Oh Iowa!

Just a cute lil BooBoo!

• My meeting has gone exceptionally well.  I feel so much better having me the rest of the teams and getting to know some personalities and skill sets.
• My presentation was awesome.  We totally killed it and people are still talking about it a day later.
• I got the performance rating I had wanted.  My current boss had nothing to do with it, as it carried over from my old job.  Yay me, another year of hard work and crappy sites paid off.
• I got white girl wasted last night.  It was super fun, my boss's boss's boss LOVES me!  Everyone was total wastey pants last night and there wasn't one tiny bit of awkward about it this morning.
• My co-worker (Mr. WI) and I left at about 1am.  I had to go to his room to get my jacket.  I ended up cuddling with him (totally platonic, he's happily married) and passing out for an hour!  So not my intention, but sometimes it's nice to cuddle with a a very good looking and physically fit man.  It's a shame he's another one who snores so loudly.  It's actually his snoring that woke me up.
• My co-worker that I'm sharing a room with told me she didn't sleep well until I came back to the room, which was about 2am.  Her motherly instincts are kicking in!
• I think my type is changing.  Mr. WI is the 2nd in a row of the talk dark and handsome persuasion.  He also has killer blue eyes, and the most adorable smile.  And he's oh so WI that it makes me happy listening to him talk.  Every once in a while he says a phrase that will just floor me and make me super duper happy to be from such an awesome state, with a glorious northern accent.
• As he and I were walking in from dinner, we were teasing each other and our secretary said we sound like an old married couple.  We looked at each other and just laughed, he knows he can't compete with my real work husband and he mentioned he'd be way better.  I said he'd really have to work on it, I wasn't overly impressed thus far.  Then he said he won't change for anyone, to which I quickly retorted, just wait.  Everyone around us died laughing!  I really do love the new people I'm working with.  It's moments like those that make me remember why I chose to leave.
• For my first section meeting in 3 years I have to say these folks know how to party.  I've had almost more fun here than I did in all my years on CAT.  I think that says a lot about the people, the priorities, and the overall camaraderie of the new teams.
• I cannot wait for my first storm and chance to work with them all.  I sincerely hope they all work as hard as they play.

I do NOT have a problem

My Newest Purchase

Professional nail polish display rack!

My ear, with a new hole in it!

• I decided to spent most of today preparing for travel tomorrow.  I had a couple claims done but really it's not worth it.  The rest of the week is a wash with meetings and traveling and general tomfoolery :)
• I decided I hated my shoes I was going to wear and went and bought some new ones today.  They are exactly like the booties I bought earlier this fall, just in a pump.  They make me happy and I get can rid of 3 pairs of heels I don't love.  I think this is what shoe nirvana feels like.
• It felt like a heat wave today, all the way up to 33.  I even went and washed my car just so I would stop getting salt on my jackets and butt!
• The best part of today was buying my plane ticket to Vegas!  Sue-bee has to go for a work meeting and I'm gonna mooch off of her free room.  I'm flying for free too, thanks to credit card points.  11 days until I'm back to my happy place out in the desert.

Subtle Sunday :)

I spent today babysitting BooBoo and it was awesome.  She has such a little personality and is so fun and loving.  I enjoy spending lots of time with her.  

Tonight it's a little mix of movies, TV and Oscars, plus some packing.  I pretty much know exactly what I need to bring I just want to start finalizing and determine if I need to do some laundry.  

I've got my work out in for the day too!  Yay me, gonna be hard to get them in this week, but I'll do my best.  I wish my pedometer could keep track of miles done in heels, I think they should count for more.  They are def harder for me.  

Now it's time to relax and maybe find a snack.  My dinner was just bleh.  I hate eating leftovers.

Super fun Saturday

Line up all the Toys, wear all the bows . . . 

EAT ALL THE CHIPS!!!

SNOW ANGELS!!!

Today was good, oh so good.  I truly believe everything happens for a reason.  The first place we went for piercings didn't have their piercer on staff.  Only one and he takes a Saturday off?  So we googled and found a suitable replacement.  3 people on staff, the most helpful cashier/secretaries/sales people, and an easy experience.  I got a forward helix piercing and Sue got a triple!  The pain wasn't bad at all and I love the look.  I really think Nate (our piercer) made all the difference.  He was very nice, very professional and easy to work with.  I'm so thankful he chose to come to work today.

Afterwards we walked up to Stella's for dinner.  I had amazing scallops with oscar sauce and Sue had yummy swordfish.  The best part was half-way through our meal a co-worker sat down at the table behind us.  He didn't notice me and I unfortunately couldn't see who he was with.  As we left we stopped to say hello and his date was a blast from the past.  She lives in Lincoln and obviously came up just to see him.  I'm still shaking my head at the whole chain events; it was surreal.  I know Sue and I giggled all the way home!  

Now it's time to chillax.  I think a movie is in order as the DVR is cleared out and TV kinda sucks.

Ridiculous up in HERE!

Laminate Flooring with my paint and trim

New Floor with trim against my Tiffany Blue accent wall

This is just too funny not to share, I always think that when I see a man in skinny pants.  

It's not attractive unless they are wranglers and have a boot cut on the bottom

Today I was actually productive for work.  I handled more claims today than I almost have all week.  I was still done by 2pm and got my nails painted, the kitchen cleaned, and a work out in.  I also paid my bills, worked a little on my finances and realized I had my Weight Watchers profile set up wrong.  How you ask?  Because I'm a freaking idiot!  I had a profile on the site and reactivated it last month.  What I didn't realize is that it had automatically been set for maintaining weight.  Now I'm set for weight loss and have lost 6pts a day for eating!  That's a big cut especially since I'll be gone all next week.  BUT this should be a good shake up and start really dropping the pounds.  I should be happy that I was able to lose anything in a maintenance phase.  Man I can be a cotton headed ninny-muggins sometimes.

Tonight it's all about Duck Dynasty.  I thought I had seen them all, but I am wrong.  Jase just said "When I revert back to childhood I get ridiculous.  It's about to get ridiculous up in here!"  Seriously that's the kind of man I need to find for my life.

Choices!

Living Room Carpet

Bedroom Carpet, it's not called Myra, that carpet was fugly

Tile for my entry and bathroom

I cannot get my sample of wood flooring to photo well otherwise I'd show you that to.  I figure I'm in over my head now and I'm going to go broke replacing everything!  I know the wood flooring has to go in first, and the bathroom tile requires my toilet to be taken out.  I only have one bathroom, and not having it functional is not acceptable.  So now I'm stuck making some tough choices.  I think I'm forgoing the tile for now, the laminate is a yes, and the carpet may have to wait a couple more months.  I don't want to over extend myself and I have a budget that I do kinda care about.

I get paid this week so now I have to start figuring out a new budget.  My biggest concerns are 401K and savings acct.  Oh and I don't really know how much I need to live on.  I still have my college broke girl mentality of living and that was $250 for 2 weeks.  I know I spend/need more than that, but how much I'm not sure.  I'm sure work will be just as slow as it was today, so I'll be reviewing my mint.com.  I love the program that tells me where I do and don't spend money.

Gosh being adult is really exhausting.  I think I need to watch some MTV or at the very least cartoons!

Time to Shake it UP!

Today I decided to shake up my world a little bit.  I'm done being mean and bitter and hateful.  I talked to Clint but didn't let him get under skin, I remembered why I liked him in the first place.  And going back to that place actually felt good.  I had zero work to do so I decided to paint my laundry room.  A trip to Lowe's resulted in paint, carpet (measurements this week, finalizing my color choice next week), and some laminate wood floor samples staring at me.

Laundry room with 1 coat on.

The original color is celery green but photos horribly.

The new color is Simply Gray by Waverly Classics

After!  4 hours and it's completed.

It's photographing blue, but it's the most perfect blank canvas.

I'm so pleased with my color choice and how quickly it went on.  I should have shown you the wall with all my furnace and hot water heater.  It was never painted as you cannot reach behind them!  So with a long arm and an even longer roller I did the best I could.  I also couldn't move my washer and dryer so by laying on top of them I got down as far as I could.  I'm sure my muscles will not be happy tomorrow, but it's nice to feel a sense of accomplishment.  I think part of my boredom is coming from being unfulfilled.

Up next, find someone to help me work on my crochet skills.  I love being able to finish projects in a couple nights of TV viewing.  Normally I would bake, but being on WW is not conducive to that hobby.  Now it's time to relax and clean up my nails.  They are thoroughly trashed and need some gel polish to last through next week's meetings.

Fun facts

These two totally made my night!

And they drank half my cherry limeade.

Haven't you always wanted a MONK-EEEEE!?

I feel like I've done a lot of whining lately.  So instead today I'm focusing on my favorite happy things!

• getting my hair done.  I feel like a new girl right now.  And I have a fun little purple streak
• tattoos and piercings on Saturday.  Me and Sue-Bee and some body mutilation
• boys in trucks.  
• Boys in great big lifted up trucks with giant wheels, those make my heart skip a beat.  
• Boys in great big lifted up trucks with giant wheels and baseball caps on backwards make me almost drive off the highway!
• wearing my new sparkle shoes!  I'm sure I left a trail of glitter everywhere I went today
• Almost any drink from Sonic
• Words with Friends, it's saved me from many an awkward situation
• TV, I love me some shows
• My new perfume, it makes me feel a little sexy
• ice cream, particularly Cold Stone cake batter or butterscotch pudding flavors

Being Single isn't that Bad!

I'm really enjoying having weekends off, but I've also realized why I didn't miss them all that much.  No one else in my life lives like me.  I'm the only singleton.  I don't have to ask permission to go out, to spend money, to abandon a spouse with children.  I just get to do whatever I want, whenever I want, with my hard earned money to spend as I want.  Friday night, my friend asked permission to go shopping, last night my sister asked permission to go to Walmart with me, today the BFF had her husband home for a change.  These are all things I never want to do, EVER.

I'm sure it could all change, but I value my freedom above almost anything else in life.  I do NOT handle being told what to do, it's the reason I broke up with a guy 5 yrs ago.  He thought I'd just sit and wait for him to be ready and that I'd automatically want to do what he did.  I honestly thing he wanted a 50's housewife for a girlfriend, and besides my baking skills, I'm so not that type.  I'm still working on who I am and what I want, oh and trying to get out there and find some people to meet.

Time to review my "qualifications"  Never hurts to remind myself what I want!

My Ideal Mate

5'8" or taller

comfortable in his skin

good manners

courteous

social drinker

prefer non smoker

night owl

good family values/relationships

facial hair is a plus

bald is another plus

values his alone time away from me and respects my need for the same

treats me like a princess

Look what I can do

My new Audrey Hepburn style hair.

 I won't wear the tiara barrette, I have a much subtler rhinestone one.

My newest nail polish creations.  1 coat each over black, in direct sun

I had the best time playing mad scientist and making my own polishes today.  The one on the left is 1/4 original to me, and then 3 others I already had.  It's a zillion times more sparkly and holographic.  I love it!  The one on the right is 100% me.  It's pigmented with amethyst mica, and then 4 types of glitters plus 2 types of stars.  I cannot get the stars out of the bottle, but they are black and magenta and super awesome.  Maybe after settling and some use (the bottle is a little too full) I'll be able to fish them out.

I tried out some new recipes today and they are success.  I subscribe to a website called Slender Kitchen and am loving everything I've made.  Today was a breakfast apple crisp and a taco meat sauce.  I ate it with a quesadilla, tomorrow it'll be used in taco tot hotdish!  I think I'm finally getting into the cooking groove and finding what I do and don't like to make.  I pinned a couple super sinful recipes yesterday that will be saved for super special cheat days.  One is a fondue mac and cheese, the other my favorite pasta from Macaroni Grille.

This week I was only down 1.5 lbs which was super frustrating after a full week of workouts.  I weighed my self today and I was down 2 more pounds from my Friday morning weigh in.  Shame I can't go in and change it.  Well I could, but I think that's cheating.   So instead I kicked it up another notch and got a harder workout for the week.  I finished 2 hours ago and can already feel the effects in my butt and back.  Those are good things, so here's hoping it boosts up my weight loss.  My sister is 10 lbs ahead of me and it really chaps my hide.  I'm super happy for her, I just wish I was at the same rate. Stupid slow metabolism and desk job!  I keep reminding myself that at least I keep losing, baby steps.

Just a lil bit of closure today

Friday Funday

She's maybe watched Grandpa and Daddy (and Mommy and Auntie) a bit too much

(it's unopened, but very cold)

Toddler WWE

Today was a total fuck off day.  I hit my weekly quota pretty early this morning and just checked out for the rest of the afternoon.  I know I wasn't the only one so I'm in good company!  Not working allowed me to go watch BooBoo while Sissy cleaned the house.  She's such a good girl, but into everything!  We watched some Yo Gabba Gabba, had a snack and then nap time.  I got lots of cuddles and kisses today.  Makes watching her so much more fun.

Tonight I had dinner with my Kati.  Mexican food at my favorite place, best way to blow out my points for the day.  Delish!  After we went and did some more shopping :)  I got a pair of sandals I saw but hesitated on yesterday and a perfume I had tried out.  Plus lots of gossip.  Good times had by all.  

Now I'm enjoying some couch time and watching Duck Dynasty!  Oh I love me some crazy boys from the swamp.

Retail therapy

And I got plenty of butt time today

Nail polish making kit                             Completed outfit for my meeting

NEW SHOES!  ( I was supposed to be buying nude pumps, didn't happen)

My haul from Mall of America tonight

Here's everything I got:

• jeans in a size smaller (Jag Jeans from Nordstrom)
• belt in a size smaller (Lane Bryant)
• sweater (Sejour by Nordstrom)
• pink hoodie (7 Jeans for Lane Bryant) 
• sparkle shoes (Milly for Sperry Top sider)
• new lipstick (Nars)
• foot and hand lotion from Aveda (hands down the best)
• Aveda Shampure Candle (it makes me happy)
• spatulas from Williams Sonoma - they are the best!!
• 2 scarfs (blue Forever 21, pink Francesca's)
• a winter hat with a cut out for a ponytail (LuLuLemon)
• nail polish glitters (Sally Beauty Supply - I'll be making my own this weekend)

I had a great time shopping by myself.  Sometimes you just need to do it and get your whole list crossed off!  The mall was pretty empty, so it was perfect to be out.  There was a high percentage of very stressed out men walking around.  That quite tickled me.  The other heavily represented demographic were teenagers.  So many girls in too high of heels wobbling around.  Boys, tell girls if it's not a sit down date so they can wear sensible shoes and not get smirked at all over the mall as we watch them teeter around.  One poor girl had on 5 in stilettos, her feet were killing her, the shoes were too big, you could see the blisters on her heels, and she simply could not walk in them.  I felt so bad.  I wanted to carry her to their destination.  She couldn't have weighed 100lbs soaking wet.

I feel like I should write about love today, but I know I'm loved, I know who I love and that's that.  I don't need one day a year to remind me of that.  Plus, love has been pretty shitty to me lately so I'm gonna go with other things that make me happy.  Nail polish and shopping are the answer :)

Pity Party, table of one. Bitter and Bitchy will be seated separately

Scorpio (10/23-11/21)

Your heart is open to new beginnings, and you are ready to toss aside old habits and old ideas. Today, moving forward has never felt so good -- and it has never been more possible. In your professional life, it's finally the right time to start talking to your boss about taking on new responsibilities -- and maybe even getting a raise. In your personal life, it's also a great time to start asking for what you really want out of your relationship. It's a good day to start anything, actually.

• Despite a great horoscope I've still been stuck in a pity party mood today
• I'm obsessed with the HBO show Girls.  I finished season 1 today and Hannah and Adam just blew me away.  It's like watching my life, but without the awesome party where he commits
• My boss called today and could tell I wasn't normal.  That's bad, I'm sure he thinks work is the reason why, it's really not.  I've just accepted it is what it is.  Storm season will make it better.
• I deleted Clint from my favorites lists.  Big step, big big big step.
• I blame Valentine's day for making me so blue.  Stupid greeting card companies, and jewelers, flowers and chocolate covered fruit.  DAMN YOU ALL, and your freaking brilliant marketing depts.  Tomorrow I may just lock myself in my bedroom and watch Daria all day.
• I really cannot wait to go to IA in 10 days.   Or better yet my Sue-Bee to come home in 8!  So much fun to be had next weekend
• I decided today that I'm going to take some classes to further my hobbies.  First up how to bake bread and crocheting.  I know how to crochet, but I want to learn the right way and how to follow patterns.  I really want to take a French Baking Bootcamp class, but it's super early, on a Saturday and Sunday and it's the weekend I get home from IA.  I'm sure it's for the best that the timing doesn't work; knowing how to make croissants will not help my dieting endeavors.
• The best new of the day is that I may get my braces off next month.  That's 6 months early!  I'm so pumped, and happy I have teeth that behaved better than expected.

Manis and Meetings

Valentine Day Nails

I stole the idea off Pinterest (heart by painter's tape over dried color)

• Announcements were made about locations for work today.  Doesn't really affect me right now, don't really care.  The only implication is that I may end up in Dallas within the next 10 yrs.  Things could be worse.
• I tried a new recipe for pork tenderloin today, it only partially turned out.  Please note, do not use pre-sliced apples from the store.  They smell like ass and never quite cook down.
• I also tried mashed cauliflower.  I used a frozen mix with cheese sauce and one potato, delish!  I give it to all the pinners who put that one up.  It really was tasty.
• I spent most of my afternoon between work and painting my nails.  I had to do the base coat and then wait 3 hours for it to dry thoroughly.  I didn't want to mess it up when I put on my "stencil" to make the heart.
• I was excited to show off my nails and now all my plans have fallen through.  I was going to get my hair done, but my stylist has a family emergency and has to cancel.  Sooooo not going downtown means not going to see the babies either.  As much as I love them, 60 miles one way is a lot just to "hang" out.  Here's hoping I can get in dinner with them next week before my re-sched appt.
• My mother has decided to finally get a new phone.  She seriously still has a flip phone!  I tried to explain to her the basics, and my brother in law filled in some gaps too.  Now here's hoping she really listens when she goes tomorrow night.  This is from the woman who doesn't understand the difference between wifi and 3/4G.  We all refuse to help her or my dad, because what do we know.  Honest my dad tried to tell me that about his Iphone, from the man who couldn't figure out how to put his flash on auto for his camera.  Oh that's right, I've only had one for 4 yrs.  I know a thing or two.  It's all about picking your battles.  Sooo I'll be intrigued to see what she ends up with.  I bet I figure it out faster than she does.

Frosting is my drug of choice

Signs your "lifestyle change" is getting to you.  Your sister makes her daughter into a meme.

• My ladybits tested out ok.  I still have to wait for a test to come back this week, but it's highly unlikely I have anything wrong with me.  My doctor thinks it was just an anomaly.
• I spent nearly an hour playing with my new nail polishes.  Oh the color combos I've made.  I need more fingers to wear them all!
• I'm so over snow.  For the first time in a long time I'm thinking of taking a winter vacation.
• I had chinese food for dinner.  I'm not sure if I really wanted cashews and cream cheese or cream cheese wontons and cashew chicken.  Either way it was delish and I've decided rice isn't worth the points.  Bland and a filler food, not worth it!  I could have had 3 tbsp of frosting!
• Yes I know the points of frosting (milk chocolate by Pillsbury thankyouverymuch!).  It's a comfort food.  I realized today on my drive home I use it to get over something or someone.  It's not healthy, not one tiny bit, and it gives me horribly wicked dreams, but it seems to work.
• My feelings have waned for Clint.  I'm not sure why, but I think a pregnancy scare, a fear of STD's and now having a very angry cervix are helping.  We've hardly talked in a week and I haven't missed it.  I'm sure he'll find me later this week.  He wants me to write some work stuff for him and I don't want to, heck I don't even want to do my own.  It would be different if I was editing, but he expects me to do it for him.  He has one of the best managers for writing and it does me zero favors to keep helping him.  OVER IT!
• My horoscope for today was so promising.  Shame I didn't meet any men today!

• Scorpio (10/23-11/21)

  The dreams you've had about your life are starting to come true -- at least partly. A new person comes into your life today, although their role might be so minimal that you won't even notice them there. But you will soon enough! This is a good time to get rid of emotional baggage and attain closure on any outstanding unrequited loves you've been wallowing in. This new person could represent a huge leap forward for you in terms of romance and the future.

Sewing up loose ends

Fancy Shoe Day

Do NOT mess with her cookies

She loves pulling things out of boxes,

Cuddles with Auntie, after 2 attempts to put her to sleep

Yesterday was quite a productive day.  I started by cleaning out my sewing projects.  I completed one, and am still struggling to find fabric to complete my first one started almost 8 years ago.  I got in some shopping and had a great time babysitting BooBoo.  She's starting to walk!    She's also getting in some more teeth so lots of cuddles and kisses.  I had a chance to catch up with my sis and bro in law.  It's nice to chat without my parents and the baby around.

Today was a snow day.  I didn't get to see the BFF and the twins.  I'm not sure who was more upset about this.  Instead I cleaned out the fridge, set up my meals for the week, finished a project for BooBoo (play wipes to pull out of a box) and did some laundry.  I got in a workout and tried out some Pinterest ideas.  I made popcorn in a paper bag, turned out great and it's way less points than store bought.  Shame I ruined it by dousing it in chocolate :)  I'm also trying to fashion a pillow out of a t-shirt, but in the shape of the state of WI.  Tomorrow I'm hoping to find a state template that I can trace and use.

I'm not really looking forward to tomorrow.  I have to go in for a colpsocopy, which is to take a biopsy of a growth in my lady bits.  I've got a half day of work, so I'm hoping it's not too painful.  I'd really like to get some shopping in after, but based on my friends reports I'll want my couch and a heating pad.  BOOOOOOO!  

I've been dying for a shop around the Mall of America, but cannot stomach going on a weekend.  It's too many people and I get annoyed easily.  I should try to get done work early and go out one afternoon this week.  I have a list of things I'd like to get and now that my meeting is getting closer I naturally hate all my clothes and shoes.  It would be much easier if our meeting was in a warmer climate, but it's February in Iowa!  My peeptoe sling backs are not appropriate.  Nordstroms is for sure the answer to this dilemma.

Sunday night means crappy TV.  A little Real Housewives of ATL AND AND AND Gypsy Sisters.  I love gypsies, they are not disappointing in the first episode.  I think I'll make my list for the mall too.