Monday, December 26, 2011

HOME

Well, Christmas may be over but my vacation is NOT. I still have another five days in the Magic City! Can you believe that?

It's been a whirlwind week. I was an errand-running machine on my first day off. I was able to get a lot of things done, from Christmas shopping to vehicle emissions testing. That evening, I had a yummy potluck dinner with five of my sorority sisters who either live in Nashville or were in town for the holidays. It was SO fun to catch up with them and hear about their lives.

I was originally planning to drive south on Tuesday until Mom told me she bought last-minute tickets to see the Rockettes in Nashville. So she and her best friend plus her daughter all got to town Tuesday after lunch. I pointed them toward downtown so I could continue packing, but we all had dinner at Germantown Cafe before their show.

Wednesday morning, Mom and I headed to Birmingham! We drove straight to Brookwood Mall to have lunch with my sister. We were feeling so brave after that, we even headed to WalMart later!

On Thursday, I slept in, which comes naturally to me in Birmingham, and listened to the rain and storms pass by before going over to my sister's house to see all the cute things she got at her baby shower a few weekends ago! Baby G already has a bigger wardrobe than I do... and he's not here yet! I can't wait to see him in all his outfits and playing with all the sweet toys. Later that night, I met my best girl Kathryn for dinner sans babies! Don't get me wrong, babies are great... but every girl needs a night out. We ate ourselves stupid on cheese dip at Superior Grill and had so much fun.

Friday began the Christmas celebrations! Yes, we stretched them out this year!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

WISHY

Guess what time it is? Time for my annual CHRISTMAS LIST!!! I’ve done my best to think of things that really run the gamut this year so I won’t get any constructive criticism on my list like I have in year’s past.

Let’s tackle this by department:

In the beauty department, I have had my eye on a Clarisonic face brush for a while. Picture it as an electric toothbrush for your face. I have heard this a great way to get gorgeous skin and I don't know anybody who would turn that down.
There are a lot of things I would like for my kitchen. This glass Kitchen-Aid mixing bowl solves my biggest problem right now with my mixer: I can't pour anything out of the bowl (into say, a bundt cake pan) without making a huge mess. Then, once I get whatever I am making poured and baked up, an offset spatula would be a handy way to transfer my yummy treats to a cooling rack. And if it's not treats I'm whipping up, but instead a savory dinner dish, then a regular sized slow-cooker, as opposed to my single-serve lilliputian one, would be nice. Bonus if it has a carrying case in the event I take my show on the road (would also be nice to have a cake caddy for that bundt cake I mentioned). And once everyone has been fed, some tupperware to put the leftovers in would be excellent. Mine is disappearing left and right. And just for good measure or to take up room in the stocking, some more nonstick spoons, etc. would be super handy.
Moving on to electronics: I've already told you how I can't wait to see Beyonce's Live at Roseland Ballroom DVD, so to that let's add Bridesmaids, Glee Season 2, Modern Family Season 1 and Crazy, Stupid, Love. Additionally, there are a few things I would love to own for my Macbook, starting with a Time Machine. No, Emmett Brown, not that kind of time machine. One to back up everything I put on this Macbook. I figure that's only the smart thing to do, lest I lose it all to a crashed hard drive one day. I also have wanted a proper microphone for recording songs (lullabies) for friends (my nephew).

And since no Christmas is complete without something Auburn related, I love this quirky little print of Samford Hall:
Also, am I the only one that didn't know that Hanky Panky (ladies, you know what I'm talking about) made collegiate... gear? War Eagle, indeed.

And speaking of clothing, the last, random thing: boot socks. I already told you I put a hole in one pair from all the walking I did in Vegas. But since lately I will only leave my house wearing boots (or so it seems), I need some thick, tall, warm socks as well.

So there you go, Santas far and wide! In case you are looking for the perfect thing for me to go along with that Friends frame you paid $42,500 for, hopefully will help.

Friday, December 16, 2011

BACK

Well, it's official. I signed up for a 5k. It seems that is the only way that I will get back into the running game 100% of the way.

The Zoo Run Run was my very first 5k when I was training for the half a few years ago so I am excited about doing it again. Of course, now that I have paid my entry fee and gone public about it, watch that be the day that someone goes into early labor. Ha - like I would be sad about that. I would run all the way home!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

DEVASTATED

The unthinkable has happened. Instead of going into the Smithsonian Museum, or the NBC vault, some geniuses at Warner Brothers got to cleaning out the warehouses and they are AUCTIONING OFF THE FRIENDS COUCH! What a tragedy.
If I were rich and could buy this puppy, I would be the opposite of sad. I'd be thrilled. Because I'd be bidding like crazy on it. Can you even imagine watching an episode of Friends, parked on that couch? But unfortunately, as you already saw, I only won $100 in Vegas. I can't afford the couch.

I can't afford the paper mache frame from around the door (which should also be in a museum, honestly):I can't afford the living room artwork:I can't afford the bedroom artwork:
or the pickle jar kitchen utensil holder:...or any of the other items up for grabs, any of which I would bid on during the online auction on Wednesday, if just one of them were currently priced under the maximum credit limit of my credit card (thanks to absentee bidding option, the bids are already through the roof). Yes, I would max out my card for one of these. I know how ridiculous that sounds, but honestly. These things may seem like yard-sale fodder to some of you, but to be actually able to own an iconic piece of the set of my favorite, favorite, favorite television show? A piece of memorabilia from the 30 minutes of my week that I looked forward to the most for six and a half years? Something to forever represent the six people in my life that collectively did not change, that did not divorce, did not break up with me, let me down on a group project or die? What an unbelievable thought. I promise I'm not dramatizing. That show means THAT much to me.

Just in case you do have that kind of money lying around and want to know what else is up for auction: anything and everything from the Back to the Future trilogy, ranging from a DeLorean to the Sports Almanac to Biff's cane to costumes to the Hoverboards and more. Willy Wonka's hat. Superman's costume. Batman's costume. Judy Garland's gingham dress and ruby slippers and the Cowardly Lion costume from Wizard of Oz. A fake shark from Jaws. A Howard the Duck puppet. William Wallace's sword from Braveheart. Forrest Gump's running shoes. Wilson from Castaway. Tobey McGuire's Spiderman suit. Will Ferrell's Buddy costume from Elf. Brad Pitt's Lt. Aldo Raine costume from Inglourious Basterds. Kristen Wiig's bridesmaid dress from Bridesmaids. Yoda puppet from Empire Strikes Back... you name it, they've got it. I want to buy all of this stuff and put it in the garage of this house.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

TRIPPED

Since no one bothered to guess, I am tempted to not even tell you that I up and went to Las Vegas... again... to see Kanye and Jay-Z.... AGAIN!

I know. It's getting insane how much of a devotee I am to music's second-most polarizing figure (runner up to Gaga, I presume). But talent is talent, people, and Kanye HAS talent. Regardless of what he says or does, I will never deny that. Throw in Jay-Z, who also has immeasurable talent, and it's just almost too much for me to bear.

When I saw them last time, I immediately started telling everyone whom I thought would actually go see them, to absolutely, 100% do it. Find a way and get there. One of those people included my pal David:
who was ready to sign right up for Camp Watch the Throne almost immediately. Next thing I know, plans are made and we're going to Vegas to see the concert!

After I get my Home Alone tour guide business off the ground, I think I will get a Las Vegas First Timer's tour guide business up and running. I have so much fun filling people's heads with interesting knowledge about Sin City and showing them around for the first time. Did you know there is no apostrophe in Caesars Palace because they want each of their guests to feel like a Caesar, important and powerful?

We stayed at the Encore, which is a beautiful property. We got there Thursday and decided to kick around there for the night, just strolling between the Encore and Wynn (pictured above) and taking it all in. Good thing we didn't log too many miles, because after breakfast on Friday, we did so much walking up and down the strip that I put a hole in my brand new boot sock. Yikes. We stopped long enough for lunch at Olive's at the Bellagio, where I discovered that I like beets (albeit candied beets), and at the Cosmopolitan, where I discovered that I want to live in this giant chandelier:

The show was Friday night and my boys did not disappoint. They had made some minor changes since I saw it last month and I was just as enthralled with everything as I was the first go round. They did the most exciting song, "People" in Paris, let's call it, SIX times in a row for the encore. They would catch their breath and let us scream and then Jay would shout "AGAIN!" and the beat would drop (yes, I just said that). It was both hilarious and awesome.

Conversely, Saturday was a low-key day with some leisurely time in a few different Sports Books with some shopping sandwiched in between. We debated about going to see MJ Immortal, the new Cirque show at Mandalay Bay that's about to kick off a nationwide tour, but decided to spend the last night prowling around the Wynn/Encore properties... oh, with a little gambling thrown in:
Yes, mama won $220 on the $1 slots. Actually, mama won $265 but got greedy before she cashed out. Then, got greedy again and lost all but $100 of it. I know. You gotta know when to walk away, a lesson I learned the hard way. I wish I had a video of that machine going nuts when I spun the lucky sequence of numbers. It was truly something I'll never forget!

Of course, no amount of cash could top meeting Jay-Z and Beyonce, an opportunity that I learned I missed while sitting at the airport on Sunday. Robin Leach tweeted a picture of the lovely couple backstage at MJ Immortal, where they met the cast after taking in the show on Saturday night. CHEESE AND RICE. This happened LAST time I was in Vegas except it was Lisa Kudrow and the Elvis show. Moral of the story: whatever Cirque show I feel drawn to next time I am in Veags, I must go see it!

Speaking of my next trip to Las Vegas, while Vegas in December lacks the poolside entertainment that Vegas in the summertime brings, I do think that my next trip will be in December 2012. I have my eye on this guy: the Las Vegas Half Marathon. Start at Mandalay Bay, turn around at Fremont Street and run back. Flat course, cool weather. Have I talked about this before? I really mean it this time.

I can't close without saying many, many, many thanks to an incredibly generous friend for an incredibly amazing trip! I had a "shoe"-per time!

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

SEASONAL

Nothing to see here! Business as usual! It's the holidays which means I am making brownies every other night and taking them all over the place for parties and dinners and the like.

I did use my KitchenAid to make something other than dessert, which is new. I have been living off my favorite soup this week and thanks to Pinterest, I learned that I can use the paddle attachment to SHRED! MY! CHICKEN! You have to say it like a game show. I cooked the chicken, threw it hot in the bowl and let 'er rip. Next thing I know? Fluffy, perfectly, evenly shredded chicken for my soup. This tip has changed my life! You are welcome.

Last week, just in time for the big bowl of soup I have been living off, I came down with a sinus infection. Normally, I just ride it out and try to self-medicate, but not wanting to be sick this whole week and weekend, I bit the bullet and went to my mean doctor. And by mean doctor, I mean this mean doctor. I answered all the nurse's questions and made it clear that this is a semiannual thing and I just want some drugs to nip it in the bud. When the doctor comes in, I run through all my symptoms again, remind him this is what usually happens when the weather changes quickly and homeboy puts his pen down, looks at me and says in his best fatherly tone, "Do you remember what I told you to do LAST time this happened?"

Me: blink, blink. Frown. "Um, obviously NOT or I would have done it." So one stupid copay and two prescriptions later, I will NEVER forget what I am to do when my sinuses start acting up again. I also will NEVER forget what a moron the doctor so rudely made me feel like, so yet again I declare: I am never going back there!

BUT. Speaking of places I am and am not going! I leave in 48 hours for a pretty fun trip. Can anyone guess where?

Friday, December 02, 2011

THANKFUL, part 2

(Longest, unnecessary, dramatic pause ever. Sorry everyone. Didn't mean to leave you hanging that long.)

The next day...was GAME DAY! I woke up at 6:15 am, slapped on a face tat and some orange attire and we headed to the Plains. I enjoyed getting to be there for my FOURTH time this season. Can I just point out that four home games is the total lump sum of home games I attended in 2010, 2009, 2008 AND 2007 COMBINED? And this year I went to four games in one season! I am still kind of shocked by that figure. Those of you that go to every game or most of them really need to count your blessings. But I digress.

So my fourth game of the season was not the wildest success on the field per se, but it was still a fun time and I could not have been happier to be there with family and friends. We stayed until the clock hit zero, something all fans should do, and soaked up a few fleeting moments before waving goodbye until next season.

Sunday, I braved the rain the entire way home. Never took the wipers off the highest speed. Thanks to my new boots, I'm happy to walk in the rain, but driving in it? That'll never be fun.

I hope you all had a memorable, fun-filled, laughter-rich holiday.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

THANKFUL, part 1

Gobble gobble! Who had a good Thanksgiving break? Mine was just right. Lots of family, lots of food, a little football - just right!
I got to Birmingham a little later than planned on Tuesday but was happy just to be there. Last week it was announced that we were all getting one extra day to take to be with our family, a very unexpected blessing. So rather than drive home Wednesday, I got there Tuesday! Five whole days off!

Wednesday, Mom and I ran errands, including a quick trip to see my sister and her husband, who had thoughtfully brought her some lunch, before she got off work and they headed west to stay with his family. It had been more than five weeks since I had seen her or little bumpus mumpus. I got to feel a few good kicks (guess he liked his lunch) while we were there and then we continued about our low key day.

When we got back to the house, it was time for to make my contribution to Thanksgiving: two Salted Caramel Cheesecake Pies. I'll give you a minute to soak that in. My sister always advises me NOT to try new recipes for groups of people or guests: always test them out first, she says. Here's how it usually turns out: I never follow that advice and plan to make the dish anyway. Mid-prep, I always panic for a minute and rue the day I found whatever recipe I am surely ruining. Then, once it's all said and done and I taste the end result, I declare myself the best chef ever. In this case, that cycle did not fail. Cheesecakes are tricky little things. They never look done but you have to turn off the oven anyway. It's nerve-wracking. The caramel was super easy to do but the cheesecake made me all kinds of nervous. My mom finally got me to step away from the oven by taking me to Outback. Oven? What oven?
Thursday, we began the day with a little parade watching before heading out to the first stop of the day. Last Thanksgiving, while we were in DC, my cousin was giving birth to a little baby boy. Of all the days to come early, Tristan decided to make his way into this world the same day as the Iron Bowl. He ended up arriving a little after midnight the following day, but people that know my die-hard Auburn family can appreciate that the nurse had to turn my cousin's in-room TV off to keep her calm! Or maybe it was to keep my uncle calm. Either way, Thanksgiving will now include celebrating little Tristan's birthday and I couldn't be happier. I have only met this little guy twice, once last Christmas and again this summer, but boy did he love his cousin Lindsay. He gave me lots of snuggles and cute little smiles.
Then it was time for cake! He seemed to like the whole cake and icing combo and took his time enjoying every ounce of sugar. He did not seem to like the sink bath that quickly followed.
Later in the evening, when we ran back by their house so Jennie and Jamie could see all of them, he reached for his fun cousin Lindsay as soon as I walked in the door he reached for me. Smitten!

From the party, we headed to see the other side of my family, who were congregating at the lake. After some good food (cough MY CHEESECAKE PIE cough), I joined the men behind the barn and shot clay pigeons. Raise your hand if you got two in a row! Watch the video for proof. I am sad the part where I yelled "PULL!" is not on film but oh well.

It was home for final preparations and then Jennie and Jamie as well as Fred rolled in. We had dinner together and enjoyed Pie Number Two before calling it a day.

Contrary to what I told you a few weeks ago, I did not participate in any Black Friday shopping this year. Sat it out altogether. Once I saw that what was on sale did not interest me in the least (an iPod touch that had the same memory as what I have now), I decided not to even get out. So I slept in Friday before heading out in the pretty weather to help my sister with her Christmas card photo. We got a great one highlighting l'petit chéri and even got a few of the four of us, thanks to that handy timer function:
I followed them home to see the little guy's nursery, which is absolutely adorable. Blue and green and perfect all over. There's still lots to be done, but seeing that crib ready to go made my tiny heart grow three sizes larger. I attempted to help hang curtains but proved no help at all, so I settled in to do what I do best: eat leftovers and watch TV.

I briefly went back to my mom's house, only to hop back in her car to go to dinner and movie with J & J. We saw Tower Heist and I loved it. It was off to bed quickly thereafter because the next day...

TO BE CONTINUED!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

HAMMED

This time last year, I was in DC! They day before Thanksgiving, my mom, my sister her mother-in-law and I were out running final pre-holiday errands, including loading up the trunk with Georgetown Cupcakes and picking up one small Honeybaked Ham.

Have you ever seen what kind of line is outside the Honeybaked Ham store the day before Thanksgiving? Even though you should have called and reserved your ham, you still have to wait in line to pick it up. And that line made Walmart on a Sunday look like a cake walk. It was so bad that there were policemen patrolling the parking lot and store. Yes, law enforcement was needed to keep order.

So we parked the car a block away at CVS, got in line and waited... and waited... and finally made it into the store to pick up the small, bone-in, spiral cut ham.

We helped ourselves to the samples while waiting in yet another line to purchase the ham, then headed outside. I don't know what made me think to do it, but as we walked by the long, long line and saw one lady rushing through the parking lot, intent written all over her face, I spied an opportunity. I shouted to her "They are all out of ham, we got the last one!"

Heads turned. Fists clenched. My family burst out laughing. "WHAT?!" she exclaimed as she stopped dead in her tracks.

"We got the last one! They are all out!" I repeated.

Before the lady could accost me or steal our ham, I told her I was kidding and they had plenty of ham for her. Despite her visible relief, it was clear that she did not think this dialogue was 1/10th as funny as my mom, sister and I did. "Yeah, Happy Thanksgiving." she muttered as she continued towards the store.

In an instant, I knew I had stumbled onto something amazing. The next person we passed in the parking lot: "They're all out of ham; we got the last one!" This gentleman also was indignant. "WHAT!?" "Just kidding, sir! Happy Thanksgiving!" I don't remember what he said as he stalked off but it wasn't laughter.

I was ready to spend the next hour outside that Honeybaked Ham store, telling people they were out of ham but my family feared for our safety so they made me leave. But, you are reading this and have some free time today, I encourage you to go to your local Honeybaked Ham and tell the herd of ham hopefuls that they are S.O.L. It will be the funniest thing you do all holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 21, 2011

HUNTERED

Christmas came early, kids:
Actually Christmas did not come so much as the rain did. And came. And came again. It rained yesterday, rained today and will rain again tomorrow. When I leave work tonight I expect to pass animals filing by two by two.

True to my word, I finally bit the bullet and marched into our new Nordstrom yesterday and pulled the trigger. Relax, I had done my homework on these puppies. I was confident in my purchase. And walking to work has never been so much fun. I practically danced my way here.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

WET

Can I complain for one second? Just one second on this topic and I won’t mention it again.

Walking to work SUCKS. I can think of about four days total that I got here and wasn’t sweating. It’s been hot as hades until about last Monday. Walking to to work in the heat = sweating when I get here. Then it got cold for basically a week, requiring use of my cute yellow coat, which means guess what? Sweating when I get here. My walk, which is slightly longer than everyone else’s since I walk from home not the off-site garage, is just long enough to work up a sweat no matter the temperature, my clothing or my pace.

I can deal with sweaty. Definitely not my preferred look but I can make do. Windblown? Also not my favorite look but I can make do.

BUT THE RAIN!? THE RAIN. IS. KILLING. ME.

If I wanted to walk to work in the rain and be all cute and metro about things, I would move to New York City. I cannot deal with it. Today when I woke up and heard the rain, I seriously contemplated calling a cab. This was on top of my idea yesterday of just calling in sick and staying home altogether (didn’t do it).

My only rain shoes are Crocs and that’s another whole post in and of itself. But I bit the bullet and wore them in today, after nearly ruining my new boots yesterday trying to get home in one soggy piece. But don’t forget that crocs have holes! I’ve been here for three hours and my feet are STILL drying off. You know what? I hope I get sick. I could use the down time.

My North Face jacket and my cute little Old Navy pink and giraffe print umbrella are not cutting the mustard. This weekend, I’m going to buy an umbrella the size of a dining room table and some rain boots so thick you’d need a drill bit to get through them. I may even buy a poncho for good measure. Or maybe I should just man up and get one of these:

A raincoat, waterproof trousers and umbrella in one. Yes, I think I need one of those. If you're driving downtown and you see me crossing the street in a black Hazmat suit, don't worry, we're not under attack! It's just raining!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

MARCELLED part 2

Remember this cute little thing from more than a year ago? Well, he's back! With a second video, a book AND a TV show!



This shell guy is like 800 times cuter than that hermit crab I used to own.

Friday, November 11, 2011

EXCITED

It appears I have established a new Christmas tradition:

Christmas Eve service followed by Christmas PJs photo followed by unwrapping Beyoncé’s newest DVD!

I don’t think I will be able to wait a full month for this one when it comes out. She was in her second trimester when she did these four shows! #STARPOWER

Thursday, November 10, 2011

ATTENDED

Well I did not come home with a CMA award. But I did come home with an official CMA program and a really fun memory of my first ever live awards show! From start to finish, it was an exciting evening for any fan of country music. I, being a SUPER-fan of country music, had the best time ever. Many many thanks to this guy for the ticket! I am so grateful!
We were told we had to be in our seats at 6:30, in time for the pre-show awards ceremony. That went by really quickly then we watched with eagle eyes for the stars to scurry to their seats minutes and seconds before the live telecast at 7 pm. If you know me at all, you know I have incredibly poor eyesight, even with my -8.5 lenses in, so I was doing good just to tell which were the men and which were the women. Jay was pretty accurate in picking out who was who ("That's Sugarland." "Looks like the Band Perry to me." "Tim and Faith, obviously." etc.) except I did spot Taylor Swift in her really big dress.

We had made our predictions in advance so in between all of the performances, it was fun to see who was gonna win our bet of a home-cooked meal. Out of 12 categories, we only picked the same winner for three of them. I knew I had it in me and sure enough, I won!

My favorite performances were Zac Brown Band's "Georgia On My Mind", Rascal Flatts + Natasha's "Easy", the Lionel Richie medley, Carrie and Brad's "Remind Me" and Sugarland's duet with Matt Nathanson to "Run." I was so happy Miranda and Blake won again!

Click in the photos to see my cute little labels of which stars are sitting where. Were you watching? What was your favorite part?

Monday, November 07, 2011

AWARDY

What do Carrie, Taylor, Miranda and I all have in common?

WE'RE GOING TO THE CMAs!

Yes, that's right, still years away from my first nomination, I will turn industry heads and attend the Country Music Awards this Wednesday night. Considering the red carpet is set up on the street right in front of my building, I will not say I won't try to sneak onto that too, but I'm definitely getting into the show. Ticket and all! In the words of Reba, here's your one chance Fancy, don't let me down!

I'm waiting for Martina or Sara to invite me over to do hair and nails and makeup but the call has not come just yet. But, just like every girl would, I have started thinking about what I will wear.

If I had unlimited funds and overnight shipping, I would definitely rock one of these fun sparkly dresses from Piperlime.com: which is your favorite?
That last one would look better with tights I think. But not boots, otherwise no one would be able to tell me and this girl apart:
Yikes.

Anyway. I'm so excited! CMYaaaaaaay!

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

TOPPED

Ugh. I want to find a cave and move into it. Things are so hectic right now. I feel like I am on a merry-go-round of chaos and I would like to exit the ride but the conductor won’t stop it just for me because the music is still playing and the other kids are having a ball so I just have to maintain my death grip onto this scary horse with a pole coming out of its head while my relatives take pictures of my crying face as I pass them like clockwork every 45 seconds until the music stops and I can safely exit the ride.

In other news.

Kate and I had a BLAST in Atlanta this past weekend to see Young and Yeezy, or JayZ and Kanye, as they are more commonly known. I mean, a BLAST. Everytime I leave a concert (see: JT, Kanye 2008, Paul McCartney, etc) I declare it the best concert I have ever been to. But, I think this really actually truly WAS. Think how many hits the two have between them. Then think about how many songs they have been on together that weren’t on their recent album. Then, think of all the songs that were on it. And that’s what we heard. The set list reads like an Entertainment Weekly Top 38 Rap Songs of the past 25 years. Everyone has asked and the answer is YES, Beyonce was there. She was backstage the night we went, but was out in full force for the evening before (they did two shows in Atlanta – one Friday, one Saturday). Here’s a rough video of her from the back jamming out to her boo. And don’t worry, that’s exactly how I dance too.

So, until I tell you otherwise, let’s just go ahead and pencil that one down as best concert ever. I started a Word document on my laptop recently of all the concerts and tours I have been to in my life. I know I’ll wanna remember this stuff when I can't look it up on Wikipedia anymore because they had to shut down after years and years of everyone ignoring their CEO’s plea for donations at the top of the page when I’m old and gray. So far top five in NO particular order are this show, Paul McCartney’s On the Run show in July 2010, Kanye West’s Glow in the Dark in May 2008, U2’s 360 in July 2011, Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveShow in March 2007. Oh wait. Can I do Top 6? Elton John and Billy Joel’s Face to Face tour in May 2009.

Friday, October 28, 2011

BLACK

Attention shoppers: Black Friday is officially FOUR WEEKS away. My sister and I somehow went from the could not care less about Black Friday types, to the looking at circulars in advance, mapping out deals, camping out, strategic fools. Don't worry. We know better than to hit the malls. That’s how you get trampled.
It started in 2005 when we saw that Motorola RAZR phones were two for $80 or something like that at Comp USA, which opened at midnight on Black Friday. We grabbed some friends who must have been easily entertained (or incredibly bored) and headed up there to get each other a new phone for Christmas. It was a LONG night.
I didn’t have my license, which was required to activate/renew the contract, and T-Mobile or whoever we were with in 2005 was so logjammed from the midnight Black Friday sales that it took hours for the phone to get activated. We decided to leave the phones in the activation queue and come back and get them later. We went home to change into warmer clothes and headed to Best Buy to try to buy my mom a new computer for Christmas.
We were so far back in the line that we did not even get the stinking computer. So we went back to Comp USA and got our snappy little phones and admitted defeat. It was crucial that we stop at Chick Fil A on the way home, where we took a slow moment in the drivethru to pose with our loot. I think we swore up and down one hundred that we would never. do. it. again.
So we didn’t. In 2006 anyway. But in 2007 we were back at it, only for small wares. I had my eye on a Justin Timberlake DVD (shocking) and my sister was after the entire box set of Sex and the City. We rolled out of bed at 4:30 and were back asleep by 6.

We opted out of the madness again in 2008 and 2009. We came close last year but decided it wasn’t worth the bitter DC cold to wake up that early for things we didn't really need. I rode with my sister to take my mom to the airport that morning only slightly less early than Black Friday sales began, so on the way home we did swing by Target for some deals ($5 and $3 movies and a portable DVD player).

This year, however, we are BACK! We both have our eye on big ticket items. She wants to hit the Babies R Us sales to get some furniture for l'petit chéri. Aunt Nin, on the other hand, plans to hit the Best Buy sales to get herself a new iPod!

I can hear your eyes rolling with the anticipation of even more iPod drama. Like clock work every year, I know. But here’s the deal: my iPod works just fine... with one small asterisk. I have run out of usable space on it. When I bought it in 2005, I distinctly remember thinking “I will never use 30 gigs of memory!” Well, five years later, I have used that and some change. In July, I took every single Christmas song off of it so I could make room for the new fun summer jams I was buying. But what am I supposed to do when Christmas rolls around? I have to have my holiday music!

So, thanks to a little elbow grease, I have figured out how to do this cheaply and efficiently. Step one. Rewards. I have rewards accumulated on my credit card and checking account that will get me $100 in Best Buy gift cards. Step two: I am also planning to use the $50 card that my sweet friends gave me for helping out with the class reunion. Step three: I got on BestBuy.com and found out that I can trade my current iPod in (tear, sniff) for a $35 gift card. That’s a total of $185 and I haven’t spent a dime yet! So, I am watching for Best Buy to release their Black Friday deals which will determine if I’m gonna go for the iPod Touch or stick to my current model but with quite a bit more (4x more to be exact) memory. You have more room on the classic and for less money. But the Touch has the Nike Technology that I know I would use when I run. I don’t think I would use all the other features (email, Facebook, etc) since I have my phone, at least not enough to make me lean toward the Touch without further question.

All of that to say: first, who will be up at the crack of dawn (or before) with us, and what will you be after? Second, which kind of iPod would you get?

Thursday, October 27, 2011

PUNCHED

So I have another really funny story for you. This may be even funnier than the story from yesterday.

A friend of mine was at a concert and met a cute guy. She gave him her business card. Sounds pretty normal, right?

Later in the evening, he approached her again, confused. Turns out, she had given him her SWEET CECE'S PUNCH CARD, not her business card. He thought she had wanted to go get yogurt!

How embarrassing! And how hilarious! That totally sounds like something I would do. Or maybe something I should do. After all, he did come back and talk to her again, right?

And don't worry, she got her Sweet Cece's punch card back.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

GROSSED OUT

Last night I was at work setting up for an event and I had to put votive candles in the bathrooms. I did NOT want to go into the men's room on our floor because I know too many of the men that use said restroom. Oy vey. Didn't want more knowledge than I needed. But I couldn't find a man to take the candles in for me so I had to do what I had to do.

After making sure it was all clear, I stepped in, set the candles down and made sure housekeeping had left everything nice and tidy. As I'm exiting, a male coworker who was working late I guess enters the restroom. You'd think it would be really awkward that I was in the men's room and I was. But sadly, that was not the most awkward part. He was holding a giant slice of chocolate cake!

Can one of you men please explain this to me? Is this a new thing? Eating while... you know? I've heard of multitasking but this (pardon the pun) truly takes the cake!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

COMMERCIAL

Do you love chocolate?
Are you trying to lose weight?
Have I got the SNACK for you!


Am I the dead last to board the VitaTrain? Why have none of you ambushed me and shoved one of these snacks in my mouth yet? FREAKING DELCIOUS, I tell you. Being the chocoholic that I am, I went straight for the kill and bought the Deep Chocolate VitaTops. I brought one to work today and just ate it ten minutes ago and that sound you all just heard was my head exploding with amazement. It tasted like a very yummy and decadent chocolate cake! Really, this thing is only 100 calories? Okay. Let’s discuss it at my ocean-front property in Arizona!

Pick these bad boys up in the freezer aisle, kids. Unless you wanna be like me and order them by the 24-pack carton....

Friday, October 21, 2011

CONFIDENT





Clay Dudley was the only one who thought we were going to beat Florida in 2001. I thought he was crazy.

Call me crazy but I have a good feeling about the comeback kids. Don't count us out yet. Win or lose, I think we'll have a great game this weekend. KEEP SWINGING!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

PLAINSED



On Saturday, I found myself once again on the Plains for my third Auburn game this season. The last time I went to three Auburn games was my senior year. Crazy! All is right in the world again.

As I promised I would, I went rampant in the bookstore, snapping up the cutest, tiniest Auburn gear for my precious angel baby nephew whom I love and adore. Parents buy furniture, grandmas buy toys, aunts buy Auburn stuff. And lots of it. Okay I didn't buy all of that. His mom did buy the things she is holding.
You'll notice we bought two onesies, two tigers, two pair of socks... do not judge. There were plenty of additional onesies, tigers and socks (oh my) that we put back! I really could have bought at least twenty more things. It's all so tiny and all so Auburn, and that's not the best of both worlds, I don't know what is.

All five of us, heading into the game! And what a beautiful game it was!
So much has changed since the last time the Gators left Jordan-Hare empty-handed (2006)...
...but all for the better, I would say.

War Eagle!

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