Category Archives: life

Mi Casa is Bueno, but that Casa is Mucho Bueno*

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I love our apartment. I love our street and neighborhood. I love the wall I painted and think it really helps to make the place look not so much like an apartment and more like a home.

I love and appreciate our landlords (though there are some other challenges like their crazy, psycho, 95ish mother that lives next door, but that’s a completely different story for another day). And I’m just thrilled that after listening to our bathroom faucet leak for nearly a month, it’s finally fixed – though how the hot water and cold water switched sides I have no idea (and it does take a little getting used to).

You might remember a while back I was coveting both my neighbor’s and my landlord’s current remodels. Well, remodeling is still going on and while I’m glad it’s not me having to go through upheaval for this whole time, we are affected daily. Everything in our house is covered in dust. Sadly, that includes electronics like amplifiers, printer/copiers and computers. Needless to say, it’s freaking the hubby out a bit.

So instead of complaining about the dust, the noise and the constant dog barking, I’ve decided to work on manifesting us a new home! I’ve even found the house and it’s in our same neighborhood even. No mind you, it doesn’t have to be this house (there’s another one in the Arroyo that I’m keeping my eye on as well), but I do love this one and always have since it first went on the market shortly after moving to this area.

So let’s do it, let’s bring this baby home!

new house

* PS – I don’t speak Spanish so please forgive my bastardized Spanish in the title

I’m Doing It…

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I’m learning to knit.  I broke down and ran out to not one, but three different stores today to pick up knitting supplies.  The first store (Joann’s) I picked up large, chunky yarn and big’ol needles, but sadly it was too dark and chunky for me to see what I was doing.

Then I ran out to a local little shop hoping to get some different yarn and an opinion on what I was doing.  I was doing it wrong, was what I was doing.  So I picked up some $7 wool (nothing inexpensive in this store, boy howdy – at least it was on sale) and practice with the gal helping.  Then I decided that chunky was still too difficult for me to see clearly since it’s all uneven, so I packed up and headed out again.

This time I hit up Michael’s.  I decided I just wanted basic, inexpensive yarn.  So I picked up a heathered oatmeal, medium worsted skein and a new set of size 8 needles (as the wrapper suggested).  And now, I seem to be doing much better with my double cast-on.  It moves smoother and I can definitely see my stitches more clearly.

I’ll just keep practicing with this.  I have a feeling I might be pulling things too tight though, we’ll see once I learn the knit stitch.  I also found someone local (gotta love MeetUp) that is up for meeting with me tomorrow to work with me a bit.  I’ll use my chunky stuff for when I’m ready to finally break down and knit a scarf.

I’m quite excited.  Thankfully, an online friend pointing me in the direction of KnittingHelp.com where they have how-to videos.  For some reason, I find watching how to be much easier than reading how.  I do have to say, a friend told me to start cheap, but um, I’m not so sure this is much of an inexpensive beginning.

Okay, off to cast-on some more and then try my hand at knitting and then maybe purling.  This is just so freakin’ cool!

I’m a Market Researchers Dream…

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How could I have spent the past twenty minutes on two separate studies not to have qualified for either one of them?!? Hello, I’m a 30-something year-old woman, of COURSE I use anti-aging products. Can I help it if I sometimes forget a day or two because I’m so busy slathering on anti-acne products. Is it my fault that you don’t consider sun screen as an anti-aging treatment?

Man, with all the money I’ve spent lately you’d think they’d be dying to have me on their panel. They also have a bit of a issue with a woman that works from home. Um…like we never leave the home office?!?! Like we don’t rant or rave about products to our family and friends?!?! Have they not heard of blogging?!?!

Oh well, maybe next time.

Edited to Add:  I’m such a dork.  I didn’t even realize it until I was getting ready for tonight’s Silversun Pickups show that my daily, daytime moisturizer is an anti-aging product.  I just bought it because I liked it when I was at Bliss.  Wonder if they’ll let me in on the research thingie still. 

Things I’m Loving Right Now

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Aside from the obvious – my hubby, my boys, my friends – I thought I’d share a few of my favorite things (in no particular order)…

* Coke Zero & Cherry Coke Zero – my friend, a diehard Coke fan tried a sip of mine this past week and even she was impressed how good it taste.  It’s that good.  So if you normally don’t like diet sodas, try Coke Zero.

*  Fiber One bars – I’m not a big breakfast person so these work out great for a quick meal.  I love to take these with me when I travel for those times when we’re not quite ready for a big meal, but still need something (and have slept through the free breakfast).  I prefer the chocolate over the peanut butter, but trust me, both are good.

* Mac – We recently became a Mac-only household and I’m totally loving both my G5 and my super portable iBook.  For those considering making the switch, have no fear, it’s super easy.  And my system crashes so much less (if at all) since we switched.

* OPI polish – They not only have the greatest colors and the coolest names, but it lasts much longer than the cheaper crap out there.  Totally worth the extra couple of bucks.

* Public Library – I read a lot of books (well, I read a lot of books in spurts at least), so I’ve recently started getting my books through the library.  I love that I can request books online and they’ll shoot me an email when my book has arrived.  This has saved me tons of money recently.

* Vichy Intensive Care for Dried Out Lips – I’ll admit it, I’m addicted to lip products.  I am constantly purchasing new lipsticks, glosses and lip balms.  This baby (from CVS)  is awesome for that pre-bed slather of lip balm.

That’s enough for now.  I could keep going on and on, but I’d rather hold off and rave again another time.

Today is National Coffee Day!

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Who knew? I mean, I’m not totally and completely surprised since there seems to be a “national day” for damn near everything imaginable lately. Interestingly, a couple other countries celebrate a version of National Coffee Day, just on different days – in Ireland it’s September 19th, in Costa Rica it’s September 12th and in Japan it’s October 1st.

Well, being aware and able to catch 2 out of 4 coffee celebrations are good enough for me. Like I need a reason to head on over to ‘Bucky’s for a pumpkin spice latte or to CBTL for a pecan praline blended. Mmm…I do love fall and flavored coffees!

starbucks-inside1-0

Thanks to Morning Coffee & Afternoon Tea for the additional dates.

A Few Days Away

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My best friend is coming to visit this week and to celebrate her 40th to it’s fullest extent. We’ll be off in Vegas relaxing and having fun in classic Vegas style. I won’t be around for most of the week, so I’m doing what I can to pre-publish some stuff now.

So while you wait for my return, why not take a moment and drop me a brief howdy-do? I’ll even help you out and ask a question inviting you to answer back…how many states (or countries) have you lived in and which is your favorite and why?

Have a great week!

Trash TV – I’ll Admit it, I Watch it. Last Night, I LOVED it!

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Let me start with saying a rousing Thank God!!! That psycho bitch Lacey is finally gone! There’s no way that Bret Michael’s couldn’t see what a nut job that girl was. Talk about producers staging things. The obviously kept her around just for “good TV.” But man, it was totally worth it. She’s a whack job.

And now, let’s move on to The Hills over on MTV. Elodie is my new best friend. Again, I’m sure it was totally edited and staged to come off the way it did. But man, that was awesome! They’ve got a great video of the awesomeness up on Gawker. Its so awesome, we watched it twice last night and then the hubby and I watched the clip again this morning. Good stuff, I tell ya!

So here’s a clip where the fine folks over at Canadian MTV are having a phone interview with my new BFF, Elodie. Come on, how could you not love this gal?!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGPg6xj-ocY]

She’s Crafty: Embracing My Inner CraftGirl

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I’ve decided that I’m going to learn to knit. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for the past 2-3 years. I picked up the Stitch & Bitch book a couple years back, thinking I could teach myself, but well, I, um, don’t seem to do so well with manual-type directions. How embarrassing to have to admit. So I’m thinking it’s time to call in the professionals.

My grandmother was an awesome crocheter, but I never got into it. Thing is, I was good – well, as good as someone that’s not into it can be. I’ve always been told that I’m creative, but I’ve never really done much with it. Though I can personalize a picture frame like nobody’s business.

Truth be told, when it comes to spending my time crafting, well, I’d much rather be reading a book. But maybe knitting will be better. Like, I can knit while watching TV. Or while waiting in the car (you’d be surprised how much waiting in cars I actually do). I think it will be fun.

So now, while I’m home sick, and can’t very well make a slew of phone calls. I seem to be alternating between a horribly stuffed up nose and losing my voice all day – I sound horrible enough that even a telemarketer offered to call me back in a few days. In my defense though, I shot out a gazillion emails regarding reaching out to local life coaches. I’m still on target. Go me.

So yeah, I’m going to learn to knit. Wish me luck!