Joining the reindeer games...

I've been watching the old holiday classics such as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Truth be told, I really don't enjoy them all that much. I think it's more something you put on in the background while you're decorating for Christmas. I was sitting with my 18 month old son watching them, feeling like it was something I had to do, tradition and all, not something I wanted to do. Patrick was not all that impressed either. He got upset at one point and I thought it was because he was frightened by the Abominable Snowman, but I looked down to see he was just unhappy the noise keep waking him up, as he had already been bored to sleep. This is not meant to be a major dis on these movies, they have held up quite well over the years, but I think I just need to know their place in my holiday life. I will still watch them every year, and enjoy parts, all the while doing something else while they are on.

Just Dance... sounds easy enough

I've found a new favorite Wii game. Which isn't actually that hard considering I've only ever liked a handful Wii games. That being said, this games is like a good ol' fashioned shin-dig. It's a dance game, where you move and sweat to some rockn' beats. I've only tried Just Dance 2, but am excited to Just Dance (first version). They games are officially on my Xmas list. It's a great work-out, and a dazzling party game. The only drawback is that after multiple dances with one Wii controller in your hand, you may experience a bit of tennis elbow. To combat this just throw a second Wii controller in your other hand and problem solved. Then just dance your way to a new fab body, just as I plan to;)

You can't please everybody. That's a hard phrase to swallow when you happen to be a people pleaser in you heart of hearts. Ugh.

Did you hear that? Creativity was talking. I like what it had to say.

Today I was able to buy for, style out, be the make-up artist, hair stylist, and photographer for a photo shoot made to sell vintage clothes online. It felt really great to be that creative. I've been wanting to do this for a long time now, and it went better than imagined. Andrea was a great model, and (cross-my-fingers) I'll use her again. Pretty sure she also had a good time. Can't wait to do more. Now I just need to post all the clothes and new jewelry I've made. Wish me luck...

Phew, I need a water break...

I was going strong for two weeks. I ran 5 days my first week. Then ran/exercised 4 days the next week, ending in a strong 2.5 mi run. I have deflated since then. We got back from the vacation, and it's lame, hot, sticky feeling in the house. I can't seem to shake the all consuming lethargy I seem to have, and I have less desire to push through. It's so annoying... I will though, push through. I'm not going to give up now, but everything in me sure wants to. I'll keep posting about how it goes.

SALE, CLEARANCE, LAST CHANCE BARGAINS!

I have an addiction. To sales. Yeah, I know old story, but seriously it's a problem. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not talking about a shopping addiction, only a sale addiction. I will almost never allow myself to buy something at full price. Good, you may think, thrifty. Well thrifty indeed, and yet sometimes I think this is not always a good habit to have. While I do think I end up saving a lot of money with all my "thriftyness" I may be missing something in the long run. Sometimes what will happen is I buy so many "sale" items, I still spend a good chunk of change. Or, I might not get the quality that comes with spending a little more dough on things. I do buy at thrift stores, and that alone is a sort of sale price, even there I usually only get the colored tags that are discounted. Could I be missing out on some really great stuff? The only loophole I give myself is when I spend someone else's money. Then, suddenly I'm able to really splurge on myself. Recently I received a gift card for my birthday and just bought myself a much needed new black purse (I'm serious when I say I needed it) and it wasn't that it was so expensive, but I know myself and I never would have purchased it with my own money. It was a new arrival type item and not on any sort of sale... I wouldn't have given it a second look. Oh, and I loooovvvve it. So I'm not really sure what the cure to my addiction would be, and if I'm really honest I don't know how much I want this addiction to end. I'm very prideful when it comes to my thriftiness, I love a good sale :)

A night for the ladies... Sex and the City 2

Last night I made a trip into the city and finally saw Sex and the City 2, just before it left the theaters. It was the only theater left in the Portland area it was showing. I'd heard a lot of chatter about it, especially since I waited so long to see it, and let me tell you, most of what I'd heard was that it was bad, unnecessary, a big disappointment. I would expect those type of reviews from critics, but even a friend who said she liked the first movie, told me she was ready to walk out of the theater at one point, and that she hated the movie. Hated? I asked. Yes, hated. So I was concerned that it was not only going to be not as fun as I had hoped, but plain terrible. Well, drum roll pleas...du...du..du.du..... I liked it, enjoyed it, and had a great time. If I was to assess say a grade, it would be a B to B+.

My experience was like this: The anticipation of waiting so long and others opinions that were swirling around my head as I watched the movie, made me a little over analytical at first. I am even trying to gauge audience reaction. So far so good, I think, I am enjoying the movie, and yes there are some cringe worthy moments, but they're few, and the last movie had some of those, but all in all I enjoyed that one too. Anyway, so I'm sitting there thinking, "I like this. Is it weird that I don't hate this. Should I hate this?", I'm sitting next to my friend wondering, "Does she hate this, am I laughing to loud at the obvious jokes?". Luckily, I came to my senses, and realized I really don't give a hooey, (ya, a hooey), what everyone else says or thinks, I like this movie. I think it did mostly everything (that I've read) it was set out to do. It wasn't suppose to be as dramatic as the first, it was suppose to be fun, decadent, and like the original series, the fashion was over-the-top, but in a good way.

All in all, I was very satisfied. The roles for each woman I thought were almost better than the last movie. Especially Charlotte, she got a meaty role that I especially related to. Samantha's character arc is what it always is for me, not great but fitting. She did however look amazing. Seriously, where she looked sort of old and busted and trying to hard the last movie, this time around she looked good, impressively good. So for me it was a great success, and I can't wait for it to come out on video so I can watch it again.

It never fails WINCO trips always suck, suck, suck. Is it worth the savings?? Not sure.

Book Review: Twenties Girl

I just finished Sophie Kinsella's latest book Twenties Girl. This book was a bit of a departure from the heroines in her previous books, in that one is a ghost. I don't particularly like sci-fi, vampire, or even murder mysteries, so upon realization that she was serious about seeing a ghost apparition, I was a bit skeptical on whether I'd enjoy her latest novel. What I found out was that not only was I able to buy into the 20s flapper girl ghost befriending her great niece (who's alive), but I found their relationship real, funny, and most of all endearing. I think for Kinsella it's a great novel that separates itself from the all popular shopaholic series while retaining that specific Kinsella tone. It didn't take long, just a couple of paces to digest the ghost theme, and I was able to get pulled straight into this story and enjoy every minute.

I was like sweating and it totally grossed me out to the max!

I had my 30th birthday party on Sunday. It was an 80s theme and was totally radical. The exception of course was that it was about a bazillion degrees in the house with our 80s costumes on. I hadn't really prep'd for an outdoor party, not even sure why, but I was thinking games, games, games. We attempted to play an 80s trivia game, which was a blast... until everyone abandoned it claiming heat stroke. Luckily our friends The Burts brought an outdoor game with them call BAG-O. So, we traded out playing BAG-O, helped our engaged friends do some wine and champagne tasting in prep for their wedding, blasted the 80s compilation discs and had a killer time. Thirty is not so bad. Especially when you get to remember what it was like to be 8 years old.
Runnin' just as fast as you can -an -an -an......

Did I just start a random conversational blog, as if I blog all the time? Yeah, I just did that.

Complacency Kills

To run the Pre or not to run the Pre, that is the question. I really have no excuse this year. No, "I just had a baby and need to take it easy" rationalizing in my pocket this year. I should want to do it. I lack so much motivation. Or perhaps I am just lazy. Whatever the reason, I have yet to run a lap, let alone a mile in preparation for the 10K that looms ahead that I'm suppose to complete. I have ran it before... once, and enjoyed it even. I've yet to even fully commit, aloud. Why start now, you know? I'd say it's safer to leave it at a we'll see...

Scuse me... I just tweeted.

Started a twitter. I'll officially jump off a bridge if everyone else is doin' it.

Happy 70th Birthday Chuck Norris!

1. Chuck Norris makes onions cry.

2. Chuck Norris can slam revolving doors.

3. When Chuck Norris does a push-up, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s pushing the earth down.

4. Ghosts are actually caused by Chuck Norris killing people faster than death can process them.

5. Chuck Norris can build a snowman out of rain.

6. Chuck Norris can drown a fish.

7. Chuck Norris' calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd; no one fools Chuck Norris.

8. A cobra once bit Chuck Norris' leg. After five days of excruciating pain, the cobra died.

9. Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.

10. The most honourable way of dying is taking a bullet for Chuck Norris. This amuses Chuck Norris because he is bullet-proof.

There is nothing like a good cup of coffee. It serves so many vital roles in my life. Morning Joe, Midday Joe, Evening Joe I HEART all the JOEs. Add a doughnut to the mix, and watchout!

Blazer Nation

I am all kinds of excited about the start of the NBA season. One of the perks of living in P-town is I can fully geek-out with my support of the Portland Trailblazers. Last year was awesome and I expect this year will be as well. Patrick was out and about showing his support on opening day. Check out his cool Blazer gear, can you say LadyKiller?

I love you, Paul Rudd...

These guys are all pretty funny, but I've noticed I get really geeked up about anything with Paul Rudd in it lately. Eric and I watched I LOVE YOU, MAN last night, and I really dug it. It was a great concept that I feel like a lot of people could relate to. It was essentially a feel-good bro-flick. Poor husband, I knew it wasn't quite the same watching the movie with me, when Eric really should have been watching it with another special someone, they could have held each other close through the really moving parts. But, back to Paul Rudd... I was excited to watch him in this movie, because I realized I enjoy him in so many movies he's in these days. Even if he is not the main character, he's still a stand-out. Take 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN for instance, I think his character is so hilarious and fun to watch, and even if he's playing a sorta pathetic clingy ex-boyfriend, he still is able to maintain an adorable likability. If you haven't watched the Age of Aquarius video at the end of that movie, you must! It is freakn hilarious! I also enjoyed his kick on SNL this year. The other night I was flipping through the channels and stopped to watch the tail end of one of my favorite older flicks, CLUELESS, and guess who was the leading man.... that's right, Mr. Paul Rudd. So... here's to you Mr. Rudd, for entertaining me so thoroughly, and to you future endeavors... we love you man.

Finally, a movie I've actually been looking foward to...

Eric and I watched Coraline last night in 3D. The whole 3D experience was not quite what I had expected. At times it seemed to give the movie an enhanced quality, and other times it seem as if the 3D was off. I never had the feeling as if anything was popping out of the screen. The movie however, I liked a great deal. It was dark, but not too dark. A tiny bit of a Tim Burton feel, but more original. I am looking forward to watching the regular ol' 2D version. Eric might want to watch it with me, considering that we had all the lights off in order to really get a feel for the 3D, and he really got a feel of watching the back of his eyelids throughout the movie. I've got to cut him a little slack I suppose, as we are new parents and both pretty sleep deprived.

Burn baby burn...

It's been crazy hot here, so the family has been confined to the only air conditioned room (family room) in the house for days. This is the first time I am able to sit at the computer and not be sweating like bananas, (yeah, they sweat). I slept in my own bed for the first time in like a week and it was AMÅZING. Now I have lots of chores to catch up on in the rest of the house that has been neglected--fun. Oh, and in a mad, sweaty fit, I bought a Slip N' Slide, woohoo!

I'm Back!

I will be returning to work on August 1st. I will start out two days a week, Saturdays and Sundays. Come see me!!