so I just used a pen to draw a wing shape on the white felt and then freehanded the stitching. I did use her stitch guide to get some ideas and help for the wing embellishments, but mostly I just did whatever I thought might look cute. Then I made sure to cut inside the pen line so that you wouldn't see the tracing.
For the body, I found a picture I liked online and then just traced it onto a piece of computer paper. Then I layered the stencil onto two pieces of the pink fabric and cut it all out. So easy, and no pen marks needed! Oh, and I didn't use an embroidery loop, because 1- I didn't have one, and 2- I honestly don't know what she used it for! :)

After all the parts were cut out, I used felt glue to attach the wing to the top piece, cut out a little beak from the red felt and glued it in between the two pieces and then just started stitching both pieces together. I had no idea what I was doing, really, so the stitches are all randomly spaced and uneven. But we'll just call that, along with all the frayed edges, "shabby chic". :)
I forgot about the eye until I was almost at the end! Oops. I tried to read several stitching tutorials, but I could not figure out the "french knot" for the life of me! Instead of getting frustrated, I just used black thread to make a little X and called it good.

I stuffed it with some tissue and that was it! I was pretty happy with how it turned out, although it isn't as Christmas-y as I hoped. I like it even more this morning. She's so cute!

Pretty good for someone who can't sew, huh?

Very Pinteresting

2011-11-04T20:02:00.000-06:00

I made something that I pinned on Pinterest! It almost makes me feel justified in all the time I spend on there. :)

I had pinned these Pizza Balls a long time ago and have been thinking about them all week. I was thinking they might be like the pizza rolls from Old Chicago, but easier!

I didn't have any canned biscuits, so I decided to try it using this recipe from Baby Loving Mama (which I had made once before and they were delicious!).

Because I don't like to get my hands dirty and gooey, I decided to mix the pepperoni and cheese into the biscuit dough with a spoon. I added the melted butter/milk, stirred it a few times, added the pepperoni & cheese and then finished mixing it all together until it was all combined.

I spooned the dough into a cupcake pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Then I topped them with fresh grated parmesan, because I like to be fancy sometimes.

Now cooking was a little tricky... The biscuit recipe said to bake at 450 for 8-12 minutes, but the pizza balls recipe said to bake at 350 for 15-17 minutes. If you use the made-from-scratch biscuits, I would definitely recommend going with the 450 degree oven. I tried it at 400 and they weren't cooked after 15 minutes. I bumped it up to 450 and they were golden brown in 5 minutes.

They came out more like pizza muffins instead of balls. And I thought I had used a LOT of pepperoni, but when I cut into the biscuits, I could hardly find any! Next time I would use more, or at least make sure they are more evenly dispersed through the dough. And add lots of cheese.

Serve them with marinara sauce.

Overall, they were not as good as I had hoped. If I make them again, I will probably use canned biscuits.

Anyway, I still ate them while I watched Eclipse. I'm having my own Twilight Saga Tuesdays at my house. Except it's more like "Twilight Saga Wednesday, Thursday, Fridays" because frankly, I don't want to wait a week in between watching each one. :)

Okay, I'm off to go find more things to pin!
Happy Weekend!

I've moved!

2011-03-12T14:35:00.001-07:00

My blog has a new home!

Come visit me at jennmarlow.wordpress.com

(and don't forget to update your Google Reader!)

:-)

The Best Dinner I Ever Made

2011-01-28T19:14:00.003-07:00

This week Steve and I started meal planning. Therefore, I've been cooking (and baking!) a lot more. I like it, I feel so domestic. In the past week I've made spaghetti with garlic bread, delicious steak sandwiches, banana nut bread, shepherd's pie, strawberry cupcakes and (the star of this post) the most amazing pasta dish.

I had been craving my favorite dish from the Cheesecake Factory: Farfalle with Chicken and Roasted Garlic
It's the only thing I ever get there and it is so delicious.
I put it on the meal planning menu and then freaked out a little since I had never made it and had no idea where to begin. After searching the internet a little, I had a game plan.

Pasta with Chicken and Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce

serves: 4

Ingredients:

2 cups pasta
2 chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
4 pieces of bacon, diced
onion, diced
mushrooms, sliced (optional)
sundried tomatoes (optional)
canned tomatoes (optional)
roasted garlic
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup cream
butter
1/2 cup peas
parmesan cheese, grated

Ahead of time, roast the garlic. Take off as much of the papery skin as possible. Then, cut off the pointy end to expose a little of each clove. Set on a piece of foil, drizzle with olive oil and wrap in the foil. Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes. Let it cool before using.

Begin by cooking pasta to al dente. Drain, reserving at least 1 cup of the pasta water.

Cook the diced bacon in a pan until crispy, then set aside. Remove half of the bacon grease and add 1 tbsp butter to the pan.
Add the onions and carmelize.
Once the onions are cooked, you can add the optional ingredients (mushrooms, tomatoes) and cook until they're soft.
Then, add as many roasted garlic cloves as you like (I used about 6) to the pan and mash in the pan with a fork.
*Note, roasted garlic has a sweeter, less intense flavor than fresh garlic. We REALLY like garlic and 6 was plenty for us.

Next, turn up the heat on the pan. Season the chicken with pepper (and any other seasoning you like, just don't add salt at this point.) Add the chicken and stir.
Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water and reduce heat to a simmer.
Add 1/2 cup of milk and 1/2 cup of cream (or 1 cup half & half).
Simmer until the chicken is cooked and no longer pink inside.

Once the chicken is cooked, add the bacon back to pan. Add 1/2 cup of frozen peas. Stir.

Add 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese and cook until sauce is thick. Check the seasonings and add salt/pepper if needed.

Stir in the pasta. If the sauce is too thin, add more parmesan cheese. If the sauce is too thick, add a little more pasta water.

Serve and enjoy!
I shaved a little more parmesan and cracked black pepper on top.

It was delicious! It was very similar to the dish at the Cheesecake Factory and definitely cured my craving. I was proud...I'm pretty sure this was the best dish I've ever cooked. :)

Hope you enjoy!

Randomness

2010-06-22T15:38:00.000-06:00

I've decided (unbeknownst to Steve) that July is going to be our "Month o' Doing Stuff!" (We'll work on the title later...) Essentially, I just want to do fun activities. Two that I have in my head so far:
-Elitch Gardens on July 10th, specifically to see Jason Derulo in concert. I get a deal on tickets through work! P.S...Steve won't ride the roller coasters, so I need a buddy!
-Rockies baseball game. I've never been to one! In fact, I've never been to a professional sporting event at all. Ever. Shocking, I know. But I've heard that the "Rock Pile" seating is pretty fun, and it's only $4!
For the past oh, several months, my face has decided to rebel and act like a 15 year old's. It has not been pretty. I'm here to tell you that months of major breakouts is not good for a girl's self esteem. I'm thankful for a sweet boyfriend who tells me I look pretty even when I don't feel it.
Today is the first day in a long time that I have liked my hair. I would take a picture, but that would involve showing you my face. (See above.)
I've decided that cute clothes make coming to work approximately 1% less excrutiating.
I may or may not freak out a little every time a trailer for Eclipse comes on tv. In related news, I am not really 15 years old. It just seems like it. In further related news, how hot is Robert Pattinson??? *sigh*
I'm getting excited to move into our new apartment...even though it's still like 6 weeks away! (more to come on this...)
However, the idea of decorating a whole apartment is really daunting and is stressing me out more than I'd like to admit.
Steve bought me us a "fake" Le Crueset. Ok, it's not really fake. It is a Martha Stewart enameled cast iron dutch oven, and cost almost as much as the other kind, so I don't think it really qualifies as fake. ANYWAY, I'm in love. It's red and beautiful and it makes me so happy to have it in my kitchen. (Nevermind the fact that we've only made chili in it once so far... it will get it's time to shine come winter!)
I go through phases where I am addicted to one thing on the Internet and spend all of my time reading/watching until I'm completely finished or caught up. Usually it's a blog or website or topic, it varies (and may or may not be Twilight related). For example, a few months ago it was the Pioneer Woman's love story, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. Right now, it happens to be Twilight related... I'm ~~reading~~ listening to The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella. (In preparation, of course, for June 30th!) Because I feel that's it's absolutely necessary to devote every spare second to this addiction, I'm thankful for internet on my phone!
In general, but more so in light of recent news headlines, the mere thought of Miley Cyrus makes me irate.
It has taken me over 5 hours to write this blog at work. Maybe someday I will actually post something that doesn't consist of bullet points and random thoughts. Oh, I know! I promise a real blog about the impending move and my thoughts on living with....dum dum dum, a BOY! :)

vampires in the workplace

2010-06-10T15:12:00.000-06:00

A little while ago, I walked to the other side of the building and saw this:

A girl had this huge poster (along with other Twilight paraphernalia) plastered on her cubicle wall that faces the main hallway.

Immature? Probably.

Inappropriate for the workplace? Most likely.

But is he unbelievably drool-worthy and sexy? Definitely!!!

I'm just glad she did it so I don't have to... (kidding! I would NEVER get any work done with those eyes staring at me all day!)

I'm just sad she didn't go with this one:

I think I need to go take another walk to the other side of the building now...

P.S. Only THREE more weeks until Eclipse! Yay!

Grateful

2010-03-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

Today I am grateful for sunshine, lunch at Panera with a friend, getting off work early and Robert Pattinson. (hey, I'm just being honest here.)

Happy Friday!

p.s. Remember Me in theaters today!

At the moment

2010-03-05T10:06:00.000-07:00

I am...

-wondering why my face has recently decided to act like it's 15 instead of 25 :(

-wishing I could see John Mayer in concert when he comes here March 23rd

-~~slightly~~ obsessed with all things Robert Pattinson (and really excited about Remember Me next Friday!)

-totally loving The Pioneer Woman! Seriously, check her out. I suggest starting with her not-so-fiction story, From Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. It's what got me hooked :)

-needing to do my taxes. and finish my FAFSA. I should really get on that...

-wanting a puppy in the worst way

-looking forward to my mom (and brother, hopefully!) visiting in a couple weeks.

-happy that it's Friday!

Have a good weekend!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2010-01-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, I turned a quarter of a century old. Yikes! Most days I feel older than my age. But there is the rare occassion when my age surprises me...like days when I realize it's been 7 years since I was in school, or when my baby brother turned 18 and graduated high school. On those days, I can't believe that I'm 25 and an adult. Sometimes, I still feel like the naive 17 year old who thought she already knew it all. I thank God every day that I am not that girl anymore; that I am not the same as I was when I was 17.

25 seemed a little scary at first, but I think it's going to be a good year. The dreamer in me is making a comeback and I am happy with so many parts of my life. I think this is gonna be a good year...

So for my birthday, I had the day off work. (It should be mandatory that you get a day off on your birthday.) Steve also took the day off and we had a great time galavanting around Denver.

We started the day purchasing a birthday present: John Mayer's new cd, Battle Studies. It's good. Mellow. I've had it on repeat for the last 3 days. :)

After that, we headed to Happy Cakes for a birthday cupcake.

I had never been to the little shop, but the website had my expectations high. I was slightly disappointed, but I'll probably give it another chance.

The cupcakes were pretty darn good! I had the C.O.C. (chocolate on chocolate) and Steve got the red velvet with cream cheese frosting. We ended up switching half way through. :)

For dinner, we went to Osteria Marco in Denver. (sorry...no pictures. I was too busy taking it all in. Plus, it was dark and my phone camera has no flash.)

I had seen the owner/chef, Frank Bonanno, on the Food Network and had been dying to go here.

It was everything I had imagined. The building was beautiful. It was classy and elegant, but casual and cozy at the same time.

We tried a variety of small plates including homemade Burrata (homemade mozzerella and ricotta cheese) and Salame, pesto, and broccoli rabe pizza. The wannabe foodie inside me was in heaven.

It was absolutely delicious. The food was simple, fresh and the ultimate definition of "rustic". Simply lovely. AND, might I add, extremely affordable.

If you're in the mood for rustic Italian, I strongly recommend it; I will definitely be going back.

Back at home Steve set off my "birthday fireworks". I have a video, but can't get it off the phone. Maybe I will try to post it later. It was definitely memorable...how many people have had fireworks on their birthday?? :)

We ended the evening seeing the Blindside (finally) and Up In the Air. I loved the first, of course. It was a wonderful, inspiring movie. As for Up In the Air, I would suggest you to wait for the dvd. All I really remember about it is that I kept thinking how good George Clooney looked for being so old. (seriously though. wow.)

All in all, it was a great day. I felt loved and couldn't have asked for more.

Sunshine

2010-01-18T11:19:00.001-07:00

I seriously need this. Birthday present, anyone? ;)

In case you're counting.....

1 day til my birthday! woo hoo!!

Being a grown-up and birthdays, Part 2

2010-01-15T03:00:00.004-07:00

Thank you, Notes from the Universe:

"Some people just have big hearts, Jennifer. And with this gift they're very often able to feel, offer, and show far more love than they receive from those around them. Which, at times, is a heavy load to bear. So today I'd like to remind them, and especially you, that the sun asks not that the moon and planets help brighten each day, but relishes her role as a keeper of the light and a bringer of the dawn. A role much like your own."

On that note....

Only 4 Days until my Birthday!!

2010-01-13T15:39:00.000-07:00

Fact: Birthdays (and most holidays in general) mean a lot to me. I don't know why and I can't help it or change this fact about myself. Trust me, I've tried. I don't know why I care so much or feel the need to make grandiose plans and celebrations out of every one. I think it's something that makes up part of who I am, not just a learned habit or carried-on tradition. It's in me to care and acknowledge people and special events. I think, 100% believe, that birthdays are not 'just another day' and that everyone -no matter their age- deserves to feel special and loved on their day.
I understand that some people do not enjoy the attention and acknowledgement of them turning another year older, and I respect that. I'm not going to force someone to celebrate.
What I don't understand (and probably never will) is why people (even if they hate their own birthday) wouldn't go out of their way to acknowledge someone else's (especially if that someone LOVES birthdays).

As I've gotten older, I've realized that you can't expect to just come home to a birthday party with all your friends, favorite food, movies and games. You can't expect someone to make reservations at your favorite restaurant or whisk you away on a birthday trip. You can't force someone to plan your birthday celebration for you, and if you do manage to guilt them into it...you will only feel bad and worse for it anyway.
I think it's sad that we can't expect those things. I'm sure sometimes, to some people, those things do happen. But I think most of the time, it only happens in the movies.

To me, the loss of receiving an extravagant birthday celebration is one of the hardest parts about growing up. It's just not the same if you have to do it yourself.

It's better than staying at home alone, but it's not the same. :)

This is not an attempt to get anyone to plan a birthday party for me. Just trying to explain and make sense of my thoughts. Promise. Gifts, however, are always welcome. :)

and suddenly my day just got a little bit better....

2010-01-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

sigh

p.s. I do apologize that 96% of my posts these days are pictures of this boy. I think I need an intervention...

Definitely, Monday

2010-01-11T09:58:00.000-07:00

Today is (already) totally a Monday. The weekend went way too fast, work is crazy, and to top it all off: my shirt broke! Yes, broke.

I have this tank top (in purple) from Old Navy. Notice it has elastic on the bottom so that it hugs your hips but stays flowy on top. So I was just standing at a coworker's desk and *snap!*, the elastic just broke. So now instead of looking cute and trendy, I look sloppy and frumpy. the shirt hangs almost to my knees without the elastic! Haha! I suppose I will just have to tuck it in or something. Guess that's what I get for shopping at Old Navy...

Oh Monday, how I loathe thee.

Living Life to the Fullest (or, Why I'm trying to convince my mom to move to Spain)

2010-01-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it's due to the beginning of the new year (and decade, some would say) and everyone making their "goals that are not resolutions because resolutions are too typical but now everyone is making goals instead of resolutions so it's really the goals that are typical now", BUT this week has got me thinking.

I've dealt with wanting to go back to school for a while (okay, 7 years...)

(Wait a second, OMG--7 years?!?!?! It has not been 7 years since I graduated high school!! 2010-2003 = 7. Holy hell.)

um, anyway, I have been thinking about this for 7 years (I guess...) but I've always just pushed it to the back of my mind and ignored it. I might have looked up a school once or twice and perused the online courses, but that had been enough to stifle the annoyance for a while.
Plus, the yearly raises at work were enough to force me to settle. Then, before I knew it, I was telling myself that it was too late now to start over and that I couldn't survive on a lower income at a new job while I worked my way back up.
This past week, though, it just hit me. I can't do this anymore. I can't sit here and waste my life away in this cubicle doing mindless work that I hate. I want to do something meaningful and important and challenging and fulfilling.
I realized that it is incredibly sad to spend your life dragging yourself to work, counting down the minutes until you can leave and considering it a success when you didn't run out of the building screaming that day. What a waste. All my energy is spent dreading coming here and wishing that I didn't have to.
I mean, my job in itself isn't bad. It's easy work, the company is decent and the people I work with are (mostly) fine. It's definitely something that a person can be complacent with doing for the rest of their life. (And trust me--there are some "lifers" here. This place is kind of like a black hole.)
But I can't stand to think that that will be me. I don't want to do this for the rest of my life. Heck, I don't even want to do it for the rest of the week!!

So...it really has come to a boiling point. I can't ignore it anymore, my piss-poor salary isn't enough to placate me and I refuse to settle any longer. I'm tired of wanting to do something about it, I have to do something about it. The alternative is too scary not to try.

I'm starting today. Filling out some forms, doing some research, writing down some goals and ways to obtain them. I've enlisted my sister's help (she's a pro at going to school. hehe) and I'm feeling motivated. I can't let this just be wasted words. I have to follow through on this because my soul will literally die if I don't get out of here.

Maybe I've been reading too many Jason Mraz blogs, but I've been feeling all purposeful and Zen-y (dont worry, it's not too serious yet). I hate to admit it, but I find myself agreeing more and more with what he says and not thinking "he's so weird now" as much as I used to. I like to think that maybe he's toned down the crazy, but I think it's really me who is changing perspectives.
I'm encouraged to live intentionally and purposefully, to realize there is more to life and it's there for the taking.
And I'm not only encouraged in my own life, I want it for everyone around me.
I insisted that Steve set a goal to be a store manager by the end of the year. When he said that was too big, I found myself saying cliche things like, "Nothing is too big to dream!" and "That's why it's called a goal, because it's something that you strive for!". Cheesy, huh? :)
And then, two days ago, I found myself talking my mom into moving to Spain. As she became more and more convinced that this could actually be a possiblitly, there was a tiny part of my brain that was screaming, "WTF are you doing? do you really want your mother to move even farther away from you, to a foreign country? what the hell are you thinking?!" But the bigger part of me, the part that was encouraging her, was the part that I knew I truely believed in. It was saying, "Why not??"
When I asked her what she wanted to do for her--not for her mom and dad or kids or friends or anyone else-- what did she want to do (ala the Notebook. hehe), that was what she wanted. So what reason really could there be for her not to?

Besides, can you honestly look at this photo gallery without wanting to throw up and then become seriously depressed that you aren't there right now??

Because I haven't used enough cliche inspirational lines yet: Life is too short not to live it fully. Do what you desire, love wholeheartedly and for goodness sake, Be Happy. :)

I know this is long and cliche and borderline motivational speaker-ish. But I had to get it out! :)

You know you have a problem when...

2009-12-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

you freak out when a customer's name is Robert Patt......erson.

and then proceed to freak out a little every.single.time. you see the name, even though you know it's not the same. (and even if it was the same name, you know it's not THE one. but that's beside the point!)

and you know you REALLY have a problem because THEN your heart skips a beat and your palms get sweaty when you go to call him, because: his name is similar and, what if.......??

*sigh*

(you're welcome)

p.s. yes, this is embarassing to admit. just in case you were wondering.
p.p.s. It's obvious I will admit anything for the opportunity to ~~drool over~~ post another RPattz picture.

If My Life Were a Movie

2009-11-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

I saw this game and thought it would be a fun and quick post, given my penchant for pop culture (ooh..big words).

But...it was a lot harder than I thought it would be! Some were easier than others, but I did have to ask a few family members for their opinions.

Hopefully everyone is okay with their casting selection....Here goes!

If My Life Were a Movie
Credits:

My sister, Stacie- America Ferrera

My mama, Debbie- (although she does her NO justice) Kirstie Alley

they do have that sultry eyebrown thing in common...

My brother, Brandon- Channing Tatum

My other brother, Cameron- Jared Padalecki

(He suggested a Jonah Hill to Robert Pattinson transformation, but given my new ~~obsession~~ appreciation for RPattz, we're going with "Dean")
(However, now that I think about it, this is kind of odd given my choice for leading lady...)

Moving on.

Friend/BF's BFF, Jerod- Ben Roethlisberger (okay, he's not an actor, but he could learn)

Friend, Janis- Vanessa Hudgens

Friend, Raelynn- Jessica Szohr

Boyfriend, Steve- Joshua Jackson

And.....Me- Alexis Bledel

Hey, it's my movie, so I can do what I want. :)

Who would play you--if your life was a movie??

Also, because I know you're still thinking about him since I mentioned his name up there (no? just me? ok then...):

vampires

2009-11-13T19:45:00.000-07:00

Despite my best efforts, at some point, I became obsessed.
And now I can't put the damn books down.
What did I used to do before I became so enthralled in all this nonsense?! I really can't remember...

I blame Robert Pattinson and that ridiculous jawline.

geez........

1

2009-09-18T09:31:00.000-06:00

One day until I get to see:

live and in person (again)!

Happy Friday!!

And the countdown begins....

2009-09-16T09:41:00.000-06:00

Weather forecast: mostly sunny, 76* (thank goodness--because it's a 'rain or shine show'. and rain+me doesn't = :) But I would suck it up for Jason.)
Concert-going buddy confirmed: check
Ticket purchased and printed: check. check.
Days left until concert: THREE!

I am getting SO excited! This week can't go by fast enough. I've even thought about my outfit. (hey, you know that's important. don't judge.)
I've also started (mentally) planning what I'm going to take with me. I've never been to Red Rocks, but have wanted to go since I moved here...oh, 3 years ago. (GEEZ..where has the time gone?!) It completely makes sense that Jason Mraz would be the one to get me there.
Anyway, I'm not looking forward to the infamous trek up to the ampitheater. I have the physical fitness of an 80 year woman--what with my feet and back issues. I hope I make it! (And don't require a stop at the medical tent halfway up!) So I'll wear my tennis shoes, and bring my cute shoes to change into once I'm done hiking (because yes, life is a fashion show. you know it's true). Plus, a little jacket in case it gets chilly up in the mountain after the sun goes down.
Also, because we ~~don't want to spend a fortune on concession stand food~~ will be there early, we plan to take some food/drinks with us. (I just checked the website and found out that fruit and veggies must be sliced. How weird is that? I don't want my bananas and apples turning brown..gross! If they don't want you to try to slice them once you get there, how about just say "no knives" ?! Odd, these Coloradoans...)

Anyway...enough about that. Needless to say, I am excited. I've seen him 4 times already, but I have a feeling this is going to be a good one.
I have to admit, I'm a little nervous about the "Gratitude Cafe" influence. I've heard some weird things... Hopefully the hippy-Zen influence isn't too much to handle.
As long as he gets up there and sings some of my favorite songs, I'll be a very happy girl.

I'm ready to see Jason Mraz!
Well, at least, I'm ready to see the tiny speck that I will assume is Jason Mraz from 48+ rows back.
:)

sleepy (but still excited)

2009-09-15T12:16:00.000-06:00

I am extremely, extremely tired. I don't know what's wrong with me...even after I sleep, I am still just exhausted.

(The hypochondriac in me immediatley jumps to conclusions...)

But really, that's my only (obvious) symptom, so maybe I just need 15 or so hours of sleep to shake it.

Regardless, I am still counting down the days til the Jason Mraz concert. (FIVE!!)

So. Excited. For reals.

Even though I am sad weekend is over, I am really looking forward to this coming weekend.

I had a great time with my mama. We shopped and ate and saw Julie & Julia. (So good. I loved it. And my mom was the perfect one to see it with!)

We ate at D'Corazon, which I honestly think is the best Mexican food in Denver. (It even says it on the sign out front, so it must be true!) I am, admittedly, a Mexican food snob. So trust me when I say it's good. We also had Hapa and BD's Mongolian Grill. None of these places were new to me, but they were all firsts for my mom and she enjoyed them (I think!).

(oh, and the Teriyaki Chicken from Hapa= amazing)

We shopped a little, but didn't really find anything. Ironically, our only real purchases came from Target. (Except for a super cute hat I found at Aldo. yay, I finally found a hat!) My mom found a cute black dress and tank--both on sale, and I got a pretty purple v-neck for $5 (one of my shopping goals-- check!)

All in all, it was a fun and relaxing weekend spent enjoying our time together. I already miss her so much and wholeheartedly think that she needs to move to Denver. Come back soon! :)

she tried really hard to keep her eyes open, but after multiple takes, this was as good as it got. she's still pretty though :)

Now if I can just drag my sleepy self through the rest of this week...

Remembering 9/11

2009-09-11T14:14:00.000-06:00

Because I didn't mean to come off as insensitive or disrespectful of the day in my previous post.....

Eight years ago today was a day that the world will always remember.

Whether you knew someone that was there or not, we were all affected.

My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who lost someone on that day;

I cannot imagine the pain and heartache you must feel every day, but especially today.

I am thankful for every hero, big and small, who put their lives on the line for others.

It was a day that changed our nation.

And I will never forget.

I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it!

2009-09-11T13:54:00.000-06:00

I am currently experiencing an overload of excitement/energy/sugar. For starters, it's Friday (yippee!) and payday (double yippee!!).

Plus, my mom is coming to visit tomorrow! Yay!!!!

To top it all off, I printed my Jason Mraz ticket this morning. Only 8 more days!

PLUS -and this may be pushing it- but the absolutely gorgeous weather outside contains the teeniest, tiniest tinge of cool air (slightly reminiscent of fall), and it made me over-the-top ready for autumn temperatures!

All of this (combined with my donut-and-cherry-coke-induced sugar high) is making it awfully hard to sit still at work, let alone get anything done. It's a good thing I'm all caught up for the weekend!

Happy Friday!!

Just for fun---
(because one can never watch this clip enough! and because I referenced it in my title...)

(ps. sorry for the over-use of exclamation points. clearly, I'm too excited to type like a normal person today.)

Top Reasons Why I'm Loving September

2009-09-08T09:23:00.000-06:00

This is seriously shaping up to be a great month. Here's why:

5th-7th: 3-day weekend! I couldn't think of a better way to start the month. This included dinner at Dazzle, a jazz restaurant in Denver (very grown-up and sophisticated, don't you think?), Taste of Colorado, sleeping in and shopping.

12th: my mama comes for a weekend visit! (Okay..so she's really coming on a "work trip", but mostly it's just an excuse to see me. hehe)

14th: One Tree Hill & Gossip Girl are back!! I've missed you, my friends. (I'm still not ready to talk about Peyton and Lucas, so don't even bring it up, k?)

19th: JASON MRAZ AT RED ROCKS (need I say more?)

20th: Birthday party for my 2 favorite little people in the whole world.

22nd: First day of fall! Leaves changing, cooler weather, boot season, jackets and the smell of pumpkin and spice. It really doesn't get any better.

24th: Employee Appreciation Day @ work. This means catered lunch, casual day and a chance to win prizes. Fun stuff!
Also (more importantly)....Grey's Anatomy! I could not be more ready. Sadly, George will not be there, but there are still a lot of exciting stories to look forward to. Plus, this means tv-watching parties with the parents of above-mentioned little people, who I definitely need to hang out with more.

27th: Dexter! Seriously, it's the best show you're not watching. Just don't make me watch it when I'm home alone...

29th: The Hills/The City on MTV. I know, I know...but I'm not even embarassed. LC is gone, but Kristin is back! As much as we hate her, the girl knows how to bring the drama.

(And yes, I am fully aware how much of my happiness relies on tv shows returning. Don't judge.)

Plus, not to mention all of these random things that come with September and the beginning of Autumn:

My heart seriously leaps in my chest when I walk down the aisles of Target surrounded by this stuff
Okay, and this stuff too.
Have you smelled the new fall (home) fragrance from Bath & BodyWorks called Leaves? I love it. It pretty much encompasses everything wonderful about fall and lets you put that smell in your house. (FYI- Fresh Balsam smells like Christmas and Creamy Nutmeg is warm and delicious and perfect for fall, too!)
Boots!
'Tis (almost!) the season for pot pie! For some reason, pot pie just tastes better when it's cold outside. And I make a delicious chicken pot pie. (Seriously, it's so good). It's super easy and affordable, plus it's warm and filling. I'll post the recipe later on.

(Besides...I'm probably getting ahead of myself. It may be September, but Mother Nature apparently still thinks it's summer. Come on cooler weather!!)

When you think about it, September is such a tease. It's not really summer anymore, but it's not quite autumn. I'm not bashing it though, because this is truly shaping up to be a great month.

Besides...after September comes October (Halloween!), then November (Thanksgiving!!), and then December (CHRISTMAS!!!).

I love the last part of the year the best.

Having a little coffee with my creamer...

2009-08-24T09:35:00.000-06:00

I don't think I like coffee as much as I used to. Although, I never really loved it. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy a trip to Starbucks and will gladly drink a mocha frappuccino. I just don't appreciate the taste of the espresso and will never drink black coffee. Occassionally I will crave it at work (don't ask me why, since we must have the WORST coffee on the planet) but the only way I can get it down is because we just got those little flavored creamers. Put french vanilla in anything and I will drink it! (within reason...)
I'm fully aware that this probably makes me less cool, but I'm okay with that. :)

Also, I think it's really strange that I am never able to finish a hot beverage. It's impossible--I've tried. As good as my intentions are, I can never finish one. It doesn't matter if it's the most delicious hot chocolate or coffee or tea or anything...I am physically incapable of drinking it all. A whole cup, half a cup, two drinks worth--doesn't matter. I will inevitably leave some in the bottom of the mug.
I don't know if it's because I drink it too slow and then it gets cold, which is really disgusting, or if it's just a quirk.

Anyway, moving on to a totally unrelated subject. (Maybe coffee somehow correlates to the workplace and working and life-goals, etc...I dunno, my brain is kind of random.) But this is something I have been thinking about a lot lately.
I am really, really tired of...merely going through the motions of everyday life. This is mostly related to my job and that whole aspect of my life.*

I'm tired of being complacent and just coming to this job that I don't love, putting my 8 hours in and looking forward to exactly 4:30 when I can run out the doors. Some days it gets to me more than others, but those days are becoming more frequent lately. I find myself wanting something more, wanting something more meaningful and enjoyable and...better.
I don't think it's a secret to anyone who knows me that I really want to go back to school. Lately, I've been trying to imagine how that would work out. I'm getting too old to be a full-time student and I don't think I could even afford it at this point.
But then I think maybe if I lived in Oklahoma (where it's 1/3 cheaper and much easier)...? And then I think, "hell no, I do not want to move back to OK!"
And it's this constant battle of uncertainty and upset.

All I know is that I'm tired of doing this. And I just want to do something with my life before it passes me by.

*For the record, I am very, very happy with other parts of my life. :)

Things you shouldn't say to your musician boyfriend...

2009-07-28T11:07:00.000-06:00

I have been listening to Jason Mraz this morning in an effort to 'turn my frown upside-down'. I'd say it's working. I love going on YouTube and finding live performances--it makes me feel like I'm there. And it's especially fun when I find some from shows that I was at!
The downside to all of this is that it exacerbates (ooh..big word!) my desire/need to go to the Red Rocks show in September. I must go... even if it does cost equivalent to 115 items from the Sonic dollar menu (those tiny chicken sandwiches...yum!).

So anyway, I have asked Steve if he'd go with me. He said, "Sure!".
Then I told him how much it was.
And I got one of those looks.
I went on to babble about how it's "soooo worth it" and that it would "make my life" and that I would be willing to pay even more than that, to which he rolled his eyes.
And THEN...I made a big mistake.
"But he's my most favorite singer in the whole world!!"

....Ooops.

He definitely now has some leverage to use against me. It's going to take a lot of work to get him to go with me and ~~swoon over~~ enjoy the musical stylings of Jason Mraz.

In the meantime, watch this video and tell me that doesn't make you want to buy your tickets right now.

But you better not get them til after Friday, cuz I can't get mine before then! ;)

Happy Friday!

2009-07-24T15:05:00.000-06:00

This totally made me smile today and I just had to share.

I would never--in a million years--do that at my wedding, but how awesome is that?!
I love how towards the end I started thinking, "hmm..I wonder if the bride knows about this" and then in she comes just like everyone else. So much fun.

Happy Weekend!

*Edit* you can go here to read about how it was actually the bride's idea!

No Worries

2009-07-20T16:20:00.000-06:00

It's no secret that I love me some Jason Mraz. However, even I think sometimes his new Zen-hippie outlook on things can be a bit too much. But there are time when he makes total sense and encourages me to have a different perspective on things that everyone can relate to.

So, just in case you don't read Jason's blog daily (even though you totally should...), here is a snippet of his views on worrying (it's kind of long, but worth the read. trust me.):

"I waste little energy on worry. What’s there to be anxious about? Missing a flight or not making a phone payment can be an inconvenience, just as someone you know getting sick or even dying can be very unfortunate. But Worry is what happens when you take those misfortunes on and think you have control over them. You tell yourself that you are responsible in some way for these situations. Or worse, you’ve decided if the outcome isn’t pleasant, there could be even more trouble for yourself and others.

Worry is a story you tell yourself and nothing more. Sometimes we do it to over-express our care in a matter. Other times we’re looking for sympathy. We’ll even go so far as to tell all about our worries in hopes that someone else will share the responsibility with us. There are plenty of reasons we create for Worry to creep its little head in.

But the real fact is, you are responsible for nothing to begin with.

Let’s say you send some love to someone, but they don’t reciprocate the way you expected. That’s nothing to worry about. It doesn’t mean they don’t love you. Besides, if they don’t, why worry about that? If that mattered, you’d be creating that as a condition for having love in your life. Unconditional love is what we practiced when we came into this world in the first place – so it’s best we get back to being that.

Our economy-based society doesn’t make it easy for us to live worry-free lives. Somewhere between the ages of 6 and 16 we pick up all kinds of story and baggage that sit with us our whole lives. Is my job a cool job? Are my clothes cool or appropriate for this place? Do I read the right books? Do I hang with the right crowd? Whatever the answer, it’s just one interpretation of how you THINK life should be. There’s nothing in this Universe that can support the way something SHOULD be other than the honesty and your joyous reaction to it being whole.

Life itself is empty and meaningless. Truly. It’s you who give meaning to something. The world you see before you is entirely defined by your interpretation of it. Otherwise, life just is.

Some people don’t care for sports. They see the game as meaningless. Others see it as the most important activity on the planet. Some people really love fancy cars while others can go their whole lives not caring what kind of box they’re transported around in. You see what I’m saying? Go easy on yourself. Love yourself. Tell the world that [yours] is a peaceful and playful age, not a hard one, and watch it transform around you."

P.S. I seriously cannot stop thinking about his show at Red Rocks. I need to buy my tickets SOON

Smile Friday

2009-07-17T08:16:00.000-06:00

I realized that I have seriously been neglecting my blog. I suppose though, that's just how it goes with me. Sometimes I just don't feel like writing or getting my thoughts out. Sometimes I just want to keep them to myself and live life, rather than take the time to write about it.
And then other times, I have the urge to put those thoughts and feelings and memories onto paper (or, you know, the internet), as if that's the only way I'll be able to remember them in 50 years.

I do, however, feel like a hypocrite. I have a large-ish Google Reader list that I keep up with (almost) daily, and I find myself feeling disappointed when people don't post enough. I guess I can't really say anything, except that I really do love reading everyone's blogs and I promise to work harder at it if you will. :)

I have a few blogs that I read anonymously. Ones that I found from my "Google Reader recommendations" or just from searching around. One of my favorites of these is Molly at These Simple Moments.
I don't know her, but I kind of feel like I do. I relate to much of the what she writes about and she makes me laugh. Her blog is one that I definitely look forward to reading.

So, since yesterday was an overwhelming day of frustration and stress, I thought I would resurrect this blog with something Molly regularly does on her blog, called Smile Friday:

-Casual day at work means another day of flip flops and v-neck tees

-It's payday!

-I just found out that Jason Mraz is coming to Red Rocks!! (shhhh..don't tell anyone because I haven't bought my tickets yet!)

-While driving to work today, the sun was shining, there was a hot air balloon floating in the sky and I was smiling and singing along to the radio (loudly). I almost tricked myself into believing I am a morning person and it made me smile even more.

-There is spaghetti, leftover birthday cake and Steve waiting for me when I get home today.

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday

2009-06-12T13:35:00.000-06:00

This just made my day.
Go. Read. Watch. Smile.

Happy Weekend!

It's Alright....'cuz I'm Saved by the Bell!

2009-06-10T09:50:00.000-06:00

Okay... have you heard about this?

Apparently Jimmy Fallon, from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, is campaigning to reunite the cast of the show in a Saved By the Bell reunion. (go ahead, sign the petition. I know you want to!)
So far, Mr. Belding, Lisa Turtle, AC Slater, Zack Morris and Jessie Spano have already agreed.

I'm not gonna lie, I love this idea!! I am one of those who has seen every episode (multiple times) and can quote lines all day long. I grew up with them: stuck by Jessie during her caffeine pill addiction, cried when Kelly broke up with Zack at the prom, went with them to college and was at the wedding when Zack and Kelly finally got married in Vegas.
To see 'the gang' reunited would be a happy day.

So...back to Jimmy Fallon. ~~Mark Paul Gosselaar~~ Zack Morris went on the show to promote his show, Raising the Bar. The thing is, it was actually Zack Morris who was the guest.
Watch:

Love it!! (However, it did take me a minute to get over the creepiness. Does he not look a little bit like a talking mannequin?? Creepy!!) It was very clever and just the right mix of light-heartedness and
parody. Not to mention, Friends Forever with the Roots? Awesome!

I am definitely on board for this reunion. And may even start watching Jimmy Fallon from now on.

(To read more about Mark Paul's idea for the appearance, go here.)

'Personal Assistant' could also mean......what?

2009-06-02T15:57:00.000-06:00

The other night I had a dream that I was in a competition to become Jason Mraz's personal assistant.

It was 90% the Bachelor-esque and 10% text-message contest. I texted my way into the finale and made it to the top 8 women who got to have dinner with him. Then, somehow (you know how dreams are vague), I was down to the last two. The other girl, her name was something dumb like Alicia or something, was totally a biotch and seemed more interested with flirting than doing her job. But she was gorgeous and outgoing and bubbly and fun and all of that (that apparently my mind thinks Jason would find appealing.)
So because we were the last two, we got to go on the "home dates". We went to Jason's home and met his family (where I totally hit it off with his mother!) and friends and interacted with them. This was obviously important because Jason's personal assistant would have to get along with everyone in his life. (Strangely, Colbie was nowhere to be found...lol.)
So just when he was about to announce the winner (the other girl) I whispered something in his ear (I don't know what, but I'm pretty sure it was NOT dirty) that proved how much I wanted the job, so he decided we needed a tie-breaker. After that, I had to work extra hard to prove just how much I wanted it while the other girl just tried to make me look bad.
In the end, I am pretty sure I didn't win. But I became friends with Jason and was so happy that I had had the chance to get to know him, blah blah blah.

I woke up thinking, WTF?? It was kind of out of nowhere...But I had been having other strange dreams over the weekend (for the record, Steve is not allowed to interact with any women of Bolivian descent). Maybe it was my subconcious feeling discontent with my job and wanting a position that was exciting and purposeful. Or maybe the personal assistant symbolized a desire to make a difference in someone's life and help someone who was in need.

Whatever. I'm pretty sure it was just a part of my brain wishing I could hang out with Jason Mraz. :)

Questions

2009-05-28T13:56:00.000-06:00

Raelynn tagged me, so here goes nothin:

What's your current obsession?
Red grapes. I seriously can’t get enough.

What's your weirdest obsession?
It’s not that weird, but maybe celebrity gossip.

What are you wearing today?
Jeans, a black shirt and flip flops. (I was wearing slacks, but it was free jeans week at work and I didn’t know. So I went home and changed at lunch).

Why is today special?
Hmm… the only thing that comes to mind is that cheesy quote about treating each day like it’s a gift…

What would you like to learn to do?
Play the piano.

What's for dinner today?
Lasagna and garlic bread. And perhaps some Caesar salad. But I’m not even hungry….

What's the last thing you bought?
Sonic for lunch. Mmm…this strawberry slushy was JUST what I needed.

What's your favorite weather?
fall. Crisp, cool air and the smell of autumn.

What's your most challenging goal right now?
Living life with intention… not just going through the motions and settling for less.

What do you think about the person who tagged you?
She’s like my sister. I love her!

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Italy, or the beach. Or NYC, that would be kind of fun.

Favorite vacation spot?
My only ‘vacations’ have been back home to Oklahoma. Hopefully that will change in the coming year.

What would you like to have in your hands right now?
a cuddly puppy. I want one, please?

What would you like to get rid of?
hm...how about the miles between me and my family.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
the beach. I need to sit on a secluded island with an umbrella drink and get rid of this headache.

What's your favorite thing about the city you live in?
Everything is close, it’s a nice neighborhood…. That’s about it. I’m not crazy about it, really.

If you had $150 now what would you spend it on?
clothes

Do you admire anyone's style?
Addison Montgomery-Shepherd has a very classy “professional style”. In real life, I love the way Jacki dresses :)

Describe your personal style?
Eh..lately, it’s just whatever. It’s kind of classic I suppose, nothing too outrageous for me. I do like to show some cleavage, though :)

Who is someone your heart is missing right now?
my brother

Name 3 things you'd like to do, visit or see in the next year?
I MUST visit NYC this year or I will die….
Italy is also on top of the list.
And I’d like to see a broadway show.

Now the rules of this tag:
1. Respond and rework: answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention (I didn’t do this because I’m lazy and non-creative at the moment. But you can if you like).
2. Tag 7 other people you would love to learn more about.

I choose:

Debbie
Stacie
Shauna R
Jacki (because i mentioned her. but I don't even know if she reads this...)

(I know that's not seven.... so sue me. lol)

I need a vacation from my vacation

2009-05-28T13:38:00.000-06:00

Because I am still frazzled and trying to recover from vacation, I present you: bullet points.

So happy Kris Allen won AI. May have jumped up and down (and squealed a little) in the car when I found out.
Still have yet to watch the finale (especially looking forward to Jason Mraz’s performance).
800+ miles in 24 hours= not fun. I’m soooo over road trips for the time being.
Incredible Pizza Company is fun. Dave and Buster’s is funner. (yes, funner.)
Can finally send/receive pictures on my phone! Hooray!
Having to buy new tires: sucks. Having to buy new tires while on vacation: sucks more.
Getting a flat during a scenic drive with Steve > getting a flat while driving to Tahlequah alone.
I ♥ Walmart. Especially the ones in Oklahoma. (Seriously. Where else can you see a naked baby with a tan riding around in a shopping cart??)
Obsessed. Don’t really like/dislike Beyonce, but enjoyed the movie. She kicked some ass. Plus, what’s-his-name isn’t too bad to look at for an hour and a half.
“Chicken mole is worth the wait. Not the 2-year wait, but the until-midnight wait.”
Still feel bad for ~~letting~~ making Steve drive 10+ hours on the way home…
Terminator: Salvation. Pretty good. Kinda cheesy—just how I like it.
Still trying to recoup from the 12-hour car ride back (puffy hands/face, butt tired of being sat on, still feel the need to drive 80 mph on every road)

Detailed vacation post (with pictures!) coming soon… :)

Leaving Tonight*

2009-05-20T15:54:00.000-06:00

In less than 24 hours I will be in the great state of Oklahoma. Yipee!!

Oklahoma means family, home, beautiful sunsets, brother (singular...*tear*) and sister and mom, relaxation, and did I mention time with my family? I can't wait to hit the road and be outta here for a whole week!
Thunderstorms are in the forecast for CO this evening, which I am not thrilled about driving through. But I think it should be fine.

(Of course, the second I leave CO would get a thunderstorm...)

I am also not thrilled that thunderstorms and high 80s is the forecast for Stillwater the entire time I am there! Grrr. My hair does NOT appreciate the humidity. I suspect I will look like a poodle the second I get out of the car.

It will be so nice to get some time away. I miss my family terribly, and I'm a little homesick for good ole' Stillwater. A snowcone with my sis will make my heart happy.
I'm also looking forward to spending some time with Steve's family. This will be the first time he "takes me back home" and the first time I will meet the fam as the "girlfriend". (Or as his mom likes to call me, special friend. lol) However, I am most looking forward to meeting his adorable 4-year old niece. I even have a little gift for her, just to be sure she likes me from the start. :)

It should be a great week and I plan on savoring every moment.
Oklahoma, here I come!

*Totally unrelated yet fabulous song by Jennifer Hudson and Ne-Yo. Go listen. Seriously.

Emotional Overload (aka TV spoilers ahead)

2009-05-15T11:00:00.000-06:00

This week has been rough.

It's no secret that I ~~am obsessed with~~ enjoy my tv shows. This week began season finales, which I always dread. But this season has been a little harder to handle.

Let's start at the beginning (of the week).

Monday was One Tree Hill. Although they still have one more episode next week, Monday's episode was probably the most emotional and happy and sad and frustrating and confusing episode ever. Lucas and Peyton finally got married, but you KNEW what was coming as he left to go to the garage. But that isn't the worst of it...
It has been confirmed that Hilarie Burton and Chad Michael Murray will not be returning next season.
Honestly, I can't even talk about it right now.

Moving on.

Monday also gave us the season (series?) finale of House. After that episode, I was talking about it to anyone who would listen. (Regardless if they watch the show or not, I was telling them everything!)
I still am not really sure what all happened. What I think happened, was that he turned out to have schizophrenia. Right? And if that's the case, and he actually has a mental illness, how will he be back next season???? He can't practice medicine anymore. And the whole basis of the show is about him, HOUSE, being a doctor. (Kind of like how One Tree Hill is about Lucas and Peyton and can't possibly go on without them. But I digress...) It was just crazy. Crazy and totally shocking!

Tuesday was filled with great performances by Danny Gokey, Kris Allen and that other guy. Although it seemed inevitable, nothing prepared me for saying goodbye to Danny on Wednesday night. I really didn't think he was going to win the whole thing. (Honestly, I have been rooting for Kris the entire time.) But I wanted him to at least beat out Glambert (who I absolutely cannot stand another second of. ew.)
For some reason, the mere sight of Danny (let alone hearing him sing) solicits tears that I can't control. I blame it mostly on the devastating story about his wife. Trying to imagine the pain he has gone through and then hearing him sing songs like What Hurts the Most, is more than I can take. (Btw, if you watch that video and don't cry, you surely have a heart of stone.)

That brings us to Thursday. (Which, for those of you who live in a cave, means Grey's Anatomy.)
I had heard that the 2-hour season finale would be a tear-jerker. But seriously.
I had been struggling the whole episode to come to terms with the fact that George was joining the war. (Which I'm sure had something to do with my brother joining the Air Force this week...)
But when the John Doe traced "007" into Merideth's hand, my brain put two and two together and I was crying before I knew what was happening. Truthfully, it may or may not have been one of the biggest displays-of-emotion-in-response-to-a-tv-show, ever. *Insert sheepish grin here*

But seriously. Seriously?!
I mean, I knew that he might be leaving the show. But I did not in a million years consider that he would be leaving the planet! I mean, it's George. Lovable, goofy, sweet George.
It's no secret that I'm a die-hard Mer-Der fan. But George has definitely always had a special place in my heart, that probably started when he helped Bailey deliver her baby.
He can't die. He just can't.

And now we have to wait four frickin months to get any sort of closure.

I just may have to break out the dvds this summer to try and console my breaking heart.

my weekend (ramblings)

2009-05-11T12:30:00.000-06:00

Friday:

Steve had a "concert" with a band he's been practicing with (as a favor to a friend). Except he doesn't tell anyone about it because they are not good. It was a long night of gross beer, being overcrowded by Boulderites with hairy armpits and dodging the hippie dancers in a hot warehouse. Good times.

Saturday:

skipped the garage sales and slept in until 11. Ran some errands, had lunch at Sweet Tomatoes (yum), and watched the end of the Nuggets game. (yay casual days!)

got this sweater on sale: I love it and I want to wear it every day (which has actually happened so far...)
went with Steve to run sound for a gig for his friends, 20:12. It actually turned out to be a high school prom (HAHA). It was fun, even though I got mistaken for a student 3 times...

Sunday:

went to the 11:00 service at True Light Baptist Church. It was quite the experience. We were the only ones there who, a.) were wearing jeans and b.) not African American. To make it even better, we were there on "Church Hat Sunday" and all the ladies were wearing their 'crowns'. It was fabulous. Needless to say, we stuck out like a sore thumb. However, we were warmly welcomed and really enjoyed it. We may even go back again--once we get back from vacation.

had a wonderful "southern" lunch of Popeye's chicken. So delicious. Watched The Other Boelyn Girl (can we say 'drama'!?) and took a much-needed nap (we were cranky).
caught up on some tv from last week (One Tree Hill and Grey's). Um, talk about tears?!

called my mama and wished her a Happy Mother's Day

cried my eyes out (again) over my brother leaving for the Air Force today

stayed up way too late watching American Dad and Family Guy

It was probably the best weekend I've had in a long time. So relaxing. Plus, I just love spending time with Steve, even if we're doing nothing.

On another note, I can't believe Brandon is leaving today and that he won't be there when I visit next week. But I know this is going to be a good thing for him and he's going to do great. I can't help worrying, but I am proud of him!

Oh yes...during my last conversation with Brandon this morning, Steve interjected,
"Tell him I'll take him out to dinner if he finds Osama."
Brandon (and I) cracked up laughing. (Which was perfect timing because I was just starting to cry...)

So here's to Monday and hoping that the next 10 days go quickly. I can't wait for vacation!

Is it wrong to think Spock is hot?

2009-05-08T15:42:00.000-06:00

Okay, I'm not really talking about Spock. I'm talking about the actor that plays him in the new Star Trek movie: Zachary Quinto

See?? Hottie!! (Trust me, he looked nothing like this in the movie. I had no idea he was this gorgeous underneath those pointy Vulcan ears!)

But did you know...there is a large group that really does think Spock is sexy.

Anyway, go see the movie. Even if you're not a huge Star Trek nerd, it's actually pretty good!!

Joe Who?

2009-05-08T09:35:00.000-06:00

I'm a little bit ashamed to admit this, but the other night I had a dream about the Jonas Brothers. Joe Jonas, specifically.
The really strange thing about this is that #1-I've never heard a Jonas Brothers song in my life, and #2- I have NO idea which one is "Joe".

(There really is a Joe, right? I couldn't name them all if my life depended on it...)

Why is my subconcious pretending to be an 11 year old girl?!
Just for the record, I DO NOT love the Jonas Brothers. Ok? Ok.

(p.s. You can go here if you actually do love Joe.)

i want to freakin go home already!!

2009-05-07T15:34:00.001-06:00

that's all.

ok, not really. But seriously, hasn't this day gone on long enough already?!

I was trying to be all cheerful and in a good mood today because we had a potluck and we got to wear jeans today (Go Nuggets!). But come on. Enough is enough!

This work day needs to be over and 4:30 is not coming fast enough.

on a more positive note:

how freakin adorable is he?!?!

lights out

2009-05-05T16:05:00.000-06:00

We had a power outage at work about 45 minutes ago. Fun!! The sad part is that two years ago, they built a huge diesel generator for this exact situation, so we still had to (half) work. :(

But...it was still a little bit of excitement!
And now it's almost time to go home. hooray!

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

time for some margaritas

it's all in my head

2009-04-30T15:15:00.000-06:00

"pa-pa-pa poker face, pa-pa poker face"

I cannot get that line out of my head! I keep singing it in my head and doing robot arm dance moves...
I can't really tell for sure, but I think 99% of the words to that song are some form of "he can't see through my poker face", over and over. (Kind of like how "just dance" comprised 95% of her other song. With the remaining 5%, of course, being incomprehensible nonsense.)
I really hate that this song is so catchy and gets stuck in your head. Kind of like the National Anthem. Oh wait, maybe that's the song you're supposed to sing when another song is stuck in your head. I can't remember.
And now I have a hodgepodge of mixed-up lyrics and melodies in my head.
Dang it.

Mer-Der

2009-04-27T14:55:00.001-06:00

If you are a fan of Grey's Anatomy, you really must check this out.

love it. :)

how I spent my weekend

2009-04-27T11:04:00.000-06:00

This weekend, Steve and I channeled our inner-old people.

But first, on Friday night we had an 'adventure' down to Aurora. It wasn't as ~~scary~~ urban as I thought it would be, and we even had some amazing sushi in an authentic, hole-in-the-wall restaurant.

But the real reason we went down there was for this:

It's a vintage 1960's console stereo in perfect condition. The inside looks like this:

Trust me, it's really cool.

We got it from the cutest little old Native American man who had a tiny puppy and 50-year old pictures of him and his wife around the apartment. We talked for a few minutes and promised him that we would take good care of it.

Once we got it home and set up, something happened to the apartment. It was like we had suddently been transported to another time. The presence and the smell filled the room and made it feel like we were back in a simpler time.

We put on a Wes Montgomery album, turned out the lights and sat on the couch in the glow of the tube radio. We were listening to classic music, the way it had originally been heard. It was pretty neat.

It wasn't long before the lilt of the jazz guitar on the vintage record player lulled us to sleep.

The next day we woke up at the crack of dawn (see: old people) to go to garage sales. Yes, garage sales. Honestly, it is one of my favorite things to do and it makes me so happy that Steve shares my love for a good yard sale.

Six hours, eight dollars, and two ~~arguments~~ discussions later, we were home with our treasures. We didn't find much, and realized that garage sales in Colorado are much different than back home. People just don't know how to do them right here! But it was still fun.

Sunday included a few more garage sales, some good Mexican food at Jalisco, and resting at home.

It was a pretty good weekend. Coming back to work was not fun this morning and it is a typical Monday.

I can't wait to get back home, put on a record and be taken back in time as I fall asleep on the couch. :)

just because

2009-04-23T10:28:00.000-06:00

you're welcome :)

And it's only Monday!

2009-04-20T10:18:00.000-06:00

It's definitely feeling like Monday today. I don't think I'm the only one who didn't get out of bed this morning. Within 5 minutes of being at work, I was already annoyed and it went downhill from there. I actually had to take my whole 15-minute break or else I was going to lose it, most likely in front of my supervisor.
But then I found this. Have you heard of Susan Boyle? If not, I really encourage you to go watch her Britain's Got Talent audition. And I dare you not to be smiling afterwards.
Here's hoping that the day just keeps going up from here.

(Oh, and One Tree Hill is new tonight, so there is a good chance that it could end up being a good day!)

The Sound of Music

2009-04-14T15:10:00.000-06:00

I don't know why, but this video made me a little bit teary--in a happy way!
Watch it and tell me if that happens to you too, because I know I can't be the only crazy one. :)

These are a few of my favorite things...

2009-04-13T11:54:00.000-06:00

1. What is your first name? Jennifer

2. What is your favorite food? homemade fried chicken

3. What high school did you go to? Stillwater

4. What is your favorite color? cranberry red/pink

5. Who is your celebrity crush? Patrick Dempsey

6. Favorite drink? mimosa

7. Dream vacation? secluded beach island bungalow (Virgin Islands, etc)

8. Favorite dessert? tiramisu

9. What did you want to be when you grew up? a writer

10. What do you love most in life? my family

11. One Word to describe you

12. Where do you live? Colorado

This is supposed to be one of those chain letter-type things where I tell you the sites to go to and make your own. But this freakin thing gave me so much trouble, it was hardly worth it. It was not nearly as much fun as it claims to be.
(If you'd like to try, which I don't recommend, you can go here to make your own collage. Be sure that you create an account first, or else you'll lose all your work. Lame.)

One thing I did realize though, is that I love collages. Like, really. I think it's going to be my new 'thing'. But real ones, not...you know, stupid virtual ones.

This post is not about Miley Cyrus

2009-04-08T10:24:00.000-06:00

It's not about how stupid she is, and why I hate her. Because she is so ridiculous, I refuse to even waste my time talking about it.

This is really about shoes. And about how when you can't walk, going to the shoe store (especially where they are all on sale!) is NOT FUN.
I walked in to Nordstrom Rack and seriously wanted every cute pair of shoes I saw:

Chances are, I probably wouldn't have bought the shoes, even if I wasn't crippled. Because I'm cheap. :)
Well...maybe that last pair. So cute!!

I'm praying that soon I will be able to enjoy the warmer weather and wear flip flops again. Because seriously? That's the best part of summer for me!

I'm majorly, totally, butt crazy in love with Josh!

2009-04-08T08:52:00.000-06:00

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed Paul Rudd is everywhere lately?
From roles in Knocked Up and Forgetting Sarah Marshall to Role Models and I Love You, Man, he is quickly becoming a staple in Hollywood's funny (albeit, crude) men.
And I'm loving it. I think he is the perfect actor to bridge the gap in those mostly-male-humor-but-trying-to-appeal-to-women-as-well movies that are all the hype right now. So far, he has mostly played the "good guy" in these movies and his character is usually offended (or completely un-relatable) with the vulgar, crass, "guy's guy". I think this is the part that could be appealing to the women who are forced to watch these ridiculous (however, almost always hilarious) films with their boyfriends/husbands/whoever.

Plus, he is cute. Not in a drop-dead gorgeous way, but in a sweet, perfect-boyfriend kind of way (with a little bit of awkward-nerd thrown in).

I think Cher said it best in Clueless: "Okay, okay......so he's kind of a Baldwin."

Because no matter how many guy movies he stars in, he will always be "Josh" to me. :)

A Day In the Life...

2009-04-07T11:53:00.000-06:00

not to steal Raelynn's format, but time logs are a fun way to post!

7:34- clock in at work, almost late because the time clock sucks
7:35- log in to phone but stay on "aux" cuz I refuse to speak (on the phone, or otherwise) before 8:30 am
7:40- log on to Gmail and check my reader. something like 20 new posts (majority of them are from People.com and failblog)
7:53- quickly complete the 16 items I have for the day. decide against asking my supervisor for something to do because the answer is always the same.

8:15- daily morning meeting. nothing important is discussed
8:33- finish chatting with the ladies and turn back to computer
8:35- tire of looking at my blank desktop, open google, search for one tree hill gossip
8:40- decide that OTH 'behind the scenes' is pretty boring, close google
8:40- stare idly at my computer, decide to log in to phone and answer calls, but there are none.
9:45- hobble to the kitchen and make my instant oatmeal. but I hate it and don't know why I keep trying to eat it. force down a few bites until it becomes cold and lumpy, then throw it away.
9:50- realize I missed my chance at a call (and therefore, something to do) and put my phone back on 'available'
9:53- get text message from my brother saying that he is leaving for the Air Force on May 12 and I will not be able to see him before he leaves. have a 5 minute pity-party/mini cry-fest. seriously think about going home. recompose myself. reopen google.
10-10:30- search Google for everything from Easter recipes to heel pain to jelly bean poems. Intermittently check Reader for new posts, the only new ones are from People. I'm sick of hearing about Madonna and her Malawi adoption. seriously.
10:30- first phone call!! but it's just a transfer...
10:35- decide I want to make an Easter dinner: ham, garlic mashed potatoes, carrots and rolls. yum
10:45- IM my friend and bug her about Easter plans, etc. She actually has work to do and I feel bad.
10:50- google Taylor Momsen (i have no idea?) and look up recipes for hot cross buns; decide I do not have the desire to make those.
10:52- another call. quick and easy, nothing exciting.
10:55- open Paint and start making easter eggs. make a whole bunch, am very proud, email them to show my mom and set them as my desktop background.
11:15- wonder if it's too early to call Steve to see if I can come home for lunch and if he will make pizza?
11:27- Steve calls and asks if I want to come home for lunch; says he will make pizza. :)
11:45- open Reader yet again.. nothing. decide I'll write my own blog.
11:57- 3rd phone call... confused lady who has no idea what she's talking about. transfer her to get some help.
currently 12:21: I think you get the idea and now I'm going home for lunch. yay pizza!

Gets Me Through...

2009-03-16T15:12:00.001-06:00

Sometimes, (okay, most times) the only thing that keeps me sane on Mondays is the anticipation of my Monday night tv shows. Unfortunately, they have been on hiatus for FAR too long. The placebo effect of the reruns has been just enough to get me through these past few weeks, but the new episodes tonight couldn't have come at a more needed time.

I know I'm admitting something pretty embarassing, but Gossip Girl is one of my shows. I came in on the third or fourth episode, but it's definitely a 'can't-miss' now. I love the drama and the sex and scandals. Oh, but I conveniently forget that they are supposed to be 15-18 and in high school.
Anyway...in case you care: We left off with Blair, on the brink of being expelled, losing Yale and her father's trust, using a picture (that Serena took!) of Dan and the new teacher-what's-her-name in order to get the teacher fired. Now, the rumor that they were 'together' was totally not true....until Dan went to her apartment afterwards and she said that 'since she wasn't his teacher anymore.......' so yeah. I have a hard time devoting myself to this show when Serena & Dan break up. Also, I love Chuck and Blair together. And since none of that is really developing at the moment, I am simply watching tonight out of loyalty and curiosity. :)

Now as for One Tree Hill, I'm gonna tell you whether you care or not. :)
I am one-hundred percent, wholly devoted to this show. I have spent too much of my life (six years) and cried way too many tears to give up on it now. Not that there is any reason to give up on it! They have sucessfully closed the gap in the 4-year jump, and I'm glad that they are in my age-bracket again. Things are getting good, too. Peyton and Lucas are (finally) together for real, they are getting married, and having a baby! However, tonight's episode promises some patented OTH drama. The preview (in case you haven't seen it, you can go here) hints at some tough choices ahead and a whole lotta tears.
I think when we last left the other characters, Haley had made a hard choice about publishing Sam's controversial essay, which may have a dire effect on her teaching position. They also had the first read-through of the screenplay with all the actors finally casted. (Btw, I'm still holding out for a OTH movie. It was, after all, Mark Schwahn's original concept for the story!) So I'm sure there will be a lot of stories going on aside from the Lucas-Peyton baby drama. Trust me, it's gonna be good!!

Needless to say, you know where I'll be at 7:00! I'm so happy my friends are finally back.
haha :)

(p.s. just to prove how much of a nerd I am, I titled this post after a song title...which is how OTH names all their episodes! fun little (nerdy) fact for ya.)

That Little Voice

2009-02-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

I'm willing to bet that at one point in your life, you've thought "How do I know I'm hearing from God?"
I strongly believe that everyone hears from Him in a different way. Some people might hear an audible voice, others might hear His voice in nature, art, music, food, anything.
I know that I personally hear Him in many of those ways. However, I would say the most frequent mode of communication is a feeling. It's hard to explain, but it's like a nagging feeling in your heart and the pit of your stomach. It's also a feeling of contentment and just knowing that a decision is right.

Yesterday I was absentmindedly browsing craigslist jobs. I came across one titled "Concierge" in the "healthcare" category. I never look in the healthcare category, mostly I just stick to the Administrative/Office type things. I'm not sure how this particular posting came up, but I clicked on it regardless. (Honestly, it was probably just because I like saying the word 'concierge'.) Basically it's a font-desk/hostess position for an assisted living center for the elderly. After reading it I thought, "I could totally do this job!" I googled the facility and found out it is brand new and literally across the street from my apartment. Browsing the website, I discovered that it seemed like a very luxurious and welcoming place. Their craigslist posting was friendly, yet professional, and I emailed it to myself--just 'cuz.
The rest of the day and night, the idea of this job was constantly in my head. I woke up and it was the first thing I thought of. I decided then that I probably needed to respond to the ad. The more I thought about it, the more excited I became.
Working in a daycare was the most enjoyable job I have ever had. I love taking care of people's loved ones and growing attached to the kids. But another part of me craves a professional environment- working on a computer and being in an office. It dawned on me that this job would be the best of both professions! I could interact with the residents, be involved with caregiving (even if it is indirectly) but I would also be in an office environment performing administrative support duties.
And most importantly, I would be involved in something that mattered. I am so tired of working for the sake of paying the bills. I long to do something that I enjoy and something that means more in the bigger picture, ya know?
Long story short, I wrote a kick-ass cover letter, tweaked my resume a tad and sent it off. About 20 minutes ago.

Am I getting my hopes up? Possibly.

But I just can't ignore the 'little voice' that wouldn't let me pass this opportunity by.

Four-Eyes

2009-02-10T13:12:00.001-07:00

I have to go to the eye doctor today. For some reason, I am really dreading it. I haven't been since I was probably 9 years old, and I am nervous. I am not looking forward to the idea of wearing glasses again, although I desperately need them since I am practically blind at this point. I know they will make a world of difference and my headaches will go away (and I will be able to pass the vision test at the DMV...). But I don't want them!! Maybe I am more vain than I thought. I feel like they are going to totally change my appearance and they will be in the way and I am sure I will develop the habit of unconsciously using my finger to push them up on the bridge of my nose...... Mostly, I feel like I will look like a nerd. (I am a nerd, but I don't want people to know that just by looking at me!)
I am totally having a "Stephanie" moment. Where's my Steve Urkel??

I am pretty sure I will get contacts, but not right away. I have to get over the idea of touching my eye first.

Anyway, I was looking online and found some frames that were okay, I guess. Although, I have no idea what's going to look good on my face. And I'm pretty sure my selection won't be as glamorous.

These by Baby Phat were my favorite of the ones I saw.
Then, because my sister loves hers so much, I looked at some Candies.

These are cute, but I definitely do not like the color.And then here are some from Juicy Couture, just cuz.

Only an hour left and I am not feeling any better. Although, this did make me smile.

Randomness

2009-02-10T09:04:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of random thoughts and not sure how to make them all into one cohesive blog entry. Maybe bullet points and hyperlinks are my best option.

I finally named my car! I wasn't really trying to name it, or even concerned with the fact that it didn't have a name. But as I was driving to work, I caught a glimpse of my car's shadow and it dawned on me: Fiona! FYI, my last car's name was Shrek, because the shadow looked like him, with the side mirrors as his ears and all. It made me laugh, so it stuck. So when I saw my new car's shadow, it still looked a little like an ogre, so....she shall henceforth be named Fiona. I like it.
Since her single came out, I have been adamantly boycotting Lady Gaga. Everytime I heard the song on the radio, or heard her name, I immediately changed the station. It was mostly based on her ridiculous factor, plus the snippet that I'd heard of her song didn't seem like something I would enjoy. But the other day I decided to give her a chance... I listened to the song when it came on the radio, and yes, it was dumb. But it wasn't that bad. I have to admit, it's catchy. And I'm very entertained by the twang in her voice when she says "dance".
But now....EVERY SINGLE TIME I get in the car, I hear that damn song. If it wasn't annoying the first time, it's definitely annoying now. Here's hoping that she comes out with another single before the boycott is back on.
In other, slightly related news, I am totally in love with Ne-Yo. If you haven't listened to him, you really, really should. It's a little hard to admit, but my love for him is starting to rival Jason's. (I can't help it...his voice is so smooth and his dancing is so sexy! Plus, Jason is starting to get a little 'out there'. You know it's true!)
My mom went to see Ne-Yo in concert on Friday in California. I honestly don't think I've ever been so jealous of something in my entire life. And for some absurd reason, he will not be making a stop in Denver. So sad. But at least she sent me pictures and videos so I can pretend like I was there. :)
On Friday, Steve and I went to see Coraline: 3D. It was pretty good. The animation was really neat. But the story, which was by Tim Burton, was a little creepy. I definitely wouldn't take any children to this movie, unless you want them to have nightmares about psycho mommies and dolls with button eyes... Mostly, we went because it was in 3D. And we are huge 3D nerds. (as evidenced in the picture below...)

Okay, maybe we're just huge nerds. But I don't care, I love us. :)

A quick little catch-up

2009-01-28T16:09:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't written anything in a while. And it's not because I haven't wanted to. Actually, that's kind of a lie. Besides being (sort of) busy, I just haven't been feelin it lately. And I'm not especially feelin it right now, I'm just bored out of my mind at work and this is one of the few websites they haven't blocked in their latest bout of censorship. (I am still mourning the unexpected loss of Facebook...)

January is almost over, I can't believe it! I have to say, it was a pretty good month. However, I'm kind of partial to it since it happens to be my birthday month!

This year was honestly the best birthday I've had in a really, really long time.

Thanks to an extremely sweet boyfriend, having two days off of work, Cheesecake Factory and this:

it is safe to say I will remember this birthday for a long time.

The rest of January is a little stressful for me since I just discovered that my license expires on the 31st and I have no idea where to go or what I need to do to get a new one. This also means that when I get my new license, I will officially be a Colorado resident. I'm not sure how I feel about that...

I guess that is all for now. My head hurts from staring at the computer today. I really need glasses (and really don't want them...)

Movie Life

2009-01-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

The other day while watching the end of The Notebook, I asked Steve (knowing full-well how ridiculous and girly I sounded) if he would write me a love letter. I assumed the response would include a laugh, which it did, but I thought it was worth a shot! His reply: "If we're ever made into a movie, I'll write you one." :)
So just for fun...here's this thing.

Here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button

opening credits: Bubbly Toes (Jack Johnson)
waking up: One Day I'll Fly Away (Moulin Rouge)
first day at school: Fergalicious (Fergie)
falling in love: Dare You to Move (Switchfoot)
fight song: Tomorrow's Another Day (MxPx)
breaking up: The Long Day is Over (Norah Jones)
prom: I Wanna Be (Chris Brown)
life: Vegas (Sara Bareilles)
mental breakdown: I Heard You (Good Charlotte)
driving: Next to You (Ciara)
flashback: Better Together (Jack Johnson)
wedding: Gravity (Sara Bareilles)
birth of a child: Bella Luna (Jason Mraz)
final battle: Big Girls Don't Cry (Fergie)
funeral song: Work (Jimmy Eat World)
end credit: On Love in Sadness (Jason Mraz)

Not bad.

(obligatory New Year's post coming soon...)

What Christmas Means to Me

2008-12-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

I've been trying for days, well, years really, to accurately articulate how and why Christmas is so important to me. I haven't been very successful, but I did have this small epiphany:
It's really important to me. And I mean really, really, really important. In an almost unhealthy, obsessive-compulsive way. (One of the many, many compulsions. But that's an entirely different (and long and amusing) post.)

I think this is where part of the explanation lies. As far back as I can remember, the holidays were always the same. We had the same food, the same routines, the same movies, the same traditions every year. No matter what crappy things had happened that year, we always had Christmas and were reminded that we were still a family and that would never change. For this slightly obsessive-compulsive girl, change doesn't come smoothly. I think I still expect Christmas to mean the same things and feel the same as it always has.

Now, I know that it's perfectly fine to make new traditions and I am excited to make some this year. But deep down in my soul, I can't shake the fear that "Christmas just won't be Christmas without _____."
It's an irrational fear that's very real to me. I know it puts way too much expectation on everyone, including myself, but it's not something that I feel I can help. And really, what is the harm in having to have stockings and a tree and watching A Christmas Story at least 5 times?!

The fact that this year will be my first-ever Christmas not spent with my family scares me. Aside from the obvious sadness, it gives me a panic attack to think that I won't have fudge or white cookies, or a huge Christmas dinner, or stockings "mysteriously" filled with miniature dolls and my favorite candy or............

How will it really be Christmas without my family and all of those things??

First Snow

2008-12-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

The snow on Friday (and again on Sunday) was my first of the season. It was lovely indeed, but it wasn't long before I remembered the love-hate relationship I have with snow.
The first not-so-fun experience was driving to pick up the boy from work. I have terrible night vision as it is, but pair that with the blowing snow and glaring headlights in my eyes, and it's a disastrous combination. It wasn't too bad, but by the time I got there my hands hurt from being clenched tightly on the wheel and my eyes hurt from focusing on the road. Needless to say, I didn't drive on the way back.
The second-and worst-snow experience occurred on Saturday morning. I slept through my alarm and woke up 15 minutes before we had to leave to take the boy to work. Knowing it was going to be snowy and cold, I put on my new "Nine West version" Ugg boots for their winter-weather debut. It's important to note the house sits on a hill and you have to tread down this hill to get to the street where my car was parked. Knowing the driveway would be icy and slick, I opted for the snow-covered, grassy part of the hill thinking my new boots could handle it. That's what they're for, after all!
I had a little slip, but didn't think anything of it. The boy saw and warned me to be careful, while trying to get my hand. But he wasn't quick enough, as my next step was my downfall, literally. I slipped and fell flat on my back into the inch of snow!! I don't know if it was the fact that I was so tired, or stressed from running late, or angry at my shoes, or embarrassed that I fell, or in pain from falling, but tears immediately filled my eyes and they wouldn't stop!! The boy helped me up and brushed me off and we managed to get to the car without another mishap.
Once I had calmed down, the boy asked me what the bottoms of my shoes looked like. I mentioned that they were snow boots and should have a good sole, but when I showed him he cracked up laughing. (Which in turn made me cry again, I have no idea...) I believe his exact words were, "I bet you have flip flops with more traction than those things!" :(
I was not amused. I was irate at my stupid shoes. He tried to console me by saying, "At least they look good.." and I blew up "NO THEY DON'T! They are hideous and ugly and stupid. I hate the way they look, the only reason I wear them is because I thought they would be good for the snow!"
Once my tears dried, I was able to laugh a little. But once the boy said, "I looked back and saw you laying on the ground and thought, 'what are doing, making snow angels?! I gotta get to work!'" there was no stopping the laughter. Things like that are just some of the many reasons I'm so head over heels for him. :)

So, I was rudely reminded that although the snow is beautiful and enchanting and lovely, it's not always very nice. I love it and then I hate it and I don't think that's going to change anytime soon.

Turkey Power

2008-11-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

I wish I was good at coming up with clever titles...

I am worried that I have officially become the "nagging girlfriend". And all because of one very important topic: Thanksgiving turkey.
I inadvertently asked the boy to make the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. I was apprehensive, but he was immediately excited and started plotting the perfect plan. Seeing his enthusiasm made me feel bad for doubting him, but I couldn't help it. Giving up control of something as important as the turkey is tough. I mean, that's the center of the whole dinner! And my family is picky. The bird has been simply slathered in butter and oven roasted for as long as I can remember. We don't even put salt and pepper let alone sage, thyme, etc. And this boy--the same one who doctors up EVERYTHING he makes with Checker's Creole Seasoning-- is going to be in charge of the most important part of the meal.
Suddenly, horrible thoughts of frozen turkey, dried out turkey, even cajun turkey flooded my brain. What would he do to it? (Nothing, it will be perfectly fine.) Would it come out ok? (Of course! It will be juicy and delicious.) Does he realize the significance of this task? (Of course he does.) It doesn't help that he won't tell me anything about what he has planned for it. He finds it humorous that I'm so nervous about it and gets some kind of sick joy out of torturing me. His recent favorite thing to say is that he's going to put candles all over it and make it a turkey birthday Thanksgiving cake... Do you now understand my anxiety?? :)
I have been incapable of restraining from asking/reminding/questioning/pondering/nagging him about the turkey. I know it has to be frustrating and I wish I could simply relinquish the control. But I am so nervous! Surely this is all unnecessary. I'm positive it's going to be perfectly wonderful.

Right??

Preparations

2008-11-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

Needless to say, I am very excited to be hosting Thanksgiving this year. It will be nice to be with my family again since I haven't spent Thanksgiving with them since I moved here (2 1/2 years ago). This will also be the first time the "kids" will spend a holiday together without our parents. That's a little strange, I have to admit. It makes me feel like we're grown ups. Not to mention the fact that my baby brother is graduating high school this year. But that's another topic entirely...

Last night I went to my favorite store to (finally) go Thanksgiving grocery shopping. It's Walmart, by the way. And I know, I know. But I just don't care-I love it! And here's why:
I had a massive shopping list, y'all. This was partly because I had to buy everything, even the basics like flour, sugar, spices, etc. Basically, it was every single ingredient needed to make an entire Thanksgiving dinner in my shopping cart. (And you should know that when I say an entire Thanksgiving dinner, I really mean, 'enough food to feed half the country'.)
So anyway, I love grocery shopping at Walmart. I know where everything is (and just in case I didn't, they supplied these handy laminated Holiday Shopping Guides that listed every ingredient you might need for Holiday cooking and which aisle they were located on. So wonderful!). I know about how much everything costs. I know which brands I like, which I prefer and which I have to choose from. All of this has made me a pretty good grocery shopper. I can almost always get out of there under budget and with quite a few bags of groceries. But last night...I outdid myself.
My sister and I had a dollar amount in our heads. Granted, when you think about it, it was a bit much to spend on one meal but you have to remember this is the biggest meal of the year. And we're feeding 6+ people and LOVE leftovers. Anyway, we had this dollar amount in our heads. Secretly, I was hoping it would be less than that, but I didn't want to have to skimp on anything. Howevery, my super-human grocery shopping powers were in full force last night. An hour and a half later, I was checking out and holding my breath (metaphorically, not literally). When the grand total was announced, I thought for sure she had forgotten to scan a couple bags of stuff. I checked the conveyor belt and, sure enough, it was empty. Everything was bagged and in my cart and I had finished $40 under budget!! It was amazing.

Now the cooking begins. I'm going to start early this year. Prep and some of the food will be made the day before to ensure it all gets done on time (and I'm not dead by the time we sit down to eat). Here's the menu...it doesn't look like anything fancy. (No fancy ingredients or cooking techniques in the titles, sorry. But it is ALL homemade from scratch.) And if you've tasted this food, you know I'm telling the truth when I say it's simply going to be the best dinner. Ever.

Appetizers:
cheese ball w/assortment of crackers
deviled eggs
relish tray (pickles, olives, spicy veggies, etc)

Main Course:
turkey
twice baked potatoes
cornbread stuffing
candied yams
green bean casserole
pasta salad
corn
cranberry sauce
rolls
turkey gravy

Dessert:
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Banana Pudding
Mississippi Mud Pie

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Just Another Day in the Life

2008-11-20T17:55:00.000-07:00

I've decided that I'm going to start actually using my blog. yay! I'm thinking of writing just about the everyday musings and occurrences of my daily life. Not because I think anyone really wants to read them, but because I feel like writing and think this is a good outlet. So here goes nothin.

Yesterday I discovered the non-stop Christmas music station on the radio. I had heard rumors, but didn't realize they were already playing it. Needless to say, I was very excited. However, the song that was on at that time just didn't work for me. I didn't want that song to be the first Christmas song I heard of the season. My second (okay, third) attempt- It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! by Johnny Mathis -was a much better selection. I happily sang along and grew more and more excited for the coming holidays.
Today was wonderfully winter-esque. I didn't care too much for the 1/4" of ice on my windshield this morning (especially because I don't have an ice scraper for my new car yet...must make a mental note to go to wal-mart) but I loved the fact that the sky was gray and I could wear boots and my nice coat. My favorite part of the day was driving home from work listening to the "All Christmas All the Time" station and seeing the twinkle lights outside my apartment. It's the simple things, I tell ya.

I'm trying to decide how detailed I want to get in this blog. I'm sure I won't be able to go for long without mentioning a few people, so maybe I'll just outline the major players now.
the boyfriend= the boy
my sister= S
my mom= mom
a friend= R
the boyfriend's roommate= J

that should about cover it for now. I have a feeling this might get confusing...

One more thing. I'm super excited that my family is coming for Thanksgiving. Just the brothers and sister (and husband) but that's 4. Add me and the boy (and possibly J) and that's a full table! I'm excited to cook all my holiday favorites and share them with the people I love. Thanksgiving is edging closer to stealing first place from Christmas on my list of favorite holidays. But who am I kidding.. that will never happen!

My job hates me

2008-10-10T10:35:00.000-06:00

Normally, I would have said, "I hate my job." But this week it has felt like they are trying to get me to quit.

Yesterday, I was so pissed off I told "them" (who is, in fact, the 23 year old boy who listens to me complain all day and treats me like he's my brother, aka my lead- Patrick) that I was leaving for lunch and never coming back.
Needless to say, an hour later I was back at my computer and I IM'd him: "I came back". His reply? "I see that," which I took (read) as full of sarcasm and i-knew-you-wouldn't-really-do it connotations. You might think you can't tell sarcasm from IMs or texts, but you totally can.

Anyway, the reason for my anger yesterday came mostly from my manager. She found it necessary to inform me that this year we would not be allowed to decorate the department for Halloween like we did last year. Just to give you an idea, last year looked something like this:
It was, I'll admit, extravagant and perhaps a bit over the top. But regardless, it was fun and festive and quite the talk of the company.
Anyway, my manager went on to tell me that this would not be happening this year and instead, she had printed some Halloween themed coloring sheets for the department to do as an alternative.
She also threw in some mumbo-jumbo about appearing to be productive and not wanting to look like a slacker department, in so many words.
So that, on top of last week's announcement that the monthly potlucks need to be re-evaluated and perhaps cut, pushed me over the edge. I already hate this place enough. The one day a month for our potlucks and the holiday festivities are the ONLY things that get me through coming back here day after day (Well, that and the fact that I have a new car payment).
I went home yesterday upset and not looking forward to the coming months, with all my plans and excitement for the holidays in the workplace crushed.

I came in this morning determined to put that all behind me. I was convinced that it was Friday, payday, casual day and I got to wear a scarf this morning...it HAS to be a better day!
Wrong.
Having resolved with myself that I would not be able to get off work for Christmas this year (thanks to a newly imposed rule at work), I decided to ask for just the day after Thanksgiving off.
Although I don't have the final decision yet, I was told that it will be highly unlikely that this will be approved, since another girl in my department has already been approved for that time off and me being gone would only leave 2 people to cover a 5-person function. Great.
So I wondered if this meant I could have Christmas off instead. However, I was again reminded that, "Didn't I have Christmas off last year?".
To which I stated to them (Patrick), "So that means I will not have off work for any of the holidays? If that is the case, I swear to you I am leaving and never coming back". He didn't have anything to say. I think he knew I was serious this time...
So I am sitting here, (im)patiently awaiting a reply to my time off request for Thanksgiving. If it is denied, I will consider December 19th my last day.

And in the mean time, I am spending the morning looking for jobs and updating my resume. *sigh*

Just because you drive a Jeep, it doesn't make you a true Coloradoan...

2008-08-25T14:20:00.000-06:00

Jenn: "I'm SO glad I don't have to ride the bus anymore!!"

Raelynn: "I actually like public transportation..."

Jenn: "I don't! There's not one tiny little bit about it that I like!"

Raelynn: "But it's good for the environment!"

Jenn: "Screw the environment!!"

*shocked gasp from Raelynn*

Jenn: "They're going to kick me out of Colorado, aren't they...."

This is just a test

2008-01-31T18:26:00.001-07:00

I am just trying out this blog.