The Simple Things

When I was growing up, some of the easiest things for my mom to make in the kitchen were hardboiled eggs, mashed potatoes, and any sort of meat in a frying pan. But the first time I tried to do any of that, I completely failed! I realized that I had absolutely no idea how to boil an egg, which is ridiculous. I had to call home the first time I boiled potatoes. And to this day I CANNOT fry meat to the point where it is done on the inside and a perfect golden brown on the outside. And I'm frustrated. I love to cook, but I hate running to google every time I need to do something because I've forgotten how long it should sit on the stove and at what temperature, and that's just ridiculous. I'm sick of eating too pink or burnt meat and having to look at a recipe every 10 seconds. Could we just jumpt to the part where I know what I'm making and I don't have to reference the expertise of someone else? Thanks.

I'm Alive!

I have returned to Blogland my lovely, loyal followers. It's been an interesting few weeks and, to be perfectly honest, I'm not really sure why I've been so absent. I haven't been too much busier than normal and it' snot like I've been catching up on my sleep. I guess I just, prepare yourself, haven't had much to say. I could share information about the wedding invitations that I should be working on or the flowers that I put a deposit on or the trip I took to Michaels during which I, for the first time ever at that store, found what I was looking for. But I just don't really think it's necessary.

One wonderful thing I've gotten to do over the past couple of weeks is catch up with 3/5 of my bridesmaids/favorite ladies. Anna, in true Anna fashion, randomly showed up on my door step last week because she just happened to be in town. So we got to catch up on how married life and cosmotology life and Wytheville life is treating her.

Just two days later, while I was sitting around doing nothing in particular, my phone started singing at me. Ally, who is better at hitting the send button on the phone than I am, called and we were able to have some long overdue catching up. I've only talked to her once since she moved to Ashville and it was really nice to hear how well she and Patrick are doing in their new digs.

I've also been more committed to eating healthy and trying to get in better shape. I've been having salads for lunch and having good hard workouts as often as I can. Unfortunately, I haven't been as good at keeping up the healthy habits at home, but that's my own fault. I'm the one who fixed the smoked sausage, buffalo chicken dip and pizza for dinner. I'll tell you this though, even when you use tasty, fresh, flavorful ingredients and flavorful dressing, salads get a little bland eventually.

So that's my life update. I promise these won't be so necessary forever. I'm going to try my hardest to be a little more dedicated to my little home in Blogland.

I. Am. Livid.

I am so completely sick of people who think that size dictates beauty. I was reading Wedding Bee today and stumbled across this on the message board:

"Here is a really vain question: All of my friends are gorgeous, but my future SIL has already stated her expetancy of being in the wedding party. My bridesmaids are sizes 4, 6, 10,10 and I'm an 8. My future SIL is about a size 18-22. I'm afraid she will mess up my photos. Is this too vain and should I just get over it and put her in the wedding?"

Later in the post a girl responded with this:

"I may have gone off topic a little, but I think that the "big and beautiful" argument is relavant here. She just won't look good, especially compared to the smaller girls, if she's obese, no matter what you put her in."

Then later:

"I don't care what ANYONE says, there is NO such thing as "BIG AND BEAUFITUL" in my book."

And finally:

"Is the OP vain for asking this question? Yes. But is she completely in the wrong for wanting healthy-looking bridesmaids? No."

First of all, that original poster said absolutely nothing about healthy. She does not want a healthy looking wedding party. She wants a skinny wedding party. Also, how ridiculous that she knows all of her bridesmaids' sizes? I assure you Beth, Ally, Stacey, and Megan, I have no idea what size you wear and don't care. And Anna, I only know what size you wear because we've worn each others clothes before.

Second, there's no such thing as big and beautiful?! That's bullshit! Sarah Rue, America Ferrera and Jennifer Hudson (now and before the weight loss) are all gorgeous ladies, despite what their dress size is or once was, just as Kate Hudson and Eva Mendes. I just don't understand how someone can say that it's impossible to be fat and beautiful. They are no mutually exclusive categories.

Tuesday Revelation

I have a problem. Not a serious problem, per se, but a problem none-the-less. I absolutely suck at cleaning a house. I hate to dust. I hate to scrub. I hate to wipe down. I hate to polish. I hate to pick up things that are not mine that are not in their proper place. That makes having a dog who still has a whole lot of destructive puppy in her a problem. Whenever Ginny gets a new toy, or finally manages to break through the defenses of a pretty tough toy, this is the site that greets me.

As adorable as it is to watch her do this, I absolutely hate picking up those little white slobbery puffballs. I really wish she could be that adorable without all the muss and fuss. Oh wait! She can!

Just look how adorable she is wrapped up in a blanket,resting her head on a pillow! Okay, so maybe this post was intended less to complain about cleaning up puffballs and more to post gratuitous adorable puppy pictures. I really don't think anyone's complaining.

A Fine Line

I'm not sure if I'm a genius or if I'm truly insane. I'm currently on hour 9.5 of my first of five 12 hour workdays and I was just in need of a mid-afternoon snack/energy boost. Some of the other girls in the office just got some icecream but I decided that, in the wake of a recent body-image-meltdown, it would be best to stay away from my favorite dessert. So instead I came back to the office and created my own treat. Are you ready for it?

I just dipped my pretzels into Jello Dark Chocolate pudding. It was delicious! I may be crazy for dipping my pretzels in pudding, but you know your mouth is watering at the thought of all that deliciosity!

My Precious

You may or may not remember (hopefully the former, probably the latter) a post that I wrote entitled, "I'm In Love..." in which I raved over the purse of my dreams. Her name is Neves and she is from Nine West and she's soft and bright and beautiful. She is Ultra Pink in my original post, but also comes in white, Lemon, and a turquoise-y blue. Well folks, I am very happy to report that she is now mine, all mine!


Here she is in all over her ruffley, floweredy, lemony goodness just minutes after I signed that credit card slip and took my Belk bag in hand. They didn't have any more in Ultra Pink, despite what the bored-sounded sales girl told me on the phone last night, so I snatched up one of the few Lemons left.

What you don't see in this rather shotty picture taken with my camera phone is the extra pockets and fabulous lining. It's this wonderful floral print. What's even better than a fabulous lining? Under each one of those ruffles is more of that lining! She is by far my favorite purchase in a while and will make it much easier to work those 22.5 hours of overtime that I signed up for next week.

My friends, I. Am. In. Love.

Virginia Public Service Week

I got an email today from the Governor of my fair commonwealth of Virginia. It turns out that he has proclaimed this week, May 2-8, as Virginia Public Service Week. That's right my blog-reading friends, This is my week. But will I get flowers? No. Will I get a card signed by everyone in the office? No. And will I get a celebratory luncheon or a cake? Absolutely not. But do you know what I do get? I still get to take my mandatory furlough day on May 28. Personally, I don't need a week to be set aside to commend me and my public service. What I need is to be allowed to work my normal 40 hour work week. The governor's proclamation is an insult to me and I do not appreciate it.