6.12.2013

Lucky #1,000

This is my 1,000 post on E is Random (formerly titled Random Stupidness). That sure seems like a big number. This space has seen me through a lot, has seen me change a lot, and has helped me meet some awesome people.

So thanks to all of you who stop by, your comments and community are the reason I continue to blog.

I thought to celebrate this milestone, I'd share 1,000 random facts about myself.

Just kidding. I'd never get this post finished if I tried to make it to 1,000.

Instead, I'll just share a few random facts...basically, however many I can come up with. And if you have any burning questions, about me or anything else for that matter, let me know. I know I'm super mysterious.

Random Facts:

1. I am not a morning person.
2. Luckily, I am also not high maintenance.
3. I can get ready for the day and out the door in ten minutes.
4. I have never tried yoga. Or pilates.
5. I don't like paying full price for anything. I get it from my dad.
6. I find spam emails and comments hilarious.
7. I prefer beer to wine.
8. I never pulled an all-nighter in college.
9. I have a strong stomach.
10. Roller coasters are my favorite.
11. I had no idea roller coaster was two words until just now. Mind blown.
12. I like dogs more than cats.
13. Cheese is my favorite food group.
14. My secret goal is to learn how to use key strokes for every action on a computer.
15. I don't brush my hair and I rarely straighten it (Once in 6 months).
16. Math was (and is) fun to me.

Phew. That felt like a ton to come up with (and some of them were more my ramblings). I'm definitely calling it quits here.

What something (or many things) random about you? Any questions for me?

And thank you all again, for stopping by my little corner of the internet. It means the world to me!

Read other random facts about me: one, two, and three.

6.08.2013

Rolling down the tracks

I'm on the train headed up to my parent's house for the weekend. After the bridge over the river fell down a few weeks ago I snapped up a ticket to ride the train my next trip home.

I'm about 30 minutes away now and wondering why I haven't taken the train more.

With Wi-Fi, comfortable seats and pretty views along the water, it's pretty much perfect.

As I get ready for my weekend to really get going, I thought I'd share a list of things that made me happy this week.


  1. Sunshine for days
  2. Walks to Starbucks for afternoon treats
  3. Seeing a beautiful condo that made me a little less sad about losing the last place.
  4. New yoga pants.
  5. Actually reading a book.
  6. Trading in a bridesmaid dress for a smaller size.
  7. A delicious orange mojito.
  8. My awesome coworkers
  9. Bright pink nail polish.
  10. A really good laugh.
Happy weekend everyone!

6.04.2013

A little bit down

Hey friends.

My exciting news I mentioned last week has done a 180 degree turn to being a total bummer.

See, I was in the process of buying a condo. Three weeks out from closing, inspection done, earnest money down, and then I find out because of the complex I won't be able to get financing. From anyone.

So.

I'm going to keep looking for a place. But at the moment, I'm not feeling very excited about the prospect.

I thought I had found my home, at least for the next few years. I had even purchased a fridge, washer/dryer, and mattress set (which I'm super excited to deal with, by the way).

Instead, prices are going, inventory is pretty limited, and I'm not feeling optimistic.

I think I'll be in a better place shortly. But for the next day or two, I'm going to let myself wallow a bit. It only seems fair.

While I'm wallowing, want to tell me something good/awesome/exciting going on your life? I could use a pick-me-up.

5.31.2013

A look at May in tweets

I've decided to start a new little monthly feature around here. A look back at my month in tweets. Not only because I want to blog more and try new things doing it, but also because I might just tweet a little more too.

(Both blogging and tweeting have fallen off some since I started working full time.)

Here's a look back through may in under 140 characters.








So there you go. I was going to include random FB posts and Instagram photos, but since you can't embed those, it all seemed like too much work. And I really, really am ready for bed.

Feel free to follow me on Twitter to get (a few) more random updates about my life. And have a very happy weekend!

5.29.2013

The goods: product reviews

I don't know about you, but Ulta is one of the those places I always come out with more than I plan to buy. I go in for shampoo and come out with everything from lip gloss to lotion.

A while ago I ventured in for something (who can remember exactly what now), and came out with a haul. I thought I'd share some of my purchases and let you know what I'd recommend.


These were my fun purchases, and I like them all! I have only done the cherry Baby Lips so far, but I love the hint of color and the flavor. And the moisture stick has a really subtle color with a bit of shine.


The lotions (Hope in a Jar and Neutrogena Healthy Defense) are regular purchases. The Philosophy lotion is a splurge for me, but I love using it at night. It feels super moisturizing without being heavy. The Neutrogena makeup remover wipes were new and I really like them. They leave my skin feeling clean and fresh, and are super handy for traveling.



These last two were a first time purchase. I've been looking for a leave-in conditioner (my hair has been super dry!), and have liked Organix's shampoo and conditioner. So far it's been fine. I haven't seen amazing results, but I haven't had the same issues with knots and dryness either.

As far as the mascara, Maybelline's new Rocket Volum', I wasn't impressed. The coverage was good, but I found it to be pretty flaky and really hard to remove. I'll stick with my tried and true options there.

Have you tried any new products lately? What are you consistent must-haves?

5.23.2013

Awkward and Awesome: The Short Version

I'm making this post pretty quick because I really need to head out the door to work. First of all, let's celebrate because the week is almost over. This week has seemed like the longest. In fact, I was a little surprised it was only Thursday today.

But you all probably have a Monday off to look forward to. Enjoy! I have to work, but I get the next few holidays off (we switch off on my team at work) so I'm not complaining.

Awkward:
- Mentioning how I was obviously going to be posting more in my last post. And then going silent for days.
- Wearing my shorts backwards to bed and not realizing it until the next morning.
- How often I buy breakfast and lunch at work. And how often lunch is grilled cheese.
- My total confusion over a website redesign for my credit card account. I could not find my transactions for the life of me.
- Forgetting what day I was supposed to get together with a friend (luckily I hadn't made other plans and it worked out!)

Awesome:
- I'm guest posting over at Elle Sees today. If you've ever wondered how to deal with curly/wavy hair, or love getting new tips, head on over. Or just explore her blog for awesome beauty tips. Elle Sees knows it all.
- A friend and I discovered that Four Seasons cheese bar is half off late night. Needless to say, last Saturday night was delicious.
- Plans for a full weekend of fun, even though I am working on Monday.
- Raising over $1,000 for MDA by getting locked up. I had support from my amazing family and friends! Personal thank yous are definitely going out. (You can still donate here if you want to be part of my awesome crew!)
- Something big in the works for me. I don't want to share it here until it's for sure, which is part of the reason I haven't been blogging. It's so hard not to mention.

5.20.2013

My Favorite Seattle Spots

One of my favorite parts about living in Seattle, besides friends, sunny days, and exploring, has been finding some of my favorite places to eat.

I thought I'd share some of my tried-and-true options.

Breakfast:

Toulouse Petit
A hot spot at night, Toulouse Petit also offers a breakfast happy hour on week days. Not great if you have a normal 9-5 job, but if your schedule is flexible, I highly recommend checking it out. I've had a couple delicious items here and the coffee is served in a french press (fancy). This is another place I've meant to do longer posts about, but never quite pulled it off.

Pete's Egg Nest
My best friend and I stumbled upon this place last year and have been back a few times. It's a bit of a hole-in-the-wall. The portions are big, the service is great, the prices are reasonable, and the food is delicious.


Mae's Phinney Ridge Cafe (CLOSED)
This is a restaurant I first visited with my parents when I was little and my aunt lived in the area. I just learned that Mae's has closed, which makes me super sad. When it was open, they had amazing cinnamon rolls.


Lunch/dinner:

Taste of India
Bottomless chai, huge rounds of naan, amazing service, and delicious food. Once I went here with some friends and they comped us wine. You almost always get a small appetizer and a dessert to share on the house. Be warned though, this place gets crazy busy, especially in the evenings and on the weekend.

Than Brothers
This is the place to go for pho. It's a local chain that offers low prices and a cream puff as an appetizer with every meal. I've been to three of their locations and haven't had a bad experience yet. Want to be a little bit healthy? Ask for extra vegetables with you soup.

Serious Pie
This pizza spot is the brain child of Tom Douglas. I love stopping by here for happy hour (smaller versions of the pizza are offered at a lower price) for pizza and beer. Generally, these pizzas are a fun rustic option. I love the sausage pizza that includes an egg, but it's hard to go wrong.

Dessert:

Cake Envy
I've written about my love for Cake Envy before. Recently, they've expanded their offerings to include cookies, macarons, breakfast sandwiches and more. I still just go for the cupcakes. And if you have a smartphone, you can earn points towards free cupcakes and coffee. Score!

Hot Cakes
This place deserves its own post (and it will get one soon). Molten cakes in mason jars, boozy milkshakes, yummy cookies, and more. All in a fun location. Be warned though, the line can get long.

Did I miss anything? What are some of your favorite spots?