3 Things.

I stole this from Rant & Ravin' Haven who stole it from The Dallas Ks. I usually don't do these over email, but I've never done one on my blog so here goes nothing!

3 things I want to do before I die:
1) Go on a honeymoon.
2) Be debt free (I stole this from TEH.)
3) Find my true passion/calling.

3 things I can do:
1) Drive a stick
2) Spell
3) Manage money. (I have bounced one check in my lifetime.)

3 things I can't do:
1) Fly without freaking out. Seriously. Tears and everything.
2) Sing
3) Run. I'm outta breath in 5 minutes. Put me on a bike, I can ride 20 miles!

3 things I say most:
1) You're cute.
2) I love you.
3) That's okay.

3 celebrity crushes:
1) Edward Norton
2) Luke Wilson
3) Johnny Depp

Oh DSW, How do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Shoes...

About 5 years ago, I got the best shoe deal ever. $90 Guess open toe slides for $9 at DSW. I wore them to a friend's wedding. I LOVE them. Always have, always will:

It's hard to see in the picture, but there is black lace and lots of intricate beading. Anyway, I really didn't think that deal could be topped until this weekend's trip to DSW (my FAVORITE shoe store). I had to share it with everyone because only women read this, and I know all of you can appreciate what I'm about to tell you.

See Exhibits A & B. Steve Madden "Lindzie" boots and the inside label:


(Click on the first picture to see a larger look at the cute detailing).

See Exhibit C. The price tag from the box:

The blue tag represents 30% off, so I was looking at $59.90 X 30%. My price was roughly $42. Then, I used my $25 DSW frequent shopper coupon to bring the price down to a cool $17.
That's right $17.

Exhibit D. A link to the SAME shoe on Zappos. I about fell out of my chair. They're still selling online for $121. They were originally selling for $133.95.

Case closed. This was my best shoe deal ever. My work here is done.

Our First Paycheck

So my sister and I got our first paycheck today for the jewelry we sold to the national retailer! It was really nice to see a corporate check with our names on it. Some of you asked for photos of the jewelry, so here are some examples of some items that sold at the store.

I spoke with our contact today, and she is ready for us to make more stuff to replace what has been sold, so I guess I know what we're doing this weekend.

Where Have You Been?

Call received today:

"Ms. A?"
"Yes."
"This is J with D's Body Shop. Were you still wanting to get the hail damage on your Honda fixed?"
"Yes."
"Okay, you can bring it on Monday."
"Great, what time do you open?"
"7:30 AM"

Nothing too strange about the above conversation except that they hail damage occurred in APRIL and the damage was evaluated by said body shop on May 2nd! I called the shop 3 times, and I never received a return phone call. The only reason I go back is because it belongs to an old friend, they're trustworthy, they deal with my insurance and get me what I want, and they did a stellar job fixing my car when a tree fell it.

Words I'm Trying to Stop Using

I'm taking a short afternoon tea break (trying not to drink so much coffee), and I thought I'd share with you the words (and phrases) I'm trying to stop saying:

1) Dude. I am not a 12-year-old boy, a surfer or a stoner.
2) Sweet. Same as above.
3) ______ is the bomb. I've been told this is no longer cool or hip, yet I still say it.
4) Like. I'm not in Valley Girl.
5) Fucking stop, quit, shut up. I use the F word before everything when I'm yelling at the dogs.

Words and phrases I'm hoping to use more often:

1) Snog, snogged, snogging. Don't know, just like it.
2) Holy crap. Great response phrase to anything. Must be said like Frank Barone.
3) Kicky. Used like this, "Wow, that sure is a kicky outfit she has on." See Fugly.
4) Shag. Shagged. Shagging. Love this one for doing it.
5) Boo. No, not like "my boo". Used when saying boo to someone's outfit like Trent.

My milkshake brings all the....oh, who am I kidding...

So, TKW has thought up another way for us to embarrass ourselves.....by posting our school photos. I don't really want to share the horridness that was 6th grade, but it's better than 5th and I'm a follower, so here they are:

First official school photo in 1981 (?)? Check! Heidi outfit (TKW, I think you had one of these, too?) made by Grandma? Check! Hair courtesy of foam rollers? Check! This really was my favorite year in school.

Sigh. I know. You don't have to say a word. Please don't say a word. This was sixth grade. Not a good OR pretty year. Bad, uneven permed hair? Check! Bad bangs covering pimply forehead? Check! Huge caterpillar eyebrows? Check! UNITS OUTFIT COMPLETE WITH BOLERO JACKET? Check! Sadly, that Units getup was my favorite outfit EVER in junior high. I felt so cute and popular when wearing it. Somebody lied to me, and I think it was a Units saleswoman. (If you don't remember Units, lucky you).

Ah, my sophomore year. Things have really turned around at this point. Big hair? Check! Big earrings? Check! Decent make up, skin and clothing? Check, check, check!!!! This was my thinnest year, as well. The glory days, I like to call them.

And here's where school ended for me. College graduation in August of 1999 (I know the photo says May, but that's when I walked. I still had to take summer classes to graduate in August). Not too bad, although it was only 6 years ago. The thing I love most about this photo is the look of sheer joy on my face. I was so glad to be out of school I could hardly stand it. I think I also was a tad frightened, as well .

Hope you enjoyed the trip down my personal memory lane!

And the Roaches Keep Falling...

I work in the "Plaza" of our building, which is a fancy word for "basement" or "dungeon". We developed a nasty roach problem (see post on why I hate my cube) over the summer, and twice I had roaches DROP FROM THE CEILING ON TO MY DESK, NARROWLY MISSING MY HEAD. We thought we had gotten rid of them, but alas, this morning as I'm typing away, I hear "PLOP" to the left of me. I glance over, knowing what will be there, and yes, it's a roach. Large, brown, & squirming around. Taunting me with his long antennae. I guess some poison had already gotten to him as he was on his back, and looking like he was halfway to the Dirty Gates of roach heaven. Sick, sick, sick, I tell you. Please. Make. It. Stop.

My Dogs are the Bad Kids

So my dogs are the bad kids in school. The kids with issues. The kids that get sent to the principals office. The kids that other parents don't want their kids associating with. We cannot have strangers over, and now it seems that family members aren't welcome either. My mom (who has been over to our house multiple times with no problems) came over this weekend, and they barked and growled at her as if they had never seen her before. I was truly sad, embarrassed and mad.

I just don't get it. They were fine in their foster home, they were fine when I brought them to their new home. They were even fine 8 months ago. I spent a ton of money on obedience training. All I can assume at this point is that I am doing something wrong. They have an unnatural need to be near me and protect me at all times. Did I foster this? Or is it just a part of being a rescue dog?

It just confirms my fears that I shouldn't have children. I will fuck them up royally.

More Furry Kid Pics

Dulce being unusually cuddly.


Doc trying to fit in a cat bed.

Funny Husband Quote #1

"That's why I drive a Honda, 'cause I got BIG balls." I took this totally out of context, but it made me laugh so hard, I just had to share it.

Busted on Date Night

So, the rockstar and I decided to go out for a nice dinner last night. We selected South Congress Cafe (which is excellent, btw, for those of you here in Austin). As we waited for a table, I locked eyes with ML, a frat buddy of my ex. Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap, I thought. I hadn't seen this guy in years, but he certainly recognized me. (For those of you who don't know, this particular ex was the only other guy I had ever considered marrying. THANK GOD he never proposed. I got out free and clear with no messy divorce to deal with. That's neither here nor there).

I happen to know that ML and my ex still talk regularly. So what popped into my mind? He HAS to report back to my ex, that I am cute, wonderful and happy with a hot husband. He was on his cell phone, but told me he'd come back by later to say hi. Thank god he didn't because I didn't really want to talk to him.

Of course, the rockstar was blissfully unaware (or so I thought) that any of this is internal dialogue was happening in my head. So we sat down and enjoyed our meal of crab enchiladas (me) and pork tenderloin (the rockstar, yuck), and as we were leaving I got sooooooo busted. Read on, my friends.

As we passed by the friend's table, I (subconsciously, of course) cozied up to the rockstar and held his hand, etc. to show off what a truly wonderful couple we are. After we passed, the rockstar looked at me and said, "I know what you're doing. You're trying to get that friend to look at us so it will get back to your ex. That's cool, but you don't have to be so sneaky about it." DOH! Geez, I hadn't realized that I was so transparent.

As sad as it is, I hope news of our sighting makes it back to the ex in D.C.

I Don't *Heart* Huckabees

I don't know why I'm just now saying something about this movie since I saw it months ago, but the movie "I Heart Huckabees" truly sucked. I like weird. I like quirky. I like off the beaten path. This movie is none of these. It just plain sucked. Its "tries too hard" vibe coupled with the constant psychobabble made me TURN IT OFF EVEN THOUGH JUDE LAW IS IN IT LOOKING VERY HOT IN A SUIT. I love movies and rarely turn them off unless I'm too tired to stay awake. I didn't even care to know how it ended, but I don't think I would have understood it anyway. That's all. I'm done.

Wayback Wednesday

Brought to you by TKW, this is my first installment of WBW! I don't have any really good photos because 1) I destroyed most of the photos from birthday 19 when a stripper and cheap tequila were involved 2) anything from my childhood/early teens is still at my parents house 3) my 21st sucked (not meaning I was hungover for 3 days) meaning I didn't even get a buzz.


The first photo is from birthday number 23. I was in Chicago at the time, so my family came up to see me. I love the waves on Lake Michigan.











The next birthday is number 24. I was back in Texas at this point and living with my sister. I was not drunk, so I don't have an excuse for the behavior that is displayed in this photo. We're just weird. Nice legs, sis!



And lastly, we have birthday number 25. This is me and the rockstar at a surprise dinner that my sister planned and successfully pulled of. I was truly surprised and touched! We were at Buca del Beppo and got drunk on family size gallons of wine.

Bedtime

"Where's the remote?"

"I don't know, you had it last."

"Bite me."

"You bite me."

"Just turn off the T.V."

"You turn it off."

"Where's the remote?"

"I DON'T know!"

"You're shitty."

"No you're shitty."

Lots of laughing.

"I love you. Good night."

"I love you too, sweetheart."

"Gimme a kiss."

Smooch.

We're weird, and I love it.

This Pretty Much Sums it Up

"It's a little depressing to become number one because the only place you can go from there is down." - Doris Day

I'm a fan of consistency. The fewer ups and downs, the better. If you shoot for mediocrity, you are less likely to be let down. If you never become number one, you never have to fall.

My Furry Kids

So here are my kids. Dulce is a 3 yr. old Red Heeler. She is bossy and pushy and hardheaded, but so funny and very loyal. She loves to herd our other dog, Doc. She had a rough go of it early in life. She and her litter of four puppies were dumped at the pound when Blue Dog Rescue found them. I'm sure glad they did! She is definitely the rockstar's favorite.



We're not sure what Doc is, but most likely lab and shepherd. He's very flexible and like to roll around and be silly. He loves to snuggle (as you can see in the picture below), and he's definitely a mama's boy. He was also rescued by Blue Dog Rescue. He came from a junkyard, poor guy. He has a messed up eye, so he runs into things if he's not careful.

I am an Arteest!

Last month, my sister, my good friend E and I sold our handcrafted jewelry to a major retail store (thanks to E's hookup). To me, the real test was to see if the jewelry would actually sell. Well, my friends, it looks as though about 10 of our items have sold in 3 weeks time. That means roughly 30% of our products were deemed "pretty" or "cool" or "eclectic" enough by random customers to purchase. Either that, or my mom went to the major retail store and had herself a shopping spree. Either way, I'm very happy.

Soooo Happy it's Friday

Nothing much to report, just so incredibly happy it's Friday. This week has creeped along, and I can't wait for 5pm to get here. Reasons why my cube annoys me:

1) Roaches sometimes drop from the ceiling to the space right in front of my keyboard.
2) My chair makes a horrible squeaking/groaning sound everytime I move.
3) My "Wild Words from Wild Women" daily quote calendar has been sorely disappointing.
4) Fluorescent lighting.
5) Roaches sometimes crawl up the blinds behind me.
6) Musak from the building is so loud, it come through our glass walls.
7) No TV.
8) My "Fabulous Las Vegas" dice clock (a wonderful gift from my sister) needs batteries. It's perpetually 1:47 in my cube.


Reasons why I love my cube:

1) I sit in a hobbit hole of a corner of our floor, so very few people know where I am.
2) My Chuy's Comida Deluxe Calendar
3) My Happy Bunny sticker that says "I know how you feel. I just don't care." It never fails to bring a smile to my face.

Weekend, here I come.

Why I'm Scared of Having Children

1) No more napping...no more free time.
2) Things will change between me and the rockstar.
3) I will not be able to lose the weight.
4) I will be a horrible parent.
5) My house will get even dirtier and smellier.
6) I will have to work to support someone else.
7) I won't have as much time for my dogs.
8) I will lose whatever small identity I have.
9) I will hate being a parent.
10) It's a life commitment, but totally different from marriage.
11) No more TLC on Saturday mornings.
12) No more sex whenever and wherever it's convenient or desired.
13) No extra money for shoes.

So, This is a Blog?

I'm not quite sure what to say on my first ever blog post. I'm not even sure I will have enough to say to have a new post everyday. Oh, I'm sure I can come up with something, but not necessarily something interesting enough to make everyone tune in.

So who am I, you ask? Hmmmm, tough question. Not because I'm deep, just because I don't really know myself all that well. I'm recently married and I love my husband---I do know that much. I love my house and my dogs and my cats and my family. I love my sister. I love my shoes. I love TV. I love movies. I love coffee and food and sleep. I really love sleep. I could nap everyday if I didn't have to work a full time job. I love road trips. I love nacho cheese doritos.

You see where I'm going with this?

I know all of this and more, but I don't know what my true purpose in life is. I have a degree and a job and a steady paycheck, but it's not my calling and I certainly don't want to be doing it for the rest of my life. I know there is something out there that is my passion and my joy, but I just don't know how to find it.

Passion, if you're out there, call me....no wait, email me. I rarely answer the phone.