"Mom, she's like bigfoot--rarely seen on film."

I always come home from a trip and think, "dammit, I still forgot to be in any pictures."

Hate the way I look in this first one. I forgot to pack conditioner, not that it would have helped because the salty breeze at the beach everyday left my hair in a constant state of disarray. And I turned this black and white because this was pre-burn and therefore my little farmer's tan was a bit blinding.

That said, PROOF, I was there.

After the burn in my salmon colored shorts that I HAD to buy before I left town. I love them:

Photo of the Day: Riley Paige at 14 Months

The toothy grin kills me. I taught her high fives and patty cake. Dog is her current favorite word, next to Mama.

Photo of the Day: Puppy Love

Birthday Parties

This weekend was Riley's first birthday party. I hate being sappy, so trust I'm not trying to be when I say omg where the heck did the last year go? Like wasn't it March of 09 five minutes ago?





Here are a couple of photos of the finished kitchen after the big Turquoise explosion that went on.







I'm actually pretty jealous even though I heavily influenced my mom's decision to go from the orange to the turquoise. My dream kitchen is very retro and very turquoise (albeit, with pink accents).

Photo of the Day

I'm on Spring Break this week. Unless I start failing classes this is my last ever Spring Break (provided I don't suddenly decide to get a masters in Education) (but let's be honest, the idea of taking the GRE gives me hives) so I'm trying to savor it. I've slept so late every day this week that I've missed proper breakfast hours. I ate a Big Mac today. I've read several fun books that have nothing at all to do with history. I've spent an outrageous amount of time studying college basketball statistics. And I've watched as many hours of fantastic reality tv as I can find.

I even found the time to make Cake Balls.



I'm going to miss this Spring Break thing.

Meh

I haven't had a coke (or any other fizzy soda) since February 10. I tried starting a new blog thinking it would help me be accountable, but I'll be honest...it fizzled out because I haven't needed it. It's the craziest thing, but I've just quit them and haven't looked back. And y'all, my addiction to sodas was deep. It was a very passionate love affair that dates back many years. I'm quite amazed with myself.

However, I'm constantly starving. I'm guessing the constant coke drinking (yeah constant, the addiction was immense) was suppressing my appetite somehow (100-200 calories per glass probably helped).

*****
Ah, yeah, so I wrote that like 2 hours ago. Perhaps I just have attention deficit disorder. Can't blog anymore. I blame twitter.

But the point is made, I quit cokes and it needed to be documented.
*****
Mostly the Olympics have been stealing my attention lately. That and bitching about the weather. I've pretty much decided to have a torrid love affair with Bode Miller, a cute first date with JR Celski, marry Apolo Ohno and make Johnny Weir my gay husband.

This is per usual. Every two years I fall in love with a bunch of Olympians. Despite Michael Phelps' somewhat unfortunate facial features, just watch me in 2 years fall for him all over again. Whatever.

Curling is the most ridiculous sport I've ever watched, second only to Ice Dancing. Actually, you know, they might be tied. Ice Dancing is pretty ridiculous.
*****

Note to self: stop buying the cat toys to play with. She likes boxes. And boxes only.

Photo of the Day

There is something satisfying about grilling when there is snow on the ground. We did it before the last round of snow, and again tonight as it was all melting. 57 degrees has never felt so good, no?

Photo of the Day

I bought myself presents to help my mood. I won't say it solved all of my problems, but having a new tote to look forward to is helping.

Mini Zip Wallets are normally $27
Villager is normally $72
Betsy is normally $63

Which means my order would have cost $189 but I got it all for $94. There was also a free shipping deal going which saved $8.

Now I just need to find a computer deal. Sadly, that search is far less exciting.

Photo of the Day

Insert Clever Title Here

Jack just wants to be a lap dog like the other two. It's kind of adorable. It also hurts from time to time, but he doesn't understand that part.

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The run down

Classes: meh. I love, love, love, love, love my Modern American History class. Favorite professor, and the most kick ass subject ever: American history from 1974 through the election of Barack Obama. We watched Jon Stewart to open the class on Tuesday. That is awesome.

Haiti: is breaking my heart. I can't stop watching the coverage. As someone whose heart has been open to adoption for a long time now I just keep wishing I were at a stage of my life where adopting a couple of these orphans was an option. What a beautiful people, though. I hope they come back stronger than ever before after this.

Computer: I think mine is dying. It sucks. But what can you do? At least they aren't as expensive as they were when I bought the current one.

PS3: Jon used birthday money, christmas money and money my parents gave him to purchase one of these this past weekend. I'm completely smitten with it and the Netflix livestreaming feature.

Camera: I really want a new point and shoot. Something smaller than my fuji that I can carry around in my purse. I don't need it. But I'm pretty close to convincing myself I do. I'm beginning to smell a Birthday present.

Speaking of birthdays: I turn 24 this year. 24?! Where'd the time go?

In related news: I keep finding grey hairs in my head.

GREY HAIRS.

WHEN DID I GET OLD AND HOW DO I MAKE IT STOP?

P.S. What do you think, would going back to blonde cover these goofy stray hairs better?

P.P.S. It's for real like one hair. I find it in the middle of the top of my head every few weeks.

P.P.P.S. I still want it gone. Or at least not noticable.

Photos of the Day + Tweetial Pursuit: the follow up

So that arrived. I couldn't just leave my readers hanging, you know.

Jack has developed what I would consider an unhealthy addiction to paper. I'm not sure you can tell the pain on his face in this shot, but it's there because he's begging for a sheet of loose leaf and I wouldn't give it to him. You name a paper product and he wants it: printer paper, toilet paper, paper towels, coupons, magazines, books, wrapping paper. And if he keeps finding sources when nobody is looking I'm afraid he's eventually going to need surgery to remove it all.


The following three are of Jon and my mother taking advantage of my Netflix subscription by watching the latest from Bill Engvall. I don't know where Engvall falls in the pantheon of comics, but I can admit that I enjoy him very much. I can't stand the cable guy or the redneck joke guy, but Bill tells stories that remind me so much of my Dad. As you can see, it cracks us all up.

Photo of the Day

I must admit, internet, that I'm definitely more of a warm weather photographer. I can't find the motivation, despite the pretty sweet new camera, to layer up and get my butt outdoors to find some beauty.

But sometimes the beauty is found sitting around on my bed. And sometimes I remember to take a picture of her. I'm constantly in awe of just how still Molly can sit for a picture. I've heard dogs don't have souls, but one long stare into those eyes of hers always leaves me questioning that theory.

Obligatory

Santa brought me an early gift, a 50mm lens for my camera to photograph Christmas with. Can't wait to play around with it more tomorrow.

Tomorrow being the day my baby brother turns 15. I can't deal.

Photo of the Day

This photo is classic Molly. Always wanting to both be on someone's lap, yet never content. She exists in some sort of heightened state of paranoia at all times.



This one? Just because.


I really hope I get a 50mm for Christmas. Santa, are you listening? Indoor shots would improve so much. It's taking a lot of self control for me not to just go ahead and purchase one. Sigh...patience is not a virtue I possess.

New Christmas list addition: The Dreamy Diana Lens

It's so pretty. Want. Want. Want.

Day 23: Photo of the Day

I have 76 of these, so forgive me if I don't have a favorite.





























It turns out if a cat lays down on your blue light covered Christmas wreath you're going to want to take a picture. And you'll get the brilliant idea to use a string of clear lights as an extension cord to light up the blue wreath. And once you find out how well she is going to cooperate you'll want to string those clear lights over her body.

Yes. This is my life.