Everyday Trish

This will not become a baby blog

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:36:00 +0000

Nothing against baby blogs. Because I love baby blogs. I read them all the time. I know more about complete strangers' breast feeding habits than I should.

But, I don't want my blog to be a baby blog. I mean, it's about me after all. And I'm not a baby. Unless you catch me right after I wake up in the morning. Or right after I've discovered someone ate the last piece of cake. Or if you wait too long to feed me.

Now that I've got that disclaimer out of the way, I'm going to talk about my baby. I know, I know. I just said it's not a baby blog. And it isn't. I just want to tell you what a jerk this kid is already turning out to be.

You see, I had my monthly appointment with my midwife and everything was going fine. They weighed me and I chose not to look, just like normal. Then I peed in a cup, and all over my hand, just like normal. Amanda (my amazing midwife) asked me all the standard questions and I answered them, like normal.

Then it was time to hear the baby's heartbeat. The best part about these appointments. And she couldn't find it. She poked and prodded for what seemed like an hour, and nothing. And of course, I'm freaking out on the inside. Something's wrong. And I'm here all alone.

When she stopped poking around my belly and helped me sit up I asked quite meekly "Is this...normal?" I was expecting her to say no. That it was probably a disaster. I was likely going to leave there a broken, mess of a woman. Someone hold me.

Instead, she sweetly told me not to worry. It's not uncommon for everything to be fine but for some reason not be able to locate the heartbeat. Then she lead me over to the ultrasound room so she could get a look at what the baby was up to.

What she found was terrifying.

The baby was alive and well and karate chopping my uterus. It was scissor kicking my insides. It was head-butting me. It was so active that my midwife burst into hearty laughter, looked at me and said "Oh you're in so much trouble when this baby gets bigger."

I was elated. My baby is okay!

I was pissed. My baby is a total jerk!

Scare me half to death and then, quite literally, kick me while I'm down. Mamma doesn't need a heart attack at 30 you tiny monster.

And here it is, looking quite innocent:

I know better though.

Welcome SITS Girls!

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:35:00 +0000

When I first started blogging I learned pretty quickly how lonely it can be. It's kind of like starting a new school. You're the new kid in town. You don't know anyone. You have no to talk to.

Then I found SITS Girls. It's a community of women bloggers who are quick to offer up support and advice to other bloggers, no matter if you've been at it to 10 minutes or 10 years. I cannot say enough positive things about the group. If you're not a part of the community, go now and get started! You won't regret it.

One of the most exciting parts about being a SITS Girl is waiting for your SITS Day to arrive. It's when you become the star of the day with a featured post over at their website. And today, it's my day!

If you're visiting here for the first time, welcome!

I have myself convinced that everyone who reads my blog has a special stalker file with my name on it. And every time I reveal something about myself, they file it away for some future use. It's okay, I'm not conceited. Just sort of delusional.

Anyway, once in a while I like to help everyone fill up their stalker files by revealing tidbits about myself. So here are a few fun facts about me:

1. I didn't have a boyfriend until I was in my 20's. He dumped me in an e-mail. He was not worth the wait.

2. I seriously considered becoming a nun. But I'm not even Catholic.

3. I'm 16 weeks pregnant. I have no idea what's gas and what's actually the baby moving. I just assume it's always the baby.

4. I'm only ticklish in one place. I'm not telling you where it is.

5. I've had stitches in my tongue. Apparently you're not supposed to try to bite those things off.

Thanks again for stopping by! If you come back again I promise not to show you my tongue scar.

My very first Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Sun, 13 May 2012 02:07:00 +0000

I woke up early this morning to the sound of Ryan rustling around in his closet. I asked what he was doing, naturally. When he's up before 7am on a Saturday, it must be serious.

But, I was instructed to go back to sleep. So I did. I don't argue with sleep these days. Until something crashed down on the floor in the kitchen. So I asked again what he was doing.

And again I was instructed to go back to sleep.

The next time I woke up, it was to find a plate full of food, a card and this:

(Pay no attention to the spot where the cat tried to eat the pretty flower. He's a jerk)

Ryan works on Sundays, so he conjured up an early Mother's Day complete with breakfast and a PIG.

I harass Ryan at least a few times a week about getting a pig. I tell him how much Dewey would love having a pig. I tell him how cute we'd all look walking around the neighborhood. I give him my sweetest "you can't deny my desires" smile.

But it never, ever works.

He always gently reminds me we don't have room for a pig. He brings me back to the reality that we already have five cats and a dog. A pig would be insanity. And he's right. I know it. But...pigs!

He's not an unfeeling man though. Because he found a way to get me a pig. If I'd needed proof that I picked a good man to have a family with, I think this would be it.

Oh, and he did the dishes. And took me to the movies. To see The Avengers. In 3D!

(I looked awesome in those glasses, by the way)

I even made it through the entire movie without a bathroom break.

It was a pretty great first Mother's Day.

Fill in the Blank Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:03:00 +0000

I'm linking up today with Lauren @ The Little Things We Do for Fill in the Blank Friday! It's my small way of contributing to your stalker files.

1. My bedtime routine includes taking the dog outside, tidying up a bit, getting a glass of water, letting the dog back inside because that one time we forgot him didn't make him very happy, and then I'm supposed to do things like wash my face and brush my teeth but I always end up collapsing in bed before I get around to it. I'm so sorry skin and teeth. Really, I am.

2. I am a complete emotional roller coaster. Thanks, hormones! I love the movie Mr. Holland's Opus. And it was on TV the other day. So I watched it. And the ending. Oh that ending. I bawled and bawled like it was real and I was there. Then I ate some cookies. Because, what else could I do?

3. I can't stand liars because, well, they're liars.

4. My idea of relaxation would be a simple night or two away from the house and the animals. I love hotel rooms. I don't care where they are. They relax me. They make me happy. They're so...clean.

5. If I had an extra $50, I would probably save it. I know that's boring. But really, I was serious about that night or two away. Please send me somewhere clean.

6. The best thing about a bloggy friend is that they get you. It's been incredible to see how many of you know exactly what I mean or have been through the same thing or are just willing to listen to me ramble on because you know I'll listen back when it's your turn.

7. A recipe I've been dying to try is for Nutella-stuffed peanut butter cookies. I mean, seriously? Come on. Get in my belly.

Someone's having a baby {It's me!}

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:19:00 +0000

I can't keep it a secret anymore. I am going to have a baby.

It's nothing but a little nugget here, but that hasn't stopped it from wreaking complete havoc on my life. And Ryan's, since he's the one who has to deal with the special brand of crazy pregnancy brings out in me.

The poor man.

But even though it feels like someone has been repeatedly punching me in the breasts, I feel sick almost constantly, I can't stay awake, I'm not allowed to take any of the good drugs anymore, I can't be around sharp objects for fear I'll stab someone, I cry about everything, and I can't make any of it better with a bottle of wine - I couldn't be more thrilled that I get this chance.

We're going to be parents. We get our very own human to corrupt! It's my dream come true.

Baby A (although, my brother has taken to calling he/she "Carlos") is due October 31. I'd say it can't get here soon enough, but really, I can wait. Do you know how much there is to do before a baby gets here?

Like learn how to change diapers and not accidentally drop it on its head.

I'm going to be a great mom, right?

What I probably sound like when I sing Adele

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:10:00 +0000

I am a huge Adele fan. I've probably listened to Rolling in the Deep about nine thousand times. This week.

And every time I listen to it, I belt it out right along with her. And damn, if I don't think I sound pretty good. Adele and I should tour together, obviously.

And then, there's reality. The one where I have no musical talent. The one where my voice sounds like a bag of dying cats. The one where I sound pretty much like this chick, bless her poor little heart:

You are welcome.

Now, here's something that won't make your ears bleed:

You are welcome, again.

Meet the pets {Domino}

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:40:00 +0000

We have six animals. A dog and five cats. We also live in a tiny house and pretty much are constantly covered in fur.

It's enough to induce insanity. And I think if you spent any significant amount of time with us, you'd see we're already a little touched.

But, we love our fur-babies. Even though they're loud and dirty and don't understand that we really don't want them on the counter licking the butter.

What is the deal with cats and the butter?

So, I thought it would be a good idea to introduce you to our "kids" - one at a time. Today is Domino's day.

He's quite tolerant of all sorts of abuse. Obviously.

He does not like snow. No sir. But I like throwing him out in it anyway and waiting for him to get a look of pure terror on his face before snapping his picture. Pet owner of the year? Feel free to nominate me.

He even cleans up pretty good, when he wants to. It's no feather boa, but I guess I can't pick his outfits everyday.

And please, never forget, Domino is quite the lady's man. He's got the smoldering looks. He's got the moves. He doesn't have front claws, but he still knows how to make you purr.

CAPTCHAs and Spoilers

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:30:00 +0000

I hope no one hates me after this post. I'm on a mission to make the entire planet like me, so that could really set me back a bit. But I gotta get a couple of things off my chest.

First, CAPTCHAS. You know, these things:

I hate them. If you use one on your blog, I'm begging you, take it off. Don't be afraid of spam comments. I don't use a CAPTCHA and I've never received even one spam comment that made it past the filter already in place. For the love of your readers (and especially my sanity) just take it down. If you need help, e-mail me. I will spend my whole weekend helping all ya'll taking your CAPTCHAS down. I will. I hate them that much.

Second, spoilers. I hate a lot of things. People who wait for my parking spot at the store before I'm even in my car. Coconut. Yogurt with fruit chunks. People who stand too close to me. But when you ruin a book or movie for me, that trumps everything else. Please hear me, if you're going to reveal major plot points from a movie or book, warn people about that crap first. Don't just be all like "Oh so-and-so dies. It was so sad. Aren't you sad about that?" Hell yeah I'm sad. Because you ruined the whole book for me you jerk.

How about the time I was about sit down and watch The Sixth Sense, **WARNING** SPOILER AHEAD (you see how I did that?) and some boob says to me "Can you believe Bruce Willis was a ghost the whole time?" And that person was never seen again. I'm kidding. Maybe.

My main point is, stop irritating me. And for the love of God, stop making Haley Joel Osment cry. Get rid of your CAPTCHA. Keep your big spoiler-filled mouth shut.

I appreciate your cooperation in this matter. (also I love you please don't hate me)

P.S. Apparently Blogger changed their settings when I wasn't looking and I actually did have a CAPTCHA on my comments! You can only guess how much of a dope I'm feeling like right now. But really, it's Blogger's fault and not mine. Divert blame whenever you can, I always say. Like that time I threw up on the self-serve drink machine. Not my fault. Why'd they put that thing in the way of my vomit anyway?

And just to make me even more insane, nothing I do can make the CAPTCHA go away. I turn it off, save my settings, and it doesn't do a thing. Obviously the CAPTCHA demons have it in for me. I need a Catholic with some holy water, pronto.

Born Wicked {book review}

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:30:00 +0000

Did you know I love to read? Maybe not. Because I have been woefully slacking in the reading department lately. Shame on me.

But, I got a good kick in the pants to get back into it when I decided to join up with BlogHer's book review program. This month I was given the opportunity to read and review Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood.

Born Wicked is a young adult, alternative history novel set in late 19th century New England. It tells the tale of the Cahill sisters, three witches who are trying to keep their secret from everyone around them. The novel is written from the perspective of the oldest sister, Cate, who feels a heavy burden to protect her sisters after the death of their mother. Through the discovery of her mother's diary and knowledge of a few trusted confidants, Cate learns that she and her sisters may be in more danger than she ever imagined. To top it off, she finds herself torn between marrying for convenience or throwing it all way for a union with someone that would likely bring more trouble to her family.

Born Wicked definitely reads like a young adult novel. The themes and dialog are geared toward a younger crowd, but I still found it to be a thoroughly pleasurable read. Jessica Spotswood has woven together an interesting tale with strong underlying themes about women, their strength and how it's never okay to be considered less because you're different.

I can definitely get on board with that.

You can join the discussion about Born Wicked at the BlogHer Book Club. I'll be there often getting involved in discussions. So stop by!

I was provided with a review copy of Born Wicked and compensation in order to facilitate this review. I was not obligated to write a favorable review. All opinions here are 100% my own.

Thankful Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:49:00 +0000

I'm linking up with Cami at First Day of My Life for Thankful Thursday.

It's been a crazy few weeks with ups and downs, and it seems like an appropriate time to remind myself of a few things I'm thankful for!

Second chances. It's never too late to keep trying. Ryan has been looking for an engineering job for over two years since he lost his last one. I've been there when promising jobs fell through. I've been there when giving up seemed like a good idea. I've been there when that "second chance" seemed like nothing but a pipe dream. Despite that, neither of us were willing to give up. And now, it looks like the second chance is really here. It'll mean a lot of changes. It'll mean the life we've only been able to dream about will start to take shape. Second chances can be hard, but they're always possible. I truly believe that.

Dewey, the one-eyed-dog. He sits outside the bathroom waiting for me. He sleeps on my feet. He brings me slobber-soaked toys so we can play together. He has appointed himself to kitty-patrol. If one of them gets out of line, he's sure to be the first to know about it. And he does it all with one eye.

Real friends. The kind that don't judge you. The kind that don't care if you're a little crazy. The kind that forgive you for not being perfect. The kind that make you laugh. The kind that never let you forget how incredible you are.

Having a home. Sometimes I complain about where I live. It's small. It was never meant for 2 adults, a dog and five cats. But it's what we've got. And it's ours. I've got a place in the world, and inside are all my favorite things. Every single one of them. How could I not be thankful for that?

What are you thankful for today?

Eight things I'd grab in the event of an emergency {guest post}

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:36:00 +0000

Hello lovelies! I hope you are all having a fabulous day. Please let me introduce myself -- my name is Meghan, and I blog over at Shine On. I'm a twenty-something, coffee-loving, professional sorority girl living in Music City, TN. It's nice to meet you!

I am thrilled to be a guest on Trish's blog today! She is a fantastic woman, and I always look forward to reading her blog each and every day. And seriously, who is excited for her surprise that she mentioned on Friday?! [[raising hand]] I am!!

When Trish asked for guest bloggers, I was so beyond excited. Like I said, I love reading her blog, and I am so excited to 'meet' all of her wonderful followers. Yes, you all. I sincerely hope we can become blog buddies, like Trish and I have become! That's one of my favorite things about the blogosphere -- 'meeting' and making new friends all over the place!

Anywhoo, Trish told me I could write about whatever my little heart desired. At first, I was a bit nervous about this. I like to think I'm creative, but when the whole blogging world was my oyster [that's the saying, right?], I wasn't sure where to go. Until yesterday.

If you happened to see the news, you probably heard about the crazy weather the midwest/south was having yesterday. Tornadoes all over the place. Ick! Let's just say that whenever someone mentions even the smallest threat of the 't' word, I freak out. You may ask, 'Why? You live in TN! Aren't you used to it?' Well, no. I grew up in Washington state. Way up north[west]. We don't get tornadoes. Heck, we really don't get any bad weather. My impression of a tornado [before moving to Nash] was the thing that swept Dorothy up and took her to Munchkinland. Or that scary 90s movie Twister that starred Helen Hunt. Blegh.

source

Now that I'm almost two years into living in Nashville, I've warmed up to the thought of tornadoes. When there is a watch issued, I don't freak out. And even in a warning, I'm calmer than I was 20 months ago. I'd consider that a pretty big step for me.

Anywhoo, today I saw a fellow Nashvillian post about the 10 things she grabbed before taking cover yesterday. I thought it was a interesting post, especially given the crazy weather we've already had in 2012, so I thought it would be great for my guest-post duties here!

So without further adieu, here are the eight things I'd bring with me...

[ONE] My kindle. I am a HUGE reader, so I would be sure to grab my kindle, especially if we'd be without power for a while.

[TWO] My MacBook. Everything is on this computer -- photos, music, etc. I would say social media and e-mail, but that'd be on my iPhone (which I'd already have with me!).

[THREE] My iPhone charger. Do I even need to explain this one?

[FOUR] Canon Rebel. I love this camera with all of my being, so this would be on my list of top items to grab.

[FIVE] My AOII duffle bag filled with clothes and toiletry products [especially my contact lenses/glasses and a toothbrush].

[SIX] I couldn't find a picture for this, so I used one of our graphics. My sixth item would be the AOII ritual book. I know that, no matter what, AOII's ritual could get me through any situation, and I would want that book with me.

[SEVEN] The most comfortable blanket in the world is a must.

[EIGHT] Last, but not least, I'd grab the four or five family photos that are around my room. These are the most important, and while everything else on this list can be replaced, my photos of family mean so much to me, and I'd want those with me.

So friends, what would you grab in the event of an emergency?

Did I forget anything major?!

Feel free to comment below, or even get a little crazy and stop by my blog to reply!

I'd love to see y'all over there!

Trish - Thank you so much for letting me guest blog. Here's to a great year!! Muah!

Dystopia 2012 Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:59:00 +0000

I don't think there's a reading challenge I won't take. So when I stumbled across the Dystopia 2012 Challenge, I knew I was on board.

I've not read a ton of dystopian literature, but I always seem to have a few on my to-read list that never make it to the top. I guess that's about to change!

If you're not familiar with dystopian literature, here's a good summary to get you up to speed.

You can challenge yourself to read as few as five books (which is what I'm doing) all the way up to 200.

I'll be checking back in as I finish each book to let you know what I thought. So far I haven't decided which five I'm actually going to read. There are so many good options out there.

Anyone else up to the challenge?

Wordless Wednesday {adorable one-eyed dog edition}

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:22:00 +0000

Fill in the Blank Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:04:00 +0000

I'm linking up today with Lauren at The Little Things We Do for Fill in the Blank Friday.

1. The highlight of my week was something I can't tell you about. I don't want to ruin the surprise. Plus, I like to keep you guessing.

2. If I had to classify my interior design aesthetic it would be hand-me-down chic. No really, I don't know. Interior design isn't my thing. I spend too much of my time trying to keep cat fur off everything to worry about style.

3. My first vehicle was a Buick Regal. I don't know the year. I do know that every time I drove over railroad tracks the radio would short out. Then when I went over tracks again, it'd come back on. That was a fun feature.

4. An item I need to have in my day in order to function is my phone. And it's all because of Pandora. If not for streaming music, I'd have nothing to chair dance to at my desk during the day. How tragic, right?

5. My favorite way to waste time is reading entertainment gossip. I'm not proud of this. But I really like to know when celebrities get knocked up. Or divorced. Or arrested. Or have a really big lunch.

6. Right now I could really go for a bagel with cream cheese. Trish is so hungry.

7. This weekend I will be doing nothing significant. Except going to mall for a free pretzel. I'm not going to miss Free Pretzel Day. No sir.

Uncertainty {NaBloPoMo}

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:52:00 +0000

I decided I needed a kick in the pants. Because my motivation to blog has seriously been lacking. Then, this morning, I stumbled across a post about National Blog Posting Month.

It's easy. You simply commit to write a blog post everyday for the month of March. They even give you daily writing prompts, if you need extra inspiration.

And I've decided that I do, indeed, need some inspiration. At least in the beginning So today the topic is uncertainty.

Me, I like order. I like having a schedule. I like knowing what's coming next. Uncertainty is not my thing.

But, it's virtually unavoidable, isn't it? We can plan our lives down to the most minute detail, but in the end, there are an infinite number of uncertainties.

And I'm going to tell you, that knowledge is stifling for me at times. It gets my insides in a twist. It makes my mind race. Sometimes I simply don't know how to deal with it, all that uncertainty. Uncertainty is kind of scary.

Sometimes I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle against all that uncertainty. All the ways I try to keep my life in order are no match for the dreaded uncertainty. It can take the best laid plan and turn it into a disaster.

So what do you do, just give up? I've often thought that might be the answer. Just forget about plans. Life is going to do to you what it wants anyway, right?

But I've come to a different realization recently. Uncertainty feels scary to me, but it's a hell of a motivator too. I think of uncertainty like an angry bear charging at me. I'm not going to stand there and let it get me. Heck no. I'm going to figure out a way not to get mauled to death, that's what I'm going to do.

So uncertainty might be charging at me daily, but that's what forces me to make the choices that are turning my life into what it is. Because I won't let it run my life. Just like I won't let that bear tear my face off.

I'm still no fan of uncertainty, but it's an enemy I'm learning to deal with.

What about you? Is uncertainty scary or exciting?

Projectile Vomiting {i don't recommend it}

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:20:00 +0000

Hey, I'm here. I'm not dead or anything. Just really, really lazy. I mean busy. Yes, that's what I meant.

To tell you the truth, I've been feeling terribly uninspired for the past few days. Until just a few minutes ago. When I was reminded about puke. Because, I figure, everyone likes a good puke story.

Yummy.

It happened years ago, when I was just a wee child. My mom had taken us to a movie. I'd love to tell you I got sick off popcorn and candy and sugary beverages and vomited peacefully while Peter Pan zipped across the screen refusing to grow up. But that's not what happened.

No sir.

You see, I don't do anything the easy way. Especially when it comes to throwing up. It's a violent experience. Internal organs feel like they're going to retch up through my throat. Blood vessels in my face burst open. And the sounds. Oh the sounds. I imagine it's pretty close to what it would sound like if a zombie and a tiger went head-to-head.

It's all very undignified, I assure you.

On this particular day, years ago, I learned just how undignified it could get. We left the theater safely. No hint of vomit anywhere. As I recall, I felt fine. But something was brewing. Oh yes indeed it was. Next it was off to get lunch. And that's when things got ugly.

Really ugly.

I'm sure I must have told my mom something was wrong as we stood in line waiting for our food. And I'm sure she said something sweet about making it better as soon as we sat down. But she couldn't have known what was coming. She couldn't have known there were just mere seconds before I would singlehandedly bust open a portal to hell up in that Carl's Jr.

Again, it would be nice to tell you that I skipped away to the bathroom and let loose in a toilet like a normal person. Or that I ran outside and let it fly into a nearby bush. Or even that I discreetly did it in a corner of the restaurant somewhere.

Instead, I let loose a stream of projectile vomit all over the self-serve beverage station. Yep, I sure did. And all anyone could do was stare in amazement at the girl who was convulsing and making noises like a dying sea lion.

And that's the last thing I remember. But I feel fairly confident that I did not get fries with that. So, friends, here's another little tidbit to stash away in your stalker file. I suspect some of you might think twice before inviting me out to lunch now, though.

Hello, Linky Followers

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:46:00 +0000

I've posted about it before and I'm sure the news has made it around to most people by now, but starting March 1st there will be some major changes happening with Google Friend Connect. Anyone with a non-blogger blog will no longer have use of Google Friend Connect. That means if you follow them via GFC, you'll no longer see them showing up in your reader.

Not awesome.

Because Blogger is the blogging platform I use, you shouldn't see any immediate difference. I hope. But I don't want to take any chances. Plus, I highly suspect it's only a matter of time before Google Friend Connect is phased out completely.

So you'll still see the GFC widget on my sidebar. I don't have any plans to take it down until they announce that it's being permanently shut down for everyone. But, I've also added a new widget for Linky Followers. I was thrilled when I saw someone had come up with a real alternative to Google Friend Connect. While I think Google is great, their suggestion that we replace GFC with Google+ was just lame. Really lame.

Signing up for Linky Followers only takes a couple of minutes. Just click on the : : Follow Me : : button on the widget and it will guide you through signing up. Once you're signed up you'll have access to your very own Linky Followers dashboard where you can manage blogs you follow, easily see who's following you and checkout the latest posts from your favorite blogs.

There is, however, one huge difference with Linky Followers that should be noted. It does not automatically update with your most recent post. Not ideal, I know. I was put off by it at first. But, Linky Followers is brand new. It's being operated by one guy who's doing his best to give us all an alternative to Google Friend Connect. So I got over it. When you post something new to your blog and want to let your Linky Followers know, you just have to go to your dashboard and do it. It takes about 30 seconds. I think even I can handle that!

Have you tried Linky Followers yet? What do you think?

14 days of love {day 4}

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:48:00 +0000

I've done it again. I've let my cheese-flag fly high and proud. In fact, I was practically giddy when I gave Ryan his little gift. Or actually, threw it down in his chair after he was in the bathroom after work because I forgot to wrap it or do anything with it until then. It's the thought that counts.

I got him this adorable key chain tape measure. But I didn't say it was adorable to him. I said something like "Look at this totally masculine midget tape measure I got for you at the Hunky Handyman Store down the street."

And I made this cheesy specimen to go along with it:

Am I the biggest dork or what?

P.S. I'm days and days behind on my 14 days of love. But, never fear, I'll get them all posted! I'm just a massive slacker. I'm sorry. You can check out day 1, day 2 and day 3 for now!

From my childhood {when I kinda had a mullet}

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:55:00 +0000

Sometimes I really miss being a kid. Maybe not so much the incessant teasing from my peers, but I guess I can't blame them. I looked like I had a mullet for a few years. Yes, there are pictures. Carefully guarded pictures.

Thankfully the faux-mullet is a thing of the past. But back there with it are a ton of happy memories doing the kind of crap a kid with a pseudo-mullet does.

Like play with a Skip It. I was obsessed with my Skip It. The kinda-mullet flapped wildly behind me as I furiously skipped around the driveway. It was awesome. {my mullet-ish looked really great in a side ponytail too, by the way}

Or maybe I was strutting around with my fake mullet up in a banana clip.

Let's face it, I didn't strut anywhere. Unless it was across my room to kiss a poster of Joey McIntyre. I know he would have appreciated a girl with a sorta-mullet. {you got the right stuff, baby}

Most likely I was wearing a pair of L.A. Gear high tops. Because you know, I needed something to detract from Mulletor.

And while normal little girls were watching Care Bears and Rainbow Bright, I had films like Dirty Dancing, The Breakfast Club and Grease on a constant loop. Where were my parents while I got my sex education from Patrick Swayze? Probably trying not to look at Mulletaurus Rex.

You can beg for the pictures. I'll never give in.

Lemon Love

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:37:00 +0000

I remember when I was a kid, lemons were evil. I hated the things. I had no appreciation for the tart little buggers. I turned my nose up at every lemony dessert my mom put before me. I had no idea what I was missing.

Thankfully, I grew out of that. You should have seen me when I realized how easy it is to make lemon bars. Why have I not been making a pan of those everyday?

And right about now, when Winter is trying to wind down and the warmer weather of Spring is peaking through, I'm ready to indulge in some lemon desserts. But, my list of lemon-filled recipes is sadly limited. So, I went to work, scouring the internet for ideas. I found so many delicious looking desserts, It was hard to pick just a few.

But, I managed somehow. Here are 5 of my favorite finds:

{Lemon donuts}

{Lemon loaf}

{Lemon burst cake mix cookies}

{Creamy lemon crumb squares}

{Lemon cheesecake cheese ball}

What about you, are you a lemon person?

Dear Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:11:00 +0000

I'm linking up with Megan for Dear Monday, where you write a letter to Monday {or anything else you want}

Dear Monday: Didn't we just do this last week? It's getting a little old.

Dear half marathon: I know you're months away, but you're already kind of scaring me. Please be gentle.

Dear Weekend: I miss you. I'm going to hug you so long and so hard when you get here again. Be ready for it.

Dear Walking Dead: Please come back on. I'm hopelessly addicted to you. Even though now whenever I hear a strange noise I'm convinced it's a zombie. That's okay, one of these times it might actually be a zombie, and I'll be prepared.

Dear People We Share a Bathroom With: Just because we're in the bathroom at the same time doesn't mean I want to make small talk. I'm sure you're a nice person, but I'd rather pee without also having to talk to you about the weather.

Dear Straight No Chaser: When I have loads of money I'm going to hire you to come over every morning and serenade me awake in the morning.

14 days of love {day 3}

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:48:00 +0000

You guys. I'm such a slacker.

I'm way behind on my 14 days of love posts. That's okay though, right? No one never said I had to finish on Valentine's Day.

It'll be like when my mom forgets Christmas presents up in her closet and gives them to us in January. It's like second Christmas.

Anyway, I guess since I'm so far behind, I should get on with it already.

Here's what Ryan got on day 3:

Do you love it? I do. I was so excited to give it to him, I forgot to attach a fun gift. So I just gave him a big slobbery kiss instead.

Then he took me out to dinner. I feel this is worth mentioning because I had lobster ravioli. Lobster ravioli. I moaned with pleasure like a lunatic the entire time I was eating it. I don't know if Ryan will ever take me to a nice restaurant ever again.

Don't worry lobster ravioli...I'll find a way back to you somehow.

P.S. Don't forget to checkout day 1 and day 2!

14 days of love {day 2}

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:26:00 +0000

So listen, yesterday was not a great day. I woke up with a headache, and the headache taunted me all day long. In fact, it's still taunting me.

It has made me utterly useless. Not to mention irritable. Let me tell you, I'm a real treat right now.

But I still had to whip something up for the second day of the love project. Because, people, I do not do anything in advance. If there's a deadline, I'm sure to just barely meet it.

So, I slapped this together at the last possible second:

I was just pretty excited I spelled everything right. {I did, didn't it?}

I gave it to Ryan with a box of mini flashlights. Because there is no level of cheesy I won't go to. No sir.

I think day 2 was a success, despite the headache and my total lack of motivation. Didn't I say before that love prevails? It's still true, even in the face of migraines and chronic procrastination.

Don't forget to check out what I did on day 1!

14 days of love {day 1}

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:35:00 +0000

Even though I said I'm not much into Valentine's Day, I am into love. I like it. It's nice. But, I'm not a particularly mushy kind of love person. Perhaps that's why Valentine's Day doesn't appeal to me very much, because it's so lovey-dovey.

Gross.

So I decided to give this Valentine's Day thing a try, but in my own way. Ryan doesn't know it yet, but he's my guinea pig. muahahahaha

I whipped this up and printed it on a post card:

Then I got some of these (and cried because they weren't for me):

Then I gave it to him. And he was happy. Because, candy.

Thus began my 14 days of love project. Everyday a new gift and a fun away to say "I love you". And even though yesterday was terribly sad after receiving the news of my grandpa's death, it seemed appropriate that it's the day the project started. It was good to be reminded of how important love is and that even though our lives aren't immune to sadness, love prevails. And that, my friends, is a joyous truth. Don't you think?

I'm excited to give Ryan the rest of his gifts and to share it all with you. Feel free to steal my ideas. Make them your own. Show someone you love them.

A farewell to Grandpa Ron

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:01:00 +0000

Late this morning I got the news that my Grandpa Ron had passed away. He'd been battling cancer for a while, and we knew this day was approaching. But knowing that it's coming does nothing to alleviate the deep grief that comes with actually losing the person. It's wretched and painful and only made worse by the knowledge that he'd probably be ticked off we were all so sad.

Because he lived so far away, I wasn't able to see him before he died. But I did sit down and record a video for him. I don't know if you've ever tried to sum up a lifetime of feelings into a 3 minute video, but it's not easy.

I told him about how when I was a kid, I saw him the way a lot of kids see their grandparents, as something larger than life. I thought he was the coolest. He was adventurous and smart and strong - someone who really lived. But then I got older, and it never changed. Because I wasn't only seeing him through those little kid goggles back then. He really was all those things.

And I got to thank him for being such a shining example of how a person is supposed to live. I got to tell him that not everyone gets someone like him in their life, and that I'll always feel blessed to have gotten the gift of him.

I asked my mom to send me some pictures of the two of us, and she sent me exactly what I would have chosen if I'd been looking myself. This is the way I'll always remember him.

So today I say farewell to an incredible man, my Grandpa Ron. I'll miss you.