Christmas cookie time

We did our Christmas cookie baking this weekend.  We made A LOT of cookies! 

They're almost too pretty too eat :)

Lasagna

Yummmm.

My very first lasagna I've ever made.  It's amazing.  :)

Ugh. Winter is coming.

This is a little personal health update/complaint, so you may not really want to read this.

Having said that, I am about 99% sure I am allergic to winter. 

I'm not sure who I have to thank for my lovely skin conditions (but my bets are on you mom).  Since moving back north, my skin is terrible.

Every winter I get SUPER dry skin.  Everywhere.  My fingers bleed, my elbows crack, my legs get super blotchy, I itch like crazy, and I get these red bumps all over my legs.  I thought they were hives at first, but nope, just super dry skin. 

The worst part? The doctor told me showering every day is just making everything worse.  So.  I work in a smelly business (not bad smelling, just strong smelling), and I work out 3-4 days a week. I take daily showers for a reason. 

I struggle with this concept of not showering every day. 

...you may not want to get too close to me this winter.  :)

Picture from Vegas

I'm trying to post a little more than I was before, so I figured I'd go with pictures.

Like me drinking champagne from a straw while walking around on The Strip.  Super classy.

Running in Vegas

I was supposed to run a half marathon in Vegas tonight, but I decided on Friday that I only wanted to go the 6.55 mile option instead, because I honestly kind of hate running for that long.  I don't know why I keep signing up for them.

The blister I've had on my foot since Friday appreciated that decision (I know, it's a gross picture).  This thing hurt for the entire run, and it was especially bad the last 2.5 miles.  Another 6.55 miles would have just sucked.

The rest of the run was fun, and I wasn't as slow as I normally am. 

All in all, it was a great decision to not do the half marathon and I'm glad they had an option for a shorter distance. :)

Work in progress

While at The Dump, I also bought the bed that had been my purpose for going in the first place.

It's plain, kind of vanilla, but I really like it.  No fussyness or anything.  Just plain, straight lines.

Having said all that, I'm really liking my bedroom.  It's still a work in progress, but it's getting there.

I really need some curtains

I went to The Dump (the furniture store, not the trash disposal site) last weekend to buy a headboard. 

While walking back to the bedroom section, something pulled me in with its tractor beam. 

I tried to resist.  I even left and came back a day later to avoid the purchase.  But resistance was futile. 

I apparently really needed a red leather sofa.  But then again, who doesn't?

Hey I came back randomly

I've made a bunch of relatively simple knitted things since learning to knit.  I don't usually think it's too big an accomplishment to make a hat at this point anymore (only because I've made like a million of them). 

However, I am super proud of my first real sweater.  It's a sweater I made for myself. It looks like a sweater and it fits!  I had no idea I could do that. 

Ferb's first birthday party

I'm having a super crappy day so far today (definitely a case of the Mondays going on).  So, I'm posting this cute picture of Feb with his smash cake to cheer me up a bit.

I can't even begin to figure this out

My heart hurts today.  

I was listening to traffic on the way into work and hearing how all lanes of the highway were just reopening after a fatal accident last night.  Two people died around 1:30 in the morning.  One was a motorcycle driver, and one was another pedestrian fleeing an accident he had caused a mile down the road.  The motorcycle driver hit the pedestrian and was thrown off his bike and they both died.  

I didn't really think anything of it.  You never really do, other than maybe a casual thought about how awful that is. 

Until I got to work and realized the motorcycle driver was an employee on B-Shift from this factory.  

I'm still in shock.  Doesn't seem real.  

And seriously, my heart hurts today and I can't even begin to process how fucked up the whole situation is.  

I love my hair

I can't get my camera to capture the color that my hair really looks, however, while attempting to, I'm pretty sure I took the prettiest picture I've ever taken in my life.  I pretty much love this picture.  (My hair is a lot more copper/red in real life)...

Then I threw in a top angle shot to try and see that it's a darker red.  Still not the correct color, but you can see the contrast better...

New Hair!

So...

I am planning on making some big hair changes.  I'm kind of bored with my current hair, and need a fun new style.  

I'm looking at this hair color and maybe not quite that layered, but a similar cut.  

And for those too lazy to click the link, here's the picture.  

No, I will not also be getting that chest tattoo...I promise.

Ice cream!

Ferb is quite the messy eater.

New York

I went to New York this weekend for a friend's birthday celebration. 

As much as I love the city, I never tend to go to the "touristy" areas because I can't stand all the people.  However last night, we went out a few blocks from 33rd street, and I forgot how pretty the city can be at night when you don't just ignore the tourist sites. 

Sometimes, it's probably a good thing to just be a tourist and not take it for granted.  I can't remember the last time I actually looked at the Empire State Building as something pretty in the sky line and not just a lit up building for tourists to flock to, but last night, walking back to the PATH, I saw it and it made me smile. 

Then, I had to do the touristy thing and take a terrible picture of it. :)

RAR!

I have this weird obsession with T-rex.  I love making fun of them. 

I have one shirt making fun of their inability to clap.  I thought I should maybe get a slightly nicer one this time.

Can't wait till it gets here. 

Hello Mr Giraffe...I'd like to pet you now

I've been super stoked about our local zoo getting two giraffes visiting for the summer. 

Luckily, my sister agreed to bring Little V and Ferb up to visit so we could go to the zoo and see them. 

Ferb isn't too impressed (as shown in one of the pictures below), but I was. And really, isn't that all that matters?

Just some light reading

I love this picture.  I know they probably won't always think I'm so interesting, but I hope it lasts a while :)

Southbound

I'm sitting in the airport waiting for my flight to Charlotte.  Heading there for a work symposium, won't be back till late Thursday night (my poor beleaguered parents are stuck with Oscar for the week...they are probably already contemplating disowning me). 

However, it's just not a trip if I don't buy some Auntie Anne's pretzels.  (I don't have to actually eat them, just buy them).  It's like a ritual for me (and you never know when they may come in handy at midnight after a night of drinking...)

Luckily there is a kiosk right across from our seating area in the terminal.

My butt hurts

All my friends that ride bikes have SWORN that eventually my butt will get used to sitting on a bike and stop hurting.  I think they are all a bunch of liars. 

I went for a twelve mile ride today (wearing my excellent padded shorts), and it still hurts.  I actually stopped at the halfway point to take some pictures because I just wanted to get off the bike.

I an not too concerned about my ability to ride 75 miles from a cardio/muscle strength aspect.  I AM slightly concerned that my butt won't make it with me.

I should have just bought a recumbent bike with a chair like seat.  My butt would probably be much happier.  :)

But, some pictures taken at mile six before turning around and heading back.  At least it's a pretty trail!

So stylish

Little V is way too stylish for me.  She rocks the Vans and looks better in my sunglasses than I do. 

My pretty bike

I finally bought a bike the week after returning from Austin.  However, there wasn't a whole lot of options for me to pick from. 

I apparently have very disproportionately short legs compared to a disproportionately long torso.  So, I needed a medium frame to accommodate my torso.  But it also had to have a relatively low frame that I could lift my leg over (I give mad props to the sales guy for barely breaking a smile at the first bike I attempted to get on and almost knocked it over bc I had to lift my leg ridiculously high). 

That pretty much left me with two bikes to pick from and the second bike had the lower frame so it was the winner.

Everybody (well my cyclist friends that actually cared) asked me what kind of bike I got.  I honestly had no idea, I didn't even look when I bought it.  All I could tell them was it was purple (my friend saw it later and assured me it's a good brand, so thats a relief).  I felt like such an idiot, but yeah, bikes are really not my thing.

But seriously, isn't it pretty?

More evidence I am a really big nerd

Does anyone else have a favorite element?

I was watching TV a while ago (let me clarify this now, no I was not watching The Big Bang Theory, I really dislike that show and anyone that tells me I should watch it because I'd love it since they're all nerds.  I hate that show.) 

Anyways, I was watching a different show (can't remember what it was) and the characters started talking about their favorite numbers, and the one mentioned his was 4.  Then clarified it was really 4.002.  The atomic weight of helium (first clue I am a big dork, I knew this before anyone on the show mentioned it).  Apparently he was a big fan of that element. 

Then the other characters discussed THEIR favorite elements (carbon and tungsten), and I found myself disappointed that nobody mentioned molybdenum which just happens to be MY favorite element (atomic weight of 95.96 and atomic number is 42). 

Then, I realized, I have a favorite element (I just think it is a fun name and it's useful in making steel alloys).  I don't think this is normal.

But maybe I'm wrong?  Does anyone else have a favorite element?

My biking future

I mentioned a few posts ago that I lost my mind and signed up for the Bike to the Bay in September.  It's basically a 75 mile ride starting in Dover, DE and ending in Rehobeth, DE.  I have no idea why I decided to I could do this.  At the time I signed up, the last time I had been on a bike was in 2006ish (not exactly sure when) in Chicago with my sister when we did a bike tour of the city.  But, I guess I'm committed now. 

So, on that note, while we were in Austin, J and I decided to try and take a bike tour again.  Unfortunately, there were no tours available (SXSW apparently was interfering with our plans).  However, the day we arrived we were able to rent bikes and just ride the trails around the lake for a few hours.  We rented some cruisers (basic, one speed bikes with wide handlebars).  I was not good. 

I was worse than not good. 

I had a really hard time steering the bike.  I really hated the widespread handlebars.  I felt like I was trying to steer a yacht.  Of course, J had no problems and had no idea why I was such an idiot (to be honest, I have no idea why I had such a hard time either, but it was still funny).  I felt like I was riding with my dad.  Why don't you get it?  I'm not having any problems (she wasn't really being mean, I was more frustrated with myself, and I could tell she really didn't understand why I was so bad). 

I was finally starting to feel almost comfortable on the bike again, and we get to this weird section of the trail where you had to go on the road for all of 6 feet before going back on the trail.  There were people coming towards me taking up a lot of the space.  I tried to steer around them, and had major issues, and tried to overcorrect and failed.  I finally, just put my foot down to stop and catch myself, forgetting I was on the edge of the curb.  My foot just kept going down, and I flipped my bike off the curb into traffic. 

So, yeah, my first bike ride in about 7 years ends with me flipping my bike into traffic and I almost get run over.  Fun times.  Any time we got to a section that we had to go on the road again, I was terified.  Good thing I signed up for a bike ride that's entirely on the road.  You know, those things that cars drive on? 

But, I went to the bike shop yesterday and bought a bike, and I plan to get better before September.  Hope that works out for me.

Now, the only other thing to worry about is the fundraising.  If anyone wants to help contribute to my goal, you can go here and make a donation.  I appreciate any help you can give.  If you don't want to make an online donation, you can either comment (or send me an email, or call me if you have that info) and I will tell you how you can send in a donation via check or cash. 

Thanks everyone!

Matching mommy and little V hats.

I bought some yarn in Austin to make J and Little V matching hats.  They look so cute.  :)

I've lost my mind

I signed up for The Bike to the Bay in Delaware this year.  That's 75 miles on a bicycle.  I don't even OWN a bicycle.  (Guess what I plan to buy when I return from Austin).  At least it's not till September, but still.  Slightly terrified. 

As if that wasn't enough, I am planning to run the half marathon in Las Vegas in November. 

Like I said.  I've lost my mind. 

On a happy note, Yay Austin on Thursday! 

Random Updates

• I just got bit at the corner of my eye but some sort of gnat type bug.  It itches like a mother, and it's kind of swelling up.  Stupid bugs. 
• We leave for Austin in 9 days!
• JH came to visit me this weekend.  Yay! I hadn't seen her in it feels like FOREVER. 
• I went shopping this weekend with JH and bought a whole bunch of new clothes.  I wore one of the shirts and jeans today and got SO MANY compliments.  So, I really like the compliments obviously, but I always get a bit paranoid, do I normally look awful or something that this new outfit is SO OBVIOUSLY better?  Even better, I almost didn't buy the shirt, but JH convinced me it was cute and worked for me so I should get it.  I should go shopping with her more often apparently. 
• I ran 4 miles this weekend.  I haven't been running as often as I would like, but I have been doing cardio at the gym when I go, and I was pleasantly surprised that the 4 miles wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.  It was actually pretty fun. 
• I took a fitness test with the trainer today and was kind of surprised.  I lost 12" this past month (although 4 came from my boobs, so not sure how much that really counts), and I gained an inch in my hips (pretty much the one place I never need to gain anything), but I did lose 5" from the waist so at least I'm keeping the hourglass going?  Is that a good thing?
• Those results also explain my why my jeans fit weird.  My skinny day jeans have been fitting really well lately, but my fat day jeans have been feeling tight. So if you look at the jeans, they are cut differently.  The skinny day jeans have a narrower waist, but fuller hip area and my fat day jeans have a bigger waist but smaller hip area.  Right.  Total sense now. 
• People always complain they never know about the boys I date until after I'm done dating them.  So in interest of full disclosure...I have a date Tuesday night.  Wish me luck.  Maybe I'll even tell you about him if you're lucky. 

Not much else going on in my life.  I'm pretty freaking boring.  Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Austin

I'll be back in Austin in 11 days.  I am super stoked!

Oh, Hi again. Let me tell you my embarassing story.

Oh.  Hi there. 

Yeah, I haven't really felt like writing or posting or telling anybody anything.  So, radio silence over here.  Excellent.

But I made an ass of myself at the gym today and felt the need to share. 

I have been seeing a trainer for the last 3-4 weeks now and I love him.  He's evil and kicks my ass and is pretty much awesome. 

So I was there tonight and we were doing legs (which I seriously despise) and my knee was bothering me like it always does.  And my leg kind of gave out mid lunge and I dropped down to my knee and he basically  made me stop and move on to the next drill. 

Which was on the other side of the mat. 

So, I'm walking and my foot somehow catches on my pant leg and I quickly put my foot down to try and catch myself, and put my foot down right on the thick yoga mat things they have and I totally slipped and feet went up over my head and landed on my ass in front of the whole gym.

Graceful is my middle name. 

Mr. Ferb

I just love the smile that is constantly on his face.  And it was cool to watch and see how close this kid is to crawling!

In the meantime, Little V is either putting on her super-hero cape, or she just wanted to show off her belly.  Either or. 

Mr. S's hat

A friend of mine requested a hat from me.  (ok, I was saying I wanted to make a hat but I already made about fifty this year and really didn't need another one, so he requested I make one for him).

Deal.

I actually really like how the hat turned out, and he looks pretty good in it (or maybe it's his awesomely ridiculous shirt).

So what do you think?  Is it the hat or the shirt? :-P

My weekend highlight

Play time with little V and Ferb.  They are so cute.  :)

Updates!f

I finally started going back to the gym.  And I bought trainer sessions.  My trainer is cute.  He also seems very nice.  Don't be fooled, he's pretty much evil (he has admitted he's entirely sadistic).  I haven't NOT been sore for about two weeks now.  Also, the beer cushion around my belly is NOT happy.  I have the weakest stomach muscles ever.  However, I keep telling myself it's worth it.  We'll see...

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We had our awards dinner and Holiday party for work the last two weekends.  I got to wear super sparkly shirts.  I never get to wear sparkly things to work because it's considered a product contamination risk, so I had to make up for it the past two weekends.  I looked awesome.  :) 

 

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People at work are under the misconception that I can dance.  I find this hilarious seeing how I have NO rhythm.  Seriously, NO RHYTHM.  I'm beginning to question their opinions.

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I have been on a hat making kick.  Pretty sure I've made about 10 hats in the last few months.  I'm to the point I can't even wear all the hats I made.  LUCKILY, I just got a request from 4 different people to make them hats.  Yay hats! 

 

 

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Yeah, I'm boring.  I don't know what else is going on.  I've been working and going to the gym a lot  That's about it....Although I am super excited for March when I'm going to Austin with the sisters.  Can't wait!

The Guest Room!



I finished my guest room this weekend (except for the curtains, those have to wait another month or two until I get more fun money).  Sorry for the crappy quality of pictures (and I obviously feel no need to clean up or stage things before taking pictures, but meh, it is what it is). 

 

I wanted something fun and happy with lots of colors.  One of the things I really dislike about living in apartments is the lack of color.  In my last place, all the rooms were painted different colors and I had a lot of white furniture.  Here, all the walls are white and I feel like all my furniture just blends into the walls, and I want color!

 

So, my guest room main colors are turquoise and silver.  My sister claims the lamps are just tacky and I should tell my guests they are sleeping in a boudoir.  I claim it's the Jersey trash in me coming out.  Either way, I adore these lamps.  They are silver and sequined.  What more could you ask for? 

 

 

And, here's my favorite new addition.  I love this picture of Paris.  It just makes me want to travel.  (I swear my room is not as oddly warped as it appears in this picture) 

 

So, it's my bright and shiny guest room.  It makes me happy just looking at it.  :)

Little Ferb and his awesome hat

So, I made Ferb a hat as I mentioned before.  It fits!  (also is he not the cutest baby ever!)

My new precious

I went to the outlets yesterday to look for an outfit to wear to an awards dinner next weekend, and I found the cutest outfit.  But, I also randomly decided to go into the Coach outlet, and....I found this:

Oh the hearts

I made some hats for Little V and Ferb that I gave to them at Christmas (but not really as Christmas gifts). 

 

Ferb just got a standard blue and orange striped, ribbed hat.  Nothing too exciting.  But, I made it ribbed to accomodate our family's large heads and it will hopefully grow with him for a while.  We'll see.  (Or, I could have just failed entirely and it will be way too small and never fit the kid). 

 

 

 

But Little V's hat made me think it was just so freaking cute.  The hat itself is kind of meh.  It's just hot pink with a blue cuff and pom-pom. 

But, the part that made me squee and think it was so freaking cute is the heart buttons.  I don't know why, but buttons on a hat make me super happy.  Especially when they are tiny hearts. 

I kind of love this hat.  I don't think Little V is all that impressed with it, but that's ok.  I had fun making it.  And I can just look at the little hearts and be happy :)