Category: It just got personal

All that randomness in such a small package!?

that one time we got philosophical at sushi, guns for african children and pufflin’

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{Personal Post}

Zee German and I have a thing. We go out to eat and we talk about life. goals. careers. arming Uganda’s children with guns (Oh hey Kony!).

This week we found ourselves facing another game of let’s see what random high fructose corn syrup “edible” we can find in the cupboards – did I mention I used to love cooking? Bait and switch baby. Bait and switch. But since we had recently discovered a new hidden gem of sushigasm in my mouth (and the cutest little sushi chef ever!) let’s not kid on how long that game lasted.

But what was the most fun about going out was getting the chance to talk to Zee German. Really talking to him. Because what I’m realizing is that  we’re stuck in a consistency pattern. We get up. Talk Puffin to our Muffin (don’t be jealous you don’t have a secret language developed only by crazy couples overly obsessed with their puppehs). Go to work. Binge on the horrible office food that will surely cause our bodies to spontaneously combust. Go home. Workout! – ’cause we’re sexy and we know it…could not resist. could not. – And then somewhere between playing with Puffer McNugget (AKA our BABY PUPPEH! Love Child) and hoarding candy, we find out way to the bed and pass out.

And somewhere along the road those big dreams we talked about. The goals. The Careers. They all get swept away under the blanket of Comfort.

So while I’m raving about his genius creativity and how he has the insane ability to see things where others don’t. That he’s someone who could really come up with something original and amazing, and not just a spin-off of someone else’s amazing. He tells me he just wants to own a gun store (No he’s not crazy. He’s just in love with everything American. Muscle Cars. The 2nd Amendment. The right to NOT ride the bus.). To which I say, in the most I-am-not-belittling-your-dreams way possible, “But don’t you want to do something bigger than yourself? Something that makes an impact. Means something to somebody?”

And this is what I got.

“For every gun sold I’d give one to a kid in Africa.” [pause…wait for it.] “Like the Tom shoes.”

But of course that immediately spun off to how, though horribly inappropriate, what those Kony supporters really should have done is just arm the kids. Wait for Kony to come to them. And well hi there Kony.

However it doesn’t discount that I. That WE. All of us. Need to constantly remind ourselves that we truly are our own worst obstacles to being our most authentic versions of ourselves. That we’re the only ones (okay, maybe that’s itty bitty broad) stopping us from being the next Steve Jobs or Jeff Bezos.

And that sometimes we just need to flat out remind ourselves that…

Happy Tunesday (yes I realize it’s nearly Wednesday…)!

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This song has special meaning for Zee German and me. Early on in our relationship there was a little text situation in which I ended up with the nickname “Fire Chicken” (apparently that was supposed to be “hot chick” – so, I’m not fluent in iPhone emoticons after all. Go figure). And as an equal counter, I decided he would then forever be known as “Fire Penguin” (it was the next cutest animal icon).

But obviously now it’s so perfect! Because penguins mate love for life. And the male penguin is a supper supportive hubby and fierce protector of baby penguins (even unhatched). AND who doesn’t love penguins!?

[See Right]

Zee German.

Me.

Beachy beach.

Penguin bliss.

[Also, THIS post – where I snagged this picture is so fitting]

I mean seriously. Who doesn’t love penguins!?

[Source: Again with the posts on penguin love!]

ANYWAY. Enjoy my loves! What songs are special for you?

Pin it like a pro, mastering the art of Pinterest

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If you’re like me you’re A.D.D.I.C.T.E.D. to Pinterest. If you’re not like me – what’s wrong with you? Seriously, if you haven’t heard of Pinterest or you’re holding out because you like to be a late adopter to make sure it’s tried and true, your wait is over. Don’t trust me? Check it out for yourself here. Here. AND…HERE.

Forgive my drug dealing intro, but it had to be done. Now all of you should be blissfully hooked on the amazing plethora of visual stimulation that is Pinterest. And if you’re new (even a recent convert from my shameless peddling) or a power user, there are a few things that remain the same for all of us.

1.) Descriptions: Love them. Hate them. Use them for essay worthy details (seriously if this is you, please stop). Use them well my friends, because they are for the greater good. And that greater good is the downfall of Google (I kid. I kid. I ♥ Google mucho – promise)! But seriously the descriptions are KEY in Pinterest’s search logic – at least for now. So here are a few things to keep in mind:

– # and @ Symbols: (AKA What? I copied Twitter!? Yes. Yes you did. But’s it’s cool, Facebook did it first.) Most of you know you can use Hashtags (#) to coin a term or #brandallthingsinlife. What you might not know (because every article on how to use Pinterest says to use #) is that unless you’re sharing on Twitter, it’s pretty much a worthless symbol in searching – for now (may help with results slightly – haven’t seen proof of this yet though). The actual key to Pinteresting finds are the terms themselves. On the other hand @ really does let you tag someone in a comment or description. However, unlike Twitter it only let’s you tag those that you follow. So if you have friends you’d rather not have style stamping themselves all over your feed, you’re going to have to Facebook or Tweet them instead.  [Hint: Don’t add a space after the @]

– $ signs post prices as a small banner up in the corner, which most people know. Something you might not already know is that you can then find any of these $ tagged images in the “Gifts” section. [Hint: I predict this will be a MECCA for men looking to get their lady friends gifts. As in, GUYS GET YOURSELF AN ACCOUNT SO YOU CAN BUY ALL THE SHIT AMAZING THINGS WE PIN!]

– Speaking of Facebooking…One thing that’s a little bit annoying, but can’t seem to be helped is that if you share a pin to Facebook while pinning you’re going to end up with “just posted a pin to Pinterest” as the main header, with the witty, cute comment you made as the smallest, least visible component. Also the image itself will be pretty mini. Not sure if there’s a way around this yet or if Pinterest plans to fix it, but if you know how please share in the comments section!

– And because I know it’s tough being so funny and intellectual all the time, if you really must leave a blank description, you can just add a space before pinning. BUT refer to greater good discussion above and really try to use descriptions that will be searchable (in a logical way – i.e., “yum” is probably not a universal term for describing cupcakes, crock pot dinners, and Ryan Gosling…then again…).

– LAST TRICK ON DESCRIPTIONS (ALSO KNOWN AS THE MOST IMPORTANT HENCE THE OVERUSE OF EXCLAMATIONS —>)!!!!!! This just in. If you highlight text on a page before pinning it, the text will magically appear in the description box saving you precious minutes from your life, which you can now use for PINNING! #firstworldproblems

That was a lot on Descriptions but it’s actually one of the most important aspects of Pinterest, since it really helps build out the product (Note to Pinterest – HIRE ME!). On to a few other resourceful pointers:

  • Get the Pin It button. I repeat. GET the Pin It button for your Browser(s) AND YOUR PHONE HERE. Actually you pretty much access all the cool stuff there (Website integration with a Pin It or Follow Pinterest button – even the Pinterest logo. They’re that cool.).
  • Follow @Pinterest and their blog for development updates and Pinterviews.
  • Check out the personalized e-mails they send you with your status among the Pinning Gods and others you might like to follow.
  • Don’t forget that search results show up by individual images, boards and people. Often when I’m bored of the images I am getting, I’ll start cruising through the boards that the images I do like belong to. And then the people. AND THEN I’m on a full fledged stalkathon!
  • Follow people. Or exercise your voting rights and just say NO to the boards you don’t like by selecting “unfollow”.
  • Comment. Add Contributors (Note: They need to follow YOU and be cool with you style stamping all over THEIR feed before you can add them). Pin from ACTUAL websites – yes, I know that requires leaving Pinterest, but the Pin It button is like the little angel on your shoulder that never leaves you.
  • http://www.pinterest.com/source/domain.com will show you all the pins pinned from that domain. So you want to see Forbes? http://pinterest.com/source/forbes.com/ You want to see Food Network? http://pinterest.com/source/foodnetwork.com/ Who are we kidding? YOU want to see http://pinterest.com/source/fuckyeahryangosling.tumblr.com/
  • Send your comments to the team because sharing is caring

And for more random joys of Pinning…

Engaged? Start pinning. I cannot stress enough how amazing Pinterest is at organizing your plans, even figuring out what your style is (because it literally emerges from the pins you start accumulating).

Pregnant? Start pinning. It’s not just a site for crazy people obsessed with white dresses. Promise. There are tons and tons of adorable ideas for babies and expectant parents (even good learning tools), like this…

and this…

and BABBBEEHHH EWOK!

Crafty? Into Photography? Home Decor? 

Have New Year’s resolutions to Get Fit? Or Eat More (obviously a better time)? Oh hey unofficial sponsor of Oreo, Nutella and FUNFETTI. Seriously.

Seriously…

SERIOUSLY!?

***that’s and Oreo. INSIDE FUNFETTI!***

Guys?

Sorry, not for you.

Just kidding there are EVEN categories for you.

And so my fellow Pindicted friends we come to an end. Even though there are still many developments to come from this wonderful little team. And though we sometimes have to fight off suicidal depression during one of their frequent “No Pins Available” teases (though these are getting fewer and far between – Yay Team!). I promise you this does not even begin to touch on the many delicious possibilities of Pinterest. And that is exactly why Pinterest is so glorious. Each pin adds another possibility of something waiting to be created or experienced…

Or at the very least shows you that Oreos and Funfetti can indeed mate – TO CREATE BABY COOKIE GOODNESS!

So with that, there’s just one little last piece of advice. And take it from someone who learned first hand (refer to current search capacity above)…

PIN THAT SH…

What are your favorite tricks or tips for fellow Pinners?

[Sources (to the best of my ability – P.S. Try to source your Pins correctly)]

1.) Success Kid: Let’s not kid each other. This kid is everywhere…; 2.) Burberry Swagger via Tumblr 3.) Baby Rockstar via Baby Swag 4.) BABBBEEHHH EWOK via Imgur 5.) Funfetti Cakeballs via Chef in Training 6.) Funfetti Donuts (AKA Heart Attack) via Cookies & Cups 7.) Funfetti and Oreo’s make sweet, sweet whoopie via Bakers Royale 8.) Ring on It (customized) via YouTube

Life lessons from a four-year-old and staking claim on 2012

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To say my niece is precocious would be an understatement. To say she’s currently a pregnant, bare-chested rockstar would be closer to the truth. Oh and did I mention that my lovable, darling niece is 4 years old? And that for a year she refused to answer to anything other than one of her various aliases (primarily Rebecca). But don’t worry she also renamed my brother and sister-in-law during this time period to alleviate any confusion.

So it really shouldn’t have surprised us when the other weekend she sauntered downstairs after getting ready for bed with her PJ’s on – sans buttons. Then when my sister-in-law sensibly went to help her button up, when Miss Diva proclaimed, “No Mom. I’m a pregnant rockstar and you know how they always keep their shirts unbuttoned.” Four. Years. Old.

You’re probably thinking, “That’s what you get for running nonstop TV and keeping US Weekly for bedtime stories.” I promise you this could not be further from the truth of her zero TV, educational programming during family time only, Spanish immersion, women studies instructor Mom, Cyndi Lauper singing life. But you know who else had an awkward pregnancy phase as a toddler? Dakota Fanning. That’s right folks, I am proud aunt to the next child superstar.

Dontcha wish your family was haute like me?

And on the turning of another year, I can’t help but be a little jealous of my pint-sized rockstar. I mean, here she is in that beautiful phase of life where her imagination has no bounds. The word “impossible” literally reads “I’m possible” and she’s surrounded by adults telling her she can be anything she wants to be. The magic of this glittering bubble is one of the best parts of…And then it hits. At what point did those encouraging adults become the voice of reason politely pointing out that income after taxes makes being a superhero less desirable than an accountant? When did our apostrophes skip from I’m possibles to can’ts, don’ts and won’ts? And who says we can’t reclaim our childhood wonder? Our sense of excitement for all the sparkly promise the world holds. Who said we’re too old? It’s too risky and our time has past? The adults. Us. We. Me.

Well, I can proudly say I don’t much care for the maturity of adults and much rather foster the brilliance of youth. With 2011 as a celebration of this crazy circular life, 2012 will be a continuation to a deeper level. A year for unwavering belief and throwing tantrums (otherwise known as taking a stand) for what I want. Not what I’m told to want. To honoring childhood wonder.

2012 will be the year of making a Reclamation.

Breaking up and making up. A tale of retail.

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I recently did three things I haven’t done in ages (well at least since I met Zee German and happily started co-habitating…aka became the old married couple):

  1. Went shopping
  2. Went drinking
  3. Went “when the hell did I stop being able to drink past 9!?”

The last of which is a sad new found revelation that I’m getting bloody old.  Actually if I’m honest, I’ve known this truth for a long time but happily feigned ignorance until ignorance came to smack me in the face in the form of a GLASS of tequila (apparently Hard Rock Cafe serves glasses NOT shots of liquid pain and regret).

But it was mostly number 1 and 2 that were the entertaining portion of my weekend – though I’m sure some people thought step 3 had it’s humorous moments.

Shopping.

I’m not really a girl that likes to shop.  I like to covet.  I see things on other people, Facebook stalking, random Pinteresting, etc. that I adore but really never have that much fun when I try to go find those items in real life.  Either that or those things look nowhere near the same as when I was coveting from afar.  HOWEVER, my good friend Yuri (who is a shopping maven) pointed me in the direction of Express.  Now, I’m no stranger to Express and in fact my closet is still full from my former days of salestitution, but then there was this awkward breakup.  We both said things we didn’t mean.  And three years later we merely nod and politely look the other way.  That is until they started selling THESE

These my friends will make love to your legs and have you saying things you’ve never thought you’d say, like “can I get these a size smaller?” (thank you Express and your polite upsizing).  Seriously they’re like invisible spanx on steroids and diversified in their ability to flatter, meaning even though I look like I lost my butt in my last pair of jeans when I normally try skinnies, these tighten, tuck and showcase in just the right ways.

THEN of course I had to take part in their buy 1 get 1 50% off deal (if this is still going on, go there. now.).  And with that I felt pretty pleased with myself for breaking my style strike…with twins.

Until I found this at Nordstrom last night

Which just happens to be a Pinterest crush.  So now I’m thinking, I HAVE to buy it.  It’s a sign!  Plus a date with my bridesmaids is coming up to try on dresses and foster our inner tween with Breaking Dawn (but in a theater that serves alcohol, so we’re obviously not the same as the squealing, clapping 12 yr. olds…We’ll be drunk on vampire love AND cocktails).

And what better way to celebrate this reunion with teen angst than to proudly wear THIS LITTLE BAUBLE 

I have an addiction.  It’s name is Pinterest.

I don’t want help.

Confessions of an addict. about that time i stayed up until 2 AM “pinning”. and the next night.

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Word of warning, if you do not already know what Pinterest is you may want to stop reading right now.

Seriously.

This is your last warning.

Fine. Well then welcome to the world of so many pretties #IDie. A life in which the hubby-to-be goes to bed alone. Sleep becomes oh so uncreative, and life is a nonstop wedding.

The irony and most Pinteresting part of this addicting site is that it was founded by three dudes. Apparently has one woman (re: “three dudes” link). And yet a barrage of women posting wedding, decorating, styling and cooking boards dominates the space. In fact, when Zee German thought he’d check out his competition, he quickly gave up when the results for “gun” showed up with this…

 

Obviously he’s not the target market (or any “he” for that matter). But that’s quite alright, because that means my own searches are undiluted, beautiful, feeds of

this.

and this.

and THIS!!!!

 

Oh Pinterest. You had me at hello…just don’t tell my fiance.

adventures in growing up

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As we left work Zee German said something related to babysitting, which led us to mention Adventures in Babysitting and how we both loved that movie, which of course then led us to how Zee German obviously made it his goal to relive this movie in his daily life as proven by his track record of dating sub-25 year olds. Then deciding to marry one who frequently tries to get herself killed by texting and walking, crossing the street when everyone else does (despite the oncoming traffic) and drunkapades involving tutus, butts in the air and walking away with anyone that takes her hand (Oh hai mom! Promise I would never do that), where by making the rest of his life one big bad adventure in babysitting.

And that’s really all any of this mid-20 something life seems to be. One big adventure. Adventure in finding yourself. losing yourself. discovering yourself. accepting yourself. pushing yourself. Currently I’m somewhere between re-finding myself and letting go of the self I thought I was supposed to be.

This quote has popped up in my life about 5 times in the last couple weeks, which usually would mean that it’s a big flipping sign I’m not really doing what I should be (workwise or by spending too much time on sites like Pinterest – you decide).

And I really like this quote. It makes perfect sense that you should be doing what you would prefer to spend your time with when you have the choice. However, I also hate this quote because it makes me want to punch babies in the face when I re-assess how I spend my time and realize I need to find a way to become a professional Facebook Stalker, Pinboard Curator, or Coco Puffin Cuddler.

So the takeaway here is:

I need to be more flipping productive with my time

But also, it does help me narrow down interests, because it’s true that while many of us enjoy spending our time on Social Media sites and stalking  connecting with others, there are some things to be discovered in why I personally enjoy it so much. I like connecting. I like creating. I like beauty and visuals. I like writing. I like ideas. I like sharing. And I’m sure that if I keep analyzing this idea of work being what I prefer to do with my time, I just might figure out what the hell it is that I am “supposed” to be doing with myself. Or at least I’ll have a really great Pinboard about it in the meantime.

things that can’t be unheard

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I’ve come to the sad realization that my parents have more of a social life than I do. Which on one hand I’m happy for them and all, because they spent 20+ years raising kids and deserve to cut loose, but on the other hand makes me feel slightly pathetic and like I need to launch operation “out-cool kid” my parents ASAP – apologies in advance to Zee German who last weekend announced he hated when it was sunny because it meant I wanted to run around outside chasing one sunny spot to another. HELLO SEATTLE LIFE.

On a side note this kind of reminds me of the Toyota comercials, which I actually think are horrible because they basically market to their audience by telling them they sucked at parenting and their kids are now loosers. And they annoy me.

But back to how my parents are beating me in the cool kid race.

Apparently my parents are now groupies with back to back concert schedules filling their weekends. And while I was listening to them excitedly retell the events of their night with “Motown” musicians (on our way to breakfast), my dad busts in with giggles (yes he giggled, which should have clued me in on the time to plug my ears and sing “na na na na” was upon us) about how they should really call their concert an “intimate concert”. No, no “sensual concert” with lyrics that if you listen closely would be considered porn. Things like “deep inside you is my magic place”. And ding, ding, ding – time for plugging ears has come and gone and I have officially heard my dad giggle, refer to porn, intimate and sensual in the same sentence and state the words “deep inside you”. Things that can’t be unheard.

Breakfast. ruined.

childhood nostalgia and parent traps

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Whenever my mom would make huckleberry muffins it was like Christmas morning. No matter how tired we were, or how much we didn’t want to get up because it meant our last ditch efforts in playing sick would be up, my brothers and I would stampede to the kitchen. And there they’d be in all their huckleberry glory with melting butter (Mom was is a big fan of butter – I’m actually surprised I made it out of the house under 200 lbs.) dripping from there perfectly baked domes.

So this morning I decided to make Zee German (read: myself) some of my mom’s muffins. And though they looked and tasted yummy, they still didn’t produce quite the same mouthgasmic experience as when my mom makes them (I’m pretty sure this may have something to do with an obscene quantity of butter that I’m only okay with if I don’t add it myself). Didn’t crumble in quite the same way, and definitely don’t make me feel warm, safe and giddy as when my mom makes them.

Damn you mom and your magic muffins. I realize this is part of an evil ploy to keep me in driving distance to home. Well played. Well played my friend.

thinky thinky thoughts and socialcide…you know the funecessities of life

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Technology is my savior, but man is it trying its hardest to be the death of me.

Sometimes I miss the days of penmanship, lined paper and number 2 pencils.  I miss crayola crayons, more specifically the monster box with two rows of freshly wrapped colors of creativity.  And every year despite having a complete box, color coded, with about 30% of the crayons untouched, I needed a new box.  Ah the simple funecessities of life.

Now it’s Microsoft to the rescue of all of us we us poor grammar, spelling and penmanship handicapped fools.  It’s Facebook streaming stalker news of all of our friends, co-workers, family – raise of hands who else’s parents are

on The Facebook please – boyfriends/girlfriends, ex-friends, ex-boyfriends or girlfriends (or both) and totally random people who apparently went to the same school as us though we can’t remember them – from a class of 43.

 

 

 

 

Whoever decided it would be fun to have an open window into the happenings of ALL of these people’s daily status, pictures, hookups, drunken nights of debauchery and relationship break ups and makeups?  Really we should be able to organize our feeds: Friends, Family (Shh! Don’t share THAT or THAT), Random people who think we’re friends because they know one of my friends, Exes (AKA Facebook Marijuana – Gateway Drug to intense “Research”).

 

Of course I know I could always politely decline the massive over-share of information, but who are we kidding here?

So instead we commit socialcide of finding out information that really never would have been ours to know.  On with reading things that you used to find out from friends in person or at least from a phone call (oh hi I’M GETTING MARRIED….AND I’M PREGNANT! – Former Best Friend Feed).  And on and on with the social drug of choice.  Stalker Feed.  Funecessities.

 

Then there are those moments when there truly is something big.  And Something important.  And AND Sometime exciting.  Or Something devastating.  Something to share.  But here we are in this world of social feeds and sharing, struggling to remember how to communicate.  Trying to remember how to form a sentence.  To share something that actually matters, that grips our heart and soul.  That keeps us up at night with thoughts, and more thoughts, and thoughts that seem to never go away.  How do we share that news?  How do we comment to THAT news?

[Photo Credits: 1.) Facbook Poem – 9Gag 2.) Research – vi.sualize.us]