Tuesday, July 24, 2012

FRYED

So a funny thing happened at Nordstrom the other day. I did something 100%, completely unlike me. And my mom was there to witness/encourage. I told her she can't come back to town anymore now.

Let me give you some backstory. I ordered some Steve Madden Intyce boots last fall and loved them for about a month or two.

That smart little wedge heel was the first thing to go. It wore and wore and wore, and by December, it was just painful to wear them. Additionally, they began to slouch, badly. It bothered me that they weren't as tall as they once were. They just looked funny, all baggy and beat up. That's why, to my sister's chagrin, I wore my Hunter boots almost exclusively until the first hint of spring.

So, I was planning to replace the Steve Madden boots at some point before fall. I hate that, but I'd stopped wearing them. I eyed my options during end-of-season sales, and have been awaiting the pre-season sales, but hadn't really given it a ton of thought other than it's probably time to invest in some high-quality boots that will last longer than a season.

On Sunday, I took my mom, who came to spend the night with me on Saturday, to the mall after lunch. She hadn't seen Nashville's Nordstrom yet so I figured we would go in while we were there.

I wandered over to boots. They had the pair I've been eying on display. Since they tend to go out of stock quickly, I asked to try them on while I could. Never hurts to try, right? Research.

I imagine the look in my eyes once I stood up is what my face will look like when I'm someday telling my mom "Mama, he's the one."


But until "he" gets here, I'll happily curl up to these Frye boots every night:

I. love. them. I put them on as soon as we got back to my condo on Sunday and then again when I got home from work yesterday. I'm sure my downstairs neighbors are thrilled that I have new boots to break in.

A pair of Frye boots is THE last thing I ever planned to purchase on Sunday, let alone this calendar year, but oh well. I don't make spur of the moment purchases like that. It feels weird and makes me a little lightheaded. But I know they are great quality and if the past 48 hours is any indication, I have a feeling they will be worth every penny and then some. If you ever see me in a pair of boots that aren't these, my Uggs or my Hunters, you have my permission to smack me.

Is it fall yet?????

Saturday, July 21, 2012

HIGHLIGHTED

This might be the vainest, dumbest thing I have ever posted. A makeup tutorial. What am I, eighteen?

Anyway, several nights ago I stumbled across this on Pinterest and ladies, I gotta tell you: it changed the way I do my makeup.


Never would have thought to do that with my concealer. I've managed to pull off something similar with Bare Minerals, so don't be afraid to try it with what you have at home. Also, don't overlook the part about using a card or envelope or "sachet." It makes a difference!

I now return you to your regularly scheduled complaining and calamity.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

ANGRY part 2

Elizabeth asked about washer/dryer-gate so I guess I’ll continue this saga where we left off...

Last Monday, after finally nailing down a time and day to meet Hector, I sped home from work with Brad behind me. As we were walking to our cars, I gave him the rundown of all the drama so he would be well-equipped going into a battle of wits with this guy.

Hector was 15 minutes late but he finally showed up. Brad let him in and posted himself right up behind him as he started to work on the dryer, while I ONCE AGAIN busied myself in the kitchen with a knife, this time slicing fruit. Hector had some questions ("so you only did one load and it broke?") which Brad answered using plural pronouns ("yeah, we just did a set of sheets") so Hector would think he was around pretty often. Hector ran out of the house – I was sure he was going to speed away – but came back up and continued working. I was really pleased that he wasn’t attempting to replace the whole dryer, but rather went to work repairing it.

He replaced what’s called a thermal fuse. For those of you who have never had the privilege of being head of your own household and having to know stupid crap just like this, a thermal fuse (sometimes called a safety thermostat) is a mechanism that comes in newer dryers to prevent them from overheating and burning your house down. In a lot of houses, the laundry room is along one of the exterior-most walls of the house, allowing the lint/heat duct to just flow right on outside the house. In a condo like mine (and every apartment I have ever lived in, come to think of it), the laundry room is actually centered in the unit, which means instead of running a foot or so to the outside of the house, the duct has to go up to the ceiling, along the length of the apartment to the exterior-most wall, where it hits daylight. If there is too much lint built up along that pipe, there isn't anywhere for the heat to go, which means the dryer gets too hot and shuts down. To Hector’s credit (words I never thought I would say), he did kind of explain this to me when he installed it… I wasn’t really listening.

So, he explained all of this to Bradley, who checked to make sure the dryer was heating up again before Hector made his swift exit. Since I had stayed in the kitchen, trying to give off the vibe that I couldn’t care less about this dryer since someone else was there to deal with it, I had to have Brad explain all of this to me when Hector left. I started off asking him if this was something I could have done myself – answer, no. He explained the problem to me and presented me with two options: I could do laundry as normal and see if it broke again, OR, I could run the dryer two or three times without it connected to the lint/heat vent and just let the heat from the dryer free-flow into the condo. Now, you may recall from the last post about this nonsense that I was the one who had to connect the dryer to the vent by installing a little duct hose thing and that was not much fun. So I was not happy about having to undo my handiwork. If, after doing this, the dryer broke again, then it is the dryer that is faulty (surprise, surprise). If the dryer didn’t break and worked just fine, guess who I get to call now?

My landlord. Yep, the same one that wouldn’t spring for pest control when I saw a brown recluse spider in my bedroom which by the way I have another post about those devil bugs coming again soon. I don’t mind my landlord, I just try not to deal with him. I wouldn’t say he is the most helpful landlord I’ve ever had. But, if the dryer breaks again when I connect it to the lint/heat vent, then the problem is most certainly that there is 30 years worth of lint built up in the pipes and I have to have someone come clean them. Again, to his credit (!!!!), Hector did offer to come and repair/fix the dryer if it broke again in this process.

That was last Monday. I put this off again until two nights ago, mostly because I just didn’t want to deal with it. But I climbed back behind the dryer, unhooked the duct hose and started a load of laundry. OF COURSE everything worked again. Was Hector right this whole time?!

I plan to do another load tonight, and anticipating good results, will have to call the landlord sometime this weekend to talk about the next step of cleaning out the pipes…. Don’t you wish you were me?

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

SUPPERED

Recently, I was talking to my friend Rachael (mother to one of my “dates” from a few weekends ago) about restaurants in town. I had asked where she and her husband went to eat on their date night (which is why I was keeping their little boy). We started talking about the restaurants in town and how it’s so easy to get into a rut and go to the same places. She has a hard time getting Mr. S. to go there because the food is quirky (“chick food”) and the portions are smaller than say, a Japanese steak house.

We decided to start a “chick food supper club” with four other friends so that we could go to all of these unique, Nashville Originals that we never frequent as well as see each other more regularly!

Tonight is our first meeting of the supper club and we are going to Mambu. None of us have ever been there, but it looks like a great way to kick things off!

Whatever this is, I hope it's still on the menu:


Tuesday, July 17, 2012

MASHED

I had a daily tradition in high school of finishing my lunch then going back through the line and buying mashed potatoes. Those of you who sat with me at lunch in high school can vouch that this happened. Such tradition should tell you two things about me:

1. I had a wicked metabolism;
2. I love mashed potatoes.

Now, these weren't even real potatoes. I know, because I asked the lunch lady what brand of instant potatoes they were so I could make them when I when off to college. Ha.

If I still had the body and that aforementioned metabolism that I had at 17, I would be all over this new machine they are rolling out at 7-Elevens: a mashed potato vending machine:

Right there next to the Big Gulps, you can plunk down a cup and get some instant, buttery, gravy-laden goodness for the road and it'll only set you back $1. I think that's close to what Mrs. Stubbs charged for hers.

Someone try this out and let me know how it is!

Monday, July 16, 2012

GIFTED



A few weeks ago, reader Grace e-mailed me about planning a trip to Nashville. I pointed out lots of things for her to do and see and EAT! Look at this cute little desktop art she left me in return. Thanks, Grace! I'm sure it's hard for a Bama belle like yourself to drop money on anything orange and blue but I sure do love it!

Anyone else coming to town this summer? There's lots going on in Tennessee!

Thursday, July 12, 2012

FIFTEEN

I listen to drive time radio now, which is funny. I haven't been a morning radio gal in a few years.

This morning, the DJs, who are normally a lot less serious than this, were posing the question "If you could send a message to your 15-year-old self, what would it be?"

Listeners were saying everything from "Don't listen to your parents, do what YOU want to do after college" to "Don't marry that guy - he isn't right for you."

I thought for a minute about my life when I was 15. I was a sophomore in high school, my sister was a senior. Life was so easy back then. What advice WOULD I give my 15-year-old self?

A few things came to mind, such as spend more time with your sister, and focus on friendships, not on dating (underline, italics, bold). But this is what I tried to call in and say:

Be more intentional with your time with your grandparents.

I spent tons of time with my grandparents. Two of them lived in our city and the other two, we were around quite a good bit. However, as I have learned in the age of cell phones!, time with does not always equal time spent. I was always watching TV or reading a book or playing Gameboy instead of soaking up every bit of time I had. If I could tell my 5, 10 or 15-year-old self anything, it would be put the book/Gameboy/remote down and learn how your grandmother makes cornbread. Get up and go hunting with your grandfather. Help your grandmother whip up a fresh batch of homemade ravioli or meatballs. Dig in the garden with your grandfather: the dirt will wash off but the memories will stay.

What message would you send to your 15-year-old self?

Sunday, July 08, 2012

ASSORTED

Smatterings:

-Maroon 5's new album Overexposed is the perfect pool album... or car album... or cleaning up your house album... or summer album... whatever. It's a break up album, so there's that, but it' very good. Being reviewed as their best album so far. Go listen.

-Speaking of pools, I always thought that thing about sunscreen going bad and not working was an old wives tale until yesterday. It looks like I didn't put any on at all. Thanks a lot, Coppertone.

-Hector is bring a new dryer tomorrow and Brad will be here to supervise. Cross your fingers this one works. I wanted him to come today but, I QUOTE: "I don't work on Sundays." ARGHHHHH.

-I had three dates in two days this weekend! So what if I had to change all of their diapers at various points in the date? My little buddies are sweet as pie!

-This is the last of my lazy summer weekends. All but one from now until Labor Day, I have company or am going somewhere! And then it will be FOOTBALL SEASON! Sing it with me: "PRAAAAISE YEEEEE THE LORD!"

Thursday, July 05, 2012

ANGRY part 1

"All those who think they have it made take one step forward...not so fast George Banks!" (If you don't know what movie that's from, your life took a terrible turn somewhere.)

Remember how I mentioned that I bought a washer and dryer the day before I bought my couch? I had been looking on Craigslist for a while and had messaged a few people but nothing ever panned out. I've also been talking to my sister about it as she, too, is in the market for a new washer and dryer. So after a few months of casually looking, I ran out of clean sports bras decided I really needed to get one soon. So on Saturday morning, I hopped on the internet and messaged several people about various washers and dryers.

Long story short, I find one that looks decent and can be delivered and set up that day. Perfect. I go the ATM, get cash, and wait for him to show up.

He looks like one of the bad guys from Law and Order SVU. He comes in to see where they are going to be installing the appliances. He tells me of what I saw on Craigslist this morning, one of the pieces is already sold so he brought a few washers over for me to come choose from. I put on flip flops, go down to his truck and choose a washer.

He and his assistant bring them up and get them installed while I decide it's a good time to stand in my kitchen and chop vegetables (read: have a knife in my hand). Oh, what do you know, they don't have a dryer vent hose and I'll have to get one of those. Everything appears to be working so I pay him the cash, sign a little "invoice" guaranteeing my 90 day warranty, which he explains means that if something doesn't work, they don't fix the units, just replace them... with whatever is "in stock" at the time. Also, no cash refunds, just a fix or replacement.

The next day, after I got the dryer hose vent installed (so much easier said than done) I said a prayer as I was loading up my sheets into the washer. Everything worked. Put them in the dryer. Everything worked. Other than being really loud, everything worked the way it was supposed to.

Enter that little quote from George Banks. Everything was just going too well.

Yesterday, I threw a load of whites in before I went to the pool. Came back, everything seemed fine and I put them in the dryer. An hour later, they still weren't dry. "That's weird. Must just be the towels," I thought, and restarted the dryer before I climbed into bed.

This morning I woke up and went to grab a clean sports bra check to make sure my clothes and towels were dry. Imagine my HORROR when I found out they WEREN'T!

I knew something wasn't right. I started the dryer, got dressed and went back to check on it a few minutes later. That's right, the mother-loving dryer wasn't getting the first bit hot to heat my mother-loving, dad burn still pretty wet clothes.

RAGE. FURY. ANGER. All of these emotions overcame me at once. I was ready to drive to this guy's house (had I know where he lives) and pull a Achilles on him.

Yes, I am one headpiece and a spear away from Brad Pitt right now. I text the guy (PS it's 7:24 am at this point):

"Hector*, less than a week after delivery, dryer not heating up to dry clothes. Pretty angry about this."

*His name isn't Hector but it may as well be. Regardless, I received no response. I headed to the gym to burn off some of the rage. A full hour goes by. I re-send the message.

"Hector*, less than a week after delivery, dryer not heating up to dry clothes. Pretty angry about this."

45 minutes later: "No problem, are you available this afternoon?"

NO PROBLEM? YES PROBLEM.

"You sure don't seem surprised. And no I am not available, I am working then I have plans**."
"Ok, let me know when you're available?"

**I DO have plans. But even if I didn't, there's no way I am letting this guy back into my home with no one else around so I needed to buy some time. Next, I sent out a APB to my brawniest, most-intimidating friend Brad.

"I need to borrow you."
"Alright, when?"
"Guy sold me a crap washer/dryer on CL but it came with 90 day warranty so he's either gonna fix or bring another one and I don't want to be there alone when he does. Can you pretend to be my boyfriend who is always around and would kick this guy's ass if he showed up in the middle of the night? He looks like he's in a gang. And knows where I live and that I live alone. And that I am angry with him."
"Yep, I can do that."
"Perfect."

A few hours go by while I get to work and get started on some projects. I notice my phone is blinking.

It's from Hector. It's a little surprised face. That's it.

My response: "I am working on finding a time. Again, I am really disappointed that it stopped working after 1 use. I'm not in the mood for emoticons."

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE!?!?!

Stay tuned. This is so, SO far from over.

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

PEANUTISH

One of the best discoveries I have made in my eating overhaul is natural peanut butter. Have you made the switch yet?

Here's what you do. Go to the store. Pick up all the peanut butter jars until you find one that looks like this:

Ingredients: Peanuts.

No sugar, no salt, no nothing except peanuts. You'll know you're warm when you grab a jar with oil in the top.

The first jar I bought came from Harris Teeter and it was called Crazy Richard's. It was yummy, but harder to mix up than the jars I tried later. There would be whole thick chunks, and then the last of the jar was super thin/oily. I'm sure it was user error. Maybe I should have read the stirring guide FAQ in the FAQ part of their web site in more detail...

So when that was gone, I got some Trader Joe's. It was yummy too. But not everyone has a Trader Joe's, so here's what I recommend:

Smucker's Natural. The folks behind Eat This, Not That recommend it too.

I'm not kidding you or exaggerating at all when I say that second to bedtime, the next best part of my day is around 3 pm when I get my snack of peanut butter and carrots. SIDEBAR: IS THAT A WEIRD SNACK? So many people have commented that they have never heard of eating carrots and PB together! I am genuinely surprised at their genuine surprise. I know I didn't invent this. Am I the only one who does this on the reg? Anyway, I count the hours from lunch until "peanut butter carrot time," which is what I sing every day to the tune of the peanut butter jelly time song from the days of AOL. Depending on the day, I might even do the dance too.

True story: this weekend, I ran out of PB and wasn't going to the store to get more. I decided to eat some of the regular Jif that was sitting in my cabinet and COULD HARDLY STAND IT. The stuff is so full of sugar and I tasted that sugar more than ever. Yuck.

Make the switch. You will be able to tell the difference and then a month from now, try some old PB and you'll be amazed you ever enjoyed it in the first place.

Sunday, July 01, 2012

COUCHED

When I moved into my new condo, I began a quest for a new couch.

I have been ready for a bigger couch since about the third or fourth day after I got my old coworker to drive me to Gallatin in his giant truck and help me get this loveseat. I got it in the old apartment and without an inch to spare, it took up the entire length of the wall. It got the job done in terms of a place to sit but for more than one person, it was not much fun. It was almost more comfortable to sit on top of someone than next to them (and clearly more fun):


So, when I knew I was moving, I began thinking about the first thing I would buy (after a washer and dryer, that is) and I knew it would be a couch. I started looking and looking. I tried to determine what "my" couch needed to look like. Was it skirted? Was it trimmed in nailhead? Was it a pattern or a solid color? Was it linen? Was it brushed cotton? Was it microsuede? I took mental notes of what the different couches in rooms that I had pinned on Pinterest had in common. The rooms had a common theme but I couldn't put my finger on what the running theme of the couches was so I wasn't sure what I wanted... I until I saw it:

Hello, lover.

I don't have kids. I don't have pets. I can handle a white couch, especially one this pretty, and with the seven-year protection plan, even if I do get kids or pets before 2019, I'm set (LORD I hope that's the case). I have visited the couch twice in person and it is just as gorgeous in real life as it is in pictures. And after waiting and pricing and continuing to look, four months later, guess what has gone on sale? My couch!

So today, after weeks of searching and saving, I marched into Macy's and made my third largest purchase behind a car and a laptop computer. Why do big purchases give me hives?! Oh well. Ready or not, she'll be here July 24.

Now. Would anyone like to buy a loveseat?

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