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.

wordpress blog stats