maybe it’s maybelline

(that title should probably have a copyright or trademark logo or whatever but i’m not that blog-talented… so just use your imagination… that means you l’oreal legal team)

i’m never sure what to say after compliments.  and some compliments are more complicated than others.  sometimes i’m not even sure that the thing being said to me, in a sugary tone, is a compliment.  i know i’m not the only person out there who doesn’t know how to react to compliments.  i usually lean towards the self-deprecating responses which aren’t always well received themselves.  i’m also not a person who compliments freely.  i am either trying very hard or it’s something that i just can’t resist.

so when anyone feels compelled to say to someone “why don’t you ever wear makeup?” what are they trying to say??

because i get this often.  more often than i’d like in fact.  sometimes it comes in a different form like when i’m complaining about makeup i tend to get shocked looks.   people seem completely caught off guard to find out that yes, i wear makeup.  and i’m never sure if i should be flattered by that or offended. 

i mean on one hand it could be nice that people think i naturally look good.  or that i’m SO good at doing makeup that it never looks like i have any on.  those would be good things.

but then i wonder if people are shocked because they assumed that if i wore makeup i’d look better.  or does it mean that i’m so bad at doing my makeup that i look like i have no makeup on and should go put some on?

i personally feel like i put on a decent amount of makeup before i head out into public.  yes, i put more on for evening events or more formal events, but for the most part it takes me 20 minutes to do my makeup on a regular day.  and i know that after a half day has gone by most of my makeup has soaked into my skin (does anyone know the science behind this?  where does it all go??  seriously, where does the makeup go?  is it in my blood?  is my under-dermis all colored in blushing rose rouge and fawn eyeshadow?) so i may not be wearing much makeup when people make these comments.  but i don’t get it.  and what am i supposed to do to avoid it?  i don’t want to look like a fool when i walk out of the house with way too much makeup on, but then again i don’t want to hear that it doesn’t look like i should have makeup on. 

i guess it all comes down to whether it’s a compliment or an insult.  and apparently i’m not very good at telling the two apart.

  

  

~ today i learned… fear of beards is called “pogonophobia” ~

30 x 30

everyone’s got a list.  essentially the 30 things to do by the time you’re 30. i like the idea of this.  and if i’d thought of it a few years ago i would have done it.  i’m too close to 30 now to even think about getting 30 things done.  but i do have a list.

mine started out when i was getting my life in order.  that’s when realized that not only was i not getting any younger but instead i was rapidly aging.  it also helped that the book that changed my financial position in life, smart women finish rich (highly, highly recommend to anyone who’s ever been in debt or tends to live paycheck to paycheck… it’s phenomenal!) suggested putting your goals down on paper too.  while my list was not financially based, in order to do anything in life you kinda need money to do it.

i was going to make a list of “10 things to do in the next 10 years” but instead i just made a 10 year list.  just things to complete in 10 years period.  i was hesitant to define how many things it needed to be because i didn’t want to be locked in to a single number.  plus i wanted to be able to add goals to it as i pleased.  and i have.  right now my list is more than 10 things/goals.  and i’m happy to say that with 6 years left i’ve already crossed off a few things.  and i’m hoping to cross off another one soon.  of course there are some things on here that are personal and i will not share, but i am starting to struggle with my commitment to a few of the other items.

for example:

• play 18 holes under 100 - taking golf lessons was my first step toward meeting this goal.  it was moving along well until i kinda went on a couple of dates with my instructor.  once i told him it really wasn’t gonna work for us i kinda had to stop taking lessons.  i’m not down with the awkward moments.  and since i started my job last year i haven’t picked up a club.  in fact they’re way in the back of my closet.  i keep dropping guilt trips on M about not taking me.  afterall the reason i even became interested in golf was to spend more time with him when we were just friends. 
• learn to sail - i still really want to do this.  and even though all sailing classes are at least an hour away, there are a couple of places where you can complete a course in consecutive weekends.  my problem with this?  money.  the cost of a class is a little more than i’m paying for invisalign a month.  so it’s really just not going to happen right now.  but it does shoe promise for next year.  once i’m not making these monthly payments on my teeth anymore i should be able to reallocate that money.
• take piano lessons - again, money is a hindrance here.  does anyone know how Not Cheap piano lessons are?   i really haven’t put much effort into this one.   it’s really low on the list.  but i would love to know how to play something more than the java jive someday.  this is something i’d like to start my kids on early.  i think my desire to learn stems from having a piano growing up and listening to my mom play but never knowing how to do so myself.  and i was reluctant to learn whenever the offer was extended.  some things never change.
• see Paris - the city.  there are many places that i want to go and spend time more than paris, but i feel like actually seeing paris, even for 10 minutes, is an essential part of life.  i want to swing through paris on my way to the french riviera, that’s the plan.
• learn another language - i’m still working on this one.  i’ve been learning japanese since M and i started dating.  admittedly i’ve slacked on it this year, but i really want to get back on it.  and while i can say basic things i’m not crossing this off my list until i feel comfortable with the language.  i don’t know how to define that, i just think i’ll know it when i get there.  either that or i’ll cross it off just to feel accomplished one day : )

there’s a few more on the list that i have yet to accomplish.  and while time is only getting shorter, i’d still like to add more.  i’ve already crossed these ones off…

• visit Miss Chris - this is my west coast grandmother who i never get to see anymore.  the few times i’d seen her when i wrote this were when she’d come out to visit us.  i wanted to go see her.  i was on a business trip out there last year so i decided to fly my mom out with me.  we spent a few days visiting all the places we used to go to when we lived there and visiting miss chris too.  it was a great trip that i’m so glad i got to do.  i wouldn’t trade it for anything.
• buy a new car - when i put this one on i stil had my cabrio.  i loved the crap out of that car.  but at the time it was 10 years old and i’d paid it off and was just waiting for it to die.  there are still days when i miss that car, but i love my car now so much more!
• go horseback riding - on a couple of business trips out west i decided to get this crossed off.  my goal was to be able to ride without a guide and ride on a horse that knows how to do more than walk.

like i said before, there are also some personal goals on here that i will not share.  but i think i’ve done a good job with those also.

i don’t think i’ve put anything on my list that’s completely unrealistic.  they’re things that could be accomplished.  i just need to want them enough.  enough to save up the money anyway.  basically i need to put down the dress/shoes/handbag/whatever and think about these goals instead.  as you can tell i have a hard time doing that because i tend to think “i want this now.  and it’s only $15.  that’s notgonna break me.” but all of those $15 purchases add up, fast.  i’m already learning how hard it is while i’m (trying to)  not spending any money because of my invisalign.

am i one of the few people who sets goals like this?  are there things you think people should do/see/accomplish in their lifetime?  what kind of goals do you guys have?  i’m looking for more.

  

  

~ today i learned… orangutans warn people to stay out of their territory by belching ~

me from a-z

i saw this over here and even though i wasn’t officially tagged felt like filling it out today…

A. Attached or Single? attached.  happily attached. 

B. Best Friend?  S will always be my first whenever i think of my best friend.  but M is my best friend too… and we get to make out : )

C. Cake or pie? sweet potato pie is the best thing in the world!  i can’t imagine living without it.  but seeing as i only really like 2 kinds of pie, i’m gonna have to say cake (didn’t see that one coming, huh)

D. Day of choice? saturday.  i get to sleep in and it still seems like the possibilties for the weekend are endless.

E. Essential item? chapstick.  i must have it on me at all times.

F. Favorite color? green.  mostly the earth-tone greens and yellowy-greens.

G. Gummy bears or worms? worms.  totally worms.  the best thing ever!  especially the ones with green parts

H. Hometown? born in CA but raised in CT… Richmond is my home Now though

I. Favorite indulgence? cheesy girly movies - girls just wanna have fun, 13 going on 30, etc.  either that or putting on musicals and singing along (preferably while no one else is around) 

J. January or July? July.  january here is cold and gloomy and often rainy.  boo!

K. Kids? someday i hope so.  someday in the not too distant future.  at least one, but no more than 2.

L. Life isn’t complete without? love.  i believe it’s the ONLY thing that truly matters

M. Marriage date? tbd (my imaginary wedding is set for spring 2009 though : )

N. Number of brothers and sisters? 1 older sister

O. Oranges or Apples? who can pick between these two?  i love them both!

P. Phobias? car accidents that change your life (paralyze you, kill someone, etc.) and people breaking in during my sleep and torturing/killing me (i watch way too much Law & Order, i know)

Q. Quotes? “the only difference between ordinary and extraodinary is that little extra”

R. Reasons to smile? i could go on forever.  i’m happy, healthy, loved, employed, etc.

S. Season of choice? fall in New England.  spring down here.

T. Tag 5 people: magda, littlespoon, penelope (when she’s back), heidi, and you!

U. Unknown fact about me? i never even tried any drugs until i was 24, and even after that night i stuck to my decision that they’re not for me.  but i’m actually glad i tried because i no longer have that “what if”

V. Vegetable? cucmbers, string beans, corn, carrots, celery, hanover tomatos … that’s about all i’ll eat

W. Worst habit? biting my lips and the skin around my nails.  it’s so unattractive.

X. X-ray or Ultrasound? have only had x-rays so i’ll go with ultrasound.  i hope that my first one is due to a  parasite in my belly that i’m thrilled about (ie. a baby!)

Y. Your favorite food? chicken, steak, baked potato, my mom’s potato salad… i can’t pick one

Z. Zodiac sign? libra.  the best.

  

  

~ today i learned… Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise ~

my expensive cave

apparently i can never have a day without issues.  honestly, there are some days when i step back and think, okay, maybe it really is just me.  maybe when there is no drama i imagine the drama or blow something out of proportion to create drama.  and yes, maybe that’s right sometimes, but most of the time this is just the life i lead. 

i won’t get into how i usually end up getting 1-3 new windshields every year, or how i will get something for free and accidentally drop it off a bridge and lose it forever, but a week ago M and i were sitting in my living room when we heard some noises coming out of the exhaust vent.  as the noises continued we realized that a bird must have been stuck in there.  M got up on the counter with a flashlight and tried to see what could be done, but he couldn’t see it so we just let it be.  the noises eventually stopped and we didn’t think too much of it.

until 48hours later when i came home from a pilates class and there were flies.  not just a housefly or two, but a flurry of them.  it was gross.  i’ve never had this happen before.  i honestly couldn’t even remember ever having Afly in this apartment.  sure i get ladybugs, hornets, and some weird VA bugs (which i call halloween bugs due to their black/orange coloring) but i’ve never had a single fly.  so the fact that i now had 10 buzzing around was a red flag.  something was up.  i spent most of the night chasing them around from my kitchen to my living room, swatting them with a rolled up pottery barn catalog.  knocking some across the room enough to stun them for a second and plain ol’ squashing others.  luckily i keep my bedroom closed off in the summer so they never got in there.  and as annoying as they were it really just disgusted me the most. 

after i’d killed mover than 11 that night and there were still some flying around i quickly put everything together and realized that i may have a dead bird in that vent.  so i climbed up there and taped saran wrap over the fan.  i was not going to take any chances.  i went to sleep and hoped the five flies i could see, but could not kill, would be dead by morning.  i mean they’re only supposed to live like 24hrs right?  getting ready for work i only encountered one which i considered to be a good sign.

when i pulled up to my place after work i was hoping that the one fly was gone.  when i stepped into the kitchen i saw 10 more buzzing around.  i was totally disgusted all over again.  M was already on his way over so we decided to take care of the issue when he got here.  we went to lowe’s and got every fly killing thing we could find.  my choice was the fly-swatter.  up until this point i’ve refused to own one since it brings back all sorts of memories.  (we were spanked with them growing up.  and i’m tempted to say it stung more than the hand… of course half of our childhood was spent hiding them.  but my mom always had a few lying around.)

back to the tale… we ended up turning out the lights and attracting them to a flashlight pointed at the wall where we’re smack them into their demise.  we killed about 30 flies that night.  it was so creepy.  i vacuumed them all up.  then we left fly strips up over this past weekend (that i spent at M’s) to see if any more came back.  so far it’s been 4 days an no more flies.  i’m thrilled.  and i hope i never have to deal with that again.

so this morning when i piled my stuff in the door, from my weekend at M’s, the first thing i notices was that it was freakin stuffy in here.  i wasn’t surprised because i turn the AC off when i leave, but it smelled like a cave.  i went to turn the light on in the bathroom to get the AC running when my had got dripped on.  WTF?!?!  i turned on the light to see that everything in my bathroom was soaking wet, and the ceiling was dripping.  i called my landlady (who luckily lives downstairs) and panicked into her ear.  she came right up here to check it out and then broke into the apt above.  sure enough, they had a ton of soaking wet towels stuffed around the base of their toilet, which was directly above my bathroom.  when she called them they simply said “oh yah, we were gonna call”.  i f-in hate living in the same building with college kids.  and this is exactly why.  they don’t think about anyone but themselves.  slamming doors and stomping on the stairs at 2am and letting their plumbing issues leak into being my problem.  so the plumber has been called.  but who knows how long this ceiling is going to drip.  so far i’ve been holding itin.  i’ve really gotta go but i don’t like dirty nasty water dripping on me while i’m peeing.  i’m not sure how much longer i’ll be able to hold out though.  i’m about to eat lunch and i’m probably gonna Have To go after that… either that or i’ll have a bladder infection soon.

why is it always like this??  can’t i ever just have ONE uneventful day?!?

  

  

~ today i learned… that even clean water, after coming straight out of old pipes, can be yellow and brown.  nasty! ~

my favorite things v1.2

i realize that this has been a heavy picture filled post week so i’m going to cap it off by continuing down that road

it’s been 6mos and i’m a person with alot of favorites so here we go again, but now that i’m slightly(and i intentionally stress that word) more blog savvy we now have pictures too.  so if i were Oprah you’d all be lucky, but alas i am not, so you will just have to hope i hit the lotto last night in which case i’ll buy everyone some of each of these.

here’s what i love…

… pampered chef batter bowls.  they’re wonderful.  i really love these 4cup bowls with lids.  they have measuring marks on the side so they’re perfect for measuring out and mixing anything right in the bowl and then you just toss the lid on (so perfect for pudding!)  they also come with a recipe to make cake right in the bowl!  i’ve never tried it but it sounds FUN!  i think they come in 4c. and 8c. sizes… i have 2 of the 4c. ones.  

 

… bath & body soaps.  i like to use the foaming ones in the bathroom in sweet scents, like the cherry blossom or honey suckle and i use the regular gel style clean scent ones in the kitchen, like the citrus herb. (apparently they no longer have that one online, but the kitchen herb is really nice too)

… Hue foot care thingys.  they have all of the cushioning you could need for your shoes.  and they come in clear which is so nice.  i am typically a fan of the ball cushions but they have a full sole cushion that is heaven too.  if you’re a thong sandal wearer they even have the things that wrap around to protect that area between your big toe and next toe (whatever it’s called) and i like to use these on the top edge of some of my flats so that they don’t rub.  i also love these because i can get them at my favorite place here… which leads me to the next thing

 

… TJ Maxx gift cards.  i love this store.  anyone who’s read more than 2 of my posts would know that.  i think it’s just heaven and i spend way too much time and money there.  but i have so much great stuff because of it!  how can you beat great, comfortable, cute underwear for $1.99?!?

 

… maggy london dresses.  i’m obsessed with these.  they’re so flattering on so many bodies.  yes, they’re not the cheapest but you can find them on some super sale deals at Macy*s.  and, yah, hi, many of them have POCKETS!  freakin LOVE!  and the step down brand, London Times, can be often found at (you guessed it) TJ Maxx!

 

… yankee candles.  i’m sorry but no other candles give off the same powerful scents.  i know they’re overpriced which is why i like to use the coupons and get them at BB&B or LNT.  i light these all the time.  clean cotton is classic but i’ve really taken to the honeysuckle for the warm months.  yes, i love reed diffusers and lamp oils too but these are just awesome.

 

… bite size snickers.  i bought them once around the holidays because i wanted to put something out at my desk for others to snack on too, and i’m now addicted.  eating an entire snickers bar literally hurts my teeth, but i always want to do it anyway.  these are the perfect size!  who cares if i eat 3 or 4 at a time?  still not the equivalent of an entire bar.  plus they’re easier to share, don’t be stingy with your chocolate : )

 

… inStyle magazine.  i’ve been a subscriber for a while.  it’s the only magazine that’s lasted with me.  you know, you read Seventeen up until you’re 16 and them you move to Cosmo and Glamour.  then at some point after college you move on to Elle, InStyle, and Vogue.  sometimes you even get hooked on Harpars Bazaar.  i’ve gone through so many different subscriptions of women’s magazines and this is still my favorite.

 

have a good weekend everyone!  i’m off to the races tomorrow.

  

  

~ today i learned… Mexico and Iceland consume the most Coca-Cola per capita ~

wii want these

okay, i want these

M is perfectly content playing mariokart but i’m starting to need variety

this just came out… like on tuesday i think.  the only issue?  we’d both want to be VT and dominate… not sure if same team games are allowed in this version. 

umm, so yah, this has beirut.  that’s right, beer pong for you non-new englanders.  i think it’s awesome and at the same time i’m not sure if it would be nearly as much fun.  if nothing else at least it’d be practice right?  without having to go get your stomach pumped after.  (though honestly, i think my beirut days are long passed)

we never really have time to play much Wii anyway so i don’t see us actually going out to get these any time soon, but it would be nice to have some more options anyway.  i mean someday (in a far away galaxy) we’ll live together and then at least i’ll have more time to play.  did i mention i work from home?

  

 

********************************
on a completely unrelated note, am i the only person who thinks the TMobile commercial where they substitute “hello” for “goodbye” and they have farve saying “hello” to football after 17 years is funny and quite ironic?  anyone?  no?  it’s just me?  i don’t believe it.

if you don’t know what i’m talking about click on the moving one here
and if you’re not a follower of NFL then read this article
put it together

  

~ today i learned… donald duck’s middle name is fauntleroy ~