Mostly Nonsense 365

A Moment of Pride

2012-02-10T21:44:00.001-05:00

Things this post contains: unfocused rambling, poorly constructed sentences, over-capitalization, over-hyphenation, and word vomit. Also, it takes me many words to get to the point which happens at the very end in about 20 words.

You all know that I don't share everything with you. There are things that are private. Things that don't need to be on the interwebs for the world to read. "See"? Things that become TMI.

It's a fine line. That fine line between over-share and enough-share to actually relate to the writer of the blog. The fine line between being totally egocentric and interesting/funny. The line between dear diary and this is my PUBLIC blog which every person who is my friend on facebook can see. [Yes, this is a top reason for my debate over whether someone should be my fb friend. Will I survive if they read my blog? Probably. OK, accepted.]

The things I hold close to my heart are saved up for private conversations with those I am most comfortable with. It might be you. It might not.

And if you're lucky enough you'll get that day of I-AM-COMPLETELY-OVERTAKEN-WITH-EMOTIONS-AND-NOW-IT-IS-FLOWING-FORTH-FROM-MY-MOUTH-BODY-AND-EYEBALLS. I publicly purge sometimes. I can't control it either. You can ask me a basic question and BAM. It's coming.

I cry a lot. I think it has to do with the fact that I am confused about my life a lot. [If you didn't know that about me feel free to delve into the archives around here. If you still didn't get that, I must write lies. Or at least I only cover the good stuff. Or I just talk about Hank.]

Those not-so-awesome moments are mixed with some I-AM-SO-FREAKING-AWESOME moments, I don't alway share either with you [see the type of blog where people brag all the time--annoying]. Sorry.

Today I had an awesome moment...and I'm actually going to share it with you. Feel special. (-:

The backstory: when I wrote my 30x30 I had this huge list of to-do's, goals, opportunities, etc. that I wanted to accomplish over the 1 1/2 years before I turned 30. A section of those goals are around my health and wellness. Specifically these goals:

try acupuncture
run a 5K
run a 10K
run the Indy Mini [recently modified to include any half-marathon]
complete a fast/detox/cleanse
lose 25 pounds

So of those I have done...zero. Bahahahaha! I know, it's not funny, but it is since I'm down to nine months before I turn 30.

Since about January 9th, I've buckled down to start training for the half-marathon and losing 25 lbs by working out regularly and tracking my food calories. If you follow the cooking closet you know I've been using MyFitnessPal to keep track of my food.

As far as working out...I am employed by a gym. My rule is that if I have 3 hours or more of massage I don't have to spend any extra time in the gym. If I don't, I have to work out. Since about November, I have been BFF with the elliptical machine. Basically, I would do 3-4 miles or 45 minutes about four times a week. This was working pretty well, until I remembered a)I actually would need to RUN a 5K, 10K, and half-marathon. I can't complete it on a piece of equipment in the gym as much as I would like to. [WHAT?!?!] and b)I plateaued in my weight loss. The latter actually just pissed me off enough to start running. WHY AM I EATING HEALTHILY WHEN I'M NOT LOSING WEIGHT?!?!?

Next step: add lifting weights. We can talk about that some other time. I'll let you know if it actually helps me.

[I'm word vomiting like crazy tonight. If you're still reading: bless you. I'm getting to my moment of pride now. I'll even add a picture.]

Moment of pride: I did a little run last Tuesday for the first time in awhile. It actually felt pretty good, but I was dragging along two dogs and one was trying to eat goose poop the entire time, so I quit before I went too far. Wednesday I ran at Spiece on the treadmill. I don't like running on treadmills. Not fun.

Tonight, I got home from work and it was snowing, but I ate a Dunkin' Donut chocolate heart doughnut filled with delicious calorie-dense sugar creme at lunch time, so I told myself I had to run. My goal? 3K. I could do that.

I did it. THEN I KEPT GOING. eeeeee! I ended up jogging a 5K [which is about 3.1 miles] and feeling pretty ding-dang good. I probably could have gone longer.

WHAT IS THIS INSANITY??

And I was proud of myself.

The end.

black & white

2012-02-08T09:46:00.000-05:00

I'm staying with my cousins this week while their parentals are in Florida soaking up some sunshine. I forced them to sit for me in front of some windows so I could play with light. I'm so tough. (-:

Favorites:

I love these young women!

Don't forget about Mudlove band giveaway!

mudlove

2012-02-07T20:13:00.001-05:00

Esperanza.
Espoir.
Hoffnung.
Speranza.
Esperança.
Håber.
Nadzieja.
Hopp.
Надежда.
Hoop.

Hope.

This is a Mudlove band. I love it!

You know what I love even more? THIS.
Go.
Read it.
Come back.
A fantastic business mission if I've ever heard one.
[Yes, I'm bossy. Just listen to me. Here it is again.]

Hope is such a powerful word to me. Hope is a place where I try to live with optimism, joyfulness, positivity, happiness, and love. Life is hard. Everyone has hurts and pain and problems and suffering and trials and bruises, but I try to remember that hope can be a light in those times.

I have faith to believe that hope can exist.

And "esperanza" is not the only choice of Mudlove bands: agape, anchored, be mine, beautiful, believe, beloved, courage, create, dream, freedom, grace and the list goes on and on! There are also necklaces, rocks, and t-shirts available on the website. Awesome!

I did get an "esperanza" bracelet for one of you. Did you see the last line up there? "is a good gift for anyone in need of some love."

Here's the deal: Do you need some love? Do you know someone who needs a little hope? I got a bracelet for someone...a friend of yours? You? A random stranger? A co-worker? A family member?

Just leave a comment...tell me what your favorite word is available on the Mudlove bands OR feel free to anonymously tell me who it's for [i.e. I have a friend who is struggling and could really use a pick-me-up].

Make sure you include your email address, so I can contact you if you're a winner.

Open for comments until 11:59pm [EST] Tuesday, February 14th.

Good luck!
xoxo

Cards

2012-01-31T11:11:00.000-05:00

I have a dream life, where I only have to work part time and get spend the other half my life drinking coffee, taking pictures, blogging, playing games. Money doesn't matter in my dream life. (-:

Sometimes I get to do that even though I'm not living my dream life.

I'm living a pretty good life...I like to call it, REAL LIFE.

Working hard, playing easy [I really don't play hard, just competitively], surrounded by loving people, drinking coffee a few times a week. It's a good life.

This weekend I was lucky enough to spend some quality time with my friends Kate, Rach and Jess. I needed it. I've been feeling like I've been putting all my friend-needs onto family [it's good that I have them], but my friends make me feel more well-rounded. Does that make any sense?

The introvert in me rarely admits it, but I need lots of people. I need different things from all of them. I need the conversation we can have. I need their understanding and listening at different times. I need their laughter. I need their perspective.

We look arm-less.

INSERT PICTURE WITH KATE HERE.

Kate, tell me to get my camera out even in the poorly lit restaurant so I have more pictures of you.
<3, me

Rach and I played SPEED. I don't know who won, but I think it may have been me. Or maybe I just want it to have been me. [See competitive comment in paragraph four.] (-:

Thank you for being my friends.

Hank in a chair

2012-01-29T16:35:00.001-05:00

My parent's brought this chair back with us from Kansas. I'd been shopping around for a comfy little chair for my apartment, but I didn't want to spend more than, oh, $5. I didn't find anything out here, but I did find this one in the basement being neglected in Kansas--for FREE. Up north it came!

The blanket is from Salvation Army. I'm getting hooked on SA, last Friday I totally purchased donut pans. I am so excited to make doughnuts! eeeee!

Hank looks sweet in the above picture. What you don't know is that when his pupils are dilated like that, he's getting ready to spaz out.

Check the claws.

Vhat, is dis?

GET IT!

It's hiding under dis blanket.

Why, yes, I'm perfectly sane.

Right.

**Disclaimer**
Dear Friends,

I am the only one allowed to call myself a "crazy cat lady." It's one of those I-can-say-it-about-myself-but-if-you-say-it-I-will-be-annoyed things. Sorry for all the hyphens. I happen to live in a teeny-tiny apartment with a quirky cat and if you want me to blog, Hank will be included. Frequently. So leave me alone.

xo,

amy

the truth

2012-01-27T10:12:00.001-05:00

I want to get married and be in love and have babies and buy a house and have a dog and make fun of Hank and join a church and sing in a choir and play games and have more babies and take pictures and see my friends [who happen to be all over these United States] and drink lattes and walk in sunshine and swim the lake and frolic by the ocean and eat delicious food and bake sweet desserts and laugh and laugh and laugh.

But, I don't really want to date.

Mostly because I take awkward to a whole new place when it comes to actually being interested in someone who happens to be male. This may be why I received the awesome nickname "socially awkward amy" in college. Yes, that's me.

So, if you're interested in me could we just get married and do all those things in the first paragraph and skip the awkwardness?

Just so you know, I don't actually believe that marriage and relationships are easy in any way, shape, or form. I know it takes a TON of work to live in a successful relationship. What is successful to me? The ability to see hope in the hard times, work through the difficult times, enjoy the fun times, allow and support individual growth, engage in meaningful conversation, and never have to smell each others bad breath.
Oh, and love. Lots of love.

UPDATE: I would like to mention these three words 1. compromise, 2. communication, 3. patience.

New Glasses!

2012-01-24T19:15:00.002-05:00

Old glasses.

New glasses.

I'll admit it: they took me awhile to like them. At first I thought they were too mod, too cat-eye, too, too much. I did instantly love the clear frames because you can see more of...ME!

I posted this picture of me on facebook and I feel it necessary to tell you it's edited. I'm photoshopped. My skin isn't really that nice. (-:

Original---------->Edit

I feel better now that I've come clean with you about using my phone apps to make myself look better.

The real reason I'm posting about my new glasses is that they were an AWESOME DEAL! You know I love a bargain. I paid $6.95 for these babies. Yes, they're prescription. Yes, they're good quality.

How did I get them for less than $7? I went to Coastal.com where they have a first pair free deal! You just use the code FIRSTPAIRFREE, it's listed on their website. I don't have a current prescription nor do I have the money to get a current prescription, but you can enter your own prescription and measure the distance between your pupils, send it in and a few days later--glasses in the mail! Whoo-hoo! I should say that I feel good about using my old prescription [I have the forms from the optometrist] because my eyes haven't changed since 8th grade. The doctor said I've plateaued and will probably be the same for awhile now.

You can "try" them on [I didn't] and now that I'm playing around with it, I can't figure out how to make the glasses actually fit the face. I will bring you this:

You're welcome.

Are fun, funky, new frames in your future? I can't wait to see!

JEANS!

2012-01-22T18:15:00.000-05:00

Oh. My. Lanta.

It's only been since February 2, 2010 that I have been searching for my perfect pair of jeans.
That's almost two years.

I FOUND THEM!!! Actually, my mom found them at Macy's then I made her go back and show me exactly where she found them so I could get a pair. Mom of the year award!

They have a wide leg.

They have butt pockets.

They are only 1% stretch.

They are dark wash.

It's love.

Mine are from the plus-sized section at Macy's, this is very similar they don't have them available in a dark-wash though. The closest thing I can find on the Levi's website is only in the regular sizes: Levi's Double Button Wide Leg Jeans

I am a happy person. (-:

Don't miss the giveaway over on the cooking closet!

Pinterest Pins

2012-01-11T08:22:00.000-05:00

The obsession continues. I can't stop. If you want to join and need an invite, just let me know! (-:

These are some of my recent favorites:

Source: Uploaded by user via amy on Pinterest

That's on my gorgeous pictures board.

Source: icanrelate.info via amy on Pinterest

This is on my giggles board. It makes me giggle.

Source: oodlesandoodles.typepad.com via amy on Pinterest

From decor and home...I neglect this board because it can be depressing to look at home things when you live in a little apartment [even if you love your little apartment] so many home items are very large.

Source: midwestsportsfans.com via amy on Pinterest

This is from my Christmas board. It will now be neglected for the next 10 months or so, but it did inspire me to do this:

I know, right? I love it. (-:

Source: buildalittlebiz.com via amy on Pinterest

This is from my learn it. board. It intimidates me, so I put a lot of Starbucks drink things on there. I can learn those too.

Source: alittlebitcrunchyalittlebitrock.blogspot.com via amy on Pinterest

Yeah. This is from my baking inspiration board, not to be confused with the recipe board also containing baked goods. Yes, I might need to do a bit of housekeeping on pinterest.

Speaking of recipes:

Source: canyoustayfordinner.com via amy on Pinterest

Yea, yum. I'm making these this week.

Source: lets-get-thin-now.tumblr.com via amy on Pinterest

This is from my HEALTH board. If you know me, you know I'm more interested in healthy vs skinny. Probably since I've never been skinny so I don't know what that's like. Plus, I think skinny is not what we see in the media. I think that's unhealthy. However, I still enjoy this board for inspiration on the health front.

Now, my TOP FOUR FAVORITE BOARDS in random order because I can't rank them.

Source: kayladanelle.blogspot.com via amy on Pinterest

From crafty mccrafterson. I AM TOTALLY DOING THIS, even if it ends up being 5 different states by the time I settle down. If I settle down. (-:

Source: let-her-bloom.tumblr.com via amy on Pinterest

SO.HARD.TO.CHOOSE. I love my quote-alicious board because I can just read them and it settles my mind.

Source: google.com via amy on Pinterest

Dear Future Husband,

Don't worry, I planned our $3000 wedding on pinterest. It doesn't matter how much you make because I'm pretty sure $3000 is as much as I'm willing to spend on one day. Feel free to propose any time.

Love, amy

Source: lexoxo.com via amy on Pinterest

This is from my l.o.v.e. board. As great as quote-alicious. Makes my heart happy if pictures and words can do that.

One Time I Did Something Not Smart

2012-01-10T16:46:00.000-05:00

By "not smart" I totally mean stoo-pid.

This is a tale as old as time. The time I glued my fingers to the ass from the nativity. And also to each other.

[It's perfectly acceptable to say "ass" because it's in the bible.]

When I arrived home for Christmas break my mother was sick. She'd been sick since about October 8th meaning that she was sick for 75 days. Seven days earlier she'd had sinus surgery to clear the nastiness from her the holes in her head which were filled with infectious fluids. Pleasant, no?

The whole reason for me telling you about my mother's illness is that she hadn't decorated squat for Christmas. The tree had been up for about 48 hours. The fall decor was still upon the mantle. The nativity scenes were packed away in their boxes in the back closet.

One of the things I do best is taking control. That means I spent my first day home decorating. I put away the fall things, I rearranged the furniture [12 years of the same furniture arrangement is about 11 years and 4 months too long for me]; I put up candles; I hung lights and ornaments; I move pictures; I pulled out all the nativities.

ACK! The donkey is missing his ear!?!? Luckily it was in the box and I am the queen of repair. [See: first sentence from previous paragraph.]

I rooted around in the junk drawer and the junk cupboard and the other junk drawer to find some super-glue. Then I requested that my dad pick some up from the store. He brought back a 4-pack of the cheapest glue he could find.

Cheap is not always best. You get what you pay for, you know.

I poked a hole in the top and put the lid on so I could accurately put a teeny-tiny drop of glue on the ass' head to attach the ear. Unfortunately, once I attached the lid about half the tube gushed out and ran down my hand.

It was still in liquid form. It didn't feel like much, it reminded me of oil which I've had on my hands many, many times without any problems. Plus, we've all experimented with a drop of super-glue and sticking and unsticking our fingers. I would be fine.

Except, my fingers were now stuck to the donkey. And to each other. And they weren't coming apart. This was definitely not oil. And the large quanity of cheap-ass glue was not what I played with as a child. [This use of "ass" is inappropriate.]

AT. ALL.

AT ALL! This is the dilemma...how does one dissolve a large quantity of super-glue which has dried between her fingers?

Nail polish remover? No.

Warm or hot water? No.

Petroleum jelly? We don't even have that, but we do have some Vicks [a top ingredient is petroleum jelly]. Did it work? No.

In addition to the difficulty in de-stickifying my fingers, our entire family would be arriving at our house in about 5 minutes. We'd invited them over for snacks and desserts. Perfect timing.

Must.

Get.

Fingers.

Apart.

Did anyone in my family help me? Dad? Dad? I'm pretty sure he was busy on facebook and had no idea this was even occurring. Mom? Stop laughing at me. Oh, thanks for the Vicks. Dave? Thank you for looking up less than stellar solutions on your computer. Matt? Stop taking pictures. Abby? If you could get up off the floor where you have fallen because you're laughing at me that would be great. Brody? Auntie Amy loves you.

If you want it done you've got to do it yourself: I did it with a knife.

And it worked...luckily becuase if my fingers had remained stuck together that would wreaked havoc on my massage business. Plus it looked prissy and I'm totally not a prissy person.

That was the time I glued the ass to my hand.

Thank you, Matt for photo-documenting this life-changing incident.

ch-ch-ch-changes

2012-01-04T14:05:00.001-05:00

Nah, no New Year's resolutions for this girl.

THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE THIRTY BY THIRTY. I've got things to accomplish, yo, and I don't need any resolutions standing in my way.

Wait.
What exactly is my 30x30?

I did make one immediate change in my life: I now use the chain lock in addition to my door lock and deadbolt because my dad asked me to. What can I say? I'm an obedient daughter.

Obedient is a word often used to describe yours truly.

Not.

Strong-willed.
Independent.
Bull-headed.
Bossy.
Stubborn.

Those are my words. And I'm owning them.

Also, this is the first time in my life when I worked between Christmas and New Years. I need to get back on an academic calendar...if only for the breaks. (-:

Family pictures taken during the Thanksgiving holiday this year with my dad's old truck.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-21T09:34:00.000-05:00

love,
amy & hank

My Cat has Issues

2011-12-16T16:26:00.003-05:00

Issues with a capital "I".

His main issue? I would like to diagnose Hank with separation anxiety. He checks on me in the shower to make sure I'm still around. Multiple times.

Creeper.

Issue number two? He is a clean freak. The smell of food sends him into a tailspin. He cleans and cleans and cleans and cleans and cleans and cleans and cleans around his food dish. He'll either scoot it all around the floor or he'll find a piece of paper or random clothing around and cover his food dish with it. In the past week he's woken me up with this bizarre behavior.

Issue number three? ATTENTION WHORE.

**Disclaimer**
I am not now, nor will I ever be a crazy cat lady. I just happen to live in a teeny-tiny apartment with a quirky cat and if you want me to blog, Hank will be included. Frequently. If he were a dog it wouldn't be weird. If I weren't single you'd never utter the words "crazy cat lady" at me. So leave me alone.

My mind is racing

2011-12-12T19:00:00.001-05:00

...and I don't know if you'll ever get to hear all my thoughts.

Or any of them for that matter. I can't put my emotions into words.

WHY NOT?!?!?

Mind, please catch up to my body.

-------------------------------------------------

Right now:

I think I'm hooked on Panera's hazelnut coffee. It's love. I'm writing a card. I'm looking at the facebook page of an artist I purchased earrings from this weekend. Can I mention how brave it is to sit at a table and say "I made this, I'm charging this much and I think it's worth that price"? I don't think I'm there with any of my craftitude. Maybe someday? I really prefer sitting behind the safety of my computer screen and trying to sell things. I'm a pansy.

This weekend Kate, Sarah and I went on a trolley ride around the Fort and it was really fun!

As far as Christmas shopping goes...it was a bust. I want to buy local! I want to have my shopping done! I want to be the person on top of it all! We started at 11:30am and shut down Macy's at 11:00pm. That doesn't include the several breaks we took for food. I didn't want to get too grouchy! I also crossed zero people off my list. BOO.

-------------------------------------------------

Food is good.

Life is good.

God is good.

I choose to love all those things.

And you.

Are you judging me?

2011-12-06T17:42:00.001-05:00

I'm totally wearing a dress, tights and these:

Yeah, FUGGS.

Fake Uggs.

I'm judging me for dressing like a high schooler, but my judgement comes with warm feet. Warm feet, warm heart.

Or something like that.

I will guarantee you that I will never wear my Fuggs with any kind of denim shorty-short. Hand-on-heart, I promise.

Source: tumblr.com via amy on Pinterest

I've got to figure out how to stay warm...and it's not even really COLD yet. Meep.

ps: I wore this outfit while I made this. It's yummy, I promise. (-:

Earring Display

2011-12-02T18:12:00.001-05:00

...also known as my solution to I-don't-have-a-dresser-and-the-ziplock-bag-holding-my-earrings-really-isn't-doing-the-job-well-so-I-just-wear-the-same-earrings-every-day.

We know I'm cheap, right? This was a less than $5 project for me. If I had more ambition to scour thrift stores [or I still had the totally awesome Durham's Scrap Exchange in my backyard] I could bring the cost down more!

But I didn't.

Here are your supplies...a hot glue gun, embroidery floss and a picture frame.

My frame was on clearance for being busted at Michaels. Holla! I only need the frame and not the glass, so it worked for this girl!

I tied my knot on the backside of the frame and started wrapping....in all kinds of directions, weaving the floss from front to back. When I changed colors I always made sure my knots were on the back side.

PULL TIGHT! Embroidery floss will have some stretch and earrings can be heavy so the tighter you pull the better it will hold those earrings!

Once you've gotten all your colors and thread in place, run a bead of hot glue over the knots and thread on the backside to hold it all in place. This is jut some added security. I like added security.

And that is the easiest [cutest if I do say so myself--and I do!] earring display project you can do!

Love it!

Listing List

2011-11-17T17:36:00.001-05:00

Here we goooooooo!

1. It's time to start crafting for Christmas presents. Does anyone have any good ideas for men? Or women? Or things I should make for you? (-:

2. On Monday I made a Pear and Chocolate Tart and after some adjustments in the temperature and quantity of pears, it was delicious. The recipe is on the cooking closet. While I was making it we were in this massive thunderstorm warning, that means my light sucked. Adjusting the light with Photoshop Elements results in this still-overly-yellow photo:

This is natural light:

Do you see what I mean? Natural light makes it look yummy.
And flash? Not on my camera.

3. Speaking of natural light, I love the light on Hanklin's fur.

Hank is driving me crazy. He wants to sit in my lap. All. The. Time. He's not exactly a lap-sized cat. Plus, it's annoying.

4. The soundtrack to Elf is amazeballs.

5. I think fall is over.

I don't know how I feel about winter since it's been about 3 years since I actually experienced one. We shall see.

6. I am going to Kansas in a week and I'm going to squeeze my nephew's face!!! Get ready Brody, auntie amy is coming!!!

7. I purchased these shoes when I went boot shopping:

I think they're hawt. Not sexy hot, but trendy-cute hot; I can be a hip, modern girl. The perils of finding boots are heavy in my life, that will take up a whole post. My sister-in-law will hate them. I also will wear them with tights which she'll hate even more. Mah-hahahahaha.

8. I was debating a minimalist wardrobe. Then I realized I have over fifteen dresses and one or two cardigans and I don't want to get rid of any of them. So I'm going with my own kind of minimalism of "if I don't love it, get rid of it." Which also means I have to break my habit of "it's a super-duper bargain and I need it because it's cheap!!!" to spending what I need to for pieces I love. That's a tough one.

9. I got this amazing, awesome, dense, perfect memory foam mattress topper from my family for my birthday. It's 3 inches of heaven. If you're looking for a mattress topper, ask my mom where she got mine because I can't drag myself out of bed in the morning because I'm so happy to be there.

10. I've been at Starbucks too long and I think the employees are giving me the eyeball. Are you giving me the eyeball? Is it ok that I'm sitting here? OK, I'm going home.

Eve Ensler Love

2011-11-15T14:33:00.000-05:00

Three things I find powerful and moving and thought provoking from Eve Ensler.

Number One

Number Two

Number Three

Thoughts?

Twenty Nine

2011-11-14T08:13:00.000-05:00

I'm 29 today.

I was asked if it was my 19th or 20th birthday. Yeah...someday I'll actually look 29. Maybe. (-:

Let's get on the thirty by thirty now.

Things accomplished:

go 4 months without purchasing a clothing item (7/14-11/14)

Yup, that's it. Get ready for some list crossing off! The 14th of every month, I'm telling you what I've done. One down, twenty-nine to go!

etsy LOVE

2011-11-13T18:15:00.001-05:00

I'm baaaaaack! I wasn't really gone, but Etsy has been off the Mostly Nonsense 365 radar for far too long, don't you think?

If you're new, Etsy Love occurs somewhat regularly.

This week we're in the Etsy Bath and Beauty category!

Most expensive item:

Bath Tub by Witold Szostak $6990.00

This? THIS I LOVE. Stunning. Beautiful. Luxurious.

Dear Future Husband,

Wedding gift?

<3, amy

Least expensive item:

Sample Floral Vanilla Body Care- Body Butter, Hand and Body Lotion, Bath Gel and Body Wash by Jen Stone-Gerardy $0.20

Sounds awesome!

A few standouts:

Sweet Pumpkin Soap Handmade Cold Process, Vegan Friendly by Megan at Blushie

Unicorn Farts Lip Balm - One Tube Beeswax Shea Cocoa Butter Jojoba by Amanda & Joe at LongWindSoapCo

Bowl of Fruit Loops Soap SLS Free Vegan Friendly by LaLa and Ange at beauxsavonsfrais

Corn Bag Microwave Heating Pad for Back Neck Shoulder Pain Relief by WarmHugsCornBags

Goddess Loose Eyeshadow by Laura F at UnboundEdenCosmetics

What do you think? Did I miss someone awesome? This section is pretty fun!

2011-11-13T14:50:00.001-05:00

Hanklin loves his fruits and veggies.

Anytime I'm slicing, dicing, or just eating something fruity or vegtastic [it's a word if I say it's a word], Hank goes crazy yowling at my feet. Then I give him a bite of whatever I'm eating and he's happy.

Weirdest cat ever.

That's why I'm his friend, I like weird things. And people. And cats.

**Disclaimer**
I am not now, nor will I ever be a crazy cat lady. I just happen to live in a teeny-tiny apartment with a quirky cat and if you want me to blog, Hank will be included. Frequently. If he were a dog it wouldn't be weird. If I weren't single you'd never utter the words "crazy cat lady" at me. So leave me alone.

this makes me happy

2011-11-08T20:31:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I feel bitterness about the fact that I moved. Moving isn't easy. It's all starting over, rearranging, figuring out where to go, figuring out what to do, meeting new people, getting annoyed wiht your cat, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Except, I moved to a place where I do have some people. And those people make me happy.
(-:

So, spur of the moment, my friend Jess texted me and we decide to meet half-way between our respective locations and share a cup of coffee.

For four hours or so.

The coffee got cold, but my heart got warm.
[Bring on the cheese.]

This makes me happy.

I think about you

2011-11-06T12:16:00.000-05:00

One of the many little things I do for one of my jobs is read the obituaries.

Death notices. It could be depressing, but it's not really. I do get sad when I read about people who die at a young age. I don't know how to reason with that.

I think about death a lot, but that's another story for another time. [Just FYI: I don't think about death in a depressing way, but just thinking about our perspective of death. It's interesting.]

Back to the obits: I read them.
And I think about you.

The names remind me of everyone. First names. Last names. Middle names.

I'm fascinated by the flood of memories that comes to me just by reading names. People from church. People from elementary school. High school. Friends of friends. People I crossed paths with for a day, a week, a month...years. People I haven't seen in decades.

Do you think about me? Do you remember me?

Sometimes I want to send a message, "Hi, I'm thinking about you." Is that creepy?

Pouncing

2011-11-03T08:09:00.000-04:00

If you have a cat, you know what random looks like. Also, every time I tried to move so I could have clear pictures Hank would try to sit in my lap, so these are a bit more blurry than I would prefer. [READ: photo quality sucks.]

Vhat, ist dis?

[You'll notice he's not actually going after the trash sitting next to him.]

I vill get it dead.

It's killing time.

Don't tell anyone I'm a pansy.

Let dem think zees ist the real me.

Speed like lightening.

Claws of steel.

I haz ups.

New Obsessions

2011-11-02T19:50:00.001-04:00

I have two things to tell you about.

Things you need to be obsessed with so I have someone in this with me. Will you do that for me? Awesome. Thanks. (-:

OK, #1: Pinterest

Do you remember when Facebook had those buttons you could pin and send to people? Flair? I can't really remember what it was called. It was about 2,457 Facebook updates ago...also known as 4 years ago. THIS IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT!!! Seriously, join, tell me and let me follow you. Please? I need more people to follow. Please? Please? Don't make me beg.

I really like that Pinterest allows you to post a picture of something that inspires me and organize these pictures into "boards" by topic AND THEN I can click on that picture and it takes me back to the site the picture was posted from. So, if I love a project or recipe or quote or idea someone has posted on a blog but I don't really want to follow their blog, I just "pin" a picture, and when I'm ready to use that project or recipe or quote or idea, I'll just go back to Pinterest and find it there.

If you need an invitation, let me know. I'll hook you up. (-:
Username: nonsensebyamy

[If you tried out Pinterest and were overwhelmed, try hovering over the everything and then choosing a category that's more appealing to you. That will make the giant list smaller and more manageable. Also, it is overwhelming, I'll be the first to admit it. It took me about 6 months to be willing to even give Pinterest a try.]
I found this picture that accurately sums up how I feel about pinterest: PICTURE.

#2: Instagram
This is only for the iPhone, so if you're not cool enough to have an iPhone you should become cool. I think it also works with the iTouch, so iTouch users are also cool.

Fine, you're cool too even if you don't have insane-mad-overpriced love for Apple products.

I have about 4 apps on my phone to take pictures, but Instagram is far and away my favorite. Also, it's free. FREE!

Therefore, if you're an iPhone user, get Instagram and let me follow you. Please? Please? Pleeeeeeease?

What I like about Instagram is that you can take your picture and add your filter [your choice of over 12 filters] right away and post it to your feed. Once you've posted, it's up on the feed for everyone you follow to see! It's like a status update, but only with pictures.
I love it.

AND IT'S FREE!

Username: nonsensebyamy

OK, leave me a comment with your user name or just come and find me on Pinterest and Instagram and we can be virtual friends!