Obligatory Things-I-Will-Probably-Not-Do list

1. Keep a neater apartment.
2. Sing on stage, a real stage, not a karaoke stage. Just one song is good.
3. Pay off my mother-effing credit cards.
4. Travel somewhere by myself.
5. Keep sewing.
6. Make decisions because I want to make them, not because I should want to make them.
7. Write more.
8. Take a real class - for more than one day.
9. Work on my fitness.
10. Play more.

hawaii vs mexico

vs.

looking for a job...

...is hard.

especially when you're not unemployed. It doesn't help to hear "you're lucky you have a job now" from most of the people closest to you. jerks. I understand it's great that I have a job, but it doesn't make me evil to want a different one. It's not like I'm forcing people out of jobs to get one. sheesh.

especially from far away. I don't understand why people can't just be supportive. Just because I want to make a change doesn't mean that I think they suck for not wanting to do so. Everyone is different, that's why life is cool - me wanting to move on is not an insult to those who don't want that.

ps - I can't wait for glee to be on.

it will make sense soon

I'm in a drastic change cycle. My favorite part of life. If I didn't crave companionship so much and if I didn't love my husband so much, I'd just hop around the world.

ass-in-gear

I have all this shit to do and it sucks. I also have a significant procrastination problem, so I'm going to start writing things down in the hopes that I'll actually doing them.

These are the problems, and the deadlines.

1. I have a major exam to take on June 5, which I'm thinking about pushing up to the third week in May. I am taking a class for 4 looooooong days to prepare for this bitch. I'm nervous to fail, especially because work is paying for it and I'm paying for the class. So.. for 2 days every week until the test, I'm going to study for 3 hours. Every other day, I will study during my lunch hour. Mark my words here. That gives me about 40 hours of study time and 32 hours of class before the exam.

2. I need to dedicate some solid time to the "lose my big ass" plan. Before summer starts. I weigh more now than I ever have. I don't like it. But I like food, so more exercise, a lot more exercise is necessary. PRONTO. I was doing the 30-day shred by Jillian Michaels and was killing it. Then I got sick and slid right out of control again. I feel better now, so I'm starting again.

3. I have a steady freelance job that requires and extra 30 hours of work per month. I've got this under control, but I'm worried it will slip with the other 2 big responsibilities.

So - once a week, I'm going to check in with my progress. Every Sunday. every.single.sunday.

vacation rentals

I really want to spend a week in an Outer Banks, NC house. I've always wanted to. Wild horses, house with a kajillion decks, 4wd-access only, secluded beach--all of these things sound awesome. I've been on vrbo.com looking at these places and they look awesome. I'd like the following breakdown:
-3 or 4 couples, or not - really just 6-10 people.
-No kids (unless they are babies and super-cool and fun).
-Dogs. Mine and at least one other. But they should all get along. This is a key problem in one couple I'd like to vacation with. Their dog is not nice. Especially to other dogs. Here's the problem with this plan:
1. Picking who goes. All the mens and all the womens need to get along. Even better if all the sexes can intermingle (not in a dirty way!)
2. Getting all those people to be able to take a week off work at the same time.
3. Figuring out the organizer in this grand scheme of things. I would do so, but not sure if I can hack it. People annoy the shit out of me and I don't like dealing with minutia that belongs to others.
4. I don't think I know anyone with a 4wd. Renting such a vehicle would be expy$$.
Really, these are not huge problems - just more effort-filled tasks that I don't want to do.

Moral of this stupid-ass story: Someone should invite me, my husband and my dog on an Outer Banks vacay.

steel, wood and plants

I want my back yard to look like this:

(oscar planters, cb2)

Too bad I can't keep any plants alive, I have a chintzy chain link fence that I really have no intention of replacing anytime soon and I have hoodlum neighborhood kids (or adults) that steal the stuff out of my backyard - like my fire pit.

I still might try. Watch this space

Vacation's all I ever wanted

In less than 3 weeks, I will be here. I love CA, I love wine and I love Sonoma. I even get to stay in this fancy-pants place. I got a super deal, this recession is making my trip much easier to deal with. 

Cannot come soon enough.

Best gift ever

Get this for everyone on your list. And me. I'm not kidding. I really do want this.

Cheating

My husband's family must be terrified of buying each other something the other doesn't like. Either they're all terrible at pretending they love it or they don't know enough about each other to make educated guesses on gifts. I won't say which option I believe is to be true**, but the list-making was a new concept for me when I joined this family. Everyone makes lists of things they want and nothing is bought that's not on the list. I've even transferred the lists into my side of the family. I've got my mom buying me gifts off of both my and my husband's list.

On one hand, I love it - it's like having my own personal wedding registry every year. On the other hand, I'm doing exactly what I did with my wedding registry - cheating. I already know today (12/7) what I'm getting for my holiday gifts. I asked for a camera and I know I'm getting it, so I'm reading the manual online now. This way, when I open it on Christmas, I can work it right away :).

I am a bad person.


**sidenote - my father-in-law never makes a list. One year my sister-in-law bought him Arthur 2: On the Rocks (the Dudley Moore movie). Another year, my husband bought him a cake from the grocery store. This may help explain the need for lists in this family...

Red Ombre jacket, I love you

I'm broke. The hubs and I are saving up for something huge, so I'm trying to be good. This means internet window shopping only.

One site = One outfit:

All can be found at Urban Outfitters: here, here and here.
I am drooling over the jacket and want it now. It's under $100 - does that count as saving?

drool...

$398 at shopbop

I ha-want this for fall.
and this one:

$340