Currently...

Listening to: Saturday Night Live with Drake.

Saturday Night Live (season 32) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thinking about: Giving myself a pedicure.
Dreaming of: Going for a run.
Excited about: My husband being home.

Loving: My friend, who went out of her way to see me after a decade apart.

Thanks to Pink Heels Pink Truck for the post idea.

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Through the Eyes of the Mrs.: DIY Valentine Art

Through the Eyes of the Mrs.: DIY Valentine Art: Hello there friends, Can you believe Valentines Day is right around the corner? I don't know about you but I always struggle creatin...

2013 Retrospective

1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?
I attended my uncle’s wedding.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t remember what they were.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.
5. What countries did you visit?
None, unfortunately.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
More versatile clothes.
7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I’m not really good with dates. But the concert I took my Mom to on Mother’s Day, the Mud Run, and T’s 22-person birthday party are definitely highlights.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Supporting my family.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Overcommitting.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I have pharyngitis right now! Oh, and I took a softball to the knee.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Admission to the Mud Run.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
T, for taking care of me when I’m sick. My Mom, for going with the flow and having her priorities straight. HN and N, for being supportive and helping us move and paint! These are just a few, I actually have way too many people to list, which is awesome.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
No comment.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Groceries
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Glow Race, Mother’s Day concert, game night at HN’s, running tour.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
The Wobble. Can’t Hold Us and/or Thrift Shop and/or Wings by Macklemore. Somebody That I Used to Know covered by Mayday Parade. I Love It by Iconapop. Gangnam Style by Psy. Before the Throne.

Cover of Mayday Parade

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? About the same level of happy, just in different ways.
ii. thinner or fatter? Definitely heavier.
iii. richer or poorer? Well, I own property now, so there’s that. It’s kind of a double-edged sword.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Laundry.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Laundry.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas Eve with my parents. I spent Christmas Day playing games.
21. Did you fall in love in 2013?
I stayed in love.
22. How many one-night stands?
We have two nightstands.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Dirty Jobs.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No. My level of hate may actually have decreased.

Cover of American Gods: A Novel

25. What was the best book you read?
American Gods.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
High Street Hymns, E.S. Posthumus
27. What did you want and get?
Wise counsel from others.
28. What did you want and not get?
To be closer to some of my friends, geographically. For some of my friends to make good decisions for themselves.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Iron Man 3, John Dies at the End, World War Z, Pacific Rim, and The Conjuring.
30. What did you do on your birthday?
I had a cookout at my parents’ house.
31. What would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Taking better care of myself.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Denim, purple, polka dots, tights.
33. What kept you sane?
Articles and TEDtalks about Psychology, trips to the River, laughing with my husband, dinners with friends, honest arguments with friends.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Aidan Turner.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Not sure if this is political, but racism in the media.
36. Who did you miss?
T, my Mom, G, H, among others.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
The Ps!
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013:
That God doesn’t owe me anything.

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Into Thy Calm: On Strength (Homily Magnus)

Into Thy Calm: On Strength (Homily Magnus): "Be thou exalted, Lord, in Thine own strength. So we will sing and praise Thy power." Ps. 21:13 The babe with the power! ...

XComGame 2013 08 10 14 13 18 57

http://www.youtube.com/v/pad3MZR3ZIw?autohide=1&version=3&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=NYfT5wFbIZ4EWFc59D2aaA&autohide=1&feature=share&autoplay=1

I did a thing. 

Nannying and Marriage

Ugh, I've had to miss so much work lately. I hate it! I am excited to see my monkey boys again tomorrow though.
I had to spend two nights and most of two days away from my husband this week and I missed him terribly. Perhaps that sounds pathetic, but I really don't care. Even worse, one of the guys at my uncle's wedding was dressed very similarly to how my husband often dresses, and he even had the same color hair and skin tone and a similar haircut! I kept seeing him out of the corner of my eye and getting excited and then remembering that my husband was roughly three and a half hours away. I was so happy to see him Friday evening and he was so helpful in getting the bonfire started for my family. (We were at my grandparents' cabin.)


Perhaps the first audio format logo, the LP symbol appeared on countless records (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Wednesday night I got to stay with my Mom and we had a really great conversation about anything and everything on our way to her house. I really miss those. We talked about my friends and her friends, about her dog and my cat (her grandcat), house-hunting, and a million other things. The next evening we spent at a hotel. She timed me on my run and didn't even fuss at me when it started raining and I kept running!
Of course, while I was out of town, my friend LP had her baby. She had a little girl! My husband got to go to the hospital and hold her when she was only four hours old. I am so jealous. He also gave the proud new papa some peace of mind by going to their house and letting their dogs out while they stayed at the hospital for a few days, due to my friend having a c-section. However, I got to see the baby today! My husband said I was a natural and her mommy said she liked me! We were only able to stay for an hour but I will get to see them twice more this week. The little girl was a little fussy at first because she was hungry, but she soon snuggled into me and took a nice little nap once I walked her around a bit.

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Test 1, 2, 3....

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Moving and pedicures

English: Supernanny, Jo Frost, at the Children's Museum in Easton, Easton, Massachusetts. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today was an absolutely insane day. It was also a very fun day. I am now detoxing by watching SuperNanny.

I perfected the lazy Saturday look this morning. I wore my checkerboard Vans slip-ons. It was pretty awesome, and perfect for helping my friend H move.

English: Vans headquarters, Cypress, California (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This week I went through the arduous process of giving myself a pedicure. I even used a buffing block. It turned out rather well, despite my lack of a topcoat. I used OPI's An Affair in Red Square. It's a great true red, very classic.

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Coptic Pope Blasts Muslim Brotherhood, US, EU

Coptic Pope Blasts Muslim Brotherhood, US, EU

Coriander (Photo credit: Ruby's Feast)

T's hydroponic garden is doing great. We have celery, spinach, basil, parsley, thyme, sage, green onions, cilantro, and dill so far! We have tasted the cilantro, but we haven't sampled the others yet. The cilantro was so fragrant and yummy! It came straight off of our balcony instead of sitting for hours in a grocery store and/or truck or however else it is transported. The only hand that touched it were ours. It has been kept safe by wolf spiders and wasps instead of pesticides. It is so much fun to watch them grow and T gets so excited when a new little seedling pops up. It is fun to watch him and his enthusiasm is contagious.
 Soon I will start nannying again and I am so excited to see my boys! They are starting 2nd grade and fifth grade this year. I am also looking forward to making more money for less hours and not being on my feet as much as I am at my current job. I hurt my knee two years ago and it has never bothered me through running, mud runs, and various other activities. However, standing for 7 hours straight on concrete does make it sore. Who knew.

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August Goals {Monthly Goals Linky}

 

 

How it works:
The linky goes live on the first Wednesday of each month.
1. Follow all three hosts: My So-Called Chaos, A Peek at Karen's World, & Jenee Thompson
2. Write up a post recapping previous goals & setting goals for the next month. The post needs to include the Monthly Goals button, use the code at any of the host blogs.
3. Link-up your Monthly Goals post in the linky below!
4. Visit other blogs in the linky to show support!

Bonjour! This is my first Monthly Goals post, so I don't have anything to recap. However, I do have some goals to set.

 

August Goals

• Take Kazu (my cat) to vet.
• Hang out with my friend Dougle.
• Finish my Dad's picture frame.
• Visit my Mother in law.
• Get CPR certified again.
• Watch The Fellowship of the Ring: Extended edition again.
• Conquer Mount Washmore
• Paint my fingernails
• Cook dinner once this month.
• Start running again.
• Sweep out the pantry

 

 

 

 

What are your August Goals?

Grab the button and link up with us! :) 

 

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Accent tag: D edition

My Skincare Regime

English: Cropped from a scan of my own hand (I have severe dry skin in the winter). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thanks to Krystal's Kitsch for the idea for this blog post.

My moisturizer is Purpose Dual Treatment Moisture Lotion. The Purpose lotion has a 15 SPF sunscreen in it. I tend to have dry, sensitive skin. I moisturize every morning and if I don't, my skin feels awful and tight.
I use Basis Cleaner Clean face Wash in the shower. I usually purchase it at Ulta but sometimes I can find it at Walgreens. It costs under 10 dollars. I try my very best to never use anything but face wash on my face because anything else usually makes my face break out terribly. I don't use bar soap on my face.


English: SOAP (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I usually shower in the mornings, because my hair won't behave otherwise, so that's when I use my Basis Wash. If I need to remove makeup at night, I use Yes to Cucumbers Towelettes.

Honestly, I'm pretty terrible about not removing my eye makeup. I have yet to find an eye makeup remover that doesn't hurt somehow. I'm also pretty bad about washing my face in hot water, because I like my showers boiling.


Walgreens (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I use St. Ives Apricot Scrub twice a week to exfoliate my face. I usually use it on Mondays and Fridays. I don't really use washcloths, I use a pouf instead. Microdermabrasion and chemical peels are too expensive. When I was younger I was prescribed Retin-A and I used it for a little while. However, it was more drying and made me too sensitive to the sun. I do not use toner or eye cream.

Last, but not least, I use Neutrogena Clear Face Sunblock.



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Chambers and Hydras

Dungeon 2 (Photo credit: Tony Dowler)

So this afternoon, my husband and I will be playing Dungeons and Dragons with our friends Tay, N, and K. We are currently trying to stop a citywide riot from going down in large seaside city. We had to reschedule our session from Sunday because Tay's internet was down and K Skypes in to be our DM. Best DM screen ever, right?

Before we started playing this particular campaign almost a year ago, I hadn't played much Dungeons and Dragons, though I had wanted to play since high school. I had watched many games in which my ex-boyfriend was playing, and actually participated in one or two.


D&D uses polyhedral dice to resolve random events. These are abbreviated as a 'd' followed by the number of sides. From left, d4, d6, d8, d12, d20 and two d10, both of which are used together to represent a d100, d%, or percentile die. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My character in this game is an eladrin rogue named Dezirinda. My husband is playing a human fighter named Ryan. Tay's character is a tiefling wizard named Morthos. Nelson just recently joined the group with an elven ranger named Leoven. We've discovered that a group of (mostly) orcs in the town has been inciting riots through the use of a spell that removes people's inhibitions. Currently, we're in an odd sort of...alternate dimension, I suppose? There are sigils all over town that will transport you somewhere else. We are in the in-between space of one of those. We have less than 24 hours to stop the riots or I WON'T GET MY SWORD BACK. The creature who has been leading the orcs took my sword, which also has some teleporting powers, and won't give it back. I tried to steal it back, to no avail. As a rogue, this is very troubling for me.

We'll see what happens tonight!



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Reading and Attention

US Navy 100302-N-0718S-095 Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) 1st Class David G. Burrell reads a Dr. Seuss book to students at George C. Marshall Elementary School during National Read Across America Day (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When I was little, about elementary school age, I read tons of books at a time. I remember spreading them out on the table at the deli where my Mom worked. How did I keep track of them all? I don't know. At some point, I decided that I would only read one book at a time, in order to better focus on it. I kept that up pretty well. Until lately, that is.

Technically, I am reading six books right now. I started reading The Summer of the Spanish Woman a few months ago. It's part of a Reader's Digest Volume of Condensed Books from the '70s. I'm pretty sure I found it in my Great Grandmother's cabin over a decade ago. It is about Charlotte, a teenager who is forced to leave her home in Ireland due to someone else inheriting the property. It takes place mostly in late nineteenth century Spain. I'll be honest, I mostly rolled my eyes at the short description I read before actually starting the story. However, Charlotte is no Scarlett O'Hara, and I am finding it to be an interesting look at how women could gain and/or maintain any measure of independence or self-sufficiency in a culture that often tried to make them victims of their circumstances.


English: book cover of German Reader's Digest collection book, 1988. simple shape cover design Deutsch: Buchdeckel Reader's Digest Auswahlbücher, 1988, Bild 2 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Chicago-Read Mental Health Center sign (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 Another book I'm reading is Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure. I honestly don't remember how I came across this book. I added it to my Amazon wishlist, so it was probably referenced in a blog post or something. ...I really want to like this book. But so far I don't. In fact, I have to make myself read it. It was written by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a Welsh minister. I don't know much about him, but his tone in this book reminds me of other arrogant, presumptuous ministers whom I've read or heard before. I won't name names. This time. The subtitle is a pretty accurate summary, at least of what I've read so far. I guess I was looking for something different, perhaps a look at actual clinical depression and how it impacts people spiritually or vice-versa. I suppose I should have known better. Perhaps an in-depth look at Scriptures that would be helpful to people suffering from depression, a survey of Biblical figures who were sometimes depressed, or something. Not this. To be fair, it was written in 1964, a time that I imagine the state of mental health was even more abysmal than it is now.

I'm also reading Sheet Music: Uncovering the Secrets...I won't go into great detail about that book for obvious reasons. This book was written by Kevin Leman, who calls himself a psychologist. It's supposed to be a practical guide to sex. I guess it could be, for some people. It just depends on your experience. I was blessed to have a Mom who was very frank and honest with me about sex, so I didn't feel like I really needed most of the advice in the book or that I couldn't just as easily get it from somewhere else, without some older guy making awkward references the entire time. It was kind of creepy, honestly. However, I can see how it might be helpful to someone who came from an extremely sheltered home. At the same time, I think it might create as many complexes as it might solve. It certainly made me feel stressed and insecure. I started reading it on the advice of my pastor, who did my husband and I's pre-marital counseling. That was over a year ago, and I just recently finished it. (I am still reading the 'extra' questions at the end of the book, which is why I haven't marked it as finished on Goodreads.) T still hasn't read it, but I'd be very interested to hear his take on it. Thankfully,  he is way more patient and understanding than any man portrayed in that book. To be fair to my pastor, he usually gives great advice, and everyone drops the ball sometimes. I think this was one of those times.

So those are three of the six books I'm currently reading. Madness, right?

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We like Adoption

Emblem of Hong Kong (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Last night, T and I talked about kids, genetics, adoption, and blended families. It was good. We talked about how excited we are to have kids. (I'm not pregnant, to my knowledge, but we are actively trying to become so.) I told him how I'm second-guessing every little symptom and twinge I have, wondering if it means I'm pregnant or if it's just hot or I'm just tired or ate something weird. We talked about how our kids are likely to have his black hair, since it's dominant. We talked about how even if we have our own kids, even if we get a 'matching set' (boy and girl), we'd still really like to adopt. He told me how he used to be uncomfortable about adoption, but now the possibility excites him. My husband used to think that adoption was an either/or prospect, that you either had biological kids or you adopted. However, our pastor's family includes his two oldest children, both boys, both biological, and his youngest, a little girl whom they adopted from Hong Kong. They are a beautiful family. Their daughter is thoughful and amazing and kind and smart. As are their sons. I talked to their daughter at length last night. She is also perfectly secure and willing to talk about her adoption experience. She is so very happy with her family and obviously feels like she belongs. I feel like this has changed my husband's perspective on adoption and I am so very thankful for their influence.

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