Countdown...

So I was thinking in the shower this morning (come to think of it I do this often- lesson plans, what I'm going to wear for the day...interesting) that there are some things I want to accomplish before I officially kiss my 20s goodbye. I remembered a series of posts by Nicole of titled "30 Before Thirty" where she created a list of 30 things she wanted to accomplish before turning 30 and it inspired me to create my own.

A list of thirty things to accomplish seems a bit ambitious, although I guess if pushed I could come up with some.

So I'm officially contemplating that list of thirty, more info to follow, but in the meantime, since year 29 is looming in about a month or so, I have a short list I'd like to accomplish before then:

1. Finish bedroom (includes decorating, a headboard, installing shelving, finding artwork.)
2. Lose 10 pounds.
3. Find something glittery to wear for my 29th bday.
4. Plan fantabulous 29th bday celebration.

And I'm off to see if Dick's has any good sales on sneakers for the gym since mine are a few years old, which is gross if you think about it, and to run a few errands.

Any suggestions for things to add to the 29 list? Or for the big 3-0? Happy Black Friday!

Um kind of amazing!

One of my favorite blogs for crafting inspiration- Twig and Thistle- is having an amazing giveaway- one of the Silhouette digital cutters!!! How crazy is that?

The possibilities of what I could do with that machine would be endless....not that I want the competition but here's the link for anyone else interested in entering and at the least checking out Kathleen's visual treats on her blog!

Score!

(Yes I know I've been M.I.A. for literally months. I apologize.)

But this is so excited that I feel the need to blog about it. I purchased a photograph off of etsy a while back. I find it very soothing and serene. It is the inspiration for my bedroom redecorating. I love the gray color of my bedroom but lately it's just been kind of blah to me. I found bedding at Anthroplogie that goes really well with my new vibe, except it was about $300 for he comforter and two shams. I found it back in May.

Well.

I just checked out the sale section of their website and the comforter is on sale for $70 and the Euro shams are $15 each- UM HI AMAZING!

So I just ordered the comforter and two shams for my new bedroom!!! Super excited for this bedroom re-do!

And just for the record I'm still doing ridiculous things that would most likely only happen to me I just haven't blogged about them. For example I have returned to my routine of going to the gym at night which I seemed to have abandoned pretty much the whole summer. I thought I remembered the combination to my lock. Turns out I didn't. And had to ask the gym to kindly cut my lock so I could get my stuff out of the locker. Way to go me.

My new obsession

(besides getting the last two issues of Domino magazine I need to have the complete collection- grrrr) is purchasing an antique/vintage typewriter.

There are a ton on ebay that aren't expensive! The cheap ones also don't guarantee that they actually type (you buy cheap you get cheap) but even some that say they do type aren't too bad!

If it's not one thing with me it's another entirely!!

Humbled.

I got the nicest, most sincere and sweet letter in the mail yesterday.

I don't even have the words to express how I felt reading it.

Made my day. More than my day. Days plural.

Debbie Downer

I've been quite the Negative Nelly lately. There's been a lot of things on my mind, some probably not as big a deal as I'm making them, others quite upsetting and it's taken it's toll in the last few weeks.

Big picture topics of these issues are:
1. Boys
2. My weight
3. Weddings
4. Money
5. Cancer
6. Family

It's a constant cycle going through my brain right now. Some times are more stressful than others. I usually am good at differentiating between things I can control and things that are out of my control in terms of what to stress over and what not to stress over. I'm not doing so well where that's concerned right now.

Let's see, issue #1 is something I do have control over but at the same time do not. I feel like the scene in Sex and the City where the girls are out to break fast and Charlotte is super hungover and says exasperatedly, "Where is he already??? I've been dating since I was sixteen- I'm exhausted!" Granted I've only been dating since I was 18, was in a long-term relationship for five years where I had my heart ripped out of my chest, stomped all over and then shoved back in followed by two pseudo-relationships that lasted no longer than a month, and my current situation, a friend with benefits since roughly August of 09. I feel like I do nice things for people all. the. time. I don't do them in the expectation that I'm going to get something in return, but I'm hoping that karma is going to repay my good deeds at some point with a man who I want to marry and have children with. The waiting part is beginning to really suck and I'm not sure what to do about it. Not to mention that I'm pretty much the only single person out of my friends and family. Awesome.

Issue #2 definitely in my control. I like to whine and bitch that it isn't, but it so is. I simply wish I was the type of person who enjoyed working out, and who did not enjoy fat, not healthy for me food. Sadly since that is not the case I have to force myself to work out and eat healthy which turns them into chores that I don't want to do. If there's one thing I'm good at it's justifying not working out and not eating healthy. I did well on week 1 of the LBN diet; week 2...not shaping up so well.

Issues #3 and #4 go hand in hand. Weddings are expensive. Being in them, also expensive. I don't even know how I'm paying my own bills this summer, nevermind how I'm going to pay for a bachelorette party this Saturday, a wedding gift two weeks after that, drinks at said wedding (although my parents will be there so maybe they'll buy me a drink or two) followed by a J.Crew bridesmaid dress for second wedding of the summer, I'm assuming bridal shower and bachelorette for said second wedding, gifts for that wedding as well. Third wedding of the summer I'm not in but still am participating in shower and bachelorette festivities, gifting as well. There's whole other can of worms attached to issue #3, not one I'd like to get into on here though.

Also attached to issue #4 is this summer. I am making less at my new school and we do not get a balloon check to cover our pay in the summer as we used to at my old school therefor I am in dire straights for the summer. I have applied for summer school at both new and old schools in hopes that I get both. New school pays $27 an hour and I'd be teaching in the morning and old school pays $30 an hour and I'd be working in the afternoons writing grant plans for the students involved in the program like I did last summer. Praying. To. God. that I get those. Even one will do. Better than neither.

Sadly issues #5 and #6 go hand in hand as my aunt is currently dying from cancer. She lives in Vancouver which is located across the continent from where I'm located and my mother, her sister, has been flying back and forth to be with her. I don't want to type anymore because I'm about to cry and I'm still at work.

This is me in a nutshell right now. A hot mess.

Thoughts

Facebook has been blocked at school.

Our server has been acting up and I cannot get to gmail or our school's grade/attendance system X2. Progress reports need to be input tomorrow. I know I can input them at home, I think, I haven't tried X2 at home, but part of me feels like I shouldn't have to, it should be available at work. What a novel idea! I also feel anxious that I cannot check my email. Oh iChat isn't working either. I cannot chat with Nikki or Meaghan throughout the day. I feel very secluded.

On top of those communication issues there is a giant lack of cell phone service in our school so I can't even text during my prep without difficulty.

Giant FAIL for my school right now.

Also, I really really really want this comforter for my room:

Awesome. I can't find a picture. But here's the link. It would fit perfectly with the new vision I have for my room.

So would an actual headboard. Sigh. This is just a day of "wants" and frustrations.

I want

this.

Please.

Sinking.

I am overwhelmed by life right now.

Do you ever

have a moment where you think to yourself, "what the fuck am I doing?"

I heart etsy.

Can I just say that Etsy is the coolest thing ever?

I've had my eye on a print for probably months. Originally it was printed on like paper from a book I think, so you could see the text from the page in the background, but that slipped from my fingers and once I got my taxes I finally ordered the print. Here it is in a frame I bought:

I loooove it. And along with the print came this note from the artist:

Oops, I probably should have put the card on mirror image. But it says, "Thank ya Jamie! Hugs from San Fransico, Charmaine"

I mean, I just think it's so cool that with each purchase pretty much, I receive a hand written note from the artist. I love it! Each purchase I've made from madebygirl has come with a note as well. 

I just love it. I will come back again and again as a result. 

April Vacation Goals

I am hoping to move my closet (a.k.a. second bedroom) into the actual closet that's in my bedroom, thus creating room for an actual second bedroom.

Right now I have an Ikea monstrosity in my second bedroom housing my clothing. I find that I don't put stuff away after I wear it/wash it and the room easily turns into a mess. Right now I have the Ikea set up, a three-drawer bureau and shoes in my second bedroom. In my actual bedroom I have a second three-drawer bureau and the skinny hard to utilize closet which holds dresses and some shoes.

A bit excessive, I know.

Here's the problem/challenge: my actual closet is narrow which makes it hard to maneuver in. Also, I can't put bars across it because it's the access point for my attic. So I have to be creative. In the back of the closet are two built in cubbies. I'm thinking of putting a shelf in each to act as storage. There are also three drawers below those cubbies.

So if I store workout clothes, sweatshirts, etc. in the built-in along with long sleeve shirts, short sleeve shirts and tank tops, I think that'd work. Oh and maybe skirts. Along the long wall where I can't put a bar I'm thinking of putting coat hooks and investing in some of these bad larry's  to hang my dresses on so that they're hanging, but out of the way. Maybe too, my button down shirts. I plan on utilizing under-bed storage for shoes and possibly some other sweatshirts. The three drawer bureau currently in my room will hold unmentionables, pjs and work pants (?).  I'm also thinking of getting a standing coat rack for in my bedroom to hang stuff that I have yet to put away.

And then the fun part of creating an actual second bedroom! Depending on if I get an actual roommate in the near future or not, I may buy a day bed, or a cheap twin bed, depending on price of each. That's coming secondary to whether or not I can pull this closet redo off or not. One more week to plan and then it's execution time!!

On a positive note

I made some purchases of things for my house this weekend.

On Friday I ordered this print which I've had my eye on for literally months on etsy:

From this shop.

I'm thinking of redecorating my bedroom artwork/decorations based on this print.

I also ordered these two prints from made by girl:

For my front hallway/stairs area. Available here. 

And this print:

I'm not sure where this is going, but I love blogs, coffee and hopefully one day someone. Available here. 

In other super news

I have gained back all of the weight I lost last fall/early winter.

Awesome.

They should be ashamed of themselves.

Although, people who are willing to do this, clearly won't see the err in their ways unless they are held accountable, which I hope they are.

This poor girl and the other students who went to the prom.

So sad.

And mean.

I hate

being blown off.

I think the major reason why is because I wouldn't say I was going to do something and then not call or text informing the person waiting on me of my change in plans.

It irks me.

Even though

I don't like marshmellows besides in smores I want to make these for Easter.

I'm on my way

to being drunk.

On a Monday night.

Some things are shitty. Some are not so shitty. I'm masking them by imbibing. Whatev. Feel free to judge.

The long life update post.

I have a feeling this post is going to be all over the place. My brain is all over the place right now, so that's fitting. There are some things to update so why don't I just skip the pleasantries and jump right in.

The date.

My reaction- eh. Not good, not horrible, just eh. I think I was more disappointed than anything. And I know it sounds shallow to admit, but my disappointment is based in the looks department. And let me also preface this portion of the post with the admission that yes, I am aware that I'm being superficial, and yes it bothers me. If Tuesday's episode of Lost was any indication, than would I really mind a tropical island with polar bears and numbered bunnies as being hell? Not so much. I'll have a killer tan while I'm in hell.

So, my cousin and I instant message most of the day while we're at our respective jobs. She knew about my impending date, and asked if I had found him on facebook. We'll call him Emeril. I told her I had looked for Emeril but didn't have any luck. Literally .5 seconds later, she immed me "I think this is him!!! HE'S CUTE!" and of course I was psyched. I checked out the profile, which was under high lockdown (only visible was the profile pic, hometown and current town) and figured that it probably was him. Current and former city matched and there was a resemblance to my former student, we'll call her Mary.

Um hi, he was cute! I'd even be tempted to use the word hot!!! I was so excited. I let myself think, this could really be it!? We talked on the phone a few times and he was super nice, loved going out, being with friends, was handy (went to a vocational high school) and generally seemed like a good guy. I was really excited for the date- holy crap, what if he seriously became my next relationship! What I've been waiting for for legit, five years! Awesome!

So fast forward a few days and it's D-day. I had a really relaxing day, slept in a little, went for a run outside, cleaned my house, leisurely showered and got ready. He picked me up at my house around 5 (it was a school night so we went to an early dinner) and when he got out of the car I hope the disappointment I felt wasn't apparent on my face. People who know me know I can't hide how I'm feeling on my face, you can read it from a mile away. Granted he doesn't know me so hopefully I'm in the clear. He wasn't horrendous looking, it's not like Sloth from the Goonies got out of the car to open my car door for me, but let's just say the person standing in front of me didn't match the facebook profile picture I had seen. Visuals would help but I would be a total bitch and it wouldn't be right for me to use his actual facebook pictures.

Ok, I looked online for an equivalent photo of a young, good looking Portuguese man but all that came up was pictures of jelly fish. Not helping. Well, let's just say that if you grew up in Southeastern Massachusetts you can spot an attractive, well-dressed Portuguese man. Or at least form an image in your head of one.

This is what came out of the car and double-cheek kissed me:

Yes, that is Emeril from the Food Network. Except my Emeril had a goatee. And was a bit thinner. Legit Emeril look-alike. And my Emeril likes to cook too...seriously?

So after the awkward double-cheek kiss (I was so thrown off) he opened my car door (point) and we set off to go eat. We ended up at Not Your Average Joe's which is the way to my heart, really. I love that place. Dinner was good, I had two ruby red margaritas with dinner (in addition to the two glasses of wine I had before he picked me up) and after dinner we decided to go get a drink at the Airport Grille. I will fully admit that I just wanted to go home, see my boyfriendboy who had planned on coming by after the date so we could watch The Pacific and How to Make it in America and relax. But I was a good sport and agreed to the drink. 

So we get to the Airport Grille, which I love. The decor in the lounge reminds me of Casablanca, love it. So I had another glass of wine. He had two glasses of wine at dinner I think, and a dessert wine at the Airport Grille. I don't know if it was the drink, the fact that I'm a good listener, my charm, or what but Emeril decided that it was completely appropriate to confide something in me that he hadn't even told his sister before. I'm not going to spill his trauma because it is exactly that, a trauma and I'm not trivializing or making fun of him at all, it's super serious. Super serious. I wouldn't even know what to do if my closest friend confided this to me. Let's say it's along the lines of him being the victim of a crime that someone committed and would most definitely go to jail for it. It's a despicable act. 

But for some unknown reason Emeril felt that two hours after meeting me it was ok to drop this bombshell on me. I was speechless. Now, I'm not a pro at dating by any means but I am aware that the first date is supposed to be more light-hearted conversation, not life-altering/shattering confessional time. 

So after we finished our drinks he drove me home, walked me to my door and double-cheek kissed me goodnight.

Sadly boyfriendboy had fallen asleep at home and wasn't coming over so I just went to bed a very disappointed little lady.

I compare this date to my three other successful first dates (The Ex, boy I dated for a month and boy I dated for two months) and it just falls flat. Those other three first dates there was attraction, excitement, an energy- if that makes sense. And also, when I'm drinking that usually makes me more lovey/flirty which didn't happen with Emeril. 

And the poor guy sealed his fate by texting me, "Hey there mamasita. How's ur day so far? Those good vibes working for ya?"

Do I even need to explain that one any further?

Bring on the weekend!!!

I am in such a pleasant mood! Here is a fun bulleted list as to why:

1. It's beautiful outside (64 degrees to be exact, hello top down on the convertible after school!)

2. I am done for the day- no 4th block (prep period) no detention (it's Friday)

3. I am excited to run outside tomorrow and Sunday.

4. I have a mostly commitment-free weekend ahead of me aside from:

     a. Saturday school tomorrow morning. 

     b. Babysitting for my cutie cousins tomorrow night.

     c. And what would be the third bullet in this-sub list deserves it's own number:

5. I HAVE A DATE SUNDAY NIGHT. With a- from what I can tell- really cute guy! Details to follow.

I'm so excited to sleep in my own bed tonight, take Lala for a long walk after school, maybe get takeout from Joe's for dinner even though I'm on the poor side this week, and just relax. 

Weekends are the best. 

Not good.

I can feel myself getting sick. My throat is a bit achey. I've been taking vitamin C like it's my job and I think I'm going to throw some airborn into the equation even though I'm not convinced it works.

Is it bad though, that I'd be ok with the possibility of a sick day in the next few weeks?

I hate sounding like one of those teachers but March is a long month.

I know, I know, welcome to the real world, working full weeks without days off for more than four weeks in a row. I hear you, I'm just tired.

Wah, wah, wah.

On a totally unrelated note.

This is what I'm thinking of doing to my closet/second bedroom (via here):

Gray/white striped walls with a magnetic/chalkboard wall or portion of wall. Instead of the yellow accent as shown in the home above, I'm thinking of purple accents! Love, love, loving this idea! I was inspired by this wedding to incorporate purple, which I heard yesterday, can't remember where, is going to be the color for interior decorating this year. Heart.

Over it.

I'm over this week.

And it's only Tuesday.

Losing an hour of sleep has royally effed me up. Add on top of that the fact that I have a sort-of roommate (f.b. has been staying over [although we've morphed back into a semi-normal friend mode, as opposed to the friend-boy relationship that had been occurring since August] pretty regularly for the past two weeks or so) and I'm not getting the normal amount of sleep that I am used to.

I just want my day to be over, go to the gym and go to bed.

Except that it's only 9:51, I have half of a block of my freshman and then an hour and a half with my juniors, then my hour and a half prep, then detention, then home to eat quick, then the gym, and THEN I can finally shower and go to bed.

I. Can't. Wait.

Sorry for the whine. I could go for some real wine come to think of it...

Liberty of London Purchases

So apparently today was the day that the Liberty of London for Target line launched and there was still a good selection at my local Target when I got there this afternoon, while online it was pretty much sold out.

I tried on two shirts and a dress, and only liked one of the shirts:

Loved loved loved it.

And this storage container (which I'm using in my living room to hold the remotes and some coasters):

And I can't find a picture of the candle or set of mini journals I bought, but I love it all. 

Next on my list is the Garden Collection at H&M which is in stores Thursday. I've seen this dress which looks really cute:

I also want to check out this dress and tank top:

Umm what else. 

Well, I may have a date next weekend. With a really cute guy.

A former student of mine is setting me up with her brother, he's supposed to call me today, so we'll see if we set anything up. I'm going to need a cute outfit!! 

My plan is to get my eyebrows threaded on Thursday and then stop at the Galleria to try on some of the H&M stuff and find a date outfit! 

And

he just told me how a family friend went to the Gold Rush and got a lot of gold and bought all of Horseneck Beach and then sold it to the state for like thirty million dollars and they like have a forty foot stretch of beach front property blah blah blah blah blah.

I. Don't. Care.

No offense, I don't mean to come off callous or rude to my students, I listen, rather intently and say "wow that's cool," or "that's neat." But really he just talks to hear himself speak and to be a kiss up.

I feel guilty

but there's a student in my class right now who is super annoying. And he always talks and comments and is a know-it-all.

It drives me bonkers.

I need to

jump on the Cougar Town train.

In the television sense.

I may or may not already be a passenger on that train in real life.

Latest home update!

So I saw this amazing bureau here and other places that I can't remember at the moment:

So I decided that would work perfectly with my white bureau's- the one in my bedroom in particular.

My process was printing the words "secret", "sleep" and "lazy" in a jane austen font that I got off-line, coloring the back with pencil and then tracing those letters onto the drawers. I then painted those words onto the drawers with gray paint I got from Lowe's still from the giftcard I had from my house warming! Here are some pictures:

Margarita, music (lap top), cell phone.

Tool box (to maybe take hardware off drawers), gray paint.

Half painted already-half pencil stencil of "secret" on my drawer that contains the secrets.

The printed word "sleep" which I will color on the back with a pencil and trace onto the drawer for my pj's.

Primitive carbon-copy.

Finished product.

Close-up.

I love it.

Um

this is something I don't even have words to describe.

I love

sleepovers.

Flattered yet disturbed.

Those are two very random things to feel at the same time. 

This morning I woke up, showered, got dressed, came downstairs, started the coffee maker, put my Meal for One in my lunch bag and poured a bowl of Cheerios (same thing every morning, I'm a creature of habit, at least in the am).

While I eat my Cheerios I check my email, google reader and facebook. When I open my computer iChat automatically opens up as well. 

I received an instant message this morning from someone not on my buddy list. YoMommaFat510304 to be exact. 

I accepted the message so I could see what it said only because if I declined it, it would bother me not knowing what the message was.

This was the message from YoMommaFat 510304 received at 6:16 am:

"hey...you're hot. and you have no clue who this is :)"

My response:

"it's too early"

What the hell? I mean, let's be honest, I don't hate the fact that someone thinks I'm hot (unless they're just effing with me) but I'm kind of disturbed about the whole thing. 

Only me. 

This is why

I heart my SBF Lizziebelle:

(a text message convo between the two of us this afternoon)

me: just avoided eye contact with [a girl from high school we were super bffs with who in college turned into a slight beyotch but we've since buried the hatchet. technically.] at target like a champ

lb: she is like the basilisk

me: HAHAHAHAHAHA

lb: I need professional help

me: if you do then we should go together bc I knew what you were talking about without missing a beat

lb: we need to be committed....TO THE WORLD OF WIZARDING!

This is why we're SBFs, bffs and second cousins. Love her.

UPDATE: In editing this post and putting a link to the word "basilisk" I have discovered that there is a Harry Potter wiki. I may not end up watching Lost or Mad Men at all, I may just read this all night!

Another good thing!

So tomorrow night at the Zeiterion Theatre has RFK: The Journey to Justice which I was so excited to see.

So excited.

Spring semester 2009 I took a grad class at Bridgewater, Assassinations, with one of my favorite history professors- Dr. Thomas Turner. The grad students were assigned a 25 page research paper on an assassination of our choice, I chose Bobby Kennedy. After completing the paper I knew Bobby was my favorite Kennedy. I heart him.

So anyway, I saw that the Z was putting on this show and could. not. wait. for it to be February!

Well, it's February and I officially don't have enough money to buy a ticket to see the show tomorrow night. Super. My Aunt Dori works in the box office there, but I didn't feel comfortable asking her if she had any comp tickets. I know she wouldn't mind, but I just don't feel right asking. As I had that thought I was pulling into the parking lot at the gym and literally that minute my Aunt Dori was calling me! She offered me free tickets to the show- how freaking awesome!!!!!

I'm so excited to see this show tomorrow night, even though I'm probably going alone, nbd!

Plus my friendboy is on his way over to watch this weeks episode of Lost and some more episodes of Mad Men.

Love it!!

LOVE!!

There are a lot of blogs on my google reader. One of the blogs I read is Makeup Bag and there was a contest giving away free false eyelashes, all you had to do was leave a comment.

I've entered tons of blog contests like this before, never winning.

Except I WON! How exciting!!!

I received and email informing me they needed my mailing address to send me my false eyelashes! I'm so excited! Now I just need something fun to wear them to!

I love getting stuff in the mail! I have some exciting stuff coming soon actually
-Eyelashes
-Laura Mercier Oil Free tinted moisterizer
-Season 3 of Dawson's Creek from ebay
-Season 2 of Mad Men from ebay

PS Mad Men is an AMAZING show! It makes me want to wear frilly pretty dresses/nightgowns  to bed!  Random.

Finished!

Ok, here's a picture of the completed "headboard" along with the creative process:

That would be the finished product. I'm thinking of getting some dark gray pillows to prop up behind the white ones, and then have the pink ones be under the comforter so you can't see them at all. When I have money.
Ok, so first I tested two light  yellows from Home Depot on the wall:

Then taped up computer paper to figure out how many fit width wise and height wise to make the stencil:

Then drew out the design trying to come as close as possible to this headboard I saw in Domino magazine:

*I used a pencil I received from a girlfriend as the "save-the-date" for her wedding this summer. Ridiculously cute/unique. 

Then I drew it on a regular sized paper I had folded in the same amount of squares that fit on my wall. 

Then drew each square from my drawing onto an individual piece of computer paper. 

Then taped them up to the wall to make sure they lined up and actually worked.

Then cut them out and taped them back up again.

Then traced the outline with a pencil.

And painted that biatch in!

And what you have now, is the final product with two coats of paint and the bed moved back up against the wall:

Total cost of the project: Nada!

I could have ordered a stencil from The Stencil Library which is what they used for the domino headboard, but that cost something ridiculous like $40 so I figured I could do it myself somehow. It may not have been the most logical process of how I recreated the stencil, but it worked for me. Plus for the paint I used a Lowe's gift card for, so that didn't cost me anything. Although at Home Depot I did pay $5 for the two paint samples, so I lied, it cost me $5. But I heart it!! 

Vacation projects

This week was February vacation and it was AMAZING to have the week off. I am currently in denial that it's almost over.

Things I accomplished:
1. Rearranged my whole living room (including couch, TV, desk, everything) by myself.
2. Painted a headboard on my bedroom wall that my bed is up against. Why? This is how I explained it to my Dad, who isn't really on the same decorating page as me:
Dad: What are you up to today?
Me: Not much, painting a headboard on the wall in my bedroom....waiting for reaction
Dad: You're what?
Me: It's going to look good, I'm painting the shape of a headboard on the wall in my bedroom.
Dad: Why don't you just buy an actual headboard?
Me: Because I have no money and a gift card to Lowe's so the paint will cost me nothing. Unless you want to buy a headboard for me.
Dad: Negative.

So there you have it, I just finished the second coat of paint and pictures will follow once it dries and I can put the bed back in place instead of in the middle of the room. Here's an inprocess picture to tide you over:

LaLa refused to get out of the way, and was in the middle of yawning. But that's the stencil/template I made on the wall, that I traced and then painted in. Also in the middle you can see the two colors I tried out before deciding on the one on the right of LaLa's nose.

Did not accomplish:
1. Grading anything.
2. Planning anything.
3. Working out as much as I had wanted.

Oh well. I still have today and tomorrow to do some grading and planning.

Or not.

"Try it, you might like it!"

-Danny Wood, New Kids on the Block

That was a quote from a video back in the day, that I or my cousin Nikki taped off of tv of the New Kids on tour. They were eating, and Danny was telling the camera that his mother used to tell him, "Try it, you might like it" about new foods.

I rarely attempt this because I worry about wasting a precious meal either out to eat or store bought in the event that I don't like it. Case and point, lunch today.

Normally I get the Chicken with Almonds Lean Cuisine and I decided to branch out and bought two new ones: one with veggies and whole wheat pasta (I failed to notice at point of purchase that this meal came without chicken) and rice with chicken, veggies and cranberries in an apple sauce. (Not apple sauce apple sauce but some sort of apple glaze business.)

Both I did not like. Now, I did not mind the pasta with veggies option that I had yesterday but my complaint is that it doesn't have chicken aka not enough to it. The second meal which I had today, really didn't agree with me. I should've known but I figured I'd take Danny Woods' words of advice, but unfortunately for me, I was not a fan of either. Back to my chicken with almonds.

Not until the end of the week though, I bought lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, mushrooms and almond slivers to make salads for the week, I've just been too lazy to do so. I think that'll be my afternoon activity.

And watch, we'll have no school tomorrow and I won't need a pre-made lunch. At least I'll get to sleep in and make bacon and eggs for breakfast because I actually have those ingredients! Oh maybe I'll buy waffle mix and maple syrup to make waffles too!!!!!!!

Yummmm......is it 3:00 so I can go home and eat something yet?

Despite

over ten years going by Dawson's Creek still manages to make me cry.

Spoke too soon

Got an im from The Russian:

"hey lovely, how are you"

Grr.....I can't just ignore it and be a jerk. I have to man up and be honest.

Excuse me while I change into my honest pants....

You know what's kind of funny?

I don't think The Russian was enamored with me either, I haven't heard from him.

Much less messy when it's mutual!

I hate

when you can tell that someone thinks you're an idiot and not doing something right when in fact I know how to use effing email and if I'm not receiving it, it's a problem beyond me since I'm getting emails from other people!!!!

Sorry, just needed to vent.

I feel gross

I went to the gym last night, showered when I got home and then this morning instead of showering again, I just wet my hair and washed my face. But my hair feels gross. I feel like it looks greasy. And smells. I feel like when I get out of school today I'm going to run home and shower before going to the basketball games this afternoon.

Yuck.

"Please be careful, I'm still not over the Cold War" and "Duh cause it's infamous or duh cause..."

Two things to sum up my weekend:
Russians and lesbians.

Interesting to say the least. The first quote is courtesy of R. A. Thibault an esteemed former colleague. I explained to Mr. Thibault that I had a date from my stint on eHarmony with a guy who is from Russia. His response was: "Please be careful, I'm still not over the Cold War." I think I laughed for a good five minutes.

So the date. Eh, maybe the worst date I've gone on but it wasn't horrible by any means don't get me wrong. Knock on wood, I haven't been on any terrible dates, where I've been like, "get me out of here" so that's good, but I have had really good dates, and this one wasn't one of those. So it was my worst, but not the worst. He and I won't be taking this any further. And a follow up from Mr. Thibault after I texted him to say it wasn't the greatest: "Well that's good! I can cancel the U2 overhead flights that Mark [my Dad] and I had dialed up and we can put away the 'nuclear football' the cold war is over once again!!" I died laughing. Glad the free world is safe again.

Now the lesbian topic. Quite the weekend for me. I had seen a coworker at the mall Saturday and she told me that some of our colleagues were going out for drinks tonight and that I should join. I had plans for a friends bday but wanted to meet up with them afterwards. Super. So later on that night I texted her to see what the plan was and this was our text convo:
Me: So where are you guys?
Her: Heading to Providence
Me: Oh boo!! Where in Providence?
Her: Gallery [gay bar in Providence I've been to before, super fun- dance party USA type place]
Me: Woah woah woah, I've had some fun times there!
Her: You've been to Gallery?
Me: Duh!
Then no response.

So I carried on with my evening. Then today I get a text from her that says: "Duh cause it's infamous or duh cause..." aka, are you a lesbian? Hm. How to respond. Without offending, or assuming. So I responded with this: "Yeah in restrospect duh wasn't the best response, I had been drinking. I have been there before with a friend I used to work with, we saw former students, it was awk. Lol is this an awkward conversation? I'm not gay but I love a good dance party as much as the next guy!"And then crickets, no response. I'm thinking crap did I offend her? But then she responded later on with, "I laughed so hard at your entire response" and all is well in the universe.

So all in all an interesting weekend! Other fun details:
*AMAZING dinner with my lovers Friday night. Lots of laughs and drinks, the perfect combo with great friends.
*Fun sleepover Friday night with the friendboy. That's what we'll call him because he's not a boyfriend, but it's a step beyond simple friendship. Maybe more than a step. Whatev.
*Saturday school then the gym where I RAN THREE MILES. Holy crap. Love that.
*Then coffee with the Russian. Again, eh.
*Home to watch more Dawson's Creek and then take a nap (got to bed prob around 3 am Friday and woke up at 7:15)
*Dinner at the Airport Grille Saturday night for a friends bday, then bowling at Wonderbowl- super fun!
*Slept in a little this morning, then got together with the bridal party for a planning sesh for one of my lover's bridal shower.
*Gym where I only ran one mile, eh wasn't feeling the gym.
*Home, more Dawson's, shower and napping. Then my parents for dinner.

I'm tired! Watching the Grammy's, figuring out what I'm doing in World tomorrow and then bedtime!

"Don't mess with the bull young man, you're going to get the horns"

Movie, anyone?

Every Saturday that I wait for the kids who have Saturday school to get dropped off, I picture the conversations that each character in the Breakfast Club had with their parents when they were dropped off for detention in the movie and I wonder what the parents of my Saturday school kids are saying, if it's anything- if they're pissed they have to drop the kids off at 8 am on a Saturday, if they could care less etc.

Random.

One of my favorite movies ever.

deja vu:

Noun, the illusion of having previously experienced something actually being encountered for the first time.


So on my practically daily trip to Target this afternoon to get candy for my students (they've been awesome this week), pick up a prescription and pictures of my previous semester students to put up in my classroom, I went to check out the price of the Pride and Prejudice (the one with Colin Firth, I still have not seen it and I hear it's amazing) dvd- I do this often because it's $30 which is a lot and I always check to see if it's gone on sale, it hadn't- BUT I did find Dawson's Creek seasons 1 and 2 on DVD together for $20!!!! Score!!!!

So why the vocabulary lesson? Simple.


Watching Dawson's Creek from the very beginning, as I started to tonight, has literally brought me back to 1997 when I would watch this show and anxiously anticipate the day when I would get my first kiss, or better yet (!) my first boyfriend. Literally, I feel that same anticipation, longing, desperation, frustration, excitement and sadness I experienced when I was 15 years old. I wanted those things so badly.


Except it's different this time. It's different because I know how amazing it is to have a first kiss. I know how great it is to have a boyfriend. I've had both of those things since watching the show the first time around and it was awesome. Definitely lived up to and even exceeded the hype and expectations I had created in my head from watching seasons of Dawson's Creek and Felicity. 


Problem is, watching the show now, as a 28 year old, may actually make those feelings worse and magnified because I know how great it is to have someone there for you, to want to be with you, and to want you- and that may actually be worse than not knowing what it's like to have any of those things in the first place. 


Knowing what it's like, how incredible it is, and then losing it only to have to wish and hope for it all over again- I'd take the 15 year old version of what I'm feeling as opposed to the 28 year old version any day. 

I wish

Anthropologie would furnish my life. And by my life I mean my house and my wardrobe.

I'm a Craft Machine

Friday night I finished my cross-stitch (picture in previous post), Saturday I took the doors of the really pretty tan/seashell cabinet thing that was in my bathroom (picture in previous post) and began the process of painting it white which I completed Sunday afternoon!

It only took FOUR COATS OF PAINT for those horrid seashells to disappear. I painted a coat Saturday afternoon and then Saturday night because I did nothing Saturday night except watch He's Just Not that into You (how fitting) and went to bed early. Sunday I woke up, made myself bacon and eggs because why not, and put a third coat of paint on the shelves (I really don't know what this thing is technically, it's not a hutch, it's not shelves, I don't know...) and hung around the house not quite sure what to do with myself. I went to Target (fun run-in with the Ex and the girl, he waved as we drove by each other....Happy Sunday!) for some random stuff and back home to finish my crafting projects.

My Dad was equally as bored as I was so we ran to Lowe's and Home Depot to check out potential shelving for the closet in my bathroom (next project) that afternoon and he ended up buying me three new lights for outside my house- Thanks Dad! Love when that happens!!

So here's the finished product for my bathroom, one step closer to organization!
*I had the white paint leftover from moving into my house
*Bought the baskets at pier1 with a giftcard I had from my housewarming party
*The mirrored tray was mine that I fell in love with at Target last year and waited for to go on sale before I bought it but hadn't found the right place for it in my house- until now!
*The "J" mug is from Anthropologie
*My perfumes- well, I clearly have a problem
*Bare necessities for makeup that I use everyday, my other stuff is in a train case stowed away
*Little dish for jewelry before I put it away also from Anthropologie a while ago when I went to visit Lizzie in Charlotte

I just love it now!!!

This is my next project- putting some shelves in here for towels and sheets, and also some storage for winter/summer clothes and my hamper. One thing at a time, don't judge me, it's a mess:

Happy Monday everyone, hope it's a great week!

How soon is too soon?

So as I mentioned in the About Me portion of this blog, over the summer I joined eHarmony. I had emailed back and forth with a few guys, and got to the point of aim conversations with two others. It was poor timing on my part that I joined and got to the convo part at the end of the summer, beginning of the school year when my schedule was just insane. I didn't have time to really spend getting to know new people, I barely had time for the people I already know and know I like, nevermind new people that I wasn't even sure I'd grow to like.

The first guy I was imming with got real annoying, real fast. He told me rather quickly that he wasn't talking to any other girls, from eHarmony or real life, and was curious if I was. Um, guy, I've never met you, we've chatted online a handful of times and I've seen one picture of you. I'm not putting all my eggs in your basket- for all I know it's a hoop with no bottom and with my luck all my eggs will end up splattered on the ground. (Did that analogy work or just sound dumb?) He also wanted to go for a walk along the Cape Cod Canal as our first date. Now, a walk on the Canal sounds amazing, if I know you and know you're not some psycho. I would prefer a well-lit restaurant where we both meet there for my personal safety. Needless to say, that didn't work out.

Guy number two that I was imming with, it wasn't anything in particular, just that I was way too busy to get to know someone, and it kind of stopped.

Well, he immed me again recently asking if things had died down. I said that they had, although we're starting new courses soon which I'm sure will kick up the dust again. I gave him points for persistance though. We talked some more, and he asked if I was interested in getting coffee. I said sure (I figured why the heck not) and we made plans for next Saturday to meet.

Two things. One, he uses emoticons WAY too often. The winking ones. I can see for emphasis every once in a while, but we're not 14 years old anymore, I think we're a little beyond them? Maybe I'm being too judgey. Two, he's been calling me "lovely" as of late. Tonights im read, "hey lovely." Now I only have one relationship to gauge when the nickname portion of the program began, and come to think of the the Ex and I weren't huge nickname people. I don't think I called him "babe" or "hon" or anything at all. He I think called me "babe". If memory serves me correctly, which really isn't anything to go by. I just feel like it's weird and too soon to be referring to me any other way besides my name. Am I just being a bitch? I don't know, it turns me off. Again, you don't know me yet. What if I'm not lovely to you at all? What if you hate me? I also feel like Guy #1 did this too. And I felt the same way.

Updates on this front to follow for sure.

Finished product and work-in-progress

I finished my cross-stitch last night, on another eventful Saturday night. I'm not happy with the "you" and the spacing of words but live and learn and hopefully my next one will improve on those things. Here's a picture of the finished product:

I'm also painting a cabinet thing I had in my bathroom that came with my house. It had a pretty sea shell motif on it, and for some unknown reason it's only taken me a year to paint it white. Right now I'm waiting for the third coat of white paint to dry. Here's what it looked like before:

I took the two doors off and am going to put baskets on the open shelves. I think I'm going to need a fourth coat, so once I'm done with that and have painted the *hopefully* last coat of paint, a picture of the finished product will be posted as well.

Happy Sunday!

Umbrella beats cross-stitch.

Like paper beats rock.

So last weekend my big event was working on my cross-stitch project.

Tonight was shaping up a little bit better than that. I was waiting for a guy to come over and take out my old boiler and water heater when my friend Jen called asking if I wanted to meet for drinks!! Of course I told her yes, and once the guy was done and my old boiler and water heater were whisked away, I met Jen downtown.

Had two French Kiss martinis- yum! And was going to meet up with my friend Ross for a drink and food after that. Except he flaked. So I went home. And put on sweat pants (still have my cute shirt from Ann Taylor Loft from my Auntand Uncle for my bday on top though, jic something comes along out of the blue) and slippers.

Then I made some nachos. And decided to whip up a drink because my slight buzz was feeling nice and I wanted to continue that. I was limited though in terms of my liquor cabinet. This is what I settled on:

And this is what I created:

And then adjusted because the picture would look better with the umbrella at this angle instead.

Except I can't figure out how to rotate it. Super.

This is my Friday night.

Don't judge.

My crazy Sunday night....

Tonight is essentially a Saturday night since it's a holiday tomorrow and no work.

This is what I'm doing:

Yes, I am cross-stitching and no, I did not age 40+ years overnight.

My life is really that exciting.

If you're curious I am cross-stitching: "all I really want is you" on navy fabric with turquoise thread. I was inspired by these. I love the monograms, actually I heart them all. I felt like I could make them though and save some money. I initially thought they were a bit pricey but I now know why she charges what she does- the plotting out of the writing is very overwhelming and super time consuming. My hands are cramping and my neck hurts. But I have a feeling I'm going to love it when I'm done. Pictures to follow.

SOCLOSE

Only two issues short of having all published issues of Domino magazine.

I feel accomplished.

What am I going to obsess about once I have them all?

Also, I want a creative way to display all my issues of Domino once I have them. Yes, guilty as charged- I want to gloat.

Right now they're in magazine holders from Ikea on my love, aka my West Elm Parson's desk. I feel like I can get more creative than that.

I may rearrange my living room when I get out of school. I need something productive to do. I have been down in the dumps too often lately.

Oh first I have to stop by my parents house to see my Mom, I still haven't talked to her since I found out about her friend Pam. Yuck.

Back in the dumps.

Another reason

or should I say bonus or plus of having a significant other is you have a default person to talk to when things are shitty.

When you don't have anyone you feel like you're bothering people to talk about things that are wrong. Even though those people would never feel like they were being bothered, sometimes it's nice to just have someone there automatically.

A close friend of my Mom's passed away today, I haven't talked to my Mom, I don't really know what to say, but I do know it would be great to have someone to just talk about it with without having to be the one to reach out.

HELP!!!

So I am in need of a new rug for my living room. I want something neutral and simple. I checked my usual sites for house stuff, west elm, pottery barn, cb2, crate and barrel, anthropologie (not that I can afford a rug from there) and the like. Eh, nothing really struck me. I then went to overstock.com and I have a few options/ideas I'd like run past you, feel free to comment or email me which you prefer as I enjoy help and suggestions.

Here we go:

Option 1, cheapest and I really love the pattern, I'd go with the one on the bottom, the "chocolate" option. And did I mention it's cheap? $65.99 for an almost 5x8.

Option 2, again, price not that bad and I like the color too. I'm just not sure gray

will look right with my living room, which is why I also enjoy this rug in the brown option:

I still think I like the houndstooth print better. Color-wise too I think I like it better.

Option 3, I really like the print of this rug and also enjoy the price- $169.99. Not bad.

Ok, thoughts? Please!