Weekend FUNdraiser

Last night we went went to the Oldies but Goodies Cocker Spaniel Rescue's Wine Tasting Fundraiser.
http://www.cockerspanielrescue.com/

It was a great event held in DC's Eastern Market. My favorite part of the evening was the chocolate and wine pairings- so yummy! I should have written down what I really liked to re-create it at home.

We had a few silent auction items we wanted to win, so we periodically checked on them throughout the evening. When we were checking one package together, I was like man, I got out-bid. Ethan came up and was like, oh good, we're still winning!
Egads! We had different #s and were bidding against each other!
We eventually forgot about bidding and the more stealthy individuals swooped in at the end and won! Oh well, we needed less wine and more focus, but we helped to raise the price for some of the auction items :).

I have hardly any pictures- once again, I blame it on the wine.

If you're in the DC area, you should definitely check this fundraiser out.

Work Hard/ Eat Hard

Last night I had to work late. It reminded me of when I worked in NYC-  I used to work until 7pm or later a LOT more than I do now and it didn't bother me as much. I must be getting old, but in NYC, I got a sweet company paid for cab ride home & sometimes dinner too.

Anyway, I was typing an email that included the term "arrears" and I thought to myself that sounds funny, because when I say it, I have been saying "payment in the rears"!
This is finance, not Samwell's What What in the Butt!
So, I am awaiting my call from HR for this and probably other outstanding offenses.

We also had a big birthday bash at work (which I was involved with setting up/ cleaning up).
This was me at 7:00 pm ish last night:

I usually have a rule about office cake- homemade or else it's not worth the calories! I caved several times yesterday!

When I finally got home (I forced E to "unwind" with me at Baja Fresh), I had a package on my doorstep! Packages on my doorstep are one of my most favorite things (I'm surprised I don't online shop more).

Anyway, my brother's girlfriend from Japan was visiting him in Tennessee and brought moi a birthday present & he shipped it to me!

Yay- presents!

The treat inside :)

TGIF to you all!

What Happens in the Cube, Stays in the Cube

I seriously had this conversation with someone at work today:

Me: Something smells like BO in my area, I hope it's not me.
Colleague: Well, I did notice a BO smell when you walked over here. It's probably not you, just when you said it, I realized it was here.
Me: (smelling my shirt in the underarm area): no way, definitely not me. Crap maybe it's my feet? Sometimes these ballet flats make my feet sweat, especially when I have my heater going...
Colleague: (male, mildly horrified) I don't know.
Me: I'm going to he bathroom to check things out.

Definitely not me and the smell had dissipated by the time I was back.

Culprit #1: I have a sensitive doggie nose & my colleague is easily swayed by the power of suggestion.We sit in the basement and there are all sorts of funky smells that come in through the vents.

Culprit #2: My heater was making the person in the cube next to me sweaty.
Culprit #3: My drawer o' shoes (note, I don't think stinky feet smell the same as BO)

Gettin' in the Groove

Sigh, only Tuesday. This is he last week of the fiscal year, so I'm super busy at work.
Trying to de-stress at a cardio kickboxing class last night, I fell doing a jump kick. Nice.

On a positive note, E made quiche with a turkey bacon crust. (He substitutes 2% cheddar and non-fat milk). I would have taken a blog pic, but I got excited and ate it all too fast ;)

Wonderful Wedding Weekend Wrap-Up

In case you didn't see my Facebook page, E and I were in Nashville, TN for a wedding this weekend!
E was a groomsman - the groom was E's college roommate and fraternity bro.

For the rehearsal dinner, they had brunch for the rehearsal dinner since that was the couple's favorite meal- so meaningful and it was super delicious. Post rehearsal dinner, there is awesome bar, Flying Saucer, next door to the hotel- good planning :)

At the Rehearsal

Groomsmen at the Rehearsal after party

The day of the wedding, we had an amazing brunch/ breakfast at Fido's (sense a theme- I love brunch) with the groom and some of the groomsmen before picking up tuxes. I was as happy as a little puppy they let me and another "PONG wife" tag along (PONG was the fraternity's nickname).

Friends at Fido's
We found out later it was a little "hipster-y". Ethan got steak and eggs so there were no issues :)

I totally harassed them while they took pictures.

The wedding was in the main floor of Union Station. The bride the made her entrance down a staircase (sort of Scarlet O'Hara). She looked amazing; although, I kinda want to be a hater since she looked so freakin' perfect. 

Location before the ceremony decor

E giving his toast

One of my sorority sister's son was the ring bearer. He was too cute (I mean little tuxedos, c'mon!) & was my little buddy for the evening (probably only because I have a kickstand on my phone holder).  Anyhoo, the food was so delicious & of course the dancing was fun!

I totally stole this from a friend's FB page, but it's one of my faves. All the "PONG wives" <3

We had so much fun & loved seeing old friends we don't get to see that often. It does make Monday suck way worse when you have a super-fun, fantastic weekend :)

XOXO to all our Nashvillian peeps :)

WTF CVS

Tomorrow we are flying to Nashville for a wedding- yay!
We have always checked a bag, but since this is just a weekend jaunt, we are going carry-on only.
I like to spazz out plan weeks in advance for trips. 2 weeks ago I Googled the carry on rules regarding liquids and proceeded on my mission to get travel sizes for what we needed. I always get stopped for additional screening. Ethan says I look angry or shifty (I am just thinking- thank-you).

Anyways, I cannot find a travel baby powder anywhere. (Must have for my hair.) I know this doesn't count as a liquid rule, but I don't want to take a full-sized baby powder. (Don't ask why this is just now coming up with all the times we've traveled before.) I also ran out of clear hair rubber bands (because they are effing clear and get lost and sucked up the vacuum) & need only one to do my hair at said wedding.

CVS has neither of these items in Northern VA or DC.

Solution: I put a small amount of baby powder in a snackie plastic baggie and will probably regret it tomorrow when I am cavity searched for additional drugs.

Soooo, in the midst of "preparing" for our trip, I did make myself laugh today:

I wore this shirt a few weeks back "Kim" Kardashian style:

Today I wore it "Kim" Jong Il style:

And then this pic was just so terrible, I had to share:

Who knows what I'm doing, but this look says "someone farted".

My Fitness Pal - A New Beginning!

I finally quit Weight Watchers. (gasp,  5 years + as a member) I occasionally would keep up online ($20/ mo.) and pretty much stopped going to meetings (another $23 on top of the $20). Instead, I joined My Fitness Pal for FREE.
I also found that on WW, I could (and would) eat WW processed snack cakes, chips, and fruit all day and be in my points. Now, I am trying to be healthier and more with nature.

Sorry J Huds, good for you. I'd stick with WW if they paid me & I got a book deal out of it.

If you want to be my MyFitnessPal "friend" (warning, I am flighty with this stuff and it could be weeks before I logon again after I lose my gusto), my user name is : kcopinger.

FYI, this is my maiden name which I still use to create all my accounts since I have never met another Copinger and I never have issues with the login "kcopinger" and that's just easier than kbrown123456. I am now of a certain age where I don't want to use kbrown1981 ;)
At work, my login has a number in it because there are a million Brown's that work at the House.
Brown is way easier when I'm on the phone though: "Brown, as in the color"- heehee.

Hope the hubs doesn't mind too much that I never use his name online. (He doesn't since he just got me a beautiful plant yesterday!)

Anyhoo, back to My Fitness Pal. Yea, it's free. Fingers crossed I stick with it longer than a week, because I am sportin' major camel toe in my winter pants!

Gettin' Back to Nature

I once worked with woman (my age) that had the best figure and eating habits. I would love to have her body (not happin'), but at the very least her eating habits.

Here's what I noticed (am I a work stalker?!):

• She always ate lots of veggies & drank a lot of water.
• She had "treats" but limited herself to one or 2 small items (very hard for me to do this)
• She never drank diet sodas or ate "diet foods". I once saw her have a regular Coke (I about wet myself since I haven't had a real soda since the 90s). 

Since I had a big birthday last year, I have decided I need to get healthy now if I want to look like Christie Brinkley when I'm 50 (hell, I'd love to look like her now!).

Um, she's 58 people!!!

I read Skinny Bitch, and although I haven't gone vegan, I have given up sodas and coffee (sorta, I have been very naughty with weekend pumpkin spice lattes). I have also been trying to limit my Splenda intake, but that is proving to be the hardest!

I've been drinking green tea in the mornings, but I like it with a little lemon and a packet of Splenda.
Splenda just dissolves so nicely and is much sweeter (it's equivalent to 2 packets of sugar right?) I tried honey, but my tea wasn't sweet and then I got a gross sweet blob at the end. Today I tried sugar in the raw and I couldn't taste anything!
Next up: agave nectar.

I don't think I'm ready to use a crystal as my deodorant, but I'm trying to be more "natural".

My First Job (maybe the best)

I remember when I turned 16, how excited I was to fill out applications at West Town Mall for my first job.
I dressed to impress (black slacks, white short sleeved button down & purple scarf tied at the neck- ha!)
and was interviewed on the spot and then received my first job offer at the Gap!

Oh, my first day was so exciting. I got to wear a little Gap badge, work with college kids, fold clothes, and greet people. There was no stress, I got a 50% discount, and when there was nothing to do, I just chatted it up.  Oh, and, I also met my hubs at the Gap.

I really loved that job... (I also had no bills, only worked a few hrs after school and on the weekends, ate at the food court with disregard to a "healthy diet", etc.)

Anyway, what happened?! I sit on my ever-widening a** in front of a computer all day with my eyes glazed over and man, Mondays suck.

Anyway, the hubs and I love to discuss our early jobs (in high school and college). E always has an entertaining story from "All you can eat catfish night" at Calhoun's.

What is the first job you had?  Did you like it? (Ohh, I might have a future at eHarmony with provoking questions like these). 

Dear Martha Stewart,

Please come to my home and decorate for all the holidays! There's nothing I love more than holiday/ themed decor (and parties!).

For real, look at this- this is my goal.

Today, after a fab brunch at one of our favorite restaurants, Carlyle, E was so accompany me to Michael's (actually, I bribed him Starbucks of his liking on my birthday gift card).
Hers' my Michael's tip, always visit Retailmenot.com before- they always have a coupon for Michael's.

Here's what we ended up with. I know fake flowers/ plants are the #1 decorating no-no, but I can't help myself!
If you don't decorate for the holidays, I highly recommend getting at least a little baby pumpkin to get you in the season (for real, it makes me feel like a kid again). Plus a pumpkin works as a Halloween AND Thanksgiving decoration!

Weekend Playtime

Saturday, we met up with some friends for the H Street Festival. Whoa, it was crowded!

We're lucky we were able to meet up with their friends and leave with them (yes, we got separated and lost!)


The festival was very hipster-y. We ate at food trucks, admired reconstituted art (trash art?), and jammed to a variety of music (E's fav was the jazz flute).
On the long walk back to the Metro and parking garage, my friend spotted a nice little (un-crowed) French bistro, Le Grenier. The bevs (and air conditioning) was the best part of the day, and thanks to Sarah, I had my first Kir Royale!

Fedora = hipster street fest for me :)

Love the decor in this place!

Cheers- here's to exploring your city!

DC DMV vs. Kim

Rat Bastards!!!
$100 ticket for expired tags. Um, I am very Type A and do NOT let my tags expire!
Photographic evidence that our tags didn't expire this past August & there is a ticketer that needs glasses.
DC DMV, it's on like Donkey Kong.

On a high note though, I didn't have to work today, it was a beautiful day, and I got 20% off at CVS :)

Some Southern Sayin's

I was lamenting to my boss today, that things were movin' slower than molasses on a cold day.
I'm sure he thinks to himself WTF- this person is in charge of our budget?!

Anyhoo, I was thinking about some of my favorite saying. I think they're Southern. I hope they aren't white trash/ redneck.

As useless as tits on a boar
Sweatin' like a whore in church
Does Howdy Doody have wooden balls?
Nuttier than a squirrel turd
Awkward as a turd in a punch bowl

I'm sure there are many, many more I am forgetting!

Obese Pets

The hubs sent me this article the other day (subject line: fat wiener). I liked it- it's about Obie, a 77 lb dachshund.

Of course everyone remembers Prince Chunk.

I have a confession. I think obese animals look cute, even though I know it's so unhealthy for them! The worst, is my own cats are (hangs head in shame) obese!

One isn't bad at 18lbs, but the other (Fat Gus) might have Prader Willi Syndrome and is over 20 lbs. We for real tried to put them on a diet, but then Fat Gus (or Fat Fuc* at times) cries so loud outside our door at 5am for breakfast becasue he didn't get a midnight snack! He would then wolf down his food until he "popped" literally. Of course, he was hungry again right after.
Their diet last about 2 weeks before we gave up.
I got a leash so I could walk them. That was comical. They cried and didn't move and I looked like a crazy person torturing a cat.

BTW, interesting fact, a cats cries mimic a human baby so their slaves humans will respond better.

The last time we were at the vet, they warned us that Fat Gus might become diabetic and we'll have to give him daily shots if he does. WTF!
Suggestions welcome - test them for thyroid issues, try the diet again, buy a big dog to chase them around the apt all day, what?

From the hubs

What happens when you leave your computer unattended?
Naughty husbands post things to your FB or blog. (I admit naughty wives do the same thing too- heehee.)
Here's what I caught my husband doing red-handed!

Loyal Pink Droppings Readers,

This is a difficult post to publish.  In fact, I've been dreading putting my fingers (feelings?) to the keyboard, as this is a sensitive subject.  But I need to say it, nay, scream it to reach some catharsis: I LOVE ED HARDY MERCHANDISE. 

I MEAN LOOK AT THIS MAGIC.  The growling tiger panties are pure class (or sass, amirite?), and I feel like a liberated woman clad is such a tasteful matching underwear set, well, if I wore underwear.  I make my poor husband and any visitors uncomfortable when I prowl around the house in my tiger cami, growling and gnashing my teeth because ED HARDY MAKES ME FEEL EMPOWERED.

So ladies, buy as much ED HARDY gear as you can,  because I don't think my life would have any meaning without ED HARDY.

Birthday wishes

Today is my Mutti's birthday!

Happy Burzday Mom- you are my best friend & I hope you have a great day!

Sunday Funday Photo Montage!

Starbucks for pumpkin spice latte & then the Alexandria Old Town Art Fest

O'Connelly's in Old Town for... 

Irish brunch (bangers, rashers, and beans baby!)

We sat next to a family whose young child was named "Ethan". I laughed so hard every time she told Ethan to eat nice or talk like a big boy, etc., etc.

 

Walk to the water and watch the water fowl

Bought a Pat Palermino folk art print of Old Town. I asked her SON if he was the artist's HUSBAND, which according to E he was clearly NOT (unless she was a geriatric cougar). We left quickly and hung said print on our photo wall project.

B-day Wrap-up

My birthday was Thursday & my awesome co-workers threw me a great party with a huge delicious chocolate cake! I totally forgot to take any pics, and when I went into the break room to get a partial of the cake, it was CRUMBS.

Friday, I celebrated with some friends at HH at Cuba Libre.  I love me some empanadas. Um, let's just say the diet has been ridiculous the past few weeks. I'm starting up again Monday.

Yum, I can dream about you, with a glass of wine....

It's always good to see friends, and this fall, I'm going to quit being lazy and making time to drive into DC (or further in VA) and hang out with some peeps!

Sorority sisters 10 yrs later ;)

Today, we did laundry and got groceries. This car was in the Wal-Mart parking lot:

Um, this will not help you add the "daddy" sticker to this line. (Also, there were more cat stickers, I just couldn't get them all on my BB.)

Fallin' into Autumn

With Labor Day but a mere memory, all I can think about is fall, my favorite season! These are a few of my favorite things:

The new fashions
I was so excited today, I broke out my "fall chiffon color-block blouse." (Um, and sweated my arsch off in the 80 degree weather.)

Unfortunately, the hubs does not like to take pics and my face was too horrible to show the general public. I am going to put an ad on Craiglist to get my own personal (pro bono) photographer.

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice latte 
Or any pumpkin flavored dessert, bread, drink, etc.)- I got a sweet Living Social deal for 50% off and got the first one of the season.

Pumpkins!
Every year, the Brown's get a pumpkin or 2 :)

Pumpkins were delivered to the church our wedding day & we (me) have been obsessed ever since!

Fall TV programming

The return of my favs like Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, and RHMIA (not a fav, but I love the hot mess mom). I might check out the Mindy Project. It's clear I still have some research to do. My great grandma used to highlight her TV guide for the day. Hmmm

Football...
isn't too bad, but I just like the "outfit" & tailgating part ;)