tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174670362024-03-19T08:32:13.529-07:00insomniac tendenciesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger196125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-37145822728716195992011-01-07T11:19:00.000-08:002011-01-07T11:19:40.220-08:00This blog.....OverI have a brand, spanking new blog. It's not here. I moved houses, so I figured it was time for me to move my blogging identity to a new home, too. <br />
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You can follow me over to my awesome new blog by clicking this link:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mainlymandy.wordpress.com/">www.mainlymandy.wordpress.com</a></span><br />
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Over, and out. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-4012777974035708182010-02-06T22:03:00.000-08:002010-02-06T22:03:46.485-08:00Win a hair accessory from The Redheaded Actress!I just entered to win a hair flower from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/redheadedactress">The Redheaded Actress</a> on Etsy. The giveaway is happening over at <a href="http://thatwifeblog.com/2010/02/redheaded-actress-v-day-giveaway/comment-page-3/#comment-22395">That Wife's Blog</a>. Go on over and check it out!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image0.etsy.com//il_fullxfull.113790188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com//il_fullxfull.113790188.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37869776">source</a>)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-86637307118763660142009-12-10T08:47:00.000-08:002009-12-12T17:50:08.418-08:00Best of '09 -- Album of the Year<i>This month I'm participating in a fun challenge thought up by <a href="http://www.gwenbell.com/">Gwen Bell</a>. Read more about the challenge <a href="http://www.gwenbell.com/blog/2009/11/30/the-best-of-2009-blog-challenge.html">here</a></i>.<br />
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I can't think of my favorite album of the whole year. So I'm just going to talk about my favorite at the moment. I love the tv show Glee. It makes me so happy, in the middle of the week. It's like a sanity pill to help me get through to Friday! The music on the show is amazing. For my birthday, I got this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrTfHLgVVAiV7W06HPKjAsGMbrazpvNona2FdFXMHyKBAf0fwJ6CXXwIKCb-8fUdo43onJuibq2Su2xAzWxR9GNRCwlJLHL5cDYd8ZhUs-1v7k9LhNfhE4MgPUXXv_ovfnK2PNg/s1600-h/glee-soundtrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrTfHLgVVAiV7W06HPKjAsGMbrazpvNona2FdFXMHyKBAf0fwJ6CXXwIKCb-8fUdo43onJuibq2Su2xAzWxR9GNRCwlJLHL5cDYd8ZhUs-1v7k9LhNfhE4MgPUXXv_ovfnK2PNg/s320/glee-soundtrack.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been listening to it practically non stop in my car to and from destinations. A couple days ago, this came out:<br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I can't wait to pick this up! What was your favorite album of this year?<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-62110487012369175232009-12-09T08:37:00.000-08:002009-12-12T02:46:34.514-08:00Best of '09 -- ChallengeI had plans last year. Plans for how my life would be like in the next couple years. I was working part time at a financial advising firm. One I had been with for about 3 years, while I was going to college. They had told me when I was hired on that it was very likely I would have a full time job waiting for me when I graduated college. So I planned. I would graduate in June 2010 and get married in June 2010 and it would be perfect timing! Everything would be wonderful! <br />
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But the economy didn't play nice. The financial industry was hit hard, and my firm suffered a great deal. I was laid off in November 2008. I figured, no worries. It can't be that hard to find another part time job! I'll just apply for unemployment until I get back on my feet. Until I was denied benefits because I was going to school full time. I've had a couple of seasonal positions this past year, but other than that I have been without work. I've even had to borrow money from the 'rents to make due. (Which is something I promised myself I would never do.)<br />
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I have been at my wits end with this job search. I'll take anything. Except there is nothing to take. The unemployment rate is close to 12% in my valley. That's a lot of people competing with me for jobs. People who have more open schedules than I do. So this year, I have been challenged to not lose hope. I know there is something out there for me. And I need to believe I will find it soon. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-58592673459294704552009-09-19T13:34:00.000-07:002009-09-19T14:08:11.830-07:00Wedding Dream #2I don't remember my dreams very often. So when, I do remember something, it is somewhat exciting! The other night I had my second wedding dream ever. . . (well, at least that I remember)<br /><br />I came home to find my mom sitting at the kitchen table with bags and BAGS of floating candles. Not pretty flower shaped ones, just plain round floating candles. For the wedding. She had bought it all without talking to me about it. I totally freaked! They didn't go with the theme I was working on for the centerpieces. Not to mention the no-fire/burning at the reception location. So they were useless. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://z.about.com/d/candleandsoap/1/0/X/7/P1010197.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 362px;" src="http://z.about.com/d/candleandsoap/1/0/X/7/P1010197.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>And then she told me she couldn't return them. Hundreds of dollars wasted on ugly candles. The horrors. Yeah, I was kinda a bridezilla in my dream. I swear I'm not like that in real life. Although I did get sort of upset with my mom, sister, and dad when they all said they liked round tables and they were superior (et cetera) when I said I wanted rectangular tables. . .<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">What's a crazy dream you've had lately?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-43813370103276873352009-09-18T11:35:00.000-07:002009-09-18T13:27:07.636-07:00Oh how easy it was....Yesterday, I watched my niecefews for the afternoon. I picked up Pierce from the baby-sitters house at noon, and hung out at the park across the street until it was time to pick up Alissa.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVf2gqPITsm3IV9pu8MQ8NROAWD_84SfRC2eZoKXJpVXegkVd2Xc8UxZ0OL42qUqtJdKPZecpbWuZ-9EbPzotgGSU0RJICswjx5W7nvkbsGZRylfRD0a6r0mYRsSw-ww0fPotBw/s1600-h/kids-031b.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVf2gqPITsm3IV9pu8MQ8NROAWD_84SfRC2eZoKXJpVXegkVd2Xc8UxZ0OL42qUqtJdKPZecpbWuZ-9EbPzotgGSU0RJICswjx5W7nvkbsGZRylfRD0a6r0mYRsSw-ww0fPotBw/s320/kids-031b.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382880343333028274" border="0" /></a>I let Pierce just go have fun on the playground, and I have to say, it's astonishing how easily children make friends. Within 5 minutes he was playing with a boy about his age. Then, after that boy had to leave he made two other friends, a boy and a girl. Sometimes, as an adult, I wish it was that easy.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveWoeP8gF5SCT3v6DKStQpMlcxyWBKza8I0NS3acVLsOgECU-ruEuAtV89vOX1djAS1U7vCxWvTrf-I9uk-2Fvswe_KdOmf2eOo3CcOKMmDk8idO9MfgrFHgcHIrM9qQosaZtQQ/s1600-h/kids-023b.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveWoeP8gF5SCT3v6DKStQpMlcxyWBKza8I0NS3acVLsOgECU-ruEuAtV89vOX1djAS1U7vCxWvTrf-I9uk-2Fvswe_KdOmf2eOo3CcOKMmDk8idO9MfgrFHgcHIrM9qQosaZtQQ/s320/kids-023b.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382906135982827682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pierce and his new friends</span></span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">What do you miss about your childhood?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-27158249033404947352009-09-17T08:00:00.000-07:002009-09-17T08:00:03.025-07:00Textbook MurderMy fall term at SOU is fast approaching and I realized that I hadn't ordered my books yet! I quickly went to the SOU bookstore website to find out what books I need. The website is not set up the greatest, making it difficult to buy the books somewhere else. They do tell you what books you need, but with an abbreviated title, and if there are multiple authors it only lists one last name. It's really an art to find the ISBN #. I usually do a google search which (99% of the time) leads me to Amazon who has the ISBN #. Once I have the ISBN it is sooo much easier to search for the best price on the net.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(Sidenote: I cannot believe that SOU cannot trouble themselves with putting the ISBN on the website with the title of the book. My theory is that they want to make it as difficult as possible to shop anywhere else, but the overpriced SOU bookstore.)</span><br /><br />After an afternoon of searching <a href="http://www.half.com/">half.com</a> (eliminates the middleman, school bookstore), <a href="http://www.ichapters.com/">ichapters.com</a> (sells e-chapters & books so that you aren't paying for the manufacturing), <a href="http://www.ebay.com/">ebay</a> (cheap!), and <a href="http://www.chegg.com/">chegg.com</a> (rents textbooks for a fraction of the price) I ended up doing e-chapters for one book, ebay for one, and renting for 4! I'm amazed at the savings, while still expensive, which where incredible compared to the school bookstore. <br /><br />SOU bookstore price $550<br />Actual cost from OTHER sources $280<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TOTAL SAVINGS $270</span><br /><br />It is astonishing to me that college students are still stupid enough to actually continue to shop at the <span style="font-style: italic;">overpriced</span> bookstore. (ok, part of it is probably sheer laziness, but I can't afford to be lazy.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-79331822061788122812009-09-16T15:47:00.000-07:002009-09-16T16:36:03.984-07:00Glee and The OfficeFall TV is here! Tonight marks the third episode of Glee on Fox (Wednesdays at 9:00). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/20090512/300.ad.Glee.Colfer.Riley.Michele.Ushkowitz.Monteith.McHale.051209.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/20090512/300.ad.Glee.Colfer.Riley.Michele.Ushkowitz.Monteith.McHale.051209.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Glee Club is one of the most awesome tv shows this fall. I watched the preview from May, as well as first episode of the season last week, and I'm so excited to see where this show goes this season. It is seriously one of the most uplifting and happy shows I've seen in a long time. Seriously, go <a href="http://www.fox.com/fod/play.php?sh=glee">watch</a> it. I'll wait...<br /><br />Also, I'm super duper excited about the premier of season 6 of The Office. Hi-larious show and I'm really excited about the JAM baby.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://threemonthstime.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/jim_pam.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 325px; height: 217px;" src="http://threemonthstime.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/jim_pam.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Yayyyy! I'm also looking forward to the season premieres of Private Practice, Bones, Big Bang Theory, and NCIS.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-27981773226747068672009-09-15T04:47:00.000-07:002009-09-15T05:11:30.280-07:00Sleep...oh how I miss thee. To everyone else I know, sleep is just something you do. You don't have to think about it, for the most part. Sure, people have their nights when they can't sleep, but for the most part, you wash your face, brush your teeth, and go to bed. Simple, isn't it?<br /><br />Unfortunately, for reasons unknown to me, I have had insomnia problems since I was a kid. I remember being sent to bed at 8:00 and still being awake when my parents went to bed at 11:30 on more than one occasion as a child. I wish I knew why. Many people say that insomnia plagues those who are stressed, but I have no idea what could have distraught my nine year old self. Instead it has become a normal pattern for me throughout my life. <br /><br />In high school when I was juggling early bird and honors classes, an after school job and a lot of homework I would usually get up at 6am and not turn my light out til 1 am. But lights out doesn't necessarily mean sleep for me. I could spend hours tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable or put my mind at rest. I remember looking over at the clock as the minutes ticked by, counting down the amount of time I would actually get to sleep that night. <br /><br />1:30 am -- 4-1/2 hours of sleep<br /><br />2:15 am -- 3-3/4 hours of sleep<br /><br />2:30 am -- 3-1/2 hours of sleep<br /><br />And so my sleep dwindled. Through high school I was able to manage though. I slept in on Saturdays and developed a need for coffee in the morning. College was a different story though. My schedule with work and school varied so much that sometimes I got to sleep in during the week! This messed up my sleep schedule even more and often I cannot even THINK of sleep until after 1:30. <br /><br />My biggest frustration, is not with my lack of sleep, amazingly. Rather, it is with those around me. Because my chronic insomnia is not something that most people suffer from they have trouble grasping the idea. My parents are constantly giving me "pointers" on how I could sleep better. "Maybe if you walked in the evening" or "have you tried a glass of warm milk before bed?" And on and on. Yes, I've tried everything and, no none of it always works. <br /><br />So here I am, at 5 in the am. Not able to sleep. Frustrated and wide, wide awake.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-14270669557365011232009-09-04T09:27:00.001-07:002009-09-04T09:40:17.004-07:00VacationSo, I'm on a short vacation with family today down in Sacramento. My (future) sister-in-law, Stacy, has a birthday this Saturday so we came down for the weekend. Unfortunately, my sister's birthday party is this Saturday, so I will be missing that. Bummer!<br /><br />I'm a retard, and forgot to schedule some posts while I'm away. . .and of course now, here I am writing about who knows what.<br /><br />Back in the beginning of July, I got a free pint of paint from <a href="http://www.glidden.com/">Glidden</a> during their free paint giveaway. I picked<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElCUDvkDjTTwNa_R2xNFTKA2JsTt3hOclZKAqvraYn5hX-ciUUx7lUwIojPQfn4nWIjbRPaVVrDQkKWr5qx8OVdI0yHcUER-isV_iAo_pQtMxx0H54gZlWaZM4hJNzs7a53nBgA/s1600-h/spanisholive.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 97px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElCUDvkDjTTwNa_R2xNFTKA2JsTt3hOclZKAqvraYn5hX-ciUUx7lUwIojPQfn4nWIjbRPaVVrDQkKWr5qx8OVdI0yHcUER-isV_iAo_pQtMxx0H54gZlWaZM4hJNzs7a53nBgA/s320/spanisholive.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377652210730428050" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />and decided I would paint an old chair from my childhood. I plan on finding 3 more mismatched wooden chairs and painting them all Spanish Olive to make a set. Here's my before & after:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_k02lAJQ_WeYEwzDA06xugcyHyYeQORPdHGfVb2Zo9TTqQ6kOJEbwEO3seoVRYHhcX3_uAF4Al2oqH6bvzj7XsKJemgXSpyuzMNrheJrYQRKMlId4ohQrv22rHc15-Z_MC65QA/s1600-h/chairba.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_k02lAJQ_WeYEwzDA06xugcyHyYeQORPdHGfVb2Zo9TTqQ6kOJEbwEO3seoVRYHhcX3_uAF4Al2oqH6bvzj7XsKJemgXSpyuzMNrheJrYQRKMlId4ohQrv22rHc15-Z_MC65QA/s400/chairba.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377652859523441042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Did you get any projects done over the summer?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-69347372746753377472009-09-02T09:17:00.000-07:002009-09-02T09:17:00.096-07:00Curbing the CravingsLately I've been trying to reform my eating habits. Soon, I hope to acquire a bike so I can start riding in the mornings and get in some cardio. But for now, I'm concentrating on cutting out junk food. It's sooo hard. Especially at night, when I'm really craving some chocolate or ice cream (Umpqua's Espresso Madness, anyone?) but I've been trying to replace artificial sweet with fruit sweet. I've been making fruit smooties lately and they really help with the cravings. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMchVviIiUNHky5cRONmWPYHGcNJCdhHmCkMY4TpqP5rBUyQIO8ikIKjl8XPrDftcy880qCGCCKzMcq0AjJozJ30JGhgVQ9_-ROBqmC0AkceimRlINSNIItCh2ELC-uqz0430xQ/s1600-h/IMG_3336.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMchVviIiUNHky5cRONmWPYHGcNJCdhHmCkMY4TpqP5rBUyQIO8ikIKjl8XPrDftcy880qCGCCKzMcq0AjJozJ30JGhgVQ9_-ROBqmC0AkceimRlINSNIItCh2ELC-uqz0430xQ/s320/IMG_3336.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376334003423612434" border="0" /></a>Mandy's Easy Peasy Fruit Smoothie<br />(makes about 20 oz., or enough for 2 good sized smoothies)<br />1 to 1.5 cups (no sugar added) frozen berries (strawberries, blackberries, whatever you have on hand)<br />1 slightly over-ripe banana<br />1 cup natural orange juice<br /><br />Blend for about 30 seconds, or until the berries are completely broken up. Yummmm. You can also experiment with other juices (grape is pretty good as well) or other berries (blueberries or huckleberries maybe?) The possibilites are endless!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">What do you eat to kick your cravings to the curb?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-47933259167497658112009-09-01T09:01:00.000-07:002009-09-01T09:01:00.167-07:00I want these<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.marthastewartcrafts.com/img/product/cat06/00104798-592206.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 544px; height: 544px;" src="http://www.marthastewartcrafts.com/img/product/cat06/00104798-592206.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.marthastewartcrafts.com/index.php?v=msc_prod_tool_punches">Martha Stewart</a> has done it again. Amazing! (I seriously hate the woman for her takeover of the craft industry, but it's hard to hate her amazing inventions.) I have no idea what I would use it for, specifically, but I know I WANT one. For a limited time, you can get 20% off Punch Around The Page punches at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.marthastewartcrafts.com/"><b class="highlighted0">MarthaStewartCrafts</b>.Com</a>. Just enter code PUNCH20 upon checkout! (via <a href="http://www.diybride.com/">DIY Bride</a> )Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-13669282267289584132009-08-31T15:10:00.000-07:002009-08-31T15:54:38.507-07:00Inconsistencies of the Book Variety<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(What? It's been 2 months since my last post, you say? I hadn't realized. I'm just going to post, and pretend like I last posted yesterday, if that's ok....OK?)</span></span><br /><br />I'm an avid reader. Sometimes more than others, and I'll tell you right now, I don't just read amazing non-fiction novels about despair and wars and biographies about famous people (though those <span style="font-style: italic;">do</span> strike my fancy every once in a great while) or the classics. At any rate, I have a big gripe when writers change publishers to make more money. Not because they are making more money, but because of the lack of consistency in sizing of books. When they switch publishers all of the old books are re-released in the new publishers' size as well as future books. Apparently James Patterson has changed publishers more than once during the writing of the Women' Murder Club series. Behold, my collection of books one through six:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcc8_dpRIqJW5aDLIDu6_pKTSQD5570Ans6cMGBSK3HhssS85k_QxilEb6XKSzraFeX68MKP6it1upU-nP77Y8gU0CgZRXoy_mNl26T9nZnqu1AGLI5ZFf74q7VktqKT_YV4XT4w/s1600-h/IMG_4421.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 438px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcc8_dpRIqJW5aDLIDu6_pKTSQD5570Ans6cMGBSK3HhssS85k_QxilEb6XKSzraFeX68MKP6it1upU-nP77Y8gU0CgZRXoy_mNl26T9nZnqu1AGLI5ZFf74q7VktqKT_YV4XT4w/s320/IMG_4421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376264660890532066" border="0" /></a>And, just in case you were wondering, this drives me crazy when I have them all lined up on the bookshelf. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">What's one of your (everyday) type gripes?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-37330360642245817672009-06-26T16:03:00.000-07:002009-06-26T16:28:17.531-07:00I....Idea stolen from <a href="http://www.ohmyseven.com/">Brooke</a><br /><br /><br />I can't handle the way hospitals smell. It will always make me sick.<br />I can't fall asleep on my back.<br />I can't handle having my hair in my face.<br />I can't stand people who chew their gum with their mouth open.<br />I can't whistle. I know, that makes me pretty pathetic.<br />I can't drive a stick shift. Even though <a href="http://www.zachariasinc.blogspot.com/">Zach</a> promised to teach me 2 years ago.<br /><br />I can write with both of my hands.<br />I can remember the phone number of my best friend in the first grade.<br />I can bake great cakes, which is unappreciated in my house because calories matter to my mom & dad.<br />I can give myself a french manicure without guides.<br />I can bargain hunt when I need to.<br />I can french braid my own hair, but am bad at french braiding other people's hair.<br /><br />I won't ever cut my own bangs again.<br />I won't give up on my dream of having a stationary business.<br />I won't quit college.<br />I won't ever hate living in the valley.<br />I won't ever do all the reading required for my classes.<br />I won't buy tabloid magazines.<br /><br />I will devote more time to designing.<br />I will get a job again. Someday...SOON, (I hope).<br />I will pay every last cent back to my parents.<br />I will always, always freak out at the sight of a yellow jacket, wasp, or other flying, stinging thing.<br />I will always be afraid of black widows.<br />I will buy a Mac.<br /><br />I shouldn't bite my nails.<br />I shouldn't worry so much about the guest list for the wedding.<br />I shouldn't pop my neck.<br />I shouldn't drink so much soda.<br />I shouldn't eat fast food.<br />I shouldn't pull at my hang nails.<br /><br />I should wash my face every night before I go to bed.<br />I should save more of my money.<br />I should stop being so stressed.<br />I should learn Spanish.<br />I should make an effort to be more friendly to strangers.<br />I should be a better student.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-73587481830518987572009-06-17T19:41:00.000-07:002009-09-16T18:56:36.979-07:00Free Printer!<a href="http://www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com">I Heart Faces </a> is <a href="http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/2009/06/kodak-esp-9-all-in-one-printer-giveaway.html">giving away</a> a $299 Kodak All-In-One Printer this week. This would make launching <a href="http://www.daisydesignspaperie.blogspot.com">Daisy Designs Paperie</a> that much easier! Crossing my fingers I'll win. <br /><br />I'm increasing my chances by entering all 4 possible ways. Wish me luck!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-90456526252192740572009-04-28T00:56:00.000-07:002009-04-28T01:04:33.422-07:00IncompetenceTonight while at work I had a customer call in wanting delivery confirmation for a bouquet he was sending to his mother on her Birthday. I put him on hold and called the florist and explained that I wanted to find out the status of an order that was supposed to go out today. Usually anyone in the shop can look things up for me and give me a status, but the girl who answered the phone promptly told me to hold on while she gets a manager. <div><br /></div><div>Eventually I was transferred to a manager, who, just my luck, did NOT speak English as his first language. He made me spell the first/last names of the customer and the recipient FIVE times. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">FIVE!</span> And then he put me on hold for over 5 minutes while he looked for the order. (Meanwhile the customer was still on hold on the other line)</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Seriously you either have it or you don't.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div>He finally came back on the line to ask what the delivery address was. I told him and he said he would need to call us back because he couldn't find the order. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Yeah, like the customer is going to accept <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">that</span> answer.</span> And then he made me give him FTD's phone number 3 times before he was satisfied he had it correct. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I think he needs hearing aids</span>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yeah, getting back on the phone with the customer after putting them on hold for 10 minutes only to tell them that we don't have a definitive answer for them <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">because the flower shop is incompetent, and likely lost your order </span> is not fun. </div><div><br /></div><div>I seriously hate my job sometimes. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-54237354041593175762009-04-24T22:00:00.000-07:002009-04-24T22:06:48.992-07:00Photo Challenge - april<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://thatwifeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/photo_banner.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 100px;" src="http://thatwifeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/photo_banner.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>This month, over at <a href="http://www.thatwifeblog.com">That Wife's Blog</a> we are being challenged just to post our favorite photo of the month. This month, being Easter, along with all of the spiritual meaning I feel for the holiday, we also had a chance to celebrate with an Easter egg hunt for the little kids (my cousins and niecephews). I snapped this picture just as my nephew, Pierce, was about to have a meltdown because "all the other kids have more eggs than him." I love this picture, not because he is upset, but because of how well it managed to capture his emotion, and the fact that it reminds me that kids aren't all smiles all the time. Plus, he's a cutie, even when he isn't smiling!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkeopNg0fgs0tAoNcWmAvY9IZ-7XeyH9JIRAKbKT8C7XTYwaLSap2f-zqwvefYPmZvwUmYe0OyjMJc9kOc4wP5iHmlRtlmPjiGyhafvrPf1Yu6McOneidjZsavKkQPhE4tGsJlQ/s1600-h/IMG_2332-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkeopNg0fgs0tAoNcWmAvY9IZ-7XeyH9JIRAKbKT8C7XTYwaLSap2f-zqwvefYPmZvwUmYe0OyjMJc9kOc4wP5iHmlRtlmPjiGyhafvrPf1Yu6McOneidjZsavKkQPhE4tGsJlQ/s320/IMG_2332-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328489985476208274" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-20728473824995315372009-04-24T21:53:00.000-07:002009-04-24T22:08:23.572-07:00lifestyle challenge - april<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://thatwifeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/lifestyle_banner.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 100px;" src="http://thatwifeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/lifestyle_banner.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>This month <a href="http://www.thatwifeblog.com">That Wife</a> challenged us to do one thing that we love that is free. I love being able to lay out on my lawn with a book on a sunny day. At the beginning of April I was unsure if this would be plausible since we hadn't seen too many sunny, warm days, but this past week has been beautiful and I had the pleasure of enjoying the sunshine, and my book, today!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtR76-zh_Wye_QZVg8TjPmYgMPKxhjBW76gjOEMLJT80zrBd0Ly7eQfSNf0KfnYDIXFvXWvv2D_N8y4v7LzLaw4sJyooL6W8I_wpdmT_aPeiejC8JgTOciybnnBkHGVpJK2KUZQ/s1600-h/IMG_2398.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtR76-zh_Wye_QZVg8TjPmYgMPKxhjBW76gjOEMLJT80zrBd0Ly7eQfSNf0KfnYDIXFvXWvv2D_N8y4v7LzLaw4sJyooL6W8I_wpdmT_aPeiejC8JgTOciybnnBkHGVpJK2KUZQ/s320/IMG_2398.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328488791773310466" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-84319424940956711192009-04-24T14:10:00.000-07:002009-04-24T22:08:34.271-07:00Food Challenge - April<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://thatwifeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/food_banner.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 100px;" src="http://thatwifeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/food_banner.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div>This month, I'm participating in a few challenges over at <a href="http://www.thatwifeblog.com">That Wife's Blog</a>. The food challenge this month is "favorite recipe." Sounds easy enough. I baked up a batch of my Darn Good Chocolate Cake batter and made it into cupcakes (although usually I make a 2-layer cake with it). I absolutely love how moist this cake is!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPDVc1KZfIPbFuvOWB1Gm8Xu5SBWb0LGdgljO3U0pDlZaxy1vb0zpG9WRDyKxbyv2eFtTbA_nf4-7P3EZJ2vUQk6BVzp91MN_ts4MbeEQ9B6v3bJZaZGGs6pD0Ytb_ISligEA5A/s1600-h/IMG_2390.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPDVc1KZfIPbFuvOWB1Gm8Xu5SBWb0LGdgljO3U0pDlZaxy1vb0zpG9WRDyKxbyv2eFtTbA_nf4-7P3EZJ2vUQk6BVzp91MN_ts4MbeEQ9B6v3bJZaZGGs6pD0Ytb_ISligEA5A/s320/IMG_2390.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328369542609315122" /></a>The best part about this cake is how easy it is! It is actually a cake mix cake with extras added in, and no one has believed me when I've said that I didn't make it from scratch! The recipe is as follows (for a two-layer cake):</div><div><br /></div><div>Ingredients:</div><div>1 package plain devil's food or dark chocolate fudge cake mix (I always use devil's food)</div><div>1 package (3.9 oz) chocolate instant pudding mix</div><div>4 large eggs</div><div>1 c. sour cream</div><div>1/2 c. warm water</div><div>1/2 c. vegetable oil (I use canola)</div><div>1-1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips (although I left them out this time because I didn't have any)</div><div><br /></div><div>Directions:</div><div>1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly mist pans with vegetable oil or spray, then dust with flour. </div><div>2. Place cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, warm water, and oil in a large mixing bowl. Blend with electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat 2 to 3 minutes more, scraping down the sides if needed. The batter should look thick and well combined. Fold in the chocolate chips, making sure they are well distributed throughout the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared pans, smoothing the batter out with the rubber spatula.</div><div>3. Bake the cake until it springs back when lightly pressed with your finger and just starts to pull away from the sides of the pan, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove the pan form the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes. Run a long, sharp knife around the edge of the cake and invert it onto the rack to cool completely, 20 minutes more. </div><div>***</div><div>I also made homemade ganache frosting:</div><div><br /></div><div>Ingredients:</div><div>3/4 c. heavy whipping cream</div><div>8 ounces semisweet baking chocolate, finely chopped</div><div><br /></div><div>Directions:</div><div>1. Place the cream in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring. Meanwhile, place the chopped chocolate in a large mixing bowl. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate. Stir until the chocolate is melted. </div><div>2. To use this ganache as a glaze, let it stand at room temp. for 10 minutes before spooning over a cooled cake. To use it as a frosting or filling, let it stand at room temperature for 4 hours, or chill until it thickens and is spreadable.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-38796271702023219192009-04-21T08:00:00.000-07:002009-04-21T08:00:00.492-07:00Tuition HikesSOU released it's prospective tuition hikes for this fall last week. The normal rate increase is between 3 and 5 %. This year, tuition will go up a whopping 7.5%! Frankly, that sucks! In the article in <u>The Siskiyou</u> SOU explained that there was a lot of confusion with the current plateau system (rates are higher for people taking less than 12 credits, and are discounted for credits over 12) and how to calculate just how much tuition would be. So, SOU decided to go to a flat rate for credits (every credit will cost the same amount, it doesn't matter how many classes you are taking per term). I say BOO! I think that is their excuse to raise tuition more. <div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-73473673943841695672009-04-20T23:51:00.000-07:002009-04-20T23:53:43.437-07:00Grace, Take 311. NOT having to go through training at FTD again<div>2. Finding OUT I would not have to go through training again</div><div>3. Meeting a cool girl at work tonight</div><div>4. Finding out I have more money than I thought</div><div>5. Pretty flowers at work</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-21770770696085314212009-04-20T23:49:00.001-07:002009-04-20T23:51:32.311-07:00Grace, Take 30(Hrm...let's pretend it hasn't been over a month since my last post, shall we?) <div><br /></div><div>1. I have a job again (even if it is at FTD)</div><div>2. Photography class</div><div>3. embroidered a baby shower gift for a friend this weekend. Made me want to embroider more!</div><div>4. The sunshine today (even if it was a little hot for my taste!)</div><div>5. Free ice cream cones at school today</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-70820874462531366562009-03-07T17:52:00.000-08:002009-03-07T17:56:49.459-08:00Grace, Take 291. Hand-cutting scallops <div>2. Getting an Alchemy request on Etsy</div><div>3. The <u>Friends</u> theme song by The Rembrandts</div><div>4. Making a felt flower hairpin....pictures soon if I ever find my card reader</div><div>5. <u>Kung Fu Panda</u></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-25126357284655905372009-03-06T23:41:00.002-08:002009-03-06T23:55:29.583-08:00Grace, Take 281. felt flowers<div>2. brown zebra print towels</div><div>3. wrapping presents</div><div>4. embroidering</div><div>5. making cards</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17467036.post-70019841356169237042009-03-05T16:29:00.000-08:002009-03-07T17:56:49.461-08:00Grace, Take 271. Maui Madness smoothie from Extreme Juice<div>2. Papercrafts magazine...so many cute card ideas!</div><div>3. Turkey Pesto panini..also from Extreme Juice</div><div>4. brightly colored ink for stamping</div><div>5. Daisies</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0