Starving, Hysterical, Naked

Ditching Birchbox. (Boxes April and May)

2013-05-20T19:33:00.002-04:00

I got my last Birchbox the day of the marathon bombing, and I didn't feel it was appropriate to really blog about makeup on a day like that. Unfortunately, putting it off meant I forgot to post it for the whole month of April. Here's the short version:

We have...
Beauty Protector, Protect and Detangle: It smells good but is nothing I would buy--I use it to help with heat styling, but it weighs down my hair. It's not exactly sticky, but I definitely can't run my fingers through my hair after I use it. The only bonus is that it doesn't seem to set off my allergies like most hair products due.

Caudalie S.O.S Morning Eye Rescue: I put on a few blobs of this dark circle/puffiness remedy and immediately broke out--and my skin is pretty tough. No, thank you.

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream: I didn't feel or see much of a difference when I put this on, but man, did it STINK! It smelled like an overflowing ash tray in a closed-up hotel room. Bleh! I tried it twice, once alone and once under makeup. I read on the site that you "definitely don't want to fall asleep with zinc on your face!" so you should make sure to take this off before going to bed. I didn't do so, and my skin was fine, but I was pretty freaked after that. I mean, I know we're supposed to take off all our makeup before bed, but...why zinc specifically? What is supposed to happen if you don't? I'll let you know if my skin starts coming off in chunks or something.

Yes to: Carrots/Grapefruit/Cucumber: Tiny samples of a scrub and dark spot corrector. I don't have dark spots, but I used it anyway. Nothing exciting to report. I also got a Cucumber Mint chapstick which was as boring as your average chapstick. I was really disappointed in this stuff specifically because I can run down to Target and pick up this brand--I thought the point of Birchbox was to introduce us to brands we might not already use or find on our own. Bah.

Out of everything in this box, the only thing I'm going to actually keep using is the detangling spray. Everything else was a bummer.

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

May Birchbox:

amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask: I was excited at first until I realized this is simply a conditioning mask for your hair. This would be all well and good except I still haven't used the leave-in hair treatment from my March Birchbox. I wish they would shake things up a little.

Marvis toothpaste: Again, I was excited at first to see an imported italian toothpaste. Sounds fancy, right? Unfortunately, one of the ingredients is Sodium Laurel Sulfate, and that bothers my gums. Can't use it. Bummer.

COOLA Classic SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer for Face: Not really a moisturizer, but a sunblock. Which is, surprise, just what they sent me in March, which I still haven't used. Again, shake things up a little, please.

Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner: (in black) A waste for me, as my eyeliner is tattooed on. I have no use for eyeliner.

Pilot Corporation of America Acroball PureWhite pen: Yikes. Talk about a reach, Birchbox. How is a pen a beauty supply? The Birchbox reviews are pretty amusing--everyone is equally pissed. And it writes in pink ink, so it definitely won't get used much. Boo.

Isaac Mizrahi FABULOUS Eau de Parfum: When I see a perfume sample I pretty much just throw it out. So, that was equally wasteful of Birchbox.

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So after all this, I've cancelled my Birchbox subscription and moved on to ipsy's Glambag. The one good thing about Glambag is that each subscriber gets the SAME bag as everyone else does every month--so it won't be like looking under the Instagram #birchbox hashtag and getting envious because everyone else got better products than me! (And honestly, with Birchbox, they did! Lipsticks and blushes and foundations and mascara...things I actually would have used!)

Plus with Glambag you get a cute reusable makeup bag every month! I'm excited about that.

Birchbox could have been a lot better if they simply had a better system! If I could have checked a box that said, "Don't send me perfume" or "I don't wear eyeliner", it would have been really helpful. Of course, ipsy doesn't have such a box to check either, but at least their bags look more fun. We'll see!

Same as before, if you'd like to sign up for ipsy's Glambag, please use my referral link! (Katie, this means you.) ;)

I did it!

2013-04-23T22:01:00.001-04:00

It took 11 years of frustration, sacrifice and sometimes tears. But I did it.

Now I have a really expensive piece of paper, a really large mountain of student loan debt, an alumni pin, a novel looking for a publisher, and that persistent nagging feeling, What's next?

I'm really glad I was able to meet one of my major goals--I wanted to get my degree before I turned 30, and I squeaked by just 2 months shy of 29. Not too shabby. And my senior presentation went really well, although my graduation speech could have gone more smoothly. (They made me go FIRST. Worst idea ever.)

Anyway, I'll be back soon with tales of my life as a new graduate. Ta ta!

Oh, Boston.

2013-04-15T22:45:00.004-04:00

I don't even know what to say about today. I'm rocked by this tragedy more so than Newtown (although that's not to say I wasn't bothered by Newtown) because I grew up in Boston. I was right in that area last month and the month before that.

There are so many conflicting reports coming in: was it a terrorist act? foreign or domestic? A single person or an organization? An isolated incident? If it was political, what were they trying to prove? At this point, no one can even seem to agree how many injuries and causalities there are. I don't even know what to think, except that this one hit way too close to home.

I've been able to get in touch with all my friends, thank goodness. But I'm still uneasy. I hope we get some answers, soon, and that they aren't the kind that send us into war. I'm not ready for the post 9-11 fear all over again.

I hope everyone is safe tonight and knows where their friends/family are.

Junk food fail?

2013-04-05T21:46:00.001-04:00

For anyone who has been following my medical saga:

Since gluten was ruled out, I figured I'd give the chiropractor a shot. It didn't work, and I had something like five attacks within January and February alone. I asked my doctor if it could be something to do with my gallbladder, and he thought it could be possible.

I'm reluctant to say it is for sure, since before I was SO convinced it was gluten...but, we'll see.

My ultrasound is scheduled for tomorrow, and my plan was to eat all my "trigger foods" tonight so I'd have an attack, hoping that when they scanned my gallbladder the next day, I'd light up like a Christmas tree. Or, you know, whatever happens when you get an ultrasound. I want there to be no question in anyone's mind.

My worst trigger foods seem to be Dunkin Donuts croissants (although they don't set me off all the time, only most of the time) and pretty much anything at Ruby Tuesdays, although I can only remember it specifically happening when I've had the Zucchini Mini Burgers and their mashed potatoes.

So my plan was to eat 1 croissant mid-afternoon, and then the Zucchini Minis as close to the "cut off time" (I can't eat for 8 hours before the procedure) as possible.

Guess who was out of croissants today? Dunkin Donuts. (I had to drive a good 30 minutes out of my way to get one.)

Then, guess who was out of Zucchini Minis? Yup, Ruby Tuesdays.

So much for that plan.

If it is in fact my gallbladder, the "gallbladder attacks" would be triggered by too much fat in the food I eat. (Which doesn't entirely make sense to me, because things like ice cream, fast food and pizza don't ever seem to set me off. And Ruby Tuesdays Zucchini Minis were touted as being one of the more healthy menu choices.) So I picked up a hamburger and ice cream on the way back home.

Anyway, I hope this ultrasound tomorrow will help me finally get to the bottom of this, because I'm really tired of people shrugging their shoulders and telling me I'm perfectly healthy. Don't get me wrong--I like to hear that I'm perfectly healthy--but I'd love to know what I'm dealing with here.

Graduation: T minus 20

2013-04-01T23:24:00.002-04:00

I graduate in 20 days, and today we received word that my advisor, poet laureate of New Hampshire, Walter Butts, had passed away yesterday.

None of us knew his illness had taken a turn for the worst until just recently, and as soon as we were notified I went out and bought him a card. I didn't even get a chance to mail it yet, before I got a second email telling us of his passing.

It feels so odd. Walter was the first person I ever met at Goddard, when I went to Discover Goddard Day back in...what was it now, 2010? 2011? He was there representing the BFA program--he sat down with me and another student and answered our questions. I wish I could remember his words now, but regardless, they were enough to draw me to the school.

And as things tend to come full circle, Walter was also my advisor for this final semester. Both the man to welcome me and to usher me on to better things. I'm very saddened by his passing and regret that I won't get to hear him speak at graduation.

It seems selfish now, but I wanted to buy his books and finally get his autograph. But like with so many things, I waited. And now the chance is gone. I don't know when I'll learn to stop waiting. I make the mistake of frequently thinking there will always be more time...

We'll all miss you, Walter. You've been an inspiration to us all.

Wet blanket attends (another) concert.

2013-03-26T00:50:00.002-04:00

Remember roughly two years ago when I went to see Bright Eyes at the Radio City Music Hall and decided that I was, in fact, too old for concerts?

Well, I've been going to concerts since then.

The Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie, Leonard Cohen, Afghan Whigs, Gin Blossoms...
and last night...

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

Concerts grew on me a bit, especially the outdoor arenas where I could just lay back on the grass and wander up front if I wanted to. (The Decemberists was the best show ever. I want them to come back every year.) Really calm, no one shoving and sweating all over me... but after last night (although it was a great show, don't get me wrong) I'm back to my I'm-too-old-for-this mentality. I sat in a cramped seat next to a girl who kept rubbing her butt on me as she danced (even after I gave her a warning jab to let her know that wasn't the chair she was bumping into!) and by the end of the show both my coat and my boyfriend's hoodie were covered in $13 worth of mystery beer. (But hey, at least it wasn't pee.)

The good news is, I have seen almost every band I've set out to see. I only have Tom Waits left on my definitive list--and he apparently keeps his tours annoyingly in the mid-west, so that might be a hike. I'd also like to see Transiberian Orchestra one of these days, but they come around every year so it's not as much of a novelty.

But yes. All in all it was a good show. I had no idea Nick Cave was that much of a rock star, but he had a ton of energy and was grabbing everyones hands and playing it up. They played Red Right Hand which is my favorite--I would have paid money to just hear them play that over and over. Super glad that I got to go, despite my friendly-butted neighbor and the beer bath.

"David Bowie influenced my fashion sense..."

2013-03-22T22:52:00.001-04:00

I was driving home listening to the new David Bowie album, and despite being a big Bowie fan, I'm not exactly liking it so far. Which to me, after years and years of fangirl obsession and seeing him in concert at least three times, felt awful. I felt like I woke up next to someone after years of cohabiting/marriage whatever and just realized, Huh. I don't love him.

So I'm doing what any (sane?) Bowie fan would do--putting the album on repeat until I love it.

Anyway. I got to thinking about the evolution of my Bowie obsession: It started the summer before my Senior year of high school when shopping for school clothes. The store I was in had ChangesBowie on repeat, and I realized that I recognized a lot of the songs (and really liked them) but had no clue who was singing. I asked a salesgirl, and within a few hours I was on my way home with ChangesBowie in my Discman. (And no new school clothes.) That's all it took. Before that, I had only seen the movie Labyrinth maybe once...

I apologize for this horribly pixelated image, but Bowie influenced my fashion sense, too, which is hilarious when you consider the fact that I don't mean glitter makeup, shaved off eyebrows (although, I did that my junior year of high school--not intentionally!) and platform boots or anything of that nature.

Yep. I stole the whole loosely-tied-tie-around-the-waist-as-a-belt idea from his Reality tour. (And okay, I was in the cheap seats. Now that I can examine these pictures on the internet, I think it ACTUALLY is a belt, not a tie. But whatever. I wore a tie because it looked like a tie.)

And.... Chucks! Everyone in high school seemed to have a pair of Chucks, but it wasn't until the Reality tour when I saw Bowie in them that I actually started considering them. If he could wear them, I could wear them...

But yeah. Other than that, David Bowie hasn't influenced me at all...I swear...

(I've been going through old photos lately, obviously...)

It's not me it's you.

2013-03-21T20:08:00.000-04:00

UGH.

Looking for apartments has to be one of the most stressful things in the world. You know what you want and what your price range is, but nothing seems to match up just right. If you find something in your price range, it's too far from work. If you find something close to work, it doesn't allow pets. It's really hard.

I've gotta get out of my apartment soon, though. My neighbors are becoming disrespectful (they came in at 1 AM on a Wednesday night/Thursday morning and proceeded to have a loud party, complete with blasting music and a drum kit, that lasted for at least four hours, possibly even longer) and when I left them a note informing them that people live here and they should be more considerate (not many people actually live here: I thought it was reasonable to think they might not know anyone can hear them) it was responded to with the following:

"The drama llama says balls. Ha ha!"

Which, y'know, is rude to begin with, presumably NOT written by a fourth grader--despite how mature it is, and also just...the bad punctuation just infuriates me. I think after everything that might, in fact, be the offense I'm the most upset about.

I've been here for three years and I've never made a peep to anyone, so they probably assume the note was left by someone else (there are some notorious note-leavers here) but...honestly. I'm so annoyed. I hope I can find a nice, normal place soon with people that keep normal hours.

Until then, I'll be curled up with my newly downloaded sound machine app. It might not block them out, but at least it helped me fall asleep eventually!

March Birchbox!

2013-03-18T20:09:00.000-04:00

After I changed my settings from "low maintenance" to "I know what I'm doing when it comes to makeup", I was holding my breath for my March Birchbox.

Drumroll, please!

I think changing my settings was the way to go!

Top row: Whish shaving cream: This stuff smells like blueberries and has a lot of air whipped into it. It claims to be (and so far, seems to be) super moisturizing, which is great for dry winter over-shaved skin! I'm a fan!

Benetint!!! I have to admit that I've been lusting over Benetint for probably years now, but I've always felt too frugal to pony up the money for a bottle--I think it's around $30. I squealed when I saw a sample in my box! I'll probably buy it now that I can use a Birchbox coupon and earn points. (For those of you who've never heard of it: Benetint is an awesome lip and cheek stain that looks super natural and has pretty decent lasting power. I didn't know this until I read the package, but Benetint was actually created for a exotic dancer who wanted something to paint her nipples with to make them more pronounced! So, I guess it's a great all-in-one item!

(That little piece of paper was just an announcement for a new product, not a sample or a coupon. Boo.)

Bottom row:

Macadamia Natural Oil: Healing Oil Treatment. It says on the back that you can use it as a masque, leave-in conditioner, or for "styling and finishing". I've only used a tiny amount of it on dry hair to smooth down some fly aways, and to give me some added moisture while blowdrying, as I don't use conditioner. It smells really good, a little bit musky and nutty but in a good way.

SuperGoop Everyday Face and Body Lotion: Confession! I know I'm supposed to use sun block every day, but I usually don't. My tinted moisturizer has SPF 15 in it, so I wear that sometimes, and my lipstick also has SPF 15...but other than that, I don't usually wear it seperately unless I'm going to be outside for an extended period of time. BUT, that being said, there are definitely times when I've been caught outdoors without it when I've really needed it! So keeping these little packets in my purse will save my butt (well, my face...) on a sunny day!

Macadamia Natural Oil: Deep Repair Masque. Seeing as I quit dying my hair years ago, I don't really need these "deep repair" kind of things like I used to. But I will give this a try! I'm just not sure if I want to use it now or wait until I get my dead ends snipped off...

And then at the bottom, a Madewell nail file. Nothing terrible special about this, except for the pretty design.

All in all, I'm much happier with my Birchbox this month. I think I'll stick with it and see what else they have to offer me!

As always, this is not a sponsored post. But if you'd like to sign up for Birchbox for yourself, please feel free to use my referral link. Thank you!

#AWP2013, oh my!

2013-03-07T22:21:00.001-05:00

Well, today was my first day at the huge AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) conference. And whoo boy! I am exhausted already! This stuff takes a lot out of me, I don't know how people do it all the time.

For those of you going to the remaining days of the conference, I have some pointers for you. I was a newbie this time around and I wish someone would have told me this before today:

-Bring a cell phone charger. Your battery WILL get dangerously low (especially if you're taking photos and video of panels! I had to refrain from using Instagram as much as possible!) and there are outlets that you can grab a quick charge off of.

-Get to your panels EARLY. Especially if it's something that you can see a lot of other people going to. (For example, "Keeping track of your novel" was so full that there were probably a good 20-30 people sitting on the floor. Most people recommend getting to each panel 15 minutes early, but I had the best luck when I got there 30 minutes early. Also, if you want a seat, don't be timid. It's okay to sit on the floor, so just waltz right in there and sit.

-Boston in March is cold, snowy and windy. I really wished I had packed a scarf and some rain boots. If you need a scarf, there is a woman in the book fair selling beautiful Guatemalan fair-trade handmade scarves for $35-$45. WAY more than I wanted to spend, but depending on how cold it is on Friday and Saturday, I might just be persuaded to scoop one up.

-Don't use cash on the bus. NO ONE uses cash anymore and you will look and feel like an idiot when your dollar won't go in the machine and you hold up literally everyone.

-There's a Trader Joe's right across from Hynes Convention Center. WAY cheaper (and better for you!) food than the restaurants and concession stands inside!

-Travel light. I made the mistake of wearing a dress that DIDN'T have pockets, and I was shuffling my debit cards/cash and business cards from pocket to pocket of my purse all day. There is a coat check ($3) but it was totally worth it to not have to cart my coat around! I think I'm going to go as far as to leave my purse behind tomorrow and just bring my tote bag...by the end of the day, your back will be killing you. Trust me.

That's all for my tips from today! I'll check in again later with more updates on how the conference went!

Worst possible thing to say.

2013-03-01T00:29:00.002-05:00

Today I went to the doctor and had some bloodwork done.

Now, for some reason I have teeny tiny little flat veins. Which means, you basically can't get any blood out of my arms--you have to go in through the back of my hand with a butterfly needle. (I usually tell the phlebotomists this up front.)

Well, today my phlebotomist was like, "Let me see if I can just find one in your arm..."

She poked around desperately. Nope. Nothing.

So she reluctantly went in through my hand.

And said...

"UH OH."

There's a Bill Cosby skit about the worst thing to hear a doctor say during surgery--"oops!"--and needless to say, I was scared to death. I can't handle needles well, so I couldn't turn my head to actually LOOK at what she was uh-ohing...so I'll never know...

She made me run my other hand under hot water for a few minutes to warm it up so she could try again. I guess my cold hands and tiny, flat veins just don't make a good combination.

Needless to say, she got the blood she needed and I didn't bleed out all over her floor. So it was a good day.

February Birchbox!

2013-02-23T11:46:00.000-05:00

I vowed I'd give Birchbox THREE chances to really "hook" me.

My January box, the first one, was so-so...I loved the shampoo, and I'm using the lipgloss even though I'm not a huge fan. I at least could give the products a SHOT...

My February box arrived a little while ago, and, well...

It's safe to say, I'm still disappointed. Even more disappointed than the first box, actually.

1. Ghiradelli chocolate: Really? This is a BEAUTY box. I think the only time chocolate would be appropriate at all would be if it was one of those 75% pure cacao ones that actually has health benefits, antioxidants and such. If I wanted Ghiradelli (which I don't!) I would go to the store and buy some.

2) Color Club Fiesta Collection Nail Polish: This was a good try, in theory. It would have worked if a) I don't get my nails done professionally and b) if it wasn't such an ugly color. I personally don't like it, so I'm giving it to a friend...who, honestly, probably won't like the color either. But it's worth a shot.

3) Skin & Co. Sicilian Body Gel: This sounds super fancy, right? Essentially, it's just a bath soap. I was at least excited to try this one, and it smells really good out of the tube--like oranges--but I didn't notice any major difference with my skin. I don't feel cleaner or softer or more moisturized or anything, and the smell doesn't linger.

4) Lancome Bi-Facil: This is an eye makeup remover. Which is totally pointless to me, because the only makeup I wear is my eyeliner--which is TATTOOED on and doesn't come off.

5) a twistband Headband (not pictured): My friend Katie and I made these headbands ourselves when she came up for winter break. All it took was some fabric, a glue gun, and a hair elastic. I have probably ten of them. The twistband I got is in a hideous pink shade that I will literally only wear around the house.

The overall verdict? I really wish Birchbox allowed us to customize our options more. If they did, I could tell them straight up that I hate the color pink, that I don't wear nail polish, don't like chocolate, and don't wear eye makeup.

That being said, I DID change my settings for the next box. I had put down that I was "low maintenance", and I changed it to "adventurous". I also had selected previously that I knew "the basics" of makeup...I changed that to "I am well-versed" or something to that degree.

I hope these changes will shake up my next box a little! If not, I'm definitely heading over to ipsy and their Glambag!

(If you would like to try Birchbox yourself, feel free to use my referral link!)

Seriously.

2013-02-13T23:19:00.001-05:00

Dear Ladies,

This is a Public Service Announcement.

Don't date assholes. Seriously. Even if they're an asshole to everyone else except you. Even if you think they're kinda just like a rude comedian, but at least they make you laugh. Because guess what? One day, you're going to be on the other side of that fence. One day, you're going to be "everyone else". And man, is it going to be a doozy. You are not going to know what hit you.

Also, don't date Underdogs. Okay, that's not quite right...don't date Underdogs who blame everyone else for their problems. It's okay to be down on your luck sometimes and feel badly about it--but you pick yourself up and make things work. If you frequently hear things like, "The universe is against me", "I have the worst luck in the world" and "Everyone is out to get me", RUN. When you do terrible things in life, there are repercussions. When you have a nasty, negative attitude, you attract negative situations to you. When you look for the bad in everything, YOU. WILL. FIND. IT.

Don't be that sad-sack sympathetic girlfriend. Don't make excuses. Don't say things like, "He's a really good person...he's just had some shitty luck."

Because guess what? When the chips are down, he WILL screw you over without a seconds thought.
If someone does terrible things to other people, don't think for a moment that they won't do terrible things to you.

They WILL come back to haunt you.

And at the end of it all, and for years afterwards, you will shake your head in disbelief and ask yourself--was I really that blind? Did I really date someone who could possibly be so awful?

And you were that blind. And you did date him. Somehow, for some reason. Whether he had you thinking no one else would ever love you, whether you were afraid to be alone, whether you thought you could "fix" him...

And all you can do is move forward and try not to make the same mistakes again.

This has been a public service announcement.

My first Birchbox!

2013-01-25T17:32:00.002-05:00

So after hearing the hype for years now, I decided to go for it and sign up for Birchbox.
At first, I was undecided between Birchbox and Ipsy's Glambag, but because Birchbox had a waiting period, I figured it was more in demand and therefore, probably better.

What is Birchbox?

The long and short of it is this: You pay $10 a month and get a little box filled with designer beauty products delivered to your door--usually sample/travel sizes, but sometimes full-sizes, too! You also get a discounted rate if you should choose to buy the full-size versions of these products, and you accumulate points for your purchases and if you refer a friend.

I was pretty excited to open my January Birchbox...

But, I felt a little disappointed when I got a look at the contents ^
I was hoping for something a little more exciting for a first box, y'know? Something to really hook me? And Glambag's come with little zippered pouches every time...I was kind of expecting one of those, too...

Here's what I got, from left to right...

1) Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo
2) Caudalie Vinexpert Radiance Day Cream, SPF 15
3) 100% Pure Nourishing Body Cream
4) Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy perfume
and on top...
5) Model Co SHINE Ultra Lip Gloss

Now, this might have something to do with the fact I told Birchbox that I'm a low-maintenance kind of gal. I mean, I am...but I was hoping for some more exciting products. Other gals got bottles of Argan oil, full-size Benefit blush...I was really bummed after looking at everyone else's spoils. Ah, well. The grass is always greener, isn't it?

My verdict on the products:

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy perfume was my absolute favorite scent--about three years ago. Get with the times, Birchbox. I already have two rollerballs of it left over from that phase that I don't really use. Perfume is so hit or miss, anyway.

Model Co Lip Gloss. I was afraid this stuff was going to be sticky and goopy, and surprise surprise--it was. I do love that it comes with a little mirror on the tube, though. Good idea, but a poor product.

100% Pure Body Cream: This stuff was green apple scented and let me tell you--it smelled JUST like a Jolly Rancher. And of course, I love that it's a natural product...but I wasn't blown away by its quality.

Caudialie Radiance Day Cream...I've only used it once so far, but it didn't seem like anything special. I do like that it's made out of grape extracts, though. I'll give it another shot, maybe I'll grow to love it.

Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo. THIS. This was worth the $10 cost of the Birchbox alone--this is a miracle product! Anyone who knows me, knows that I struggle with a stubborn dandruff problem that no medicated shampoo seems to touch--one use of this stuff and I didn't notice any flakes! And I have a confession to make--as I type this, I'm in bed with a cold. I've been out of commission and haven't washed my hair for DAYS. And thanks to this shampoo, my hair still looks AWESOME. It still looks CLEAN! I am so beyond impressed, and am definitely thinking of buying a full-size version of this. I've used clarifying shampoos before, and none of them impressed me like this one.

So, as a final verdict I'm still unsure about Birchbox. I'll give them another month or two to see if they can supply me with anything good, and if not, I might give Glambag a try.

This was NOT a sponsored post. But if you're interested in trying out Birchbox, please do me a favor and use my referal link? Thanks!

ALL.MOST.DONE.

2013-01-21T17:00:00.000-05:00

I am officially 90 days away from graduation.

I just turned in my last draft of my senior thesis to my advisor and second reader.

Aside from some minor edits, my last semester is over.

I'm pretty damn excited. A little scared about having to speak at graduation and give my (45 minute!!) senior presentation...but I'm sure I'll get through it.

I think I'm most excited, though, to be able to sit down with my novel on my own time. The hardest part about this "process" has been being forced to qualify my learning, and do things like squeeze 3 books into a 3 week period and write about them. It felt like a distraction most of the time, and while my initial research did serve to help my novel factually, the rest just seemed excessive.

Anyway, now I get to focus on the "real stuff". Like editing. And writing more. (There's so much more to the story that I want to tell, even though my second reader claimed the story "feels done". I can't agree with that!) And more editing. And writing book proposals and summaries. And eventually, (I'm shooting for June!) meeting with literary agents.

Pretty excited about it all in general. And I can't wait to hold in my hand the most expensive piece of paper I've ever bought...

(This photo is not actually relevant because my school doesn't do caps and gowns. Too mainstream, I guess. #hipstercollege.)

Pinterest Attempt: Pasta with...

2013-01-18T18:08:00.003-05:00

In keeping with my New Years Resolution to learn a few healthy new meals, I've turned to Pinterest...

My first try was pasta with tomatoes, black olives, garlic and feta.

it seemed pretty foolproof for a first attempt. I threw in some spinach I had on hand, too, and used pasta that was made with veggies. I wanted to make sure I got my daily veggie allotment haha, and then some.

It turned out pretty good, and I had leftovers for a few days. Definitely a recipe I can add to my arsenal!

Movie Reboots.

2013-01-04T23:32:00.002-05:00

I know they probably have VERY little in common (I haven't seen the new movies) ...

but there are a few previews making the rounds these days that really remind me of old movies (or at least parts of old movies) I've already seen.

Example 1:

Promised Land (2012)

Synopsis: A salesman for a natural gas company experiences life-changing events after arriving in a small town, where his corporation wants to tap into the available resources.

Reminds me of:

New in Town (2009)

Synopsis: A high-powered consultant in love with her upscale Miami lifestyle is sent to a middle of nowhere town in Minnesota to oversee the restructuring of a blue collar manufacturing plant.

Example 2:

Premium Rush (2012)

Synopsis: In Manhattan, a bike messenger picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a dirty cop, who pursues the cyclist throughout the city.

Reminds me of:

Enemy of the State (1998)

But not the whole plot--just the first 10 minutes or so, you know, when Jason Lee records a murder and has to flee on his bike with the USB in his messenger bag or something?

(I know, I very seriously doubt anyone cares about this crap as much as I do. BUT, if you had ANY IDEA how long it took me to figure out the name of New in Town AND what movie the Jason Lee scene came from, you'd understand why I have to post it for prosperity.)

Merry Christmas/Happy New Year!

2013-01-01T16:30:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season! Mine was pretty low-key as I had a couple trips planned that got cancelled, but it was still a fun time.

My best friend Katie came up from Florida and we got to see each other for the first time in a while--I don't think I had seen her since she happened to be in town for my 27th (was it 27th?) birthday. It was great to see her and she gave me an awesome Christmas present (Sex and the City box set!) so now we can continually text each other about how I am such a Carrie and she is totally Miranda.

Les Mis FINALLY came out in theaters. I feel like I had been waiting for this moment for years! Needless to say, i was there on opening night and stupidly forgot my tissues. I didn't sob through the entire thing, but I sobbed through most of it. But then again, so did everyone else in the theater...

Katie and I snagged a coupon for Bright Nights and we happened to have perfect timing--there was snow on the ground and it snowed the whole time we were driving through the park. Just lovely. Bright Nights is definitely one of my favorite holiday traditions.

I got a ton of great Christmas presents, but the most fought-over one so far has to be my chenille blanket. I've wanted one for years but I never knew what fabric they were--and holy crap, is it amazing. Shaun and I play tug-of-war with it because it's that damn good.

And finally--the resolutions. Resolutions are such a big thing for me, because for the most part when I make one I really stick with it. And yes, I know, "you don't need a new year to make a resolution". That's completely true, and I usually add on additional resolutions during the year because of this. Because let's face it--we're all a work-in-progress.

Here are my goals from last year. I'd say that out of the 17, I was able to adhere to at least 14 of them, and even if I didn't follow the others to a T, I at least made an attempt.

1. Fillings. My dental insurance wouldn't cover all of my fillings last year, so I need to get the others taken care of. There were only 2 I believe, not 3, and they're tiny...but still. I should take care of them before they become a problem.
2. Passport and travel. I hope that 2013 is the year that I can finally see some part of Europe...even if it's only for a weekend.
3. See Annie on Broadway. My friend Christie and I had planned to go around Christmas time, but got held up. I definitely want to check this one off the list ASAP!
4. Learn to cook...I have a few standby meals at home that I usually fall back on, but I'd like to add a few more. Pinterest is a goldmine.
5. Pay off as much debt as possible. This is a goal every year. I hope this is the year I can clear out most of it with my tax return, because I have to start paying back my student loans soon since I GRADUATE in April.
6. Officially finish novel. I mean this by my own standards--my advisors at school are telling me that the novel "feels done", but it's a far cry from 80,000 words, and most publishers won't even consider a book that falls short of that. Not to mention, there's so much more to the story that needs to be told. I think I can finish it within the early months of 2013 if I really commit to it.
7. Redo apartment. There is so much I want for my apartment--shelving, bookcases, a washer and dryer, carpets for the living room, a sofa bed and new loveseat, new lighting...not to mention just tiny organizational fixes I want to do. It will be a big job, no doubt, but it'll be so worth it when it's done.

What are your goals for 2013? And did you meet your goals for 2012?

Hard sell.

2012-12-12T20:57:00.000-05:00

I always get these sweet southern ladies when I call up my internet provider. They're absurdly friendly and we usually end up laughing about stupid shit and it's pretty amusing.

Today was no exception. We laughed and she made fun of me having to haul out a LADDER to switch off my modem. We got my internet fixed.

And then she tried to "give" me a free month of cable TV. To which I told her that I didn't have a TV.

(this is a lie, sort of. Shaun brought a TV over to my place ages ago so we could watch DVDs, but I never use it--and since I don't have cable hookups or a digital antenna, it doesn't get any channels.)

She sucked in a shocked breath and asked incredulously, "You don't have a TV?"

I said, "No, I'm one of those weird people without a TV."

She told me, "Well, you can watch our digital channels online."

I said, "Well, yes. But I'm also a student, so me having a month of free cable isn't exactly a good idea."

She said, "Please. I was a nursing student and I couldn't live without my TV."

(I didn't point out the sheer irony that she was now doing phone tech support and not, y'know, nursing.)

She went on to ask me what I was studying. When I told her I was a Creative Writing major and am finishing up my "first" novel, she said...

"Well, you can watch TV and it will make your novel even better."

Talk about a stretch. This lady should work for Kirby or something.

RAIK: Random Acts of Internet Kindness

2012-12-08T14:57:00.003-05:00

People on the internet can be so mean. Some hide behind an anonymous name to make nasty comments-- and once you don't have to actually stand behind your opinion, the internet becomes a free-for-all. (This is one of the reasons Youtube has begun encouraging users to use their full name recently.)

Last night and today in particular I've seen way too much negativity online. People jumping all over one another on Facebook (and this is non-anon!) calling each other names and implying the ignorance of the OP in other ways. It's pretty awful, and I'm overwhelmed by all this anger and bitterness. And with all this, I'm not even talking about the "cyber bullying" that is going down among our youth--which is, of course, even worse.

A long time ago I mentioned trying to spread positivity online. Well, I still think it's something we should be actively doing. We need to make the good outweigh the bad!

Here are some of my suggestions:

If you're looking at a photo of someone and you think they look beautiful, or they have a great outfit on, a friendly smile, or whatever--tell them so.
If someone posts something that you find beautifully poetic, a wonderfully composed image, or something that educated you in a way you didn't expect--thank them for sharing.
If a joke or a photo makes you think of someone and smile--share it with them.

There are tons of other things you can do, too. When you see an internet argument, don't jump in and add fuel to the fire. It is possible to have a discussion that respects everyone's ideas and viewpoints, but on the internet they seem few and far between. When you don't have all the facts about a situation, try not to make snap judgements. It's always better to ask for clarification then to misunderstand.

The internet doesn't have to be such a negative place. (And neither does the world...but let's take this one step at a time, shall we?)

PS: Feel free to share this post and encourage positivity! And be sure to comment back if you take on this experiment yourself, or have any other suggestions.

(image credit)

I have been goofing off instead of writing.

2012-12-05T22:47:00.002-05:00

Because honestly, this paper is just too horrid to face.
I have 5 pages done so far out of the required 15-30.
Have I mentioned I really hate writing about writing?
Oh yeah.
I have.

I leave you with me wasting time.

Well, isn't that colorful?

2012-12-03T23:16:00.003-05:00

This is what my spine looks like.

The green areas are "good". Normal spines should be green.

Red/orange/yellow areas? Not so much. So apparently my back is totally gnarly. They're looking at the x-rays now and I get to go back in and learn more on Wednesday.

This was all spurned by the fact that:

-Remember my colonoscopy/endoscopy? Well, my results came back perfectly normal. Which meant, despite my symptoms, I did NOT have either a gluten allergy or celiac disease. They told me I have IBS (which I was diagnosed with years ago--it's mainly stress/anxiety related) and sent me on my way.

-When I stopped eating gluten cold turkey and then added it back in, my body FREAKED.OUT. The worst symptom was lower back pain, which people said was my "intestines inflaming". I decided that by cutting out gluten entirely I had done myself a disservice and somehow made myself even more sensitive to it. So after my colonoscopy I added it back into my diet gradually.

-This tactic worked pretty well. Until this weekend, when I was wholloped with back pain on both Saturday and Sunday night. By Sunday I was all over Facebook asking my medical friends (I have one RN, one MD, and a bunch of medical students on my friends list) what it could possibly be.

They have suggested a few things, mainly kidney stones (probably not since the pain is so random), sciatica (which seems possible) or narrowing of nerve...roots...something? I don't even know.

The good news is, the chiropractor I saw said that spinal misalignment can cause all kinds of crazy symptoms--including headaches (which I've been getting lately) anxiety (YES) and even...dun dun dun...digestive problems!

So this whole mysterious gluten allergy is HOPEFULLY going to be cleared up soon by a magical chiropractor. I sure hope it's something he can spot easily and fix easily!

Plus y'know, if my anxiety gets better that's just a super added bonus.

Onward!

Turkey/Crunch Time/Dear God

2012-11-27T23:38:00.002-05:00

Is school over yet? Jesus.
I have a mere two weeks to "finish" my novel. (This is my own goal, my advisor said it doesn't need to be finished but I feel silly turning in a half-written novel as a final project!)
I also have to write two completely ridiculous papers about writing. This all explains why my updates have been few and far between.

Yeah, writing about writing. I think that is my new least favorite topic.

I hope everyone had a lovely Turkey Day. I had a five day weekend or something like that, and it was pretty sweet. I also overdid it on Black Friday (it's ridiculous long it takes to make money and how quickly it can be spent!) but I got most of my gift buying done...plus I have two new pairs of boots and some awesome new headphones for work. I'd been eyeing them and they were $20 off...I had to.

In other news, today was (literally) Alison appreciation day at work. And yesterday I wrote the new tag line for the company, which gets me a $100 bonus check. I'm pretty pumped about that, mostly because um, I wrote a company tag line! How awesome am I?

Things are good, but all in all I am so ready to be done with school. People keep asking me if I'm planning on grad school and I just laugh at them. 145 days until I have a diploma in my hand, and I'm running away after that and never looking back.

Unless I decide to teach creative writing someday, that is. In which case I'll, y'know, work in a school. But I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. For now, I'm excited about all the books I'm going to read and the TV shows I'm going to knock out of my Netflix queue once school is done!

Any recommendations on either front?

My nightmare at the polls...

2012-11-06T19:51:00.003-05:00

Even election day doesn't go off without a hitch around here...

I got out of work at 5PM and headed straight to the polls. Now, I used to live in Massachusetts but a number of years ago (not sure how many, I'm guessing around six) I moved to Connecticut. Although I changed my license and all that, I DID NOT register to vote in Connecticut.

It never crossed my mind at first. I was still reasonably close to Massachusetts, so why not drive over the line and go vote in my old hometown? I didn't see anything wrong with that.

Someone made me fill out paperwork to register in CT for the last election, but it turned out to be a huge hassle. I remember trying to drop it off at Town Hall but they wouldn't take it for some reason. I was annoyed to be getting the run-around, so I saw voting in Massachusetts to be the simpler option.

For the last presidential election, I walked in, stood in line, told the woman at the desk my name, and voted. Simple.

This time?

My name wasn't on the list.

A man there got on the phone with someone to determine that I had been deleted from the system because I moved to Connecticut. But I already had been living in Connecticut for years when I voted the first time. That didn't quite explain things. But then I learned I hadn't returned a census. (My ex threw it out.) And that Massachusetts purges voters from the system every 3 years to clear out anyone who is deceased.

Awesome.

The man with the phone told me I wasn't registered anywhere.

"So I can't vote?" I asked. "I can't vote at all?"

He shook his head and told me he was sorry. He said that he had a crazy ex, too, and she probably would have thrown out his census as well.

I felt really lost, standing in the middle of the polling room. My opinion officially didn't matter. I was completely useless in a sea of people who were making their opinion count.

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

Cut to me bitching on Facebook about how I'm probably the only moron who didn't know you had to RE-Register to vote. (The first time had been so easy! I thought it would always be like that--I had no clue you ever got purged from the system.)

Luckily, a few of my friends thought that this sounded fishy.

"What about a provisional ballot?" They asked me.

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

And so, after trips to THREE different polling places (where most people working the polls don't actually have any idea what a provisional ballot is!), half a tank of gas, and some car-contained yelling and crying (done at different points in time) I have officially voted.

Although, providential ballots don't get counted until the 16th, so I'm not exactly sure how my vote affects the election...but, whatever. I feel better anyway.

Good news didn't take long!

2012-11-01T23:24:00.001-04:00

I'm pretty lucky it seems, that only a couple days after I was fired, my part-time job decided to take me on full-time...with a pretty sweet raise, to boot.

So finally I can resume some sort of semblance of "life as a normal person"...I can stop working 70 hour weeks and work 40 instead. I can stop driving 17 hours a week and drive 5 instead. I can stop paying $400 on gas in a month and pay $____?? instead.

I am beyond thrilled to resume meetings with my writing group. To take baths with a good book once I come home from work. To play with my cat (even though he's stalking my feet as I write this) and straighten my hair and do my makeup. To get 8 hours of sleep instead of 4. To pick up around the house and watch a DVD if I feel like it.

And maybe, just maybe, with a little luck, I really can finish this novel I'm writing in SIX weeks. Oh, crap. Only five weeks now...