The Little Things

It's been one of those days and that is especially sad since it is 2:41 and I haven't even left the house. I'm still in my pajamas.

To begin with, the limo company from which I rented Josh's b-day limo, has overcharged me. I called last week and the guy said, "I'll work on it and get back with you." Then, he didn't get back with me. So, I called again today and a different guy said, "Yep, I can see that we charged your credit card twice and you paid in cash, but I'm not sure what to do." What do you mean you're not sure? Just pay me back the money! Ugh.

Then, my internet went out.

Then, our dog did this to our coffee table...

And this to our stairs...

And this to the runner in our hallway...

But seriously, I can't be too mad at such a cute face!

And I'm not gonna lie...I did consider having a drink as my husband suggested. But, wouldn't that make me some sort of an alcoholic???

Lip Plumping Goodness

My husband is a bit of a hypochondriac. I can say that on here because I know there is no chance that he will read this. He couldn't care less about my blog.

Anyway, I think he learned somewhere during his childhood that the way to get attention was to complain. A lot. About everything. In his world, a splinter warrants a trip to the emergency room.

So, Friday night I wasn't surprised when he started whining about his chapped lips. I was thinking "this is your 31st winter...you should know by now that your lips will get chapped and it isn't the end of the world." But, I didn't say it....I only thought it. It and a few choice words because he wanted ME to go OUTSIDE to get his chapstick from his car.

This was at 12:30 am, when it was about 30 degrees outside AND I was in my pajamas.

J: Well if you won't go get my chapstick, do you have any?

T: No

J: What can I use then?

T: Lipgloss

J: Would lotion work?

T: Probably

J: What else could I use?

T: Lipgloss

J: Fine, give me the lipgloss.

So, I happily hand over my favorite tube and watch as my super manly husband applies it all over his lips. BUT, as he is doing so, I realize I have made a huge mistake because hidden in the bottom of my makeup bag is a tiny tube of Super Cinnamon Lip Plumper. Although it tastes ok and smells really nice, IT IS PAINFUL. This product apparently works by burning the *&%^ out of your lips, causing them to swell.

T: Oh try this instead. I think it will work better for chapped lips.

He applies the lip plumper and is midway through his next statement when he starts to feel the burn and knows instantly what I did.

It was worth getting a glass of water thrown on me.

I love this chair...

I found this picture on Beth Jansen's Blog. I love this chair....mainly because I have two ugly wingbacks that need to be recovered. This chair is my inspiration. Does anyone know someone who can make my chairs look this cute for cheap?

An Update

We went into Trochta's the other day, and the first thing I spotted was a stack of the Nosey Parker books. The SUPER nice lady there explained that the stores have to purchase the books and then they are allowed to do with them what they please. They can sell them, give them away, give a discount, tell you to F- off if you ask for a discount, etc. I'm just glad that she told me. I get it now and I'll stop asking.

I won't post much tonight....too grumpy. I'm tired of people I don't like dictating MY life. Nuff said.

Nosey Parker Say What?

Mom and I went shopping yesterday at some darling new stores in Edmond and when I was making my purchase at one of them, I happened to pick up the Oklahoma version of the Nosey Parker guidebook. The owner of the boutique we were in asked if I had heard of it and since I had not, she went on to explain the book to me. Our conversation went something like this...

saleslady: Oh that's the new Nosey Parker Book...have you heard about it?

me: No. What is it?

saleslady: You buy the book and then register the card that's in it online. Then, you show the card to any of the merchants in the book and they give you a discount.

me: How much is the book?

saleslady: $12. So, it's really easy to make your money back.

me: How much is the discount in your store?

saleslady: 15%

me: (I flip through the book and realize there are two merchants in it that I plan on buying gifts from anyway, so I figure I might as well get the discount) OK. I guess I'll get this too.

So, once I got home I immediately registered my new card.

Flash forward to today. Mom and I go shopping again and our first stop is On a Whim because she is in need of a gift for a friend and they are in the book. So, we figure, why not shop there and get the discount. Well, we search and search and finally come up with the perfect gift for said friend and when it is time to pay, I flash my brand new Nosey Parker card, and this is the response I get...

saleslady: We don't take that. We told whoever made that book that we didn't want to be in it and somehow we ended up in there anyway. So we aren't going to honor that (She turns around and walks off).

Ok, so I am not a customer service expert or anything, but I am pretty sure that wasn't the right (best) way to handle that situation... It was a tone thing. It was an attitude thing. And I found it quite sad because my family has done a lot of shopping in On A Whim throughout the years; J and I were even registered there for our wedding. But, I am pretty sure that everything they carry in that store can be found elsewhere, like maybe on mackenzie-childs.com. Oh and those MC dog dishes I have on my Christmas list, well I guess they will have to be ordered off the web. Just be nice to me when you tell me that you won't honor my coupon.

Next stop, Blue 7. The employees at the store had no idea what a Nosey Parker card was, but they got on the phone with the owner and decided to give me 15% off. Easy Peasy.

Last stop, Jamie's in Casady Square. I pick up a couple of items that I have on my shopping list (remember the original reason I bought the card), and when the saleslady asks if she can set them at the counter I say, "Do you all accept the NP card?" Our conversation then goes as follows...

saleslady: What do you mean accept it?

me: accept it...for the discount. I have my card right here.

saleslady: Oh there's no discount. We don't do discounts here unless it is Premier card week.

me: But the girl I bought the card from said there's a discount for all of the merchants in the book.

saleslady: You bought the book?

me: Yep. It was $12.

saleslady: But we have them here and we are just giving them away to our customers. Free

me: Wow. OK. Well. Hmmm.

And then no discount.

Moral of the story: What the *&%$ is a Nosey Parker card and why did I spend $12 on it??? Can somebody please enlighten me?

Because I am the Older Sister

I met a fellow blogger yesterday at one of my trunk shows and her enthusiasm about blogging was contagious. She is an up-and-coming PW with her own domain name, hundreds of followers and even more daily hits. That's serious blogging.

Anyway, she said she posts every day and I asked her how she comes up with things to write every single day. She said, "Oh, I just tell stories," and I thought to myself, "But I don't have any stories." And, at the time, I couldn't think of a single one.

Until this morning.

So, just to give you a little background on what I'm about to tell you...I am the older sister of two younger brothers. We have always been a close family, and I have always been slightly protective. And bossy.

Bossy to the point of picking out (err rather trying to pick out) my brothers' girlfriends. It's a wonder they were able to pick out the amazing women they are currently with on their own, without any help from moi.

Anyway, there was Bethany, Brooke, Shawna, Alex, and another girl whose name I don't remember. I actually tried to force these women on my poor brothers! But, my absolute favorite was Miss Amy O and for years, I would beg the youngest of the three of us to go out with her. "But Matt," I would say, "She's so cute and so sweet. Yall would be such a great couple." His response, "T, she's crazy, psycho, and trust me, you don't want me hanging out with her." But, I think she did actually go to Johnnies one night with the fam.

A few years later when I was still begging him to find Miss Amy O and start some sort of relationship with her, I think he said she was in jail. Or pregnant. Or pregnant and in jail. Not sure.

But today, I can finally say I trust my younger brothers' abilities to make decisions for themselves. Not only do they have two wonderful women in their lives, but I opened the Oklahoman this morning to find this in the newspaper...

Please watch. Sorry but you'll have to sit through the ad.

Miss Amy O was arrested in OKC this week for hiding a stolen baby (her own) in the backseat of her car under other possibly stolen merchandise. She and the male she was with were apparently in my parent's neighborhood and about to attempt some burglaries. Wow. Thankfully, the baby has been returned to her father. And Miss Amy is behind bars. Again.

I guess if younger brother wants to start something now with my pick for him, he can find her in the OK County jail.

BTW, he was right....the newspaper article listed multiple arrests for Miss Amy over the past 8 years. And judging from what Matt said, she was pregnant and in jail.

And in honor of Thanksgiving...some links

There is a girl about my age who lives in Oklahoma City. I don't know her, although I know several people who do. And she has been invited to several of my trunk shows, but I have still yet to meet her. I do think she has impeccable taste though and I have been blog-stalking her on a regular basis; her posts are inspiring. She is a designer and I wish she would make a stop off in Jenks to do some designing. Maybe I could pay her in jewelry.

P.S. I know this pic is from a magazine, but I found it on her blog and I love it.

I found this picture on Design Crush and think it's hilarious. I drew my brother's name for our Christmas exchange and if he doesn't get his list to me quickly, guess what he's getting!

Last and in honor of Thanksgiving, if you are in the mood for a laugh, check out Cakewrecks, the blog devoted to cakes gone terribly wrong. Be sure to read the captions; they are always hilarious!

Free Jewelry Anyone?

Well, I did it. I quit my day job. And now I've embarked on a whole new adventure. Actually, I quit my day job for reasons totally unrelated, but then this opportunity fell in my lap and I just couldn't resist. I love jewelry, and I love this jewelry. So, why not?

In under a month, I have gone from being a nurse to being a stylist for Stella and Dot! Actually, I will always be a nurse and will probably soon find an additional job in nursing, but for now this is it and I couldn't be more excited!

For anyone who is not familiar with Stella and Dot, it is a fabulous direct sales jewelry company. I know, the words "direct sales" are a little scary to me too, but here's how I see it...A friend invited me to a girl's night out at her friend's house last week. I didn't have anything going on and since I don't know many people in the area, I thought "why not." So, on a Thursday evening, we went to Erin's house where there was wine, food, and a great selection of really fun jewelry to purchase. It was fun. No pressure. Just girl-talk and jewelry!

After I fell in love with everything I saw at the party and had a blast, I figured that this would be a great way to earn a little money, meet some new people, go to more fun parties and get great jewelry! It's a win-win for me!

So, I'm sharing this with everyone in cyberland because I'm hoping you will check it out. Go to my website and look at all the fabulous products. You can buy directly from my site, or you can host your own girls' night out and earn tons of free and half-priced items. Free jewelry- it doesn't get any better than that! Just let me know what you think, and I can help you start planning your own party.

Or, if you love it like I do, you can join my team!

a few things

It is amazing the things you will discover about yourself by spending nine days at the lake. Almost alone. At the end of the summer. When the lake is eerily calm and empty and it has rained over six inches in a thirty-six hour period. Although nice, it leaves you wondering where everyone is. It is too quiet here. Oh yes, I almost forgot. Football season has begun. 

Anyway, this quiet, calm period of nothing-to-do except exactly what I want has forced me to realize a few things. These are not necessarily important things, yet they are things nonetheless and I am in a sharing mood.

So, a few things....

1. I am addicted to HGTV and even if I don't particularly care for a certain show, I can't turn the channel. I watch and watch until I have developed completely unrealistic ideas/ goals for my home. House project number one: elevate the house until it sits on a hill overlooking the city. Tear out the walls and replace with gigantic windows allowing all of the sunlight to come streaming in. Finish the project with a giant all-glass bathtub. See the problem here?

2. I want to be a runner. There is something so freeing about setting out on the open road with nothing but an ipod filled with your favorite tunes to keep you company. However, my body has other ideas for me, and exercise isn't one of them. It only takes about ten steps out of the front door before I have shin splints. They are painful. And they refuse to go away.

3. If you are a realtor and you want to sell a house, why bother posting it online without a single picture? Come on people. Oh and don't make a youtube video with your own personal shaky camcorder to take me on a tour of the house. It makes me carsick.

4. I want to do something creative with my life. I want to have my own booth at the market. I want to open a tiny scrapbooking store at the lake (or all things paper). I want to own the retail portion of Annie's future cupcake store. Today, I want to do anything but nursing.

5. Why oh why does Nate Berkus have to be gay? 

6. I can read an entire novel only to try to reread it several years later and not realize until 100 pages in that I have read it before. And then only vaguely remember the book. Did I read the whole book? Did I only read this chapter? I am so confused.

7. Speaking of books, I highly recommend Left for Dead and Into Thin Air. I am not a mountain climber, and I will never be a mountain climber (refer to #2), but I found these books thrilling to read.

Well, that's enough for tonight. But I hope everyone is having a great weekend and is safely celebrating our Sooner's tonight!

16 things

Because today is August 16th, and because I have not posted since June 30th, I am pretty sure it is time to write something. I do have several posts planned, but they all seem to take a lot of time, meaning that I really have to think about what I am writing or upload some pictured before I can post. So, just because it is Sunday and I am still in my pajamas and just had cookie dough for breakfast, I am going to settle with this post. In honor of Sunday, August 16th, this is 16 things that are on my mind today.

1. The awesome chandelier art by Erin Glover that was debuted on HGTV yesterday. I would LOVE to have one of her pieces. Google her.

2. I have a million pictures to scrapbook. I really should be doing that instead of writing this. 

3. I am going to have to get in some exercise today to burn off the cookie dough.

4. I wish my brother would call me back b/c I could really use his advice.

5. I am so ready to move back to OKC. Anybody hiring nurses? Haha....that's a silly question.

6. I hope my parents had fun at my mom's reunion in Albuquerque. Drive carefully M&L!

7. I can't believe my husband told me I have a "cold, negative heart." I don't think I do, but maybe I do. Regardless, I'm pretty sure a husband isn't supposed to say mean things like that.

8. My feet are still recovering from the 3day walk, but it was soooo worth it! I think I may have to do it again!

9. Because I want to move, I suddenly have a new addiction to HGTV. I love seeing the changes they make to these houses, but they make it look so easy.

10. I need to clean. Ugh.

11. Jack knocked the lamp over and burned a hole through the shade and two layers of carpet last night. Had I gone out of town this weekend, would I have come back to a house engulfed in flames? Scary.

12. Anyone ever seen a cop in a pink uniform? There were several along the 3day route. They were pretty darn sexy if you ask me. (I'll post pictures soon).

13. my younger brother is about to turn the big 3-0 on Tuesday. Wow, I'm old! Happy b-day C!

14. Seeing as how it's after 11am, I should probably brush my teeth.

15. Aren't you supposed to be able to rely on your friends? Isn't that why they are friends to begin with? Ok just checking.

16. An orange and cream soda should sounds good, but is it worth a trip to reasor's....prob not!

The End. Enjoy your Sunday, everyone!

The Things We Do When We Are Bored

The Wallet Melter

J and I just got home from The Melting Pot, aka The Wallet Melter if you ask him, and it was AMAZING as always. I love that place. But I love it even more now that I know about their happy hour. Any day they are open you can sit on the patio or at the bar and feast on half-priced cheese, chocolate and cocktails. We just had an awesome dinner and plenty of cocktails for under $50 with tip. I think I may become a regular.

Hungry Dog

The things Fletcher has eaten today:

dog food

cat food

a black Old Navy flip flop

a dog bone

Hank Panky underwear

one of Josh's dress socks

a blue plastic water bottle

some plumber's tape

a paper towel

my hand

a dead bird

a dingleberry that Jack dropped 

I've Failed

About a week ago, when I first accepted the 365-day challenge, I didn't take weekends, holidays and other busy days into account. For a brief moment in time, I thought I had more time than I actually do. No, I guess I have the time; I just, at that moment, felt like dedicating more of it to this blog than I actually should. So, I have failed at the challenge this weekend; I didn't post yesterday. 

However, the purpose of the challenge was to be able to look back at the past year and have in writing a snippet of each day of one's life. Now while I didn't write about it yesterday, I will tell you today that the writing is there. It is permanent, and there will always be a picture attached as a reminder. All I have to do if I want to remember yesterday, June 27, 2009, is take a look in the mirror and I am sure that many memories will come flooding back. Just as I can remember everything about my 27th birthday, the day I got my first tattoo, I am sure that I will be able to remember everything about yesterday, the day I got my second tattoo. So, that is the reason I didn't post....I went to OKC to get tatted up! I may post a picture someday, but I feel like this is a private thing. It is in a private area, one that I will show if I want to, but one that most people will never see (it is not gross; I promise). I did it for myself, so I really don't care about anyone's opinions. It is there, and I love it and the memories that I have associated with it!

6ix

Josh scraped his finger the other day, and asked me for a bandaid. All I could offer him was a pink Hello Kitty bandaid, which I love and wear with even the slightest hint of an abrasion, but he refused. I don't know why; they are pink and therefore fabulous. But, I came across these tonight on the net and think they may just be what my big, macho hubs is looking for. They seem to be the manly cousin of Hello Kitty, and I think they just scream to you to venture a guess as to what is underneath. If the sore you are trying to hide is not bad enough, just slap on a giant piece of plastic meat resembling a giant bloody scab. It's attractive. Trust me.

5

My decision to start this blog was the result of an agreement with a good friend that was made one night after several glasses of wine. She had broken up with a serious boyfriend (they lived together), and we were taking a break from packing her stuff so she could move out of his house and in with her parents. She said that she was thinking seriously about starting a blog on which she could chronicle her breakup and use for her own therapeutic benefit. She already had a title picked out. I was glad to hear that I wasn't the only one who had had this thought, and we decided at that moment that we would take the plunge together. I plunged; she didn't.


It's not that I blame her. Blogging takes up time, and I am sure that she didn't have much time to spare at that point. Whatever the case, I am glad that I carried out the plan as writing about my daily experiences has been a release of sorts even though I haven't been going through anything nearly as serious or painful as a breakup. Knowing that I have the opportunity to share the highlights or low points of my day/week/year, forces me to really reflect on my life. And, even though posts are rarely serious, I am constantly thinking about what is good and what is real and constantly taking stock of the "graces" in my life..

So, in honor of "daily graces," as brought to life by Wallycado, today I am thankful for...

-My patients. These roses are thriving in the 106 degree Oklahoma heat, outside the home of one of my patients, and because she can't get outside to see them for herself, I took this with my phone to show her. Although the flowers are beautiful, they are not my grace. Instead, I am thankful for the opportunity to spend time with patients like this little lady; I learn something from every one of my patients every day.

-The library. I love to learn; I get this from my father. Where else could I have gotten information on business plans, writing grants, traveling to Europe on a budget, growing old gracefully, and some sheet music for the piano all at once and all for free? I'm like a kid in a candy store the second I set foot in the library. See the stack of books I checked out this evening...I'm still wondering why they don't give out sacks at the Jenks Library though.

3. Michael Jackson. I am a child of the 80s. I have moonwalked. I have worn a single metallic glove. He was weird, but he was talented, and his legacy will live on.
4. Farrah Fawcett. She was a classic beauty, there is no doubt. But, by documenting her battle with cancer she showed a grace and inner beauty that most people don't possess. I am thankful that she publicized her horrific experience to teach others just how ugly cancer really is.

- And last, thank you to the news-, weather-, and sportscasters on Channel 2 news. I'm not sure if they all passed around a joint or a case of "pink eye," but whatever it was, they all seemed to be sharing whatever it was that makes one's eyes really red, squinty and glossy. Thank you for giving Josh and I a laugh at 6 and again at 10.

Quatro

Today was one of those roller-coaster kind of days. Nothing too bad happened, so I'm really not trying to complain. It was just one of those days that you are excited to roll out of bed because of something that is supposed to happen. So, you wake up with a "high." Then, when said something doesn't happen you feel disappointed, almost deflated. Then, you learn that the plans will actually work out after all, and voila, you are on cloud nine again. Oops, wait....nevermind, it's not gonna happen, and suddenly, you find yourself back down in the dumps. Up and down, up and down. Well, the one constant happiness of the day was this smiling face...he makes this ride worthwhile.

Three

When we adopted Fletcher, we immediately went to Petsmart to purchase everything we could possibly need for our new puppy. I figured we had to crate train even though I honestly didn't even know what crate training was. So, we bought the crate, and in an attempt to build  a nest for new puppy, we bought this top-of-the-line brown velvety soft pad (with egg crate cushioning) for the bottom of the crate. This thing was so soft, I may have even considered sleeping on it a time or two. It was also nice looking and was a perfect fit for this crate. Well, I guess Fletcher didn't see it the same way because when I came home from work today, this is what I found. He'll have to make do with a hard plastic bed from now on.

Day 2

You would think it would be easy to pick out the single most important/exciting/ interesting point of your day to highlight, but surprisingly, it's not. I'm certainly not going to complain about my day because it really was a pretty good one, especially for a Monday. There just wasn't one stand out moment from this pretty mellow day, so I will share a couple of less than spectacular events. 

1. The first thing I saw when I pulled into work this morning was this helicopter parked in the parking lot across the street. The photo is not great; it was taken from my phone out the passenger side window as I tried to make a left turn. Nevertheless, a helicopter in the middle of a parking lot is a strange sight when it's smack dab in the middle of Tulsa and not associated with a hospital. Look closely.

2. Jon and Kate as in Jon and Kate Plus 8 made a really sad (although not surprising) announcement on tonight's show- divorce proceedings began today to dissolve their 10-year marriage. I'm not going to delve into personal opinions about Kate's personality or what Jon did or didn't do. Instead, I just wanted to mention it because I have spent many, many hours following their show and therefore can't help but feel some sadness for their entire family. These are human beings; lets cut them some slack.

3. I spent a solid hour this evening trying to get some sort of foreign object out of my eyeball. It was painful. And frustrating. But in the process I noticed that I have a freckle in the middle of my blue eye. I had never seen it before.

 

Day 1

I had a particularly bad day at work a couple of weeks ago. I don't remember exactly what precipitated it, but I do remember that whatever those events were lead to several sobbing phone calls to my closest friends and family. These were the kind where you are crying so hard you can't talk, and the person on the other end is going into panic mode because they are already fearing the worst. The calls usually start out with "Mom, I'm OK but..." before I can barely mix in a few unintelligible words with many, many breathless sobs. I'm sure we have all had them, but my bad days seem to be occurring more and frequently lately, leading me to believe it's time to make a change. 

Anyway, the purpose of this post is to show off my sweet flowers. After said bad day, I came home to find them laying in the kitchen with a  super sweet card from Hubbins, and although they have been sitting in my kitchen for weeks now, I just can't yet bear to throw them out. They still make me smile. So, this morning when I changed the water yet again for what will surely be the last time, I snapped this picture to share. Thanks, Hubbins, for brightening even my worst of days.

Project 365: A Challenge

Hubbins and I have been talking a lot lately about how we feel like we are just going through life but not really living it. I think that being in our line of work (hospice) really makes you think about your own mortality and how short life really is. I meet people every day who have been given a prognosis of 6 months or less, and almost all of them will share with me the things they regret never doing. I don't want to feel that way. Ever. 

So, I have decided to challenge myself to living life to the fullest. I know it's easier said than done though, so I will document one moment of every day to remind myself of my lofty goal. At the end of the year, I can (hopefully) look back and remember all of the little details that make my life mine, make me me. I thought about starting on my upcoming birthday, but why wait? I'm starting today, and I plan to write a post with a picture (probably from my iphone) for every single day. Anyone wanna join me?

The New Man in My Life

We got a puppy! He is a Goldendoodle, and is name is Fletcher! We have actually had him for a couple of months now, so I figured it was about time to post some pictures. He is very sweet, but he wants to chew on my hands ALL THE TIME.

The Big 3-1

Today is June 20th, which means it is exactly 22 days until I turn the big 3-1. Although I am tempted to call it the "dreaded" 3-1, I think I will abstain since it really isn't any worse than the big 3-0, and they probably won't get any better from here on out. Not better. Not worse. Just older. There's just something about moving out of your 20s and into the next decade of adulthood, where there exists a certain expectation of maturity, responsibility, and establishment. And whether I am there or not is beside the point. Regardless though, my birthday is looming on the horizon, so I have decided to share with you some things that will soften the blow.

1. A Clary Sage Giftcard

Clary Sage is a T-town cosmetology school that I like to frequent when I feel the need to be pampered. Although the services are performed by students, they are fabulous. Where else can you get a full-body massage or facial for under $40 with tip? Plus, the students are graded on your reviews, so they really strive to perform great work.

2. The pink tutu in the window at The Spotted Umbrella (Jenks)

This tutu has been sitting in the storefront window for months now, and to be honest, i don't even know if it's for sale. Plus, even if it is for sale, I don't know if it will fit me. But, everytime I pass by that shop I dream of a fun night out in that tutu. Now, I just need some really snazzy shoes to go with it.

3. Some Seasonal Whisper Bracelets

I spotted these on the arm of a friend recently and have been drooling over them ever since! Since said friend works at a boutique that sells them, she told my husband that she would pick them up for him if he would give her the money. Hubbins, please take her up on this offer!

4. PB Loco Peanut Butter in Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

It's peanut butter combined with cc cookie dough. Need I say more? 

5. Tickets to the Oprah Show

If you've ever read this blog, you've probably read about "the walk" I am doing in August. It is in Chicago around the same time that Oprah resumes taping of her show, and I am dying to go. So, if anyone out there has a "hook up" and can help get my mom and I a pair of tickets, I will be so grateful! We will be there from August 10th to August 12th.

6. A trip to Thailand

If I could go anywhere in the world....

Oh and no, I'm not asking for anyone to pay for my trip. I'm just saying that I want to go!

7. Photography and/or Yoga classes

I want to learn photography (I have a really cool DSLR camera) and I need to take yoga. I just wish I could find someone to join me.

8. Dinner at the Melting Pot

It's my favorite restaurant and I would eat there once a week if I could!

Just in case anyone was needing any ideas....and feel free to share this with others!

 

Tidbits

I have a friend at work who periodically asks for a new blizzle. I am sure he asks only when he is bored during the day and can't find anything else to do, but he did ask this week, so I figure it's time to give him something! Since I can't think of anything really great that I need to tell you about, I have thought of a few sorta great things.

First, Josh and I just got back from celebrating our first anniversary in NYC. We had a blast, and every time we go (we've only been twice), we talk about moving there for a year or two. Anyone who knows our families, also knows that they might freak out if we actually did this. Anyway, we started our vacation at the Pod Hotel, but after one night in the bunk beds and TINY community bathroom, we decided we had to go, and we didn't care where. So, we plopped ourselves down on the curb on the edge of central park and used our phones to connect with Priceline, and within minutes, we had a new hotel. BTW, if you've never used Priceline before, it's really kinda fun. You tell them the area you want to stay in, the quality (star level) you are looking for, and your maximum price. Oh and your credit card number. Then, if it can find a room for you at that price, you are locked in. Scary and fun at the same time. Anyway, we ended up getting a room at the Hudson hotel, which was great, albeit the size of a cruiseship cabin/bathroom. But hey, it was NYC, so it worked, and I highly recommend the hotel for the price! 

We did some really fun things while we were there, and if anyone is ever going to NYC, I would be happy to share some things I've learned. For instance, we EASILY got tickets to the David Letterman show and we were in the audience the night Dolly Parton was there. It was an absolute blast and I highly recommend that you do it the next time you are there. Also, you have to visit P.J. Clarke's for a cheeseburger and onion strings; one of each is enough to share, and follow that up with a walk right down the street to Dylan's Candy Bar for some Crispery rice krispie treats (previous post). Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that we had multiple celebrity sightings, in addition to Letterman and Dolly Parton, we also saw William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman and Ed Norton and Woody Harrelson sat right behind us at the theater. Mr. Norton was kicking my seat.

In other news, Josh and I are seriously thinking of adopting a dog. I have always wanted one but been afraid of how Birdie would react (after the devastating Huntleigh incident of 2003), so when my wonderful brothers kept the cats and forced them to play with their new puppy, Duff, I saw that Birdie may not react the way I imagined and it may be possible to add a dog to our family. So, after many many hours of looking at different breeds and many, many lengthy conversations, I think we have finally agreed on a mini goldendoodle. If you don't know what that is, google it.....they are soooo cute! I have found a breeder in Oklahoma, but a new puppy costs $750, and I have always preached for adopting from a shelter to give an innocent animal a a chance. So, my dilemma is, do we pay the money to get the dog we really want from a breeder? I'll let you know. 

Last, Josh and I had planned a fun date last night, but when I ended up taking call for the night AND doing an after-hours admission, our plans went down the drain. So, we made use of the little time we did have and tried out a different restaurant in town- Juanita's. It was freshly prepared authentic Mexican food, and it was excellent! Some of the best guacamole I've ever had! The service was slow but very friendly, so overall, I would recommend the place....we will be back! And if you live in the area, you should try it too!

Start Spreadin' the News

I have the sweetest husband in the world! I was in-between meetings at work today and he told me that he put something in my office that I needed to see immediately, so I hurried back to my desk to find....wait for it....I know you're gonna be jealous! In my chair was an envelope containing my travel itinerary for my surprise anniversary trip to NYC!!! Yep, he is taking me to NYC for 6 days and 5 nights and all of the fabulous shopping and eating we can do! How lucky am I? 

Sold!

I have now sold all of the jewelry!  Thanks to everyone for your support!

Jewelry!

I've already sold several necklaces and bracelets, but still have a few left to sell. So, I thought I would post some pictures here of what's left for those of you who have asked. Please let me know if you are interested, and remember that all of the money I raise goes to the Breast Cancer 3-Day, which benefits Susan G. Komen and the National Philanthropic Trust!

The above necklace is a grayish color with pink and purple accents. The beads are very large when compared with the other necklaces as you can see in the second picture. It is a medium length and will go around only once.

The three above are also medium length and will go around once. The necklace pictured on the left is orange. Very cute! They are also $20.

 

This last one is the long length and is $30. It will go around the neck at least two times. For more information about the necklaces, please check out 31bits.com.....such a great cause from both sides! Thanks everyone for your support!

P.S. I only have one bracelet left! 

31 Bits

There's a link below to a blog called Wallycado. I read it regularly not only because the writer is a good friend, but also because the author and I are just different enough from each other that I feel I can learn about something new and interesting every time I visit her blog. Every time she posts, she writes what she calls her "points of grace," which is a list of the things that made her happy that day/week, and that list always leads me to a new recipe, a new band, or a new website that I wouldn't have otherwise heard of. 

This week, from Wallycado, I learned of a company called 31 Bits Jewelry, a company created by a group of young women to provide aid to the people of Uganda. Because Uganda is plagued by poverty, poor sanitation, poor healthcare, and a lack of jobs and education, the women of 31 Bits have joined together with several Ugandan women with a vision of hope. The goal of 31 Bits is to help these women get out of poverty, get their children a proper education and provide food and healthcare for their families, and they hope to accomplish this by selling the beautiful jewelry that these Ugandan women are creating.

Upon reading about this plan and the short stories of the Ugandan women who are involved, I decided that I also wanted to get involved. I figured that by buying this jewelry, I could support 31 bits. Then, by selling it, I could support Susan G. Komen and the National Philanthropic Trust (through the 3Day), making it a win-win situation for everyone. The girls at 31 Bits agreed, and they sent me some bracelets and necklaces to sell. So, please check out their website at 31bits.com and let me know what you think. Consider buying a bracelet for $10 or a necklace from me for $20 or $30 (depending on the length). Remember Mother's Day is coming up, and this is a purchase you can feel GREAT about!

An Obsession

I don't know what happened to me when I reached my late twenties, but it was something that wasn't present when I was younger. I grew up with two brothers, and I liked to consider myself a girly-tomboy (if that is really even a thing). I was not (in my mind) a girly-girl at all. Yes, I took dance and gymnastics and dressed in all the latest fashions, but that was only because my mom signed me up for those classes and bought all of my clothes. I spent all of my afternoons out in the yard with the boys or on my skateboard down the street. I thought I could "hang,"and as my husband will tell you (and he tells me frequently) there is not one ounce of athleticism in my body.

So what I have come to realize in the last couple of years and have mentioned in a previous post is that I love the color pink. In fact, I have an obsession for the color, the most girly color on the planet. As a matter of fact, I recently bought a colander at Anthropologie just because it was pink. Now, since I have no idea what to do with a colander it has not even come out of the cabinet, but it is very cute!

Anyway, I am in need of a sleeping bag for the walk because we walk 20 miles in a day, then camp out, then walk 20 miles, then....you get it. So, the other night when J and I were at Bass Pro Shop getting a b-day present for his brother, I took the opportunity to check out the sleeping bags. FYI, sleeping bags are made for men. Apparently, someone somewhere thinks that men are the only people who go camping, and all the bags they carried were in very masculine colors. 

So, my next step was to do a search on the internet, and although the pink sleeping bags were few and far between, I lucked upon the perfect one....it was just what I was looking for...pink and inexpensive. Without another thought I got out my credit card and started to purchase my perfect pink bag, and just before finalizing the sale, I read the product description. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I was ordering the perfect pink sleeping bag......FOR MY BARBIE! Can you imagine my surprise had I actually completed the purchase and opened the box expecting an adult size sleeping bag? 

Crooked Teeth

Most people don't know this about me, but I LOVE Kenny G. I don't know what it is about his music, but he is one of the few artists that I will always listen to if his song is playing on the radio. In fact, I love his music so much that....

- I listen to his Christmas CD year-round in my car. His version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is one of my top five all-time favorite songs.

- I own one of his piano songbooks and play his music often

- I went to his concert last night in Norman and was REALLY excited about it, and...

are you ready for this????

-  I asked for and received a saxophone and lessons when I was in high school b/c I thought I could learn to play just like him. Unfortunately the instrument I was given must be broken because the noise that comes out of it is excruciatingly painful to the ears! If I remember correctly, I only made it through a couple of lessons; my instructor may have actually encouraged me to quit....I'm not exactly sure.

Anyway, when my mom called a few weeks ago to see if I wanted to go to his concert, I jumped at the chance and have been looking forward to it ever since. He played at the Riverwind Casino, which is actually pretty nice, albeit smokey, and I would highly recommend it as a great place to see concerts. We had second row seats, and we were so close that I thought a couple of times that Kenny and I actually made eye contact. 

So, the point of my story is that during the show he announced that at some point he would be bringing an audience member up on stage where he would play a song for them and then give them the sax that he just played, making it theirs to keep. In order to get in on this little deal, you had to go to the merchandise table and buy two items in exchange for a ticket. These could be t-shirts, cds, etc. So, I left my seat (in the middle of the concert) and stood in line for my two items and the chance to win a new soprano sax (mine is an alto sax). I waited and I waited, and when I was five people from the front of the line, Kenny's bodyguard announced that the contest entry period was over :(. So, since I was already at the front of the line I decided to buy a CD anyway, and I returned to my seat for the remainder of the concert. 

Well, as the concert came to an end, Kenny made the announcement that he would stay after and sign autographs for all of his fans. So, with CD in hand, I jumped into line and waited my chance to speak to Kenny and get my autograph. Yes, I am THAT girl. 

As I got closer to the front of the line, my stomach was churning because I wanted to say something other than just "great concert" like everyone else had said, but I didn't know what to say. So, I finally decided to ask him the question that a friend has asked me during the concert, "why does he hold the sax in the side of his mouth instead of in the center?" Our conversation went a little something like this:

T: Do you hold the sax in the side of your mouth because it is easier to take breaths that way?

K: No, I hold it that way b/c the sax rests against my teeth and that is the most comfortable position. My teeth are crooked and they slant down, so that is how the mouthpiece rests on them. See...

(He smiles really big to show me all of his teeth)

T: Oh, well I really can't tell, but it makes sense I guess. Maybe holding the sax that way caused your teeth to do that?.?.

K: Yeah. I guess. That's a good question. I never really thought about it that way. Do you play?

T: Well. Uh. Hmmm. No. No, I don't. (I was deciding wether or not to launch into my personal sax history and finally thought better of it.)

K: Well you should. It's never too late to start.

K's Bodyguard: Come on guys. Less chit-chat. We gotta keep this line moving.

So, that was my conversation with Kenny G! I didn't get the picture with him that I was hoping for, but I am happy to say that I got to talk to him and am once again inspired to learn how to play the sax! I told Josh that I am going to become a groupie, but I think I will be going at that alone. Most people my age (including my husband) aren't huge Kenny G fans. Oh well, their loss.

P.S. I am really having to bite my tongue to resist saying something in poor taste about the person I heard saying she would like to kill him with his saxophone!!! Nuff said.

Random Facts

We just got back from Orlando tonight, having spent the last five days in Florida for a work conference. We had a blast and got to eat lots of amazing food, buy lots of wonderful (discounted) items, and go lots of awesome places (Universal Citywalk and The Magic Kingdom), but those were certainly not the reasons for our visit. Nope. Instead, we were there for work, and we got to attend a conference on Hospice and Palliative Care Physician Billing. Don't get me wrong, it was actually pretty interesting, and I learned so much on the topic that my head is STILL spinning, but I have to say that the best thing I learned all week is that TURTLES CAN BREATHE THROUGH THEIR BUTTS. Yes folks, I said it....and now you know. 

BTW, I learned this from one of the physician presenters at the conference.

Reach for the Stars

When we were little, my brother and I had dreams.  These were serious, serious aspirations; we were reaching high, aiming for the stars. I was going to become a Broadway chorus girl, and I planned to ride back and forth to my big city job in my electric wheelchair. Does that make sense? Of course not, but as a 10-year-old I thought an electric wheelchair would be the best gift ever. It was on my wish list for many birthdays and many Christmases, but I never got one. Can you believe it; what on earth were my parents thinking by not buying their sweet little girl and electric wheelchair?

My brother, on the other hand, had the incredible wish to spank a black cow. Anytime we passed a pasture, he asked my mom to stop the car so he could fulfill his long-time dream. She would, and he would try to muster up the courage to actually do it, but he never did. I don't even think he ever got out of the car. Yes people, the children in our family dreamed big.

J and I recently made a day trip to Woolaroc in Bartlesville (a.k.a the Big City to Pioneer Woman fans), and when J got the chance to spank a black cow, I made him take advantage of the opportunity. He didn't understand, but it has significance for my family, and that is why I love this picture.

I also love this picture. As creepy as it is, it reminds me of my last visit to the museum as a middle schooler. These are THE shrunken heads. Yes, they are real.