2012!

I was just reading my new year's resolutions for last year, and they were pretty funny. Mainly cause I don't think I completed any of them (except I did get Shawna to clean the bathroom a few times, so that seems like a banner moment!) Shhhh, we won't talk about that, 2011... Because 2012 is right around the corner.

I have decided to limit myself to 3 resolutions this year. I suspect I get overwhelmed with attempting to resolve things, and then I don't do them anyway. As a result, my 3 must be really good.

1. Stop being an asshole.
This is really the most important of all. I've noticed lately that I can be kind of an asshole. For example, when someone is stressed out about something, and takes it out on me, I'm kind of a jerk. Instead of recognizing that their life is probably pretty sucky, and perhaps I could be the person that is nice to them and changes their day a little, I tend to just be an ass. I would like to reverse this, and instead be nice to people even though I want to tell them to fuck off. (This does not prohibit me from saying "Fuck off" silently, to myself, if necessary to make me feel better about being nice)

2. Cook more.
I find that I tend to prepare meals several times per week recently, and I'm really digging it. Last year I resolved to cook one new recipe per week. Frankly, that is some bullshit. Sometimes I'm busy, sometimes I'm not. As such, I resolve this year to just make a conscious effort to cook more, and try new foods--resulting in eating more homecooked meals instead of eating a grilled turkey burger straight off the fork, while standing over the sink and calling it dinner. (Cue Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies" for background music)

3. Start a savings account, and actually put money in it.
It's no secret that the economy sucks, people are struggling, blah blha blah. I find I tend to spend money on really stupid shit, so perhaps instead of purchasing stuff I don't need, I can feed my savings account. (I suspect this is something people resolve when they are younger than me. Did I mention the shitty economy?)

I feel that these three things are all pretty attainable. Except maybe "stop being an asshole" cause I'm just really, really good at coming up with smart remarks sometimes.

Thankful.

I have decided to fulfill my homework for a writing group that Shawna moderates... Sure, it is a month late, as I was supposed to complete it for November. I like to be a rebel.

Things I am thankful for, for every day of the month:
1. Chocolate: yeah, that's all I have to say.
2. My roomie Shawna, because even though she is weird, she is a really good friend. And weird enough that she keeps me amused constantly.
3. Having a warm bed to sleep in every night.
4. Jean lunges, which make my pants fit even after coming out of the dryer.
5. Gluten free macaroni and cheese, which is kind of the best thing ever.
6. My family.
7. My friends.
8. My alarm clock.
9. A nice, steady run on a cool fall evening as the sun sets.
10. Thyroid medicine, which makes napping on my office floor every afternoon unnecessary (quite ideal as I'm pretty sure the carpet marks on my face were not cute)
11. My job, even though it makes me stress sometimes, is pretty damn awesome.
12. Really loud music.
13. The Golden Girls.
14. Neil Patrick Harris, who I wish I could marry.
15. The fact that I am alive and well, and wake up every day.
16. Laughing till I cry.
17. Hugs.
18. Cooking a nice meal for people that enjoy it.
19. Diet Coke!!!! (I know it is bad for me, but I do not care)
20. My parent's dog, who has the squishiest, sweetest face.
21. A good book.
22. Hammocks and tire swings.
23. Sunshine.
24. The smell of hot pavement after it rains.
25. The fact that my mother has gone to great effort to make holiday meals that are sensitive to my newfound food allergies, which is just really cute of her.
26. Being able to express my thoughts and feelings.
27. Still being in my 20s, so that if I am slutty I can blame it on that (note to self: should probably be slutty within the next three years)
28. Sweatpants and snuggies (completely unrelated to above)
29. TV shows that I can watch a whole season of in succession and not get bored.
30. Having people who love me.

Merry Christmas!

Hello. And Happy Holidays.

Last night Shawna, our neighbor, and myself spent an extensive amount of time taking weird photos in front of our Christmas tree. This resulted in examples such as the following:



Yes, it is true that we are really cool people.

Pinterest!

WHY IS PINTEREST SO AWESOME?

I'm not just saying this because it's the cool thing to like Pinterest, or whatever. I truly am a Golden Girl at heart, and so clearly I'm not too worried about being all hip. <--- clearly, since I just used "all hip" in a sentence.

But it is just lovely. I have learned how to curl my hair, create holiday decorations, that sparkly shoes are fabulous, and that I LOVE puppies--all from Pinterest.

Speaking of curling my hair... I just don't get how people make their hair look so awesome. My hair looks like crap when I do it myself. I had it done by a friend yesterday, and was so pleased with it that I pinned it up when I showered and decided to rock it for a second day. This resulted in someone telling me I looked like an untamed native, and later that I looked like a country western singer. I'm not sure which, if either, was a compliment.

But back to Pinterest... It took Shawna awhile to convince me that it is AWESOME, but I finally listened. The same thing goes for "The Hunger Games" trilogy, which I read in three days when she convinced me I would like it. I'm finding that I can waste lots and lots of time on that site, mostly because I am convinced that at heart I am really crafty and vintage-y.

Really, I'm a Golden Girl. But I bet they would have liked Pinterest too.

Behold some sweet Pinterest finds:

7 things I have done recently.

1. Registered for the local Jingle Bell run, for no reason other than I could, and it seemed like a good idea.
2. Registered for the Disney Princess Half Marathon in Florida in February. This will most likely result in hilarity, as I haven't been distance running in awhile... or even really running, due to medical reasons and the fact that it's f-ing cold outside.
3. Bought a new headlamp for running. Found old headlamp. Became too scared to run outside in the dark (which includes hours before and after work) due to recent string of muggings in my neighborhood. Decided it would be weird to wear headlamp while on treadmill at gym (in related news, I hate treadmills).
4. Got a super awesome haircut/color. See photo above.
5. Went to a midnight showing of the new Twilight movie. Sat in front of a crowd of teenagers smoking pot in the theatre. Realized I am old.
6. Ate peanut butter M&Ms and said, "F you, thyroid."
7. Decided to have a Thanksgiving much like the episode of Gilmore Girls where they go to 4 Thanksgivings. I'm going to shoot for 5.

28 by 28

I think I wrote this list several months ago, because I totally forgot about it. Today I read through it and kept saying, "Oh yeah, that's a good one!" I, my friends, am a huge nerd.

So, here we have it: 28 by 28. Slightly more complicated because I have almost a whole year to do things in.

1. Run another marathon
2. Travel to another country
3. Find a volunteer project
4. Complete a triathlon
5. Catch a firefly
6. Take a cooking class
7. Make a quilt
8. Go on a road trip with no pre-determined destination
9. Sleep in a treehouse
10. Go rock jumping
11. Celebrate imperfection
12. Spend a day in a hammock
13. Write a book
14. Dress like a professional/grown-up for a month straight
15. Complete a random act of kindness
16. Be a better friend
17. Do a cartwheel
18. Dance in the rain
19. Grow my own vegetables
20. Become more financially responsible
21. Laugh as much as possible
22. Become more self confident
23. Leave a ridiculously large tip for a nice waitress or waiter
24. Improve my Spanish
25. Run over 1,000 miles
26. Go apple picking
27. Buy a headboard (or make one)
28. Eat more vegetables

To add, I have these that I didn't complete from 27:
* Get another tattoo
* Pay for coffee for someone behind me in line
* Hike Mt. Bachelor

Wow, I'm a slacker.

I often intend to blog more, it is just really hard to remember. I have a very busy schedule of napping, eating those weird crispy pea things from the produce section (they're like potato chips made out of vegetables, and I'm obsessed with them), and watching every show ever made available on Netflix. I am so, so good at life.

To recap, here was what I was supposed to complete before my 27th birthday:
2. Get another tattoo.
11. Go on a picnic.
17. Pay for coffee for someone behind me in line.
21. Hike Mt. Bachelor.
22. Eat a giant Pilot Butte burger.
27. Start writing a book.

There are a few things I didn't complete... They include:
2. Get another tattoo
17. Pay for coffee for someone behind me in line
21. Hike Mt. Bachelor (I waited too long and it got too cold!)

So, we'll add those to my list for my 28th year. Coming soon. :)

Hallo everyone.

Oh, I've missed you.
Did you miss me, too?

Hello Internet people! Just channeling a bit o' Bette Midler ala Hocus Pocus there... which is who I was for Halloween! Yes. Dressing up as Winifred Sanderson is awesome, as is having three of my best friends dressed as the other Sanderson Sisters and Binx the Cat. Observe.

Sherry as Mary Sanderson, Me as Winifred Sanderson, Leslie as Sarah Sanderson, and Julia as Binx

Sanderson Sisters!

It's just a little hocus pocus!

I hope your Halloween was full of mischief and candy. And maybe just a little karaoke singing.

The countdown begins...

So, I have this list to accomplish before next Tuesday. And really, I've been slacking. A couple items might need to be postponed, but luckily I have a best pal who just helped me out with an important one:

19. Sign up for my next half marathon.

Guess who will be competing in the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon in Orlando, FL in February?!?! Thanks for registering us, Nike! :) Sometimes something as random as that will just really improve a bad day.

Go Sexy Olive Gang! (Name brought to you courtesty of the random sports team name generator)

Now, before next Tuesday, I have to do the following...
2. Get another tattoo.
11. Go on a picnic.
17. Pay for coffee for someone behind me in line.
21. Hike Mt. Bachelor.
22. Eat a giant Pilot Butte burger.
27. Start writing a book.

All I have left....

2. Get another tattoo.
7. Run like I mean it.
11. Go on a picnic.
16. WARRIOR DASH!
17. Pay for coffee for someone behind me in line.
19. Sign up for my next half marathon.
21. Hike Mt. Bachelor.
22. Eat a giant Pilot Butte burger.
26. Do something to improve my karma.
27. Start writing a book.

And only about 3 weeks to do it in!

Some photo highlights of my weekend... I never thought it would be so emotional to watch two people get married, but I totally cried at this wedding. These are two people that care for me like they are my family, and it was the sweetest, smallest, most intimate wedding I think I've been to. Those two have been with me through a lot, and I don't know what I would do without their friendship. P.S. We totally walked out to "Marry You" by Bruno Mars, which was my idea, and it was kinda awesome.

For the first time in awhile, I felt like I had some confidence back on that day, like I was surrounded by people who love me, and like my tits looked pretty damn good! I'm so happy I was there with them. And I drank too much champagne. I might have been a little drunk during my toast, but everyone told me they loved it. They might have been drunk too?

13. Watch a sunset.

Last night I served as Shawna's designated driver. I ended up taking Drunk Shawna to the top of the butte to watch the sunset, cause we were driving by and she yelled at me that it was necessary.

7 down, 20 to go...

4. Take a road trip.

To Sisters, OR, with Shawna! Haha, not very far, but eventful all the same!

5. Look at the stars.

While watching a meteor shower with my dad and sister... we never saw the meteor shower, but we saw some stars. I'm still unclear as to whether there actually was a meteor shower that night?

8. Drink a Bloody Mary.

My new drink of choice, since I'm allergic to beer. With Shawna at dinner one night. And it was good.

9. Float the long river float.

Yesterday, with Shawna and a friend. It could have been longer, but we stopped at a good point. Oh, floating, I love you.

12. Hike the butte.

Done last Friday with my neighbor. That bitch is steep (the butte, not the neighbor).

18. Run through sprinklers.

Done.

20. Get a pedicure.

Pedicure courtesy of my second mom, who gave me a sweet gift. Except the man who did it was super creepy, and slapped my feet (is that supposed to feel good?) and burned me with hot towels. Yeah, I didn't get it either.

24. Fix my kitchen chairs!

Hells yeah.

Oh, that's 8. ALL ACCOMPLISHED!

I didn't take pictures of all of them. Sometimes I'm forgetful.

#18 & #24

18. Run through sprinklers.



Check! My sister and I went for a bike ride this weekend, along a path by the river, for about 7 miles. On the way, I found this open field with giant sprinklers. Clearly, a good opportunity. The only problem was that I was left smelling like dirty water the rest of our bike ride. Still, it was refreshing! I've always wanted to run through one of those fields, too.


24. Fix my kitchen chairs.



BOO YAH! Who needs a man to fix stuff? NOT ME! Well, technically my dad helped with this via text message, but still. I fixed these silly chairs, and I fixed them good. It's taken me several months, but finally I figured it out. I am a strong, independent single woman and I can fix chairs.

27 things

On September 27, I will turn 27. I'm not very excited about it. I feel pretty old. Sometimes, on Sundays, I take naps and go for Sunday drives with Shawna. Yeah, I'm that old. Shawna's already 27, so it's acceptable for her to do such things, but I've got a good couple months of 26 left in me!

As a result, my mission. To complete 27 awesome things by the time I turn 27. I'll probably try to photograph them, or something. I might only do one and forget about it. We'll see.

1. Take a quality nap.
2. Get another tattoo.
3. Twirl.
4. Take a road trip.
5. Look at the stars.
6. Hug someone.
7. Run like I mean it.
8. Drink a Bloody Mary.
9. Float the long river float.
10. Find a wedding date (even if it's my sister)
11. Go on a picnic.
12. Hike the butte.
13. Watch a sunset.
14. Ride my bicycle.
15. Have a dance party.
16. WARRIOR DASH!
17. Pay for coffee for someone behind me in line.
18. Run through sprinklers.
19. Sign up for my next half marathon.
20. Get a pedicure.
21. Hike Mt. Bachelor.
22. Eat a giant Pilot Butte burger.
23. Find an excellent gluten free beer.
24. Fix my kitchen chairs!
25. Swim in the ocean.
26. Do something to improve my karma.
27. Start writing a book.

Tim McGraw, I love you too much.

I just got this hospital bill for my Tim McGraw trip wherein I had to go to the ER with an allergic reaction.

Piece of advice: do NOT go to the ER on an Indian Reservation in the middle of nowhere.

As a result, I feel very, very, poor. Shawna convinced me to create a donation website for my hospital bill, because she feels very sorry for me. Her logic is that if 800 people gave me $1, I could pay it. Or something.

Tim McGraw is just too pretty! Behold:

How I came to carry an epi-pen in my purse.

Things that happened in the past few days:
1. Attended a concert with Shawna, ate food that I didn't think was too weird.
2. Began having an allergic reaction to said food (we think) and decided it was appropriate to say, "Pshaw, no worries" and ice my hot pink face while leaving to go on a road trip.
3. Stayed in a motel with blood stains on the wall. Except I convinced myself they were nail polish stains.
4. Went to the ER at 5 a.m. because my eyes and throat were swelling shut. Became very, very drugged out on antihistamines.
5. Got a speeding ticket, when I wasn't speeding, on a road with no posted limited where all cars with out of state plates were getting pulled over by a cop standing by his car and waving them over with his hand. $144 later, I said very bad words about that cop.
6. Went camping, but forgot chairs, cups, and basically everything but the tent.
7. Stroked Tim McGraw's leg, held his hand, and attempted to grab his butt. If only I were a few inches taller.

Worth it.

5 months later

I forgot I had a blog for 5 months. Meh, it happens.

Things that have happened in the past 5 months:
1. I gained 3,000,000 pounds (or what feels like it), leading me to begin seeing a naturopath, so that I could say, "Dude, what the heck?" and decide that my hippie-ish parents have more of an affect on me than I thought due to my inclination to see a naturopath when my doctor wants to put me on all kinds of pills. I don't want to take all kinds of pills, I just want to not feel like crap all the time, is that so much to ask? Can't herbs do that, or naps, or something?

2. Found out my thryoid is whack (I hate you, thyroid) and considered selling it on craigslist. Began taking medicine so said thyroid would behave. Considered hugging my naturopath, cause she kicks ass, but decided that would be weird.

3. Found out I am allergic to everything worth eating (wheat, eggs, whey... lima beans). Wondered how a person even becomes allergic to lima beans, and how weird I have to be to be allergic to lima beans.

4. Quit eating forementioned items of deliciousness, and discovered that I can now breathe, digestive problems are no longer, and I am not really supposed to constantly be tired and crazy. Thank you, food allergy test. Decided as a result that food allergies aren't really that bad...but I will still miss beer.

5. Started running again, seeing as how I can breathe now, and discovered it's a lot easier when there is a consistent oxygen flow. Felt as though I am starting over, but at least I'm starting, right?

6. Began a "bootcamp" with my neighbor, but since we're poor and don't want to spend craptons of money, formed our own bootcamp in our courtyard. Cars like to honk at us, cause we live on a busy road. Oh well.

7. Went fishing, caught 5 fish, but only got one actually out of the water and safely in my freezer. Fish are tricky.

8. Rode my bike to work and successfully navigated two roundabouts without dying. I have grand plans of riding my bike to work during warmer months, but am rather terrified of cars running over me.

That's about it.

Quarantined.

I have had a 100 plus temperature for 3 days. It is entirely possible that death is approaching.

The ER doctor was very concerned that I would infect my roommate, and told me to quarantine myself until I spent 24 hours fever free.

As a result, I am almost through season one of One Tree Hill. And I'm really, really lonely.

Conveniently, the fever is making me delirious and I'm pretty sure I'm hallucinating sometimes too, so I don't realize I'm lonely.

I'm just not doing so well at fundraising...

Dude, I'm kind of sucking at fundraising this year:

View my Polar Plunge Donation Page.

My only funds raised came from my mother. Hahaha. It's like when I was 5 and she was the only customer at our Kool-Aid stand.

Well, oops.

Sometimes I forget to blog. For a really, really long time.

What is it with me and mud?

I have no idea why, but I'm finding the idea of events involving mud and being rugged totally entertaining lately.

My running buddy and I signed up for a trail run at the end of the month wherein you have to run through rives and mud and whatnot. This seemed like an excellent idea at the time.

And now, some other friends convinced me to join them in the glory that is the Warrior Dash!

It just sounds so interesting. It's like playing in the mud when you were little, but better, cause you get a funny hat.

Things I'm really good at lately...

1. Sitting on the couch watching trashy television while drinking a diet Sprite with vanilla from Sonic. This is my happy time, typically occurring on Tuesdays.

2. Napping.

3. Finding things to wear scarves with. I'm just really into scarves lately. Perhaps I should have more than three that I constantly rotate?

4. Making things out of beef, due to the fact that my parents gave me some organic, grass-fed beef from their friend's ranch. It tastes like heaven, in meat form.

5. Discovering items at Goodwill that I originally think are ugly, then show them to Shawna and realize they are really cute and I shouldn't have let her steal them away from me. Oh, yellow shoes, I will be borrowing you.

Goodbye 2010....

So, that year kinda sucked. There were some good things, some really good things, and then the last half of it really took a downward spiral for some reason. I'm trying not to let the bad memories take away from the happy memories. Also, I discovered that I have a really good set of friends and family surrounding me.

I'm hoping 2011 is better. A lot better. And although I think New Year's Resolutions are kind of silly, here are mine. I decided to do 11 for 2011.

1. Run another marathon. June 4, here I come!

2. Obtain a new 5K PR. Or at least be as fast as I once was, haha.

3. Figure out my finances.

4. Be awesome, and hardcore--which involves completing several events I am excited about--namely the Warrior Dash next September, which is a 3 mile obstacle course involving mud, fire, and glory.

5. Help my best pal have an excellent wedding, cause she's pretty cool.

6. Go on vacation somewhere warm for my 27th b-day on the 27th of September. This is highly contingent on my finances.

7. Write some stuff, since I used to do that for a living or whatever.

8. Make. pants. fit.

9. Drink at least 64 ounces of water every day.

10. Teach Shawna to clean the bathroom, cause she never has.

11. Cook a new recipe per week. (I got the "Nancy Drew Cookbook" for Christmas, haha, and it is amazing!)

We'll see about that.

Upon further reflection, I discovered these were my goals last year:
1. Be happy.
2. Run more (signed up for a 15k in Salem on Feb. 7 as a method of forcing myself to work out)
3. Eat healthier (Shawna's roommate influence will not bring me down! Just say no to frozen burritos!)
4. Spend more time with my family (if a trip to England can be worked into this, that would be ideal)
5. Take control of my financial situation (thus making a trip to England most likely impossible)

I'd say I gave all of those a shot, but you'll notice they're strikingly similar to my 2011 resolutions. Some things never change...