The Sparkly Side of Life

Save me

2011-08-13T00:21:00.004-05:00

I just wrapped up my first week of business school- a bit of a stressful adjustment period- but I have some commentary to make about that in a bit...

I'm getting texts from the husband, who is in Denver for a class, getting details about his yummy dinner and craft brew while I'm eating my 5th disgusting "Fit Food" meal of the week and making balance sheet templates in Excel. For a split second I felt sorry for myself missing out on all the room service & spa treatments that I indulge in when I tag along... and then I remembered why I'm even attempting grad-school in the first place.

I should preface this by saying Save Me by Dave Matthews is not a song I ever paid much attention to. I'm a pretty big DMB fan, and have been to a bunch of his shows. Last December, I was lucky enough to make it to see a Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds acoustic show in Vegas. We had great VIP seats and it was an amazing show - and oddly the treat of the night was this. (please excuse the video quality- best I could find on YouTube)

And when he finished playing he smiled really big and said "I think I finally got that one right".

I remember watching him take a b-side/bathroom break song, and just absolutely tear it up, ad lib lyrics and all... and love it. This is his job, and at this moment he is completely abandoned to it. I am sure that not all parts of being a rockstar are great (he probably really hates being away from his family) but he displayed such joy in his craft. It was genuine and inspiring. I am pretty sure my words to Sparky when he finished playing this were "holy shit, that was good!" I can't think of a single segment of my career in healthcare that I love the way he loved playing that song... and that right there is why I'm going back to school. I'm fairly committed at this point to finding a career that I like with pieces I love.

So- about the stress (and where you probably thought I was going with a post entitled Save Me). It's not that bad. I almost feel like it's a manufactured stress because they keep telling us that we will be overwhelmed with everything being thrown at us. We've been busy, but I honestly haven't been tasked with anything harder than my average day at the office. I know this might change next week when they start throwing in some extra classes - but I feel the transition will be smooth. The team dynamics, and getting to know each other has been stressful - not from a personality standpoint, but just a sheer time standpoint - and I am confident that we will work it out.

My thoughts on the "managing it all" issue are this: I remember before I was a mother watching women hold their babies and maneuver around gracefully and doing everything else one handed. And then they would hand their baby to me and I'd hold it like it was a fragile egg - completely freaked out that I might drop them, or hold them wrong, not support the head, etc... you get the drift- I had no clue about babies. And then I had my own- and in fairly short order I became one of those one handed wonders I used to admire. I could nurse, cook & talk on the phone. I could hold her, clean the kitchen & respond to work emails. I remember feeding her and reviewing our clinic's Blue Cross Blue Shield contract in between chapters of Harry Potter 7. The point is, you don't know what you can do until you have to... and it's not like this is as daunting as climbing Mt. Everest... A LOT of people make it through business school - so I'll be just fine.

Of course- I have the whole 85% kick-ass, 15% crippling self doubt issues. I don't know jack-crap about banking, trading or corporate strategy... I own a t-tiny niche business. I also had a fairly horrific impromptu speaking exercise experience... (on legalizing pot no less, I might as well have ended it by singing Dr Dre's Next Episode.) Then I have the whole "what if they think I'm stupid?" or "what if they don't like me?"... because I haven't been in school in forever. My friend J told me ever so gently to "stop mind-f-ing myself"... which was some pretty good advice. Blog written/ mind-screw done.

..and if you want to hear the whole song from a year before...
Save me... save me... from my accounting homework!

Fill in the blank Friday

2011-07-15T09:56:00.000-05:00

Giving credit where it's due... play along

1. I am a (morning, evening, middle of the day person) I'm a late night person. I get more done between 2200-0100 than any other time of the day. I AM NOT a morning person.

2. My favorite Pandora stations are Florence & The Machine, Adele, Dave Matthews, The Head and the Heart & Lyle Lovett.

3. 3 of my "must-have" songs for a road trip playlist are #41 by Dave Matthews Band... and I like a live version that's about 20 minutes long so it takes up a quarter of the drive to the in-laws. Between Two Lungs by Florence & the Machine... just because I love it, and if the kiddo is not along for the ride, some rap like Big Pimpin by JayZ & UGK. :) (so I'm secretly gangster... but I hear Martha Stewart is a huge rap fan too!)

4. My favorite pattern is Polka dots... they make me happy. I specifically like small white dots on a navy background.

5. My favorite perfume is Fracas. It is "my" smell.

6. Rules are what they are. I appreciate the need for structure. Some rules suck, some rules I break, and some rules I take very seriously. I am sometimes more of the "it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission" school of thought as long as the rules aren't "serious rules" and there is no harsh consequence to breaking them - but your mileage may vary.

7. My most overused phrase or punctuation is Exclamation points- because I'm just really generally excited about everything! And the (...) because I'm lazy with grammar and it's easier to write in the way I think and hope people just follow along.

Career Leader...

2011-06-21T14:57:00.001-05:00

umm, wow- did half the summer just go by? And I didn't blog?
I thought I'd be laid up in bed recovering from surgery and giving out my .02 on blogspot daily, but a 3 year old doesn't allow you the opportunity to lay around. EVER. Even when you should (revision surgery date to be determined....)

And we moved. Although I couldn't help with the heavy lifting, I was capable of facing my nemesis. Filing paperwork. I'm still losing that battle. I've seriously pondered putting an ad up at the student center hoping someone will come be my helper. Play with the kid, help me file the piles, keep me on task filing the piles, keep kid entertained while I file the piles. Filing is bullshit. I hate it and it kicks my ass. I also hate unloading the dishwasher.

Which brings me to the title of my post. I had to do a Career Leader assessment for business school. It is a battery of tests that delve into what you are interested in doing, because as the old saying goes "do what you love and you will never work a day in your life." That might be a little far fetched, because I LOVE my child, but she is WORK... but I can get behind the general sentiment. I currently do not love what I do, even though I have been a successful entrepreneur. The results of the test confirmed my fears: I like the healthcare field, but I don't love it. Especially in the role I currently perform. I have no passion for it, and at this point I might be so jaded that I may be forever burnt out on the industry.

I've already blogged about "like" - and although I was talking about relationships... work is an integral part of the relationship you have with yourself - you should like your job. Especially if you are going to take out student loans and work hard at school to get that job!

So what is a girl to do? I'm a planner, and appreciate predictability and routine. I like solving problems and think I could successfully do this in healthcare. I have some strong opinions about healthcare reform, and thought I could have a rewarding career reconciling policy with implementable courses of action for healthcare providers and organizations without diminishing the quality of care in this nation.

I made a list that looked something like this:

Go to a good business school
Get an internship at a policy think tank
Kick ass at said internship
Get a job at a prestigious consulting firm
Work exhausting hours at said consulting firm solving quant heavy healthcare issues for a few years
Develop enough of a reputation to "go it alone" and choose the projects I work on
Overcome my fear of public speaking to large groups and become a lecturer for MGMA - mostly for the travel benefit of giving lectures in cool cities :)
Have enough free time to dedicate my knowledge to charity

The Career Leader results didn't exclude any of my outlined items above, but it made me think long and hard about what I really want to do. It outlined things I would really enjoy, and it was spot on. Before I watched too much Top Gun and dreamed about being a Naval Aviator and going to a service academy, I wanted to be a buyer for a luxury department store. I still savor the first breath of ice cold, perfumed air when I walk into the shoe section of Neiman Marcus from the express lot at the Houston Galleria, and find the escalator ride in Nordstrom to be blissful when the pianist is playing. If you've ever seen Confessions of a Shopaholic - that is me without all the credit card debt (so okay, back before I learned how to manage money, that was exactly me). I want to hug the buttery soft Rebecca Minkoff purses at Saks. Pre-child, I would reward myself by having a nice lunch at the Nordstrom Bistro. Crab bisque, french fries and a glass of champagne. It has to say something about me, that my favorite restaurant was in a store... and it's not that the food was wonderful, I just loved the environment. I love that the last time I pushed a stroller through Nordstrom, as I got off the elevator, an attractive, male stylist/personal shopper noticed what I was wearing and said "You look so nice and put together - that is a great color combination and your necklace makes the whole thing pop. And killer shoes... it's so nice to see a mom dressed well" (They were killer shoes. Christian Loboutin No. Prives in nude patent... the rest of my outfit was on par with a mom uniform: jeans, mustard shirt with lace detail from Anthro, grey cardigan from JCrew and a chunky turquoise necklace) - but I like being in an environment where style is appreciated. I don't know if I would find that in a sea of suits and scrubs. I dig product & retail management because I like products, shopping, consumer science and the psychology behind why people shop. I've grown tired of politics, the SGR formula and calculating RVU's (Medical acronyms - doesn't that sound like fun?).

So it's time to re-tool the plan. Dream job: Product Manager @ Nordstrom in their corporate office for either the children's department or shoes. I actually saw the children's department job pop up 2 years ago and it said MBA preferred (they might as well say required). It's a good thing I'm going to business school! And, I think with time and due diligence I might actually earn the dream job. Time to make a new outline!

Slackin...

2011-04-19T13:56:00.000-05:00

I went 2 Fridays without some bloggage- sorry guys.

One Friday I was in San Diego-   it was my birthday, and I didn't think it would be productive to complain on my birthday so I just didn't blog. I bought myself a Starbuck's birthday donut and I at least was able to get an awesome surf in... the current was kicking my ass, but I rode some pretty long ones all the way in and had a blast! My surf instructor was presh- everything your stereotypical Californian surfer should be.   Young, bleach blonde, and made my day because he couldn't believe I was celebrating the 2nd anniversary of the big 3-0.   Besides surfing, I am pretty underwhelmed with San Diego. I don't ever want to hear anyone tell me how wonderful the weather is there. IT SUCKED 95% of the time we were out there. Cold, raining, and parking is impossible so I pretty much looked like a wet dog by the time we got anywhere. I am down with cold & rainy- as long as I'm prepared for it. I packed cute dresses and Stuart Weitzman platform sandals, but spent my time bundled up in jeans and a black North Face... I could have passed for being in Seattle, except Seattle was having better weather.

Saturday was better- we had beautiful, although cool, weather and we went to Stone Brewing Company. The place is set up like a vineyard, and is fabulous. I personally don't count Stone Brews among my favorite... don't get me wrong, a good Oaked Arrogant Bastard, or a Stone IPA on cask is tasty- but there are better beers out there. The bottle list at this place however, rivaled wine lists I've seen at world class restaurants.   We enjoyed 2 bombers of awesome beer, had some tasty local sausage and a good stinky cheese plate.   Their beer cheese soup sucked though-   and we were afraid to ask for a salt shaker since these are the people that yell at you on the back of their beer bottles if you don't like their beer... but I have some fat-girl tricks up my sleeve and some McD's salt & pepper came to the rescue (because nothing sucks more than getting hot fresh fries that they forgot to salt - always ask for a S&P and keep a few in your purse. trust me.) Semper Paratus. It helped.

Last Friday - I was laid up on IV drugs... technically could have blogged about the 5 surgeries I had done on Thursday - but I was out of it.   But yes, I had 5 surgeries. INSANE! The "Mommy-makeover" is intense.   You could argue that I didn't really need anything done-   I wear a size 4-6 and I'm athletic - but I hated my boobs. They were already big, and having a baby and nursing really wrecked them (like needed 3 surgeries wrecked them). Getting them hiked back up where they belong, minimized a bit and kept permanently perky was non-negotiable - and while you are knocked out, you might as well have the other little things fixed too. Recovery is going swell, although the not being able to do anything part is incredibly frustrating. I may never sit in this recliner again once I'm able to sleep elsewhere!

And- we are moving. Move-day is Thursday. The only thing we have left is the big furniture that the movers will be coming to get, but the PODS are packed and will be delivered to the new house on Wednesday. I can't lift anything over 5lbs for several weeks- so I am of no help whatsoever in this move - I just sit back in the recliner and supervise.

Considering I'm bored off my ass, I should blog more... so I will. I promise!

Friday (plus a day) Fives...

2011-04-02T22:45:00.003-05:00

So it's Saturday, maybe I should do a Saturday 6 ??

On deck tonight- 6 things I don't get...

1) Pork chops. Everyone loves them? I have rarely had one I like, unless we talk about the Perry's Porkchop (and that thing is ribs, plus meat so tender it could be a tenderloin).   The pig's greatest contribution to earth is bacon... and tenderloins are good too... but I just can't get behind a pork chop. I've cooked them every which way and been to Viking Cooking School classes where we stuffed them with yumminess... and they are just not for me. What's the hype all about?

2) Toll booths, etc. It hasn't really been a problem until I got a new car and didn't have license plates yet- which means I don't have an EZ-tag, which means I have to deal with an old school toll-booth where I give the lady some money and she lifts the gate to let me pass.   Riddle me this- WHY do we even have toll booths?? If you cruise through the EZ tag lane and do not have an EZ tag- they TRACK YOUR ASS DOWN and send you a fine.   So, if they have the ability to track you down - why don't they just do that and then send you a bill at the end of each month for your toll road use?   I would have much rather written a check to the Harris County Toll Road authority than slow down and dig cash out of my purse the last few weeks.   I would still encourage easy-tags, and maybe offer a discount to EZ tag subscribers vs the people that just cruise through without them because it makes billing easier... Maybe it's expensive to send bills? But would it be more expensive than paying for someone to work the booth? I'd hate life sitting in that box inhaling fumes and handing people .50c all day!

3) Talking on the phone. HATE.IT. I don't give good phone. I'm annoyed when I have to talk on the phone. When I was a teenager I did my fair share of talking on the phone but running a Dr's office cured me of the phone REAL QUICK.    These days we don't even have a land-line and I'd much prefer a text than a phone conversation.   Who talks on the phone??? WHY???

4) Professional basketball. I love sports, but they don't hustle the way college kids do and I have a hard time getting excited over watching them play. I was fortunate to grow up in the era of Michael Jordan, which is hard to beat if you love basketball. I feel like watching NBA games is a waste of time.   I am looking forward to the NCAA championship game though! The UConn / Kentucky game had me on the edge of the bed... Go Huskies!!

5) Whiners. Not to be confused with bitchers. Whining will get you nowhere. Bitching can work when used appropriately (and I have an iPhone from "debut day" to prove it... that was an epic bitch-out... possibly one of my best... and the guy deserved it). I may look chipper with my chubby cheeks and a dimple, but I will cut your nuts off in a heartbeat if I think I'm getting screwed over. (sort've how I also become an instant math wiz if I think I'm getting ripped off $$). However, I do not whine. I don't get how people remain whiners. Don't they ever figure out that it doesn't work and makes them look like a wimpy loser?

6) Packing my toiletries in a zip-lock to fly. What a load of shit. It doesn't do anything to make us more safe... the last few times I have flown, the TSA agent doesn't even bother to look up at my face to make sure that I match my ID - which to me is a much bigger security concern! It should be harder to get past the TSA than it is a bouncer at a club.   I've forgotten a few times to even take the zip-lock out of my carry-on between trying to get Sparkler through and a stroller loaded on the belt, so their scanning is not that foolproof. I can't fit all my stuff in the zip-lock and I'm disgruntled that I always have to buy toiletries at my destination. It's like they had to make rules and policies for the sake of looking like they were doing something. #fail

Happy Saturday people!

I'm off to San Diego for the week and must get packing! Until we meet again...

Oops

2011-04-02T19:36:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was Friday wasn't it?

I promise I'll do better. I'm in the middle of "moving hell" and my potential buyer might back out of their option period which ends tomorrow because I said no to some of their repair items that fall under general home maintenance and in the words of their realtor "it hurt their feelings" Seriously??

Really people- this is a business transaction. Grow the hell up. Or bite me... or do both.

I'll take a break from packing and blog a bit tonight - it's therapeutic and I'm way behind.

And March is over and I'm really sorry about the 30 for 30 fashion challenge - I'm a spaz and wasn't committed to it. I actually did for the most part remix my clothes from the 30 things I picked, I just never remembered to take pictures.

XOXO

TGIF

2011-03-26T00:18:00.003-05:00

This Friday: I'm Filling in the Blanks

1. My most prized possession is... my wedding ring. It's beautiful & sparkly.

2. If I could be one age for the rest of my life, I would want to be...30. In fact, I'm about to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of my 30th birthday. At 30 I was a mom, in good shape, and financially secure. I'll always be a mom, and I hope to stay in reasonably good shape with the ability to retire comfortably one day... but this is the age where I finally got it all, and I wouldn't mind looking 30 forever. I also highly recommend boudoir photography @ this age. It's nice to feel comfortable in your own skin (yeah, yeah... I'm getting some of it lopped off in two weeks - Hello Mommy-Makeover!!)... and let's face it- try as we might, we aren't going to look this good forever. So *heart* yourself, go buy a pretty bra and call up a photographer.

3. The best way to spend a weekend is: It all depends on what your goal for the weekend is, but a good low-key weekend would involve waking up @ 9-10 to a hot cup of French Pressed Kona coffee. Sit outside and play the guitar. Drink a few beers, eat a great meal and visit with friends. But - I also love adventure so I'd love to spend a weekend hiking, skiing, riding horses, etc.

4. My outlook on life is:

In the words of Texas singer/songwriter Bob Schneider-

"I know I'll never know nobody

Better than I know myself
But I can't even figure out
Just what the fuck I'm all about" - "Big Blue Sea"

So basically- I don't really have an outlook, I'm just trying to make it through! But- here's another great quote for what I'm looking for:

"... because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww" --- Jack Kerouac

5. If you want to annoy me, just... there's not enough space on this blog to list all the things that annoy me- but total strangers annoy me when they don't understand my personal space bubble of a foot (minimum). Please do not attempt to hump me while I'm checking out at the grocery store or stick your bench @ 6 inches behind mine at Body Pump. Back the hell up!

6. I am completely defenseless when it comes to...shoes. Marijuana might be the gateway drug - but Christian Louboutin is the gateway shoe. My latest purchase involved me calling my BFF to come save me from myself @ Neiman Marcus and all he did was laugh and say "yeah, right". They had one pair left and they fit me like a glove. And they are incredibly hot. And my friend is an enabler.

7. When dressing for the day one should... think about where you are going! I aim for the casual/cute thing- but my days typically consist of running errands with Sparkler in tow. I do love getting dressed up though- I loved working in the office and dressing professionally.... and I love getting glammed up to go out! But honestly, I'm most comfortable in a great pair of jeans and a well-fitted t-shirt.

The Road to hell...

2011-03-23T23:56:00.002-05:00

Is paved with good intentions. Or so the saying goes.

I have mom-guilt over a lot of things... my kid appropriately uses curse words like "son-of-a-bitch" and "freaking-shit" and she heard them from me. She kicks people when she's pissed and then plays it off by saying "kuh, kuh, kuh - K is for KICK" and she learned that from watching LeapFrog's Letter Factory because I'm a lazy mom and stick her in front of a DVD to learn how to read because I don't have the patience for flash cards... but whatev. #operation be a better mommy has been declared underway, and this week I resolved to do better! I made "sushi" out of rice crispy treats and Swedish fish... We went to the zoo today and she only got sent to time-out 3 times. #winning!

Sparkler has a very mature palate for a 3 year old. You can take her to a sushi restaurant with no fear (the child loves seaweed salad, edamame and tuna) and she loves a spinach and goat cheese omelet. One thing I'm good at is packing a lunch... or so I thought until this bitch put me to shame. Overachiever. So- what do I do after a late night of reading this lady's blog? I engage in a little retail-therapy and order

This:

(ok- so maybe I just did the Owl thing because I'm still tickled I got into Rice and Sparkler is too- she tells people about her new lunch kit because mommy is a hoot-hoot Owl that goes to Rice)

And this in yellow & pink!

Seriously- these are cute. They hold a good amount of food and even I'm excited to pack my lunch in them!

And this...

I'll show that lunch-lady-blogger... I'm going to make some rice frogs and bunny eggs.

And... the bunny eggs are where things go awry.

Because- a watched pot never boils- but an unwatched one will boil, then burn. (totally forgot about them when I went to tuck Sparkler in)

And- when they are smoking- you definitely should not try to cool them off... you think I would have learned this lesson when I cracked the block on my first car... but no. Same damn thing happens to eggs. And the resulting explosion is intense.

Splat!

It hit the ceiling too...

And- I bet you did not know that fried, exploded egg yolk is basically yellow sand - except that it will start smelling like rotten eggs if you don't deal with it. And it's all over my kitchen ceiling. And- my house is on the market, so torching the place is not an option (although I almost just did it on accident).

So when this happens- all you can do is pour yourself a Midas Touch

and laugh at the delicious irony since everything you touched in the kitchen this evening went to hell in a handbasket.

And I'm going to make Michelle Obama super proud by bringing Sparkler a McD's happy meal for lunch tomorrow because after scrubbing egg dust off the kitchen ceiling, I just don't have it in me to pack a pretty lunch.

Lend me some sugar...

2011-03-23T22:30:00.001-05:00

I am your NEIGHBOR

shake it, shake it like a polaroid picture (sorry, couldn't resist the Outkast reference - you can go ahead and thank me for getting this awesome song stuck in your head now).

When I remember to blog, I usually talk about what I want on Wednesdays (today it would just be 5 minutes of peace and quiet and a really good beer) or what I'm loving... but today I'm going to tell you about something you should want to get involved in.

On to the main point- I was cleaning out my spam folder and I stumbled upon something cool. I had an invitation to join a group on Facebook called Neigh*Borrow .   I went ahead and "liked" it (or joined) I can't remember which - I'm fairly unscrupulous in my Facebook likings (hello, "I speak Dora level Spanish" and "Where the hell are Max & Ruby's parents?"). I sometimes go back through and delete things when I become embarrassed that I've "liked" 583 random things, although telling Pat Robertson to STFU will always remain... but I didn't delete Neigh*Borrow. I actually took the time to read about it and registered with their site because... it's an AWESOME concept.    I received a customer survey a week or two ago - I took the time to fill it out. And then I received a message from the company creator, Adam, and offered him some feedback. I just dig what the whole thing is about and appreciate their dedication to creating an awesome company. I've started two companies so I know the hard work involved in getting something off the ground, plus I'm headed to business school and one day want to be able to consult people on entrepreneurship projects (and in general I just love this type of stuff.) These guys are on to a great idea- so if I can help, I'm happy to... hence the blog post.

I am not one to lecture on consumerism considering my last Amex statement looks like I purchased a new car, outright. However, we can all agree - we own too much shit.   We live in a convenience culture where we don't fix things that break, we buy replacements... and we don't even think to ask to borrow something from a neighbor - we just run down to Target or have Amazon deliver it to our door in 2 days or less. So... we accumulate stuff. Stuff that our moms or neighbors probably have sitting in their hallway closet or garage. Enter Neigh*Borrow.

The goal of Neigh*Borrow is to connect people in your area that have things to lend to people who need to borrow them.   Need a bounce-house for your toddler's birthday party? Someone on Neigh*Borrow that lives 5 minutes away might have one you can rent for $10.   The process of packing up my large home has really illustrated just how much money I've wasted on things that I needed for an occasion, but didn't really need to own. Like that phase when I wanted to be the "hostess with the mostest"... Catering dishes, chafing dishes, warming trays and punch bowls are just the examples from my guest room closet. I wish I lived closer to my mom- I would have just borrowed hers! If you find yourself in this situation and live by me - you are in luck - I probably have a better selection than Hobby Lobby.

Baby junk (yes, I own 2 pack-n-plays, 2 baby swings and a fleet of strollers.. and I have lent these out to friends when they had relatives with kids come into town), Ski clothes (haven't been in forever- someone please borrow it so I can live vicariously through your vacation), Tools (be jealous of my "as seen on TV" Cold Fusion gun), sewing machine, etc... it's all fair game on Neigh*Borrow.

So my task to you- my little fan club ranging from Seattle to Aspen to DC and in between- is to get involved in this project.   Admittedly, the Houston area is limited right now and chances are your area is too, but this company is a good idea that deserves some support. You might get to borrow some cool stuff out of the deal and make some money off of lending out your infrequently used things.   Join. Lend stuff, borrow stuff. Save money, possibly make a little, network with your neighbors and assure that Niecy Nash and the Clean House crew never come knocking on your door (although Matt Iseman is HOT!)

PS: I'd take a picture of my garage to prove just how much shit you can accumulate but I don't want anyone to nominate me to be on the next episode of Hoarders because I have an apparent obsession with laundry baskets and I fill them with random crap. In my defense, we are moving and the house has been staged for showings. At the same time, it's horrifying that that much junk was ever hiding in my house. Everything essential to living seems to get hauled out to the garage in a laundry basket too - but hey, the house looks picture perfect!    (I currently can't find my blow dryer, mascara, mortgage statement or the last thing I had delivered from Amazon still in the box - but I know they are in a basket out there somewhere).

You asked... I answer

2011-03-11T23:20:00.001-06:00

Five Questions to answer on this Friday night:

From Craig: When am I going to DC?
I was hoping to come the first weekend of April for my birthday, but hub has a CME course in San Diego so I'm going there instead. Bummed! He possibly has a CME in DC the second weekend in September so I might be able to make that... it all depends on how crazy school is at that point. But- you never know... I might decide I really need a break this summer and cash in some Amex points for a plane ticket up there if you have a couch I can crash on. I will bring my own blanket... your ironing board cover is safe :)   (your Irish coffee mugs, however, are not!)

From Keith: Best childhood memory?
I can remember everything, and nothing - it's all a mash of random memories. So weird. Thinking back on it, some of my favorite memories where when I was about 6-7 years old and would spend time at my PawPaws house. He had these giant kumkwat bushes so we would pick those, and he lived right on the sea-wall and had a bench on piers so we would sit up there and watch the oil barges and tankers go by. My parents were super-strict and we never had "fancy" cereal, but at PawPaw's we had fruity pebbles. He'd always pour me a bowl... he always ate a poached egg and toast. I still miss the sound of sleeping over there and hearing ships in the channel at night- it was a comforting sound. (sort've how spending the night at the Corl's and hearing New London Harbor Light sound its fog signal and the waves crashing on a winter night could lull you to sleep ... or even on Eagle, hearing the fog signal as long as you were on a "happy sleep tack" could knock you out into a deep sleep) - same thing... the sound of the water & the low hum of the engines cutting through it. I love that sound.

From Caroline: Favorite part of running a Dr's office: We had some stellar nurses. The day-in day-out of managing the practice really sucked - but we had some great girls working for us. I liked that we were a laid back enough office that they felt free to pick on the Dr (and he deserved it) and that they put up with his horrible "basketball" skills when he'd try to throw his paper-towels in the garbage can.    We still keep in touch- one of them met us out for a beer at a local brewery and it was so good to see her. I miss our Christmas parties and keeping up with their kids - but Facebook helps!

From Roxy: If you were dating yourself, what qualities would you love, and what qualities would you change?
I'd love that I'm up for anything, eager to learn new things and that I'm easy going. If I was a guy, I'd love that I am into sporting events- bring 'em - but I mostly love baseball.   Wanna talk about Brad Lidge's sick slider or how Bagwell could never lay off a high fast ball and HOF ballots...   let's grab a beer and chat.    If I was a nerdy guy, I'd love that I love to read - and adore Hemingway, Graham Greene, & Orwell.   And- I have a nice rack and minimal cellulite.

What I would change about myself is that I "try" too hard... that whole eager to please others thing- when I wish sometimes I could sit back and relax about the process.   Like most every other human- I hate it when people don't like me...   and I think sometimes I've tried too hard to make guys like me and it's backfired.   I'd also change my ability to drive in a parking lot. I literally become retarded when I have to park a car. It drives my husband insane - he doesn't believe me when I tell him I was really good at docking tug boats, yet I can't whip into parking spots.

And... last ? is from Rox again: When did I realize I was an adult?

Probably when I was drafting a business plan to start the medical practice. I was 25 and putting together financial forecasts to present to the bank for a loan. I felt like I was playing grown-up- but it was for real.   I had to put on suits and talk to other adults... and, those dumb-suckers actually lent me A LOT of money (that I'm still repaying).   Opening the practice (literally overseeing every step of it from construction, equipment acquisition, hiring, to the day to day management) forced me to grow up. It sucked.   And then I had a baby, and I felt REALLY old trying to keep her alive and manage all that mess. Oddly, now that the practice is gone, I feel relieved... and so much younger. The stress of self-employment is aging.

I really liked this...   if y'all have any more questions, ask!

So, I'm asking...

2011-03-10T19:34:00.001-06:00

What do you want to know about me?

For tomorrow's Friday 5's I'll answer 5 questions.

Ready.Aim.Fire.

(ask below in the comments, or on my Facebook... I'll check both before I start blogging tomorrow)

What I Wore today...

2011-03-09T22:32:00.000-06:00

See, I promised to do better! (And my friend Audrey busted me for not keeping up with it - I didn't know anyone really cared about what I was wearing. )

My daughter didn't dress me today, but she did approve of my twirly skirt-- and I'll call this looks "Ten Times a Lady" because I'm obsessed with this necklace. And I went to lunch with my girls today, and I felt girlie in it, and being girlie is fun.

The black shirt gets a lot of wear, but in the spirit of re-mixing, I'm concerned about this skirt's "place in my closet" so to speak... because I don't think it's very versatile. It's super cute, but it's distinctive so it's not like I can re-mix it with something a week from now and run into the same people I saw today... and I will pretty much always only wear it with a black top of some sort. I suppose I could dress it down with a black tee or a tank and some sandals or something when it's warmer- but it's not something that can be worn multiple ways. But... it has pockets, which I dig. And it's cute.

And, I hope to get better with this fashion photography... don't you think the bamboo shadows add a little something to the face?

Until tomorrow... XOXO

Fashionably Late...

2011-03-08T22:53:00.000-06:00

I am sucking at this 30 for 30 challenge. Not that I'm not wearing what's within my 30 items, because I am (except jeans/tshirt days don't count, and I've had two because all I did was spend my day in the car driving to and from out of town)... I just can't manage to take the pictures and blog all about it - my apologies!

Here is Zoo Day - where my daughter is more stylish than me... really, how can you compete with glittered Chuck Taylors? It was such a glorious day to be at the Zoo. We could not have asked for a prettier day, but we determined that Sparkler is definitely mine - she hates being hot, and needed some ice cream and rest after all that walking around. (and maybe some cotton candy, too)

So- that is all I have for now. I will do better tomorrow!

And... go buy this album. Right now. Thank me later.

Those Friday Fives...

2011-03-05T01:30:00.000-06:00

To go with my mood for the day, which is crappy because I traded in my beautiful fully loaded SUV for a Prius - I'll just pile it on while I'm down and talk about five of my weaknesses

1) I over-share. I'm super excited by people and love getting to know all about them... so I jump to the irrational conclusion that others share this excitement and want to know about me... so I share too much about myself. I'm not so bad that I'll give my life story to a checker at Wal-Mart, but you get my drift. If you add alcohol to this equation (hahahahahaha)... yeah. Complete strangers know I'm getting a tummy-tuck in April... and shit, now you do too! (what? I had a baby, I've gotta get things put back where they were. Vanity is a bitch)

2) No matter what I accomplish in life, I will probably never forgive myself for dropping out of college the first time. I know things work out for a reason... yada, yada, yada.   I'm amazed I got into Rice considering I left a service academy - although I wrote an essay that boiled down to "I was a 21 year old idiot in love and made a mistake, this is what I learned from it".   It's not that my life isn't great, but the haunting "what if" and the fact that I'll never know is what bothers me so much. I have closure issues.

3) I suck at motherhood. I was an awesome mother to an infant... but I can't do toddler. File this one under "mother guilt".   I dread going in public with my heathen and relish the days she's in school. People tell me it's normal for kids to be bad in public- but they didn't have to endure the meltdown we had tonight at Macaroni Grill (she cried the whole damn time) or sit in the car with her when she throws fits so intense she's kicked the DVD/entertainment system out of the center console. I videotaped it for posterity (maybe trading that car in today wasn't so bad after all).   I tell myself "this too shall pass" and God knows I love her more than anything on earth, but let's just hope it passes soon or I need to get on a list for a liver transplant and we need to start her a fund for therapy.

4) I can't shut a drawer to save my life. I also suck at tightening the lid on the peanut butter. I don't know why I have an aversion to closing things up well...   maybe my closure issues extend to the tangible?   I also hate putting up laundry (I can fold clothes all day) and unloading the dishwasher. So not only do I suck at motherhood, I'm a crappy house-keeper too.   It's a good thing I'm headed back to school!

5) This is probably an open-ended list... I have way more than 5 weaknesses. I'm stubborn, insecure, a little high maintenance, I get crazy cranky when I'm hungry... but I think the key is recognizing these problems and working on them.    I try.

My kid dressed me today...

2011-03-01T22:58:00.000-06:00

For the fashion minded folks- I follow a few blogs that do a "remix challenge" where you pick out 30 items (shoes included) and remix them for different outfits each day of the month.

So... I'm taking the challenge. I pulled 30 things and put them on a garment rack to prevent "cheating"

but actually minus that first blue shirt- it was put there on accident (it's the shirt that goes under my suit, but as a tangent, Rebeca & Drew makes some awesome shirts for busty chicks)

I will actually go through in the next few days and come up with more thoughtful pictures of the 30 random items I put together... I'm probably going to end up naked or in gym clothes by the end of the week.

So- today my kiddo picked my clothes out:

Skirt, Similar top

I love the Boden top, it's aptly named "favorite shirt" and it's comfy and bright!

The skirt is from Target (but you have to say it fancy- Tar-Jay) and I wear it all the time.

horrid picture of me- but you get the idea...

I accessorized with a gold belt and headband from J.Crew and some fabulously cute Sarah Briggs earrings.

So, Sparkler did okay dressing mommy - now only if I could get my little stinker to put her leggings back on!!

It comes full circle...

2011-02-22T14:14:00.000-06:00

Apparently Sparkler reads my blog? This morning my child informed me after a breakfast in my bed, with chocolate milk, Noggin and playing games on my phone (spoiled rotten, much?) that "She loves me but she doesn't like me". Sound familiar? What the heck Sparkler?

And then she told me she was just kidding. And I got a silly face. But really- where on earth did she hear that?

Fried Rice Friday...

2011-02-18T19:30:00.011-06:00

okay- so maybe not the Fried part - but I was trying to make up something witty about Rice. All it did was make me crave some Chinese food!

Instead of my usual Friday Fives- I'm going to go with a pictorial of my acceptance into B-school!

I head to the barn because remember,

I'm nervous about my interview and think I will be getting a breakup email on Friday and I need to ride because, well... it's cheaper than therapy. I can't jump my normal course today because my trainer is heading out for a show, so I just do kiddy- jumps and work on transitions and speed.

And then.... I get an acceptance phone call and try really hard not to freak Spirit out... because I want to do a Laura Linney-esque happy dance. You know the one- from Love Actually when she lands that hot piece of man-candy we all liked looking at, Karl, and she goes to the other side of the stair wall and silently squeals with a jig... yeah- that one! But I can't dance on a horse so instead I hyperventilate while talking to the Admissions Director. As if getting in wasn't enough, I also got a hefty scholarship. I told her she made my year... She probably thinks I'm a spaz! (which if you know me... I am.)

But then I can't control my happiness- and I do a little "whoop-whoop" happy dance and Spirit does not like it... and it looked something like this:

Yeah... that would be the horse ditching out of the jump and me going for it. Butt meet bar. So humiliating- especially since that jump is so low he could have trotted over it. Special kudos to Sparky who caught this gem on film... talk about mortification! He is bad ju-ju for watching me ride- I have a 50% fall rate when he is around. Thankfully he never comes out to the barn- I haven't fallen off a horse in almost 9 years and I've done A LOT of jumping in that time frame.

So- I go home and immediately pay my deposit before they realize they called the wrong Amanda or something...

and I printed the acceptance letter for proof...

Then Sparky got his wish- he's always liked Rice ball caps, and we are rabid baseball fans - but he said he'd feel like a tool wearing a Rice hat since he didn't ever go there...

We went with the blue - so now he matches Leonardo DiCaprio .

And then we had date night with some great friends! We went to a cooking lesson that was focused on pairing a meal with craft beer. This day ROCKS!!

I spy an Owl in the room (told you I had some large & in-charge Owl earrings)

Don't make fun of my earrings- I will zest you, buster!

And today our house is for sale...

and I'm just a little bit happy!

Happy Friday, everyone!

XOXO,
Owlmanda

What I want Wednesday...

2011-02-16T00:05:00.002-06:00

The only thing in the world I want today is a call from Rice telling me I was accepted into their MBA program.

Decision day is technically Friday, but they are known to call the people accepted on the Wednesday and Thursday before the deadline, and then send emails out to everyone else on Friday....heartbreak delivered the non-confrontational way (and I thought getting dumped by phone sucked - for the record - that was a chickenshit move boys. Your mama's did not raise you right!) Anyhoo- welcome to the technological age. Wanna bet a rejection letter comes with a "do not respond to this message" disclaimer at the bottom. I hope I don't have to find out!

So- let's just all want for me to get in on this "Want it Wednesday". I'll even wear a Hooter's tank top, obnoxiously large Owl earrings and a Rice ball cap in my next blog post if they call and tell me I'm an Owl. I.am.that.committed (or just need to be committed somewhere).

Best Valentine's Blog...

2011-02-14T15:27:00.001-06:00

Ben Does Life- Valentine's Style.

This post just makes me happy- I don't know if it's his shirt, or his insanely happy smile...

Go be happy people!

Happy Heart Day

2011-02-14T09:57:00.002-06:00

Graffiti gets in the spirit...

about those Friday Fives....

2011-02-13T16:52:00.000-06:00

So yeah, they didn't happen.

and if they had, I'd probably be on a terrorist watch list because I was dreaming up torture methods for a certain group of people that are high up on my "hate" list.

Things like cut off their eyelids, throw them in a sandbox and turn on a fan.... you get the drift.

It's a long story with a meeting that didn't give us the news we wanted on Friday morning... We were in such a funk that in Austin, on a Friday night we didn't even eat dinner and we were in bed at 2200.

Saturday was better, and I'm spending my Sunday relaxing while Sparky takes his aggression out on the driveway with a power washer.

Here's my sign...

2011-02-09T23:35:00.008-06:00

Just sayin....

I really need to stop asking my magic 8 ball the "Am I going to get into Jones (Rice)?" question.

I am not a patient person- the 18th needs to hurry and just get here so I can either wallow in pity or rejoice. Either way, beer will be consumed.

Want it Wednesday...

2011-02-09T18:50:00.004-06:00

I figured with Valentine's Day approaching, I'd give "Want it Wednesday" a whirl... with a twist.

Here are some things I definitely DON'T Want....

Pajamagrams, etc...

Unless it was a prank gift, I hand on a bible swear that if anyone ever got me this- I'd walk out the door. As far as cheesy goes- this is up there with all my boyfriends putting Amanda by Boston on a mixed-tape. It was excusable by the first one (aah- young love)- after that, it was just absurd and uncreative. What man really thinks their girlfriend/wife wants a teddy bear and pajamas to match? It is not sexy. I don't know how Vermont Teddy Bear company is still in business- it's absurd - but someone must be buying these or they'd stop with the ridiculous holiday promotions. There's a sucker born every minute.

Cheesy Jewelry - To each their own - it's just not my thing. I'd rather a neat necklace from Etsy than something mass produced for an over commercialized holiday.

Chocolate: like I need to spend more time on a treadmill? Plus- you poke the bottoms out to figure out which ones are worth eating and only end up with half the box being worthwhile. I am too Type A to deal with the "life is like a box of chocolates" philosophy. I know what flavors I like and I don't like screwing around with the others. I'll buy my own smoked sea salt dark chocolate covered caramels or Mo's Dark Chocolate Bacon Bar the week before Aunt Flo comes to visit for myself, thankyouverymuch.

So- what does get my heart ticking? Honestly, I am not much of a gift person in the tangible sense. I much prefer a weekend away to go see a concert, a massage, a cooking class we can enjoy together, or the chance to sleep in. This book, Porn for Women, albeit humorous hits the nail on the head. I don't want freaking pajamas with a matching teddy-bear or whatever Zales is hocking as the "must have jewelry" of the season. I want a bubble bath in peace, hot coffee in the morning, and separated laundry. Unloading the dishwasher, pouring a beer and giving a shoulder rub wins major foreplay points. It's the little things.

The Friday Fives

2011-02-05T00:24:00.005-06:00

Friday Fives: Advice I wish I could give my younger self

1) Your mom means well, she just fails on delivery.

I have spent most of my life thinking nothing I ever do is good enough for my mother. In retrospect when I was old enough to evaluate the relationship my mother had with hers... I understood it a lot more. My grandmother was a fairly miserable, caustic, unaffectionate human so my mom really never knew better. I stumbled through adolescence and teenage heartbreak without much guidance and she was so strict, attending military school for college seemed like a break. Apparently (and thankfully), old dogs can learn new tricks, because she's an awesome grandmother to Sparkler.

2) Don't let yourself be marginalized

Don't let others do it to you, and don't do it to yourself. It's okay to be cute and smart, so don't play dumb because it's the path of least resistance. You will always resent and regret it, and those feelings aren't worth the "pleasant surprise" others encounter when they realize you have a brain. I could expand on this for paragraphs (but I'll spare you for now)... and maybe it all goes back to my "mommy issues" - who really knows??

3) He's just not that into you

I wish this movie had come out when I was in high school. You are awesome- and if some guy didn't recognize that, it was his loss. It's SOOO cliche - but so true. Given the option of a nice guy and an ass- I always took on the "challenge" and picked the self-centered jerk. (and I should clarify that not all guys I dated were jerks - I had some pretty great loves en route to finding "the one") I could pick a few examples, but HS debate camp is a glaring display of my lack of logic in the "love" department. See #2 because I did that to get the "cute boy" while I ignored an equally cute boy who was my study partner (that liked my brains and personality). I fell head over heels for "Cute boy" who was temporary and never wrote me after camp ended, but the study partner wrote me a letter every week for 3 years. If you have to marginalize yourself to get someone to like you- they just aren't that into you. And, one day - when you are done chasing assholes- someone will come along that adores YOU!

4) Don't say (as a 125 lb, 18 year old with an amazing figure) "If I ever hit 150 pounds then just kill me, because I've obviously quit caring about myself"

Because it is a bitchy thing to say. I did hit 150 - and then some... and I didn't want to die. I don't imagine the chubniks on this earth quit caring about themselves just because they packed on some pounds - it's more of a case that we are busy caring for others and put ourselves last. Food becomes comfort, or a crappy habit - but it's reversible with some dedication and carving out some time to take care of yourself.

5) Wear Sunscreen

I could bust out the lyrics to Everybodys Free (To Wear Sunscreen) (which is arguably a much better list of advice than my four previous bullets) - but from a purely vain standpoint... WEAR SUNSCREEN! and save yourself a couple thousand buckaroos in microdermabrasions and chemical peels that you undergo in your 20's so that you won't wrinkle prematurely and look like a leather purse.

And- an apology.... I failed on posting any fashion pieces this week- I looked super cute on Tuesday - it's unfortunate I didn't get a picture snapped because I had the best intentions. My outfit was Sparkler approved because I donned a "twirly" skirt and had on a bright kelly green coat. She was impressed and told me I looked fancy. Wednesday I was all business- Charcoal gray suit, light blue Rebecca & Drew button-down and Black Pointy Toe Louboutins (Hai 85mm pump in black calf-skin to be exact). Yesterday was all about comfort since I felt under the weather- a thermal, a snuggly Gap sweater I've had for 12 years, skinny jeans and Uggs. Today- as I sit here writing, it's a repeat of yesterday for the most part... a light camel sweater and a red scarf, but I did put on some cute earrings! I had a great snow outfit planned- but our weathermen SUCK at their jobs... not a freaking flake in sight! No pictures of me and Sparkler playing in the snow :(

I look to these two blogs for inspiration on the fashion front and they have willing accomplices camera ready - their styles are similar to mine so please enjoy them until I can get my act together.

Dwelling & Telling

Kendi Everyday

Hope y'all enjoy them as much as I do.

Until next time (have a great weekend)

XOXO

Your Superpower?

2011-02-03T14:14:00.012-06:00

This question was posed to me in the form of an admissions essay for business school... it was either that or describe my perfect day (with no restrictions). I don't think they would be impressed that I'd want to wake up looking like Gisele Bundchen, living in a cozy craftsman in Seattle where my hot husband brings me fresh coffee after walking Sparkler down to school. I'd peruse a farmer's market, go to the museum, subsist off of clam chowder in crusty bread bowls and craft beer and have some hot soap-opera sex before calling it a day. Sounds perfect to me- business school essay, it is not.

I personally think both of those prompts set up the kiss-ass, "I'd cure cancer" or "I'd devote my day to charity" responses but I took the challenge head-on. I decided I wouldn't try to lie about who I am. I fix stupid... with a GLARE. Kick-ass!

ok-ok.... So initially I wanted to sterilize stupid people so they wouldn't reproduce (Remember the family tree at the beginning of Idiocracy) - but eugenics is probably frowned upon (and I don't really believe in it- slippery slope, I'm not God, etc) "fixing" them to where they were no longer stupid is better.

So here's how it started:

The comedian Ron White has said, “You can’t fix stupid.” … but what if I could? At the risk of sounding crass and politically incorrect, if I could have any superpower, I would be able to cure “stupid” by simply glaring at the offender. The Glare – the one you give accompanied by the deep breath of frustration when the bagboy at the grocery store crushes your bread with grapefruit. My superpower would be a boon to humanity, since the cause of most turmoil in this world typically boils down to stupidity somewhere.

How often do you think Ron White gets quoted in essays written to top MBA programs? I'm either an idiot or just have balls...Probably the former. I go on to address concrete business examples from my work experience where I would have fixed "stupid" in the healthcare field in addition to quick blurbs on Congress, TSA screenings, BCS football and the DMV. Suck on that, Xray vision!

What would your superpower be?

And I still wish I could wake up and look like her (whilst eating clam chowder).

The Suite Life...

2011-02-03T13:43:00.005-06:00

Since I've been a busy traveling bee this year- I feel like I should do some hotel reviews and then tell you my favorite.   I've stayed in some really nice, and some fairly mediocre places...   so here is my honest feedback on the following hotels:

The Good - in other words: I *heart* these places!

Hotel Zaza
I love this place. Granted the lobby sometimes has a weird smell to it and is a little dark. It used to be the Warwick hotel- and my grandparents raved about it when we would make trips to the medical center during their older years for their various maladies.   If you've seen the movie Rushmore, which is some awesome Bill Murray action, then you've seen what was the Warwick. Fancy Schmancy. ZaZa kept the architecture but sexed it up a bit. Ok- maybe a lot.

I've stayed in a deluxe room, and then a concept suite - and while the deluxe rooms are nice, suites are the way to go. Each suite has a theme, and mine was labeled "An Affair to Remember" and the room is incredible, but "cozy"- cozy meaning small.   Even when it's just me, I like a little space to spread out.   I will say the bathroom is awesome though- a large soaking tub, a separate rain & steam shower, separate water closet, all done in Emperador marble, the same as my bathroom at home.   The colors were rich reds, browns and gold, and the chandelier was not shabby.    I am looking forward to staying at ZaZa again, although next time I think I will go for the Black Label suite- that soaking tub on the balcony overlooking Hermann Park is calling my name!

An Affair to Remember Suite

Alexis Hotel
Add this one to the LOVE column. Love, Love, Love... although I think there are some discrepancies between their online description and the room. The lobby is bright and modern, and the Bookstore Bar is so quaint that I dream about holing up in a corner and reading Hemingway while sipping on an Irish Coffee during a rainy Seattle day. I stayed in one of their concept suites the first time - the Symphony Suite- and I loved the space the room provided. I had thought there was supposed to be a dining room and I must have missed it- if anyone from Kimpton happens upon this, they should turn the entry way into a smaller seating/cocktail area and put an actual dining room on the split level where the "living room" currently is. I say this, because there is another couch with sleeper sofa in the bedroom- and while the L shaped sectional is neat, it's a waste because there is plenty of room to sit, but not a good table for enjoying your breakfast.

The bathroom was okay although on the small side, and I understand in a lot of renovations of old space that they have to work with the existing plumbing. A "water closet" and tub separate from the shower would have been nice, although probably not possible given the layout of the building. And then you get to the bed... OMG- that bed is like heaven. I slept like a baby. It's not too firm or too soft - just right. I have stayed in a lot of nice places, and even though it wasn't perfect, it's still one of my favorite places. I loved the light color scheme, and how simple, yet elegantly appointed the room was. Well done, Alexis!

cozy bookstore bar - the books really are for sale

the bedroom portion of my suite - nice and airy!

To be continued.... (with the I like them *okay* places)

Friday Fives...

2011-01-28T23:04:00.041-06:00

Five things I'm looking forward to in February:

1) For worse or *hopefully* better, I will find out if I get into the business school program I've applied to. As the recession lingers on, the competition has become more and more steep. People either can't get jobs, or can't advance without an MBA under their belt- so the rush back to school is on. My GMAT score was average/mediocre- (I guess technically 78% percentile puts me in the "above average" category but for the program I applied to, it was the bare minimum - talk about feeling stupid).   My undergrad grades are decent, my work experience is remarkable and I had some really awesome people write me stellar recommendations - I'll pay them later ;) . I have been invited for an interview- hopefully they think I'm charming and let me in. Keep your fingers crossed for me!   - and pretty soon, I'll share with you the "superpower" essay I wrote. I fix "stupid" with a glare. (suck on that x-ray vision!) I hope the admissions committee had a great laugh reading it!

2) Getting our McMansion on the market! 2 weeks until we try to sell this beast. We have decided we are done having kids, so we really don't need a 4 bedroom, 2 toy room, formal 4000 sq ft house. It will be hard, because how do you sell the house you brought your baby home to? So many memories, good and bad were made here, but it will always be our first real home. We built it- so we are attached, but it is time to move on. I'm actually looking forward to the move to something half the size. We have too much "stuff" and in the end, it's experiences that matter. Hopefully we end up in a cute cottage near the school that *hopefully admits me* - that would be ideal!

3) Doing fun things with the hubster. We are headed to Austin on a Thursday night to go see Lissie in concert (because we are crazy like that - I suppose I'm rather impetuous to fall in love with a musician based on one song I heard on the radio and buy tickets as soon as I come home- but I'm hooked, she's awesome) . We are doing another cooking lesson - this one focused on beer- at Hubbell & Hudson with some friends. It's nice to be in a place where we enjoy each others company again. More on that later...

4) The Beer Blog begins!   Beer, glorious beer!   Our good friend, Aron, who we lovingly refer to as "The Bald Brewer" works as a beer distributor in the area, and he also home-brews. His home brews are awesome - I'm aging some of his brown ale and midas touch in the "beer fridge" as we speak. The Bald Brewer is going to start a beer blog, and use his contacts to host events and spread the love of craft brews to all the people that have not received the memo, YET!   I'm going to be a guest commentator on his blog- an Angel of Ale, Sister that loves Stout, Lady drinking Lager, Babe of Belgians - if you will.   Life is too short to drink crappy beer.

5) I'm going to try to do a few more postings on fashion. Since we will be selling this house, the closet space unfortunately will not be following me. I am going to have to pare WAAAAY down-   so this will be an adventure in remixing.   I love clothes, shoes, jewelry- and I've found that my aesthetic is changing and I've fallen into my own style. I'm preppy, and I just can't help it- with a bit of quirk.   I love the unexpected handmade necklace from Etsy with jeans and a white t-shirt, or a JCrew boyfriend blazer layered over a "going out" night top that shows more cleavage than is probably acceptable during the daylight hours.   I like to mix it up and thought it would be fun to share.

ack...

2011-01-23T19:21:00.000-06:00

I know, worst blogger ever!

Up for this week I will finish my "suite life" blog where I tell you about all the cool hotels I've checked out the last few months. It's lengthy, so I'm going to split it into a few posts. The Good- The Bad- The Ugly.

I promise to share my Disney experience, Christmas season, and what I've been up to this new year and I'll be resuming my Friday Fives (be afraid!)

Until then...

XOXO,
Amanda

And that makes 7

2010-11-15T21:58:00.006-06:00

So today is the copper/wool anniversary. Who the hell comes up with these "gift" ideas anyway?

Nonetheless, we've made it 7 years. I get sentimental as each anniversary rolls around and look at wedding pictures - and this one always cracks me up.

*there was an uber classy leopard printed tree air freshener in the limo that reeked like High Karate*

So much of my "essence" can probably be summed up in this picture- I'm a "grab life by the horns" kinda girl... and apparently a "grab the new husband by the head and make him kiss you for a picture" kind of girl as well.

And if you had any doubt- I didn't walk toward this husband in traditional fashion. There was no "here comes the bride" for this chick. I opted for an incredible piece of music - bold, strong, exuberant, full of life and hope... (and very Russian) Plus- Wagner's opera Lohengrin from which the bridal march originates does not exactly have a happy ending (and between you and me, I don't think it's a pretty piece of music - I find it monotonous- so I don't get why most brides walk down the aisle to it). The last 2 minutes of The Great Gate of Kiev always gives me chills. I often lament that there was no way to get an orchestra to play at our wedding- it sounded lovely with the quintet that played at our wedding... but some symbols would have given it the oomph!

Mussorgsky's "The Great Gate of Kiev" from Pictures of an Exhibition

The seven years have had their ups and downs - but my husband can't say that he didn't know what he was getting into. My strong personality has been evident from the get-go. Some people call it bossy - but I'm just me... and I'm glad that Sparky has decided to stick with me for the last 7 years.

Here's to 7 more years of kissing in limos- I just hope they don't smell like cheap cologne.

For those so inclined- The Houston Symphony is playing Mussorgsky's Pictures of an Exhibition on Black Friday. It's incredible.

Fall

2010-11-14T00:11:00.000-06:00

It's my favorite time of year... cooler air clears the head, I think. In the words of Moose A Moose from Noggin... "I feel like I'm fallin' for fall"

Oh I feel like I’m falling for fall,
No I’m not prevaricating, nor am I exagerating,
Fall has got me in it’s grasp it must be said.

Autumn’s such a pleasing season,
You must see all the trees in
The Blazing colors, Orange Gold and Red.

Should I write fall a love letter
Tell him how I feel better
Everytime the season comes around each year.

Or maybe I’ll just go on about
How Nature puts a show on
As a predule to all kinds of holiday cheer.

I feel like I’m falling for fall,
There are feelings of elation
mixed with some anticipation
when I think of all the fun there is in store.

And my heart just gets to thumpin
Thinkin about piles of leaves I’ll jump in
It’s no wonder it’s autumn I adore

I fall in love several times a day so I'll just recap some of the stuff I have fallen for in the last week.

A new song - Lissie's In Sleep. Catchy with a good jam at the end. Thanks Sirius for introducing me to this gem.

A new word from Sparkler... she has informed me that she now wears ENSEMBLES.   She also told me that she is FABULOUS. Which she is. Undeniably fabulous.

A new piece of art... I want to buy a piece that is hanging in the hallway of the sushi restaurant I frequent. Before you laugh at me, it's no Velvet Elvis, it's a lovely cream/grey toned oil painting... the local art guild puts their work in a bunch of businesses in the area.   It's for sale, and I even think it's decently priced, I just don't have a wall to hang it on. I really need to move to a house with more walls. This "open" floor plan stuff is for the birds.

A new beer - or a mix- I was already in love with Southern Star Brewery's Buried Hatchet Imperial Stout, but if you add a little Lindeman's Framboise to it - OMG. It's like drinking raspberry chocolate coffee. I wouldn't want to drink this all the time, but if I was in a calorie dilemma about beer vs dessert, this answers that conundrum.

John Steinbeck. Why was I so stupid in high school? They made us read Grapes of Wrath and I couldn't get into it. I actually don't think I even read it, just somehow managed to cobble together decent papers from Cliff's Notes. I'm reading East of Eden and I'm blown away.   I guess this shouldn't come as a huge surprise to me that I would love classic literature if I actually take the time to read it. I fell in love with Graham Greene in my early 20's and Ernest Hemingway in my late 20's. Maybe Steinbeck will be the literary love affair of my early 30's. Timshel.

Like I said, I fall in love a few times a day so the list could go on... like right this minute I'm loving Aimee Mann's "Deathly"- lyrically deep, and the guitar at the end can cut you to the core. And I'm loving Words with Friends (I'm addicted) because it's pretty neat to feel connected to college friends, your husband, and your GMAT tutor throughout the day. Also loving the new t-shirt cowl neck thing I bought at the GAP along with the cutest coat for Sparkler... and that I got 30% off because of the "Give and Get" coupon this week.    See... I fall in love easy. And I love that about myself.

Laugh your ass off funny....

2010-10-19T23:37:00.003-05:00

WARNING! OFFENSIVE!

Just don't read if lots of cursing offends you.

This is one of the funniest things I've read in a while.... The open letters section at this website is also hilarious.

www.mcsweeneys.net

IT'S DECORATIVE
GOURD SEASON, MOTHERFUCKERS.

BY COLIN NISSAN

- - - -

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get my hands on some fucking gourds and arrange them in a horn-shaped basket on my dining room table. That shit is going to look so seasonal. I'm about to head up to the attic right now to find that wicker fucker, dust it off, and jam it with an insanely ornate assortment of shellacked vegetables. When my guests come over it's gonna be like, BLAMMO! Check out my shellacked decorative vegetables, assholes. Guess what season it is—fucking fall. There's a nip in the air and my house is full of mutant fucking squash.

I may even throw some multi-colored leaves into the mix, all haphazard like a crisp October breeze just blew through and fucked that shit up. Then I'm going to get to work on making a beautiful fucking gourd necklace for myself. People are going to be like, "Aren't those gourds straining your neck?" And I'm just going to thread another gourd onto my necklace without breaking their gaze and quietly reply, "It's fall, fuckfaces. You're either ready to reap this freaky-assed harvest or you're not."

Carving orange pumpkins sounds like a pretty fitting way to ring in the season. You know what else does? Performing an all-gourd reenactment of an episode ofDiff'rent Strokes—specifically the one when Arnold and Dudley experience a disturbing brush with sexual molestation. Well, this shit just got real, didn't it? Felonies and gourds have one very important commonality: they're both extremely fucking real. Sorry if that's upsetting, but I'm not doing you any favors by shielding you from this anymore.

The next thing I'm going to do is carve one of the longer gourds into a perfect replica of the Mayflower as a shout-out to our Pilgrim forefathers. Then I'm going to do lines of blow off its hull with a hooker. Why? Because it's not summer, it's not winter, and it's not spring. Grab a calendar and pull your fucking heads out of your asses; it's fall, fuckers.

Have you ever been in an Italian deli with salamis hanging from their ceiling? Well then you're going to fucking love my house. Just look where you're walking or you'll get KO'd by the gauntlet of misshapen, zucchini-descendant bastards swinging from above. And when you do, you're going to hear a very loud, very stereotypical Italian laugh coming from me. Consider yourself warned.

For now, all I plan to do is to throw on a flannel shirt, some tattered overalls, and a floppy fucking hat and stand in the middle of a cornfield for a few days. The first crow that tries to land on me is going to get his avian ass bitch-slapped all the way back to summer.
Welcome to autumn, fuckheads!

Friday Make-up Fives (on a Tuesday.. it's the thought that counts)

2010-10-19T23:25:00.000-05:00

Much to my chagrin, I have been in "please don't tank the GMAT" study mode for the last 2 weeks...

so I have some Fridays to make up for. I'm just going to suggest a little retail therapy for everyone and tell you about 5 things you should run out and buy based on the fact that *I* love them.

1) Ruby Red Grapefruit Italian Soda. With or without vodka... it's perfection over some chipped ice. (I lie about the without vodka part... it's good without, but it's not perfect) I flex my culinary muscles by adding a sprig of fresh rosemary to it. It makes the cocktail curl that much more intense. My biceps should be so toned by now. My local market makes several flavors of Italian Soda, and the Blood Orange is also tasty... but Ruby Red is the best. I've done extensive research. Just trust me.

2) Ben Harper & Relentless Seven's White Lies for Dark Times. It's amazing if you like a little rock and awesome jam mixed in with great lyrics. There are a few bonus tracks from a live show at the Highline Ballroom in New York and The Word Suicide - and the nod to Jimmy Hendrix in the jam- alone makes it worth whatever iTunes is charging. Absolutely amazing.

I recently saw Ben Harper and Dave Matthews Band at The Gorge (WA state) and one of the best things I've ever heard was Watchtower with Ben Harper and his band, along with guests Alberta Cross... Tim Reynolds (guitarist) tears up a Stairway to Heaven bit, and DMB has some of the best musicians as members... how it all came together was so incredible that I think I had an "eargasm." If they ever make that show into a CD or DVD - you will want to buy that too. Unless you just don't like music... in which case, we can't be friends.

3) Jimmy Jane Ember Massage Oil Candles. I have a sampler, and I have the Bourbon scented candle and they all smell incredible. Enter their website at your own risk Jimmy Jane, (or play it safe at Amazon.com or Drugstore.com) but these people seem to live by their "Live Sexy" motto.
We can all use a little sexy.

4) A Magic 8 ball. Yes, they make an app for that... but there's something nostalgic about shaking an 8 ball. I am ridiculous and run all major life decisions and crazy-ass questions by the 8 ball. It's right about 75% of the time. Better odds than flipping a coin, plus it looks kitschy on the night stand. Plus, you have to love that you can shake that sucker into submission and eventually get the answer you really want. If only life were so easy.

5) Parking tickets... because people park like assholes and it makes me bitchy. If I had to parallel park places, I'd probably have to give myself one of these on occasion so sometimes I let shitty parking slide. (actually, I have gotten MUCH better at parallel parking - good enough to bitch about the horrible jobs other people do). I found these little gems at Urban Outfitters and I always keep them in my purse now. It beats the situation I had a few weeks ago when someone put the front half of their car over the line and made it near impossible for me to get out of my spot. Luckily, that day, I had a thank you note I never mailed to someone sitting in my car console. I ripped the top of the card off, and under the generic Thank You wrote "for parking like an asshole"... these pre-made parking tickets are so much more witty. Things like "It was this or put a crowbar through your window" and "The way you pulled in makes me wish your dad had pulled out" I'm in love with these things.

5 things I probably shouldn't say...

2010-09-24T17:43:00.006-05:00

1) My least favorite birthstone is the ruby...

and my baby was born in July.

2) I hate waiting in lines, especially when you get handled in alphabetical order... so I was a little disgruntled about marrying down the alphabet. A "S" no less- with all the Smiths. It's far back and populated back here in the "S"s.

3) I really hate when I see poorly dressed, cute children. It's superficial - but seriously- kids are little tyrants (I mean, treasures) ... at least make them look nice. The only solace I take in my parenting is that even though my kid might throw books at her teacher and terrorize other kids on the playground is that at least she looked good doing it.

4) I don't really like to run. I mean, I do sort've... it's good for me, and I feel good when I'm done and I like that I can zone out for an hour and just listen to music loudly... but I don't know about this whole "runner's high". It remains elusive even when I log 20+ miles a week. I only exercise so that I look okay naked. If I could maintain good muscle tone sitting on my couch eating pringles, I would. I feel this way about all exercise to be honest... but I force myself to do it because I want to be healthy and look good. Vanity is a bitch.

5) Here's a secret... I'm not near as confident as I appear to be. According to this month's O Magazine's charisma quiz... I've got natural charisma. I supposedly walk into a room and command attention - I've witnessed this phenomenon and I don't get it, because deep down I'm wicked insecure. My freshman year of high school, before the days of Proactive infomercials, my skin was not great. It wasn't awful, but the mix of teenage hormones, SE Texas humidity, cheap makeup and hairspray... without some pharmaceutical intervention, was a recipe for typical teenage comedonal acne. I will never forget, I was sitting in Mrs. Levinson (our religion teacher's) open mod and a guy in my class told me "Your face is a waste of an amazing body" I won't mention the guy's name, because we have mutual friends on Facebook... (and I also quite possibly got drunk at some random bar in Boston and ended up kissing him on my 21st birthday. Now I have the heeby-jeebies and a desire to go swig some Scope because I don't find him particularly attractive or nice)... but those words scarred me for life. So- when I walk in a room and people think I have all this "charm" - I still feel like the shy freshman with pimples and boobs trying to figure it all out. Sad but true. My charisma is just a defense mechanism.

Friday Fives

2010-09-17T20:57:00.004-05:00

Are in Progress... I'm having a beer sampling night and I'll tell you my five favorites...

I'll just keep updating, with pics because by the time I make my way through this many beers, hilarity is sure to ensue.

Ok - so it's almost a week later (Thursday 9/23 to be exact) and I'm sorry I didn't do the real-time updates I promised... but I got a little drunk. I did however give a stunning rendition of Outkast's Hey Ya performance at the Grammy's from 2004.

Pardon my non-existent video editing skills. And yes, I'm in reading glasses, boy shorts, a sweaty t-shirt and I'm dancing on my sprained ankle. Beer is good. My tragically white dancing is not.

So we sampled 9 different beers. (although this picture only has 7 because at the last minute I realized I had a 6 pack of Sam Adams Octoberfest and Pyramid's Juggernaut Red Ale in the garage fridge) Yay for remembering forgotten beer!

And we made our way through 2 frozen pizzas. But we keep it classy over here - Newman's Own organic frozen pizzas. Only the best!

After spending a week in Seattle and drinking some really good beers, I got serious - downright studious- about beer.

I took notes (and ate pizza) Here, I am enjoying Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale. It's bitter- but really yum.

In the end- I had my favorite 5- and Sparky had his.

Can you guess whose? A hint... I drink the better beer ;)

Beer, 2 pizzas and a pan of brownies... this is what date night looks like when you don't have a sitter but you are trying to think of something fun to do so you can fall back in "like". It was a lot of fun. My event planning skills rock.... harder than my Outkast impersonation.

Like...

2010-09-14T23:56:00.003-05:00

Like- like oh my gosh? Like a valley girl that says "like" every other word? Ok- so I'm guilty of overusing "like"- I should probably not make too much fun of them.

Today I had lunch with a friend and met a new friend... and I was telling a story and repeating some words that came out of my mouth recently when we were on the topic of relationships... Something along the lines of "I love you, but I don't like you" And she said something so true. "Like is the most underrated emotion"

Sit and think about LIKE. Think about the things you like and the people you like. I like almost everyone and everything... until I don't. I'm super nice like that ;)

The whole drive home I pondered the concept of "like" and my current situation - when you fall out of like with someone, something, or your overall existence. If you don't like someone, they can't breathe right much less do anything to make you happy... if you do like someone, you will put up with all kinds of shit from them... until something snaps and you just can't like them anymore. I'm actually amazed at the amount of crap I've endured under the guise of liking someone. People can only make you feel how you allow them to- so I've been a grade A doormat to a few people in my life because I liked how I felt when I thought they liked me back. If you like someone you get all googley-eyed and feel the kinds of crap Taylor Swift croons about. That perky chick is banking off of LIKE. Sometimes the butterflies are worth it but it usually really hurts to get tossed out of "like" onto your ass, and I've been down that road too many times to count. Another way out of like is that you just start liking someone else... I've had that happen too... that's usually the more pleasant way because you move on to something happier. I picked the hurt, bitter, disappointed route this last go round.

Life would be much easier if you could fall in and out of like at will. I could have saved myself a lot of tears over the years of boys gone bad if I could have controlled "like" and stopped it. Maybe I could have fixed relationships if I could have turned it on? Can I turn it back on now? When it's just you and changing your situation- you can do something about it, usually. If it's dependent on others to act in a way so that you will like them, it can get dicey. I've changed myself. I've lost 30 lbs, started doing things I like again and have made progress to make myself as happy and fun a person as I can be.

In my life, I've liked all kinds of shit that I shouldn't have. Maybe too much to list, but I'll give it a small try (until I get depressed by the list):

Boys that crushed my heart
Cigarettes
Stonewashed denim (high waisted too.. ick! 1993 called)
New Kids on The Block
Songs that make me cry
Mall bangs
Chewing on ice
Trashy romance novels
Carbs - not in moderation- like whole cans of Pringles and family sized mashed potatoes
Chicken-in-a-biscuits (crack in a cracker, man!... and oh so white trash)
Spending too much money

And to be fair, I've liked a lot of things that are good for me too

Running
My child (95% of the time)
Good Music (sometimes even the songs that make me cry)
Horseback riding
Salad
Beer (ok - so in moderation it's good for you- sometimes I don't keep it in moderation)
Baseball (actually almost all sports... but I really like baseball)
School
all of my close friends

Why do we like the things we do? And if we stop liking something or someone after taking the hard road out of like-ville, can we ever like them again? Can we like them more than we used to? I think maybe you can and I sure hope so. But I promise I'll never like stonewashed high-waist jeans ever again (you know you cuffed and rolled yours too)

Don't be afraid to fly...

2010-09-12T19:43:00.001-05:00

Sometimes a song comes into your life at the right time.

Music can be more powerful than a prayer sometimes, in my opinion.

This whole album is actually incredible- do yourself a favor and buy it now! Even the name of the album is so fitting- White lies for dark times... I know all about those things. Telling white lies in your day to day life to get through the dark times. But maybe "Fly One Time" has it all right

And now your caught in between

what you can’t leave behind.

And what you may, what we may never find.

So fly, so fly one time.

So clearly so clearly so high.

If i would die,

just fly one time.

If you fly one time.

Me VS the white birch oxer

2010-09-09T14:58:00.098-05:00

Riding... so much cheaper than therapy.

It's crazy how you can get used to riding twice a week, and then take 9 days off and miss it like crazy. I really needed some time in the saddle after coming back from Seattle.

So this morning, I head out into the pasture to get my sweet Spirit and I was feeling pretty good about being out at the barn. I don't know if I'll ever get all of the emotions from my Seattle trip written down- but it was nice to be back somewhere familiar and welcoming. My whole world and outlook on life changed, but the barn still smells the same. It's all just hay & horse shit, but I've never been happier to smell it.

My trainer is recovering from bypass surgery (keep him in your thoughts) so I'm working with another awesome trainer. Really, everyone at the barn is great - but I especially love Barry because we can talk about what all is new in the fall fashion mags, and he appreciates that I loved the cooler weather in Seattle because I'm into fashion. I was thrilled to bust out my new cream Boden trench coat, and according to Barry, fashionable people always like cold weather because it's better clothes. (although Seattle, I have a bone to pick with you about how hard it is to wear good shoes and walk places... I guess that's why you have so many cabs and town cars)

Sorry about the fashion tangent... back to riding. They changed the course last week when I was gone, which is good- variety is the spice of life, right? The lesson starts out benign enough, I go through the warm-up to make sure Spirit is ready to jump and we clear a few singles with no incident. Easy Peasy. And then it's time to add the white birch oxer. The white birch oxer isn't any higher than it was last week when I rode, and it's not even on a line like it was last time I rode (which means there is more than one jump in a row). BUT- I'm coming at it from a different direction and it has a tighter approach. Sometimes how you approach things makes all the difference.

I jump the single and round the corner to approach the oxer - I'm aiming for the middle of it and then Spirit pulls up and takes a hard right. Very Uncool. I get in his mouth with a hard reign and drag him back to look at the jump. We stand there for a second and I get after him with the crop. I am the master of this situation. Ha.

So, we start over. I try the single to the oxer again. Same freaking thing. This 1500 lb animal is trying to show me who's boss by acting like cow and refusing to jump. I drag him back to it again, but this time he's acting antsy. Something about this jump has him freaked out, and I'm a little freaked out that he's so freaked out. He's raring up trying his best to ditch my ass and I'm thinking if I fall, I'll break an arm or leg and then who will take care of the kidlet? I happened to be wearing a heart rate monitor and I haven't really broken a sweat yet and my heart is up to 192. That's about near red-death zone for me considering I run. I'm approaching the jump slowly just for Spirit to look at it, and he is not having it. Barry is yelling, "Oh No Ma'am... you drag his ass up to that jump and you make him look at it" So I do- a step at the time. Every time he bucks, I smack him with the crop, and when he stands there and looks at it, I give him a reassuring pat on the neck. Pavlovian reinforcement at it's finest.

And- the third time is the charm. We fly over it and it is PERFECT. My heels are down, my chest is proud, and I gallop it out and clear the next outside line with gusto too. I ended up running the course 3 times, the last time was amazing. Spirit has a habit of chipping in a step before jumps on a line and the course ends with a triple line. The chipping in makes it look choppy, and makes me look like I'm in a precarious position because I'm up and ready to jump and he studder-steps. The last time we galloped through the course hard- it might be the biggest physical rush I've ever had as we flew over jumps at such great speed- and I know I was looking good doing it because I had overcome an obstacle and had some confidence. I haven't smiled that big in a while. (ok- I lie- I smiled pretty big my whole trip at The Gorge with some amazing people... but still, I haven't smiled by myself because of something I did myself, like that ... in quite some time)

So- riding is my therapy, because maybe taking things a step at a time and smacking your way through it with a crop when you want to bitch out is exactly what you have to do. You also have to give yourself a pat on the back for doing well. This is good advice for life in general and especially applicable in my recent day to day breathing. Overcoming obstacles and coming out on top is a pretty great feeling and if I can convince a one ton animal with a brain that wanted to buck me off that we could do it, then surely I can control my own destiny. I own that white oxer - can't wait to see it next week!

Is it harder?

2010-09-06T13:52:00.010-05:00

Are you ever really free?

Sometimes music says it better than my silly blog ever could.

It's completely cliche, but maybe endings are just new beginnings ... that start out in tears.

More from the insomniac...

2010-08-26T02:00:00.001-05:00

I'm just in training for the fact that I'll be on a 2 hour time lag in Seattle next week... (that's my excuse anyway)

I've had a less than stellar day of parenting... my poor baby is going to need therapy and I'm going to need a new liver if we keep it up at this rate.

I'm squeezing in a riding lesson tomorrow before I leave for DC... I'm riding my sweet Spirit. Spirit and I have come a long way since May. I'm jumping well enough that I will probably start showing again this fall. Right now, I wouldn't quit riding for anything- and if you want to know why, it's because that horse is the only thing in my life that does what I want. I only have to ask him once too, usually (sometimes twice for something tricky). Tuesday I went to the barn and rode for practice (no lesson or jumping) and we worked on all kinds of fun. Transitions & flying lead changes... so weird how small victories can feel so glorious. It's also amazing how a horse and rider work together- how they sense the nuances of leg pressure, a slight weight shift, sitting deeper, a gentle collection of reign. How they respond to positive reinforcement and live for a solid pat and some apples when it's all done.

I should preface this by saying that I'm used to getting my way... but less and less so as the years have gone by (my powers are vanishing!!!). My Tuesday ride made me think in terms of "getting what I want" when I ask for things... when you ask a horse to do something, a simple canter for instance, they respond to how they were trained. It's a deep sit, inside leg pressure, soft in the mouth but still collected reigns to keep them from running out... you slide your outside leg back and squeeze (or kick - depends on the horse). All of these mechanics just to get a horse to run... but you want them on the right lead - and you have to help them by bending them into the ring. I remember being a kid and fretting over not getting the right leads- and now it's second nature. Now I make figure 8's and switch leads in the middle of the ring without missing a beat - such a neat feeling.

So- back to "getting what you ask for"- whether it's with the kid, the husband, the family... maybe it all boils down to reinforcement, and how I ask? It also made me think that I've created this mess- I've allowed my child to become blatantly bad because she's an only child and I've spoiled her. I've let a pile of crap sit on the stair landing for a week because I don't know how to convincingly ask someone to put it in the attic. I let my mom make me feel like shit because I open myself to her biting opinions by asking her a question. I am resolved to control the "me" part of the equation. I feel like freaking Jerry Maguire "Help me help you!"... (so that I can get what I want). I need to learn how to ask in a more gentle and positive way that gets me what I want,.... which today would have just been a child that would sit down through breakfast long enough for me to finish my coffee. Too damn bad she doesn't behave for apple slices like Spirit.

Musings of an insomniac

2010-08-24T02:28:00.001-05:00

Dear Comedy Central,

There should be some rule against those weepy Sarah McLachlan ASPCA commercials during certain programming... like Carlos Mencia. I don't like going from laughing my ass off to wanting to cry because I can't adopt all those abused pets.

Sincerely,

Sparkly

Because I'm a huge nerd, continued....

2010-08-23T20:22:00.003-05:00

Then a 2 day turnaround in Texas before I head back out to Seattle (I have no idea on Seattle style- from what I've read it seems bleak, but they are the home to my mothership, Nordstrom, so I think they must have some sense of style past North Face, Tevas & Flannel). I am bringing sensible shoes, too - but if you know me, you know I love my heels. Overcompensation for being short.

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go.... (and if you can't see this- It's because Blogger doesn't like the HTML from polyvore, I guess)

Because I'm a huge nerd...

2010-08-23T20:12:00.005-05:00

I've played with Polyvore and planned out my outfits for the trips I have coming in the next two weeks. I might not be good at a lot of things, but I'm exceptionally good at packing for trips. I am not a heavy packer- mostly because I try to plan everything around the least possible amount of shoes I think I can get away with for a trip. I also am a big fan of using packing cubes to keep things separated and organized.

I leave for DC on Thursday... and this is what's on my back. Miraculously it all fits in a carry-on backpack (mad love for my e-bags Motherlode Weekender Convertible). I didn't include my workout gear, because I plan on taking a run around the mall and tidal basin- but it's pretty impressive that my tennis shoes and all these clothes fit in a backpack.

Friday Five - Fashion Faves

2010-08-20T18:00:00.002-05:00

Ha- Say that five times real fast!

So on deck for today, five of my favorite fashion pieces- I'd consider them staples in my wardrobe. Some of them were splurges, but like all good shopaholics, I divide the cost by times worn to determine value.

For the math geeks: Value = (cost of item)/(# of times worn)

#1

Christian Louboutin Very Prive in Nude Patent

Impossible to find, but a classic beauty. Quite possibly the best shoes EVER. I think Mr. Louboutin specializes in CFM-pumps*... and these definitely get the job done. They go with everything and make your legs look INCREDIBLE. Trust me, I've owned some stilettos in my time, but these take the cake. They even reign supreme over my other pairs of Louboutin's and my urban legend Manolo Mary Janes. In fact, if you told me I could only keep one article of clothing- I'd probably choose these over my underwear because they make your ass look good enough that you could go commando (until you get hauled away on indecency charges)

Oversized Sunglasses

This is my particular pair- and I love them because I'm lazy. With sunglasses this big, and a little lip gloss, you can pretty much get out of having to wear makeup and you still look pulled together. These are perfect because they also make a great headband. I know it seems silly, but that is one of my tests when I'm checking out sunglasses.

The LV Monogram Batignolles Horizontal

When Sparky bought me this purse for my birthday a few years ago, I told him it was the last purse I'd ever need. Which is 85% true. Then we had Sparkler and I had to have some diaper bags... it's quite possible I went overboard on some of those... but they served me well. I am back to using my trusty purse again. It's a workhorse - and it puts up with my abuse. If anything spills on it, I can just wipe it down. It has room for everything - I've even crammed my laptop into it. It fits comfortably on my shoulder, always looks tailored and in style, and besides needing a small clutch type purse for a night out- this really is the last purse I'll ever want or need.

Joe's Jeans- Honey

Oh mah Gawd Becky... look at her butt. It is SOO big. I like big butts & I cannot lie.... you other brother's can't deny... (You know you have Baby Got Back stuck in your head now)

So the secret is out- I have an ass... and it can be problematic to find good jeans. Thank goodness for Joe's in the Honey Cut. They have a little stretch, they don't gape in the waist, the pockets aren't so low that the junk in your trunk looks saggy. Pretty much- perfect jeans. I do wonder what amazon women they are making these things for though- they always have to go to the tailor because I'm not 6'5". I live in them!

#5 Les Marinieres - the sailor's shirt

Les Marinières by deja pseu featuring Petit Bateau tops

Sailor Shirt
$135 - calypso-celle.com
More t shirts »

Petit Bateau US Official Online Store - Mariniere with boat neck
$85 - petit-bateau.us
More Petit Bateau tops »

French Sailor's Shirt, Three-Quarter Sleeve Boatneck: Tees and Knit...
$35 - llbean.com
More t shirts »

sailboat
portsmouthnhemployment.com

It's another classic, inspired by Coco Chanel. Whether you wear it with jeans, cargos, shorts, over a swim suit... it always looks pulled together and nice. Every spring you see variations of this shirt- in fact I bought 3 from J.Crew earlier this year to add to my collection of french striped/boat necked shirts. I might have a slight addiction.

So that's a snippet of my favorite fashion things. Remember "Quality never goes out of style" and "Good clothes open all doors" Hope everyone has a happy Friday!

Caption Contest

2010-08-15T16:55:00.000-05:00

Insert Witty Caption here....

So far I've come up with

-"And Mary rode an ass into Bethlehem"

"If I have to ride an ass, I'd rather ride this one"

Smelly Saturday

2010-08-14T15:46:00.005-05:00

Can I go from smelling lovely to LUSH?

I recently stopped by the LUSH kiosk in Macy's because I have friends that swear by their shampoo. Also, I had to reward their fabulous new marketing campaign...

Seriously. How cute is that ad?

So, I'm on day 3 of this stuff and I'm still not sure. I have the shampoo and the Lovely Jubblies cream. It smells okay, but coming from Fracas... I don't know if I can do this nature thing. I find the LUSH products to be strong smelling in that overwhelming "I walked down the beauty aisle at Whole Foods and all I smell is patchouli" kind of way. I definitely can't layer my normal perfume over it. :(

And then there's my Fracas.... oh how I have loved you over the years.

I'm stealing a review from another website because they describe it so much better than I ever could.

Fracas, love it or hate it, is indisputably the queen of all tuberose fragrances. “Every single person making a tuberose fragrance is trying to knock off the classic, which is Fracas,” commented Frederic Malle when discussing the creation of his own tuberose scent, Carnal Flower (via Women’s Wear Daily, 9/30/2005). Roja Dove notes:

Fracas is the big tuberose reference of perfumery, and tuberose is the most carnal of the floral notes. It smells like very, very hot flesh after you’ve had sex — that’s the bottom line. It’s very much in fashion just now, but current fragrances don’t use such an incredible concentration of it. While they may nod towards something carnal, Fracas is carnal all the way. (via The Independent, 12/14/2002)

Fracas, as the name suggests, is not a subtle fragrance. It is in-your-face tuberose. The top notes are sweet and strong, and teeter dangerously near to being cloying. Happily, it never quite crosses that line; the sweetness is cut by a touch of green, and it has a vivacity and sparkle that carry it through and keep it from feeling heavy despite the masses of white flowers that follow. The dry down is creamy and lush, with pale woods and just a touch of earthiness.

It is as uber feminine as perfume can possibly be, and yes, very, very sexy, although in quite a different way from Bandit. They share a kind of mischievousness, but Fracas has a bright, joyous feel that is miles away from the rebel Bandit. If Bandit is the bad girl, Fracas is Woman (very surely with a capital W), still causing trouble, perhaps, but on her own terms now.

So there is my dilemma. Smell like a hippie with firm titties or like a woman causing trouble on her own terms?

Some days...

2010-08-14T10:29:00.000-05:00

you just wake up and say

I'm sorry

2010-08-13T21:06:00.001-05:00

I don't have 5 things today... unless we talk about the $5.00 in quarters my kid and I spent on a crane game at a family pizza parlor to keep me distracted & from crying over my less than sparkly marriage in public.

At least we won a tootsie roll.

It's Sunday and I'm searching.

2010-08-08T11:01:00.006-05:00

I always feel contemplative on Sundays... like I should be in church. Sometimes I think running and listening to music or just snuggling with my daughter is my church. The truth is, I don't know if I believe in God the way people might think I should. I laugh about being a soulless heathen, but I'm not really. I try to live by the golden rule, and I consider myself a 93.7% good person - I just don't know about this whole God, faith & religion thing.

I'm feeling especially bothered by it today- Sparky bought this movie
and wanted to watch it- so in addition to his dessert run to Wal-Mart in which he came back with a sugar-free chocolate cream pie that summarily ended up in the trash, I got to watch this tear-jerker of a movie where the underlying message was God's forgiveness. The previews won't tell you this, (and as a tangent- the cinematography of it drove me INSANE- always flashing from dark to bright, I thought there was a strobe light in the game room) but it's about a family in Fort Bend County whose 4 year old daughter was run over on a country road by a family friend. It was dark and the mother pulled to the side of the road for something, and before she knew it her daughter jumped out and ran into the road. A little old man didn't see her as she ran out into the highway, and he didn't stop because he just felt a bump - which in this area, armadillos & possums are so common you do just keep going.

The film documents the grief process of the family, but focuses on the father of the little girl, Joy. He really is a great example of Christian love- he had embraced the poor family of Mr. Ulice Parker before the accident, and even though he could have easily displaced his anger over the loss of his daughter onto this man, he did not. He still loved him. Later the town comes together and goes on to build a house for his family.

The message is about God's love, and how it's all about forgiveness. Forgiving others & forgiving yourself... that you have a right to God's forgiveness and redemption, you just have to be humble enough to ask for it. I cannot fathom the pain in the heart of that family... but the whole time I wondered, why were they so focused on how they could be such great Christians and forgive Mr. Ulice Parker for running over his child- when really how do you forgive "God" for letting it happen? The little old man was just driving down a country road in the dark. Even if he had stopped it would not have changed the outcome that the child ran into a highway after a mini-van quarrel with her older brother. If you're the mom, how do you forgive yourself? Do you always wonder why you stopped? Why wasn't the kid-lock on the back doors of the car? How did you not stop her from running? The mother said she never asked God "Why" because no answer would have been good enough. I agree- and I guess this is why my faith sucks. I don't understand how people can be comforted by the mysteriousness of it all being in God's hands. If my precious baby girl died - I wouldn't be able to believe in anything but pharmaceuticals to knock me out.

I've always gone back and forth on my belief in God & religion. I was raised Catholic, went to Catholic school, took world religion courses and still don't feel like I know anything about the subject. I learned enough to recognize the biblical references in LOST - the story of Jacob and Essau- the theme of forgiveness and redemption played out on one of the best dramas to ever grace a television screen. Maybe religion bastardizes the love of our creator? How can so many religions be so similar in their general beliefs on the treatment of man - which basically boils down to the Golden Rule- yet we have had unending wars about which one is right? Who is right? If the Jews are, then Christians are wrong and vice versa. Out of an old group of friends, we have a Christian one that really thinks our Hindu friends will go to hell for not accepting Christ.
And speaking of religions, I really want to watch this. Sparky said it was fabulous and informative, I just have not had a chance to see it. So much of religion is fallible and based on the interpretations of those that passed it down. So why do we fight so much over which religion is right? And how do some people have a blind faith in their religion when so much of it is subject to interpretation? What if the 9/11 hijackers flew those planes into the towers for a handful of grapes instead of the virgins they thought were awaiting them in their version of Heaven because someone put a punctuation mark in the wrong spot when they were transcribing the Koran? What if they went back and interpreted the Koran and practiced it the way a small area of Palestine does... we all hear the stories of Sharia law and that if you steal, you lose a hand, an eye for an eye, honor killings on the news ... but in this one area, if you are repentant for your transgression, then you are forgiven.

My blogging on this matter hasn't resolved anything, but sometimes it helps to just write things down to get it off your chest. I believe that there is something bigger than us out there- my study of anatomy and physiology confirmed that. SO MUCH can go wrong on a cellular level that life truly is a miracle. Read about maternal fetal circulation if you want to have your mind blown. To me it's a miracle that as a baby takes their first breath valves close and their own circulation begins. When Sparkler was born I stared at her in amazement, that a creator could engineer such small details like tiny toenails that I now paint pink. So, I'm not without a soul... maybe just without faith?

I really hate when people prosthelytize - it just doesn't work for me. In fact it makes me want to take a hard right away from organized religion. I don't buy into the "God has a plan for each of us" because if that's the case God's plan has sucked for a lot of people. I fail to believe He micromanages the universal population... Explain to me how God had a plan for the sweet baby in Houston that got beaten to death and shoved in a footlocker and tossed into Galveston Bay? Or how His plan works out for babies with neuroblastoma, or my friend Jonathan that died from a freak allergic drug reaction when he had so much life to give.... or how God's plan worked for Joy's family? They turned to God for comfort, and all I would be able to do is be angry with God for taking the love of my life away if anything happened to Sparkler. This is where I wrestle with faith. I suppose I should stick with running and remember to be humble enough to ask forgiveness if I ever make it to the pearly gates. To exercise my God given free-will to be as good of a person as I can be, knowing I will definitely make mistakes. And maybe I need to forgive myself for not having great faith. Surely a God that can remember tiny toenails will understand.

And yes- the pie really went into the trash. What God allows for sugar-free chocolate cream pie where the chocolate cream has the texture of sand? If everything is part of His grand plan- He must hate diabetics.

Friday Five..

2010-08-06T12:55:00.003-05:00

I need to apologize for missing last Friday... to my one person fan club, Rox.. I'm sorry. I was at a baseball game that lasted 12 hours last weekend- last Friday I was running around trying to get everything together for it.

So- on deck for today... 5 bad (completely un-sparkly) things I like...

1) Cussing. I try really hard to suppress it... especially with Sparkler in tow. But, little old me, dimples & all, has a mouth like a sailor when I'm in familiar company. Maybe because I used to be one? It's shameful, I know better, and I was raised better... but the F-bomb flies out of my mouth sometimes and I can go on a cursing tirade that would make men blush. I have a t-shirt from a Bob Schneider show that says FAYM on it and I'll let you guess what it stands for (the AY is All You) Anyhow, I'm working on it to no avail. I almost killed a smart car and one of my classic tirades flew out of my mouth and now Sparkler says F'ing $h*t every time she hears a car horn blow. At least she's leaving out the Holy that prefaced it and the "you Dumb-A MF" that followed. She also uses "son-of-a-B" & Dammit appropriately. If it weren't so embarrassing when we're out in public, my heart might beam a little. Instead I just tell strangers she has Tourette's and shake my head in shame. Mother of the Year.

2) Rap Music. I know, I know- I'm just shaking my head here... my running list is full of it. Maybe it goes hand in hand with my like for cursing? I like older stuff, I don't think my musical taste has progressed much past what I liked in college- so DMX, Snoop, & Eminem are in frequent rotation. There's just something satisfying about singing along with 50cent to let everyone know I'm a mother-f'in P.I.M.P.... I don't know what you heard about me ;)

3) Cigarettes. I'm a hypocrite. I should preface this by saying when I'm sober, I hate them. I'll be the biggest judgmental Biz-itch ever about it looking trashy & smelling awful. I really don't get how people can smoke in their cars with the windows closed. Gag. I used to smoke over a decade ago... I started because when I was a cadet at CGA, it was the only time you could get a break without people bugging you. Especially true on the ship- you couldn't sit there and watch the sunrise with a coffee in your hand and not get yelled at to get back to work- but if you were smoking with that cup of coffee, no one said a word to you. I quit cold turkey and didn't really think about it - I'm probably a smoker that die-hard smokers hate. I just didn't buy another pack.

So- here is when my love for the old cancer stick comes in... when I'm drunk. Good gracious, there might not be anything better than firing back a smoke to go along with a good buzz... even if it does make the hangover worse. The head rush, the relaxation... aah... maybe I am an addict even if I have less than 2 a year. So if you see me at a bar and I want to bum a smoke - just humor me and lend me a light too.

4) Raunchy jokes. I try to act like my sensibilities are shocked depending on the company I'm with... but I love comedians and dirty jokes. When I was a 4/c at CGA we had to "entertain" the upper class at our table and they would allow us to look at our food. Being able to relax was called carry-on and I managed to get permanent carry-on at Steve Wasylenko's table... may he rest in peace... for one of my Top 10 lists - I think it was my commentary on chart tubes that did it. It was pretty raunchy - but I considered it a win:win. I made them all laugh so hard they couldn't breathe and I got to look at my food for the rest of the year. Yay for dirty jokes.

5) Frito Pie. Actually - I have a love for all white trash fair food chased down with a beer, but I really love Frito Pie. I don't even know what else to say about it, except that I can inhale one in about 2 seconds.

So- that's my Friday 5. I just found out my mother-in-law reads my blog... and finds it entertaining. I promise I'm not trying to teach Sparkler to cuss Gramma... I'm just not that good at not cussing - but you've known me for 9 years, so I think you know this. Plus, if you had to put up with Sparky all the time, you might cuss too. ;)

Happy Friday!

Want it Wednesday...

2010-07-28T23:50:00.003-05:00

Today I wanted:

-a massage
-sushi
-a new silver belt
-to hang with my kiddo
-a miraculously clean house
-to lose 10 lbs eating chocolate

I got ALMOST everything I wanted today.

I got in with my new favorite massage therapist for a 1.5 hour massage, and I had a gift card for it- YAY! It was fan-freaking-tastic. It actually felt like a workout- he worked on all my knots and stretched my muscles. I'm a slight masochist- I love feeling the burn - and he definitely delivered.

Sparkler was a lovely lunch date for sushi.

I'm so lucky she's a great eater - she ate- and loved- edamame, seaweed salad, miso soup, & a yakitori combo... she wasn't keen on the shrimp, but she wiped out the beef & chicken skewer and the temupura broccolini.

We then went to J.Crew because I had to replace the silver skinny belt that I've been missing for a month- I'm pretty sure as soon as I take the tag off the new one and wear it once, that my old one will show up along with the pearl/silver wire drop earrings that went missing on the same day.

Also- I long ago dismissed the romper- saying they were only for children...but I got this little gem today in navy & white stripes and it looks awesome. Really great with my glitter pumps... I have a new Girl's Night Out outfit.

We hit up Charming Charlie's and got a bunch of costume "joory" for Sparkler- which makes me happy that she will leave mine alone. Then we went to Cold Stone Creamery and had a treat before Sparkler got her hair trimmed at Sweet & Sassy. That about sums her up.

My Want it Wednesday was a big hit! Wonder what next Wednesday will bring?

Discipline

2010-07-25T22:01:00.000-05:00

So today I gave myself a flashback to my Coast Guard Academy days.

Sparkler was running circles around the kitchen island with a pencil and I was growing tired of trying to catch her... actually at this point I was getting flat out angry. The words "Halt" flew out of my mouth from no-where at a booming volume that made her stop dead in her tracks. Mission accomplished, I suppose?

I'm not much of a yeller, and at CGA, I definitely wasn't. When we're juniors (2/c) we have to play tough because we run bootcamp for the incoming freshman(4/c) and a variety of summer camps. I very rarely yelled though- even when I was "allowed" to - being a disciplinarian was never my thing. I could yell, but what's the fun in making your throat hurt? I learned the next summer as a 1/c on Eagle, shouting out sailing evolutions, how to yell out from the gut and spare your voice, but I hadn't figured it out my 2/c summer. Sparkler got the full-on "ease the downhaul, tend the sheets, haul around on the halyard" booming voice. Oops.

So now- I'm a parent... and I have to be a disciplinarian so that my kid doesn't turn into one of the little shits I see running around town. But there has to be a better way than yelling "halt" military style. I have given up on hoping she WANTS to behave, because let's face it... she's mine.

How do you raise respectful kids- the little angels you see at restaurants that belong to other people? The ones that don't make a peep at the grocery store? The ones that don't run away from you butt naked with sharp objects and make you yell "halt'?

Friday Fives

2010-07-23T23:52:00.000-05:00

First- I need to apologize for not blogging more often. I kept meaning to this week and then I had playdates and studying, and a splitting headache that kept popping up during Sparkler's naptime forcing me to lay down too. I'll do better next week!

This Friday, I'm going to go over my Pet Peeves... I don't know how I'm going to limit myself to 5 - but here they go.

1) People with finger nail issues... case in point, my husband. He chews his nails... it grosses me out. Especially when I'm driving - enough to make me want to go off the road. There has been many a time I've dreamt about amputating him at the wrists just to not have to hear him chew his nails. I'm not limiting my nail issues to chewers though- pickers drive me insane too. Especially the people that sit there and pick at acrylic nails. WHY GET THEM DONE if you are going to start picking at them the next day?

2) Loud eaters. Noisy Masticator Haters Unite!
Hearing people chew their food makes me want to puke. So gross- all the noises people make when they chew. What's with all the swishing and smacking?

3) Women that don't know how to drive their suburbans... and worse yet, are on their phone while not driving well. Seriously, is your phone call more important than the 2 ton piece of machinery you're operating with your bevy of kids in the back? I just described 75% of the women in my town- I spend a lot of time pissed off in traffic. If you can't drive your freaking bus get off the road.

4) Merchandise with hard to remove labels. I've gotten so mad at not being able to take a label off of something I bought at Target, I've returned the product. I can't even count how many plastic things I've scratched the shit out of trying to get a cheap glue label off. DiVoga office products from Office Max- you're on my list... cute stuff but I cannot handle the labels I can't remove. It's not like your stuff is some glass I can soak- my binders won't fare so well in the sink. Speaking of soaking stuff- Mikasa stemware- shitty labels too. Consider yourself warned on those two products!

5) Foot shufflers... pick up your feet when you walk. I hate it when people drag their feet. I can't figure it out, if it's laziness, poor posture... what is to blame? How do these people not trip more often? The noise of feet shuffling against carpet is like nails on a chalkboard to me.

I just noticed that 3 of my pet peeves are what I would consider to be assault on my eardrums. Considering my hub does a few of these- I am thinking I might have my Belltone turned off in the nursing home.

So- what peeves you off?

Friday Fives...

2010-07-16T09:15:00.003-05:00

Car Mishaps

They started at an early age for me... so I'll go through them chronologically

First Car- Ford Taurus. Brown. Cloth interior, and a tape player. It was my mom's hand-me down but it ran. Temporarily.

First Mishap: It wasn't my fault. In high school I worked as a checker at Market Basket, and as an employee of the grocery store, we had to park farther out in the parking lot to save the "good spots" for the customers. I don't know if it's common in other parts of the country, but we'd have Fairs in the parking lot sometimes. I still don't understand why we'd have a handful of carnies with a small ferris wheel and some elephant rides going on at random points in the year - but it was Port Arthur, so there you have it.

Remember that I am parked far away from the store (but I am in a marked parking space)... at this point there are no other cars around me. I am an island in between the store and the Fair. I was getting in my car to head home and had just clicked my seat belt when I looked out the windshield. My car wasn't even on. A car - driven by a lady who was looking at the elephant cruised right on into mine. Nice. She got out of the car, and cussed me out in true Port Arthur crack whore fashion. I was young and scared but not stupid- I told the lady my car wasn't even on... I obviously didn't hit HER... that I saw she was too busy looking at the elephant to notice where she was going, and that I needed to see her insurance (as if she had any). So the bitch got back in her car- and instead of kindly going in reverse to remove her car from the side of my hood- she just drove straight on through. WTF? My advice to you- don't park in parking lots with elephants that might distract crack whores.

Second Mishap: Same car- second verse... could be better but it's gonna get worse.

I guess this one is sort've my fault. After a month of working at "the Casket" (Market Basket)- I finally made enough money to fix my car from the elephant watching damage. Glorious. About a year later it started having other problems though- of the overheating variety. Usually not a big deal, I would just turn on the heater to let it blow off the hot air until I could get to a gas station and put more water in it. It also had a short in it that meant I had to disconnect the battery if I wanted to get back from wherever I was... I still don't know why my parents hated me... something about building character and teaching me work ethic. Screw that.

Then one day I was driving to school - and my car overheated right in front of the prisons. This probably is hard to picture if you're not from Armpit, USA- but between Port Arthur and Beaumont there is a strip of highway that is nothing but prisons of every type. At the time there was nothing on the other side of the highway, so I had a ways to go before I hit a gas station. I turned on the heater and kept driving. As I pulled into the gas station, I started smelling smoke and I was sweating like a pig. I pulled up to the water dispenser and popped the hood and flames started shooting out of my car. AWESOME. Not knowing what to do, I grabbed the hose and tried to put the fire out - and mechanics came screaming out of the service station - but not louder than the CRACK that came from my engine block. I am now carless.

The car died & I started looking into minor emancipation because Al Gore had just graced us with the internet. Damn dial-up was so slow I couldn't get all of the research done before I left for college.

Third Mishap: When you thought my fire foes were over... haha. File this under "not my fault"

This is my Granny- Miss Molly. And this is her car. Unfortunately this is not the car that she let my friends and me borrow when we went to South Carolina for spring break. I could write a whole post just about that spring break... but my girls Amanda A. and Roxy came down to Myrtle Beach with me for spring break our 3/c year. There was a cold front, and the sleeping arrangements we had made with an old family friend didn't work out (lovely home & nice car to borrow, but they wanted us in by 10 and no drinking) So- spring break was shaping up to be a real winner... we ended up shuffling all over between other relatives I had in the area and borrowing my grandmother's car - which I think was an Olds- it was a blue grandma boat. So, we left the family friend's house in Miss Molly's car... determined to go find fun, and as we were pulling out of the country club neighborhood in which they lived, my grandmother's car catches on fire. At least I had learned to not pour water on it. Rox has a picture of this somewhere and can probably tell the story better than me... We were less than a half mile from the family friends, but we weren't going back there, so we called my cousin Little Jack and sat by the side of the road until he showed up.

Little Jack came to the rescue, and as he was driving down the road to get us he ran over a squirrel. I think that was the icing on the cake. The rest of Spring Break we used his truck and had no incidents of the car variety - although I ended up with a tongue ring (that lasted about a week).

Fourth Mishap: Another "not my fault" story. I could technically tell you the mishap happened when my parents bought me a Ford Mustang while I was a 3/c at CGA. I came home on summer leave and they were all "look honey- aren't you excited? " and then proceeded to tell me about how they test-drove a variety of other cars including a silver Chevy truck, a black Ford Explorer and a Camry - you know- practical cars that could carry me into adulthood... but then decided I'd love the teal green Mustang (with a spoiler!!). Keep it classy mom & dad. I wasn't even allowed to have a car at the Academy for another 2 years and they bought me a stick shift when I lived in a town full of hills, so what it boils down to is my mom wanted to drive a mustang around for a few years as a mid-life crisis car and then give it to me. Such a giver.

So mishap #4 happens my 1/c year. Actually, I had just left CGA, so not really my 1/c year- but anyhow.... I had spent my summer on Eagle and apparently a guy on the ship developed a crush on me. I thought he was nice, but never really though much else about it- my interaction with him was slim. After I left CGA, I'd see him around town at bars- I'd sit and have beers with mutual friends. I'm possibly guilty of leading him on unintentionally - but this guy was PSYCHO. I had agreed to give him a ride to a party of a mutual friends but after we arrived I blew off this guys advances. I had left my coat and purse in a guest room along with everyone else's winter wear which turned out to be a fatal move. I drank quite a bit that night and spent the night in Kelly's guest room and woke up unable to find my my purse, or my keys... OR MY FREAKING CAR!

I called the cops and the search began... Sunday Morning Coming Down seemed like the theme song for my life as I was walking around the cold streets of New London hung over and looking for my car when from the snow arose the teal beauty... and it looked like she was bleeding. That would be because Psycho-boy took a few bottles of red wine to her. He beat in every light & every window and because I'm super lucky, he also ran the whole passenger side into those low brick walls that make CT look so quaint. The contents of my purse were scattered in my back seat and my voicemail was buzzing. I think I had about 18 messages from crazy-boy apologizing and confessing his love. I wish the car had remained lost because while the damage wasn't bad enough for it to be totaled, it was in the shop for almost a month because of all the parts they had to order. My insurance covered the damage, but his CO made him pay my deductible and on the check he wrote "Merry Christmas" in the memo line. Crazy. On the upside- my rental was a truck. :)

Psycho boy got more psycho- like would come watch me do ballet through the 1-way glass at the studio where I took pointe. Thankfully the studio was owned by Coach Dennis's wife and he came up there and handled it for me and I filed a restraining order.

Fifth Mishap:

Guess what... also not my fault. Why does God hate my cars?

I ran errands with a cousin and came back to this - which doesn't look as bad as it was. I wasn't even parked behind a driveway. Luckily my other cousins were playing basketball in their driveway when it happened. It seems a little old lady gunned it at a diagonal out of the opposite driveway. She would have been a hit and run but my cousin and his friend chased her down. They said it looked like something out of Jackass - they had never seen a car reverse so fast. My driver side door wouldn't open so lucky me was crawling through the passenger side for a few days until the insurance adjuster did the workup and it got put in the shop.

The little old lady was belligerent about the whole ordeal. She didn't want it filed on her insurance because she'd lose her coverage (which I was thinking would be a plus- she shouldn't be driving since she could barely see over her steering wheel and had no skill behind it). She only wanted to pay $1000 when the estimate for the work was over $3000, plus I needed a rental. Anyhow, she had her son, a lawyer, try to intimidate me... but I was not impressed or deterred. In the end she paid for the damage and I signed an affidavit - drafted up by that lawyer son of hers- releasing her of any further liability. I did file a police report though and hope that it shows up on her insurance, because she has no business driving and she should be even more ashamed that she was trying to leave the scene she created. On the upside- once again my rental was a truck.

So- that's my 5 car mishaps.... the mustang is still running- it's come full circle. I gave it to my brother 6 years ago and he's in the army right now so my mom has it again. I am just guessing, but I bet she wishes she had bought the camry or the truck right about now. In retrospect though- these all make me crack up laughing... especially the image of me, Amanda A. & Rox sitting by the side of the road.

Take 5

2010-07-09T21:47:00.003-05:00

My Friday Five request:

On a day when the media seemed more preoccupied with a no-talent twit going to jail and where an overpaid basketball player might play next- a CG helicopter crashed off the coast of Washington. Out of the 4 man crew, only one survived.

CG 6017

This Friday, will you please take at least 5 minutes to say a prayer for the families of Lt. Sean Krueger, AMT1 Adam Hoke, and AMT2 Brett Banks as they mourn their loss. Also, please pray for the swift recovery of Lt. Lance Leone.

Sean was a year ahead of me and Lance was a year behind me at CGA- I did not know either of them well, but knew them to be great guys. Sean was prior enlisted and seemed "too cool for school" in that he could see past the trivial stuff at the Academy because he knew what awaited him on the other side in the active Coast Guard. He always seemed genuine and nice and my heart hurts deeply for his wife and three children. What I can recall of Lance is that he always had a big smile on his face - which was contagious.

In the words of my friend, TJ,

I love the Coast Guard. We are so small...too small. Each loss is resurrected by those who know....those who knew...those who feel for our friends and our families in these trying times. God bless those most pained...God bless us all. I love the Coast Guard.

So - please take 5 to say a little prayer for those brave men and women that go out, knowing they may never come back, and please count your blessings.

Eternal Father Lord of Hosts, Watch o'er all those who guard our coasts. Protect them from the raging seas, and give them light and life and peace.

Happy Birthday America!

2010-07-04T17:23:00.002-05:00

There are days when

2010-07-03T18:55:00.004-05:00

Parenthood requires booze consumption.

and children require several baths

(please notice her hair is wet... we just got out of the tub 5 minutes prior to the paint massacre)

Home pedicure FAIL.

The Friday Five

2010-07-02T19:28:00.001-05:00

Maybe it's the rain but I'm a little blue... this Friday I'm going to tell you about 5 people I miss.

My little brother, Tanner. He's my Bill Murray movie watching buddy. He's someone who yelled out "stop looking at my mom" (when I was 18 and he was 13) to some skeezers that whistled at me at the mall. Mostly thought he's just my baby brother that I love like crazy. I haven't seen him since March- he went into the Army. He finished basic and whatever school he went to after to teach him how to do his new job... now he's at Airborne school learning how to jump out of planes and he's put in for Ranger school. The Army is a good kick in the ass for Tanner, and he seems to be doing well at it and liking it. Anyway- he's the #1 person I miss right now. Hopefully he gets to come home for a 10 day leave after Airborne... my finger is getting a little trigger happy to buy his flight home.

My PawPaw, Harvey Goldblum. He wasn't my biological grandfather, but he was my Grandmother's significant other for my whole life until he passed away. We used to pick kumquats from his bushes and watch ships go by from this bench he had that overlooked the seawall. His background is inspirational to me- his family left behind great wealth in Germany to escape death during the Holocaust. He came to America, worked hard and became very successful. He was a Family Dr just like my hub - I have so many memories of playing up at his clinic. I'm a little sad that Addison won't have those memories of our clinic, because it was a really awesome place and a very similar environment. He was the worst driver in the world and he drove a boat of a Caddy, and I think he hated the stereotype that Jews are cheap because he certainly wasn't. I remember when he was dying I would go sit with him and I needlepointed days of the week pillows with pig characters (they were hideous but 9 year old me thought they were cute) while I'd talk to him hoping he would respond. He fixed a mean bowl of Fruity Pebbles and loved us even though we weren't biologically his. I miss you PawPaw. So much.

My friend Laura. She was my roommate more than half my time at CGA and I haven't seen her since her baby shower 2 years ago. Facebook makes the distance not so bad- I can see what she's up to (way to kick the GRE's ass - proud of you!) I need to make plans to see her before our kids go off to college!

The Corls (I don't have any pictures - bummer!). They were actually Laura's sponsor family at CGA- but I adopted them after waking up on their couch my 3/c year covered in an ironing board cover (it's a drunk story- don't ask - what the hell are Boilermakers and WHY was I drinking them?). I woke up to CDR Corl and some upper-class cadets watching the Shania Twain video where she's dressed like a man. Their house is the most welcoming place on earth - but mostly because they are the most welcoming people I've ever met. I see them on Facebook too- but nothing will ever beat sitting on their porch with Irish Coffee or sitting down to eat something Sue whipped up (fan-freaking-tastic cook!). After I left CGA I lived with them for a while until I could figure things out- and I'm so grateful that they never passed judgment on my MANY poor decisions (and if they did, at least they kept it to themselves). Anyway- I miss them.

Whitt Keeney- he's an old cowboy that I used to work horses for when I lived in Stephenville. I met him working at a bar called "The Pub" (total hole in the wall but they had cheap beer and the owner made great food). I actually quit working at The Pub over Sparky making a surprise visit to Stephenville- we went out with Whit instead of me going to work... to Mary's Cafe (home of the best Chicken Fried Steak- ever) and did some 2-stepping - mostly I just danced with Whit. The hub is not much of a dancer. Whit tells the BEST stories. He's got more Cowboy accomplishments than I could probably ever mention. He began rodeo with Gene Autry at Madison Square Garden - he would probably still hold the world record for steer wrestling, but his best was before they officially began keeping track of those things. You would walk away from Whit and he'd shout after you "right or left" and he was telling you you better pick which foot he was going to rope - he was good enough to get both. He was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame while I worked for him and they wrote a special about him in D Magazine (8 Seconds in Stephenville) - they called him the Marlboro Man without the cigarettes. Just last year, Texas passed a resolution to honor Whit. He's just an awesome man and I miss him. I always think I should just get in my car and drive to go see him... maybe one of these days I will!

So- that's my Friday Five. Try to keep in touch with the people you miss, if you can.

Wordy Wednesday

2010-06-30T23:19:00.000-05:00

Word of the day is :

met·a·phor (mět'ə-fôr', -fər)
n.

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thusmaking an implicit comparison, as in "a sea of troubles" or"All the world's a stage" (Shakespeare).
something used, or regarded as being used, to representsomething else; emblem; symbol.

And I'm going to use pictures of my horrific closet (more horrifying than how much cake I ate today, which is really saying something!) in relation to it's surroundings as metaphors for life in general.

Like the Calm before the storm...

Check out this tranquil bedroom. White fluffy bed that feels like clouds and a cozy reading spot where yours truly blogs from...

And if you want to get a sense for the order I love in life (although I so often fall short) My medicine cabinet is a great display of OCD.

Yes, I really have labels for my skin-care regiment on the cabinet. Do you exfoliate like you should or remember your night serum?

AND THEN... THE HORROR!

I'm just keeping it real- this shit-storm is my closet. You could play I Spy in here for a while. I spy a shoe in a magazine basket, I spy a fireproof safe wide open with papers falling out. What I can't spy is any freaking carpet. Awesome.

The state of my closet is actually probably a good reflection of life in general... everything great on the surface and a huge mess inside. You never know what's going on behind closed doors! And thank sweet Jesus my closet has a door that I can shut. How on earth am I supposed to be able to relax in a bubble bath if I have to look at this?

And, if you want another metaphor - how about "A New York Minute"

Because this was my closet last week - and it looked like this for a few weeks. I'm giving myself some validation by letting you know it stayed clean for a few weeks because I live for "gold stars" (and really- doesn't everyone to a degree? - or not... I guess there are those in life that just don't give a damn. I wish I could be one of those people some days)

A place for everything and everything in it's place... I *WAS* using that mobile rack for wardrobe planning. I'd lay out my clothes for the week ahead of time, down to planning jewelry. Life was so nice while that was going on... and then... in case you forgot

THIS IS MY CLOSET

So kids- let my closet serve as a reminder that life can go to shit in a NY minute... just like my closet.

And don't laugh because my kid contributes to my mess, yet also has OCD tendencies...

And like her mother- is slightly addicted to shoes.

Friday Five

2010-06-25T21:51:00.005-05:00

Friday Fives

Five Favorite Albums (for the most part just studio releases... although I did cheat on #4)

Counting Crows- August & Everything After

This might be the defining record of my high school years... I love every song. I don't know how I ended up married to someone who hates Counting Crows- Adam Duritz bugs my husband... but I think he's a lyrical genius. Like everyone else, I was lured in by the fun of Mr. Jones and sulked on hot summer days to 'Round Here after my first real boyfriend broke my heart. Anna Begins & Omaha are probably my long-lasting favorite songs - how can you not love this?

Hey Mister, if you're going to walk on water

You know you're only going to walk all over me. - Omaha

Pearl Jam- Ten

Just for Black alone...

The whole album is great, Alive, Evenflow, Jeremy... but Black is what does it for me.

"All the love gone bad turned my world to black

Tattooed all I see, all that I am, all I'll be...

I know someday you'll have a beautiful life,

I know you'll be a sun in somebody else's sky, but why

Why, why can't it be, can't it be mine"

If that doesn't make you feel something- then you're dead to me.

U2- Joshua Tree

I think this might be in everyone's top 10 if you grew up in the 90's. I had it on a cassette - I'm sure it's still in a box at my parents.

It hooks you from the beginning- Where The Streets Have No Name

and obviously everyone knows I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For and With Or Without You (my personal favorite)

20 years later - and I still listen to this CD all the time.

Because ya gotta love The Boss!

But... it's missing I'm On Fire

Besides that, it's perfect.

DMB- Crash

This CD made me a big Dave Matthews fan (along with most everyone else).

Over the years I have favorite versions from live shows of the songs on this CD, and this probably isn't even their best CD...but this might be my favorite collection of songs all in one place.

Almost made the list but since it's Friday Fives I was limited... Nirvana's Nevermind & In Utero, Radiohead's The Bends (alright- and maybe OK Computer too), U2's Atchung Baby, Madonna's Immaculate Collection, Alanis Morrisette's Jagged Little Pill, Guns & Roses- Use Your Illusion, Sarah McLachlan's Fumbling Toward Ecstasy and the soundtrack to Gettysburg (what's up random!)

And somehow with all of that music love I'm missing my favorite artists like Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams, & Aimee Mann - just to name a few.

What are your faves?

Wordy Wednesday

2010-06-23T21:50:00.000-05:00

The word of the day is SWEETIE PIE!

That is what my tot called me as I tucked her in.

She held my face in her hands and said, "I love you sweetie pie"

And it put a huge smile on my face. Just say the words "sweetie pie" and see if it doesn't make you smile too!

Winner, Winner

2010-06-22T21:44:00.002-05:00

Chicken Dinner

Or in this case -  one chicken - 2 dinners...  I consider that a real winner! 

Where on earth did the phrase "Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner" come from anyhow? 

I used the Rotisserie Chickens to the Rescue cookbook that they sell right by the... you guessed it... rotisserie chickens, at HEB.  Marketing & Merchandising geniuses up at ol' H.E. Butt's.  I'm usually lazy and either buy the chicken and 2 deli sides that I can just heat up (true slacker attempt at "fixing" dinner) or I just go straight for the pre-made rotisserie chicken salad because it's so yummy.  This time I thought I would try something different.  I actually used the chicken to cook.  It's revolutionary. 

I made the scalloped potatoes and nacho bake recipes because I happened to have all the other ingredients already.   I should have made them in smaller pans (because it makes a lot of food) and done double batches to freeze one of each so that's a note to self for the next time. If you are trying to watch your grocery budget as well, I think it makes a lot of food for the cost of one chicken.  

The meals went together in a jiffy and were tasty.  I got the toddler seal of approval  (for which I'm so glad- I really hate when the plate gets launched off the table)   

So, in case you were wondering, you can do things with the rotisserie chicken besides eating it with deli-prepared mashed potatoes like I've done all my life.

And- I googled where "Winner, Winner  Chicken Dinner" comes from because you know you are curious! 

Years ago every Las Vegas casino had a 3 piece chicken dinner with  potato and veggie for $1.79. A standard bet back then was $2.00, hence  when you won a bet you had enough for a chicken dinner. So now you know  the rest of the story.                                            

Toddler or Frat House?

2010-06-22T00:05:00.000-05:00

Someone shared this little gem with me... So true. So true. I'm 10 for 10 today.

10. There are half-full, brightly-colored plastic cups on the floor in every room. Three are in the bathtub.

9. There's always that one girl, bawling her eyes out in a corner.

8. It's best not to assume that the person closest to you has any control over their digestive function.

7. You sneak off to the bathroom knowing that as soon as you sit down, someone's going to start banging on the door.

6. Probably 80% of the stains on the furniture contain DNA.

5. You've got someone in your face at 3 a.m. looking for a drink.

4. There's definitely going to be a fight.

3. You're not sure whether anything you're doing is right, you just hope it won't get you arrested.

2. There are crumpled-up underpants everywhere.

1. You wake up wondering exactly how and when the person in bed with you got there.

In which mom

2010-06-21T22:18:00.003-05:00

breaks her foot.

I tried to look cute today.

Breakfast with friends

errands to run.

Running Errands by acspark featuring Chanel sunglasses

rsvp - Kennedi (Blue) - Apparel
$53 - zappos.com
More rsvp clothing »

Lovely People Women's Connie Wedge Sandal: Shoes
$40 - amazon.com
More Lovely People sandals »

Earrings - Layla Grayce
$32 - laylagrayce.com
More earrings »

Chanel 5183 Gloss Black > Chanel Sunglasses > 5183 C5013C > UK
180 GBP - sunglasses-shop.co.uk
More Chanel sunglasses »

Mossimo® Black: Women's Sateen Pleated Short - Black : Target
$18 - target.com

Amazon.com: Invicta Women's 0451 Square Angel Collection Diamond...
$120 - amazon.com

and sippy cups to trip on.

I forgot you can't wear cute shoes around kids.

On a side note- the watch is at a GREAT price on Amazon.com. MSRP on it is almost $700- it's now "last year's model"... hence the great deal - but I love this watch and get compliments on it all the time. It has a timeless look- pun intended.

And the shorts I got at Target- what a steal. They are cute- the ruffle detail/pleating at the waist makes no need for a belt and they are short without being obscenely so.

The upside is my likely fracture is outside of the surgical field. If I had hurt it a little higher up I'd probably have a Jone's Fracture. For now I'm chasing motrin with a Bloody Mary. That's what is in this Mama's Sippy Cup!

Giddy Up....

2010-06-20T22:35:00.000-05:00

I'm back in the saddle again. Literally.

The last time I was on a horse (not counting the horseback riding trail tour of Kauai on my honeymoon- because that wasn't real riding) was 2 months before my wedding. I fell off going over an easy oxer on a line I'd cleared several times that evening. My back was hurting- and for the first time after falling off (and I've taken some doozies- even flipped a horse over on myself)- I didn't get back on. For 7 years.

I've ridden horses for most of my life and really enjoy hunter classes. I don't know how to describe the rush you get from going over a fence, or the sense of accomplishment you feel after a good run. Not to get too horse-geek... but there is just something about a clean run with some flying lead changes on the course that makes a girl smile. Being on a horse builds character, and it's always just been part of me.

My initial hiatus was because I didn't want to be a gimp walking down the aisle. And then life happened. We moved, we started a business, we tried to get pregnant, we battled miscarriages, I finally managed to stay pregnant and had a baby, the baby became a toddler with a social schedule that rivals the President's itinerary, we closed a business and I'm hoping to go to grad school in between shuttling my cute dictator around. See - Life happens! (like run-on sentences!) You blink and you realize you fell off a horse 7 years ago. All of this "life happening" is a blessing but bit by bit- I've gotten farther away from doing something that has always been a part of me.

But it's not just riding horses (or insert your hobby here) that gets lost. Over time you change... and sometimes you lose parts of yourself. And then one day you might wake up and miss yourself and wonder how to get it back.

Excuse my tangent... Have you ever seen Adaptation? If not, run out and get it. I was hooked from the beginning.
"Life is short. I need to make the most of it. Today is the first day of the rest of my life… I am a walking cliche."

The whole opening monologue, albeit crazy, is so relatable. If I had the fat, balding problem and a desire to play the Oboe- I could fill in for Nic Cage.

So, I've been on a mission to find myself. Or at least not lose myself in all the life that has happened since I hit the dirt.

Enter my new trusty steed- Spirit. Appropriately named, I think!

He's a lazy-ass horse that takes a lot of leg to get moving, but I am already smitten. He's got such an easy nature. He is a solid jumper... and I know because my new trainer, Bill, let me jump because I looked good on the ground.

And, speaking of Bill - he's awesome too. I knew I found the right place when he yelled at a girl working a horse at the other end of the arena... he wasn't yelling at the rider, but yelling at the horse. Any trainer that shouts out, "Smack the shit out of her, she's acting like a cow" about a horse that is refusing jumps is alright in my book. If you've never ridden, or never gone head first into a jump because your horse decided to act like a cow and pull up & not jump then you might not appreciate it. But I do. And I appreciate a trainer that's not afraid to tell it like it is.

Which is why when he handed me my jug of water and told me I was a hot sweaty mess- I believed him! I was a hot, smelly, sweaty mess by the end of my lesson and I loved every minute of it. I can barely walk my legs are so sore, and I still know it's worth it.

(Not so hot at self-photography)

I was excited and tried to snap a picture on my way out the door- I was feeling snazzy in my riding get-up. Sadly, this picture misses the point (poor Ms. Martha tried) because my boots are cut off. Although I am very impressed with riding pants now- the dry-wick fabric is very nice. So, just imagine that I look less blurry and cute in my riding attire and that it's not just another day of me headed to the gym. As it is with most outfits... the footwear makes the difference!

(As you can see- Ms. Martha is no Ansel Adams either)

"Things are in the saddle, And ride mankind."

Ralph Waldo-Emerson.

People way smarter than me have analyzed and written extensively about RWE and his thoughts on progress & how it actually enslaves the human condition. Look into it if you wish- it's really interesting. I like to think that ol' Ralph would be happy with my introspective time in the saddle to find happiness for myself. I want to put the Giddy in Giddy-up... I'm working on it a day at a time.

The Friday Five

2010-06-18T16:53:00.002-05:00

I'm going to start a new thing- Friday Fives- every Friday I'll make a list of 5 things. It could be 5 random tidbits about me, 5 cutest pictures of my kid, 5 bad habits.... you get the point.

Today it's Five things I'm GRATEFUL for. I'll skip the obvious like family, friends & health.

1) Bras.

I personally love this specific bra- but I'm just grateful for bras in general. As a chesty gal, I really love that Elle Machperson makes pretty bras for people my size instead of forcing me to wear what I call "lunch lady" bras- the ugly, cone shaped, industrial 4 hook ones. I was reminded today of Mrs. Stevens, my geometry teacher from high school that must have never worn a bra. EVER. Her boobs were literally down at her waist band... and she wore peasant skirts and never met a hairbrush... but that is another topic. For someone dealing with numbers & especially triangles you would have thought she could have applied some basic geometry rules to figure out how to shorten the hypotenuse of her boob-hangage, but she did not. I find it unacceptable to run around looking like you belong in National Geographic when $10 at any Wal-Mart in America will lift, separate and contain those suckers. So, on this Friday, my #1 spot of gratitude goes to bras.

2) The Hardy Toll Road

Living north of Houston- I don't know what I'd do without it. Any time I think I-45 wouldn't be that bad, I regret my decision. It's well worth the $3.00 to get home in a timely manner! I only wish the beltways, which are also toll roads, moved as smoothly as the Hardy. God Bless you, Hardy Toll road for making the commute from Houston to the north bearable!

3) SPEC's Liquor

I don't think I really need to explain why I'm grateful for a liquor store. I have a toddler at home. Enough said.

4) My Kindle.

I love this thing. I know it seems cheesy to say that some consumer electronic device has changed your life- but I read all the time now thanks to my Kindle- and the Kindle app on my iPhone (which I'd be grateful for too if it was on a better network than AT&T- don't even get me started!). Right now I am reading The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun and except for the small facts that I'm not a lawyer turned writer living on the Upper East Side of NYC- I could have written this book.... she sounds like me. I really love that I can get books instantly on my Kindle because I'm a sucker for instant gratification. Plus it takes me 30 minutes to schlep to the nearest bookstore and the line at Barnes & Nobles just to check out is enough to make me want to go postal. I never thought I could hate a book store until I started visiting that place- it's more a problem of the other people in the store, so I don't hold B&N totally responsible but our location in particular is unpleasant to visit . So thank you Jeff Bezos and your team at Amazon for creating the best way to get books. I could probably talk about 5 things I'm grateful for just at Amazon.com - maybe more like a million things. My checkbook = not so grateful...

5) Air Conditioning.

Ironic that I'm writing this as I'm waiting on an AC repair man. My house is actually nice and cool but something, somewhere is leaking and must be attended to. I lived without AC for 4 years in CT and didn't seem to miss it - I guess a temperate climate is worth the state income tax? ... but in Texas, I would probably die. Literally, crumble up into a hot sweaty mess, pass out from heat exhaustion and die. It is Africa hot outside. It's really hot today- and summer technically doesn't start until Monday. Thank you freon, air compressors, and whatever else is in that unit that makes my electric bill over $500 in the summer months... I don't know what I'd do without you.

Momentum

2010-06-06T23:34:00.041-05:00

I went on hiatus from blogging because life got less sparkly- I think it has a way of doing that sometimes.

If you know me, you know I have a song for everything. Momentum by Aimee Mann filled my thoughts for days...

And I know life is getting shorter
I can't bring myself to set the scene
Even when it's approaching torture
I've got my routine

Somewhere in December the shit started hitting the fan- I got sick of my "momentum" and started trying to get my life back... Things were just not good. I was so bitchy I didn't even like myself, much less poor Sparky. My first step was to work on me. There are tons of things to work on, but I started on the visible- and started running. Slightly masochistic but by the end of the month I was down 15 pounds of "baby weight" (my baby is almost 3!) and I was feeling better about my outward appearance at least. I was still filled with anger in other aspects of life- and cried Christmas eve while I was prepping Christmas brunch- cried fat salty tears into the hashbrowns that went into the breakfast casserole - angry that I was playing Santa alone and faking Christmas happiness for my precious daughter when I wasn't happy. We trudged through the holidays and I kept running- by the end of January I was down 20 pounds- anger is a good motivator, and the pain of running has a way of clearing your mind. I could get an hours peace of mind, and kill calories at the same time - I considered it a win-win.

   Will run for beer
   After my first 5K

If fixing yourself was as simple as the cosmetic outside appearance... I've decided to get my life back and will probably blog about it over the next few months. It's been a long look inward to get back to my "authentic" self- but I am starting to do things I want to do. I'm determined to go to business school, so studying for the GMAT has consumed a chunk of time- and I have the best tutor ever. I think we've evolved into friends although she maybe thought I was a little nuts the first time she met me. I walked into the classroom completely frazzled because Sparkler was on an ambulance on her way to the children's hospital right across the street from my class (more on that later - I could start a whole blog on mother-guilt!). Back to my tutor- that's now my friend- she's awesome and I think we're kindred spirits. We've decided between the 2 of us and our random skill-sets, we could do just about anything and she makes math fun. I kinda like getting my geek on- ssshhh- don't tell anyone.

Sometimes being happy is the simple things like playing some pickup bball with guys that underestimate my ability to shoot a 3 and pick me last because I have boobs & I'm short - they don't pick me last anymore. I'm scrappy- and you have to pull for a short girl that hustles. More than playing though, it's that I put myself out there... getting back to my "real" self. I kinda love the feeling.

As for me & Sparky, I don't really need to get into the fights, the angry texts and bad phone calls- we went through a lot deciding to close the practice and now that the dust has settled from that we can work on the other stuff. The stuff that can't be fixed by running... I finally feel like we are off to a fresh start - and knowing me- there's a song for that too   Begin Again.

Is there...

2010-05-31T19:11:00.002-05:00

an award for most neglected blog?

Summer goal- get back to it. It's not been for lack of things to say- just a lack of time to sit and write all about it. Also, life takes it's toll and it's not always so sparkly & spectacular - sitting down to write about the lackluster stuff seemed like an unpleasant task that I never could muster the energy for. Plus- if I wanted to depress the shit out of myself by reading something, I'd hit up Oprah's Book Club or re-read For Whom the Bell Tolls (incredibly beautiful and among my favorite books of all time- but so depressing) - and I'd figure anyone reading this would do the same.

On the upside, since my last entry, we've closed the practice, I've stopped the BSN track (no clinic, no point in trying to become a nurse at the present), my little girl continues to amaze me, I've been studying for the GMAT, I've lost almost 30 pounds, I've bought some sweet shoes (sadly not the LOVE Christian Louboutin's I wrote about earlier- I do wish I could find them), learned how to cook a mean ribeye, I'm immeasurably blessed by friends old & new- and about a million other things to fill in the blanks.

I'll try not to let the blog fall off the face of the earth again... Unless there is a prize involving some LOVE shoes in which case y'all may never hear from me again!

When Mom's away

2010-05-07T23:07:00.000-05:00

The Sparkler will play!

Isn't she just beautiful!

** Blog disclaimer: Good makeup was destroyed in the making of this post. Thanks Sparky.

Modern Day Cinderella

2010-05-03T22:48:00.030-05:00

Make the groceries (and put them up too!)

I thought I would be pushing my luck to see if she could cook dinner!

And then she has to pick up her mess

And make no mistake- Cheerios can make a mess!

I love the irony that she was playing in her Cinderella costume before she dumped a bowl of Cheerios on the stair landing. I really love that she learned how to operate the dust-buster and she thinks it's fun!

Sparkle has a new toy...

2009-12-29T11:18:00.003-06:00

And it's called Polyvore. What an awesome way to plan outfits. Here's what I'd want to wear for going out with my girlfriends if I had these awesome shoes - which I didn't buy and now I'm kicking myself over because of course now they don't have my size. I'm wondering if my buddy Peter Tay from Bergdorf's can hook me up?

Girls night out by acspark featuring Christian Louboutin shoes

Items in this set:
Tiered Lace Bubble Top, $48
Joe's Jeans - Muse in Lucas (Lucas) - Apparel, $193
Christian Louboutin Love 100 suede pumps, $995
J.CREW CRUSHED GLITTER CLUTCH, $50
Isharya 18-karat gold plated chandelier earrings, $205

The Weekly Dr's Wife Diagnosis

2009-11-03T12:36:00.002-06:00

The hub has informed me it's not kosher to use office material... and he's right. Plus, I don't want to make fun of our patients... but- I am free to comment on people who AREN'T our patients that still cause work problems.

Today- someone called our office. Prospective new patient. And then proceeded to argue about where our office is located. Apparently some healthcare.com website has our address listed somewhere we have never ever been. Sir- we're telling you- I promise you we aren't located at that intersection. We've never had an office there. We built this office and it's the only one we've ever been in. Please don't argue with us... we've NEVER been where healthcare.com says we are. Why don't you check out our website, we even have a map! Why don't you google us- it comes up correctly.

Dr's wife diagnosis: Prospective new patient... you are a dumbass. If you are going to argue with us about where our office is I really don't want to deal with you ever again.

The Sparkly Side of Life

Save me

Fill in the blank Friday

Career Leader...

Slackin...

Friday (plus a day) Fives...

Oops

TGIF

The Road to hell...

Lend me some sugar...

You asked... I answer

So, I'm asking...

What I Wore today...

Fashionably Late...

Those Friday Fives...

My kid dressed me today...

It comes full circle...

Fried Rice Friday...

What I want Wednesday...

Best Valentine's Blog...

Happy Heart Day

about those Friday Fives....

Here's my sign...

Want it Wednesday...

The Friday Fives

Your Superpower?

The Suite Life...

Friday Fives...

ack...

And that makes 7

Fall

Laugh your ass off funny....

www.mcsweeneys.net

IT'S DECORATIVEGOURD SEASON, MOTHERFUCKERS.

BY COLIN NISSAN

Friday Make-up Fives (on a Tuesday.. it's the thought that counts)

5 things I probably shouldn't say...

Friday Fives

Like...

Don't be afraid to fly...

Me VS the white birch oxer

Is it harder?

More from the insomniac...

Musings of an insomniac

Because I'm a huge nerd, continued....

Because I'm a huge nerd...

Friday Five - Fashion Faves

Caption Contest

Smelly Saturday

Some days...

I'm sorry

It's Sunday and I'm searching.

Friday Five..

Want it Wednesday...

Discipline

Friday Fives

Friday Fives...

Take 5

I love the Coast Guard. We are so small...too small. Each loss is resurrected by those who know....those who knew...those who feel for our friends and our families in these trying times. God bless those most pained...God bless us all. I love the Coast Guard.

Happy Birthday America!

There are days when

The Friday Five

Wordy Wednesday

Friday Five

Wordy Wednesday

Winner, Winner

Toddler or Frat House?

In which mom

Giddy Up....

The Friday Five

Momentum

Is there...

When Mom's away

Modern Day Cinderella

Sparkle has a new toy...

The Weekly Dr's Wife Diagnosis

IT'S DECORATIVE
GOURD SEASON, MOTHERFUCKERS.