Spring cleaning!

Whew! I just spent 2.5 hours switching out my summer and winter clothes. And in the process I got rid of a bunch of clothes. I am embarrassed to admit that some of them still had tags on them. But, I actually have room in my drawers-something I haven't had in years. My closet door shuts and my shelves have room! I love it. There's a new rule in my closet: something comes in, something must go out. (So, in theory, I am entitled to a laundry basket full of new clothes! Kidding ;) )

Well, if you're in the market for some new clothes-feel free to stop by this week and help yourself. There's summer clothes, winter clothes, and shoes. I'm taking them to goodwill next sunday-there's a lot of nice stuff in there! 

Wow-that's a lot of clothes.

But, look how pretty my closet is! (I have two closets this size-this is just one, but the other is just as pretty...and no, I did not color-code my closet. 2.5 hours seemed to be enough time to spend on this little project!)

All my winter clothes now fit into 4 tubs! A miracle. Shoes included.

Where are Strunk and White when you need them?

I just spent way too much time looking up what the correct past tense of the word "plead" is.

My mind said "pleaded," but I also thought "pled" might be correct.

I learned both were right. "Pleaded" is the historically correct past tense of the word "plead." However, what was once a simple colloquialism, "pled" is now also accepted as the past tense of "plead." However, when using the past tense "pled," it should never be spelled "plead."

Whew. Don't lie. You're jealous of the exciting-lawyer life I lead.

Don't be jealous...

Twilight was playing at my gym this morning in the movie room! The room was packed with women-ha!

And everyone gave a collective death glare to the woman on her cell phone. Seriously? In the movie room? Who in the world are you talking to before 6:00 a.m.? I can think of only one person in my life who would be awake that early-my mother.

Biggest excitement of my day...

My new "RUSH" stamp came in. Yes!!!!!

I have a secret love of office supplies. Gel pens (no ballpoint and only blue!), 3x3 post its, and large paper clips (seriously, why do they even make small paperclips-they are worthless) are among my faves.

I'm happy as a clam...stamping away.

Don't text and drink.

There is a chance you could drop your entire cell phone into your full coffee mug.

Again, don't text and drink.

I was impressed.

Yesterday I needed to return something to JCrew. I didn't want to pay to ship it back, so I drove up to Kenwood and returned it there. So, yes I saved the 5.95 it would've cost to ship it back, but I ended up buying a jean skirt and a new shirt. Go figure.*

Anyway, on my way out I decided to check out the new Fresh Fare Kroger that was all the rave a few months ago. It was very nice! Not only did I get a free lunch with all those free samples everywhere, I was really impressed with the selection of foods. Homemade bread, gourmet desserts, a gigantic meat/fish selection. Not to mention a variety of ready-made meals that looked delicious. While it's pretty unlikely I will shop there unless I'm in that area, it definitely lived up to the hype. Very nice. Hey Kroger-why don't you upgrade the Clifton Kroger to a Fresh Fare market?

*I received a 10% off coupon at JCrew for in-store purchases. If you would like it, just let me know! They have A TON of stuff on sale with very good prices. I've exhausted my spring-shopping budget or I would use it myself. ;)

wow.

My Friday was dragging. I decided to turn on the radio and a very early Mariah Carey song came on. All of a sudden I was transported back to fourth grade when my sister and I would play with our friend who lived across the street-whose name is eluding me now even though we were like the 3 Musketeers- like every day. We would put in the Maria Carey cassette tape and pretend we were really good singers and dancers. There was some serious choreographing, too. Unfortunately, my singing and dancing were probably better when I was 9 than they are now...



Obviously, I had no inhibitions about embarrassing myself. Yikes! Glad no one ever had a video camera to tape that.

So long winter.

I will not miss you one bit.

In other news, what the heck is Twitter? I have heard the word Twitter more in the last week than I ever have before. I don't get it. :-/

Spring Has Sprung

And there are flower blooms to prove it! (Sorry for the picture quality-it was taken on my cell phone and Fi was completely uncooperative!)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Would you?

Over the weekend, I heard an advertisement for checkyourgenes.org. The advertisement encouraged people, particularly women, to get genetic counseling and testing to determine if they carry the gene linked to ovarian or breast cancer. Often times, they said, this is clear through your family history (usually on the mother's side) and if you carry the gene, your risk for one of these cancers increases from 20% to 80%. Obviously, a scary statistic.

But, would you do it? Would you have a test to determine if you carry the gene? And what if you took the test and discovered you did carry the gene? Then what?

I don't know. One the one hand, to me, any action taken would be definitely taken out of fear, right? On the other hand, wisdom is power, to some extent. I think it's important to be wise to your family history so that you can take preventative measures (like eating healthy, getting tested often for cancer, etc.). But, what real good would it do to know you carry a gene that odds are will cause cancer? Would you take such a drastic measure as to have a hysterectomy or a mastectomy,as many of the women in the "share your story" part of the website have done? I would not. This advertisement seems a bit misguided to me.

What do you think?

When I Grow Up

After watching Nights in Rodanthe last night, I decided my dream job would be to own a bed & breakfast on the Outer Banks. Seriously, how sweet would that be? I am 100% serious that I think it would be great fun to make breakfast for customers and then go have my morning cup of coffee on a deck with an ocean view. Clearly this cold weather has me dreaming.

Only 3 months until the beach.

The big 3-2

Happy Birthday Steve!

I didn't have a picture of you on my work computer, so I thought I'd do the next best thing and post a picture of a dog enjoying its birthday!

Wind-hair.

Pretty much what my hair looked like when I walked into court at 8a.m. this morning due to the gusty wind. Lovely.

Lizzy and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Well it started that way. I only got 5 hours of sleep due to some noisy neighbors. Alarm went off. Very groggy. Took Fi for a walk-but she decided she was too sleepy to walk fast, so I brought her back. Then headed back out for walk/jog. Came home, remembered I have a conference call at 8:30a.m. and I am behind about 15 minutes. I am notoriously slow in the morning, so I pick up some time in the shower and get dressed quickly. Sit down to eat breakfast spill little dab of milk on shirt. Switch to navy sweater. Pour entire glass of orange juice on suit skirt that has only recently come back from dry cleaners. Try to salvage skirt by saturating with wet paper towel because I no longer have time to change. Hop in car with wet skirt. Miss two lights because person in front of me is going straight instead of turning right. Zoom into parking garage, race up Main Street hill and wait for four minutes for next elevator. Get to desk at 8:29a.m. and hold conference call still in my coat.

Whew.

The trick now is how do I go from a terrible morning to a great day? Being slightly more prone to negativity (slightly is an understatement), it's easy for me to just say this day is going to suck and the whole day will suck. I'm going to give it a try and hopefully turn things around!

Happy Tuesday-here's to a productive one!

Barbie is 50

Wow. My all-time favorite child time toy turns 50 today! I loved playing with Barbies. I had tons of Barbie dolls and mountains of Barbie clothes and accessories. I will never forget the day I received the Barbie Corvette for my birthday. But, there was also the Barbie swimming pool (my parents' least favorite accessory-it had a tendency to get messy), the Barbie dream house, Skipper, and of course Ken! For years, my sister and I had to share one Ken doll. We always decided he was "on a business" trip and didn't use him. My Dad eventually bought us more Ken dolls, but we never had a white Ken-African American, Hawaiian, Asian-but never a white Ken. A lesson in diversity I suppose. Or maybe he thought he was funny.

Either way, I played Barbies way beyond the "normal" age to give up such toys. My grandmother used to work at Lazarus (which no longer exists) and would always get my sister and me the special edition barbies-I have the UNICEF special edition and several Holiday Special Edition-still in their wrapped box. Go do a search on ebay and you'll see the value of these classic toys!

I cringe when I hear people who don't let their children play with Barbie dolls because her proportions are not realistic and she makes women focus on appearances or something silly like that. C'mon-Barbie is sweet and she is a great role model for young women! Look at all her professions! Doctor, lawyer, business woman, equestrian rider, veterinarian, Olympic athlete, astronaut, and mother. You name it-Barbie's done it. Who could better represent that women can do anything they want to-and do it while looking pretty and wearing high heels! Is that such a bad thing?

My sister and I gave our niece her first Barbie-a Christmas Barbie-when she was only a few weeks old. I hope Barbie stays around another 50 years. :)

So-happy birthday to my favorite toy of all time.

Sa-lammed.

That is how I feel. Busy busy busy. Vacation is still over 3 months away. In the meantime, let me share my suggestion for dealing with stress (since drinking wine will not help me get my waistline any slimmer for the beach!). It's simple--

1. Get on the internet.

2. Go to google.com/images.

3. Type in "puppies".*

4. View pictures of puppies, smile, say awwww, become relaxed.

*If you're having a really, awful, no good, downright nasty-stress level day, I'd suggest the search term "cairn terrier puppies" because they are the cutest of all time.

If you don't like puppies, well you are on your own. You are probably all into yoga and meditation. Good luck with that.

Are you a homeowner?

Edited: Well, the government works quickly and has already closed down the link I originally listed. The new summary, which also includes a summary of the specific details announced today, can be found here.

Do you have a mortgage? Then today is likely a big day for you, particularly if your home value has gone down due to the economy. Today, Barack Obama reveals the particularities of his Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan. A summary of the plan is available here. This Plan isn't just for those who are severely delinquent in the mortgages or in foreclosure. This may just be the answer to the question of "where are the incentives for the people who do pay their mortgage each month?". We shall see.

Am I the only person whose been on the edge of his/her seat waiting to hear the details since this was announced back on February 18? Is it even weirder that I'm excited to hear about it and don't own a home?

Total let down.

That is how I felt after watch 3 hours of the Bachelor last night. 3 hours I will never get back. Never again will I waste that much time watching scripted reality television. At least not until next season.

Oh well. It is really freaking cold outside. I was decked out in my puffy winter coat, gloves, scarf, and 180s and still froze walking into work. Brr. I don't let Fiona get under my down comforter-she must lie on top of the bed, but when I got out of the shower, she was completely under the covers. Poor little thing-unfortunately I did not get a picture! :)

17 days until Spring.

the final rose

I have to confess that though the Bachelor perpetuates all generalizations I hate about women, I have been sucked into this season. I cannot wait for the finale tonight-though I read some inside scoop and think I know how it will all turn out... And after the underwhelming finale of Top Chef, I hope the Bachelor lives up to the hype.

A 3 hour finale. Truth be told, I hope I can stay awake until it ends at 11PM.

That being said-what is your guess for who gets the final rose? Melissa or Molly? I think he's better suited for Molly, but think he will pick Melissa tonight.

Get ready for The Most Dramatic Rose Ceremony Yet!!!!

What a mess.

Do you remember that episode of The Office where Pam gets mad because the microwave is left all nasty? Well, I was just the culprit at my office microwave. Apparently canned minestrone soup doesn't take 4 minutes to heat up. Anything longer than 3 and you've got a tomato-y disaster on your hands (literally).

Lesson learned. (and microwave cleaned up!) But, wow what a mess. Sick.

Thoughts on Lent

"Even now," declares the LORD,

"return to me with all your heart,

with fasting and weeping and mourning."

Rend your heart 

and not your garments.

Return to the LORD your God,

for he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in love,

and he relents from sending calamity.

-Joel 2:12-13

I will preface this by saying I don't usually give anything up for Lent, and if I do, I rarely last longer than two weeks. This Lenten season, I am going to work on rending my heart. In the dictionary, rend means to separate, tear apart violently, divide. There are areas in my life in which I have become so assimilated to the world. Two areas that I am going to work on during the next 40 days are 1. my attitude/general disposition at work and 2. the way I spend money. 

I want to use this period of time to reflect on parts of my life where I feel very unconnected to God-and instead, very connected to this world's outlook. 

For instance, I have spent large amounts of money recently on going out to eat, clothes, and beauty products. I just spent $97 last week on anti-aging skin care products. I'm just being honest here. I don't think it's bad to spend money. I think it's ok to by nice things. I don't think it's ok to be attached to money and to value it more than God. I need to stop wasting money and think about what I am doing with it. I need to re-think whether I am buying into this world's promise that having more stuff will make me happier. So, I am not going out to lunch during Lent. No $10 salads from Ingredients. No vending machine hit-ups during the late afternoon. It's a small thing I can do that will give me the chance to begin to plan how to rend my heart when it comes to money.

Another example is how I am at work. Generally, work environments foster complaints, gossip, and negativity. Hardly the attitudes of Godly people, right?! But, I don't bring a different perception to the office. No, usually I contribute to the negativity. So, I am taking time during Lent to rend my heart regarding my attitude and approach to work. This will be very hard for me. But, I am going to practically pray HARD during the day, lifting up the stresses/frustrations/complaints to God and then letting them go. I am setting aside time during my day to do this and keeping a notepad so I can write them down-and then be done with it. I know-it seems a little silly. But, change takes practice and discipline. I need to change my focus and remember that ultimately, my job is not who I am. Our world teaches us that we are defined by our jobs-I am an attorney. Well, God says that isn't so. Thus, I need to rend my heart regarding the way I think about work-and how work affects me!

So, pray for me. I will need it! May this be a season full of healthy reflection on the areas in our life where the world has a stronger hold than God. I pray we have the wisdom to see those areas and the guts to try something different.

Ew.

Why can't they make vitamins for adults that do not taste absolutely disgusting? I decided I need to be more healthy and part of that is taking a multi-vitamin daily. I've done it in the past, but forgot why I stopped.

Today I remembered. The taste is absolutely revolting. I buy the One a Day Women's type of vitamin and seriously it is sick. It's nearly impossible to swallow without wanting to gag. And even when I do, it leaves this gross, lingering taste in my mouth.

Children's vitamins taste delicious! They even have gummie varities. I want the same for adults! Maybe they already exist? If so, PLEASE recommend asap. I am dying here.

I'm just wondering...

Why do we not use umbrellas in the snow? This morning, I walked out of my apartment having a good hair day. Now, this is rather rare for me-I have thin, fine hair. It hardly ever looks great, and usually looks ok. I drive to work (after trying to pry my right windshield wiper up that is STILL stuck from the snow storm weeks ago) and sit in the parking garage contemplating whether it's appropriate to use an umbrella on my trek up Main Street to my office.

I decide it's not. But, why? It's wet just like rain. But no one uses an umbrella to keep themselves dry. They wear hats-which make my hair look even worse than being wet.

Strange. Maybe I will start a trend.

Imagine my surprise when I was searching for "snow umbrella" in google images and came across this fantastic NY Times article describing my exact predicament! Clearly, I am meant for urban NYC life, not the midwest!

road rage backfires

Last night as I was pulling out of the Chick-Fil-A parking lot on my way to the Vineyard, I noticed a car driving really closely behind me-which I hate. As I made my way closer to the Vineyard, it seemed the car got even closer. So, I did what I normally do-slow down. It didn't work. I turned into the parking lot at the Vineyard, and the person seemed to get even closer. I thought to myself "what kind of person going to a church on a Tuesday night drives like such a maniac?" (No, I didn't think what kind of person going to church on a Tuesday night gets so easily consumed with road rage.)

I threw my hands up in disgust (no, I did not give any specific hand signals) at the close driver, pulled into a parking spot, and the person pulled in right next to me. I couldn't believe it.

Lo and behold, guess who was behind the wheel? None other than my roommate, Jana.

Oops...

Do you like ribs?

I do. I've only ever eaten my Dad's ribs, though (the ones he cooks-not his actual ribs). They are the best in the world (I don't need to try all the ribs in the world to know this). Everyone raves about Montgomery Inn, but I've never been.



Maybe now is as good a time as ever. Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse is celebrating 20 years in business and Feb. 22-26 is offering all you can eat ribs and saratoga chips for $19.89 (the year it opened).



Tasty. So, really, are they as good as everyone says? And I definitely think I could eat my $19.89 worth.

camera woes.

It's always hard to come back to work after a great weekend. On Friday night, I drove up to Dayton to celebrate my brother's 40th birthday with a surprise party. It was a great time! Here are some pictures:


Oh wait, I forgot my camera.

Then on Saturday, Steve made me dinner (crab cakes, asparagus, bread, and homemade sauce!), we ate chocolate fondue for dessert and watched Sleepless in Seattle. Here are some pictures:

Oh wait, I forgot my camera.

On Sunday, I ate a yummy burger with some friends at Fatburger. We laughed a lot. Here are some pictures:

Oh wait, I forgot my camera.

I swear my memory card is only going to be filled of pictures of Fiona laying around my apartment. Yikes!

The IRS moves fast.

I did my taxes the night of February 2. I used HR Block online to file electronically. I received both my federal and Ohio refund on February 10.

Only one week! Wow. I am impressed.

A Valentine's Day treat for me!

just fyi...

You can click on the photo of the Daily Puppy for more pics of the dog of the day. For instance, there is a photo of today's pup sleeping and she is stinkin' cute!

Happy Thursday! I started my day off by spilling a glass of water on myself. Hopefully yours is going a tad bit better. ;-)

I guess age doesn't matter.

Last night the winner of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was the oldest dog ever to win such an honor-at a whopping 10 years old! He was on the Today show this morning and was soooooooo cute. (He is a sussex spaniel named Stump) Dog shows are so weird though. I confess I like watching them, but the people are nuts! The dogs are so well-behaved.

If only my Fi would behave so well.

Some personal responsibility.

I just read this article from the Columbus Dispatch relating to the items on the "top priority" list for Ohio House Democrats. You can read the article here.

I'm not going to comment on the proposed foreclosure moratorium because it's too closely related to my job. However, one of the "priorities" includes designing a bill that would ban marketing of credit cards at college campuses.

I'm going to be completely honest-I racked up a lot of credit card debt in college and law school. I'm pretty sure it took me 3 years before I paid off that Caribbean cruise I took senior year in 2003. Nevermind the trip I took to Greece in 2005. BUT, seriously? At what point do we stop blaming everyone else but ourselves for the financial state we are in.

I'm tired of hearing words like "bailout" and "stimulus". Yes, the economy is terrible. Yes, one contributor to this economy is predatory lending (which, by the way, there are already plenty of laws out there protecting consumers); but everytime you point your finger at a bank, you have three more pointing back at yourself. (That was a really bad joke.) The inability to pay back loans, credit card bills, etc. ultimately hurts retirement accounts, investment funds, and the entire economy.

One of the questions asked last night to Barack Obama during his press conference was whether banks receiving the new proposed bailout money would be required to use it to extend credit. That really got me fired up to the extent that there is a line of thinking that believes more credit is the answer to our economic situation.

How did we become so entitled? Whatever happened to taking responsibility? I'm not perfect. I have a massive amount of student debt. But, I also live in an apartment and my car is almost 6 years old (and missing 3 hubcaps!). Sure, I buy things I don't need, but I don't do it and then beg to be forgiven of my debt just because I can't (or won't) find other means to pay it off.

Take responsibility. Get a second job if you have to. Cut back on non-essentials. Stop paying for things with your credit card. Just stop asking for a hand-out with such a feeling of entitlement.

Sometimes...

It's the kind of day where I eat a hamburger with double bacon and french fries for lunch and a double scoop-cherry chip/mint cookies and cream-from Graeter's for dinner.

Today was one of those days.

Yikes. Unless you count the tomato on my burger or the cherries in my ice cream, my total veggie/fruit count for the day is zero. 

I blame this day of gluttony on the deliciously warm weather.

Wear Red. Get Green.

At Macys through Sunday, if you wear red you will receive 20% off your purchase. I saw the ad on TV and I looked it up online and it applies to regular, sale and clearance merchandise (including the home store). 

Red is my favorite color. Well it ties with pink. This shouldn't be a problem. ;)

ewwwwwwwwwww

My dog just threw up. 

I went to get paper towels to clean it, but when I returned the vomit was gone.

I guess a dog really does return to its own vomit.

Freaking sick.

A Tip to Save Money

Don't buy shaving products.

The first time I shaved my legs, I used an old, disposable razor and peeled off a chunk of skin all the way up my shin-it bled profusely. I did it without my parent's knowledge because I figured I knew how to do it. I was wrong.

Apparently, I still don't know how to shave my legs properly. I don't use shaving cream or gel or whatever else. I just stick my leg in the water and shave away. It doesn't hurt, I don't get "razor burn", but people always seem to think that it's nuts.

So, this morning, I decided to try some shaving cream. Why not? There is a whole shaving product market out there that I've never really used, so I felt like maybe I was missing something.

Let me just say it took twice, if not three times, as long to shave my legs. What the heck? Also, the smell made me want to throw up. (You know how I am about scents.) And this was a shaving cream for women-so I should like the scent, right? It also did not shave as closely (I used a good razor with a new blade-so don't try to blame it on that!). 

No thanks. I will save my 10 bucks a year, or whatever, I don't have to spend on various "shaving" products. Water works fine for me-and I recommend you give it a try.

a letter

I used to write letters all the time when things were incorrect. For instance-bad service at a restaurant? I'd write a letter explaining my disappointment. I actually developed a "form" complaint letter (embarrassing!). But, I found if you're polite, most business appreciate the feedback. My best was a letter to JCrew returning a bathing suit that I wore for a week. My most recent was a letter to a local movie theater. How's this letter sound?

Dear Winter,

Please stop snowing. I understand there are people (freaks?) who enjoy being out in your powdery coldness. But, let's face it-snow is impractical. Sure it's pretty if you have nothing to do but sit by a fire and watch.

But today, I actually have stuff to do. And I need the snow to cease. You belong only between the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas. Your emergence was pretty last week-sure. But, this little snow you are bringing today is no fun at all. I'd really like to be able to drive to Springdale for my Chick-fil-A fix...er, I mean for my Beth Moore study.

Also-please send my sentiment to your friend Mr. Groundhog for seeing his shadow. 6 more weeks of winter-just what I want.

Sincerely,

A lawyer with a bad case of S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder)

greatest franchise ever

In the words of my Dad (sent via text):

It's never, ever easy with these guys!

But-they pulled it off and became the only team ever to win 6 Super Bowls. Incredible. Santonio Holmes is my hero.

Suuuuuuuper Bowl!

I know, I've been rather MIA this past week. But, I'm back. Just in time for a little Super Bowl excitement!! I can't wait. I will be watching the game in the comfort of my boyfriend's apartment, with his HD TV and eating his delicious chili. No, he will not be there. He he he... Don't worry Steve, I'll do my best not to leave my terrible towel at your place.

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!

glassy trees

As much as I cannot wait for the beach in June, I am secretly loving how beautiful and sparkly the trees are right now...so pretty! 

I hope you are all staying warm and safe and enjoying this little snow storm. :-)

I have no idea how I will ever get my car out. Hopefully it will all melt off!!

A winter driving tip

*Cleaning off your car is more important than you think. Even though you may believe you can competently drive with just a little hole scraped away on your front windshield, the driver behind you is being pelted with the snow you failed to dust off your car. This makes it quite dangerous for the driver behind you. In fact, she may have to swerve a little onto the shoulder just so she can see-and as we all know-the shoulder is rarely plowed or salted, making it quite slick.

I am so glad I bought new tires this fall! My drive into work was easy as pie.

touching

I came across this letter when I was reading the news online yesterday. Jenna and Barbara Bush wrote a letter to Sasha and Malia Obama with some "advice" for living in the White House. Ultimately, George Bush and Barack Obama are human beings. They are dads and husbands. And I think one of the things that I respect and admire about both of these men-though they may not share the same political ideology-is the way they love their family.

I've highlighted the sections I thought were extra sweet in bold. :)

Sasha and Malia, we were seven when our beloved grandfather was sworn in as the 41st President of the United States. We stood proudly on the platform, our tiny hands icicles, as we lived history. We listened intently to the words spoken on Inauguration Day service, duty, honor. But being seven, we didn’t quite understand the gravity of the position our Grandfather was committing to. We watched as the bands marched by — the red, white, and blue streamers welcoming us to a new role: the family members of a President.

We also first saw the White House through the innocent, optimistic eyes of children. We stood on the North Lawn gazing with wonder at her grand portico. The White House was alive with devoted and loving people, many of whom had worked in her halls for decades. Three of the White House ushers, Buddy, Ramsey, and “Smiley”, greeted us when we stepped into her intimidating hallway. Their laughter and embraces made us feel welcome right away. Sasha and Malia, here is some advice to you from two sisters who have stood where you will stand and who have lived where you will live:

– Surround yourself with loyal friends. They’ll protect and calm you and join in on some of the fun, and appreciate the history.

– If you’re traveling with your parents over Halloween, don’t let it stop you from doing what you would normally do. Dress up in some imaginative, elaborate costume (if you are like us a pack of Juicy Fruit and a Vampiress) and trick-or-treat down the plane aisle.

– If you ever need a hug, go find Ramsey. If you want to talk football, look for Buddy. And, if you just need a smile, look for “Smiley.”

– And, a note on White House puppies–our sweet puppy Spot was nursed on the lawn of the White House. And then of course, there’s Barney, who most recently bit a reporter. Cherish your animals because sometimes you’ll need the quiet comfort that only animals can provide.

– Slide down the banister of the solarium, go to T-ball games, have swimming parties, and play Sardines on the White House lawn. Have fun and enjoy your childhood in such a magical place to live and play.

– When your dad throws out the first pitch for the Yankees, go to the game.

– In fact, go to anything and everything you possibly can: the Kennedy Center for theater, State Dinners, Christmas parties (the White House staff party is our favorite!), museum openings, arrival ceremonies, and walks around the monuments. Just go. Four years goes by so fast, so absorb it all, enjoy it all!

For four years, we spent our childhood holidays and vacations in the historic house. We could almost feel the presence of all the great men and women who had lived here before us. When we played house, we sat behind the East sitting room’s massive curtains as the light poured in illuminating her yellow walls. Our seven-year-old imaginations soared as we played in the enormous, beautiful rooms; our dreams, our games, as romantic as her surroundings. At night, the house sang us quiet songs through the chimneys as we fell asleep.

In late December, when snow blanketed the front lawn, all of our cousins overtook the White House. Thirteen children between the ages of two and 12 ran throughout her halls, energized by the crispness in the air and the spirit of the season. Every room smelled of pine; the entire house was adorned with thistle; garlands wound around every banister. We sat on her grand staircase and spied on the holiday dancing below. Hours were spent playing hide-and-go-seek. We used a stage in the grand ballroom to produce a play about Santa and his reindeer. We watched as the National Christmas Tree was lit and admired the chef as he put the final icing on the gingerbread house.

When it was time, we left the White House. We said our goodbyes to her and to Washington. We weren’t sure if we would spend time among her historical walls again, or ever walk the National Mall, admiring the cherry blossoms that resembled puffs of cotton candy. But we did return. This time we were 18. The White House welcomed us back and there is no doubt that it is a magical place at any age.

As older girls, we were constantly inspired by the amazing people we met, politicians and great philosophers like Vaclav Havel. We dined with royalty, heads of states, authors, and activists. We even met the Queen of England and managed to see the Texas Longhorns after they won the National Championship. We traveled with our parents to foreign lands and were deeply moved by what we saw. Trips to Africa inspired and motivated us to begin working with HIV/AIDS and the rights of women and children all over the world.

Now, the White House ballrooms were filled with energy and music as we danced. The East sitting room became a peaceful place to read and study. We ran on the track in the front lawn, and squared off in sisterly bowling duels down in the basement alley.

This Christmas, with the enchanting smell of the holidays encompassing her halls, we will again be saying our good-byes to the White House. Sasha and Malia, it is your turn now to fill the White House with laughter.

And finally, although it’s an honor and full of so many extraordinary opportunities, it isn’t always easy being a member of the club you are about to join. Our dad, like yours, is a man of great integrity and love; a man who always put us first. We still see him now as we did when we were seven: as our loving daddy. Our Dad, who read to us nightly, taught us how to score tedious baseball games. He is our father, not the sketch in a paper or part of a skit on TV. Many people will think they know him, but they have no idea how he felt the day you were born, the pride he felt on your first day of school, or how much you both love being his daughters. So here is our most important piece of advice: remember who your dad really is.

It's back!

Are you ready??? I'm very excited to once again to be engaged in the perpetual debate of who is the better man, Jack or Sawyer...er, I mean of what happened on (and to) the island!

Tonight, LOST returns...get your DVR ready!

a red, white and blue kind of day.

Exciting day, no? I'm guessing you have no pulse at all if you can't get even a little excited about inauguration day. The news coverage of people celebrating literally all over the world is amazing. Oh-and I totally chose a red sweater for work today due to the inauguration!

Lucky for me, I have to work and do not have a television in my office. Maybe I will sneak out to Fountain Square to watch it on TV there.

Speaking of TV's-this morning at the gym, the man next to me whipped out a portable DVD player for his enjoyment while on the eliptical. Strange, right? I mean, my gym has a movie room and each machine has its own television screen. I don't get it. Do people really hate exercise so much that they need 17,000 distractions so they trick themselves into thinking they aren't working out? Bizarre. But, I'm pretty sure he was watching The Tudors, which is a television series I've been wanting to see...

Lastly, last night I downloaded a Taylor Swift song to my iTunes. No lie. Stop judging me.

Ladies, don't forget to pick up your free make up today! Tip-if you go to more than one store, you can get more than one item. Just sayin'...

life lessons

My boyfriend nearly broke up with me over text message last night.

But, the Steelers are going to the Super Bowl!!!!

Lesson learned: sometimes you have to take the good with the bad.

Did you also know...

Friday Night Lights is back on the air? It is on tonight! I am all ready to stay in, do nothing, and watch tv.

Fantastic.

Also-Slumdog Millionaire was awesome. Go see it. Parts of it are quite disturbing, but it has a hopeful ending...and the little child actors who play the adults as kids are the most adorable kids ever. Seriously.

Did you know...

It's illegal to leave a car running on a public street, unattended in Ohio? I did not. For, oh say the last few years, I've warmed up my car by turning it on and letting it run for about 10 minutes in the winter.

Oops. I could be convicted of a minor misdemeanor! Just call me Lizzy Law-breaker, but I like my car warm when I get into it in the morning!

One more "perk" of my current on-street parking living arrangement.

Attention Ladies

January 20 is your day. According to cincinnati.com, on January 20, 2009 to settle an ongoing class action lawsuit (which alleged price fixing), you are entitled to a $20 bottle of make up from several different name brand make up companies, including Clinique, Lancome, and Chanel. 

Here's the best part-all you have to do is show up! Go to Macy's, Dillard's, Sak's...whatever department store is near you. You don't need anything but a love for fun beauty products!

The complete list of products available can be found here. 

I will be at the downtown Macy's, oh, say around noon? Great, see you there ;)

White Death

It's coming. Or so they say. There is not a flake to be seen as of yet...

But, hey, at least I got a casual day at work out of it!!

It's a long one.

What is getting me through the day? Chick-fil-A for dinner.

I cannot wait.

What is it they put in that delicious batter for the chicken sandwich? It is fantastic. Plus, they have Diet Dr. Pepper. Love it.

What the crap was I thinking??

Jabs talked me into watching the Bachelor tonight. Aside from portraying women as catty, vain, only-care-about-getting married bitches, they also show how intelligent women are!

For instance, one woman showed her wit by knowing the three branches of government. Smart with a capital "S"!! But, shoot, I'm sure you could find your dream-spouse by going on fantasy dates and drinking non-stop...all while wearing a string bikini! That's how Steve and I spend every Thursday date-night!

The guy had already made out with 1/3 of the women by the time I turned in for bed. Yikes. 

So yeah...despite this very realistic show, there are just a few falsities about women I must expose:

1. Not all women wear make up to the pool. (Some girls even go underwater! GASP!)

2. Some women not only know the 3 branches of government but also WORK in government. Wow.

3. Not all women giggle incessantly. 

4. Not all women make out on the first date. 

5. Not all women say whatever a man wants to hear to get his attention. 

6. There are women who go to college for things other than a "mrs. degree"

7. Not all women think the best date would be taking shots in a string bikini while sitting in a hot tub.

Bottom line--NOT ALL WOMEN ARE CRAZY, despite the media's attempts to brainwash us otherwise. (Though that woman who jumped in the car to surprise the dude when he came out was pretty freaking crazy. The best way to start a conversation is always "we need to talk." hehe) Where do they find these women??

*sigh* I'm so tired of it...reality tv certainly does not equate reality.

I am allergic to my office.

Seriously. I have sneezed 1,000 times so far today.

I detest that feeling like you have to sneeze...just waiting for it. It's the worst!!

At least the Steelers won yesterday.

Bring on Baltimore

What a fantastic weekend! This weekend was everything weekends should be-relaxing, fun, and exciting. On Friday night, Jana and I went to see Rachel Getting Married. It was...intense, but good. I've never thought Anne Hathaway was that great of an actress, but she was excellent in that film. 

On Saturday, I watched lots of food network, had a great run on the treadmill, and ate a delicious dinner prepared by Steve-YUM. I can't say enough how lucky I am to have a boyfriend who cooks! I also enjoyed watching Tennessee lose to Baltimore. Craziness.

Then came today....ahh perfection. I sported the Parker jersey--um, did he have an amazing game, or what? Fi wore her bandana. I did my work with my Steelers' pen and it all worked in our favor! Ben played so well...it was fantastic. I was making all kinds of noise in my apartment alone-I was really embarrassed when someone knocked asking for ketchup and I was all alone and he said "with all that noise, I figured you all were having a party." Um, nope. Just me. And my dog. *sigh*

I also made some delicious pasta AND jambalaya to have for lunch/dinner this week. YUM. Here are a few pics from my Sunday...

game day is near

I was all nervous about what to wear to work today. Should I wear my new Steelers bracelet? Bring my new Steelers pen to sign all of today's pleadings with? I haven't done that all season, so would shaking things up affect the game? eeek! Then I started thinking about what I would wear to the game on Sunday...jersey or lucky t-shirt? Bandana on Fi or no bandana? SO much pressure!

Or maybe I should buy her this pretty dog tag and get it overnighted?

Then, I realized...oh it really doesn't matter ;-) Superstition is fun, though, yes?

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!

And to preserve our relationship, Steve and I have agreed not to watch any playoff games together. he he he...I'm 100% serious.

Confession

Just to confirm yesterday really was my day, my amazon.com purchase arrived!

This is where the confession part comes in. One present Steve got me for Christmas was a DVD-Jane Austen Book Club. I looooove Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice is my second favorite book of all time (To Kill a Mockingbird holds a strong first). Austen's writing is witty, clever, romantic, and by no means outdated.

So last Friday, I had a night to myself and popped in the DVD (which story was first a book-that I read this summer at the beach!). As I was watching it, and loving all the Austen allusions, I realized it had been years since I'd read a Jane Austen book. In a moment of weakness (or perhaps I should attribute it to the 1.5 glasses of wine I had drunk at that point), I ordered 4 Jane Austen novels off Amazon.com. I could not help myself!

I might add I purchased the 4 books for a total price with shipping of $24, so it was quite the bargain.

I am re-acquainting myself with Jane Austen, beginning with her last book Persuasion. I started last night..and I'm loving it.

Oh-and it's never too early for a GO STEELERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is my day.

No, seriously it is. I didn't think it was when my alarm went off at 5:05a.m. I didn't think it was because I have to work late tonight. I didn't think it was when I realized I put my contacts away last night without covering them in saline solution. But, once I walked into the spinning class and the instructor promised an hour of all 80's songs that gained their popularity from MTV, I knew it would be a fantastic day.

Growing up, I used to wake up an hour early to watch MTV while I ate breakfast. I don't even think MTV plays music anymore. They just have those porn-like television shows like the Real World. (That show was SWEET when it first started with Pedro and Puck, etc...today it is like they try to find all the skanky co-eds and put them all in a room together with 25,000 gallons of alcohol and see what happens. So stupid.)

From 6AM-7AM I got to workout to some of my favorite songs by artists like: Bon Jovi, Madonna, Journey, etc. The entire time the instructor kept apologizing for the songs and I wanted to say "hey, I'm not embarrassed I know the lyrics to every song played this morning..."

It was great.

In other news, my intelligent, handsome boyfriend is debuting his online story today. You should read it...http://fullerblogisode.blogspot.com/

sooooo busy

But, I will spare a moment to share two things:

1. My eye will not stop twitching. It may be the most annoying thing in the entire world. And it's been doing it since I was in court this morning. Puh-lease eye, puh-lease stop.

2. I got $500 worth of Ann Taylor clothes for $66 dollars yesterday. Amazing, no? You should be impressed.

That's all. Back to work.

lazy saturdays

How are you spending your Saturday? I went to a spinning class at the gym and then made a beef stew from my new cookbook! (It's not done cooking yet ;) )

And Fiona has been laying in the sunlight being all lazy watching me cook. She's the world's best companion!

Happy New Year!

Some pics from the night...very fun! We ate dinner at our apartment, prepared by Jana and Justin, then headed to Northside Tavern for the third year in a row to ring in the new year. How was your night? Here's to hoping 2009 is as wonderful as 2008 has been!

new years eve day mishap

Last night I stayed up late reading Bad Dogs Have More Fun. Steve gave this to me for Christmas because he knows I am obsessed with all things sentimental and all things dog-related. A perfect mix. And it's written by the man who wrote Marley & Me, which if you haven't read that yet-stop reading this silly blog and go read it! It's a fantastic memoir about the lives of a young married couple-with a crazy dog thrown in for fun. Seriously, I read it 2 years ago and absolutely loved it.

So this morning, I'm driving to work (on auto-pilot), completely in thought about one of the stories I read last night. This particular story was about a family having to put their dog to sleep. I was lost in thought about how fast time goes by, and how I don't think I could stand it to put little Fi to sleep, when BAM I realize I've just run, not one, but TWO red lights.

Whoa. Thank you God for the light traffic downtown on this New Year's Eve Day. I drove right through Race Street and Main Street without ever stopping.

I resolve to pay better attention while driving. Geesh.

Check back in tomorrow...I promise New Year's Eve pics with my new camera!!

Seriously, what is wrong with people?

If you want proof that we live in a disgustingly broken world, all you have to do is read the comments that people in this area leave on news stories at Cincinnati.com.

For instance, I was just perusing this story about the woman murdered on Christmas Eve allegedly by her violent, ex-boyfriend. The same types of comments were left on the news stories surrounding the death of the young lady from Crossroads Church. Some of the comments people leave are absolutely stunning, unbelievably insensitive, and honestly I can't think of words to describe them. Callous, disrespectful, idiotic-yes.

As if the crime itself wasn't evidence of how messed up the world is...

mmmmmm

Remember this pretty thing? She's brewing me a cup of coffee right now...in my office...

Today I saved $1.95. Whatever will I do with it!?

Christmas in Toledo

As told in pictures...with my new camera!

Fiona curled up in my bed-yes, I've been staying in Sofa City all week.

mmmm...Deviled Eggs!

Isn't she such cutie!? (Fi that is ;) )

The prettiest ornaments on the tree!

Merry Christmas!

3 degrees, really?

Brrrr. It's all I can say. My hands still feel numb from the walk into work AND I have the space heater pumping. I am dreading the walk across the street at lunch to deposit a check.

Christmas is 3 days away! Are you ready??

I love the South.

Yes, my pants are wet from walking into the office in the rain. Yes, my dog was running around the apartment like a wild thing trying to get the rain out of her fur. Yes, my 5 mile run turned into a 3 mile sprint due to a heavy downpour. Yes, my umbrella is a piece of junk.

But....it isn't snow!

My parents are snow and iced in up North in Toledo. Detroit and Chicago and New York City are in the midst of a nasty storm. But, not us down here in the South!!

Nope, it's going to be 60 degrees today. Nevermind that tomorrow it will be only a high of 34 degrees.

Sure, snow is pretty when you're sitting by the fire, reading a book with no place to go. But, it can be quite unfriendly when you're trying to get to work. Since we only close if there is a level 3 snow emergency-unless it's a true, full fledged blizzard-keep that snow up North!

Christmas Delicious-ness

Do you like chocolate? Do you like mint? Do you adore chocolate and mint together?

Then you will love these brownies. And they are suuuuper easy. I made them last night for a work deal on Friday. Here is the "recipe". (I use that term loosely because I didn't exactly follow a recipe).

Ingredients:

1 13x9 brownie mix (use a box or use your own favorite "from scratch" brownies)

(Don't forget the ingredients for the brownie mix like eggs!)

2 boxes Andes Creme de Menthe thins

Bake brownies. While they are baking, unwrap all those mints. This is the worst part because inevitably the chocolate from the mints will get under your fingernails-and that is annoying.

Once the brownies are done by the "toothpick test," immediately put the unwrapped mints on top. Set the timer for 5 minutes. Once timer dings, take a knife (or if you have a fancy frosting spatula, use that) and spread the now melted mints across the brownies. Make it look pretty-it's easy. Let the topping harden.

Variation: Place half brownie batter in bottom of pan. Place unwrapped mints in a layer and pour remaining batter on top. Then bake. I have not tested this--do not blame me if it turns out like junk.

DONE.

Delicious and easy. What could be better?

(Don't judge by the picture...you know my cell camera is fantastic)

Gift-giving and shopping locally.

Every year I promise myself I won't go overboard with Christmas presents-and every year I fail. Part of it is because I really enjoy buying presents that I think people will enjoy. Part of it is that I like shopping, period. And a big part of it is that I grew up in a family where gift giving was the way we showed each other love.

Birthdays were always big, with lots of toys, clothes, etc. Christmas was always huge. Now, I know many of you would love to scold my parents for being materialistic and instilling improper values-but just relax. I appreciate what my parents sacrificed to make holidays memorable for me. And not just in presents-my family always hosted a huge Christmas Eve party, with lots of food (which is also very expensive-just like presents). They took us to see Santa, built snowmen (ok my Mom never did that!) and drove around to see Christmas lights. We went to the Nutcracker (ok my Dad never did that!) and watched Christmas movies. My parents sacrificed every New Years' Eve and spent it with their kiddies playing games and making hats out of newspapers.

Those things (including the gifts) were and are, how my family shows each other love. So, I always struggle between wanting to "cut back" on presents and not wanting my family to feel slighted. I know they wouldn't care per se, but holidays are a big deal to them.

Anyway, in light of that, I tried this year to think of ways to purchase presents, but not concurrently buy into all the materialism advertisers drive us to. I decided upon trying to shop locally (i.e. at locally owned stores) as much as possible. And I did pretty well.

I subscribe to Buy Cincy, a blog about buying stuff in Cincinnati. They've done some great pieces recently about buying Christmas presents locally. So, one evening I hit up Ludlow Ave. and found some really cool stuff that I probably never would've thought to get. Plus, I like supporting businesses in the Gaslight District where I live.

I also went to some local stores in Hyde Park and picked up some things for people on my list who like wine. Which is most everyone.

I have actually not set foot in a mall. I will on Christmas Eve because I enjoy getting a Peppermint Mocha and watching the madness and it's a tradition with my sister and myself. I also have not set foot in Wal-Mart. (And as an aside, if I see one more commercial by Wal-Mart advertising its low prices in these tough economic times, I am going to puke. Supporting companies like Wal-Mart does NOT help America or American workers. Sure, maybe you saved $200 bucks this holiday, but big deal. Shopping at stores like that who do not support unions or their local communities is quite a hurt on our economy.)

Anyway, no I didn't do all my shopping locally-but I think that will be my goal next year. It was fun to walk around the different shops and talk to real store owners. Plus, I bought some very unique gifts for people-which is so fun!

The good, the bad, the ugly.

Update: The good, the bad AND the ugly all rolled into one-my secret santa gave me a HUGE bag of m&ms today. Good in that they are amazingly delicious. Bad in that it will take everything in me to not eat them ALL day long. Ugly is my addiction to these treats... ugh.

The Good: I somehow lost my coffee card that gets a daily punch from Kitty @ Kitty's coffee in my office. Kitty let me off the hook! No punch and no 1.95 charge. How sweet, no? (Unfortunately I was also going to get one for my secret santa...but she is SOL!)


The Bad: At my 6am spinning class this morning, we had the option to have a "christmas" ride-meaning the workout would be done to upbeat Christmas music. OF COURSE, I voted yes. But since only 3 other people in the class (out of about 40) voted yes, we were voted down and had to listen to a mix that actually featured a song by Hanson. Good God. Those Scrooges deserved it I suppose...


The Ugly: The roads in Cincinnati! All that white snow everywhere made the commute treacherous! Oh wait... Good thing we wasted all that salt when we have a salt shortage in Hamilton County!! Can't wait til we have a blizzard in March with no salt. One more ugly-Ms. Barky McBarkerton who awoke me at 4:30a.m. because the dog in the upstairs apartment was barking. Lovely. Maybe they should have an apartment together where they just bark all day long.

Anyone looking for a last minute Christmas gift for yours truly-how about Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog...and Your Life by Cesar Millan.


I'm not even joking.

only in Ohio...

Can I awake to it being a balmy 58 degrees outside and understand that by the time I leave work it will be 25 degrees and snowy.

Crazy. It's going to be in the 50s again by the end of the week. Unlike some people, I don't mind a non-white Christmas.

In fact, a waking up to a sandy beach on Christmas morning sounds fantastic. Too bad I do not have the funds for that. My only hope is Santa.

hmm

Is it bad to eat yogurt that hasn't been refrigerated for 4 hours?

I just did. And now I am nervous.

I also just noticed its expiration date was December 10, 2008.

Oh man.

faith like Mary

During this Advent season, I've been doing some reading of the more "traditional" Christmas passages. It's always this time of year I long to attend a traditional church. Anyway, I think my favorite passage in the Christmas story is when Gabriel visits Mary and tells her of her upcoming pregnancy. 

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her own age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.

I am the Lord's servant, Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." The angel left her.

Luke 1:34-38

Her response strikes me in so many ways. First, her immense faith in God. Her quick acceptance of her fate illustrates her complete trust in God. Additionally, obviously God knew of her great faith as he entrusted her with perhaps the most important calling He could entrust to any human-the mother of His son. Second, her willingness to sacrifice in order to be obedient to God. She sacrificed her reputation among her peers (just imagine what people were saying when this so-called virgin was 6 months pregnant). Not to mention-she ultimately sacrificed her son and watched him die on the cross. Can you imagine?

A few short verses with such intense meaning. When God calls me to do something, how willing am I to do it? And more importantly, what am I willing to sacrifice to follow that call-my reputation? My friends? My everything? 

I want the kind of faith Mary had-the kind of faith that without hesitation obeyed God and the kind of faith that was so obviously big that God would entrust her with BIG things.

toy assistance.

Is Thomas the Train cool? I had to get a toy for our office party in order to be entered for the door prizes. I hit up TJMaxx hoping for a Barbie doll (my favorite), but they had nothing...except for some Thomas trains.

I purchased something called "Rocky." I guess he is a friend of Thomas?

Hopefully Toys for Tots doesn't ask me for a gift receipt so they can return it. :-/

insomnia

There is not much worse than not being able to sleep. About two times a year I can't sleep. I LOVE sleep. I generally have no issue sleeping. But, last night when I went to bed around 10:15p.m. I just sat there and thought, and thought, and then heard my dog barking like a maniac, and thought some more.

I could NOT get to sleep. But I was exhausted. I have 84,000 things to do between now and Christmas (just like everyone else) and it just got to me last night. Plus, Fiona has taken it upon her ratty-self to turn into a newborn baby and wake me up on the hour to tell me that the wind is making the tree blow outside. I really don't know how people have little babies who wake up all night long and go to work/function during the day. That is an amazing feat. I woke up feeling like I hadn't slept ALL WHILE FIONA CURLED UP SLEEPING IN MY BED.

Lovely. I am jealous of a dog. I have reached a new low. :)

Anyway...today I will make lots of lists and that should give me enough comfort to get some sleep. My mom used to wake my sister and I up at the crack of dawn and say "you'll sleep when you're dead."

Well, I'd like to sleep right now, thank you. Instead, I will get started on this 20 oz. of coffee.

ALSO-can someone please, pretty please, suggest an umbrella that can withstand rain and wind? I have gone through 3 umbrellas this year and I really need a decent one that isn't a gigantic golf umbrella. It's the only thing on my Christmas list! :)

Note to self

Dear self,

While the hummus appetizer plate at Mythos is a delicious lunch, should you decide to partake in eating the hot pepper that comes on the side, do not then rub your eye. Stinging, throbbing pain will ensue. For a long time. It will not be pretty when it's all red, watery, and your mascara is smudged. Not pretty at all.

Sincerely,
Your smarter self

it's that time of year...

When people start getting sick. Sneezing, coughing, and the like. I hate being sick. I feel like that didn't get my point across-I HATE BEING SICK. So, I do everything in my power to prevent coming down with the cold or flu.

This time of year is when my neuroses are in full swing. I've developed some sure-fire ways to prevent getting ill from someone else. (And some tips for getting rid of it if you do someone contract a cold!) *Lawler-ly disclaimer-I am not a doctor. If you are listening to a doctor for medical advice, you might want to re-think that.

1. Hold your breath. As often as possible. Getting on the elevator and someone is hacking away? Hold your breath and don't let it out until you are 5 seconds off the elevator. This can be difficult if you are on the 12th floor like I am. But, it's better than being sick!

2. Slide away from people who are sick. They say that germs can jump (or something) if you are closer than 3 ft away. Someone comes by your desk to chit chat with a runny nose? Slide your wheeled desk chair over to your file cabinet and pretend you are getting something really important. Not only will it keep you more than 3 ft away, it's likely the person will think you're really busy and get their germ-y self out.

3. Wash your hands. Duh. I can't believe I even had to say that. If you aren't washing your hands, that is nasty.

4. Learn to blow away germs. This was a tactic I developed in high school. Let's say you're chatting with someone and they begin hacking away. If you don't have time to hold your breath-simply exhale. Blow those nasty germs AWAY and don't inhale until you are safely 3 ft. away. You may want to accompany this with a death glare if someone is coughing without covering his/her mouth...just sayin'

5. IF you get sick-shun over the counter antihistamines and go exercise. Antihistamines dry up whatever is in there that needs to come out. I'd rather be blowing my nose/coughing up some phlegm all day for 2 days and get the evil disease out than drag a cold out for 5-7 days because my symptoms are mildly better. Tough it out. On that note-I am a firm believer that if you feel semi-ok and are just dragging because of a cold, go for a run. It will loosen up all that evil-phlegm and move it on out much faster than lying around on the couch watching Top Chef reruns-though that does sound kind of nice too!

Anyway, good luck not getting sick. It's been just over one year since I had the flu and it was the first time I've had it since I can remember. It was horrible and I do not want to repeat. So if you see me and I am slowly backing away because you've just wiped your snotty nose with your hand-don't be offended. And for God's sake go wash your hands!

It worked!

This afternoon I did some shopping. I wore a grey fleece with a pink tank top. I came home at 5PM-missing the first 45 minutes of the Steelers' game. It wasn't going so well.

I settled into doing work and 30 minutes later realized just why the Steelers were looking terrible. I WASN'T WEARING MY LUCKY SHIRT. 

I quickly changed and so did the Steelers' luck. Once my shirt was on, Steelers scored a touchdown to tie with Dallas and then scored another with only 1:44 left in the game. Ahhhh...fantastic. 

What a great game to watch, was it not? My Dad immediately texted me:

"Here we go Steelers again! I'm starting to get a feeling of destiny."

Me too, Dad. Me too.

(You can believe that shirt is NOT getting washed this week.)

The Tree

Pretty, is it not?

(My silly cell phone camera does not do it justice.) Real Christmas trees smell amazing. There is nothing like it. Steve even bought me a pretty wreath so that I can have that same smell in my apartment. :-)

I'm off to Cleveland for the weekend to play with my college roommates. It will probably involve some wine, some food, some shopping, and some more wine. Should be fantastic! Have a great weekend!

I still live in an apartment.

So about a week ago, I went to look at a condo for sale in Clifton. It's been for sale for a while, actually went through a foreclosure, and was again on the market-for a deeply discounted price. It was going for about $90K less than its appraised value. So I called a realtor, had a look, and began this endless mind-debate on whether or not to put an offer on it.

I made Steve look at it. I made Jana look at it. I reviewed my lease to see what kind of penalty would ensue for terminating it early. I think I was about 65% sure I wanted it when I discovered someone else's offer was accepted.

Then I really wanted it. 100% sure. HAD to have it-with its fancy bathrooms, gourmet kitchen and huge closets.

Steve mentioned how funny it was that only when someone else had it did I know I wanted it. Funny, indeed.

I woke up this morning glad I didn't buy a condo-particularly glad I didn't rush into a gigantic financial decision and commitment. And it confirmed that I am human-and want what other people have!

So, when I could have it-I didn't want it, but when I couldn't have it-I wanted it. Interesting.

Why do we so covet the things which are unavailable to us? Funny.

I just love this Christmas-y time of year.

I know there are lots of you Grinches out there-I hear you complaining. Cynics who loathe the holidays and the decorating and the shopping and the music and the peppermint mochas at Starbucks. Well, I think you are crazy! What's not to love about this magical time of year?

There's something fun about standing in a line at the GAP with your future presents in hand, while humming along to "jingle bell rock" playing throughout the store. It's exciting to play "secret Santa" at work and surprise fellow co-workers with little treats. Driving home in traffic doesn't seem quite as annoying when you get the chance to witness all the pretty, twinkling lights people have strung on their homes. (I have a soft spot for those big, fat colored lights-sorry!)

Not to mention the food...Graeter's has peppermint ice cream as its seasonal flavor-YUM. Add their delicious bittersweet chocolate sauce and you have perhaps my favorite dessert. I love it all. Pretty packages, tasty cookies, parties, family, friends...it's all quite fantastic.

Steve and I are going to see A Christmas Carol at Playhouse in the Park in Mt. Adams next week...and he's even going to brave getting another real Christmas tree tomorrow after last year's bug debacle. That takes courage!

It's a season full of anticipation and excitement...

Anyway, to all you Grinches out there-get with it! It's more fun to enjoy the season that gripe at it!

brrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Thanks to Jana my ears were warm on the way to court with these fantastic things that keep my ears warm without messing up my pretty hair!

However, the same cannot be said about my feet. Walking nearly a mile to court and nearly a mile back in 3 inch heels made my feet feel anything but warm and cozy.

I wish it were appropriate to wear these with suits:

They are black after all... ;-)

Back at it

What a fantastic break! 4 days off work felt great. I spent my time doing the following:

-eating (a lot)

-shopping (Rookwood was the only "mall" I hit up on Black Friday. And I waited until 2PM.)

-getting a new gym membership at Urban Active (this morning at the gym I ran into a girl who lived in my hall freshman year AND in my house my sophomore year of college-nuts!)

-meeting Steve's family (15 months is just the right time to meet your significant other's family ;) )

-reading (my Dad brought me 2 new books from Toledo)

-watching movies on TV (which may be the most annoying thing ever due to commercials, but I sat through Braveheart and The Way We Were...yes, I was veeerrry lazy)

-cooking (two apple pies and one green bean casserole-what's the big to do about that? Green bean casserole is gross. Mostly because mushrooms are sick.)

-sleeping (on Thursday night and last night I went to bed before 10PM. Amazing)

-wrapping presents (yes, I'm so neurotic that I like to wrap them as I buy them! This proved to be a bad move when I wrapped my Dad's gift only to learn he already bought it for himself.)

-watching THE STEELERS... wearing my lucky shirt. I have not washed the shirt now for 3 (or is it 4?) games. Don't judge-I wear a long sleeve under it, so that makes it clean, right? he he he

The lucky shirt...(pretty isn't it?)