I tried to log in this morning, but I forgot my own URL. I had to stop and think about it for about 30 seconds. BAD SIGN.
I just really wanted to share this:
[via]
Updates coming soon.
Jan 132011
Oct 202010
To your right, you will see that I have a box where you can ask me questions. Every question is anonymous (or if there is a way to figure out who asked it, I haven’t figured it out yet), and you can ask anything you want. When a question is asked, I receive an e-mail telling me that there is a question in my formspring inbox.
About 5 weeks ago, I was asked the following question:
Will you marry me?
I didn’t see the question until a few days ago, and I thought it was kind of funny. Like I said, I don’t know who asked it or why. Maybe it was just someone being cute… or maybe it was Dan in a moment of desperation. Regardless, it got me thinking. Who would I marry? What kind of person would have to ask me this question to get a “yes” out of me?
I am single now, so I’m allowed to fantasize about my perfect man without feeling too guilty. While I am a total commitment-phobe, and in the real world I would probably answer with an “eehhhhhhhhh I dunnnnoooooooooo…..” if this perfect man were to jump out of a tree to ambush me with an engagement ring, lets just play along for fun’s sake.
While we all like to pretend that looks don’t matter, let’s be honest with ourselves for once. They do. And while I’m not saying the below physical description is end-all-be-all, I am allowed to have preferences.
Physical Characteristics –
Eye Color: Green
Hair: Dark Brown or Black and short
Height: 6′+
Build: Athletic with Broad shoulders (I am a sucker for swimmers. Wuttup anybody with the body of Michael Phelps.)
Piercings: none
Tattoos: hmmmm.. a few wouldn’t hurt
Body Hair: Uhhh.. lets keep it to a minimum…
Think Paul Rudd. I know I could have gone with totally-in-your-face-hott, but I prefer the run-of-the-mill-handsome.
Give Me a Guy Who –
- Takes the “man’s role”. This includes but is not limited to such basic functions as driving most places, fixing stuff, and asking for a table at restaurants (I’m not hard to please)
- Likes animals and has the patience to put up with Prandtl
- Will take me to get a Bloomin’ Onion (or Awesome Blossom depending on the restaurant) whenever I am sad
- Will love me even when my metabolism disappears and I get fat off of aforementioned Bloomin’ Onions
- Will honestly answer the questions that I ask – even if it means my feelings are hurt. I don’t ask those potentially hurtful questions unless I want an honest answer. This includes “does this make me look fat?”
- Is educated, is driven, and has aspirations
- Is athletic… or is at least willing to do things like rock climb, hike, or play tennis with me sometimes
- Encourages me
- Makes me laugh – especially when I am stressed or upset
- Surprises me once in awhile with small things (ex – gets me my favorite candy bar at Walgreens if he’s there already)
- Has enough patience to put up with me when I am extra sloooowwwwww at catching on to what’s going on. Those days happen more often than I’d like to admit. He also has to be able to put up with how stubborn I am
- Is not too jealous. 95% of my friends are guys and this dream-man has to be able to accept that.
- Doesn’t necessarily love the things that I love… but is still willing to humor me once in awhile
- Will not trick me into eating spicy foods
- Has an active social life so I can have some breathing space sometimes
- Will fight with me and is not afraid of me. I don’t want to always be right. I’m not dense enough to believe that I know everything
- Is warm. I know it is weird, but this one is serious business. My feet get SO COLD in the winter… and I need him to warm them
- Is dependable. If he says he will be somewhere.. he will be there
- Can find the bright side in things. I don’t want to be with someone who is a total mopey drag all of the time
- Is willing to talk out problems. I am not the type of woman that keeps issues to myself until the relationship implodes. I would rather work things out as they come, and there is no way I could be with a guy that isn’t willing to communicate.
- Can have a serious conversation
- Is honest
- Can roll with the punches. We all get caught off guard, but he’s able to figure out the situation and move forward accordingly
- Is not super clingy
- Does not make me feel judged. He is someone I can talk to about anything
- Would never hit me or abuse me emotionally or physically
- Isn’t all about PDA. Once in awhile is okay, but too much makes me want to throw up
- Cares about me and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep me happy (as long as I’m not requesting something stupid… like 5k in jewels to stick around)
- Is intelligent… and is not afraid of buoyancy.
- Laughs at my jokes
- Has tact… nobody wants to date an asshole
- And of course… loves me for me
Admittedly, I made this list while watching Robin Hood: Men In Tights, so perhaps I missed some things. I am sure that over the next 24 hours I will think of some new things to add here… but for now, this is acceptable.
So.. for all of the Paul Rudd/Michael Phelps looking guys with the traits I listed above… SUP?
Aug 172010
Dan and I were going to begin moving into a new apartment on the 15th, but our breakup means that I will be living in the apartment solo (if you don’t count Lucy and Prandtl). I’m really excited about decorating it however I want, and I have a lot of decorating ideas! It is a relatively small apartment, but I think it will do. Prandtl might get a little frustrated about the lack of running space, but (as I will show you) we have a pretty big “backyard” to work with.
Anyway, some of my friends were wondering what the new place looks like, and I thought Gee… what better place to share my apartment than on my blog? So I took Prandtl with me to check the place out and take a few photos:
View just after coming in the front door:
View the opposite way (looking at the front door from across the apartment)
However…. the washer and dryer is in a closet next to the fridge. Weird placement. I don’t know how I feel about it:
There is a HUGE bathroom with tons of extra space. This photo does it no justice!
Not really a great picture of the bedroom, but it was the only one I took for some reason.
Prandtl’s favorite thing to do! She can’t creep out of the windows at our current apartment. The windows at my current place are too high and they face a brick wall.
I asked Prandtl how she felt about the place… and she approves 
This is in the lobby! WHAT UP FREE COFFEE?!!!?!
The view out of my windows!! It is WAY better than a brick wall!
This is basically my backyard I am gonna love living right next to the river!!
I can’t wait to get settled here! I basically will have two apartments until the end of the month.. so I have about two weeks to move everything from my current apartment to my new one. I plan on painting for a few days.. and then I’ll start moving things over and getting situated.
Did I mention that I am SO EXCITED?!?!!!
Aug 082010
I jumped off of a 25 foot pole yesterday… and I lived to blog about it!
As a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters, sometimes we get to take part in events that allow us to do fun things with our “Littles”. Yesterday’s event was called “Leap of Faith”, and it was this massive pole stuck into the ground in the middle of the woods. There was a structurally questionable ladder going up about 1/4 of the way, and then the rest of the climb were these small pieces of wood nailed to the pole. We were instructed to climb as high as we could and then fall or jump off of it. Our teammates would lower us to the ground safely.
I was fourth to climb, and as I watched the first, second, and third climbers jump off, I thought this whole thing looked easy. Or at least I did until it was my turn…
Before I knew it, I was standing in front of a massive wooden pole getting all of these ropes attached to me (so I wouldn’t fall to my doom). I had a lot of butterflies.
Then I was climbing… and I was climbing… and getting higher and higher… and I looked up and I still had a pretty far way to go until I was at the top.
Then I was at the top looking down feeling like I was miles from the ground.
Then I wanted to push myself, and I tried to stand up on top of the 1 foot in diameter pole
Then I stood on top of the pole and felt how shaky the whole setup was. I almost fell.
Then, to push myself a little bit more, I chose to turn around on the top of it rather than just go off of it backwards.
Then I slowly turned around on top of it (of course I looked down the whole time) and almost fell 5 more times.
And finally… I took a few more deep breaths and another look around me… and I jumped.
————————————————————-
After all was said and done, our instructor had us all stand in a circle and say out loud what we learned from our experience. Mine was:
“I can take a leap of faith… and be okay”
While I have been handling the breakup well, to say I haven’t had second thoughts would be a lie. It’s hard to break up with someone when nobody has really done anything wrong. But the timing of this event… and how relevant it was… and the kind of symbolism it held…
Everything is going to be just fine.
Jul 052010
Dan and I have been focused on moving for the last few weeks. We had initially hoped to stay in the apartment building we are in now, but we regained our senses. We’re in the city and can’t get away from city buses, I get really impatient in the morning from the traffic (when I leave to get to work by 8), and the construction makes me want to drive my car through barricades since I never know what streets are open at any given time. Plus, the building is old and the electricity bill is high since EVERYTHING is run off of electricity in a very inefficient way.
Lucky for us, we found a place about a mile and a half from here along the Mississippi river that is a little higher in rent, but ultimately we will be better off because of lower utility bills, no parking fees, and I’ll get to keep my peace of mind. Also – it’s super cute and our view is no longer a brick wall. Plus, the building was constructed in 2006 so everything is still really shiny. AND there is a doggy water fountain!
So we’ve been dreaming about future floor plans and paint colors. We went out and bought a new couch yesterday, too… courtesy my $700 and the Ikea about 15 minutes away
And while I swore that I would never buy an Ikea couch (quality is a pretty big concern of mine), I caved and just bought the damn thing. It’s actually very large and takes up almost the entire studio apartment we live in now… but it’s also pretty comfortable. Or at least Dan thinks so because he’s been lounging on it all day. And so has Lucy. And so has Prandtl. And… so have I
We’ve also been talking about paint colors and decorations and throwing away 50% of all of the things we own because a majority of it is excess crap we never use or forgot we had in the first place. Funny how we accumulate things so quickly. I live in a studio apartment and we literally have five lamps in our living room area. 5 sources of light in a 10 x 16 foot area. And we only turn 2 on – so it’s not even well lit in here.
Anyway, I’m excited. College was 4.5 years of my life where the number of things I had was limited by the size of my car because I had to literally pack up and move every three months. I would never get to consider painting or buying a couch… or even put paintings on the wall. Even the apartment that we live in now shows my hesitation when it comes to getting too “homey” in a place. The walls have a few paintings on them, but for the most part it is very bare. I had big dreams of getting curtains, but I haven’t even done that because I still feel like there’s no point since I’ll be moving soon anyway.
I’ve got high hopes for our new place. I’ll be terrified when we get some paint on the wall because I’ll be afraid it will look awful, but I guess it can’t get worse than bare white walls.
Jun 292010
Me? I’m not so good with money. I try, I really do, but I struggle. I scored a 57 when I took the Charles Schwab Financial Fitness Test… and that ranks pretty average. It’s certainly not the score of a financial guru.
The problem? I am impulsive. I don’t like to schedule my weekend activities more than one week in advance let alone save money slowly to buy a couch in two months. I don’t make lists. I don’t make plans. I fly by the seat of my pants and make things up as I go. That includes driving by Walgreens, deciding I would like a new eyeshadow, making a u-turn and going inside, and then leaving 1 hour and $100 later.
So in college, when friends wanted to go to sushi, I would always… always… say yes. And we would always… always… get a disgusting amount. Between three of us, we once got 14 rolls and I literally couldn’t look at fish for months afterward because the thought made me sick to my stomach. I also find it important to say that we finished all of it.
Or when Dan wanted to get a dog and, in the back of my mind, I wasn’t so sure it was the right time. But I went along with him anyway to the big adoption event in Detroit where we found the dog of our dreams… which was actually given to someone else so we got its sister (Prandtl). I spent oodles of money I didn’t have on the second place dog because it was cute and it would make Dan happy… and lets be honest, Prandtl ended up being super cute <3
And I absolutely LOVE the spa, and if the opportunity to go with someone comes up, I am all over it. And, lets be honest, there is nothing cheap about spa visits.
I suppose I value my social needs and the happiness of myself and others over money. I’m not one of those people that worships every penny in my wallet, and I like it that way. The I Am Happy When… poem is not who I am. And I guess I could be better with money, but then again… maybe a score of 57 is okay after all.
Disclaimer: This post is part of the 20SB Blog Carnival: Friends & Money, sponsored by Charles Schwab. Prizes may be awarded to selected posts. The information and opinions expressed in this post do not reflect the views or opinions of Charles Schwab. Details on the event, eligibility, and a complete list of participating bloggers can be found here.
Jun 152010
I’ve been busy lately and haven’t had a lot of time regarding writing posts, replying to comments, or even commenting elsewhere (although I still read your blogs when I get the chance). Let me show you what I’ve been up to!
As you can see, I’ve kept up with the calligraphy! I’ve been working on the seating cards for Dan’s sister’s wedding as well as making up an 8×8 sign that says “Please add your signature as a witness to our marriage”.
Before starting this project, my skills were pretty limited. That is… until I finished that entire stack of cards each with a different name on it. And by the time I reached the end of the seating cards I found myself having to redo the first cards I had done because I had improved in skill so much. It was a pain, but to redo cards because I got better was a problem I liked having.
For the last few weeks, I’ve spent practically all of my spare time on those cards and that sign. It was a big learning curve – figuring out how to center, how much pressure to put on the pen for the material the cards were made out of, figuring out vertical spacing, making sure I don’t use too much ink or too little, and the size nib to use. Plus, I am an incredible perfectionist and the first few cards I made literally took me hours. By now I can get about 10 cards in one sitting, but after that I start to get sloppy since my focus is lost and my hand is cramping.
And if you haven’t caught on – yes, I am kind of whiner.
Anyway, the “please add your signature sign” is not the final version – I’m still trying to decide on the flourishing I want to finish it out with (although I am definitely keeping the heart I made out of the tail of the ‘g’). Plus, Prandtl also stepped on the paper and now there are crease marks all over it.. so I’ll have to run out and buy some more cardstock and make it over again. Ugh. Dogs.
So anyway, now that the bulk of the project is over, I will have free time again! But I’ve gotten super excited over this calligraphy stuff… so I might just spend my evenings writing my name… over and over and over again… I honestly love it. But at least now I’ll have time to fit in a blog post more often.
As a side note, if anybody wants any calligraphy work done, let me know and I will be more than happy to do it! I can’t start until next month and I’m not charging anything as I am still trying to get a lot of practice. Left on my own, I probably wouldn’t use calligraphy again. The only font I know for now is the Formal Italic, but I’d be happy to start learning a second font if you’ve got a preference (although it would take me a few extra weeks). You would just pay for the materials.
Jun 062010
Once again, I apologize for my lack of info on my trip to Peru. A reliable internet connection was a rare thing while we were there. Although we tried to pick and choose our hotels based on wireless internet availability (since we were making up the vacation as we went and the internet is a powerful research tool), all we got were connections that cut in and out… if they were there at all. That Machu Picchu video took over an hour to load onto youtube… and getting it to post on my blog was a huge pain in the ass. I think that on my next vacation I will be making more use of the video blog, though… I like the way that turned out.
And why has it taken me so long to write about it since getting back to the States? Because of the sheer volume of things I have to say. It’s intimidating. A lot happened. So instead of fretting over making sure I hit every single point on the trip, I’m just going to make a list and let the pictures do more of the talking.
- Dan and I played charades practically everywhere we went because we didn’t know Spanish
- In order to talk to the owner of a hotel we stayed at, Google Translator was our best friend
- We ate ceviche – BEST FOOD EVER
- I got sick on a 20 hour bus ride and almost barfed everywhere… so much for seeing “the most beautiful scenery in Peru”
- We tried eating llama and guinea pig. Not big fans of either.
- We got to Machu Picchu!
- We saw big cities and small towns. Our favorite were the small towns. If any one is going to Peru, I’d advise you to get out of Lima as fast as you can.
- We got an impromptu offroading experience in a small bus we took from Ollantaytambo to Cusco. About 30 car accidents almost occurred.
- When walking across streets, we were probably almost killed about 10 times.
- When riding in taxis, we were probably almost killed about 30 times.
- We hiked up mountains to reach Incan ruins that we didn’t really understand. However, we had a great respect for their building abilities.
- I bought a lovely set of gloves and hats and even a nice sweater made of alpaca.
- I successfully haggled! $10 off!
- We took the local transportation (as opposed to the nice buses and vans tourists typically take). We were scrunched together with strangers. Some woman felt me up for at least half of a two hour bus ride.
- I enjoyed lots and lots of coca tea. Mmmmmm!
- A taxi driver charged us less than the typical fare, and to thank him I gave him 10 times what he had asked for. He gasped in delight, and I left before he could try to give me change.
- I ate the best food I have ever had
- I got drunk off of lots and lots of pisco sours
- I saw the most breathtaking views I have ever seen.
- I met among the friendliest people I have ever met.
- I had the best vacation I have ever had.
Would I go back again? In a heartbeat. But I think I would take the time to learn some Spanish first.
May 132010
My post Beauty: Where Our Perception Comes From follows a model as she undergoes some heavy makeup, hair, and photoshopping for a billboard ad. It’s pretty interesting to see what it takes to make someone look “perfect”.
Shortly after, I discussed my own insecurities regarding my own appearance in The Addiction to Appearance. I talked about my daily routine and how the way I look reflects how I feel about myself on any given day.
My friend Don Keylips wanted to see me without makeup since he has known me for years and has never seen it. And since I made this blog to keep track of myself and any strides in confidence I make, I thought this might be a good place to put it.
Also, I thought it might be fun to see how my face changes throughout the makeup process. I tend to go the natural route (especially for work), so my face doesn’t change much. I originally took a picture after every step, but I figured 11 pictures might be a little much… so I condensed it down to 5.
So be sure to imagine me taking a deep breath before hitting “publish”… because that’s exactly what I am going to do.
Clean faced:
+ Foundation, Concealer & Powder
+ Eyeshadow, Black Eyeliner on top & White Eyeliner on bottom
+ Straightened hair, Blush, Eyebrow Pencil, Lip Gloss & Lip Stick
+ Curled Eyelashes, Mascara & Hair pinned back (and I’m ready to go!)
And I will be honest with all of you. I have about a hundred photos of myself on my camera from days and days of prepping for this… I was sure to pick what I considered the best “no-makeup” version of myself to share with the world.
And one more thing. I’m not fishing for compliments or criticisms. This is just a step I’m taking to get over the hurdle that has been evading me for a long time. It’s silly, I know, but it’s something I struggle with.
Apr 152010
♥ Here’s to two years of fun together ♥
♥ Here’s to two years of celebrating our accomplishments with one another ♥
♥ Here’s to two years of taking those cute little smoochy pictures together ♥
♥ Here’s to two years of being in love ♥
Happy 2 Year Anniversary, handsome. XOXO
