3.29.2010

Living to Dye

One of my gifts for my dad this Christmas was a tie-dye kit.  By request, not just something I randomly picked up along the way.

But up until yesterday, the kit had sat untouched somewhere in the cavern known as Dad's side of the closet.

Before my sister headed back to school after a week of Spring Break we grabbed shirts and started rubber banding.

It was messy, but fun, and we didn't really have a clue what we were doing.

When there was still dye left and all our shirts were done, Dad couldn't stop.  That would be a waste.

So he tie-dye underwear.

Seriously.

Remember how I said we didn't really know what we were doing.  Unfortunately, all the clothes were tossed into the washing machine for a rinse cycle.

Anything that had been white going in came out a purplish color.

Lesson learned for round #2.  Whenever that might be.

3.24.2010

Things I'm Really Digging Right Now

I've done a little shopping recently.  

I've had some time on my hands, was lucky enough to pass by the outlet mall, and had a few things that I just "needed".  You know, because I have so much more room for stuff in my room.

On top of the shopping, there are a couple items that I've fallen in love with all over again.  It's finally spring here, so I can start using something besides sweaters and sweatshirts.
My first big purchase were running shoes.  These were actually more of a "need".  I've been using the same running shoes for two years, which is not the best plan for my legs.  They are supposed to be dropped off at the house today and I've been putting off my workout so I can try them out.

I fell in love with the idea of a fleece motorcycle jacket when I saw my hairdresser wearing one sometime last year.  So when I saw one at Converse yesterday at the outlets, I grabbed it and didn't let go.

I got these flats at Target a couple years ago (I think) and haven't worn them all that much.  Then I put them on a couple weeks ago and haven't wanted to take them off.  The pattern is fun without being too much and can go with a variety of outfits.

Last week when Gap had it's Give and Get event (30% with 5% of your purchase going to a charity of your choice) it seemed like a good time for a little shopping.  (As if I ever really need much reason.)  My stop in Gap led me to a pair of broken in boyfriend jeans.  Comfortable and pretty much a perfect fit, a match made in heaven.
A while ago, when I was getting a mini-makeover at MAC, the artist told me that you can actually use kohl eyeliner along the rim of your eye, especially the bottom rim, which will then slide into the lash line.  I had forgotten the advice until recently, which is too bad because it's pretty genius.

My newest addiction (to go along with shoes and everything else I can't stop buying) is nail polish.  I spotted this gray-taupe color a while ago and finally picked it up for myself.  I also got a teal, dark green, and dark purple.  Like I said, addicted.

3.23.2010

Spring Break breaks down

I'm trying really hard to not become an embittered old woman.

Up until a couple weeks ago I thought I'd be lying beside a pool right now.  In Mexico.  Where the temperature is in the 80s.

But then I couldn't find anyone to go with me.  It's like they all have normal lives with normal jobs that don't actually give them spring breaks.

Whatever that's about.

Add to that the fact that I wasn't really interested in being in Mexico, by myself, for a week.  I hear things area  little dicey down there.

And to be honest, I would have been without the internet AND my cell phone.  So I would have been really alone.

I don't think I could have afforded buying and packing enough books to get me through the week.  I'm a fast reader.

Instead I'm sitting at home and doing exciting things like finishing my taxes (which weren't much of an uplifter this year) and finally putting my clothes away.

It's a crazy party here.  You know, like spring break tends to be.

I've decided to counter balance the thought that I could be sunbathing right now, I'm going to spend as much time as possible in sweats.

And you can't stop me.

3.22.2010

A Genius Mind

I'm never quite sure what words will come out of my dad's mouth.

He's mostly random, often irreverent, and always sarcastic.

But as my mom pointed out last night, at least it helps me enjoy living at home.

It all started with an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the popular older brother of Extreme Makeover.

The family on Home Edition was from Mississippi.  Next thing you know my dad is talking about a Swedish cake (from Ikea) in a rather awful Southern accent.

Things quickly devolved into me stating with an equally cliche accent, "He's making another left turn."  Because if there's one thing I really associate with the south (besides hospitality and Baptists), it's definitely Nascar.

A sport, which if I'm being honest, I don't really understand.  I get the skill of the drivers.  But sitting there watching them drive around in circles?  No thank you.

Early yesterday evening at dinner, I brought up the issue of out of date food stuff that often occurs in our house, partially because we don't clean things out and partially because my dad shops at discount stores.

He told me 2008 was not really that old for an expiration date.  He had, and I quote, "a chili pouch from 2006 that they will probably use for breast implants."

If that doesn't make you want to finish up a meal, today's dinner conversation would have really made you ill.

It certainly did for my mom.  I brought up the game "Would You Rather" and it just went downhill.

For my mom's tender sensibilities I'll stop the story there.

3.19.2010

Wine and Basketball

I've decided since I can't seem to post with any real regularity that I should at least shoot for a weekly round up.

If I set my expectations low, maybe I'll actually meet them.

Last Saturday, I went wine tasting.  Five wineries in just a couple hours.  My favorite spot was a little mom & pop place that had food pairings (including a toasted mini marshmallow) with each wine taste.

I also tasted more red wine in one day than I ever thought possible.

It's not that I don't like red wine.  It's just that I haven't had much.  It gives my mom killer head aches, and my dad isn't the biggest fan, so it's around our house much.

Between my dad and I, we came back from wine tasting with 7 normal bottles of wine and 4 1.5 liter bottles.  Which is kind of large.

On a completely unrelated note, yesterday and today are two of my most favorite days of the year.

Why?

Two words: March madness.  

I love basketball.  As I mentioned last week.  The first two days of the NCAA men's basketball tournament are the best.  Period.

This year it's made ever better by the fact that I'm not working these days.  It's finals this week and spring break next week, so I don't have to work.

What can I say, my life is really rough.

3.12.2010

Eat and Play Getaway

I'm away for the weekend, in a city known as the Palm Springs of the Evergreen State.

It's a pretty exotic vacation. I ventured with my grandfather, my dad and my dad's colleagues to the state basketball championships.

What can I say?! We're basketball addicts.

My grampa played at Oregon and was drafted into the NBA (he chose to go into teaching because it was a more stable career). Both my father and his brothers played in college. My dad was actually working at a basketball camp the summer I was born.

Pretty much, the sport is in my blood. I can watch it for hours, will play no matter how out of shape I am, and look forward to March like parents of small children look forward to nap time.

So this is a great vacation.

The other we are good at is eating. Between the basketball games, we have many different meals to fit in. 2 for 1 steaks, quality mexican food, an unknown number of winery tours, and all you can eat anything (we make sure to get our money's worth.).

For now we're resting up for the next big meal game, meaning everyone but me is napping.  But I am the youth on the trip.

I actually considered taking a run to work off some of lunch, but couldn't quite stir up the energy.

There is such a thing as too full.

3.11.2010

Exponential Coolness

One of the awesome perks of my job is that I get to walk around a college campus with a rolling computer bag.
I know, I know, you are so jealous right now.

I pretty much look really cool all the time.

Which is good, since “looking cool” has been my main goal my entire life. And boy, have I been good at it.

Take, for instance, the green, plaid oversized fleece jacket I wore in middle school. If that doesn’t scream cool, at least my glasses/braces combo look did.

Yesterday, the roller bags and I took “coolness” to a new level.

Instead of carting around one roller bag, I was lucky enough to have 2. That doesn’t just double the coolness factor. Roller bags actually have exponential impacts.

Mostly because it’s incredibly hard to coolly move two roller bags around at the same time.

I mean, one is hard enough. I run into door jams (and maybe over a person’s foot—occasionally) on a regular basis.

The morning, in all it’s double computer back glory, was only improved by the fact that the coffee stand gave my lukewarm water (hot water’s stepsister) for my tea.

I can just feel your jealousy pouring over me right now. And it feels good.

3.10.2010

Music Mania

I may or may not spend a good chunk of money on music.

I've never added up my expenditures, so I don't know for sure.

Now before you freak out about my lack-of-budgeting, what-am-I-doing-with-my-life, I'm-going-to-have-to-declare-bankruptcy-soon situation let me just say that I do have a good handle on my money.

Just in a bigger picture sense, not in a down-to-the-last-penny sense.

Anyways, back to the music.

Yesterday, as it was New Music Tuesday, I made a couple purchases.

One I'm absolutely in love with and have spent the past 24 hours memorizing every beat of every song.

I don't know if you've heard of Tyrone Wells before.  I've known of him for years, since my time as a campus programmer in college (which was one of the best jobs ever as a student).

He's a singer/songwriter with an awesome voice.  You can check out his album here.

As a side note, I've recently discovered that Amazon.com mp3 purchases can actually be played in iTunes.

And a lot of the time, Amazon is cheaper.  In case you care.

3.09.2010

Mistaken Identity

I went out to breakfast this weekend, while over in the Palouse for my cousins shower. It was a good chance to relax, eat good food, and catch up.

It was a restaurant that I use to frequent fairly regularly when I was going to school.

So I wasn't really surprised when the waitress recognized me. But then I realized she recognized me as someone else.

And she had done the same thing the last time I went to the restaurant.

It was a little awkward, but not so awkward that we didn't laugh about it.

Not that there is really any other appropriate response.

Later in the meal I though I had asked for tea, but then when the waitress asked if I wanted anything to drink, I knew something was wrong with the picture.

She ended up bringing me two eggs, over easy, with the rest of my order.

Which is pretty much the same thing as tea.

3.04.2010

Bon Voyage

I'm driving across the state tomorrow. It's been a while since I've ventured to the Palouse. Almost 6 months, in fact.

It's a wedding shower weekend, for my cousin, the tall one.

And luckily enough, I don't have to work tomorrow. So we (meaning my mom and I) can take off in the morning and miss traffic (and perhaps make a pit stop at Nordstrom Rack, because, really, how can you not?!).

I'm excited to see family and friends. I'm excited to laugh and have a good time at the shower (fingers crossed!).

I'm excited to see beautiful things, like this....

3.03.2010

Sore Muscles

I played basketball Sunday night for the first time in a couple months.  And I played for an hour and a half.

Then I felt like an old woman.

Now I'm thinking if that's what I felt like at 24 after not having played for a while, what will I feel like in 5, 10 or even 20 years.

Well, I probably won't be playing an hour and a half of basketball 20 years from now.  But one never really knows.

I think more muscles were sore from those pick-up games (spent guarding my 6'2" brother, no less) than any of my recent (and few and far between) lifting sessions I've done at the gym.

Barely being able to get out of bed on Tuesday made me realize how much I would like to really be in shape.

And it motivated me to go back to the gym.  Today.  Once my muscles had recovered a little.

Of course, I followed the visit to the gym with a dinner at Olive Garden, which is a little counter-productive, but I'm over it.