Addicted to Carni Games

Back home a traveling carnival would come through our town and set up in the beach parking lot on Mother's Day weekend. Everyone would go because it was one of the most exciting things to happen in our area. There a handful of rides and a ton of carnival games.

One of my first memories of that carinal is getting suckered into playing a game which took me six tries before I won. The reason I remember it took me that many rounds is because I named the small cat/mouse like creature six. My mother was appalled that I wasted so much money that day.

Ever since then, I have come to understand that I have an addictive personality and cannot step away from a carnival game until I win. I mean how hard is it to knock down 6 milk bottles or skirt water at a target the fastest? My defense is to stand as far away from the stand as possible. The men will yell out to me to see if I will play and I have to keep my distance. As soon as I take a few steps in and answer a question beyond "wanna play?", I am done.

This weekend the Northend was having a festival and there were carnival games. I was trying to improve my mood from Friday's events and because of I was so focused on being super happy, I forgot to activate my carnie game defenses. Needless to say, I got suckered in without much of struggle.

Good news! I won on the first go. I had three darts and needed to pop three balloons in order to win. And it happened! Yay. Now I am a proud owner of a blue duck. That blue duck became the center of my afternoon, everyone wanted to know where it came from. It came from skills, or maybe skillz if you will.

Please meet Dr. Quacktaculous

If I buy an applaiance, it better be cute

As much as I love my pink giraffe print broom, I have been in need of a vacuum. The main reason that "purchase vacuum" jumped to the top of my to-do list is because there is sawdust all over one end of my bedroom from when my a/c was installed. My window is super big, so my dad made a wall to fill in the space so the unit would stay put in the sill. For the last month and a half I just opt to stay away from that spot. But today I was in a pretty angry mood so I decided I need a trip to Target and made some apartment purchases.

I can now say that I am now a proud owner of a purple vacuum. It is a Shark, which my sister assured me was a good brand. As soon as I saw it on display, I knew I wanted it for three reasons.

1. It is a stand up vacuum
2. The middle can be popped out to be a hand vac
3. It is cordless!

The one downside is that I have to wait 24 hours before I can take her for a spin around the apartment. I mean I probably won't actually get around to vacuuming until Tuesday, 20 minutes before some friends come over
for pizza and martinis...

As I was tooling around the store, I happened upon the Britta aisle. I have wanted a Britta forever. In the past, a roommate would have one to contribute to the communal kitchen, or I just abused my water cooler privileges at work. But with this heat, I would like to have access to filtered water at any moment, there is just something about the tap water here that I do not like. I have been waiting for Brittas to go on sale, and not only were they sale, but came with a $5 Target gift card and came in fun colors! I went with lime green. When I think kitchen I think green - typically avocado but lime works too - and I just had to have it.

OMG best day ever

Four reasons today is AWESOME.

1. Super cute baby animals. There are tapirs, hyenas, polar bears, monkeys, pandas, and elephants. There were 89 of these pictures before I wonder where some of them went. There was a great miniature turtle he was small enough to stand on a person's finger!

2. First episode of Project Runway tonight at 9 pm. It is probably the classiest reality show that I watch. The only reason I even knew the show was going to start today was because I might have gotten sucked into "You're cut off" and there was an ad for the season premiere. As much as last season sucked and was positively boring, I will give the show one more chance. That was the lost season, we all knew it would bomb...

3. The hairy chests of Chuck and Dan. Poor Nate, he just can't deliver the goods. I have been arguing with a teammate about whether females like hairy men and he refuses to believe me we like it. Don't tell me these guys don't look good.

4. Season premiere of The Jersey Shore. As much as I have said over and over that I will not support this show and am completely over these numbnuts, I just can't stay away. I hope someone gets in a fight and another brings home a grenade.

5. On a personal note, I made a martini for the first time in a week. Yummy.

and now there is one more to my list...

6. When I went to find an image of awesome things I found the blog Oh My That's Awesome. Who doesn't love some cleaning slippers?

Summer Resolutions

This past weekend QVC had Christmas in July - my mom's a fan. Which made me think about if we can have Christmas in July, why not New Year's Eve. Ok, so the countdown to midnight would be pretty anti-climatic, but honestly what makes July 1st 12:01 am so special? My thought was now that we are half way through the year, I have new resolutions in mind that I would like to declare out loud so that I can feel the public pressure of following through with them.

1. Wash my dishes every day

Basically I have found that I go days without washing my dishes. This normally doesn't get too bad, but when I don't do them for a few days and then go away for the week - eeeeep is my sink funky.

2. Strengthen my core

A friend sent me the link for Two Hundred Situps. It is a perfect solution to my dilemma of what to do. In terms of finding the time, why not jump onto my floor while I watch all my trash tv. Think about it, between The Real Housewives, Bethanny's Getting Married, Bridezillas, and Teen Mom (who am I kidding, I will so watch season 2 of the Jersey Shore) I have have hours each week that I can devote to a strong midsection.

I am not deluded to think I can have rock hard abs or some crazy lady six-pack. But I do want to feel tone and get rid of that pouch that shows up when I eat too many potato chips.

If I can think of any other resolutions, I will let you know. But really, I think anything more than two is just being way too ambitious about changing my lifestyle. :)

Sometimes You Just Need It Shortened

I rarely have to hem pants. For one, many of the pants I buy are just long enough so I don't look like a nerd when wearing flats. If I am able to find pants in long, they are labeled jeans that go with my 3-4 inch heels.

The problem comes when I find the perfect pair of jeans that could go either way. Like my Lauren Conrad matchstick jeans. When I tried them on in the store, I saw that they went perfectly with a pair of flats. Once I got home I decided to try some pumps with them and realized the look only worked if I cuffed them so they looked cropped.

I was at a crossroads. I can't bring myself to permanently alter them to a cropped length but I also don't want to have to fold them when ever I wear heels, because let's face it, that is more often than not. Thankfully Hem Gems have been invented.

These little buggers help to pin up your jeans with some adorable studs. They are only $20 for a set of eight. Depending how I feel at the end of the week, I might have to make a purchase. Normally I don't bother with anything that requires shipping charges, but here, I might have to make an exception.

Bacon Doughnut???

I need to go to Portland OR.

I don't know what I would there besides visit VooDoo Doughnuts on a regular, possibly hourly, basis. This shop sells AMAZING doughnuts and treats. My friend sent me the link because she loves the Voodoo Doughnut. Yes, it comes with complementary pretzel stick to stab his little body to inflict discomfort for your victim. While, I agree that the Voodoo Doll sounds delish with his raspberry jelly filling, I would much prefer to try the Bacon Maple Bar.


I have yet to experience a bacon dessert, I will not count an occasional bacon chocolate bar as dessert, and would love to savor one. Sweet sweets are not my favorite, but we if we can find a way to add salt into that final course, I am all in!

I suggest you flip through their menu so that you can drool along with me.

20 for a $1

After this weekend, I realize I might need to cut back my references to how poor I am. These laments stem from a year ago when I moved into my own apartment when I thought I would be taking a new job that pays higher. I could make my rent payments, but it was a bit of a squeeze and had to stop some of my automatic savings transfers. Little did I know that not only did I not get a higher paying job, but ended up elsewhere which meant taking a pretty major pay-cut. EEEeeeeep!

I do work a part-time job that is flexible, enjoyable, and definitely helps with the bills. Thus, I am still in the black, even if it is by a hair. I have adjusted my personal budget and quit saving money and things have evened out. No biggie.

Anyway, my dad let me know on the car ride home from the bar that he came up with a new way for me to earn some extra cash. Cash in my mom's diet coke cans. This is a serious suggestion, and what is sadder, is that I am seriously considering it. My parents cannot cash them in as RI doesn't do the deposit, but MA does. I am aware that it is illegal to take your cans from a non-deposit state to a deposit state, but I think I might chance it every so often.

I have shared this story with a few friends, and they have responded how they have thought about cashing in their own cans, but it seems more effort than it is worth. Normally I would agree. But my mother is my secret weapon. She pretty much only drinks Diet Coke from a can and consumes a good amount of it. If I picked up cans when I visited once a month, I could probably cover the gas money I needed for the trip.

In the end, yes, I am considering going for it. Who couldn't use a few extra bucks?

Summer Fun

I can't believe I haven't blogged about the best thing that has happened to summer. Yes, I am referring to Dunkin Donuts' new summer doughnuts. Below is my first love, it is called a Beach Ball. They are munchkins with pink, orange and yellow little circle sugar things cover them. Just looking at them makes me smile.

When I first saw them - the morning I saw Eclipse - I bought a couple just before getting to the theater. I couldn't wait to show my friends in person, so I took a picture and quickly nommed them down.


There is also a regular sized doughnut that pairs with these munchkins rather nicely. It is essentially the chocolate frosted doughnut with these same sugar things covering the chocolate. Oh man, now I need a doughnut. STAT

Happy as a frog

This has to be one of my favorite videos/pictures I have found on the internet. For the last few months I have kept it as a bookmark and refer to it during stressful times. This frog's happiness is so contagious!!

Oh Mass RMV you got tricked

On the way to work I saw the following in a license plate:

8008SZ

As far as I knew you couldn't have a plate that made that suggested anything sexual or crass. Last I checked eight-zero-zero-eight spells boob on any calculator. Which makes me wonder who let boobs go out for printing???



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ABSolutely worth the $6

Did you know that if you go to the movies at 10:30 am it only costs $6? Well I now know and have every intention of becoming a morning movie patron.

I am not sure if I will ever go to the theaters in the pm now that I know there is such a deal if I compliment with my brunches with some cinema. And seriously, who wouldn't love some abs first thing in the morning?


Yes, in case you can't figure it out I saw Eclipse. I totally recommend it.

Why I love Friendly's

The new sandwich at Friendly's looks amazing. I have seen and heard advertisements for the past few weeks and need to find time to try it myself. Who doesn't love grilled cheese? No one! (except maybe lactose intolerant people) Who doesn't love burgers? No one! (except maybe vegetarians). Therefore, any omnivore who has a love of cheese should be all over this monster of a sandwich! I cannot wait to find time to get to a Friendly's!

Where is my teddy bear???????

I saw Toy Story 3 (3D), loved it, and now wish I hadn't read so many reviews. When reading various articles over the last two weeks, I was convinced that I knew the ending. Watching a movie for the first time when you think you know the spoilers is very distracting - guess I will just have to watch it again!

The main focus of the movie is that Andy has grown up and is heading to college. His mom is making him pack up his room and all of his toys (thankfully my mom didn't make me do this until about a month ago). The toys will either be trash or saved and this puts them into a panic. My mom always was amazed that I have such a hard time letting go of my childhood play things, but maybe she will go see this movie and understand. I mean, how could I possibly be expected to throw away toys that kept me occupied for hours?? They know all of my secrets!! After walking out of the theater I immediately had the urge to get home so I could hug my teddy bear. He needed one, it had been a while since he hung out with me.

Go see this movie. Be ready to get a little teary. And try and remember where you last put your stuffed animals because you are going to want to find them as soon as you get home!

Sizzle Sizzle Sizzle

Fourth of July weekend is over. This was the best three day weekend ever. Now that I am back at work, life is just so ordinary, less magical, and hot as hell - well outside it is, inside our a/c makes it feel like I work in a meat locker which is definitely ok in my book! Let's recap all the sizzle...

Friday - I left work and drove straight home, well small detour to have a snack and a beer at a friend's, but home in time for dinner. Let me tell you, that dinner was perfect - swordfish steaks on the grill (sizzle sizzle sizzle), baked potatoes, and broccoli. Yummo. As a child I didn't like fish, as an adult, I still don't like most fish, but will admit that swordfish steaks on the grill have totally grown on me. Especially, when there is some lemon to squeeze on.

Saturday - I got up, went to the beach for a few hours (not yet ready to go all the way into the ocean, just made it to my thighs), and then came dinner. Regular steaks on the grill (sizzle sizzle sizzle), baked potatoes and fresh green beans. Oh man BBQ two days in a row! Can this weekend get any better???

Sunday - Whoa, it is getting hot up in here - wake up and again decide to get to the beach immediately out of fear that the parking lot will fill up. This time I go straight into the water and go under. It was cold at first and then I just didn't want to get out. The heat got to me (as did my fear of sunburning) and we went home. What was for dinner? Oh that would be hamburgers and saugies (sizzle sizzle sizzle), potato salad, and corn on the cob. LOVING THIS. I did not make it to fireworks, meh, I'll live.

Monday - I had to get up super early to drive my parents to the airport, but that meant that I was on the beach at 8:20 with my iced coffee and toasted bagel in hand. Great way to start the day. I was gone by noon which suited me just fine after 3 hours of swimming, walking, and reading. At this point the sun was super hot and my skin needed a break (sizzle sizzle sizzle).

I was home in MA in time for kickball, which sadly ended up getting canceled due to forfeiting. Oh well, the weekend couldn't be perfect. It was pretty sweet that my air conditioner was ready and waiting to be put on to deal with the heat. Hopefully I don't melt now that the temp is supposed to hit 100.

Booze before noon? Hells Yeah

Massachusetts passed a law that allows for booze to be served before noon on Sundays! This is some of the most exciting news I have heard that would fall under the category of politics. I realize that makes me seem shallow and pathetic, but really, having to wait until noon to order a mimosa is quite taxing at times.

If you have ever gone to the Highland Kitchen for Sunday brunch you would know how quickly the bartenders need to react when noon hits and EVERYONE wants a drink. Everyone sitting at tables, at the bar and waiting for a table wants a Bloody Mary or Mimosa STAT.

I cannot wait to brunch. Let's check my calendar...any one free July 18th? If not, how about August 1st? If neither works, maybe we can go for sometime in September :)