I'm Cheating on Zoey

I've been a bad pet parent. I'm having a love affair with someone else's dog. My coworker has a new Yorkie puppy named Charlie who's been spending lots of time at the office. Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 5:30, he is my precious.


Who could resist the puppy cuteness!?

A Song

I'm so in love with this song right now.



It's hard to make out in this version, but I like it with Jason Mraz (He curtsies at the end.). You can hear the song better here.

Happy weekend!

Meemz

New Internet obsession: Rocketboom. In particular: Know Your Meme.

Rocketboom is an awesome Internet news show, but they have a section, Know Your Meme, that explains popular memes. Apparently I've missed out on a lot because I don't know what half of these are, but now we can all learn together! It's all quite entertaining.

I already knew a bit about this one, but oh how I love it!

Barbecue Snobbery

I'm a bit of a barbecue snob. I grew up in Owensboro, KY which holds few distinctions but we do have THE BEST BARBECUE ever, hence our official title as "Barbecue Capital of the World." (Admittedly, I haven't been to Memphis yet to test that, but I doubt they can compare.)

I didn't realize I was a barbecue snob until about 2 weeks into my first year at Centre. Danville was having a festival and I went and purchased a "BBQ" sandwich, but they failed to realize that MEAT WITH SAUCE IS NOT BARBECUE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know the details of the process of barbecue, but I assure you: true barbecue takes HOURS of magic. Just slopping some barbecue sauce to meat does not make it barbecue any more than putting ketchup on a hamburger makes it a ketchup burger. You can learn more about the truth I just laid down for you in the video below:



Of course the main barbecue place in Louisville is of the Danville food stand variety. The food is good, but I hesitate to give it the honor of "barbecue." But that is where the family and I went this weekend, and once again, it makes me long for some Moonlite (Owensboro's version of the St. X/Trinity debate is where you best like your barbecue from: Moonlite or Old Hickory. I'm the only one in my family who votes for Moonlite, although I must confess that my opinion might be clouded by Moonlite's fabulous banana pudding.)

Fortunately, my parents brought be some of the real deal from home: burgoo and barbecued chicken. (Note: The burgoo (well the chicken too probably) is from the church I grew up in, Blessed Mother. In Owensboro, all the Catholic churches make barbecue and compete at the Bar-B-Q Festival. My church wins a lot and we make the best burgoo in town, probably the world. (Since Owensboro has the best barbecue in the world, this is just the natural conclusion.) I got to help stir the burgoo once.)



Sometimes I share my burgoo. Many people don't know about the wonders of burgoo and I try to remedy that where I can. However, this batch might be just for me. (Lee can have some.)



P.S. I've also been to a restaurant in Lexington that was supposed to have the best barbecue in town, but it was pretty lame.

Library Books!

When I was little (like elementary school) one of my favorite things to do during the summer was go to the library. They had a summer reading program where we met once a week for crafts and to return all of last week's books, get new ones, and receive stars for how many books we'd read. (I was always toward the top of the pack of course.)

Sometime in high school, the library became more of a place for research and movie rentals. I was always afraid that I would like a book so much that I would want to buy it, and if that happened I would have read the copy I owned. Many borrowed books had tiny paper bookmarks to hold my favorite spots until I could buy my own copy and highlight and underline to my heart's content.

Lately I've been trying to start up a book club with some friends (One being the oft-mentioned Caitlin who has a new blog.) and after a month of internally whining about all the new/used books I'd have to buy, I remembered that there are still libraries. Pathetic I know, but it seemed I had forgotten about them.



So yesterday I checked out my first book since college, Curtis Sittenfeld's American Wife, and I have not been able to put it down! One of my favorite feelings is that of not being able to put a book down. (Conversely, one of my least favorite feelings is that of "I really don't want to put this book down but I MUST pee! Please let there be a natural break soon or my bladder will die!")

What's Inside

I'm sure I caused you all great anticipation on Friday by sharing a picture of a box and mysteriously not revealing what was inside, since it was my mom's birthday present and she makes up a crucial 5% of my readership.

Mom has now received her gift so I can share it with the world: I made her super cute earrings.



I used this tutorial from Clever Nesting that I mentioned awhile back. Yes, it is just as easy as it looks, and it makes for some pretty inexpensive earrings. For the findings and beads it breaks down to about $1-ish each (considering I waited for a Michaels bead sale and a Joann findings sale) and the 3-in-1 tool and wire cutter were $7-ish each.

One note: When I originally got my supplies I got the bulk bag of silver-plated fish hooks and felt like they bothered my ear a little so I went back and bought the sterling silver. They're a bit more expensive (Actually, the packages are about the same price, you just get 40 hooks less.) but they look nicer and feel nicer so I think it's worth it.



Happy birthday mom! :)

Presents

My mom's birthday is Monday and since the family (Even Grandpa!) is coming to visit on Sunday she will receive her handmade gift them. Since mom is this blog's #1 fan, I can't reveal the handmade surprises in store for her yet, but I will go ahead and share the cute handmade box I crafted from this tutorial.



Happy weekend! :)

What's My Age Again?

I've seen The Hangover twice in theaters. And both times I was carded.

I'll be 26 in less than two months.


Really young me.

Yes, I know I'll love this when I'm 40, but I like to think I pass for a credible adult. At least someone in college maybe? I often don't feel like an adult without it being questioned. I still have no idea what I'm doing half the time and feel like I'm just playing the grown-up game, so I reason that if I could at least look the part...but apparently I don't.

And while I often can't shake the feeling that I'm still mentally 16, and can't convince movie theater attendants otherwise without an ID, I also feel quite old. Or maybe just boring.

I never really had a "wild" phase but there was a time when my Saturdays lasted until 3 a.m. and involved Walmart bubba kegs, vanilla vodka and the routine. Now, my social life has dwindled to $5 movies at Tinseltown, family gatherings, cookouts and 1 a.m. is a late night. I love all of the above, really I do, but we're still young and childless, shouldn't we be hitting up happy hours?

Example, tonight Lee and I are going to a concert (Blue October!). That's fun, young and hip! But I'm kind of hoping it will rain so I can just stay home in my jammies and watch the new season of Project Runway (so excited!!). (Lee's also hoping it rains so there's not much of a crowd.)

I have a plastic snake in my garden to keep squirrels out too.

But then, that's kind of the way I've always been. I spent my first few Saturday nights at college falling asleep on Caitlin's floor while watching a movie. Yet I know I still have the "party" in me, as evidenced by my "alertness" late into the evening at Jenn's bachelorette party and the magical return of my sweet dance skillz.

Besides, when I fall into bed, whether before or after midnight, I'm always pretty happy with my life, which is more important than looking like you're old enough to watch an R-rated movie.

One Word

So yesterday I mentioned some snazzy blog awards I have received along with ten things you may or may not have known about me. Today I'm taking the One Word Challenge from Heather at The Gamer's Wife!

1. Where is your cell phone? desk

2. Your hair? disobedient

3. Your mother? awesome

4. Your father? awesome

5. Your favorite food? tomatoes

6. Your dream last night? random

7. Your favorite drink? water

8. Your dream/goal? happiness

9. What room are you in? office

10. Your hobby? craftiness

11. Your fear? falling

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here

13. Where were you last night? home

14. Something that you aren’t? tall

15. Muffins? yummy

16. Wish list item? iPod

17. Where did you grow up? Owensboro

18. Last thing you did? pie

19. What are you wearing? casual

20. Your TV? newish

21. Your pets? three

22. Friends? bestest

23. Your life? happy

24. Your mood? shrug

25. Missing someone? friends

26. Vehicle? Civic

27. Something you’re not wearing? necklace

28. Your favorite store? Container

29. Your favorite color? blue

30. When was the last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? Friday

32. Your best friend? Lee

33. One place that I go to over and over? grocery

34. One person who emails me regularly? sisters

35. Favorite place to eat? Brendan's

Now I shall pass this along to...

Jamie at Jamie's Rabbits
Hannah at Journal of a Rock Angel
Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog
Krysten at After 'I Do'
Amy at Haha. Wait. What?

Catching Up

I was super excited this morning to find that Heather at The Gamer's Wife had passed along a blog award. Which reminded me that a month ago Amy at Haha. Wait. What? had also given me a blog award that I completely slacked on passing along. All shall be remedied in a few paragraphs.


First comes first, a belated thanks to Amy for the Honest Scrap Award. As a recipient of this honor I must be honest and share ten things about me that no one knows. (Okay, lesser known facts would be more accurate because there's nothing that no one knows.)

1. On Sunday at our monthly JASNA regional meeting I won a prize for the highest score on the Sense and Sensibilty quiz. We took tests on all the novels and I totally bombed the others, including, my most loved Pride and Prejudice. You should know though that they were very difficult quizzes and I re-read S&S most recently.

2. My friend spent NINE months trying to convince me to meet Lee but I thought he sounded very unappealing and kept turning her down. Oops.

3. My first car was a 1986 Buick Park Avenue named Clairee. Yes, that was inspired by Steel Magnolias.

4. I feel like, over the past few years, I've given people the wrong impression about what I consider to be the Greatest TV Show Ever. Apparently my younger sorority sisters remember my love of Grey's Anatomy and in his best man toast Lee's brother referenced my affection for Gilmore Girls. However, my first and forever favorite TV show is Friends.

5. For awhile in high school I wanted to be a lawyer. Ha! That would've been a riot since I have issues with logic.

6. In high school I was voted Most Likely to Succeed and Most Likely to Become President of the U.S.

7. In college I was voted Most Likely to Move to England and Stalk the British Royal Family (mostly for their eligible heirs).

8. Despite my unathletic nature and the fact that I'm currently running a 12-minute mile (working on it!), I want to bike across England some day.

9. I want to learn how to play tennis. Largely because I like the idea of a sport where you get to wear skirts and games tend to take place at locations (i.e.2, country clubs) that serve cocktails.

10. I ate lunch with the same girls from sixth grade through my senior year of high school and we all still keep in touch.

I'm sensing that's enough about me for today. I shall pass this on to some fantastic people and have more blog award fun for tomorrow!

Caitlin at commonreaders
Jenn at Newlyweds
Pinju at Sensorimotor
Heather at The Gamer's Wife
Amanda at this is [our] life
Jill at Confessions of an Enginerd

I'm Falling in Love, Therefore She Must Be Named

Since I started my sewing lessons in February, I have quite fallen in love with sewing. I really do enjoy it and am impressed by my improvement. I sew much more quickly than when I began and have gotten over my fear of the needle (other needles not so much) seeing as how I have gotten dangerously close to it on several occasions. The next step is, of course, to name my dear girl:


I'm currently drawing a name blank. My first thought is generally a Jane Austen character who I'm not considering naming a child after (no Elizabeth, Jane, Anne, or Emma), but it has to be one that I like (no Fanny, Mrs. Bennet, Lady Catherine, and on most days Marianne).

Maybe Charlie or Georgie? I don't know where those came from, they just popped into my mind. Hmm...suggestions welcome!

I did make some yoga shorts from this tutorial for Lee's sister this weekend! I taught her how to sew/let her push the peddle while I fed the fabric and it was lots of fun. Since she wanted shorts and picked a smaller-than-XL T-shirt I had to adjust the pattern some and was quite relieved that it worked. I failed to take pictures of it but just trust that it was fabulous.

Three days until a new season of Project Runway! Lee and I will probably be at the Blue October concert at Fourth Street Live, but will catch it this weekend. I'm so excited!!

Morning Craft Quickie

I ripped up some scrap fabric to make a head band this morning. Clearly not the most novel idea, but it's the first time I've done it so I thought it was cool enough to share...except for my awkward facial expressions. :\

The Battle is On!

In life, you can frequently enjoy competing items. I can (and do) enjoy Ben and Jerry's and Haagen Dazs, Monet and Manet, and Coke and Pepsi (although Coke is better). But on some issues, I feel like you have to pick sides. Like UK vs. UofL athletics. Lee claims there's a middle road, but he is wrong (Go Cats!). I also feel this way about Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings. Okay, fine, there's lots of people who like both but one has to be clearly superior and ever since I read the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, I knew that Harry Potter was the best.


However, I've never actually read the Lord of the Rings. I tried once. I made a deal with a friend the month before I started college that he would HP and I would read LOTR starting with The Hobbit, his favorite. By the time I drudged through the first 100 pages of The Hobbit (I found it to be very boring.), he had read all of the HP books published at that time (Four?). And then I started college and that was the end of my reading LOTR.

There was also one night our freshman year where I was lured to Lexington by Caitlin to watch the second LOTR movie with promises of dinner someplace nice (like Olive Garden) and a trip to Target. However, other friends were running late and the next thing I know I'm trapped in a theater for four years with nothing to entertain me but playing Snake on my phone and watching Caitlin choke on her candy. And there was no Target or non-campus food. I've heard that apparently the second movie requires some backstory, but it still sucked. (Actually, Lee and I were discussing it last night and apparently the second book is the "awkward middle child" of the series. Note: J.K. Rowling wrote no awkward middle child books. However, I guess if Austen had one, it's an acceptable practice.)

So anyways, the old bet has been renewed only it's between me and Lee now. He is reading HP and this time I'm starting with The Fellowship of the Ring. I'm 80 pages in and it is much better than The Hobbit and I have enjoyed it, but I'm still not convinced that it can't hold a candle to HP. I will keep you posted on how my personal LOTR vs. HP battle is going. So far, magic + scars + pet owls > hobbits + boring jewelry items. (Dear Mr. Tolkein, Put some diamonds in that ring and you'll attract a whole new demographic. Remember, Gryffindor's sword was pretty blinged out and that's why it is awesome. Your ring could be a lot cooler if it had some gemstones. What's the point of having a lot of power if you can't look good doing it?!)


image:http://www.flickr.com/photos/10972049@N02/ / CC BY 2.0

In the Morning or the Evening

For the past several months, my infrequent run/jog/walk trips have been occurring after work. They used to occur before work, but that was when I didn't have to be at work until 9. Now that I have to be at work at 8:30 (That 30 minutes makes a big difference!) I've been running in the evening, but I'm thinking about switching back.

• Morning runs are the PERFECT temperature (at least for now).
• I already feel accomplished by the time I get to work.
• I run better in the morning without food (or Dr. Thunder) in my stomach.
• Stuff comes up after work, like meeting friends or errands, which can prohibit making a strong running habit.
  
• And the world is just prettier in the morning:

But, the one con (other than sleep deprivation) is how s...l...o...w I move in the morning. When I would go running in the morning, my runs were normally cut short because I had taken too long to get up and get going. In the evening I can be lazy and take my time.

I think the answer though is to return to the morning run. Starting next week. Wish me luck.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/clairity/ / CC BY 2.0

Bed Skirt

I finished my bed skirt (two weeks ago)! In the end, I'm not sure this was a worthwhile project. The bedskirt at the store cost $30 and I could have used some coupons. The fabric for my homemade bed skirt cost $18 plus a $4 twin sheet to sew the panels to. In retrospect, the store bought bed skirt might have been the way to go, but now I'm super proud of my bed skirt and at least it's finally done.

Some before shots





And after





I think the bed skirt makes it look so much nicer! It's almost like an adult bedroom! (You can't really see in this picture, but since we have a one bedroom apartment, Lee's massive computer desk with his Lego tower is taking up the other half of the room. Not cute.)

And I did not do any of the T-shirt projects I raved about last week over the weekend, but perhaps someday soon.

500 Thumbs Up

I saw (500) Days of Summer this weekend and I absolutely loved it. If you don't want to take my word for it, Dwight Shrute loved it too.



My Not-Quite-500 Reasons to Love (500) Days of Summer (not necessarily in order):

1. Multiple scenes in IKEA.
2. Joseph Gordon-Levitt a lot cuter now than he was in 10 Things I Hate About You.
3. Brilliant soundtrack.
4. Adorable clothes! I'm trying to convince Lee he wants to start wearing cardigans and sweater vests.
5. Adorable, wise-beyond-her-years little sister character.
6. Sweet, fun, not too sentimental, still optimistic story.
   
7. Funny from the start. It opens with an "Author's Note" that was something to the effect of, "This is a completely fictional story. Any relation to real people or events is purely coincidental. Especially if your name is [Random girl name I can't remember]. Bitch." Love it!
   
8. References to another one of my favorite movies with a top-notch soundtrack, The Graduate.
   
9. I had almost forgotten about the penis game! Penis!
   

It was a completely precious and fabulous movie that everyone should go see. I went with my sister, but it seems potentially guy friendly. Totally worth the ticket cost!

The Reminder I Needed Yesterday but Got Today

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ~Marianne Williamson

Reminded by Writing Roads

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cytoon/ / CC BY 2.0

Cake Triumph!

You may remember the cake-tastrophe that occurred last time I tried to bake a cake. Well I just baked one and thanks to using more flour to prep the pans, the cake turned out beautiful and not about to collapse.

Watch it pose with my Flintstone vitamins! (Don't judge. My mom's pharmacist recommended them.)

I can't way to taste it tomorrow!

T-Shirt Projects

I'm looking forward to this weekend because well, I mean, it's the weekend, that's the obvious, but also I'm hoping to do some fun sewing projects involving t-shirts!

First, I have to try these yoga pants found on Craft.

I might not do it this weekend, but hopefully soon I will try out this shrug because I've been wanting to make a shrug. I found this one on Cut Out + Keep via Clever Nesting.

Other fun T-shirt projects farther down on the list:
This toddler T-shirt dress from Happy Together makes me want to have a baby just so I can make this. And I want to add those ruffles and roses to all kinds of things (purses, pillows, tank tops, yoga pants).

A fun halter top from Treadbanger.



And this is just amazing to watch: Threadbanger's $10 T-shirt wedding dress.



There's more T-shirt craft fun at Generation T.

Just Some Rain

In case you missed on the national weather news, Louisville got some rain today. What is it with us and natural disasters? Hurricane Ike in September. Ice storm in January. And now there are floods.



Fortunately my apartment is dry and also fortunately (I mean unfortunately...of course) we lost power at work for most of the day so I got to spend the afternoon working from home! I baked some banana bread! Yum!



But the worst part of all of this, in my dry-housed opinion, is the damage at the library. Tens of thousands of books lost and the basement that was holding brand new computers for the new library branch destroyed.

Extra Crispy

Apparently, those rumors that you should replace your sunscreen every year are not ploys by Big Sunscreen to get you to buy more sunscreen. Fair-skinned me went to Lee's frisbee tournament yesterday with 30 spf that was probably a little over a year old. I was outside for two hours and this is what my thighs looked like when I got home:


Ignore the arm shadows and bad lighting.

At least it was fun watching my love rock the frisbee. These pictures were actually from the last week's tournament.



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