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Friday, November 29, 2013

Friday Five

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I ate too much, but I made it to the gym and have a good start to my runners streak.
With the holidays fast approaching, here are 5 fabulous things I'm obsessed with today. 


1. I cooked, ate, did dishes, and started pulling out my Christmas stuff!  I love Christmas and have been secretly stocking up on little treasures from HomeGoods (how I love thee).
Since this is our first year in our home, I want it to be perfect (always good to set these high expecttion). I've especially been obsessed with decorating my dining room table. I found a tartan runner and set my Christmas table (for no one but the cats to trot across).
Sidebar: top favorite patterns include tartan, houndstooth, and chevron (paisley is close up there).
 
 I never thought I would like such rustic decor. I wish I could find a picture of my room in college because I loved pink, sparkly & gemstoney junk, and fake plants with white Christmas lights.

2. Leftovers. They are the shizz. Homemade pecan pie leftovers. Heaven. I want to try to make some kind of pecan pie bites for my Christmas treats this year.

3. Black Friday deals (online). I decided against going out with the fevered masses even if going to WalMart TV section at 6am is advantageous training for the zombie Apocalypse.... Make sure to sign up for an ebates account first and get cash back for your online purchases!

4. Wine bottles dressed up like Santa. Yea, these crack me up every year. I'm going to give my boss one.


5. Vaseline. My skin gets so dry in the winter that I grease myself up like a little piggy. One of my favorite beauty secrets is to rub Vaseline on your hands and feet then wear soft cotton gloves and socks to bed. You'll wake up with baby soft skin, plus it helps mani/ pedis last longer. I also put Vaseline on my face too. You think it would clog pores but it doesn't.

Stay warm this weekend my frozen friends on the east coast. 



Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The Forrest Gump of Turkey

My family from Tennessee was planning on coming to DC to have Thanksgiving with us. Well, my old man got sick and then the weather folks predicted Snowmegedden 2  for travel today, so Thanksgiving was cancelled. However, not before I went out and bought all my supplies, including a 22 lb turkey.
I thought about returning the turkey, but someone at work (while making fun of me for having to eat a 22 lb bird with my husband) said the grocery store would just throw it away. Well, since I’m PETA light, I can’t do that. I mean that poor turkey gave his all.
Here’s what on the Brown buffet. (If you’re in the DC area, c’mon over. We have enough food for a small army.) 
Turkey (all 22 lbs brined, barely)
Gravy (courtesy of McCormick’s since I'm guaranteed to screw up the homemade gravy)
Stuffing (Pepperidge Farm starter bag- hello GMOs and trans fats)
GBC (French’s fried onion recipe)
Sweet potato casserole (Ethan won’t eat this, but I want)
Mashed potatoes
Biscuits (dear God help me, from the Pillsbury tube. I swear I'm Southern, don’t judge)
Pumpkin Pie (I do make my crust from scratch)
Pecan Pie (because 1 pie for 2 ppl isn’t enough)

Then we are going to lie on the couch and watch movies in our sweatpants.

And for the next week, here’s what we’re doing with turkey leftovers:
Hot Brown sandwiches (‘cause it’s our namesake)
Turkey Tetrazzini (I'm going to try to make this more low fat and add mushrooms)
 
Turkey Salad (like chicken salad only with turkey)
Turkey Chili
Turkey Tacos
basically anything that I can use a rotisserie chicken for, I'm going to use turkey for.

What do you do with your leftovers? Oh, and I’m signing up for this, so y’all don’t judge me too harshly.

What do you love for Thankgiving? Do you have fun Turkey Day plans with family?
Happy Turkey Day!

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Commuting Madness

We have one car, so Ethan drives me to the Metro station because I refuse to take the bus and he refuses to let me take the car to the parking garage for the day (on his telecommute days). Compromise, Ethan chauffeurs me to and from the metro station (about 10- 30  min.) or we drive together and take the Metro together. We get to take the carpool lane (which my inner hippie likes); however, we are slowly digressing into madness...

Some days it's just silence and I look at my phone.
Some days we listen to NPR and then bitch about politics.

My favorite days involve singing, and you know I have the voice of an angel.


As of late, we've taken to making up alternative (dirty) lyrics to songs. We're onto holiday songs now. It's immature and borderline blasphemous now (Silent Night, forever unclean).

The other day we tried to remember the (dirty) lyrics to his old frat song. I only remembered "I placed my hand upon her thigh and she said Pi Kapp, you're much too high." I don't even know if that's remotely correct. I did place my hand upon Ethan's thigh while he was driving for full effect.

I also sing "Big Booty Hos, Hump Wit I!t" almost every time we go over the traffic calming device by the Metro (in all fairness there is a big road sign that says humps ahead).


I tried to probe him for his favorite band (for the Nov. Boys Behind the Blog link up). I suggested Poison (because I know he hates them) which led to Bell Biv Devoe. My new tag line is "never trust a big butt and a smile" then I twerk it out of the car.



The worst was when a deer ran into us. I freaked and started screaming that E hit a person. (I really thought he did.)




Sunday, November 24, 2013

Paying it Forward

I needed to pick up a prescription at CVS this weekend. In front of me in line was an older man with a walker talking to the technician about his meds. He was telling her to put some back and she said he was going to get sick if he didn't take them, and he responded he couldn't afford the $275 price tag. He said he was going to try to borrow some money from someone, get a cart, and would be back.

This absolutely broke my heart- I saw my dad and my grandfather in that man and had a kinda cray idea.

I my purse I had a recently received $200 Visa gift card from Comcast. I asked E what he thought about me giving that gift card to the technician for the man in line's meds. He said yes and so we did it (anonymously).

We hid in the greeting card section to make sure the card went through. I really have no idea what got into my head because we're not high rollers by any means. I guess it was just the holiday spirit.

Since I did a good deed for a stranger, for the rest of the season, I want to focus on being kinder (or practice random acts of kindness) on the one person who I seem to take for granted- E. I helped him rake leaves and made a nice meatloaf dinner (that's a start, right?)

I goof around a liitte with my favorite leaves. This is my Ke$ha makeup.

My challenge to you this holiday season is do something unexpected for a stranger. Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all "paid it forward?"





Thursday, November 21, 2013

Nov. Boy Behind My Blog Link Up

Once a month, I have been linking up give you some insight into what I am dealing with at home. J/K, hope you enjoy learning more about E.

Mal Smiles


1. Who is your favorite band/musician? Really, anything but Country music

This is lame, I probed him to give you all a better answer, but no, this is all he's got.


2. What was your first CD/tape? I'm pretty sure it was a Michael Jackson "Thriller" tape; yes, I'm old enough to remember when CDs weren't even available!


3. Who was your first concert? Aerosmith in 1993 or 1994


4. What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Green Bean Casserole
This is true, my man goes crazy for some GBC as he calls it.

5. Finish the sentence: I am thankful for... being healthy, a loving wife, a great family and in-laws, and to being relatively comfortable in life.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Fear and Loathing

About a month ago, we bought 2 hydrangeas for the side of our house. (Sidebar: E has “farmer’s blood” meaning he is re-doing every landscaping plot we have).
1 lived, 1 died.

I decided I am going to return the dead hydrangea and get my money back. (Home Depot and Lowe’s both will take back your funky, shriveled up plants for a year with your receipt.)
I load it up into a paper bag and dump it into the front wheel well.
Trouble starts when I arrive at Home Depot.
Here’s what this post is really about- my irrational, deathly fear of spiders.
Yup, there was a big (ish) spider that escaped from the plant and was on the passenger seat. I’m sure everyone at Home Depot thought I was an escapee from a mental institute the way I was carrying on. I used a reusable bag to knock him out of the car, but I didn't really see where he went.
As I pick up the paper bag with my plant, I see a huge brown recluse (I think) in the soil. F this. I scream and drop the bag. (As this point, I wish a kindly gentleman would have stopped to assist a damsel, but noooooo) I manage to get the bag into a shopping cart while taking deep Lamaze breathes.
I try to explain to the Home Depot clerk I can’t take the plant out of the shopping cart or get to close to it because there is a huge spider on it. Oh then, the spider makes his escape onto the shopping cart and I almost have a panic attack at the Home Depot customer service. The way I was side-eying the cart and breathing funny, I'm really surprised I wasn't asked by security to empty my pockets.















Back in the car, I call Ethan and tell him my woes and explain how this is obviously his fault and now my shopping I had planned afterwards is ruined and I'm headed home and he needs to check the car for spiders. (He wouldn't and I was then stuck at home because I was afraid of spiders in the car, which is my worst nightmare that one will drop on me and then I'll swerve off the road crashing to my ultimate demise.)
Freud’s definition of mental illness is when a behavior affects your work or home life (I might have made that up or remembered something like that from my Psych 101 class). Obviously, I have an issue. So first I googled pictures of brown recluses to prove to Ethan how truly dangerous my situation at Home Depot was.

In fact, I learned that the spider in question was a grass spider.








Horrifying I know.

I then wikihow’ed how to overcome arachnophobia. New goals I have (in my Yoda voice).  I am at step 1 where I can look at a spider until my panic calms (with the assistance of wine and chocolate). Yup, that’s it.

This is good especially since now is the season for camel crickets (I’ve heard them called camel spiders, cave crickets, etc.). Not only do they look like spiders, they jump. High. They also make a delightful crunch when they are squashed. Shudder.

Oh, the spider I thought I knocked out of the car dropped onto Ethan’s hand while he was driving. So there. (He said he brushed it off and did not drive off the road).

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

What's Up



Wow, it’s been a while. Here’s an obligatory catch up.
We took the party bus to TN and watched the Vols get creamed for their Homecoming. I forgot how young college kids look & how ridiculous Southern college girls dress for football games.
We ate the best BBQ, Sweet Ps, in Knoxville (check it out if you’re ever there).

 Ethan and his bromance. I seriously can’t with these two when they are together.
I love the Pride of the Southland marching band. They did a great tribute for Veteran’s Day (I told you I was behind). 
I looked like a pale beast in all the pics, so I'm not sharing, and I'm on a renewed diet. 

Poor E got sick, probably from the plebs on the bus, and has been laying low since. 
I have been on a frenzy cleaning for Thanksgiving since I’m hosting my family this year.When I say frenzied cleaning, do I mean I cleaned one room and a bathroom and spent the rest of the catching on Homeland, you betcha.

In other news, the Chocolate Chip Peppermint milkshake is back at Chick-fil-A (I love the gays, but I can't resist that inexpensive hate chicken). So much for losing weight.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Thursday Ten Under $10

Well, this post was supposed to happen on Tuesday, but Thursday works just as well. Here are some cheap things that I love.




1. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Hair Mask- this is perfect with the colder weather coming up. It smells good and for $4 it really works on those split ends.
2. Revlon's lip butter. I have been an avid wearer of cotton candy, but Stephanie introduced me to Peach Parfait. Both are really neutral with a little sparkle. This lipstick is so moisturizing.
3. Essie's Leading Lady polish. When this is on my toes, I feel like Dorothy with fabulous red, sparkly heels. (I use with Essie's top coat and refuse to wash dishes to keep my mani in tact :))
4. Queen Helene's Mint Julep Mask- tightens pores up, smells good, and is $4! 
5. Starbucks Creme Brulee Latte. The holidays delivered in a red cup (Groupon has $10 Starbucks cards for $5 today is the last day!).


And here are some products you should save your money on:

6. Biore strips. I read they changed their formula on their strips (of course on the ever reliable Interwebz), but still. They really haven't worked that well in a while.
7. Oil of Olay BB cream (and all BB creams). I finally discovered why my skin was getting bad- something in this clogs my pores (this might be a little over $10, but I had a coupon :)) I'm steering clear of all BB creams now.
8. Super soft "cuddly" socks. AKA, death traps that make you slide all over wooden floors and bust your butt falling. Stick with slippers (LL Bean's wicked good slippers are sooo worth the price. I wear them out to Starbucks and other quick jaunts outside).

9.Crystal deodorant. I would like to not leech aluminum into my body, but I also don't want to smell like a hippie. I am taking recommendations for a natural deodorant please.
10.  Caviar mani. So I got this on clearance at Marshall's otherwise it's closer to $25 instead of $10, but it came off as soon as I washed my hair in the shower. Then I think I scratched my cornea taking my contacts out. Pass.
 So cute before my event. To bad it didn't last one night. 

Do you have any good products under $10 I need to try or avoid? 


Monday, November 4, 2013

A Tribute to my Pops

Today is my pop's birthday, so in honor, I though I would shamelessly snag The Daily Tay's idea and share with you 10 lessons I learned from my old man.

10. Why drive a car when you can drive a truck. In the past 32 years, I've only known my dad to drive a truck. It helps with moving into apartments and college dorms!


9. Dress nice for work, but comfort (aka, a flannel shirt) is key for home.
Striking a pose in his flannel & jeans uniform.

8. When to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. Who else is going to teach you how to play poker but your dad?!

7. If you make a commitment, you need to stick to it. One summer in college when I was living at home, my parents made an appointment for me to have my car's oil changed and tires rotated. Well it was a Sat. morning appointment, and I decided to go out with my friends the night before. When it was time to leave for the dealership, my dad woke me up, and I tried to get him to cancel because I was "sick". Best quote from my dad ever, "time to pay the piper. Now you better get up."
He did take me to Panera for a bagel so he wasn't a total tyrant. 

6. Work hard, but leave it at the office. My dad never complained about work or worked long hours, so he always was there to watch me stink it up for my softball games.

5.  Music was best in the 50s.

4.  It's OK to splurge every once in awhile.

3. You should arrive at least 30 min. before a movie starts.

2. Reading is good for the mind and soul. My pops reads all.the.time. After bouts with insomnia, my dad suggested reading in the evenings before I went to bed. Works like a charm!

1. Always be ready to dance. My dad has his own fabulous dance style. I really need to get a clip from my wedding video and put it on You Tube. I am certain he will go viral.


Happy Birthday Dad!

Friday, November 1, 2013

Fall Book Challenge- Oct. update

How was everyone's Halloween?  Mine was a DISASTER!
I wasn't getting any trick-or-treaters, so when I finally got 3 older trick or treaters and they asked how much they could take, I said whatever, take as much as you like. Oh they did.  I was a hero for like 30 seconds.
Of course minutes later, the parade of kids came though and I ran out! I had to turn away a little princess (seriously, she was like 5, I turned away a 5 year old princess).
I then turned out the lights and hid.
Ethan comes out of the office and sees the lights out and wrappers all over the coffee table.  Ethan: "didn't you learn anything from The Wire. You NEVER get high on your own supply."
(hanging head in shame)

 I tried- I mean I wore cat ears and orange and got the good candy like Reese's and Kit Kats!


Anyhoooo, since today is November (I can't believe it), it's also time to check in with Megan's Autumn Reading Challenge.
 

5: Read a book that does not have "the," "a" or "an" in the title.
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
This was excellent! Jeannette's novel about her tough as nails grandma's life staring in the 20s. She the kinda gal I look up to.

10: Read a book that has been featured in Oprah's Book Club.
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

10: Read a book that takes place in the state where you currently live. If you do not live in the U.S., read a book that takes place in the country where you live.
Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman
Ehhhh, this one slowed me down & I usually like Laura Lippman.

15: Read an epistolary novel, which is a book written in letters, emails, diary entries or other documents.
Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger
Quick read- I didn't hate and I didn't love.

15: Read a book first published in 2013.
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

15: Read a book with something spooky in the title.
Notes from Ghost Town by Kate Ellison

20: Read a book with "air," "water," "earth" or "fire" in the title.
Red Water by Judith Freeman

20: Read a book on which a television series has been based.
Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman

25: Read a fiction book that has someone’s first and last name in the title.
Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood

30: Read two books by the same author.
The Tao of Martha and Jeneration X by Jen Lancaster

35: Read a fiction and nonfiction book about the same topic.
We Were Soldiers Once... and Young by Harold G. Moore, Joseph L. Galloway and 
The Things They Carried  by Tim O'Brien



Dang, only 30 points! I guess I should have started from the bottom up. So I also read the Dinner and How to be Lost in Oct, but they didn't fit in my categories. Oops!
Off to the library!




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