What Do You [Want To] Know?

..I fell off the face of the [blog] world yet again. Between having the flu for a WEEK, my best friend breaking her foot, year-end at work, and welcoming some [somewhat-temporary] roomies to 3412, to say I've been busy is an understatement. I don't know how bloggers do it. Have enough to post days each week, while working and taking care of themselves and their families.

Writing is something I genuinely enjoy doing, and this blog allows me to write when and what I want. The problem? I feel like I ramble and make no sense. My point? If you read this post, leave a comment with a question for me. This will give readers a chance to get to know me better, and at the same time let me have the satisfaction of completing a post with a purpose.

On another note, last Sunday I celebrated ONE year of home ownership! :)

Hello November, Hello Flu

So far, I'm not a big fan of November. I'm sick of being stuck at home. Sick of throwing up. Sick of not being hungry but wanting to eat everything I can't. Sick of being sick.

After missing two and a half days of work, my parents convinced me to go to the doctor. What's the point? I wanted to ask, I clearly have the flu...what are they going to tell me?

Well, after a two hour visit, a shot, a couple pokes, a prescription [and maybe a few tears] .. I'm back at home. Here's hoping I'm back on my feet soon, because I just might go crazy if I lay on this couch one more day.

Here's what I'm thankful for so far this month:
1- cell phone insurance. Due to my [horrible] luck with cell phones, see previous post. Seriously, at least 5 phones this year? #treachery

2- my Foundry supervisors.

3- past jobs: Happy Time Preschool and Daycare. I saw a grandparent of one of my Pre-K kids [at Target of all places]. Having a relationship with not only those kids but also their families is something I won't forget .. and this day proved they won't forget either. I'm beyond blessed to have shared in so many children's lives.

4- Starbucks. Red cups. Enough said.

5- my great Grandma Eunie's blanket.

6- [NOT] thankful for .. the FLU! But more than thankful for .. 1.a best friend/neighbor [Aimee] who brings me homemade soup, Gatorade and takes my temperature, even if she walks in the door covering her face. 2.a "brother-like" friend [Marky] who brings me Pedialyte popsicles [which are quite good I might add] and spends the night on the couch just in case I get sick again.

7- having the flu and therefore not voting in yesterday's election. I wasn't completely swayed either way, I'm not big on politics [I know, I know] and I wasn't about to wait in lines for over an hour. If I had voted, the outcome would be the same. I don't believe that one person, the President, runs our country on their own. Regardless of who was named our 44th President, Americans need to come together and support him. That's all I'm going to say, and don't worry, no more political posts or rants from me!

Movember

October is officially 'in the books' and November [or Movember] has arrived. I turned 25 last Friday and have decided to turn over a new leaf, aka: make some minor adjustments to life choices I make. For example: I have a problem [an addiction] with Target. I probably take trips down the street at least three times a week. And often enough, I purchase things I really don't need. I've also been eating out quite a bit lately, because "it's too hard to make food for just one person." Well, the excuses are out the window from here on out, or at least that's what I'm telling myself.

You want proof? Last week, I made chili, chicken tortilla soup, stuffed peppers. The stuffed peppers were so good, I decided to make more this week. I also made chocolate covered pretzels for 'Trick or Treating' at work!

To be honest, I don't think my Target trips will ever completely come to a stop - mostly because I don't have the patience to go to Wal-Mart and because I just need to get out of the house sometimes. Like last night, after I shattered my cell phone screen Trick or Treating.

So, in honor of November, Movember, or whatever you call this eleventh month, I will be doing a weekly What I'm Thankful For post. Happy November!

Birthday Week

For some reason, in my mind, a birthday isn't just a day, but rather a week [or month]. And this week just so happens to be my [25th] birthday week! My birthday is this Friday, October 26. Officially at 8:44PM, in case you were wondering. And wouldn't you know, I share the day with a fellow blogger!

My birthday week started last Friday, with...

a surprise visit from a good friend who joined the Navy and is currently stationed in Bahrain...and who I haven't seen in just over a year!

a little one enjoying his first hockey game [of the season], a Black Hawks win & letting the now-15-years-old boy I used to babysit drive my car home. He did great by the way!

So he wasn't a big fan of getting his picture taken with Tommy Hawk, but he did give him knucks!

a [few] beers, of course a pizza, great friends and random people, and several laughs at my favorite bar, Smitty's. "This ain't a soup kitchen, dawg!"

Stay tuned for more this birthday week!

TVP's Big Fun Fall Giveaway

The Vintage Pearl is having an AWESOME giveaway right now. I first found out about TVP about two years ago through fellow blogger Ashley. Since then, I’ve purchased a handful of pieces, a few for myself and a few to give as gifts. My favorite piece I own is the lil vintage angel necklace – I had my great grandma’s initials (EMS) handstamped and also purchased one for my aunt Kristi. The newest piece I’m after? She flies with her own wings necklace.. because I’m so independent. Check out their page, enter the giveaway, and leave a comment on here with your favorite piece! Who knows…maybe a lucky reader will receive something special!



My TVP 'lil vintage angel' with grandma's initials.



Hawkeye Hat Trick

Remember that post a few weeks ago about my first Iowa Hawkeye game at Kinnick?

Well, I've hit the Hawkeye Hat Trick. I have now been to not one, not two, but three games this season. How lucky have I been?! Actually, some would say not so. I failed to see a touchdown nor a Hawkeye victory against Iowa State. I witnessed a heartbreaking loss after a couple 'onside' kicks in the final few minutes of the game against Central Michigan. A few people told me I wasn't allowed to go back to Kinnick, and I was starting to believe them. Until a day later, Aimee said they had an extra ticket and asked if I wanted to go that weekend to watch them play Minnesota. Duh, who could say no?! To be honest, I did hesitate, and I was a little worried because Minnesota was coming into Kinnick undefeated. After sweating our butts off and getting a nice sunburn [at the end of September!], I was glad to see my very first Hawkeye VICTORY!

Pay It Forward

Pay it forward. Do something unexpected for a friend or a complete stranger. We’ve all heard stories about being at the grocery store and having a stranger pay for your things, being in a drive-thru and having someone pay for your food, anonymous notes/gifts left in your mailbox or on your door step.

How am I paying it forward? This blog post. How does that work? I am going to send a special gift to 3 people who comment first on my Pay It Forward post. Where did this come from? I recently read the Single Mama's Pay it Forward post and commented that I would love to continue to Pay It Forward.

The rules? Be one of the first 3 people to comment on this post. You need to have a blog and write a similar post to invite your readers to play along within 1 week of commenting on my post. It's that simple!

Please comment even if there are already 3 people, just in case someone can’t follow through. :)