Outtakes

I'm about to go take a slew of outfit pictures to finish up my 30-for-30.  I actually already wore my last outfit.  I just got a little behind, a.k.a. lazy.

But soon I'll be done and we can all move onto March, and whatever that may hold.  For now, I wanted to share some "outtakes" from the past month.

I've been taking my outfit pictures with the self timer set to take multiple pictures in a row.  And since the dogs are usually both big helps in the process, they've ended up stealing the frame from me a few times.  A couple sequences absolutely cracked me up and I thought you might enjoy them, too.

First up is Jamaica ambushing Jackson on the side of my shots.  She's a bit of a menace and he puts up with a lot from her.

The other funny shots also involve Jamaica.  I had decided to take pictures in a chair and Jamaica thought she should be the star.  Can you tell who's the troublemaker?

Have a happy Monday!

This Sunday

I was writing a Facebook status update that quickly became a short essay.  So I said to myself, "Self, why don't you write a blog post instead."

The rest is soon to be history.  (Meaning, I'm about to write it.)

What may today so nice?  Well, thanks for asking.

Sunday was lovely because of (in no particular order):
- snow falling in the morning
- my team beating our in-state rivals
- Colin Firth
- a shower and clean sheets for tonight
- pizza
- fun celebrating a good friend's wedding this spring at a bridal shower
- enjoying the NFL Combine and Criminal Minds on TV
- a male cheerleader getting a technical in the Pitt-Louisville game
- the Louisville arena being called the KFC Yum! Center

Sunday, you clean up nice.

And a little more funny to end the night:
This evening I was also looking at Google Analytics, just for the heck of it, and one keyword search term cracked me up.  "Kiss & tell from sexting to secret boyfriends."

30 for 30 Continues

I'm behind on outfit pictures again.  I don't know how style bloggers do it.  Take the pictures, edit them, and write posts.  High five for you all!

I do have more outfits to share with you though.

Don't mind the quality of the pictures.  I know most are not great.  The weather here has been crazy, it's winter so days are still short, and my work schedule has been completely sporadic.

Also continue to ignore my awkward poses.  Or don't and laugh along with me.

To see a round-up of all my outfits so far, visit this page.  You can also navigate there from the top bar on my blog.

Let's get to pesky #11.  It was a sneaky outfit that I finally managed to capture.

Also, I've given up on dates because things are so hopelessly confused.  The numbers are the actual order I wore things in, however.

#11 of 30

Sweater: Old Navy; top: cannot remember; dress: Nordstrom; belt: Gap; leggings: Target (I think); boots: Steve Madden

Try to ignore how similar this next outfit is and keep in mind they were worn 8 days apart.

#19 of 30

 T-shirt: Target; sweater: Old Navy; dress: Nordstrom; tights: Hue; boots: Steve Madden; necklace: ???

#20 of 30:

 T-shirt: Target; button-up: Old Navy; jeans: Gap; shoes: Converse; watch: Fossil

 I'm pretty much in love with this outfit.  Also, my new hair dryer is amazing!

#21 of 30:

 Jeans and t-shirt: Gap; sweater: Old Navy; scarf: Nordstrom (I think); shoes: converse; flaming hair: out of a bottle

That's all for now folks.  This post is much too long anyways.  I have actually successfully worn 28 of 30 outfits, so I already feel victorious.  I just have to catch up the rest of you.

Thanks for sticking with me. :)

Apparently I'm Stylish

One of my newest blog friends, Laurie at Some Catchy Thing nominated me for an award.  Thanks, Laurie!!!

I'm glad someone finally recognized how stylish I am.

(I kid, I kid.)

However, this award is not without a few strings. 

Here are the rules of the game:
1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 great bloggers.
4. Contact the bloggers and tell them about the award!

7 Things About Me:
1.  I love sports, more than what would be considered "normal" for any woman.  And I'm totally proud of it.  Basketball is my favorite, but there's not much I won't check out or even play.  I don't promise I'll be good at it though.
2.  I skipped the second grade.  After being held back before kindergarten because of my summer birthday, it quickly became clear that was unnecessary.  I was a little bored and more than my teachers could deal with.  So I did 2nd grade over a summer.
3.  I've never broken a bone, but I have stapled my fingers together, gashed a hole in my head, fallen whole-body into berry bushes, has surgery for trigger finger, and even burned my butt.  Nothing serious, but a lot of ridiculous.
4.  I have two siblings, a younger brother and sister.  We were born within 3.5 years of each other.  I'm not quite sure how my mother survived us.
5.  I owned my own mower before I had a car.  My dad and I (as well as my brother and sister at various times) spent our summers mowing lawns, and weeding if it was unavoidable.
6.  I currently work as a transcriber at a local university, providing communication access (via computers) for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, but I graduated with a degree in Sport Management.  I'd love to use it again someday.
7.  I'm kind of a country girl at heart.  I love riding horses, jeans and boots, getting my hands, working up a sweat via physical labor, rocking out to country music, and cruising along in a 4-wheel-drive, manual transmission pick-up (not truck!).  Too bad I live in a city.  Or maybe it just makes me appreciate the country life a little more.

Now, onto the 15 bloggers I'm nominating.  I don't really care if any of you care this on, like some sort of chain letter.  I really just want to see what 7 things you come up with.  Here's my 15:
1. My mom at A Word About Words
2. My sister at Murmurs of Me
3. My cousin at Northern Lights of Joy
4. Christine! at CC Does Seattle

Oh gosh, I'm already exhausted by this list. But I will press on.

5. Carrie at a Chocolate Covered To-Do List
6. Molly at a Foreign Land
7. Stevie at Allow Me to Introduce....Myself
8. Sarah Beth at Midwest to Northwest
9. Jay at Genius Pending
10. Lydia at Shopping and Spreadsheets
11. Jeanna of That's What Je Said
12. Krystal at Village
13. Alana Shana at ColorBlind (Sorry about my idiocy!)
14. Amy at Second City Randomness
15. Alynne at Pink Lemonade

I love reading all of these blogs, for many different reasons, and I can't wait to learn more about (I'm talking to you sister) each of them.

On that note, happy weekend.  I'm an old woman and since my night was so full from watching a play and knitting (I tell no lies), I'm hitting the hay (reference to #7).

Awkward and Awesome: Episode 7

I was going to try and preface this with a little story, but I couldn't come up with anything that wasn't awkward or awesome (see below).  Happy almost Friday!!!

Awkward:
- All the hype about the snow "storm" that turned into nothing.  Everyone had their fingers crossed for a day off, but it wasn't to be.  However, 30 minutes south of us they got slammed.
- The freezing temperature of the computer lab I'm typing in.  I keep looking around for an open window.  Maybe I'll go change the thermostat myself as this can't be good for the computers.
- Switching between my Mac at home and PCs here at school.  I'm constantly using the wrong key strokes for different actions.
- Trying to dress for this cold weather with a limited wardrobe.  I have on two pairs of tights, socks, and boots.  My feet are still freezing. 
- Having trouble using my clutch this morning, an essential skill for a manual transmission, because of the snow stuck to the bottom of my boot.
- Only having two of my three letters of recommendations get done for my grad app.  The school is still looking over my material, but it's freaking me out.
- My realization that caffeinated beverages appear to be giving me headaches.  I love coffee and tea, but I may have to switch to decaf. :(
- Trying to pull a computer roller bag through snow.  It's like a miniature snow plow.

Awesome:
- Getting to hang out with Uncle D for yesterday.  We drove all over the county, quite literally, and got to catch up on life.  He was just here for a few days from Boston as part of our impromptu family reunion. 
- Previously mentioned Uncle D surprising the family when he showed up on our doorstep (thanks Tacoma Crains!) Sunday morning.  He literally bought his ticket a day before he flew out.
- Apples to Apples with large groups of family.  This could probably fall into the awkward category as well, thanks to someone's (you know who you are) dirty mind.  But I enjoy the extra laughter.
- I mentioned this yesterday, but we got to eat some pretty delicious food over the weekend (and leftover throughout this week), which is always an awesome in my book.
- Using a broom to clean off my car this morning.  Quick to use and it kept me dry!
- Working in play rehearsals.  It's totally worth having all the songs in my head and working late into the evening to get to watch an awesome show for free!

Well, I'm off to find a warm drink to warm my hands with.  Hope you're warmer than I am.

Last Saturday

Our very last guest left today (bye, Uncle D!).  He took the shuttle down to the airport on a cold, windy, and snowy winter night.  Needless to say it wasn't a fun ride.

This weekend, however, was gorgeous and sunny (if a little cold).  This was especially a good thing in terms of family relations.  Getting out and being active probably kept us from killing one another.  "Some" of us (you know who you are) don't do well just sitting around for hours.

Plus, if we went out and did something we could sneak a few more sweets.  This was especially important since we had enough sugar-based baked goods to keep a kindergarten class high for days.

Three kinds of cake on Sunday for our after dinner dessert.  That doesn't count the chocolate, cookies and other various treats that were laying around.

Needless to say, our family makes food a priority.  That's why one of the first things my SoCal aunt asked about was the weekend's menu.

See, there I go getting sidetracked by food.

My point was the gorgeous weather.  I only took pictures of our explorations of a state park.  I'm kind of bummed I missed the sunset on the boardwalk across the bay.  Can't win them all.

I'm a little on the tired side, so I just want to give you a mostly unedited glimpse of our adventure.  Happy Wednesday/Thursday.

If it weren't for the big jackets, you could almost imagine it summer.

(Fingers crossed we get a snow day or a late start tomorrow.)

Ten on Tuesday, do it again.

Supposedly we're getting 3-ish inches of snow tonight.  I'll believe it when I see it.

That said, I could totally go for a snow day.  Cuz the weekend wasn't a restful one.

Now, onto the main event!

1. What are your thoughts on Valentine's Day.  Do you love it?  Hate it?
I love it, even if I've never had a boyfriend for the day.  There are many people in my life that I love and it's a great day to celebrate that fact.

2. What is your favorite romantic comedy?
When Harry Met Sally is close to the top of my list.

3. Meg Ryan & John Mellencamp: what's your first reaction?
Fine with me.  I don't really have a strong feeling about it.

4. All time favorite poem or quote?
Cliche yes, but I still love it.  Excerpt from Marianne Williamson's Return to Love:

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


5. What's the longest amount of time you've gone without sleep?
Somewhere between 30 and 48 hours.  It's all a little foggy when I get tired.

6. What color ink do you prefer to use?
I can't say that I have much of a preference.  For me, it's more about the smoothness of the writing experience with a pen.  (Sarah, are you laughing a little right now?)

7. Share with us a blog that you recently found and fell in love with (and link us!).
You probably could have already guessed this, but I read A LOT of fashion blogs.  It's a recent addiction and who knows how long it will last.  A current favorite, Running on Happiness, is fun to look at just for the gorgeous pictures.

Another favorite that I have shared before is Enjoying the Small Things.  Kelle is amazingly honest, has amazing pictures, and has absolutely adorable girls.  You should be reading this.

8. If you could be on a reality TV show which one would you choose?
Honestly, probably the Biggest Loser, not because I need to lose that much weight, but because the idea of having a trainer work with me for such an extended period of time sounds awesome.  Just think of all the cool ideas you would learn.

9. Mountains or beach?
Honestly, it's a toss up.  I love both.  Probably, I would choose beach because ours aren't even a little sandy and the mountains are practically in my backyard (not that I take advantage of them).  So some tropical beach.

10. With the Oscars around the corner, what's your pick for best picture?
Since I haven't seen a single nominee, except Toy Story 3, I don't think I'm qualified to pick.  What do you think?