Bathroom Chic

One would think that being a single girl living in a one bedroom apartment, I would have enough room for all of my stuff. Well that is just not the case. Last weekend I got down and dirty and really cleaned my apartment trying once again, to get my life organized. Part of the weekend was devoted to driving over to Target/Christmas Tree Shoppe/Michael's for frames and miscellaneous organizational items.

Occasionally I dabble in make-up, but I don't always remember to wash my make-up brushes. Honestly, I think I have really deep cleaned them once...in about 2 years...yeah...

Part of my problem is leaving them out to dry, I don't want to put them back in their pouch damp because that could cause mildew or something gross. While walking through Michael's I came up with a perfect solution! For about $5 I was able to purchase two small vases and blue marble stones. Now after I apply eye shadows and what not, I can quickly spray the brushes with cleaner and leave them standing upside-down to dry.


I think it looks rather cute. They have been living in these little vases for just over a week, and I couldn't be happier!

Britney Spears with a side of Bacon

A few weeks ago I bought a new alarm clock that allows for me to wake up to my iPod. My previous alarm clock had a cd option that broke about 2 years ago and the radio didn't work, so I have be subject to BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. Not my favorite way to wake up.

At this time, I have a 75 song pop song list (thanks iTunes Genius) that plays every morning, picking up where ever it left off the previous day. Thus, I have anyone from Britney to Ke$ha to Justin to Lady Gaga saying good morning.

Well like all technology, I have already found a superior alarm clock that I must get - the Wake 'n Bacon. The construction of this clock reminds me of something I would have made in wood shop back in middle school, but sometimes simple is best. After all, the iPod is a very simple looking device and we all fawn over it. So here I have a big wooden box with ears and a pig nose, just seems like a large novelty clock until you realize it wakes you up by cooking bacon!

All you have to do is put in a piece of frozen bacon when you are getting ready for bed and the timer is set to start cooking 10 minutes before you want to wake up. You are then gentley woken up with the smell and sizzle of bacon. Yum. Now I would still need some sort of noise, because I don't know if the smell of bacon alone could wake me up every day. But I would definitely pop out of bed faster if I had Beyonce AND Bacon.

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.

New Responsibilities!

I now have two new roommates. Fred and Benny. They are my new succulent plants. Fred is a Sovereign Blue (left) and Freddy is a Variegata (right).














Benny was named after my original kickball team, as he has pink edging along each leaf. Fred gets his name from the fact that I like naming objects Fred. :) These pictures were taken from the Proven Selections website (same company that makes the little stick thingy that is in the pots to tell you what kind of plant you are looking at). My Fred has a tall stalk that has a funny pink flower at the top. I would include a picture but my camera is being a bit finicky right now.

I have been told that succulents are pretty easy plants to keep. They do not need a ton of attention, but I did just think about that fact that I really should get around to watering them. It has been over a week. Ooops. They are also still in their original pots, and I have been informed that I should re-pot them into something else. Which will mean that I have to go out and purchase a new home for these guys. Good thing there is a nursery right down the street!

Change for a Dollar??

Before I moved out of my parents' house, I didn't mind doing my own laundry. At home, the laundry machines were in the room next to mine so very little was needed to get the clothing from my floor to the washing machine. At school, stairs would often need to be used to get to the laundry room, but at least I just needed my ID card to activate the machines.

Now, not only do I need to go from my second floor apartment to the basement, which involves walking down a narrow set of winding stairs. But, I also need the country's rarest form of currency.

Quarters.

Trying to acquire enough quarters to do all my laundry is damn near impossible (excuse my French). Part of the problem is that I probably do my laundry about once a month. One of the reasons this happens, is that I put off trying to get these magic coins for as long as I can. Here are my problems.

1. The laundry room in my building does not have a quarter machine so I need to find an outside source
2. My current job is not particularly close to my bank, so I cannot get a roll of quarters from them as I work from 9-5 and so do the banks
3. I don't use cash all that frequently, so saving quarters from change that I would take forever to get enough for a wash and dry (12 quarters)
4. Generally, stores are unwilling to part with quarters if you ask for change for a dollar (in line with this, they are definitely not going to give me change for a 5 or 10)

I did realize one solution was to hit up laundromats and use their quarter machines. Of course the one that was on my way home has thought about this and fears giving out quarters to non-customers, so they have created some crazy ticket system... shaky fist!!!!! I was finally able to find a more trusting laundromat and changed about $8 so I could get some laundry done this weekend. If anyone knows another way for me to get some quarters I would be so happy, I really need to figure this out. Either that, or I just need to keep purchasing more clothing so I can last even longer between washings.

Major To-Dos

I will be having a few people over next week and am feeling a little sick right now. By sick, I mean I feel fine minus the fact that I can't stop sneezing. As excited I am to have a group of fun and classy ladies over for booze and New Moon the board game, I also am on edge trying to find the time to make my apartment look presentable.

At work I realized I needed to make a major To-Do list. There is laundry to washed, floors to be scrubbed, food to be purchased and cooked for the superbowl as well as this get together. On top of that I had to get through papers, bring my car to the garage and work a few part-time gigs. Life was busy and I didn't have a lot of wiggle room. My social life couldn't be put on pause this week for just one event next week. At first I started listing things on a post-it and quickly ran out of room. Instead of moving to an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper I decided that I needed a fancy To-Do list and went on google to find one.

What did I find? A bacon to-do list of course. If I had a color printer I would have printed out a few sheets but sadly, I don't think we have one in my office suite. Granted I have only had the job for a few weeks so maybe its hidden somewhere.

I just had to share my newest bacon find! Enjoy

All Legs in my Apartment Deserve Great Socks

Screw being humble. I have great legs. They are long and lean. While they aren't worth $2 million like Heidi's but they are still rather fab. The biggest issue with them is that they are often too long for pants, tights or knee high socks. Thankfully, American Apparel makes thigh high socks that actually are long enough for people like me. I have the white ones with pink stripes (of course) and love wearing them to kickball games.

But know who also has great legs and lives in my apartment? That would be my dining room chairs - I'm glad you have been paying attention and know that I do not have any roommates and therefore the answer had to be an inanimate object. I think that I shouldn't be the only one looking great in this place. Fortunately Charles and Marie makes socks for chairs.

Not only do they make socks, but they make ones that match the ones I own from American Apparel. Right now I am still on a major budget and these are $20 a set. Hopefully business picks up in the spring and I have a little extra cash that would love the be spent on clothing for my furniture.

Exercise Illiterate

Umm, I can't wait to find out what this exercise is, or how it helps me.

I was in Dick's Sporting Goods on Saturday afternoon. I have been well aware of the fact that while I look like I might be considered "in shape", I am very much just skinny fat. My muscles are consistently tight which causes them to cramp up and me scream - in public. Over the course of the last few months I have been saying over and over again that I would start up yoga again and regular stretching. So far, nothing. I'm done with excuses, I need to get on this before my body curls up onto itself. It could happen, I think.

Anyway, back to me being in the sporting goods store, I decided to take this opportunity to look through the fitness section. Here I found those big fun balls that are used for stretching or sit ups or something but quickly realized that as much as I have wanted one of those, all I really need at this moment are some of those stretch bands. I found a set of three that were not on sale, but honestly, I can spare the $20 to get myself loosened up.

I went to start my new life. A life that would consist of crunches, push ups, squats, and stretching (for flexibility) and I got stumped when I went to leave the starting gate. To start my session, I figured I would break out the new bands and go with the flexibility stretches. The box tells me that they are three different resistance levels, but doesn't bother to tell me which is which. I mean they are different colors, how hard would it have been to say red = easy, blue = medium, green = hard. I tested them out and think that the red is the easy one but I am not completely sure.

Just now, I thought to see if I could tell visually if there was a thickness difference. I am going to keep red as the easy and move blue to hard, but green could be the easy one too...I am just going to go with my gut.

On top of not knowing what the levels are, I also don't understand what the clip is for that is found in this kit. There is a great chart that shows me movements I could try, unfortunately they don't include what the clip is for, or explain how I would secure it to the door way. My thought was to tie it to the handle, but I feel that is probably wrong.

I think I am going to have to do some research tomorrow to find out exactly how to use these gigantic rubber bands. Baby steps? At least I own them now.

Thirty

# of books that I have bought and are sitting on my bookshelves unread.

7 - # of collections of short stories that I have started or picked through, but yet to complete all the entries

6 - # of books I started and put back down because I didn't have the time, focus, or energy to invest in them

6 - # of books bought for a college class that I didn't to to that semester and vowed to read later in life. Later still has not happened

Forty-nine books that need to be read, are dying to be read, are staring back at me in my living room. This number does not include the book I need to read for book club that is being held next week. Every few weeks I end up in a book store and say that I cannot purchase a new a book until I catch up on all the ones that are already scattered around my apartment. Those days I usually end up with just one new book in my purse. It is an addiction and it hard to break.

My goal this thanksgiving break is to read at least two of them and three magazines (which would get me caught up in that area). The first book would be the book club book, the second being The Host by Stephanie Meyers (yes the Twilight lady). I would say don't judge me for The Host but you already have, instead I will ask to still be my friend. :)

I don't know when I am going to find time to really get these piles down considering I feel like reading is a waste of time right now as I try to get my life together. So maybe when I am 50 I'll have a few hours? If anything I need a job that lets me travel so I can plane read...

Sticky Feet No More

Domestic Goddess duties just build up so high when one lives alone. You can't ignore the dirty sink surface in the bathroom or the stack of mail in the living room or the sticky kitchen floor hoping someone else will deal with it. For the last few weeks I have noticed that my kitchen floor had a sticky spot near the stove. (Hey I admit it, sometimes I really get into cooking and not everything makes it into the pot) The spot has been bothersome, but I couldn't bring myself to deal with it. Tonight, it is just me against the spot.

Washing the floor is something that I hate doing more than any other chore, but at the same time if I am able to complete the task in one go I feel so freaking accomplished. Back in the day when I worked at the ice cream store we would have to mop up the floors - which were covered in ice cream, fudge, caramel and who knows what else - my back always was killing me the day after. Fortunately, my teeny kitchen has an even smaller floor. This means I was only Cinderella for about 10 minutes, but those 10 minutes felt like forever.

I am now rather proud that my feet no longer stick to the floor and I hope to be more careful while cooking so that it doesn't get gross like that again. But we'll see. Worst comes to worst, I have to pretend to be a Disney princess for another 10 minutes. I think at this point I have already done some serious laundry, cleaned the bathroom, washed the dishes and cleaned the floor. I am letting my domestic goddess alter ego have a break now. I only wish I had the energy to make something to eat for dinner, but then again, I would just have to clean up again...

Home Cooking - Mmmmm

My kitchen is full of dirty pans, plates, bowls and serving utensils. My stomach is full, my feet are up, and I am just doneskies. I have been slowly getting back into the groove of cooking for myself regularly, and well, I think I am feeling good about my culinary instincts. Honestly, part of my new excitement for cooking comes from having complete control of my kitchen for the first time ever, but the other part is my desire/need to stay within budget.

I had a number of awesome friends who helped me move in here and I am slowly trying to formally thank them all by cooking for them. Tonight I had one of them over to show off my place and my skills with the stove/oven. He was impressed by all.

Here was tonight's menu:

• Mom's meatloaf (complete with a great tomato based sauce with a bit of tang)
• Smashed potatoes (shout out to my fav none-benny lava kickballer for the use of her smasher)
• Steamed green beans w/ toasted almonds and plumped craisens (steamed in a combo of water and oj)

Oh, and this was of course paired with Honey Moon and Harpoon Hefeweizen. Everything came out wonderfully, especially given this was my first attempt at this particular dish. I called my mum a few times to be sure I understood what I was doing and she just laughed and answered my small questions.

I did use the most of my time since there were occasions where I had some cooking "down time" you know after the meat went into the oven, but before I had to put the potatoes on or then later the beans. So I was able to not only clean up the house but also...

HANG UP THE PICTURE FRAMES! Yay. There might just be a few extra holes in my walls. That mainly has to do with the fact that I picked some softer places in the wall to put some nails, which meant they weren't going to hold. Then I also was a little to rushed to use the level right at first and things weren't lining up as well as I had hoped. Fortunately the pictures are hanging over the extra holes so no one can tell what had happened.

As much as I enjoyed cooking tonight for a friend, really I had a great time singing to some trashy B. Spears while doing so, I really don't feel like tackling the last of the dishes. At least I know that I did the first round of prep dishes already and I just have serving and eating stuff left for the most part. But I just can't bring myself to attempt a good clean up. My kitchen sink will just stay full of dishes until tomorrow. Fortunately, I think I can live with that. :)

If only Merlin was around...

Like StateFarm, I am a Good Neighbor

Sunday I stopped over at the Christmas Tree Shop to purchase some picture frames to hang up photos of some really awesome people. The frames were priced at an amazing $6.99 (each holding six pictures). Sadly, they came in white and dark brown. Not the colors I was hoping for. Fortunately, it was (in my mind at least) a quick fix to turn them into deep pink and black. In the real world, it may have only cost me $5 for the paint and brushes, the time it took to paint was FOREVER.

Well, I finally finished the frames. I then designed which picture would be in which peep hole, how I wanted them put up on the wall and I get out my hammer and nails to complete the project for good. That is when my eye drifted to the clock on my cable box. It was 11:35 pm.

Being the good neighbor I am, I have decided to postpone hammering until a more respectable hour. I hope those around me can feel my positive and respectful karma floating their way. Cannot wait for tomorrow to get the pictures up! They will be a lovely greeting for me each and every time I enter my apartment.

As a side note, the building has been a pleasure to live in. There was a small window of time where someone on the other side of the courtyard thought it was a fantastic idea to jam on their fife from about 11 pm - 1 am on a weeknight. But they have since reevaluated that thought. I think my downstairs neighbor running across the yard and yelling at their window might have something to do with that decision making. (I might have been watching from my window in amazement. I can sleep through most anything so I was actually more disturbed by the yelling than the music...)

Buying Entertainment in Bulk

For some reason I decided that after I moved into this apartment I needed to finally get some magazine subscriptions. Having magazines delivered every month to my residence just makes me feel like I am really an adult. I feel attached enough to my address to have something I pay for sent to me regularly and happy enough with my life choices that I deserve the little bit of excitement each month when a new glossy covered magazine shows up.

Now, I was very determined to find some good deals because I did not want to only get A magazine subscription, but a FEW subscriptions. The idea of being able to have an array of reading material on my coffee table (that does not currently exist) thrilled me. I do understand that magazines are another added expense to my very limited budget, but then again, a subscription is so much cheaper than splurging on the occasional news stand purchase. And with this single life, I feel that I am going to want an option to curl up on the couch and peruse a magazine rather than commit myself to a book or just succumb to the seductive powers of my dvr.

Additionally, I think having completely control over my own mail box makes me eager to get the magazines. Once I came back from Alaska, I went out to find the best deals that I could to minimize the expense. FYI - Amazon.com is basically giving magazines away for free. If you are itching for a subscription, go there now! I subscribed to Marie Claire, Vogue, Entertainment Weekly and Teen Vogue (don't you dare try to judge me on that last one). No subscription cost more than $15. I got Teen Vogue for 2 years for $10.

What prompted this post? My first Entertainment Weekly showed up on Friday. If it hadn't been for the bachelorette dinner/bar night out, I would have immediately parked my butt down and had a lovely time reading about Jim and Pam's upcoming wedding. Honestly, I can't wait for next week's issue.

Trust me, when my first Vogue shows, you will know!

Hiss, hiss, whooooooooosh

I thought I would be out cold last night because I was pretty sleep deprived this week. But, instead I was tossing around. I felt like maybe it was too hot, but that didn't make sense because it was pretty chilly last night. Right around the time my alarm was about to go off, I could hear this hiss hiss whoooooooosh noise. I thought maybe the water pipes were being loud. Sometimes I can hear it traveling up to the floor above me.

Nope, that was when I realized it was warm in my bedroom. The heat was on.

I have radiators in my apartment and heat is included in my rent. Last week I was panicking that I didn't have a thermostat but learned that I have little dials on each radiator that are used to control heat. I must have spun the one in my bedroom a bit because heat was pouring out.

Lesson learned. Don't touch the dials because the heat is now ready to roll. Second, if I am going to touch it, be careful because the dial gets a little warm...

Truer Graph Was Never Made

see more Funny Graphs

IKEAChristmasTreeShopTargetHomeDepot Thank You

My apartment is basically put together now. I have most of my stuff unpacked and most of my furniture has been purchased (and assembled). I have to give a shout out to IKEA, Christmas Tree Shop, Target, and even the Home Depot for doing so. It is really surreal living by myself still. Every day I just am beyond thrilled when I walk through my door and just start stripping off my clothing - walking up the hill home is beyond exhausting.

But now I have rugs - w00t Target and Home Depot - and so I think I am about ready to make my apartment a shoe free zone. I never thought I would be one of those people who prefers no shoes in the house, but I am kind of warming up to the idea. Maybe I'll post up some pics of the place. We shall see.

All I have left really is to find a cart/tall table for the kitchen - IKEA was sold out of the one I liked. I also have to hang up my art!!! That is the part I am really excited for. I just wanted to be sure all the furniture was in place before I started hammering into the walls. I think my new dream catcher will be the first thing to go up. I need my dreams monitored.

It is like I have a Home Gym now.

Going to the gym has been something that I have have been avoiding since I started to play kickball. Because clearly, kickball for 45 minutes, once a week, for a season is a major workout - I guess one could argue that if you include my walk to the field it almost is...

But back to the point, lately I have considered the fact that my metabolism will soon start to call it quits on me, and I should get in the practice of sweating to the oldies and what not. With my life changing decision to live on my own, I got caught up in the notion to also start going to the gym, eat more healthy, get a cat, etc. Very New Year's Eve of me! At this point, I have not followed through on any of those plans. But I have good reason for not signing up for the gym.


What is the reason, you ask?

I get a workout every time I go home.

(Side Note: Don't worry, I have no intention to ever look like her--->)

I have to climb up one steep hill to get to my street every day when I return from work or errands. Then I have to climb to the second floor, which doesn't sound like much, but I have to climb to the entrance way too! Additionally, when I do laundry that is a whole other set of stairs. Laundry is in the basement level and it is not easy to maneuver down the twisting spiral back steps with heaps of dirty clothing. Granted I should probably do my laundry a little more often, but then I would have less to carry but that also results with more trips up and down the stairs. Oh life...

In addition to laundry, I have been a moving machine attempting to get my place in shape. Carrying all sorts of furniture upstairs and assembling bookcase after bookcase. I really need to consider downsizing my library.... But all of this has caused so many bruises to pop up on my arms, legs and torso!

But yeah, the last time I was this consistently sore and tired I was rowing crew for HC. Chew on that for bit.

I am fairly certain I will have a fine set of legs and butt to match with all of this climbing that is in my future. Glad I get to save that monthly gym membership money - I need it, FOR RENT!

Article of Clothing I have no use for anymore

The Bathrobe:

I have had robes in my closet since I started living in dorms at college. It is the easiest way to stay covered up going up those long hallways to the bathroom.

I used them again living in Boston with roommates. Even with the bathroom next door, didn't want to give the girls, or our guests, a show, so the robe was still a necessity .

Now it is just me and the Basil plant. And well, thanks to lack of watering while I was away and my apartment sitter had someone to get a temporary sitter while she was out of town, it is now just me. ;) It is ok, plants are kind of boring. But back to the robe, well I don't have a need for it. Perhaps some point I will need it if I have visitors, but let's be realistic, my couch really isn't big enough for someone to sleep on, so if I have a night visitor, they will be in my bed. Yep, I just went there.

MELTING - MEEEELLLLTTTTTIIIINNNNGGGG

Back from Alaska. It was AWESOME. Pictures will be up shortly for you to view - I am on stolen wireless still and so I don't think it the signal is strong enough for some serious photo uploads.

The Comcast man did come today, though!! Not only did he show up between 2 and 5 like I was promised, but he came at exactly 2 pm!! That never happens. So I have Cable up and running, the internet I will be installing myself. Eeeep! This should be interesting - I just wanted to save the $40 bucks, we are in a recession you know...

But basically, I wanted to complain for a moment that I went from Alaskan weather of 60 degree weather (with one day that was still only 40 by noon) to Massachusetts heat in the 90s! I don't think I have stopped sweating since I stepped off the plane. Sigh. I honestly feel like I am melting. I knew something like this was going to happen when we were all looking for summer to show up. She did, and she brought some major heat.

A few other points of interest:

• United lost all of my family's luggage so we are 0-4 on the checked bags. They still have not yet located the bags, let alone started the process of sending them back to us. AWESOME. Fortunately, I have a LOT of underwear, so I should be able to survive for the next week or so.
• I bought some book shelves for the apartment, this should help with the unpacking a ton as I will now have a place to put books, dvds and games. Sweet
• I found a super cute couch at the Jordan's Clearance Wearhouse, sadly, I don't have a truck so I couldn't get that. Still couchless. Please let me know if you have a truck/van or know someone that would be willing to come with me to get some furniture! :) I would totally appreciate it. For now I am still on the look out for that ever so important piece of furniture.

Getting Settled

Shaquille O'Neal and Ben Stein just answered the Comcast phone line. Honestly thought that I stumbled upon Shaq's home phone number on accidenct or something. Completely threw me for a loop until I heard Ben Stein's voice and remember their weird commercials.

Waited on hold for about 10 minutes. Not too bad considering. I mean I used to work at a call center back in the day and with about 50 plus of us answering the phone the wait would still get to about 40 minutes, if not more. Which reminds me, complaining that you were on hold for the first two minutes of a call only furthers the wait time for others. Please just think about that.

Anyway, I just spoke with nicest Comcast representative. She totally got me this amazing 2 year contract offer - which can be moved if I end up having to move (I hope that I don't as moving is such a pain!). But basically I am getting every channel I could possibly want, plus HBO, plus a free DVR subscription and internet. W00t!!! The only downside is that I couldn't get an appointment for before I leave for my two week trip. So I guess no Shark Week for me this year. As a friend of my said toi ne when I told him this exact news "haha it's a cruel harsh world we live in".

Amen.