Monthly Archive

My birthday is coming up in a few weeks (February 4th, if you’d like to shower me with gifts), and since folks tend to start asking what they might bestow upon me to celebrate the miracle that was my birth give me as a birthday present, I’ve started mentally drafting a list. But…things tend to get lost amongst the brain files, and I always end up drawing a blank when asked such an important question! I thought it would be a good idea to put the 4 hours I was stuck at work on a freaking Sunday (from 1-5! Smack in the middle of an otherwise wonderful day spent warm and cozy on the couch watching HGTV!!!) to make a list of things I’d love to have so maybe I stand a chance at remembering when asked.   Mind you I’m posting this many days later, but still time well spent.  I’m accepting recommendations for additional gift suggestions.  Any ideas?

• The Philosophy Makeup Optional Skincare set. I really don’t require this specific set - something similar would be a-ok with me. I’m really dying to try out Hope In A Jar, as I’ve heard tons of fabulous things about it. Besides, my mother has drilled in the mantra “Moisturize, moisturize, MOISTURIZE!!!” into my head because she wishes she had. For the record, my mother is beautiful and has a smile that could light a candle.
• This adorable sliding halter bikini top and matching string bottom from Victoria’s Secret in the fuscia polka dot print. I think it’s just the added incentive I need to stick to WW (which I’ve been doing pretty well with so far, thankyouverymuch!!).
• The bluetooth earpiece that goes with my Razr phone so I don’t get into a wreck chatting with my daddy on the way home from work.
• This gorgous peacock pearl set from DK Design
• A rotary cutter and self-healing cutting mat for my sewing room
• A rack for thread spools
• This photo by Dutch Blitz in an 8×10. She has some others in her flickr pool I admire as well…like the white daisy. I need a series of 3 for my guest bathroom. Gerbera daisies are my most favorite flower!!!
• A new stereo for my sewing room. Something cute and compact. Something like this would be perfect!
• A pair of lowtop Converse Chuck Tailors - maybe brown and pink a la Secret Agent Josephine? I love the endless color combo options!
• A flickr pro account so I can upload more pictures!
• A Netflix subscription. This very much comes in handy when my husband is submerged in homework 5-6 nights a week!
• A Superhero Necklace - any color combination will work!
• Some pretty photo albums
• A gift card to Sephora so I can splurge on things to make me feel pretty
• A membership to the YMCA or gym nearby.

That’s all I’ve come up with so far, but I reserve the right to add to the list.  It seems I have expensive taste, I’ll have to come up with a few more penny pinching ideas.  I must admit that after writing this post, I feel a bit like Veruka Salt from Willy Wonka, wanting everything in sight.  I promise that’s not the case…well, Ok, so I want a lot of things, but I don’t demand them in a snotty spoiled little rich girl kind of way.  I am neither snotty, nor a rich girl.  Spoiled?  Occasionally, but I’m an only child and my mommy loves me.  Not my fault:)  Anyhow, what’s the best gift you’ve ever received?  What’s missing from my list?

She has nary a health problem, aside from the random “old dog bump” here and there. Sure, her senses are dulling a bit and she doesn’t see and hear quite as acutely as she used to, but she’s 16! She can handle stairs, jump up on the couch, and is just as loving and snuggly as she was when we brought her home from that very important sale. Keeping her for the week was a joy because I don’t know how much longer she will be around - I’m sure to smooch her and tell her I love her every time I visit my parents’ house. You just never know. I mean, I could have killed her when she pissed all over the cushion of my couch on the last day of her visit - but who am I kidding, I’d be lucky to be around when I’m 112 (16 in dog years) and sure as hell wouldn’t be continent!

I love you, silly old girl!

(for the record, the couch was scotch guarded and I attacked it with fabric cleaner, but I’m still getting the damn thing steam cleaned on Thursday just to be sure - at least it wasn’t cat pee!)

I am typing this with an oh-so-tender middle finger, but it “hurts so good” because it’s a direct consequence of my good deed o’ the day. As per my resolution, I made an appointment with the local Red Cross today and donated some blood. The needle in the vain thing doesn’t bother me, but oh my sweet jebus does it sting when they’re finished pricking and squeezing your finger to make sure you’re good to donate. Ouch! The whole process took a little over an hour and I feel accomplished. And enlightened. Did you know that only 37% of the country’s population is eligable to donate? I wonder how many people screwed the pooch on their eligablilty because of any of the lascivious ($100 word!) activities you cannot be involved in. The last time I tried to give blood, I had to leave without donating because I’m possibly allergic to iodine and they didn’t have an iodine alternative to sterilize the site with. I left rather sheepishly because I knew what people were thinking. Did she have sex with a mansex-having guy from Africa for drugs and/or money before joining the military and traveling to crazy countries that might give her Malaria or some sort of plague?

I other stick-to-it news, I’ve officially stuck to my Weight Watchers diet for 2 whole weeks! I haven’t been exercizing like I should (because it’s in the 20s and 30s people! I’d freeze my buns off. I want to tone them, slim them down, not freeze them OFF!) but I’ve still managed to lose 3 or 4 lbs. Not too shabby for eating a lot and not exercising! I’ve even eaten pizza! Real pizza! Twice! This is a diet I can handle! Now, if it would warm up and I could drag my ass out of bed before 7:45, I might get a start on that couch to 5k program…but I think I may wait till this ungodly 15 degree morning weather passes.

Baby steps are good.  They make the world turn.  Inch by inch, life’s a cinch.  Yard by yard, it’s pretty hard.  I’ll lose a lb or 2 a week and eventually those size 4 jeans will slip over this booty again.  If I take an hour out of my day every couple months, my pint of blood could save someone’s life tomorrow!  I’ll show my appreciation one “thank you” note at a time.  I’ll be thankful for what I have and where I am TODAY.  I’ll practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty.  Imagine what the world could do if everyone took baby steps in the right direction!

During Christmas last year I discovered that coffee?  It’s kind of tasty!  And the caramel machiato at Starbucks?  Nector of the Gods!  Unfortunately, shortly after discovering my love of coffee, I also discovered that the caffinated goodness does NOT LIKE ME!  It’s all sexy and flirty, steaming in my 10% recycled post-comumer goods cup, but once it meets my lips and warms my tummy, it wants to exit in a hurry!  I know you don’t want to hear about my digestive woes, but this saddens me so!  I have to admit, though - I’ve suffered through to use up the full value of my Christmas Starbucks giftcard.  I think I might have to go back to my hot cocoa and caramel apple ciders….but for a brief second I felt all cool and hip with my grande skinny caramel machiato in hand.  A moment of silence for my loss…

It’s Saturday and I’m not at my usual gig.  Today will not be spent at the consignment shop helping lovely ladies strike bargain gold, but rather, I’m freezing my patootie off as Assistant Property Manager who will spend the rest of her natural life at the workplace.  I’ve been here every day since Monday and will continue my string of good fortune until I get to cut out a wee bit early on Wednesday.  This makes for a loooooooong 10 days straight.  Blah!  Throw in the iminent threat of incliment weather that may cause me to slide all over creation on my commute home today and my life is just a bowl of cherries!  Please can I go home now?  At least the threat of a wintery mix is keeping my day low-key and I have ample time to clear out my google reader and finish the uber-sappy Nicholas Sparks book I’m reading.  They’re all the same, I think.  Unforch, it was the only thing laying unread around the house when I finished my last book, and I needed something to help me through football season. 

Speaking of football, I am getting an excellent birthday gift this year - The END OF FOOTBALL SEASON!  Last year the Superbowl happened to occur on the same day as the anniversary of my birth.  Lucky lucky me!  This year, my birthday falls on the Monday after the Superbowl:)  My husband is a tremendous football fan, is involved in 2 geektacular Fantasy Football leagues,  and watches 1-2 games every Sunday, and squeezes important weekday games in when studying allows.  I am a football widow.  While I get a lot of reading and napping done during the games (does the sound of sports announcers make anyone else super groggy?), I’m excited to get B back on Sundays:)  Now when does the college football season end? 

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Many hours later and it’s been a busy day!  And now…IT’S SNOWING!  Now I know I’ve got some readers that live in the land of snow-aplenty, but here in good ol’ Raleigh, NC, we don’t see many flakes falling from the sky.  It’s been raining all day, so the snow isn’t sticking just yet, but it’s supposed to snow all evening and into the morning, so maybe we’ll get an accumulation of sorts.  Stella’s never played in snow - but she’ll probably be mortified when she has to potty, for her paws?  They will be cold!  They will be wet!  Gasp! 

T-32 minutes and I get to hit the road.  People in these parts can’t drive in the rain, let alone the snow - it’s sure to be an adventure!

I’m not usually one for New Year’s resolutions. I think I generally come up with some at the last minute in a half-assed manner and end up breaking them shortly thereafter. But…with this newfangled blog that makes this list more concrete, I can look back and remind myself of my goals. While I don’t expect to have fully completed everything 100%, I hope to look back in 2009 (damn time flies!) and be happy that I made progress. That said, here’s a list of a few things I hope 2008 holds in store for me:

Lose the post-wedding lbs

• subresolution - stick to WW diet

Donate blood regularly

Look into donating platelets

Take the mongrels on more walks

Take the time to exercize

• subresolution - Actually use the Pilates DVDs I ordered ages ago

Reduce my procrastination (much more do-able than flat out not procrastinating)

Stick to my word - sometimes I have a problem with followthrough. The road to hell is paved with good intentions, right?

Write thank-you notes (a nod to you Bethany Actually). I wrote some this very evening while I was on the phone for an hour and a half with Tech support - but that’s for another time…

Be more authentic, care less about what other people think

Judge less

Put jealousy at bay, be more confident. Down with the green monster!

Take more time to be creative

Complain/whine less (that’s for you, B)

Splurge less/save more

Return library books on time

Stop obsessively planning the future and be happy with today

Organize the computer room

Floss

Learn to use my camera to its potential - same goes for my Elements 6 program!

Post regularly, and with more thoughtful content

Get a decent amount of stock in my etsy store…and hopefully sell some stuff! Wanna help me with this one? Check out Crooked Halo Designs!

Find a job I’m happy doing. I know it’s not always rainbows and sunshine at any job, but there’s gotta be something I’m better suited for.

That seems like a sufficient list for now. I’m sure I could keep going…but I don’t want to get too bogged down in the details. I hope everyone is enjoying their new year thus far! I hope 2008 rocks my socks.

As I write this, Stella is snoozing comfortably by my side, basking in the warmth of the laptop and it’s making my eyelids heavy. I bid you farewell. Sweet dreams!

It has been proclaimed on a few of my favorite blogs that this is delurking week.  Do I have any lurkers?  I feel like I haven’t really posted consistantly since the start of this blog to warrant many people returning on a daily basis…and yet they do!  Hi ladies;)  This whole blogging thing hasn’t become second nature to me yet.  Throw in a husband that actually has free time while he’s on break from school and the craziness of the holidays, sprinkle in a few calls to the Dell IT department to get my beloved camera to connected to my damned computer (which it still will NOT do, thankyouverymuch!!!), and you’ve got a recipe for Erin neglecting her little spot on the interweb.  I apologize, my loyal few readers, for the neglect.  I promise better content soon!  B went back to school today…I should be facing some neglect here myself.  So…with that said, I want the Crooked Halo wallflowers to make themselves known…if they would so oblige.  Declare yourselves!  Why don’t you say hello and tell me your favorite…something!  Surprise me with your favorite color, flower, smell, book, movie, etc.  Pretty please with sugar on top?  And a cherry for good measure!

Coming soon, a lovely list of resolutions for the new year…which shall surely include the curbing of procrastination, as it is already January 9th and I’m just getting to it.  Oh well, better late than never!

Christmas was good to me and showered me with lovely gifts, including my fabulous new camera. I’ve been eagerly snapping photos left and right. Click, click, click! Adorable dog pictures (of course!). Photos of projects around the house. Photos of us being fat and happy lounging around for the holidays. And I’ve wanted to share share share! But…sadly, my spiffy new camera appeared to be too high tech for my ancient (read: 4 year old) computer. I tried tried tried to get the camera to connect. Brian tried tried tried. I wanted to pull my hair out! Aieeeeeeeee! I called Dell tech support. After 45 minutes (at 10pm - but not in India where the little man was no doubt answering my call from), they told me I had an old (not that old!!!) computer and would need a USB 2.0 card in order for my camera to connect. My heart was broken. My new toy was going to be a pain in the ass. B ordered a new USB 2.0 card, installed it, and still, a big fat NOTHING! Lying tech support. After another hour on the phone (with a much more sociable gentleman than the 1st) the little computer that could can now download pictures! Le sigh! I hate technical problems with a fire that burns like a thousand suns. Nothing makes me feel more helpless than technical problems! Gah!

So, ahem, now that that’s out of my system, would you like to see what I’ve been up to? Yes? Ok then, I shall proceed.

Let’s start off with saying that I enjoy interior decorating, but I lack the funds to do much of it (thank you generous mother for all your help!) and I also have a really hard time deciding on a look. I like so many things! I got 2 fantastic wrough iron scrollwork pieces for Christmas that I’ve been dying to install over my bed. For years, we’ve had a cherry 4 poster bed that belonged to my parents eons ago. It’s lovely, but it’s too stuffy and conventional for my taste and my small bedroom. Here’s what it looked like before

(sorry about making you stare at my mattress cover - I forgot to snap the picture before the bedroom destruction began).

Now the bedroom looks more along the lines of this:

I got the lamps for Christmas last year and I think the wrought iron pieces look lovely with them. Would you like to go in for a close-up? I thought so…

Not only have I been decorating, I’ve been crafty as well! I met up with my best friend and her husband last Friday to exchange Christmas gifts and catch up. She’s 6 months pregnant and I couldn’t let my future “nephew” go without a gift on his 1st Christmas (en utero, but still…). So, I got my fanny to Michaels, bought some stuff, and now my soon to be new little friend has his 1st decoration for his nursery. With an over-the-top wavy hand gesture, I present to you…

What do you think? So easy to make, and they always come out so lovely! They’re my new favorite baby gift. Personalized, handmade, and full of love Just like the baby they’re for

Bet you didn’t know I was this well rounded, did ya? Hee

 What a way to end the year! Brian’s dad is resting at home and on the mend.  After a catheter meandered through his heart to check out the real estate, the Dr.s discovered 2 arteries that were about 85% blocked.  They immediately put 2 stints in 1 artery and 1 in another.  The next day he was sent home.  Medical miracles, I tell you!  Fifteen years ago, someone would have cracked his chest and poked around.  Instead, they went from his leg to his heart with nary a stitch at the entry site!  Absolutely amazing!  Thank you guys for his well wishes.  I’m glad I can come back with a positive report!

So today was my first day back to work in the new year.  And what did I do?  Why, the lovely 2007 questionnaire listed below of course!  I stole it from Whoorl and She Likes Purple.  So sue me!  Filling this out was actually difficult.  I can’t believe I can’t remember half the year!  Oh well.  Onward!

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?

I hit golf balls at the driving range with my husband.  Adventurous, huh!  Let me just say that a golf swing and my DD’s don’t go hand in hand.  You won’t see me on the LPGA tour anytime soon!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I think I have the same New Year’s resolution every year…and that’s to in shape for swim suit season and stay that way. Every year I fail miserably. This year I resolve to keep that resolution…plus a few more.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes. My good friend James and his wife Lauren had a sweet little boy in September. I really need to go visit and snuggle him!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Fortunately, no!

5. What countries did you visit?

Just this one. Haven’t left the country in a number of years.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?

A satisfying job that I enjoy. I would also like to have a size 4 pair of jeans that fit (or are too big??), more free time, and a prosperous etsy store

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Just the usual dates - birthdays, anniversaries and such.  Nothing tremendous happened this year.  This is a good and a bad thing, I suppose.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

No grand achievements, but I sold an item in my etsy store to a complete stranger and sold a few items to friends who were happy to give me money for things I created with some fabric, some thread and my time.  It makes me feel special

9. What was your biggest failure?

I swear to my husband all the time that I will exercize, eat healthier and get in shape. I swear to him in hopes that it’ll increase my stick-to-it-iveness. Sadly, it rarely does. This makes me a big fat liar and I don’t enjoy being a big fat liar. I wanna be a little teensy truth teller!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Aside from my perma-bruises from being a pin ball in the office and at home, I managed to get through 2007 relatively unscathed.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

For another person: Brian and I got my step-father a sand wedge to go with this set of golf clubs. I think this was the 1st year ever my step-father was excited about the gift I gave him. He usually just asks for something moderately reasonable in price and practical. He was tickled pink that we splurged on him a big…but it was for his Birthday and Christmas! Plus he’s done so much for me over the years. To say he’s worth a splurge at Christmastime is an understatement!

For myself: I started the year off driving a 1994 Toyota Camry. “The Darkness” was a tank and kept on keepin on, and it was paid for….but it was time for a change. I didn’t want to worry about sinking money into it, because eventually something would happen to it. It had almost 300,000 miles on it. For the record, it was a testament to Toyota! I hate to say it, but Japan knows how to build a damn car! Now I cruise around in my beautiful 2003 Honda Accord and I am so very smitten, than you very much! I hate to make the car payments, but I feel spoiled every time I drive!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My husband! He works 2 jobs, goes to school full time and has a 3.95 overall GPA. That takes some serious perseverance! Plus he has his beautiful wife in the house to distract him from his work. My allure is virtually irresistable, so ya know, that’s a major feat!

Also, my mother. She is such a giving, loving person - and she considers me her greatest accomplishment. If that’s not the ultimate ego-boost, I don’t know what is!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I have a friend who shall remain nameless that lives way beyond his/her means and has extensive debt. He/she thinks everything will work out in the long run because it always has. I adore him/her, but working as hard as we do for our money, and trying to not spend. spend. spend, it kinda hurts to hang out with him/her sometimes. Our priorities are definitely not in the same order. I’m afraid he/she’s gotten over his/her head and things won’t work out like he/she expects. I also hate the part of me that kind of hopes he/she will learn a lesson from all of this. Did you follow that? Cuz I think I confused myself.

14. Where did most of your money go?

To our mortgage, car payment and paying off credit card debt. With any luck we’ll be finished paying off our credit card debt when Brian graduates! Yay!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

My best friend’s pregnancy. We’ve been friends since the 8th grade and lived together for most of college. We’ve gone through a lot of major milestones together. I was a ball of emotions when she announced she was pregnant. My clock ticks hard and fast these days, so I shed a few tears, wallowed in jealousy and self-pity for a few minutes, and now I am fully focused on the fact that I’m going to have a nephew at the end of March!

Also, I’m really really excited about a new friendship that was born this year. Brian and I finally found a couple we both get along with superbly. We’re refrigerator friends, as they say - meaning I can walk on in and grab a drink from the fridge without anyone batting an eye. We can talk about anything and have loads of fun doing nothing. It’s thoroughly enjoyable and I thank my lucky stars!

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

Remember that old song “If you like Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain”? That’ll remind me of 2007 because of the new friendship mentioned above. Well, that new friendship and the move The Sweetest Thing. I ask you, is there time for a movie montage? There’s always time for a movie montage!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?

At this time I was probably sadder, thinner and richer. I’m not complaining though. The only thing for certain is that nothing stays the same!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

• I wish I’d enjoyed myself more. I’m rather self-conscious and dwell a lot on things that don’t matter in the long run.
• Saved a little more money
• Been a little kinder in a few situations.
• Taken more time to be creative.
• Thought more before opening my mouth
• Listened more
• Given more
• Gotten more pedicures
• Read more good books
• Taken more pictures
• Been in more pictures
• Spent more time with my sewing machine

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

• Stressing over the little things. It physically takes a toll on me!
• Eating - I eat way more than my little 5′ 3 1/2″ body needs!
• Whining - according to my husband, I need to reduce this area drastically
• Procrastinating - I’m a horrible horrible procrastinator…but who am I kidding. That’s not going to change!

20. How did you spend Christmas?

We visited both sides of Brian’s family as well as my parents and my step-father’s parents. It was busy, lazy, warm and fuzzy, stressful, and everything holidays and family often entail. I loved it I just hate the crash once it’s all over!

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?

Didn’t fall in love, but I’ve stayed in love. That’s something to be proud of

22. What was your favorite TV program?

I can’t pick just one! I love The Office, My Name is Earl and Grey’s Anatomy. I still mourn the los of Gilmore Girls.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I don’t really hate. I’m a lover, not a fighter, yo!

24. What was the best book you read?

I’m not sure if I read it this year or last year, but I adore The Time Traveler’s Wife. I also re-read the entire Harry Potter series and the last book made me cry. I’m a dork and a weenie, what can I say!

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I don’t really buy cd’s anymore, but I allowed myself to splurge and buy then new Christina Aguilera cd and I love the retro sound of some of the songs. I also bought Coco by Clobie Callait from i-tunes and highly recommend it. She sounds every bit as wonderful live too!

26. What did you want and get?

• A new car
• A new camera (Cannon SX100 IS)
• A photo editing program (Adobe Elements 6)
• A beautiful fancy watch
• A home phone line
• A brand new coach bag for a steal
• Happiness
• Loyalty
• Hugs and kisses
• A wonderful year of a beautiful life

27. What did you want and not get?

•  Various items of new clothes that I didn’t really need
• A gym membership
• A 3rd dog (B says we’d have to be crazy!)
• A baby

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Did Crash come out this year? That was a fabulous flick!

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Does it say something about my age that I don’t remember what we did for my birthday? I was 27 and felt ancient. I remember my daddy sent me a card that said “happy birthday! Today you’re 4!” He reminded me that age is just a number. I’m now looking forward to 28. Good thing too, cuz it’s just around the corner. February 4th if you want to mark it on your calendar and shower me with praise! And gifts! Don’t forget the gifts!

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A job that was fulfilling and less frustrating. Oh, and a husband that didn’t have to study 24/7. I don’t blame him, I just miss him. He’s more fun when he isn’t stressing about school.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

In order to save money and not catch lip from B about spending money, I really only bought items that came through mom’s consignment store. I guess that would make my fashion concept “thrifty”. Whatever works!

32. What kept you sane?

My dogs. I love those little fuzzballs more than life itself. They can make me slow down and focus on the little things.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I want Jennifer Garner to be my best friend. I wouldn’t mind being Scarlet Johansen or Mandy Moore. I will always love Brad Pitt, but I drool over Ryan Gosling and Milo Ventimiglia.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Immigration and illegal immigrants’ rights are kind of a hot button with me. The war in Iraq breaks my heart. But to be completely honesty with you, I live under a rock and am waaaaay behind in all things political.

35. Who did you miss?

I still miss my grandfather who passed away in 2004. I miss my friends that moved away, and my friends that are too busy for very many visits. I miss the close-knit friendships I had when I was younger.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

Yay for my friend K - we’ll call her bubble butt for now (cuz she’s got some junk in her trunk!) and she’s half of the couple I mentioned up above.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.

Patience is a virtue, and life isn’t a contest. I don’t have to be in such a hurry to get what others have and to get on with life. I need to appreciate the life I have as I live it instead of always trying to plan the unplanable future. I don’t need to do everything right now, and there will be plenty of time to start a family when the timing is right.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I laid in bed that night and thought about the day

And how my life is like a roller coaster ride

The ups and downs and crazy turns along the way

It’ll throw you off if you don’t hold on tight

You can’t really smile until you’ve shed some tears

I could die today or I might live on for years

I love this crazy, tragic,

Sometimes almost magic,

Awful, beautful life!

(Awful, beautiful life by Darryl Worley)