A bright spot in this boring day

Awhile back, I talked about baking Jewel Heart Cookies a la The Jewels of NY. Here's how they turned out.
The jam was delish but not gorgeous. Also, I decided that I would not use the same colors because I didn't want to mix colors or buy sanding sugar. Instead, I used Wilton's Sparkle Gel. I love this stuff. I had used it for Thanksgiving too.

I also made some chicken lettuce wraps in my attempt to get healthier. :) Chicken, green peppers, green onions, and mushrooms.

Today Kris and I woke up and went to Johnson City, an hour drive, to get Indian food at Sahib. We gorged on their lunch buffet. I love Indian food but had to account for the eating later. So, I worked out a little more (15 minutes of my workout video, 25 vigorous minutes on the elliptical, more weights, 50 dance moves (from Self magazine), and about 10 sit-ups haha). I'll need to work on doing more sit-ups for sure. I also did this to account for this smoothie from Keva Juice. Also, had some chips and a razzarita instead of dinner.

Tonight was pretty crappy though. Tucker, Liz, and Kris came over and we went over to Tucker's. He had a set of chairs from a bowling alley/laundromat (love them!) and this mid-century modern buffet his bro got from an estate sale. Then, without Tucker, we went to Usuals for a drink. It was rather boring and everyone fell asleep. :/ Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Kris, Liz, and I are going to lunch, hike, swim, gym, and picnic somewhere in there.

Oh yeah, no Atlanta/Athens because Stephen is training for his new job as a youth counselor for the Dept of Juvenile Justice... :/ Well, maybe sometime soon.

Here Come The Newlyweds

I'm catching my first episode and I love it. I love LOVE and cute couples. The stories are cute.

Marlo & Mark Corliss

After dating off and on in college, both went their separate ways, only to once again cross paths and fall in love.
Hometown: Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts.

Ashley & Matt Cox
This outdoors-loving couple have known each other since the fifth grade, when they met on the school bus. They know everything about each other, which can sometimes lead to knowing what buttons to push and harmless bickering.
Hometown: Smyrna, Tennessee.

Sarin & Jed Hinkins
Virgins when they got married, this couple's honeymoon was the very first time they were together. Their honeymoon hotel turned out to be a clothing optional resort - which was incredibly awkward for them.
Hometown: Cedar City, Utah.

Brendan & Bridget Huffman
In high school, Brendan and Bridget ran with the same crowd. Years later, Brendan bumped into Bridget at a rock concert -- she was on a date with another guy. Sparks flew, Bridget ditched her date and the two have been together ever since.
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Michele & Sonarak Ieng
Sonarak met Michele at a date auction where he was the emcee and she was up for auction. He bid on her and the next day Michele contacted him. The outgoing couple have been together ever since.
Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia.

Makayla & Kenny McMorris
This fun-loving and goal-oriented couple met at their church, but started dating after seeing each other at a club. When it comes to examples of happily married couples, they say that they are each other's best role models.
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska.

Audra & Rich Newbery
It was love at first sight for Rich when he saw Audra dancing at a club with her friends. Audra says that it was Rich's British accent that won her over.
Hometown: San Francisco, California.

Katie & Nick Oskowski
This couple is addicted to fitness. She teaches aerobics and he is a personal trainer. If that weren't enough, they enjoy spending time together working out at the gym.
Hometown: Mentor, Ohio.

Andrea & Matt Smith
Although Andrea and Matt fell in love at first sight, it was five months before they shared their first kiss, and they dated for two years before getting married.
Hometown: Cottonwood Heights, Utah.
Status: Eliminated

I have so many insecurities.

Particularly in such situations I guess. What situation? I don't even know. Darnit darnit darnit. :(

I know I'm pretty cool, but I wonder if I match up to all the other girls out there. What makes me so special?

I've been trying. Working out everyday. Eating better. Cooking even. What for? Because I want to buy clothes that I like and because I'm ready to be "more forward" as all my friends tell me to.

So the weekend was fun, I guess. Friday was Kris's b-day. I totally missed one of my students' b-day dinners! :( I was focused on hanging out with people my own age I guess. I went over to where they play poker, waited, and went over to pick up Huevos with Tucker but Tucker left me there for like an hour as he did some business. It was okay though because we hung out next door with the super cute neighbor. They were moving out. We played with this creepy crawly head massager - we helped each other out. That's kind of weird but totally awesome! Haha. We finally made it over to Temptations, a bar/small club. We left after one drink to go over to Bier Garden. We saw people we knew. Afterwards, we went back to hang around at some apartments. It was well, interesting.

Saturday, I went over to Grayson's before going to a party. I think that was my first circle of death in years. In any case, we went over to a dance party. I don't dance unless I've had a few drinks. It was slow so Kris, Grayson's friend, and I went to Usuals for dinner. We came back and found more people. Though it was sufficiently fun, particularly for the guys :), I was disappointed. Something was missing. What was it? I mean, I know what it was.

Yesterday was lame. I was supposed to hang out with Jesse before he left but I ditched for something better? I'm such a bad friend. I made dinner for myself (chicken lettuce wraps) and Yancey/Kris (burgers) then Kris and I headed to a gathering. I suck at beer pong, but I'm getting better. I did get better and I had lots of fun. I came home pretty trashed. I had a lot of fun and it pretty much made my weekend. :D

And so, with that, we go back to the beginning of this post and why I have so many insecurities. Thankfully, I got over it a bit. I danced a bit and talked trashed. It was fun. :)

He's Just Not That Into You

I need to reread it because I feel lost (and remember that picture quote I had, it's becoming truer and truer.)

Quotes from the movie 'cause this is one quotable movie.

Alex: If a guy doesn't call you, he doesn't want to call you.

Gigi: Girls are taught a lot of stuff growing up. If a guy punches you he likes you. Never try to trim your own bangs and someday you will meet a wonderful guy and get your very own happy ending. Every movie we see, Every story we're told implores us to wait for it, the third act twist, the unexpected declaration of love, the exception to the rule. But sometimes we're so focused on finding our happy ending we don't learn how to read the signs. How to tell from the ones who want us and the ones who don't, the ones who will stay and the ones who will leave. And maybe a happy ending doesn't include a guy, maybe... it's you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over, freeing yourself up for something better in the future. Maybe the happy ending is... just... moving on. Or maybe the happy ending is this, knowing after all the unreturned phone calls, broken-hearts, through the blunders and misread signals, through all the pain and embarrassment you never gave up hope.

Any movie with Kevin Connolly is sure fire. He's a fantastic actor.

GOOP

I love Gwyneth Paltrow's website, GOOP, and her staple clothing. I think we all need this.

Gray is the new color for me. I pick grays for furniture too!




I love wide leg jeans with heels. It looks casual-professional and can work on my casual Fridays to teach (if jeans are allowed).

California ranch and bungalows

Having lived in Southern California for my whole childhood doesn't make me want to move back, but Southern California has some of the nicest ranch homes. I discovered their bungalows and love them too. If I ever do move back, it'll be for the houses.

Thankfully, my favorites aren't the million-dollar homes but the ones around 400-800K. It's still pretty expensive, but not completely unfathomable.

Modernist Bungalow isn't particularly my style, but it's put together really nicely.








The exteriors are sometimes more fantastic than the interiors...

Since yesterday...

:( I don't want to talk about it too much. I hope I didn't fuck it up, but I'm kind of really nervous now. Let's just say I really want to watch "He's Not That Into You," which Yancey promised to nab for me tomorrow. I mean, even if I did fuck it up, I was being who I am so what can I do?

Yesterday was a hoot. It was 10 P.M. and I was baking cookies. Yance and I went to rent movies, grabbed Kris and Huevos, and went to a party. I was driving, took Kris home around 1 so he could go to work, came back, didn't play beer pong cause I really really suck (flip cup is better), and then played some weird slap bag game on a bag of boxed wine. Well, I chugged wine twice, had a beer, and then had a rum/Sprite mixed drink... and I was hungover. I still went to the gym cause I'm a trooper. Also, I need to go badly. I'm working on me completely.

Links: This is why you're fat. | Chandeliera | Modernist Bungalow (want want want!) | Eat like a nutritionist.