April Obsessions

Here are the things that I couldn't stop thinking about in April...

I gave up Facebook for Lent this year.  I was on it WAY too much and I was starting to resent being addicted to it.  So, I gave it up.  And exchanged one drug for another...  The other drug being Pinterest.  I'm sure everyone knows what it is (I'm sure I'm the last person to find out).  I have collected so many good recipes and DIY projects from it!  I've basically turned into a virtual hoarder.  But, with Husband in school, I've found lots of ways to occupy my time and finish our house for cheap.  I can't wait to show people stuff that I've created or cooked off of Pinterest.

One of my pins lead me to a great blog by a women named J.  She shops just like me, always looking for a bargain.  The outfits that she puts together are so cute and she's actually changed the way I've been shopping (I've decided to add more solids to my wardrobe).  She posts a new outfit everyday and tells you where she got it.  She will also list alternatives.  I pretty much check in everyday...

One of the reasons that our house has taken so long to decorate is that Husband and I have very different tastes.  He lives for antique and "unique" things where I like a more ethnic and homey vibe.  I have been getting a lot of magazines about decorating, but when I got House Beautiful, everything fell into place.  Finally a magazine that perfectly illustrates a combination of both of our styles.  I have gotten so much inspiration (bedroom paint color, a dinning room!).  Definitely worth the subscription. 

I CAN NOT wait until this movie comes out!  Music from Journey, Def Leppard, REO Speedwagon, Bon Jovi and more, starring Tom Cruise, and set in the 80's?  Done.

Husband and I heard from a couple we're friends with that they did this diet and it really worked.  So, starting our New Year's Resolution a little late (but not never!) we decided to give it a try.  We read up on it and it didn't seem to crazy, just required some discipline.  I am hoping that it will teach us to eat healthy for the rest of our lives.  We have already made a great chili and salmon dish with it, and I made (in my opinion) the best meatloaf in the world following it.  We are over a week in and I've already lost 3 pounds!  But the more exciting thing for me?  I've discovered that I can cook.  :) 

I can't seem to get enough raspberries lately.  Fresh ones are my fav but i will settle for raspberry flavor.  I went through a pomegranate phase like this a couple years ago...

I have decided to become a runner.  Deep down, I have always wanted to be a runner.  I decided that this year was going to be the year to learn.  I have a good neighborhood to run in.  I stocked up on compression pants from Old Navy.  I have shoes.  Good to go!  Not quite.  My shoes were not in the mood for my running goals, and they took it out on my ankles.  So, I asked my three favorite runners their opinions on shoes and started my hunt.  I'm happy to say that I did find a cute, comfy and reasonably priced pair.  Only time will tell if they are going to work for me.

No, I didn't spend the month of April obsessing about Zooey Deschanel (although I absolutely LOVE her show New Girl).  I have been toying with the idea of getting bangs (and Zooey just happens to be the owner of the best bangs in all of bangdom).  The jury is still out on if this is going to happen for me, but its leaning heavily to yes.  I'm just not sure its how I want to spend the summer...

This album has been on repeat at work for the last couple weeks.  I actually go outside so I can sing along to "Second Hand News".  Is it too much to ask artists these days to come out with an entire CD that you like?  Can I get an Amen?

Holla!

Cold Hard Truth (or 30 Realization #4 and #5)

Somethings just have to be excepted.  I believe that anything is possible but I have finally come to terms that there are things that can not be changed.  For example, my hair.  I have bad hair.  I can say that now.  I was not blessed with thick, bouncy hair.  Or even hair that can be styled.  I have stick straight, thin, brown hair.  It will not perm (I have tried twice) and it only holds a color for about two weeks.  And I have a cowlick.  Its time to except the fact that I will never have the Victoria Secret hair that I dream of.  I won't ever have hair that I am even mildly pleased with.  Time to move on.

It has also taken me 30 years to learn when to give up.  I have always been a fighter but for the last couple years I have learned the value of a "tactical retreat".  I used to think that this strategy was the quitter way, but I have learned the wisdom of "giving up" or better "knowing when to give up".  I haven't put a lot of value in my own happiness over the years and I think its time to change that.   I think it's time to fight for me.   I have never had a problem fighting for my friends and family, but I can't really remember the last time I fought for myself. 

I'm sure that this new epiphany will go over well with some people.  It will be interesting to see which relationships I have when all is said and done.  I know that I have already lost one, and two hang in the balance.  I guess the next realization that I need to come to is which one is more important: my feelings or everyone else's?

Holla.

Bleeding Green

I have come to the conclusion that the hardest thing in the world, harder than being a mom, is being an MSU fan.  At least a mom gets to smack her kid if they aren't acting right.

Holla.

Current Obsessions

Here are some of the things that I currently can't get off my mind...

EOS Lip Balm in Summer Fruit.  So fun to use and smells great!

Gotye feat. Kimbra - "Somebody That I Used to Know"

 I love this song!!!  The instrumentation is brilliant and the melody is beautiful!  I'm totally looking up more stuff from both of them.

Anything that Michelle Moran writes is amazing!  I'm totally stuck in ancient Egypt right now.

I'm sure I'm not the only one anxiously awaiting The Hunger Games Movie...

And check out the cast!  I LOVE and WANT Jennifer's gorgeous hair!  Move over Twilight.

I'm so glad that I jumped on the Greek yogurt bandwagon.  This is like dessert to me.  Our fridge is stocked with them right now.

My favorite way to burn fat.  Gotta love a workout that doesn't feel like one. 

 

Holla!

Fair and Square

So, we all know how much Target has failed the last couple months with its fashion lines.  That's why I'm so excited to report on JCPenney's new pricing movement.  They have eliminated sales, coupons and door busters!  The entire store is the best price from the start.  Then it moves to clearance.  No more guessing if the item on the rack is really on sale or if another shopper just stuck it there.  It's really a liberating shopping experience.  And they have upped their game with the merchandise too!  I was bombarded with four really cute/chic outfits the minute I walked in the door.  Highly recommended.  Happy shopping!

Scored this top for $25! Vacation ready!

$30 and they come in hot pink and nude too!

$45  Waiting for clearance, but LOVE!

$35

Have to try on!  $40

Holla!

Missed the Target...Again!

Three months after the Missoni for Target debacle I finally have all the pieces I want from the collection.  And I got them all for the list price (bite me, Ebay!).  I then hear about Jason Wu for Target.  I'm sure you've heard of him, the guy who made Michelle Obama's inauguration dress.  While I'm not a huge fan of Michelle's, I do like how he cuts a dress.  I had my heart set on this dress and top.  Just TWO pieces I was going to try for.

 

 Well, I don't own either one.  I haven't even SEEN either one!  What I was able to find in stores were a few tops, 2 dresses and a coat.  No accessories any where and most definitely not this dress or top.  The website says they are available in stores.  I'd like to know which stores.  Not that I care any more.  The next time you have a capsule collection Target, you better make it as great as the Missoni line.  Cuz I am not trying any more.  

Once again, Holla if you hate Target.

30 Realization #3

People with the most unintelligent, uninformed and illogical opinions are always quick to share, but never quick to listen. These opinions manifest themselves in Facebook status updates, Tweets and news articles. It makes me tired.

So I'm giving up Facebook for Lent.  Forty days of freedom, or anxiety since I won't know what's happening with ANYBODY.  Wish me luck!

Holla!

2011 Review

After going through last year's posts, I thought I would give an update on some of the things I left hanging. 

1: The gym
       I did go to the gym every week, but I didn't do all three classes that 
       were my goal when I joined.  I really liked the Zumba class and became 
       a regular.  The step class was not what I liked (I'm very picky about
       step) and the yoga instructor was more strength than flexibility and
       relaxation.  I'm hoping to do better with my home gym for 2012.

2: The Wallfice
       The wallfice never got finished, thus no final pic.  The shelves did go up 
       but I never got the desk organized and put together.  I am hoping that I
       will do better with my workout/sewing room organization since I have
       more options.

3: Antique/Flea Market projects
       None of these have been started but they are at the top of the craft list
       for the new house

4: More Weekend Updates

5: More 30 realizations

Holla!

Happy New Year! (a little late...)

It's a new year, Crabby Patties! And with a new year comes a fresh start!  I have a lot of things I hope to accomplish.  There is one step left in my 2012 three-step plan (but I am estimating that coming later in the year).  I am working on setting up a workout room so I can get into shape and not spend a fortune.  I have tracked down a treadmill on Craigslist for under my budget of $150 and PapaCrab gave us a big TV so I can do all my Wii workout games in my new workout room. 

Resolution #2: I am going to get super crafty this year.  I am decorating a new, bigger house and I want to be able to show it off, but decorate on a great budget.  And with the discovery of curbly.com and the HUGE basement in the new house complete with work bench, I should have no problem busting out all the things I like on curbly (including making new deck furniture out of pallets).  This also means learning to sew clothes that I am willing to wear in public.  I have the consignment thing down, which saves a lot of money, but I have been meaning to learn how to sew for years.  The craft area I will be setting up should provide good inspiration and motivation to becoming the next Vera Wang/Martha Stewart (sans criminal record).  :)

Resolution #3: I am going to try and cook more meals.  Husband and I are tired of eating out all the time.  Our current kitchen is not very user friendly and makes cooking a simple meal such a chore that we barely bother to do it.  Our new kitchen has the space a proper chef needs so bring on the new and exciting recipes!  I know my girl in CHI will have tons of recommendations for me.  ;) 

Resolution #4: I'm going to try and ween myself off of Facebook.  It doesn't do me any good comparing my life to everyone else's all the time.  And I don't even know if it's their real life that I'm reading about or just the best parts of it. I'm sure I'm going to miss a lot of announcements and pics and feel left out for a while, but I'm hoping that my friends will be willing to use those archaic means of communication with me: phone and email. Oh, and maybe even Skype, since I got a new laptop for Christmas!

Resolution #5:  This one is going to be the hardest of them all.  I am going to work on not letting people effect me so much.  I'm going to not think it's my personal mission to fix everything: my friends, my family, work, the country.  You name it, I have lost sleep over it.  I am also not going to worry about if people are mad at me or don't like me or whatever.  If people want a relationship with me, then they will need to meet me half way.  I think that is only fair.  2011 saw the end of one of my oldest relationships and one of the newest.  I realized that I was putting more into it than they were.  That trend is over.  I think I'm a pretty cool person to be friends with.  I want to be friends with people that know what being a friend means.

I guess I have my work cut out for me.  Like CHI and PapaCrab said, "2012 is going to be our year!"  Look out.

Holla!