Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Do you find it weird?

Do you find it weird that we (ladies) will go undress to our birthday suits for a perfect stranger in order to get airbrushed with self tanner to feel a tad bit better about ourselves/appearance? I do. But heck, I sure did it tonight with no qualms. I think it's just so funny that it's part of the business they run..."hey, ladies, come in here, get naked in front of this stranger and have her stare at your body for about 5 minutes while she airbrushes you and your crevices!" Yikes. Weird, but it's a pretty lucrative business, charging $30 a session! EEK!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

1st Party....SUCCESS!!!

So I'm not much of a party-thrower, but I felt compelled to throw one for my new place because I love it so much and the location is great, plus...everyone kept saying "When can I see your place?" So, there it was, a party had to be had. Early November I picked December 17th as the perfect day because it was the Friday that ended my semester at school (so I knew I'd be ready to party!), and it was a Friday in December, which is waaaay safer than a Saturday in December because we know how many holiday parties we all have. So, that was it...December 17th.

Can I say how perfect this date was? Well it was. My good friend, Meg, came over early and started putting together some apps and sangria. I got home with beer in hand (cases!) around 3:45 and we just worked from then on.

Apps and drink list:
Buffalo Chicken Dip (duh, this is a party MUST!)
Dill dip with veggies
Feta Cheese Dip (my mom's spectacular recipe...it's a breath-killer but I've met NO ONE who
doesn't like it)
Guacamole
Jodi's home-made Jalapeno Poppers (not fried, and apparently great and HOT!)
Cream Cheese with Sweet Pepper Jelly
Red Wine (every kind)
White Wine (Riesling and Pinot Grigio)
Bud Light
Coors Light
*Sailor Jerry was brought by TWO people, so we had that to mix!

Everyone brought a bottle of wine...sooo nice of people, but I did NOT expect that! They stocked my wine rack. Anyway, I couldn't believe that every single person in attendance was ready to party and NOT ONE Debbie Downer showed up (she wasn't on the guest list). It was just incredible how the night ended up. We drank and socialized here for a few hours and then headed to a bar in town, Living Room Lounge, which we like to refer to as the Danville Bar in Indianapolis. It's definitely fun on Fridays because of karaoke. We got there, and we hogged the dance floor the entire night. Everyone was still partying and just having an awesome time. I was very happy with the success of the night. It was so good to have my friends all together and having a blast as one group!

Earlier in the week I got a little sad because a lot of my friends weren't coming. I didn't understand because through the years I've attended party after party (bachelorette, baby, birthday, bridal, etc.) and the one time I have a party--first ever--they couldn't even attend. It hurt my feelings because some of them continue to think of a reason NOT to come to town every time I ask. I travel to see them many many times, so it'd be nice if they could do the same. And I don't care if some are guys and "they're GUYS, they don't think that way"...well, they should! Obviously, I got over it and enjoyed my party, but it doesn't mean it didn't leave a little scar on my heart because coming to my party "wasn't the most convenient" for them.

So, overall, 1st ever party was a SUCCESS!!! See pix below!!!

Jodi and Meg tying one on! Ready to hit up the town!

*Not really sure about this one...Meg loves her iphone but it gives a ghostly look to pix at times!


The Kitchen is THE SPOT at parties...


Kitchen, again!


...and MORE kitchen! Higg Dog and Meg having fun!

There, now you can feel like you were at the party! CHEERS! or Slante (if we were in Ireland!)

Sunday, December 12, 2010

I'm bringing sexy back, folks

I must've just uncovered a secret sexiness and I probably shouldn't share the secret, but I will because I'm just THAT nice. This weekend, I unintentionally started a trend...to not shower. Yep, that's right. I woke up Saturday and immediately became the cleaning fairy in my loft. During that time, I started laundry in the building, and was truly becoming Cinderella with a scrubbing brush, suds and all. (sidenote: that scrubbing takes some real elbow grease! I think if I did that more often I may change from Cinderella to Popeye!) Then, I had to face the many unfinished canvases glaring, not just staring, but glaring at me because they know I've neglected them. Poor paintings, I'm sorry! So I began painting, then noticed the rolls of wrapping paper peeking out from under the couch...yet another reminder of something not done. Sheesh. So where in that ridiculously packed day was there time for a) a shower, and b) to brush my teeth?? I'm kidding...only slightly because I realized later in the day "OMG, I haven't even brushed my teeth!" But that's ok because I encountered no one and honestly, they looked and felt pretty clean. Don't worry, I brushed them extra hard and long before bed, AND did Crest Whitestrips! Go me!

I considered taking a shower after all was said and done, and even considered (for about a 1/2 of a second) to polish my toenails, but that thought vanished as quickly as it came. Instead, I thought I deserved a break. I chatted with a guy on match.com (yes, I'm on it, and no, I'm not embarrassed, obviously!)..he seemed cool, nice, "normal". Then, The Cuddler (my "double-wide" recliner) so sweetly called my name: "Baby, come take a seat....relax, you deserve it, you've worked so hard all day. Come!" So I did. How could I say no?

Today, I woke up and decided to snooze a few hundred times after the alarm, then skipped church! That is awful. It's ONE day a week.....ONE!...and I skipped it to go to the huge Reebok/Adidas Warehouse sale. Do you think I showered before that? Eee-er. No. Sho' didn't. Went to Lowe's, then Meijer. And here is where my day turned for the worse. Although, here is also where I apparently brought sexy back.

Meijer...a store I don't usually enter, at least not since college. I chose it above Aldi, being that Aldi doesn't protect their customers' credit card info and both of my bank account #'s and pins were stolen from there, Meijer seemed pretty appealing. I slip-slided through the parking lot, got a basket to shop, and got my goods. Looking for rice chex, I pass 2 employees....males. They are deep in convo. I only noticed them because they were blocking the aisle I needed. Timeout: Let me describe my outfit. I am wearing somewhat skinny jeans but not super tight, Ugg-alike boots, big sweatshirt, t-shirt hanging out, puffy vest, ear/headband for warmth, and my dirty hair is pulled back into the world's tiniest pony-tail. Correction, world's 2nd tiniest pony-tail because 1st place went to the security guard at the Reebok Warehouse...I think she got me on length, but I definitely got her on girth...that girl had to have a total of 10 hairs to make 1 pony-tail....sad. :(

Ok, timeout is over. I walk by the 2 guys, and 1 so rudely interrupts his counterpart to say "Damn, she is sexy as a motherf*cker!" And his eyes are all over my puffy vest and dirty hair. I pass, ignore the comment because he either a) thought my headband was soundproof, or b) wanted me to hear that. I could've hit myself at that point because the aisle with the rice chex was the one he was blocking. I walk into the aisle, only to pass Mr. Obvious and hear "She is sexy as hell!" Now, folks, was the appropriate response to these comments to:

1. Keep walking, ignore ignore ignore, and study the cereal aisle as though you are reading nutritional info on every box.

OR

2. Acknowledge him, say "Hi, your name is...(read his nametag), insert name here. I heard you say I'm sexy. Are you single?"

OR

3. Acknowledge him, drop kick him for being a pig and say "How's THAT for sexy!"

Well of course #1. But, this is what I don't get....when guys make those comments, do they truly in their hearts feel they are being complimentary to women? And do they think those actions get good reactions, like "Here's my #!" Same with honking the horn. Guys honk and holla at girls running/walking all the time....do they really think we're going to wave our arms to flag them down and beg them to return because we can't resist their studly-ness? Uh no. And I'm sorry if they HAVE gotten that type of response in the past.

So yes, I brought sexy back by not showering and wearing my baggy, puffy, most nonflattering clothing. That's the secret, Ladies, don't shower, wear hot clothes, a headband for warmth, fake uggs with the buttons falling off, and for extra sexiness, might as well not brush your teeth for a few days....it seems we should do the opposite for a change and we'll get a great response from the gentlemen! WOOT WOOT!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Tis the Season to be...broke? Yikes

It's one of my favorite times of the year....I absolutely LOVE sitting around in the evening with the Christmas tree just gently lighting the room....barely noticing it but knowing it's there providing a sense of comfort. I've always loved the Christmas tree being up. I used to beg my mom "Can we go get the tree TONIGHT???" And she'd be like "Let's go tomorrow." Then, tomorrow would come and I'd say "Tonight?" She'd sigh and be like "Alright....let's go (get this over with!)." I get it...now as an adult who is exhausted after work, but I still get excited and a burst of energy when I think about putting it up. I love the store windows decorated, I love the city streets decorated, I love the entire feeling December provides, all leading up to Christmas. I love going to church and feeling comfort there, with the advent candles and talking about Jesus's birth...and hearing about a live nativity with camels! Real-life camels! How amazing. And to add to all of this, I get to go out to stores and find perfect gifts for my family and friends. I love this! And TJ Maxx and Home Goods I can thank for providing me with those perfect gifts!

However, this year I seem to have gone broke. Here I am, still 5 days from payday, and I'm thinking "Crap, what will I pay for gas with...my business account, my personal account, or my checking account back home that I never use? Hmmm." I hate that. I hate being worried about money. But, I think I've figured it out. Moving into my new, amazing loft has come with a hefty price tag. Not only is rent $200 more a month, I pay for laundry and I have had (HAD? right...who is forcing me??) to buy some furniture and items (new tv, awesome chair, entertainment center, chest for the bathroom, stools for the island, area rug...shall I continue? NO...because no one is sympathizing with me!) So, when it came to me getting away from my selfish shopping, I went a little broke. That's ok because I got a nice present (not really, but it is nice timing) from my car loan saying I could skip a payment this month...yippee!!! Also, I'll be collecting some pretty coin here in a couple of weeks for the many paintings I've been doing. Double YIPPEE! So, no worries family and friends, I'll be getting all of you taken care of just in time for a grand ol' Christmas! Wrapping has been my duty lately and to say the least...it's not amazing. :(

Oh, and next week, I'm having a holiday/Christmas break/"loft"-warming celebration and having around 25-30 people over for drinks and food...so, I gotta stock up there, too! I can't wait though...I hardly ever host and I'm so excited to have all of my friends over. It's pretty exciting to see all of the people who are attending because it's such a great feeling to know your friends put it on the priority list during such a busy season. And to those who can't come, I'm not mad atcha...I wish you could come but I know it's also "Tis the season to be attend every DANG holiday party in town!" Seasons Greetings, all!