someday.

I climbed in bed a little early tonight and decided to revisit this space of the net (I'm trying to bring back "the net". Think it will catch on?) just like old times. But boy, those last few posts on here sure were downers. Let's move on to something happier, shall we?

For instance, how about that time I fell in love with the Eiffel Tower? That was fun.

Or that time I met some of the world's finest athletes? (Usually without many clothes on.) Also fun.

Maybe the time when I ate banana+nutella crepes regularly and didn't feel bad about it? Real good.

I'd love to tell you all about it. Someday.

learn.

I had a rough week. I won't go into the details, but just trust me on this one. After the dust started to settle I realized that I had learned a thing or two along the way.

1. Something that is seemingly small can have a very large impact.
2. I'm all too willing to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
3. It's important to get a second opinion. Or third.
4. I need to trust my gut.
5. My parents may be thousands of miles away, but they are still an excellent source of support.
6. Mom & Pop stores are where it's at. They may not be the cheapest, but the level of service they can provide is leaps and bounds above a big box store.
7. Even if someone can't offer a solution to a problem, just hearing "We'll get through this" is all I need.
8. Buying a Dyson will never be the wrong choice.

Here's to better luck next week.

through the cracks.

Last April I made a goal to get on stage and sing with my friend Stacey.

Stacey also had a goal and that was to record an album, and for the last 8 or 9 months she's been doing just that. Now she's at the point where the finishing touches are being added and she has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund these last stages of the project.

Check out her video below (I can promise you will be entertained) and if you feel like the project is something you'd like to support, head over to her Kickstarter page and donate. The best part is that any donation of $10 or more will get you a copy of the album when it's released. And, as if that wasn't enough, I sing with her on a couple of the songs.

Truly a deal that cannot be beat.

...i used to know.

the challenge.

I'm about to compare life to an MTV show. Get excited. Or scared.

There's a show on MTV that I still sort of love - in fact, it's the only show on MTV that I still sort of love.
The Challenge.
The premise is simple: Teams completing challenges for money or points or voting power and trying to stay in the game to compete in the Final Challenge. Winning the Final Challenge is where all the money is to be made.

The Final Challenge is typically a footrace of several miles where contestants stop at checkpoints along the way to complete some sort of task. However, during this race a time limit is given for these checkpoints and if the competitors don't complete the task within a certain amount of time, they get to move on.

I was thinking tonight that the producers of this show might be on to something. And that it might be nice if the trials of life were aligned a little more closely with MTV.

Yes, I just typed that.

I mean, you can struggle and work and try your best to get through a hard situation. You do all of the things you can think of to make it through. You try to figure out what it is you need to learn. But sometimes it feels like you can only muddle along for so long, right? Like if you haven't figured out what you're supposed learn by now it's unlikely you ever will, so let's just move on. Better luck next time, Champ.

Hey Universe, I think I've reached the time limit. Let's move on to something else.

birdy.

Bon Iver's Skinny Love and I have a special relationship.
It makes me sad, but I still love it.
There was a period in 2009 where I could not stop listening to it. It was literally on repeat for days. I mean, I was sad, but whatever.

So the other day when I was listening to the Hunger Games soundtrack (ps - soundtrack is SO good) on MOG, Birdy's version of Skinny Love shuffled up and I fell in love all over again.



You're welcome.

half.

Today is my half birthday.

It is also Pi Day.

I mean, I just feel like if everyone is already celebrating with pie, why not toss a celebration for my half birthday in the mix?

My dear friend Jenny made a pie today and dedicated it to me. So fun!

february.

Two people in the last two days have told me in one form or another that I need to blog more. Here's a recap of February. Based almost exclusively on photos from my phone.

• I had a rough day. Or two. And it maybe involved fairly uncontrollable weeping for an hour of church. Embarrassing? Yes. But the next day I came home to these beauties with a very kind note. People are good.

•  When the sun shines in Seattle, there is nothing better. And on a Saturday? The best. We took advantage by having lunch with a view.

•  After lunch we made our way to the new visitor center of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Our very own CK did the design and it was so, so amazing. I know some talented people.

•  I won an award at work. I mean, it was a little bit by default, but who's keeping track? The "trophy" for this award is a jumbo blow up whale (for "A Whale of an Idea"...clever) and it's hard to coexist with this thing in cubicle land.

•  I started reading East of Eden. It's dramatic. And sad. And really great. I'm on page 470 of 601 and it feels as though I'll never finish.

•  I got last minute (free!) tickets to Wilco. It was a really good show and fun to be able to let a Wilco-loving friend reap the benefits of my job perks.

•  Valentine's Day. My roommate went all out decorating for a party she threw (amazing, as usual) and then a few of us, including these ladies below, ventured off to another party. It was a good day, which is not always the case on the ol' V.Day.

•  Pickwick at The Neptune. Loved these guys and their surprising amount of soul.

•  Beauty & the Beast! This Belle's version of Home wasn't my favorite, but overall just as enjoyable as I'd imagined.

•  Susan had a birthday! So, I threw her a party complete with streamers, party hats and kazoos. You know, everything you'd expect for a 28 year old's birthday party. I also made all the treats, including a carrot cake from scratch. I was pretty proud of myself.

•  When CK asked me if I wanted to go see the Harlem Globetrotters my answer was obviously yes. A fun night complete with a Diet Coke and stadium nachos.

• Somewhere along the way I started taking photos of my beverages. Pictured below are a Friday afternoon meeting and [insert any given day of the week].

•  iFly! I was terrified. Terrified to the point where the guy had to grab me and literally toss me into the wind tunnel. Once I was in, I LOVED it.

So, that's what you've all been missing.
Thrilling stuff, I know.

conversation of the day.

Me: I just don't think spending $250 on a pair of sunglasses is necessary. I mean, you can get them at Target for $15.
New Co-Worker: Are you married?
Me: ...no.
NCW: Really?
Me: Really.
NCW: With that kind of low maintenance attitude I'd think guys would be lining up.
Me: Well, I guess I just have them all fooled.

honey badger.

This video is old news. HOWEVER, still funny.
(Also, I should warn you that you shouldn't watch if foul language offends you.)

Today I received an email from a co-worker who has been out of the office for a few months (hence being a little behind on the latest and greatest of YouTube) and it said:

Okay, I don't know if this is a compliment or not, but as soon as I saw this video I thought of you because I thought you'd appreciate it.

I'm going to go ahead and take it as a compliment.
And I'm not really surprised since we laughed ourselves to tears over this video. (Again, not for sensitive ears.)

conversation of the {fri}day.

Me: Have you told anyone yet?
NotMe: Just you. Oh, and Bill*.
Me: And Jimbo*.
NotMe: Oh yeah. And Jimbo. So you were third and third's the best of all the game.
Me: What does that mean?
NotMe: First the worst, second the same, third's the best of all the game.
Me: Is that how it goes? I always thought it was First the worst, second the best, third the turd...so in this scenario I'm the turd.

Apparently we grew up in different places. And it's clear which location was classier.


*Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

glitter girl

Last night Stacey had a show at the Skylark and invited me along to sing a handful of songs. The Skylark is a dingy, old bar in West Seattle, but I kind of love it. Maybe I have a special place in my heart for it because it was the first place I was brave enough to get on stage and sing. Maybe it's because the sound is more legit than anywhere else we play. Who knows.

Here's a very short recap of the evening in photos.

1. I had trouble deciding what to wear. I'm in hate with all of my clothes at the moment. But after finally picking an outfit, I went to the bathroom to fix my hair and found that I kind of liked what was going on. I got my hair cut in December (after looking at this photo for too long) and have hated it ever since, but something about last night just felt right. So I self-portraited it.

PS - I really need new glasses.

2. We've played at this bar a few times, but last night was the first night they let us use the "artist's room" which I guess is the equivalent of Green Room in TV land. It was interesting, to say the least. Dark, full of old mirrors and leopard print furniture and they even provided a couple products we might need prior to going on stage:

• Mary Kay moisturizer. You know, in case your face is dry.
• Glitter Girl. Because a girl needs to glitter on stage.

I'm so grossed out by this. And the Glitter Girl is almost gone. Ew.

3. Steph & Stace on stage.

All in all, a good night.

honey boo boo

Am I ashamed of how much I love this video? A little.
But I could watch the last :15 on repeat all day long.

Get More: TV Shows, Full Episode Video, Reality TV Shows

I'm gonna work the stage. Gonna work the stage.

the first loser.

I came in second, y'all.
I chose Green Bay in the second round of the Playoffs and that choice proved to be the end of the road for me.

My co-worker sent me this yesterday in honor of my loss.

important updates.

1. I sold the KitchenAid. But it went to a good home and I'll have visitation.
2. I've put the Dyson to good use, even cleaning houses other than my own. (You could be next!)
3. The NFL regular season is over and I tied for first with one other person in the Pick 'Em league.

are you ready for some football?

I have a list of things I should be doing right now, including working, packing, cleaning, Christmas gifting, etc. But instead I'm going to be irresponsible and blog about insignificant things.

Three cheers for irresponsibility!

Here's the deal: I've been (sort of) into the NFL this season. My team at work has a pick 'em league which entails choosing one team we think will win each week, while not choosing any team twice throughout the season. I consult with TN every week via gchat and we make our pick. I was tied with two others for first place until last week when the Giants failed me.

Regardless, it's made me pay attention to the NFL. So that made it all the more exciting when I got the chance to go to my first ever (and second) NFL game in Seattle. The Seahawks had two weeknight games this year and I was lucky enough to go to both.

And the most brilliant part (aside from not having to pay for any of it)? They actually won both of them! I like to think it's because I'm such a great spectator.

Game One: Hawks vs. Eagles
We were only a few rows up at the 30 yard line (and in the middle of all the Eagles fans). It was also very cold, but I got a hot dog so I'm counting it as a win.

Game Two: Hawks vs. Rams
If the first game was cold, this game might as well have been played at the North Pole. SO COLD. This was also an important game because I had picked the Seahawks that week for Pick 'Em. They didn't let me down.

Two NFL games in 10 days is enough to tide me over for a while, but it sure was fun.

self.

I have a friend that likes to include photos of himself with text messages to help deliver the spirit of the message. I have to say, I kind of love it. So today I decided to respond in kind and returned this photo with my response.

My first thoughts after looking at this photo:
1. My hair is LONG.
2. The chubby cheek look stopped being adorable around age three.
3. I honestly forget I have dimples. Or is there just one? I don't even know.

Another story about this photo.
I went to a work event tonight and in the car on the way there I passed my phone to a co-worker to show her some pictures of the Christmas decor in my house. Then she passed it on to the girl on the other side of her and, long story short, buttons were pushed, confusion set in and suddenly she was staring at this photo of me. Obviously taken of myself at my desk at work.

Of course I then felt the need to explain why I had taken a photo of myself. They tried to stop me, but of course I felt the need to provide all the details surrounding the incident. I ended up pulling up the text message, showing his photo, reading aloud his message, re-showing my photo and reading aloud my response.

Awkward.
For everyone, I'm sure.

In a related story, after an incident last week at a football game where he had to save me from myself in a conversation with a food vendor, AB said to me, "You know, sometimes I think your love of the details makes things harder for you."

I don't think that might be the case. I'm sure of it.

telephone.

My roommate came in the room while I was on the phone last night and through the course of my conversation I was laughing pretty hard. When I hung up the phone she said, "I've never seen you so happy. I have to know who you were talking to."
"My sister", I replied.

We were talking about heart palpitations and mashed potato sandwiches.
You would have laughed too.

decisions. decisions.

Cyber Monday got the best of me.
Long story short, I ended up making two large purchases.
(The deals were going to expire!)
(Also? I'm an advertiser's dream.)
And ended up immediately having buyer's remorse.


But you can't beat a 6 quart Kitchen Aid for nearly 50% off. Right?!?

And I've been on the verge of buying a Dyson for six months.

So, the question is - do I keep them?

feeling festive.

Thanksgiving happened.
And before you think this post will be full of photos of turkeys and rolls and pies, let me tell you right now that is not the case. In fact, I did not take a single picture of the day.
I struggled with Thanksgiving this year. Not the part about being thankful, I'm totally into gratitude, but just the holiday part. A large part of me wanted to spend the day alone. Weird? Probably.
In the end I knew mid-day would roll around and I'd be wishing I was eating carbs somewhere, so I made fruit salad, rolls and pie and joined a gathering of people. The right decision? Probably.

But here's the thing, while I wasn't feeling Thanksgiving this year, I'm totally digging Christmas.
The Christmas spirit has already rooted itself in my heart, which is due in large part to Jenny and I spending the weekend getting the house all festive for our upcoming holiday party.

A few weekends ago we hit up Hobby Lobby for Christmas decorations. Did you know every other weekend it's 50% off? I didn't either, but it's pretty amazing. And it's a good thing we went early because it's all picked over now. We decided on Peacock Blue and Copper as our colors.

You can't tell from the photo, but it's totally adorable.

On Saturday Jenny ventured out and chopped us down a tree.

 Setting up a tree is a PROCESS but thanks to the internets, Jenny had it all planned out.

 A Noble Fir. Sounds fancy.
And it's 10 years old, which makes me just want to give it a hug.

A trip to Target and some overspending later, it was finished. It's delightful. I just want to turn out all the lights and stare at it while listening to Bing Crosby and Johnny Mathis.

We also decorated the mantle with real garland (a first for me), made wreaths and watched White Christmas. It all looks much better in non-iPhone photo life.

And topping it all off, Jenny cut out lyrics to Christmas songs and we strung them around the dining room.

Trust me, it's awesome.

It's cool, December. You can come anytime. We're ready for you.