Sunday Confessions

We've lived in our house nearly two years and today I cleaned the oven. Lessons learned:

1. Follow directions and wear long gloves. Chemical burns are terrible.
2. I should do this more often. At least annually; maybe next Superbowl.

We hosted an awesome game night last night and I made 7 different apps and desserts and yet took absolutely no pictures of food or people. The food was great, the libations flowing, and the company the best.

Vanity in the Home

What do 20somethings with no children put on their walls? Clearly not pictures of our cat everywhere, so that leaves us-wedding, trips, other weddings, etc. I have to think that our guests must think we love ourselves.

I'd love to acquire more art, but there is something about photographs of a great memory that make me smile as I see them.

We have a great piece from our friends Rob and Kerri they gifted us from our wedding:
Additionally, we have this wedding gift that I plan to use to coordinate the rest of our master bedroom.

Other than that, it's our mugs everywhere. And it wasn't until recently as I was cleaning the toilet bowl that I realized how awkward this picture is for our male guests. It should probably be swapped out for art.

TMI

There are days when I feel like I put too much out there. Like the day when a scammer posing as my credit card company wanted my birthday to verify the account, though "there was no negative activity," yet they had my full name and last digits of the card number. That's pretty unsettling.

I'm on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Four Square, work in a public position (though non-government-i.e., i have NO pension) and I've definitely Googled myself. I understand we live in a digital age and its not as if I can wipe the Internet cache clean, but I do even second guess this blog sometimes. Do we put too much out there? Am I handing identity thieves my life on a silver platter? I don't think I'm that important on the web, but it certainly would not be hard to piece together my resume with a few searches.

I don't plan to change anything at this time, as I'm not sure it would solve anything. Am I alone in this? I might just be at an unusual level of crazy right now.

Wedding Trends That Need to RIP

Let me say this before I get on any soap box--I do not mean to offend anyone, as we all have our own opinions, and the list appearing below is just my own idea of what has run its course in the wedding world. Somebody had to put an end to flower crowns in the 80s, right?

Weddings are trendy. It is a truth that many women may want to ignore, but generally, most weddings this decade all have similar elements, just as those did in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Why reinvent the wheel? I understand it. Wedding blogs and websites have never been so popular these days, and with the onset of social media and the surplus of crazies in this world, there are some broads that try to steal other people's weddings. Now that is just plain bizarre, but I digress.

I think most women tend to take elements from other weddings and file them away because we plan them since we're old enough to realize the Best Day Ever comes with a pouffy white dress. I did it. I remember thinking Kelly Kapowski's wedding dress from the Las Vegas made for tv movie of "Saved by the Bell" would be mine. By the time you are of marrying age, you have an entire collection of weddings ideas from the past decade...that may or may not be appropriate.

As I mentioned in my professional disclaimer, there are some trends that need to be put to rest. We are past the mid-point for 2010 and I think it's time to start branching into new territory, and flexing our creative muscles.

Again, sorry if I offend you. These things have just run their course. What do I know anyway?

• Bridesmaids wearing flip flops. I don't even find this ok on the beach. Let them go barefoot. They'd walk on coals for you (theoretically, why not put them up to challenge?) It's a wedding, a time to look your best, and Old Navy thongs paired with a J. Crew dress that they spent $150 bucks to wear once, lacks the formality. Sure, you can have a casual wedding, but thongs=casual. Thongs=beach while wearing bathing suit or footwear for running errands. Shoes polish and outfit and frankly will be worn more than the dress (yes, it's true, get over it) and you won't hate your pictures later. I am not advocating for heels here either-find a nice pair of flat sandals (hello, Steve Madden) but not a rainbow sherbert of Old Navy footwear.
• Candy bars/buffets. Somewhere 3,000,000 people are gasping. They have had their heyday. I can appreciate them from a planner's perspective when they have colored elements to tie in the wedding, but otherwise, it's just a tired trend people are coming to expect.
• Favors. Maybe if someone starts handing out Andrew Jacksons in bow ties I'll renig this one, but through my earlier life as a wedding coordinator, I can't tell you how many of these were left at the end of a wedding and thrown away. Would you really want a shotglass etched with a picture of two random people? Splurge on enhancing your food or keep your DJ longer. Or here's a shocking idea-SAVE IT.

Like I said, these are just trends I'd like to see reinvented as we move into 2011. I hope the one person reading this that wore flip flops, enjoyed her candy buffet, and handed out monogrammed toothbrushes doesn't lash out at me.

Sunday Confessions

I follow soccer as much as I pull all nighters.

So, with all of this World Cup business I can't help but think the Quidditch version.

Bulgaria vs. Ireland anyone?

Sunday Confessions

Somewhere in between buying our duplex, sprucing up the rental unit, and going about my daily routine, I decided to neglect my eyebrows.

(source)

Now I realize it's probably about one step away from Mr. Levy's infamous facial hair, but what I saw in the mirror this morning elicited an audible gasp.

The situation has been pruned to (manageable) perfection.

Sunday Confessions

I think it is safe to say I took on too much (unknowingly) when I declared I wanted to host a baby shower for my sister-in-law with my mother-in-law and then opened escrow on a home. I figured that I am a woman of the 21st century. I can move into a house, upgrade the entire rental side and tape (someday sew) baby shower signs and bake cupcakes by candlelight.

Today is the baby shower, and I can't thank my mother in law enough for picking up my slack. She is a party planning guru like myself, but I just did not cut it this time with the house coming together and the extreme work it requires. Tomorrow our renters are moving in, so everything had to be done today that I was going to do, as everyone knows parties of any kind require prep, logistics, and sometimes that's doubled when they feed into a birthday tapas-red wine tasting party for your husband :)

It is going to be a long, but very fun and very rewarding day. I'd like to confess that I think I have the best mother-in-law EVER and I hope she knows how much we love her!

Sunday Confessions

Bless me reader, for I have sinned. It's been TOO LONG since my last confession. Being sans Internet will do that to you. But, we are back in business! Feels so good to have a real laptop as my computer, not a phone.

As for confessions, yesterday I did my first real homeowner yard work chore: raking leaves. Certainly nothing that deserves accolades in the slightest, but when you are raking your own leaves on your own street that have accumulated for about a month because the previous owner stopped, it's a big deal. One and a half trash cans full, big deal. We didn't want to be That House. You know, the one that has terrible landscaping and jacaranda blossoms everywhere. Well, we are, at least the latter, but so is the entire neighborhood. I did manage to get all of the magnolia tree's leaves.

Granted today we've had winds gusting up to 40 miles an hour, so the leaves are back in abundance , again.

Silver lining: at least it's making the paint dry faster in the kitchen with the windows open.

Sunday Confessions

I do not harbor any secret desire to be a movie star, but if there were one role I'd love to play on television, it would in a historical reenactment. I love the drama, the adventure, and the reckless abandon. My reenactment of choice: the south during the Civil War. Pretty much your standard Scarlet O'Hara.

Sunday Confessions

Most of my Sunday confessions are lighthearted and somewhat flippant. Today I am going to take a turn for the thought-provoking with something that has been nagging me for a while. I am not really looking for specific answers from anyone, but as was the initial intent with this blog, simply a place to express my thoughts.

Ironically, I am in a weird place when it comes to religion.

Technically I grew up in a Catholic household. By that I mean I was baptized, made my first communion, and regularly attended church until about 11 years old. After that, my family's attendance pretty much faded into oblivion. At the time, I didn't mind, I had better things to do. As I aged, I occasionally went with Kerri, but it always felt that I was going through the motions. More times than I'd like to admit, I simply felt I should be there, and spent more time counting blue hats or daydreaming about boys, not listening for any sort of message.

As I've grown and matured, my beliefs have as well. I am lost when it comes to where I stand. I understand the principles of the church, and though I don't agree with all of them, I can appreciate the traditions. Conversely, I am appalled at the monstrosities that have come from so many parishes and the complete mismanagement of dealing with the consequences.

That being said, and the beliefs that are at the core of Christianity itself (no labels in terms of denomination), I struggle with where science fits in. I know it's a major controversy for some, but there are things I can't argue with. Evolution occurs. I don't necessarily think one day that a fish crawled out of the ocean, but environments change, animals adapt, and I believe Darwin's theories that only the fittest survive.

This post is long, and I still don't have all of my thoughts formulated. I find that I am at a crossroads and have been so for a while and not sure where to turn. When I do not have the answer to something, I turn to books or Googling. In this case, I don't want to simply be sold on some other branch of a religion. I suppose it might be something that other people struggle with too, and perhaps the answer for some is simply faith. Overall it's just frustrating. I feel ill-equipped to formulate the questions to seek any answers.

Maybe that's what finding a religion is all about. I honestly don't know. How's that for a Sunday confession.

Sunday Confessions

The reason why my Mac keys are sticking is probably due to the fact that I may have dribbled a little coffee on the keyboard Thursday morning. I did my best to wipe it up! Please help!!

Please remember that glowing bbq review I did yesterday!

Sunday Confessions

There are times I want to curse on this blog, but I refrain, knowing I'll probably regret it, and I really don't like when people swear, unless it's warranted. And let's be honest, there are occasions it is.

This week is one of those weeks. I'd like to give a big eff-you to our government. Thanks for taking a grip out of my paycheck every month and then needing me to supply you even more to allocate god knows where. Probably some idiot's bathroom remodel. Strongly worded letters are my specialty but I have a feeling if I wrote one, it'd likely be viewed by someone's overworked and underpaid assistant who could only send me a courtesy "thanks for the correspondence!" note, or they'd come after me, claiming I have some secret millions in a Nigerian hedge fund. No, it's in snuggled in Switzerland, land of neutrality, cuckoo clocks, and chocolate, of course.

Sunday Confessions

I really love those Duggars. As crazy as their lifestyle may seem, they really make it work, and those have to be some of the most articulate and loving kids I've ever seen.

In a TLC tangent, however, I do not understand their recent spike in programming featuring little people. Maybe that makes me sound anti-little person, which I am not, it just seems sort of exploitative. I haven't asked a little person. Perhaps they love the fact they can identify with similar families and professions, a la the Little Chocolatiers.

This feels like an awkward post.

Sunday Confessions

I am a rule follower to the letter, but a direction follower not so much. I like shortcuts in life where I can get them-board games, measurements, crafts. A tried and true "eye-baller" who, in the words of Tim Gunn, makes it work. These shortcuts, in the way of information gathering, drive Scott B-A-N-A-N-A-S. I think it takes the top spot on his list of my annoyances. He always tells me to research things on my own (hence my Michael Scott tendencies to Wikipedia.) The information is always appreciated. I just like the quickest, most efficient way to get there. Which for me, is my own personal Wiki-Scott.

Sunday Confessions

Sometimes, one can drink too much wine. And then, come Sunday, pay the consequences. Jesus liked wine, but he was always so responsible, the model Jerusalem citizen. I'll try to be more like that next time.

Sunday Confessions

Certain foods in my life are treated with special care upon consumption. So much that they are completely savored and I have dubbed them "the perfect bites." For example:

-The first bite of pizza
-The first sip of coke out of the can
-A really cheesy bite of pasta
-An Oreo, opened, eaten filling side down
-A Reese's Pieces eaten upside down
-Muffin tops (duh)
-Cupcake tops (double duh)

Pretty much just another one of my weird idiosyncrasies.

Sunday Confessions

At risk of being looked at as the ultimate airhead, I will freely admit that I often wish I had a 4th grade science book available for reference at times. There really are some aspects of the animal kingdom, geology, biology, and how this earth has evolved that I'd like to review.

Sunday Confessions

I have a problem. I fall in love with houses that are not available, so of course they are the most desirable to me. It's very bad when you are already planning Christmas dinner somewhere you won't be having it.

Sunday Confessions

I have previously blogged about my aversion to serving salads, and while at a work conference this week, I experienced a minor epiphany as to why I believe that is. I am embarrassed to eat salads in front of other people. I feel that the longer leaves of lettuce can splay across one's (my) mouth while eating and then smear my face with dressing. Mind you, I do attempt to cut pieces into managable bites, but sometimes arugula and watercress simply don't lend themselves in their fragile makeup to do that.

Thus, it's no excuse for my lack of salads on the dinner table (though that has significantly improved) it is a reason.

Sunday Confessions

In 5th and 6th grade my teachers required parent signatures to acknowledge homework assignments each week. Organized as I was at that age, it was the one thing I continuously forgot. Dad, yours was easier to forge than moms. Sorry! For what it's worth, I never did it on anything of major importance.