Just like HGTV

This summer I will be moving into a new place-which is awesome because I LOVE to move. There is nothing better.

Ok, that was a giant lie. But, I am finally going to invest in some furniture and *try* to have a grown up looking place...just in time before my 28th birthday. Ugh-the day I finally enter my "late" twenties. Sick. Anywho, I love watching design shows almost as much as I like watching the Food Network. I really like the ones where they try to do a room in under $1,000. They always have an "inspiration" room that is way $$$.

So, I've found my inspiration room for my new living room. This picture is from Pottery Barn, and the couch alone is $2,000. Yikes.

What do you think? (I won't do the wicker furniture-that belongs outside or in a sun room, but I do like the idea of a dark brown chair, maybe leather, maybe not.) I love the beach. And my new place has tons of windows and kind of a cottage-y feel. I'm thinking tans, blues, and beachy-accents will be nice. And they will remind me of vacation when I return home after a long, stressful day at work! Now the trick will be finding similar items for a fraction of the cost!

cake in a cup.

This is what Jana and I dined on while watching Biggest Loser last night. We've developed quite the (fattening) weekly habit!

But, seriously, you can make cake in a cup...in 3 minutes. 

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

small splash vanilla

3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

Mix first three ingredients well in a large coffee mug. Add egg and stir until mixed. Add rest of ingredients, mix well. Heat in microwave for 3 minutes-YUM. It might rise a bit over the top of the mug, but it won't explode or anything. I think it's enough for 2 people, but I suppose you could eat it all yourself. ;)

*It's even better with some ice cream on the side if you're feeling extra indulgent!

So fun.

What a fun weekend! My sister and I went up to Columbus for some shopping and eating and all that kind of fun stuff at Easton. The weather was perfect. 

Here's Katy driving early Saturday morning on our way to Timmy H's (it saddens me how there are no Tim Horton's in Cincinnati)

Here we are on our way to a delicious dinner...

Here I am enjoying my comfy bed at the Hilton-my bed alone had 5 pillows!

And finally...the damage. 

There was also a hot tub, but no pics of that! Sometimes having a relaxing weekend away with lots of laughter (and lots of shopping!) is just what you need. Know what I mean?

yawn.

I am operating on 5 hours of sleep-all due to a silly predictable book! I was all set to post some pictures from my fun weekend and somehow got sucked into this Nicholas Sparks' book! I ended up staying up so late reading it. Sick.

Check in tomorrow for pics. ;)

Sunshine. Finally!

This weather is incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I will spend tomorrow in Columbus, shopping outside at Easton with my sister. I cannot wait!

*The only strange thing about this weather is that people decide it's time to run around with hardly any clothes on. When I came home from work yesterday evening (mind you it was in the 60s), I spotted several women in halter tops and shorts that my grandmother would probably consider underwear. Once the sun is out, people really have a thing about showing off all, and I do mean all, their skin.

Just what a lawyer needs...

Oh, my. I received a Vera Bradley catalog in the mail this week and spotted these pretty pens.

Writing with one of these would make lawyer-ing SO much more fun. Adorable! But, should I take the $19 splurge when I can get pens for free? Remember, the pens I get for free are NOT pink.* :)

*Note, the ink is not pink. That would be ridiculous.

Seriously.

Did you see the puppy in my sidebar today? Holy. Maybe the cutest puppy ever? Click on him for more pics-wow.

Speaking of dogs, on Sunday I ventured into PetSmart or Pet Co or whatever the name of the place there by Target on Ridge. They were having an adoption drive, coordinating with the local human society. All I needed was a bag of dog food.

But, I wanted to take all 7 puppies home with me! It literally breaks my heart that there are so many dogs without homes. Just sitting there in their little crates hoping someone finds them cute enough to adopt.

I know all of those dogs weren't just strays on the street. They were dogs brought into loving families and then abandoned for a myriad of reasons. The owners decided to have kids (and decided they didn't have time for a dog). The owners weren't consistent with housetraining and decided the dog could never learn to go to the bathroom outside. The dog was "too hyper" because the owners never took it on walks. The dog barked too much. Whatever.

Maybe I'm way off base. But, I do think many people and families who get dogs underestimate the level of commitment it takes. And then they are mad at the dog when he doesn't instantly resemble Lassie. Sad.

I am far from a model dog owner. My dog jumps on people and immediately expects belly rubs the instant you walk in my door. She barks at noises that I don't hear. BUT, I am committed to that wild beast. I will take her to the vet and squirt her with water when she misbehaves. I'll take her on walks and snuggle up with her when I watch tv. Because she is more loyal than any human I've ever met-and she loves me even more than I love myself! (and that's saying a lot ;) )

I've posted this quotation before, but it's one of my favorites:

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It’s the best deal man has ever made. -M.Facklam

Already quite a morning...

The good news is I made it into work on time despite being lost approximately three times on the West Side while navigating WITH a GPS system. Seriously, I think they make it a maze over there to keep non-west siders out. It is ridiculous. There are no right or left turns there. It's either "bear to the right" or "sharp right"-as in completely turn your car around and go the other way. And when I finally thought I had reached the right road to head downtown and instead realized I was on 75 North, I started crying...in my newly rented Ford Focus.

The bad news is that I left the keys to my apartment hooked on my car keys. My car keys are with my car on the west side being repaired from the little hit and run last week. The body shop closes at 5PM, so I can't go pick them up after work. So, that was cry #2 of the morning-in my office, with the door closed.

*sigh*

Can't wait.

A weekend with no plans.

Love it.

90 minutes to go.

A recommendation

If you are a wine drinker and, like me, you love the thought of savoring a glass of delicious wine while relaxing on a deck (or balcony as the case may be) during the spring/summer, I highly suggest you pick up a bottle of vinho verde wine. It's Portuguese, not sweet, and has the slightest bit of sparkling-ness to it. Not bubbly like champagne, or even Proseco, but just enough of a kick to give it some extra delicious-ness, especially in the summer.

I was surprised (and excited!) to find that other people share my love of this wine. You can read about it here. My favorite kind of Gazela, which you can find even at IGA for around $6. See, you don't have to buy expensive wine to be a wine snob.

Go get a bottle. You will thank me later.

An oldie but goodie...

You've Got Mail was on television last night. I adore that movie. Remember when you'd wait impatiently and listen to the modem before you could get online? (FYI, my parents had dial up until my first year of law school when I forced them to get DSL-that was 2003!) 

Those were the days, eh? :-) I loved AOL and I loved hearing "You've got mail." 

But you know what I love even more? The end of this movie! Watch it-you'll agree.

Isn't it ironic?

Three women, eating oversized servings of chocolate cake, perusing cookbooks with very fattening recipes...

all while watching makeover week on The Biggest Loser.

Yep-that's me, Emily and Jana last night. Wow.

FYI

Don't go into the police station to report a "hit and run." They are apparently now called "Hit Skips."

Who knew? Not me. They stared at me blankly until I fully explained the "hit skip." 

awesome.

Well my morning began with realizing my car was hit over night. Then I got a lecture by the police office because: 1. I tried to report the incident via telephone and 2. I didn't know my license plate number.

Seriously, who knows their license plate number?

So, now my car has: only one working windshield wiper, 3 missing hubcaps, and now, a scraped up broken left front bumper. Sweeeeeeeet.

Happy Easter!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend celebrating! 

I will be enjoying Easter with church and then brunch with Steve (he makes really good pancakes and amazing eggs). 

  Here's a glimpse of the eggs Steve and I colored. Which do you think is the prettiest??

Bummer

I just heard what sounded like a huge bomb exploding downtown. Turns out the Reds simply hit a homerun.

Looks like I won't be evacuating work and leaving early.

In just a little over 2 months...

I will be at the beach sipping on my favorite coffee from this adorable coffee shop. The flavor I love? Coconut crunch.

I happened to pass Bruegger's this morning on my way into work and noticed an advertisement for coconut coffee. I had to partake. It was delicious.

But, not quite as delicious as it will be when I am enjoying it on a deck of a beach house...or better yet, right in front of the ocean in a comfy beach chair.

61 days. That isn't bad at all.

True Observation

I witness many insane things at my gym. But, this morning may have topped all-in terms of both weirdness and annoyingness.

My workout this morning took place in the movie room (per usual). I was on the eliptical enjoying King Kong on the big projector screen in the dark. I noticed a couple, a young guy and girl, enter the movie room (which should be silent) chit chatting away. The guy gets on the eliptical on my right and the following ensues:

Girl-Why'd you get on that machine?
Guy-It's right in the center of the room.
Girl-But now you're next to a girl other than me!
Guy-But I can see the tv good.
Girl-Well I'm going to go out to the elipticals out there (motioning outside of the movie room), want to come?
Guy-No I want to watch this movie.
Girl-Oh ok...but I will miss you. (Makes sad face) Seriously, I cannot make this stuff up.
Guy-ok.
Girl-hops on treadmill next to guy and KISSES HIM, then says I will misss you, see you in 30 minutes.

Omg. Guy looks over at me and shrugs. I just pretended to be engrossed in King Kong.

Wow.

Just call me Betty Crocker

Tonight I tested a recipe I saw on the Food Network, compliments of Ina Garten/Barefoot Contessa. This was the moistest cake I've ever had! And the secret ingredient made all the difference. Very chocolatey and delicious-and completely from scratch. 

And the ingredient isn't so secret considering the recipe is available at foodnetwork.com. :-)

Success

A few weeks ago, Jana convinced me to take Fi to the dog park down by Lunken airport. I really didn't want to go for a variety of reasons:

-Big dogs freak me out (I am still not 100% over this dog attack)
-Dogs wrestling around freak me out
-I would never use the word "calm" to describe Fi
-I knew I'd be a nervous wreck, and according to the Dog Whisperer, Fi would then absorb my nervous energy-making her a nervous wreck as well.

I figured the above was not a good combination. But, I also know that Fi used to be a very well-socialized dog back when I took her to obedience classes. Since then, I try to avoid other dogs at all costs, and I think it has made her kind of crazy.

So, we went to the dog park and played in the little dog area. She was fine for a while. Then she and another dog got in a little tussle. It wasn't a fight, and most dog owners would probably be fine with a little wrestling and growling, but I haaated it because I don't know what to do. Not to mention the yuppie owner of the troublesome cockapoo said "Can someone get that dog?"-referring to my precious Fi! I totally felt like the over-protective parent and wanted to give that woman a piece of my mind, but instead we exited the dog park-ashamed.

Fast forward to last night. Steve really wanted to take Fi to the dog park. (I think he wanted to see her wrestle another dog!) So we went to Mt. Airy park and it was amazing! There was only one other dog in the small dog area (actually a dog too big for that area) and she was another terrier. No scuffles or fights. Fi was worn out running around and had a great time. It was perfect-for both of us to kind of ease back into socializing with other dogs.

Steve wanted to take her in to the big dog area, but I didn't think I could handle that. Baby steps. One last thing-it was so fun to see dogs running around without leashes. Fi looked like she was having the time of her life running around free. It was great.