#180- Double Dose

This is an embarrassing one considering I’m 29.  Perhaps I’ve done this and just didn’t make a mental note of doing so, but I’m fairly certain I haven’t.  I would say that I don’t see many movies, but sadly I don’t read many books.  (Until now- I’ve recently become obsessed with the hobby.)

I read a book and saw the movie based on the book.

The movie was Julie & Julia and the book was Julie & Julia.  I would recommend the book and the movie- both fun and light-hearted.  What I would really recommend is reading My Life in France- Julia Child’s tale of how she came to be the culinary personality we all know. 

Fun factor: 8

#179- Very Important Poser

I work for a network of schools and one of them is supported in part by the Chicago Bulls, so the other day:

I got a VIP tour of the United Center.

We saw the locker room, lounge, laundry room, press room, etc.  It was pretty sweet.   At the end, we were all stunned to see that Michael Jordan was visiting the facilities that day and he personally gave each of us an autograph!!!!

Just kidding on that last part.  It would have been a lot cooler if it was true.

Fun factor: 8

#178- Up Yours

When I was home over the 4th, I was able to take my 4 year-old niece to the movie theater, so:

I facilitated another person’s “new thing”.

Sheryl, Cade and I took Sarah to see Up.  Not sure what happened in the movie, but below is a play-by-play of what was happening on the Sarah Show.

1. Sarah trying not to fall out of the seat since she was too light to weigh it down.

2. Sarah eating string cheese.

3. Sarah saying “Oooh, I’m cold, Shea.”  

4. Sarah stretching out my new teal cardigan because she needed to cover her cold legs.

5. Sarah going to the bathroom twice.

6. Sarah eating Cade’s string cheese because he wasn’t hungry for “real food”.

7. Sarah getting scared of a friendly dodo-like bird.

8. Sarah eating cow tails.

9. Sarah eating a bag of M&M’s.

10. Sarah saying “I’m just going to take a quick nap, Shea.”

I might wait a few more years before taking that one out in public to the movies. 
Fun factor: 10

Perks of Staying the Course

I just want to reward those of you who are regular readers by sharing some behind-the-scenes stats.  Today my blog was found by two unrelated but equally menacing Internet searches, which are transcribed below.

• “Defile U.S. currency”
• “Oops I crapped my pantyhose”

I’m not sure what this means for you as a reader, but I’m planning on considering an alternate hobby.

#177- Reality t.v. no longer an option

I met an Iron Chef.

And I acted like Cindy Brady.  Do you remember that episode when she’s all cocky because she’s chosen to be on the televised game show and suddenly she becomes too good for her siblings?  When she finally gets on stage and the camera zooms in on her annoying mug she clams up and her brain goes numb.  That’s basically what happened to me.  Not one word came out of my mouth. 

Maybe I would’ve been more talkative had I combined this new thing with this new thing.

Fun factor: 10+ (he was so hot/nice!)

#176- A real jam.

I packed lots of weird shit when I went home last weekend: citronella candles for my mother, a miniature picnic table condiment holder for my father and random other things for the nieces and nephew.  This left little room for things like purses and underwear.  What’s a girl to do?  

I used my camera case as a purse.

 

Inside I kept my identification, cash, debit card and lip balm all night. There was a camera in there too, with which I captured many fond memories including the above evidence of using its case a billfold.

Next up: I use my bra to collect shells on the beach.  

Fun factor: 5

#175- Stars and Stripes foreva

Last weekend my parents hosted Cocktails & Dreams: the Hamptons of the Midwest.

The spread of food available was quite plentiful; my Grandpa summed it up best when he said he “felt like a bear in a strawberry patch”.  I tried to help set up and cook as much as I could, but one thing I knew for certain was that damnit it if I was going to let another Independence Day pass without expressing my patriotism via the culinary arts.

I made an American flag cake.

 

Fun factor: 8

#174- Officially convinced all celebrities are living a lie

Oh, hi there!  Where have you been?  I won’t embarrass you by scolding you for your unfounded and heartless abandonment over these past few months.  I’m just glad you’re back.  I wondered if you left because I’m not aging well, so while you were gone, I’ve been busy.  For starters:

I got make-up airbrushed on my face.  

This new thing was done before friend Christina’s wedding.  Knowing about this wedding for a year in advance, I had plans to lose 20 pounds, tan and learn to speak Russian.  0 for 3.  So, I jumped on the train of bridesmaids who were getting their make-up airbrushed and the results looked awesome.  Though, I must say, when I gave the make-up artist permission to post ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos on her website, I forgot I was up until 8:00am the morning-of doing meth.

 

 

 

 

 

Fun factor: 10

#173- Label me: LOSER

After I became acquainted with my label maker, I began thinking of all sorts of things for its use.  So:

I labeled my toiletries with dates representing their first use.

 Yes, this is bizarre, but for some things, it might prove helpful.  God knows I have mascara bottles in my arsenal that are much older than their intended use.  But who can keep track of that shit?   I also think it will be fun to see how frequently or infrequently I use things.  For example, when I got a facial back in January, I was suckered into buy a $40 bottle of face wash.  Now, with the dated label staring at me everyday, I see it’s going on 2.5 months, and it’s still well over half way full.  The moral of the story is: I AM NOT A SUCKER. 

 Fun factor: Sadly, 10.

#172- Like a bunny

Lindsay and I had some time to kill before my flight left from LAX yesterday.  The other girls had an earlier departure time so we decided we would get breakfast at a cute little spot in Santa Monica after we dropped them off.  Fast forward to Lindsay following “her instincts” to get us to the road that runs parallel to the ocean and we soon realize we should just stick near the airport.  

So:

I ate at an IHOP.

 

 

 

It was an intimate little affair.  I had the Nutella and banana crepes, Lindsay the eggs and toast.  It was everything I ever dreamed of and more.

Fun factor: 8