LisaJennea

April in a Hot Minute

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 15:43:00 +0000

What kind of cake is that? Is it a dog?

April. Always my favorite month, because well, it's my birthday month. So here goes, April in Hot Minute.

I visited home. Home right now is very sad and not a fun place to be. But it was nice to see my folks and my siblings, so at least that was positive. More on that at another time.

My brother was accepted to and decided to attend UC Santa Barbara next fall. He is so smart, and a good guy, and I am exceedingly proud of him. I know he will do well there, and I am thrilled he will be leaving the delightful little town of Modesto (is the sarcasm font on??). Modesto is no place to be. I am glad he will be leaving it behind.

I did my taxes. Apparently not being married anymore means the government OWNS you. It fucking sucks ass. I guess I need to find a new husband and squeeze out a few kidlets. Ka-ching! Not really, but maybe I've considered it. DON'T JUDGE ME!

I turned 27! It's funny how the older I get the less I feel like I know what I'm doing. At 22, I was all ready to say "I Do" forEVER, and had my life all planned out. Now, at 27, I'm like, WTF, you want me to commit to maybe meeting you for drinks? As if! All in all, I had a lovely and quiet birthday, and got day drunk on champagne. I mean, what more could you want? In all seriousness though, I do feel my life is on an up-and-up trajectory, but boy, do I have A LOT to learn. I guess that is what life's all about. I am so inspirational and insightful, aren't I??

My big sister turned 30!!! I kidnapped her from Modesto and she came to stay with me for the weekend. We went to the Odyssey at the top of the 405, had sisterly chats, and went to a kick ass party with an open bar and a concert that was so amazing, I can't even talk about it. Well, at least not on the internet. Then we proceeded to go to the shittiest bar ever, (I'm looking at you, Pineapple Hill), where we had birthday cake shots and bread pudding with a candle in it, because, well, we have to keep it classy. At the time, it made sense to eat around the burning candle. Or, it's possible we may have re-lit it, because, clearly, that also makes sense. Proof:

Mmmm, mediocre birthday treat.

Awwww. I heart my sister.

Then, we went to champagne brunch and ate this amazing novelty known as breakfast pasta. It was seriously delicious. Between sips of champagne, we discussed big life stuff, and bonded, and it was absolutely lovely. I love my sister. I keep trying to convince her to move here, but so far, I haven't been persuasive enough. Then she left, and I was sad. But's it's okay, she will visit again soon.

So that was April. Other things happened, but nothing important enough to immortalize on the internet forever.

And, this post is dedicated to Erin, because it's necessary to show your one devoted follower that you DO care. This one's for you, kid.

Peace, love, & champagne bubbles,

♥LJ♥

Life Update and The Sads

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 18:39:00 +0000

Ahhh, life. It gets in the way of so many things, like blogging. So here I am, for the upteenth time, apologizing for not posting more often.

So, things in my life are okay. I feel very stressed and busy busy all the time. Sometimes it's good, at other times, when it starts to interfere with my sleeping patterns, it's bad. The infamous work/life balance is difficult to achieve, and I know all ambitious people, like me and many of you, dear readers, struggle to reach this elusive place.

I blinked, and now it's March. I am happy to say I have been seeing my friends more. That's a plus one in the "life" column. However, I have been working until at least 6:30 most nights, which adds a plus one to the "work" column. Coupled with working on the weekends, the "work" side is threatening to overtake "life."

Although work and life are good, I somehow feel listless and disconcerted. I don't like feeling this way, and I don't like the extra pressure it adds on top of everything else I have going on. Even though it's not really in my budget, I decided to start seeing my therapist again. Therapy is not a magic bullet, but those sessions help me identify the root of my troubles. This counts, in my opinion, as a plus 3 in the "life" column. One of my major issues is comparing myself to others. My boy Teddy knows how it is:

Source: twitter.com via LisaJennea on Pinterest

So here's to me, and to you, and being conscious of my emotions and feelings, and doing something about them. How have all of you been, my lovelies? I miss you and I miss blogging.

Love and more love,

♥LJ♥

Catering Adventures Part III & Humble Pie

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:33:00 +0000

Hey, I remember those shoes!

Last night I worked a party and met Jenny McCarthy. It was pretty cool, and she was super nice and pretty. More important than meeting Jenny was how I felt going into work. The last time I did a catering gig was about 5 weeks ago, when I wore a super attractive light up bow tie. I was dragging my feet and not looking forward to the physical labor.

Usually I am game to work any party and it doesn't bother me. But, based upon some recent experiences, I was kind of feeling like it was beneath me. I am doing very well at work, and recently also got the chance to work backstage on the production crew of a show. Working on the show was an eye opening experience - I got to hob nob with some celebs, got a taste of another profession, and I made some serious cash. This, coupled with feeling like a super hero at my full time job, caused my ego to swell to epic proportions. Holier-than-thou-Lisa was just beginning to rear her ugly head.

What deflated that ego faster than the speed of light? Waiting tables and busting my ass for all of the friends and family of Zachary, last night's bar mitzvah honoree. Seriously guys, keeping my ego in check and remembering that any job that pays (except, well, maybe prostitution) is a job worth doing is the only thing that will allow me to continue my upward trajectory. It is sheer folly to think I am better than anyone else. And so, I take Conan's advice to heart:

Would anyone care to join me for a slice of humble pie?

Peace, love, & not getting too big for my britches,

♥LJ♥

Bring It On, 2012!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:02:00 +0000

My New Year’s Resolution usually involves vowing to eat better and exercise, cook more often, save money, etc. The good news is that I have been doing all of these things already. The eating better and exercising can stand to improve, but I’m happy to say that I’ve been very good about my spending and have managed to make a dent in my credit card debt.

When I started to think about my goals for 2012, I came across this post by Seth Godin, I LOVE him:

You can't be merry by yourself. Sure, you can be content, happy, possibly even delirious. But merriment requires a group, and that group is almost always a group you can see and touch, one that's sharing the same molecules of air, face to face.

The digital revolution continues to get deeper, wider and more important. But it has made no progress at all at increasing merriment. That's up to us.

In reflecting on the last year, I realized that while accomplishing a fuck load of personal goals that have improved my life, I ignored almost all of my friendships and family relationships. I was very busy with my job, and my professional career has improved by leaps and bounds. I started working another job on the weekends, which has helped me slowly begin to see the light at the end of my debt tunnel.

However, being so busy you can’t make connections with others is depressing. Now, my busyness level is not in any way going to decrease in the near future, so that means I need to make more of an effort to connect with the people I love, and strive to be MERRY. After all, why should merriment be reserved only for the holidays?

What does this mean for me? It means sending more emails, sending more texts, actually picking up the phone and saying things that make me uncomfortable – “I love you, I miss you, can we please go do that crazy thing we’ve always wanted to do.” In this world where we are hyper-connected at all times, we often find ourselves even lonelier than before. Why call a friend when you can just check their fb profile or follow them on twitter? Why send an email when everyone gets SO MUCH email?

The answer is because bottom line – life doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have others to share it with. To my small handful of readers, thank you for continuing to follow my blog and let me share snapshots of my life with you. I hope we all go into 2012 with hopes and dreams, and that we accomplish them. Speaking of those hopes and dreams and resolutions, what are yours? Please drop me a line in the comments section. I would love to hear them!

With love,

♥LJ♥

Gossip Girl Style + Outfit Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 18:34:00 +0000

Source: Uploaded by user via Lara on Pinterest Source: louissedavid.tumblr.com via Macauley on Pinterest

I have visions in my head that at some point in my life, I will be as stylish as New York's Upper East Siders. Until that point, I will have to settle on getting creative with my limited wardrobe!

I wanted to start posting some outfit photos, to show everyone that it's possible to look age-appropriately professional and cute at the same time. I'm not gonna say I would make Tim Gunn proud, but I do think I am beginning to learn how to "make it work!"

I need to figure out a better way to take photos, and should probably really use an actual camera instead of my iphone, but this is better than nothing:

So, my dirty little secret is that I shop at Sears a lot. But, they totes have nice stuff sometimes! I wasn't into the Kardashian line, a little too dominatrix meets sequins for me, but I digress. The key with clothing from Sears is to make sure it passes the old lady test. If it does, than you're golden.

Peace, love, & no mom jeans,

♥LJ♥

Putting an End to Flaky Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:20:00 +0000

So thanks to some dear friends of mine, Erin and Rachel, I've decided that there ARE a handful of people that read my blog - and they deserve to have new content! Ask and you shall receive, my friends. And no more flaky blogging, I promise!

I am struggling with some things lately, like BIG things that suck balls. Life is never easy, and the grass is also greener, etc., etc., but god dammit, sometimes it would be nice to catch a fucking break!

Due to these problems, I have found myself in a life force sucking energy place that is the actual worst. I hate being here, and I hate feeling guilty for having some shred of happy feelings amid all the suck. I am happy to report that I've got some fabulous pillars of support, and great mentors in my life that are showing me you can really achieve all you want to, despite where you come from and despite your family.

I know blogs are all supposed to be witty and funny and happy and shiny (at least that's what I hope for mine), but right now it's tough to deliver. That doesn't mean I shouldn't post, because the whole point of this thing to be a little bit real, right??

Anyway, when I get to a point where I am more comfortable, I will explain more about the troubles, but for now here is a collage of my life the past few weeks:

I know it might be a little bit hard to see, but yes, that is an LED light up bow tie I was required to wear at one of my catering gigs. I was actually sad I didn't get to keep it! From the top left corner: fabric lampshade I made, awesome craigslist desk and repainted wall, succulent planter my friend gave to me, twinkle lights that make me happy, failed chevron cabinet (I hated the colors so I painted over it) glitter nails for Thanksgiving, aforementioned bowtie, turquoise IKEA spice racks, jello shots at bow tie gig (they were delish), rosemary tree, my felt ornaments, pretty fall colors, gorgeous scarf my boss gave me, and sibling love.

So, even with all my complaints, at least moments in my life have been sweet, and there is still so much to be thankful for. Happy everything to everyone, and all my love to you!

Xoxo,

♥LJ♥

Happy Friday & A Pat on the Back

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:15:00 +0000

Happy Friday, November 11, 2011, dear readers! I hope you have as much fun this weekend as that kid is having being swung around by her arms. Just look at that face. Pure joy. May all of you enjoy this day and proclaim twice to all people in your vicinity that it's 11:11 AM/PM on 11.11.11.

Today marks the fifth day in a row I have woken up, dragged my butt out of bed, and made a concentrated effort to blog. I loved it and am giving myself a big ol' pat on the back! I don't think I need to post every single day, however, the daily act of writing has been very enjoyable and believe it or not has increased my level of happiness. Blogging FTW! Ashley commented at the beginning of the week that she often writes several posts at one time and then publishes them later. The idea of writing and not immediately publishing seems foreign to me since I am so impatient and like instant gratification, but I think this is a method I will try to embrace. If anything I think it would allow for more thoughtful posts if they gelled around for a few days before I posted them.

This weekend I have plans of cleaning/laundry, painting chevron stripes on a cabinet in my kitchen, and attending my school's annual Holiday boutique on Sunday. If the forecast holds, I am looking forward to enjoying the rain tomorrow by snuggling in my house and drinking tea and ~~watching Gossip Girl~~ reading. Rain in Southern California is so sparse it needs to be treasured!

What do you have planned this weekend? Anything exciting? Tell me in the comments!

Peace, love & the weekend,

♥LJ♥

TILT: The Blog, The Desk, The Holiday Spirit

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:19:00 +0000

It's Day 4 of my week long blogging run, and I got a later start today than usual but the important thing is that I am writing and I am loving it!

In honor of Gala Darling, a fabulous fashion and lifestyle blogger, I want to return to my weekly Things I Love Thursday. It's important to regularly check in and examine what is making your life better and what deserves some love.

So without further ado, le list!

♥ Getting back to blogging. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I stopped. I love you blog, don't ever leave me again. To my handful of loyal readers, I love you too. Don't ever leave me.

♥ Finding a super amazing desk on Craigslist. This may or may not have something to do with why I started blogging again. Having a dedicated space for my writing is super amazing and I love it. I got $210 worth of furniture for $80. Crappy pic but isn't it awesome??

I have since added drawer pulls and it's even more amazing. Non blurry pic to come soon, promise!

♥ Something else making me happy is the cold weather and the impending holidays. I am apprehensive about being home with family for a variety of reasons, but I am going to decorate the shit out of my apartment! Tree, ornaments, cute etsy stuff, cute handmade stuff, etc. Tacky decorations need not apply. It makes me happy and it makes the holidays feel better and less sad. Especially this year.

♥ Little things which made me smile: Pinterest, lots of coffee, pantone mugs, these kids who are seriously THE best, I hope my future kids are that awesome:

♥ What do you love this week? Tell me in the comments!! ♥

Peace, love, & sneaky moms,

♥LJ♥

Check In Time: New Daily Ritual and Why I Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:22:00 +0000

Source: cicekingdom.tumblr.com via Erynn on Pinterest

It is Wednesday and this is my third successful day waking up BEFORE 6 AM to blog. I have to say I am loving this new routine, and waking up early to write has much more of a draw than waking up early to exercise. Maybe someday I can wake up early and do both, but for now, I am happy with blogging!

Some would question why I would even do this (not my blogger buddies!), so I thought I would write about why I blog. I have never considered myself a writer, nor is it something I want to do professionally. However, my blog has become a creative outlet where I can put thoughts and ideas into words that I am having trouble articulating to people in my life. Before I get carried away, it's not all about the important things. It's also a place to share ideas and give my fellow bloggers a peak into my life. I love reading other blogs and find so much inspiration in so many different areas, just from reading about what goes on in their lives.

I wrote yesterday about facebook, and how the idealized version of life presented by people I don't really care about gets me down. It makes it too easy to compare myself to others, and I kind of hate it. Blogging lets me see how other people all over the country are dealing with being in their 20s, sans the drunk bar photos and bullshit of facebook, and it is refreshing. (I'm not trying to be judge-y, of course I frequent bars and have posted pics on fb, I just get annoyed when that becomes a measure of how awesome your life is.) I rather like connecting with people my age that have similar goals and dreams. There is always the chance that sneaky jealousy can creep in when I come across an awesome blog and wonder how they get it all done, but more often than not, I come away inspired and motivated to realize that I can always do more.

My 20something world often feels sad, big and lonely. Blogging helps that world feel smaller and more welcoming. What's not to love? There are so many other things about blogging that I love, but right now they are too many to cram into words. I am going to create a running list of reasons I blog, and share more at a later time. Now it's time for me to get ready for work and pick out my outfit. Heels are a must, of course!

Now it's your turn. Why do you blog? I would love to hear about it in the comments!

Peace and love early in the morning,

♥LJ♥

Why I Don't "Like" Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:36:00 +0000

I was very productive this Sunday, and made it through the entire day before I even thought about checking facebook. You see, like so many other people I know, it is pretty standard to wake up, check your phone and all social media, and then go about your day. So when I finally signed on and it was almost 9 PM, I was surprised to find I didn't miss it at all.

I am not the first person to be all "down with facebook," but I thought I would offer my perspective on the subject. I've been on facebook since it was first introduced to colleges when I was an undergrad at Cal. At that point, anyone you ever ran into at a coffee shop became your facebook friend. Just like in The Social Network, "facebook me" became the most popular way of communicating.

In addition to my college friends, now my family, friends, coworkers and losers from high school clog up my newsfeed. You would think that's all well and good, except, do you know how awkward it is to unfriend a family member or coworker? They just don't understand that you truly think they are idiotic and should never have been granted the right to post information online. Thanksgiving gets kind of awkward when your cousin asks you why you aren't facebook friends anymore.

The high school crowd is another beast entirely. I don't want to see pictures of your house. I don't want to see pictures of your 17th child. I don't want to hear about how much our hometown sucks. I get it, that's why I left.

At the bottom of all this is me and my life. I don't "like" facebook because it makes it much too easy to compare myself to others. Facebook is a place where people present an idealistic view of themselves. For every picture posted, for every status update, for every check-in to that cool new club, there is fucked up shit that no one wants to talk about. If you end up using facebook to talk about the fucked up shit, people get all hush hush and say that this really isn't the place for this - don't they know what they put on here stays on here FOREVER??

So if you can't get real on facebook without offending the masses, what's the point? If I posted my halloween costume pic ~~a nearly naked photo of myself~~ I would get a ton of "likes," but if I posted about something uncomfortable and emotional, it would go into the void ignored and "disliked." I guess I have a hard time understanding why I should continue to use a social media tool that actually makes me feel kind of bad for unimportant reasons.

Without facebook, I wouldn't need to know a bunch of useless information about people I don't care about. It wouldn't take up space in my head and in my life, and that would make me feel much better. I haven't yet decided if I want to deactivate my account, or do a serious friend list purge. I think if I started over, I could keep up with the people that are really important to me, and I would be able to stomach their annoying updates because I actually want to be friends with them.

Are you a facebook lover or hater? Facebook indifferent? Tell me in the comments!

♥LJ♥

DST and a New Daily Ritual

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:24:00 +0000

It is 6 AM as I start to write this, and I'm already half way done with my first cup of coffee. I sprang out of bed (okay, maybe there was no spring to my step) at 5:30 AM, and got my morning going with breakfast and everything.

Who am I?? This girl is the queen of the snooze button, which usually results in dirty hair and lots of pony tails. Also, I have no shame. As I sleepily began to think about what was giving me so much energy this morning, I realized it's that pesky little bugger Daylight Savings Time. You see, last night, I was in bed by 9:05 PM. That is basically unheard of in my life. As someone so accurately stated:

Source: bethbrigham.tumblr.com via LisaJennea on Pinterest

The above is essentially the story of my life. How good I feel in this moment is enough to motivate me to get my ass out of bed in the morning and begin a new daily ritual. It will be difficult, but I vow on the internet (this shit's fo real, yo) that for the rest of this week, I will wake up, make coffee, eat breakfast, and actually write a blog post.

I am so busy once my day gets started it is easy to let the blog slip. No one holds me accountable to my blog but me, so it's time I gave you some lovin', blog. Don't you feel better already?

Thank you, loyal readers, for joining me on this journey. For those of you that update your blog like 3 times a day, how do you find time to get it all done? Got any tips for this girl?

Peace and blog love,

♥LJ♥

That's So Pinteresting

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 21:09:00 +0000

All the cool kids know about Pinterest by now, but as I've just started to actually find it useful, I felt it was time to give it a little love. In my quest to find my signature style, it has come in very handy because as I'm perusing images or website online, I can quickly pin my image to an online inspiration board that I can reference later.

Here are some of the images I've found and pinned via Pinterest for my style pinboard:

One of my favorite things about pinning is that the tactile feel of actually pinning something to a bulletin board is conveyed through the website. Obviously it's a virtual bulletin board, but the way it is arranged makes it feel more like you are actually cutting and pasting from magazines for inspiration. The other cool feature is the social aspect. Your twitter followers or facebook followers can follow your boards and repin and like what you have pinned. It is very collaborative and fun, not to mention addicting. You can use it for everything, from personal style to remodeling your bathroom!

If you haven't yet started pinning, go forth my friends, and get inspired! If you are a seasoned pinner, what are your favorite uses for the site?

Peace, love, & happy pinning,

♥LJ♥

Finding a Signature Style

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:12:00 +0000

Some people have an effortless sense of style and, others, well, let's just say Stacey and Clinton would love to whip them into shape. I am drawn to classic and simple styles, and often find myself looking to the 40s, 50s, and 60s for inspiration. I love the shapes, colors and patterns; it just works for me. If I could pick a Mad Men lady to emulate, it would be some sort of hybrid between Betty Draper and Peggy Olson.

Lately I have been making more of a creative effort with my clothing, mostly for work but a little bit in my casual wear as well. Not only is it making me get more out of my wardrobe, I am finding that there are so many different ways to combine things, as long as I have the right staples. So far, I've found a pair of black dress pants, a classic white shirt, a few cardigans and some flattering dresses the most useful items I own.

Despite my lofty style goals, most of the time, I end up wearing plain black dress pants, an interesting top, and a cardigan (heels too, of course!). One would think in this day and age I could get away without a sweater, but true story, I was told my shoulders were too provocative, and I better cover them up. I know, right?? Cray cray.

So anyway, I have started playing around more with my wardrobe staples, and have decided that I should have started wearing button downs under cardigans way sooner. It is so easy and flattering, and instantly ups your "professional" vibe. I always felt it was too bulky, but no longer! Add a string of pearls and I am good to go!

I am attempting to take daily outfit photos but unfortunately they keep turning out like shitty myspace photos. I will start posting them if I can become more successful. I also think the photos will help hone my style, because pictures don't lie and will help me pin down exactly what works for me.

Peace, love, & sensational style,

♥LJ♥

How To: Make Glittered Pumpkins

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:37:00 +0000

As I was perusing Martha Stewart to get ideas for Halloween decor (I love Martha!) I came across this:

I love Halloween - don't get me wrong, but I like decor that is more "fall" and less "plastic orange and black shit I bought at Walmart," and this project fits the bill nicely.

And now - a tutorial! Because I don't think you are clever enough to figure out that all you do it put glue on a pumpkin and sprinkle glitter on it.

Step 1: Find some cute lil pumpkins, adhesive, and a color of glitter that tickles your fancy. I used spray adhesive (although Martha says Elmers. What can I say, I'm a rebel!) and some orange glitter I borrowed from the art room at work. Hey, I'm on a budget and don't often find the need for glitter, okay? Okay.

Step 2: Use painter's tape to cover the lil stems so you don't glitter them. I used Frogtape, it's the best! I really liked how cheerful they looked with the green tape. For a split second I thought of abandoning the glitter and finding some green paint, but I could not be moved. I was committed to glitter!

Step 3: Spray those pumpkins! Make sure you cover your work surface. Spray adhesive gets everywhere. I used garbage bags I cut down the side so it became a total glam rock black plastic table cloth. Hold pumpkin by the stem and rotate as you spray. You will get glue all over your hands.

(No photo of this step. Too hard when your hands get all gluey. Please trust me when I say it was very exciting.)

Step 4: Place a paper plate or other glitter catch-all on the table, hold your pumpkin by the stem over the plate, and start sprinkling glitter on the surface of your pumpkin, rotating as you go so you get to all sides.

Again, no photo, because THIS is what happens to your hands during the process:

Step 5: Survive glittering your hands, I mean pumpkins, and place them on a plate to dry. I left them for about 6 hours. I don't think they needed that much time. Aren't they cute already?

Step 6: Shake off excess glitter, but not too much, and place your new fall decorations!

There is some glitter fall out, but all in all, I say it was a pretty good and super easy project, if you feel so inclined to add some sparkle to your pumpkins.

Peace, love & glittered hands,

♥LJ♥

Adventures in Catering Part Deux, and some Randoms

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:43:00 +0000

Alright, so, this catering thing is working out pretty swell. I meet interesting people, earn some extra cash (all going to pay my credit card debt, of course), and I get to hangout in some swanky fancy pants homes.

Case in point, this is only the pool house:

Two stories!

I hope that one day, I will own a home that is as nice as this rich person's pool house. I've gotta dream big, right?

This particular party happened to be for a delightful little dude who was celebrating his bar mitzvah. His grandpa's tennis court was transformed into a black and white lounge, with cocktail seating and a dance floor. Not only was there a fog machine, there was also a mechanical bull, skee-ball, arcade games and a green screen take-my-picture-anywhere photo booth. Of course there was a DJ, who was actually really good, and there was some weird glitter body art booth for the girls that I didn't quite understand. Also, at one point, the DJ called all the girls up to get socks. I was confused. Does anyone know what the socks mean?

The highlight of my night was when one of the young gentleman, I think he was about 14, asked me if I would dance with him later. I gave him the non-committal "maybe," and he looked at his friends and said, "yessssssss!" It was very cute.

The hours are long and I have been giving up all my Saturday nights, but I love doing it and it's helping me pay off my debt. Overall, I consider this a big win.

Other randoms - today is my half birthday, I just received a letter that I am officially divorced, I love fall, and I desperately need to go to the grocery store.

How was everyone's weekend? Got any exciting stories to share?

Peace, love, & pool boys,
♥LJ♥

The One With All the Feelings

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:39:00 +0000

I have been in a highly emotional state lately. There are BIG things happening in my life, things that make me feel unspeakably sad and depressed. In working through these issues right now, I am also getting unreasonably angry. One of my biggest flaws is my temper, and in particular, lashing out at the people closest to me when I feel upset. It is easier for me to get mad then to think through and FEEL my emotions. If I get mad, all the feelings go on the back burner.

I strongly dislike this part of myself, and I have been actively trying to keep it in check, and treat not only myself, but others, with respect. In addition to my problems right now, I have also gone through a dramatic shift in my goals and priorities over the course of the last several months. There are friends I was close with, who cannot understand, or are unsupportive, of the person I am evolving into and the person I want to be.

I know I am being vague, but dealing with my current issues and also dealing with some pretty unsupportive people is starting to take a toll on me. I now call on you, dear readers, to share how you keep yourself and your own wants, needs, and desires at the forefront? How do you steadfastly hold onto your sense of self while navigating a world that wants you to be just like everybody else?

Xoxo,

LJ

Adventures in Catering

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 04:58:00 +0000

It's been about 2 months since I've posted, mostly because there are some big things going on, and because I started a second job.

I have continued to work my ass off at my full time job, and I feel very happy and like I have a meaningful purpose.

As I have posted before, I have a significant amount of credit card debt, and I have been trying to figure out how to pay it down but not feel the pinch, so to speak.

An acquaintance of mine has a friend who owns a catering company, so I decided to ask her if she thought I would be a good fit for it. He of course was happy to have me (catering ain't for the faint of heart, yo) and I started working in August.

I have never worked as a waitress, so the whole serving thing is new to me. Some sick part of me loves to work so hard, and it's nice to see my debt dwindling and get some funny stories out of it too.

This Saturday, a client had a wedding reception at her home for her daughter, and what did the bride do, might you ask? She stripped down naked and jumped into the pool, to the delight and applause of all the guests.

That is not something you see everyday. I will have more stories - but this is the first time posting from my iPhone, and I'm getting lazy.

Xoxo,

LJ

Love Thyself

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 22:13:00 +0000

I apologize for being MIA the last few weeks. Should I even apologize for that? I guess it’s my blog and my life but sometimes I feel this obligation to the blog, like I should keep it up or I’m letting people (or myself) down.

Anyway, the reason I’ve been MIA is a little bit complex, and I apologize for being kind of vague, but people in real life read this blog, and there are certain things I share here that I don’t necessarily always want people in my life to pick up on. Let’s hope my absence has meant they already forgot about the blog and I can just proceed as usual.

I posted last Sunday about my secrets, which in all fairness was really only one big secret. I revealed that I married my high school sweetheart, and then ended up leaving him and getting divorced. It has been a year and 2 months that I left – and July 12^th would have been our third wedding anniversary.

In the time since our separation, I've done a lot of things I thought "single" people had the right to do. I went out a lot, had my share of sexual indiscretions, and got a little mixed up and lost sight of myself. I spent an inordinate amount of time with my ex, questioning our relationship and thinking we were too young when we married (which we were) and wondering what else life had to offer. When I left him, I should have really taken the time to sit with myself, and figure out what I wanted. Instead, I jumped in to a bunch of things, as I so often do, without thinking much about the consequences. I hurt myself, and others, and for that I am truly sorry.

Now, I am committed to me. If I can’t be happy in my own head, I am never going to have anything to offer someone else. Being committed to me means I will only do what I want, I will only worry about making myself happy, I will not worry about what others think, and if something doesn’t feel right – I will run like hell in the other direction.

After having stepped back from a lot of the stuff I was involved in – I already feel 100% better. I have made the right choice to find myself again, to find the ambitious girl who moved away to college and made it through all the way to graduation day. To reconnect with the brave young woman who moved 300 miles from her family, and despite going through a lot of shit, was and IS determined to be successful and happy.

If I could put this into a few words, I guess I would say that I have finally committed to the long-term relationship I will have with myself. This is not to say I don't need other people, because of course we all do, but when I can figure out how to have a healthy relationship with ME, all of my other relationships will flourish as a result.

Have you ever realized you were on a self-destructive path and gotten out of it? How did you cope with the situation?

Peace, love & self-discovery,

♥LJ♥

My Secrets

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 23:45:00 +0000

So there is this secret meme going around the internets, (I'm admittedly behind the times, work has been really busy lately and I've had no inspiration to post), so I thought I would take this opportunity to put some stuff out there that I've kept from the blogging world thus far.

I think it's supposed to be a vlog, but I'm too ~~unshowered~~ lazy for that right now, so I'm just gonna drop em like it's hot down below:

I married my high school sweetheart.
I divorced my high school sweetheart.
I am ashamed to admit it, but leaving him was the best gift I could have given him.
I am afraid to fall in love.

I have tons of other little silly secrets, but these are my "big" secrets. Are you brave enough to share yours? Tell me in the comments!

Magnetic Monday: A Haiku About Love & Hate

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0000

My stab at a haiku, since I was feeling uninspired to compose on the fly this morning.

Do you think there is a thin line between love and hate?

Words to Live By

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 18:06:00 +0000

Source: seen-sucht.blogspot.com via LisaJennea on Pinterest

Wine and Love V2

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:52:00 +0000

This is a weekly thing hosted by Nora. Feel free to grab the badge and play along!

This week has been tough, with a lot of reasons to reach for the wine glass, but I feel despite everything, there are plenty of loves to balance it out.

The Wines:

A friend of mine lost her son this week, who was a mere 32 years old. It was sudden and unexpected and I cannot imagine how much grief she is experiencing right now. I feel ill-equipped to give her support, but I know that whatever I do she will appreciate, and it will be enough, and I should not worry about it.

Bills, bills, bills. Will they ever stop?

My apartment feels like a tornado went through it. Of course I am exaggerating, but I need to do laundry, stop at the market and vacuum, like now, if I ever want to stop feeling like a slob.

Dreams about more people close to me passing away. Not at all pleasant to wake up from that dream this morning. I feel uneasy and a little melancholy.

The Loves:

Finding my motivation again. Last week I posted about feeling exhausted and frankly, a little depressed. This week has been much better all around - professionally, personally, and socially.

Getting recognized by the Boss for my change in motivation and attitude. Not that I was really awful before, but she could see a marked difference between how I am functioning now versus how I was a few weeks ago. Being validated is always nice, and it is going to help me ride this period of productivity longer, and keep my motivation going.

Pulling off 3 major special events successfully. They were back to back, and of course I had help, but these successes are a huge reason why I am walking on cloud nine right now. I have one more event tomorrow night. Once that is done, I won't have any more for the rest of the summer and I can switch gears to focus on my summer projects.

Scheming and trying to figure out my summer vacation plans. Right now, I'm thinking a few long weekends and trying to get as many people to come visit and stay with me.

Staying on top of my debt, and paying it down according to my plan. It has been tough, but I am doing it, and it makes me so so so happy.

What are your wine and loves for this week? Drop me a line in the comments and let me know!

Peace, love & smiles,

♥LJ♥

Magnetic Monday - A Question

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 06:59:00 +0000

Not really inspirational, but a question I've found myself

pondering from time to time in regard to many things:

Do you sometimes find it difficult to ascertain how a situation has affected you, for better or for worse? If the outcome falls in the worse column, how do you take that situation and learn from it?

Peace, love and over-thinking,
♥LJ♥

Sometimes I Make Cakes & Cocktails

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 03:16:00 +0000

Life is complicated and intense right now, and a dear friend of mine has just suffered a great loss. I can't wrap my brain around anything of substance, so here's a little snippet of my weekend, and two new things I learned how to make.

My friends have this super awesome outdoor patio and graciously agreed to host a BBQ, so I decided to make Strawberry Summer Cake a la Smitten Kitchen and a refreshing fizzy cocktail called Pink Panty Droppers. And oh, they were goooooood.

The cake was really easy to make with the only downside taking FOREVER to bake! I even had to add 15 minutes to the baking time in my (old) oven to make sure it set up all the way. Here's a pic of the before:

And the after:

I happened upon the drink recipe while perusing The Kitchn, a great cooking blog. Since I wanted to start a monthly Cocktail Club with some of my friends, the Pink Panty Dropper sounded like a perfect fit! The Kitchn tried to class it up by referring to the drink as Raspberry Beer - but Pink Panty Droppers is so much better!

Mix the following ingredients together:

Then enjoy the fruits of your labor! It's so delicious it's kind of wrong, and dangerous!

What did you do this weekend? Tell me in the comments!

Peace, love & pink panties,

♥LJ♥

Wine and Love #1

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Poplasky) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 21:48:00 +0000

Here is my first Wine and Love Post. Nora is great and hosts this every week. Anyone can participate - feel free to grab the badge and link up on her site!

The Wines:

Majorly slipping up on my healthy eating plan.
Being so tired and burnt out I have no motivation to do anything at work or at home or for fun.
A general sense of feeling lost, and unsure that I am doing the right thing or making the right choices.

The Loves:

Graduation. Our students are graduating today, and to see how well-adjusted, kind, intelligent and just generally awesome our sixth graders are makes me so happy and thankful for the job I have.
My pooch, Cleo. She seems so happy and lovey lately - which is not normal for her. I love puppy snuggles!
Scoring two bar stools from Urban Home on Craigslist for $25 bucks. Yep, $12.50 each, and they retail for $59 at the store. They need a little work, but they are completely salvageable. They look like that, except the fabric is blue.

Vlogging! I recorded my intro for 20SB and it was really awkward but also fun. I am excited to use the medium more - if only just for fun! Click here to see the videos of everyone who participated.

Peace, love & puppies,

♥LJ♥