This leads me to 'commitment'. (what I need to do is commit to do my friggin laundry tomorrow) GAWD I hate laundry. I think I would like it much more if I had my own washer and dryer, or my own laundry service to do it for me. le sigh. If I won the lottery, I would definitely pay someone to do my laundry. Ha!
Commitment is like a mental diving board.....I REALLY REALLY high one.
Chicken Peanut Kabobs
1.Soak about20 6-inch bamboo or wooden skewers in water for 15 minutes.
You Will Need
10 slices thick sliced bacon
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
Sauce
(If you are in a huge time crunch, just use the pre-made spicy Thai peanut sauce from your grocery store,otherwise:
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup apple juice or water
1/4 tsp. (for you spicy food sissy's) or 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes.
2.Cut bacon into three inch slices, or cut each bacon slice into three pieces. Cook in a large skillet until partially cooked, but not crisp.
3. Cut chicken breast halves into 1/2 strips, then cut each strip into three pieces. Alternately thread 3 chicken pieces and 2 cooked bacon pieces onto each skewer: place in boiler pan.
4. Brush about half of reserved sauce evenly over kabobs. Broil kabobs 6 inches from the heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Brush remaining sauce over kabobs: turn them over and broils for an additional 3 to 4 minutes until chicken is no longer pink. Serve with reserved sauce.
This recipe will make about twenty kabobs, but I like to double it because people LOVE these! You can make a meal out of it, by putting the kabobs over rice and drizzling with remaining sauce. YUMS!
Jen's Dirty Martini Dip
What you'll need:
1 block of cream cheese.
13 green olives with pimentos (makes it oh so very festive)
1/3 cup olive juice (form the olive jar)
1. In a medium sized bowl combine the cream cheese and olive juice until smooth.
2. Dice olives and add to the cream cheese mixture. Mix well and then serve!
I like to serve this with celery (my favorite), pita chips or baguette slices!
Nutcracker Braid
What You'll Need:
1/3 chopped pecans or hazelnuts (I use both though)
1/2 cup finely chopped dried cranberries (I like to use the orange flavored ones).
1/4 cup raisins
1/8 tbs cinnamon
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed.
1/3 c apricot preserves.
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla
2 tbs milk
1/4 cup
chopped pecans
1. Heat oven to 375. Spray large cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. In a small bowl, combine 1/3 cup pecans/ hazelnuts, the dates, raisins, sugar and combines; mix well.
2. Unfold puff pastry; place on sprayed cookie sheet. With rolling pin, roll to form 14 x 10 inch rectangle. Spread preserves in 4 inch wide lengthwise down the center of the pastry. Sprinkle fruit and nut mixture over preserves.
3. With pizza slicer, scissors, or knife, make cuts 1 inch apart on long sides of pastry to within 1/2 inch of filling. Fold strips at an angle across filling mixture, overlapping ends and alternating from side to side.
4. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet; place on serving tray/plate. Cool for 15 minutes.
5. In a small bowl, blend powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk for desired drizzling consistency. Drizzle over cooled braid. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup pecans.
Reasons why I am A+ excited.....
- SO my first week in my new position= A+
- My grade on my first Accounting homework= A+ (that's Mrs. Smarty Pants to you!
- Money situation looking= A+ (Thanks to the Holiday hours and new promotion
- Fun things planned for the upcoming week= A+ (Oh. My. Gawd. The pictures that will follow)
- Finally cleared the air with somebody that I consider very special to me.= A+
- Going to my first 'Bad Christmas Sweater' party (It's actually Policeman's Birthday Party)= A+
Speaking of that...is it bad that I actually LIKE my 'Bad Christmas Sweater"? It is like a 1x and is huge on me, which means it goes off the shoulder a bit (which I LOVE). It is obnoxiously sparkly and has jingle bells lighted goodness. I will take my video camera. TRUST.
- Tomorrow is payday!= A+
- Just signed up to run the Lincoln Half Marathon on my Birthday with my girlie's from work= A+
- Cierra goes to her dad's for Christmas which makes me sad...BUT I am treating myself (and my liver) to some nights out with my girls and my gays= A+
- Teaching my Grandma how to text; yesterday I sent her a picture of a shirtless firefighter, it entertains me to NO end.= A+
- Saturday is my nieces 5th Birthday party, which means another humongous family gathering! Love.= A+
- I F I N A L L Y found a tattoo artist here and am sooo excited to start in the New Year= A+
- My favorite 'alligator shoes' ornament.
=A+
- What I ate for lunch today after signing up for the half-marathon in May!= A+ (see below)
She is the one who used to tell me to put some lipstick on because I looked dead, yet in the same sentence would say that I was the most beautiful dead-looking girl she'd ever seen. lol My hair is naturally very dark, I have blue eyes and when I don't see the sun, I turned vampire white. lol My Grandma B is also the one who will walk into ANYWHERE and hit on all her 'boyfriends' before she leaves. She's soooo funny!
I digress....
I worked a bit late today, when I got to the house she and Cierra were sitting down finishing up some homework. Here they are, oblivious to me and my Blackberry camera. (Yes my Grandma only has half a finger. She calls it her gimp finger. She lost it working in a machine shop, back in the day when all the boys were fighting overseas)
When my Grandma looked up, she said to me, "Oh Jenny! You look tired! I am a horrible host these days! Go downstairs, in the freezer, on the third shelf, on the left-hand side and bring one of those pizza's up here." I did what I was told.
She had this great brushed copper bowl on the counter. I asked her where she got it, because it was the coolest thing I've seen in a long time. My Gram started to laugh...., "Jen! That's no bowl...it's a lamp shade! You can eat your salad out of it if you want to though, I cleaned it up today."
So I did. (why not?) Now I can say I ate salad out of a lamp shade- totally bloggable; don't hate! lol Before long I had a Totino's pizza, and surprisingly good instant coffee in front of me. This is the life.....seriously!
Good times!
Tonight when I was feelin a little sad, I just started thinking of all the good things in my life. I also started humming a Christmas song (I love Christmas). Then, all of a sudden, I realized that I am one lucky and blessed person. Knowing that, doesn't change the things that were making my heart heavy, but it DID put things in perspective.
Sometimes that is all we need is a little bit of perspective!
Last night was a hell of a night. After working all day, and going to my night (accounting) class, my rear passenger-side tire locked up in the middle of an intersection. NOT GOOD.
Left me stranded, but not for too long. My policeman just happened to be in the neighborhood and took me to my mom and sister who met us not too far from where my car died. I say 'my policeman', but that is the farthest from the truth. Last night was the first time I'd seen him in two weeks! I just wanted to cry. I didn't though.
Today was better. Today was my first day as the solo Manager at the store and we WERE SLAMMED the WHOLE time! I ended up staying a bit late and left feeling accomplished. I am so grateful for this promotion and job (that I love), never in my life have I been SO grateful for a job as I am today!
My car is better too. Turned out that the only thing wrong was a frozen emergency brake. Ended up only (basically) paying for some de-icer. THANK GOD for that one! I was really worried about an auto-mechanics bill right before Christmas!
My sister bought me groceries tonight, 'just because', so I could just go straight home and cook myself dinner. The best part was the bag of red chili's. It took me a couple of hours, but I made my red chili tonight, from scratch, so I could have proper (cold weather) New Mexican food. yums!
Although I am impulsive by nature, I don't do well when plans are changed or altered. You can see when I am agrovated. Even so, I am an even-keel person. I don't fly off the handle, ever. I find that when I am in a relationship, whatever that relationship may be (family, friends, co-workers and lovers alike); I just don't do the silence thing well.
"Sticks and stones are hard on bones,
Words can sting like anything
But silence breaks the heart."
I'm pretty sure that I should come with a warning label that says, "Do not keep in extreme silence, or contents will explode!"
SO, for the sake of blogging, I am penning my top 'Someday" comments of late!
1) Someday I will have a kitchen big enough to open the refrigerator AND the oven at the same time.
2) Someday, I won't be in school anymore and I'll have more hobby-time than homework-time!
3) Someday, Christmas won't be such a stressful season and Cierra will actually get what she asks for for Christmas!
4) Someday, I will invest in a vehicle that I love and will drive it till it dies!
5) Someday, I will zipline in someplace fantastic!
6) Someday, I will buy groceries more than a week in advance (again)!
Somedays, I just really want someday to hurry up already! Can't you see (someday), that I'm bustin my ass here? :)
In spite of all the hard work, I am still trying like mad not to take myself too seriously. I have my Cierra, we are a family and we are happy! She knows I am working hard and makes little sacrafices that most kids don't have to make because of it.
I know it will all come together, I dream of that day! I know it will be mine! When that day comes, I will have new 'somedays'! (That's sort-of the nature of the beast)!
You see things; and you say "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say "Why not?"
* George Bernard Shaw
ALMOST
The last transaction was $9.26, she wanted to pay cash and didn't have a quarter. This was the point where she proceeded to send her husband out to the car to find a quarter!
Bless!
I turned the oven off and headed back to take a shower. When I got out of the shower, something smelled like it was burning, not good!
I went in the kitchen and opened the oven to find a FIRE! Apparently, instead of turning the oven to off, I accidentally turned the oven to BROIL. I have no storage space for my pots and pans, so I keep them stacked neatly in my oven. As a result of this smokin match, my good pan with the oven-proof silicone handle was ablaze!
GAWD.
I proceeded to grab my pot holders, pull it out of the oven (without touching the fire, of course) and threw it into the soap-water filled sink! It sizzled and smoked. Fire overted- yeeesss!
THAT was the point, however, my damn fire alarm started going off. I ran through the house, opened all my windows and used my magazines to fan the smoke. Meanwhile, my neighbor was knocking on my door and my guinea pigs were screaming rape because they didn't know what was going on. (Keep in mind, I had JUST gotten out of the shower and was only wearing a towel). Fml
I gotmy video camera out for it and as soon as I'm done splic'n it all together, I will post it! Can't wait! Happy Latesgiving to you all! May Christmas season officially begin, says I! :)
I've actually been taking pictures more, though I haven't posted anything here yet. I promise I will, after the Black Friday goodness! My mom will be staying with me for w few weeks here while my brother-in-law is spending time at the house with my sister and the kiddos. I put her to work tonight, holding my video camera while I baked some of my fave stuff. I'll make some sort of video with them...FO SHO!
You are oozing excitement, aren't you? lol
You love my justification process...don't hate!
Anyhauser: I digress. About the books:
One of them is called "How to Make Friends and Influence People". It was suggested reading and I checked it out as reference for my last paper.I thought the title was amuzing. It is surprisingly good..and surprisingly 'duh'! Ever had a re-invent type moment?
I've never had problems making friends really, but this book, though strikingly basic outlines the following in the 'Make People Like You' section: (It was a quick read...what can I say?)
Six Ways to Make People Like You
1. Become genuinely interested in other people.
2. Smile
3. Remember that a person's name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
4. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
5. Talk in terms of the other persons interests.
6. Make the other person feel important- and do it sincerely.
Now, I wanted to blog about this, because I tend to think that genuinley speaking to people is an artform. It is an artform that I want to get even better at.
I had the nicest guests today at work, hardly felt like I was working at all.I am going to try to remember three stranger's names everyday. (It's a good start)
Today, I met Al and Michelle Irions from the cover band called Taxi Driver and the prettiest mother of five named Michelle. I love days like today!
You should know that I actually hung my camera on my doorknob tonight so tomorrow I will take pictures of SOMETHING! For sure!
Before my interview a few days ago, I went to Blue Line Coffee in Omaha. (Underwood area)
@Blue Line Coffee: Among Intelectuals…in the middle of the day and not feeling very intelectual.
Fully bearded photographers, Long haired businessmen in suits. Plain jane midwestern girls wearing their own version of black. An older woman in a fur coat is talking on her cell phone outside… the whole atmosphere is somewhat mesmerizing. There is a sprinkle of tattooed people and laptops everywhere. 1920’s period art, blues and Old school Johnny Coltrane playing with the hum and gurgle of espresso periodically interrupting. I think I really like this place.
The coffee is strong but flavorful, my everything bagel isn’t as good as Satelite Coffee in ALbuquerque..but sure as hell comes close. The prices are really, really good. (sigh) My coffee is much too hot to drink right now! (I am homesick..I miss Satelite Coffee on Wednesday morning with Valency fabulous).
I am nervous about this interview, but couldn’t be bothered to even think about it. I’ve always interviewed well , it is a personality trait I was born with. I have the ability to make a fantastic first impression, which I still think is weird. Sometimes I wish I made shitty first impressions, then people wouldn’t expect so much. My laziness oozes out of that statement; clearly.
When I was feeling un-motivated in highschool…I would do exactly what I am doing now. Type. Type. Type. Type about the weather, type about people, type about whatever it is that is clouding my mind from the prospective of actually completing the tasks at hand.
On that note, I wonder this loaded question: WHY on God's green Earth am I drawm to men whom are completely emotionally un-available. I see a trend here...seriously.
Here is C and I on Halloween night while I was doing her hair with my FAVE hairspray. Tigi Bedhead "Hard Head".
Here is a random picture I took at the Punmpkin Patch. Objects bore me..I'd rather photograph people...but turned out pretty cool.
Here is C and I at the Pumpkin Patch. I wore the red squishy boots I stole from Valency at our garage sale last spring.
Here is blurry me and my new JVC video camera (which I ALSO need to pull out more.)
Last, but not least; my remote control tarantula...that is broken. :( boooo
Apparently my pseudo ex-boyfriend felt the need to bludgeon my sister with IM's last week for well over an HOUR. Just found this out and I'm like....Huh? WTF? He told her he was moving and whole bunch of other non-sense.
For the record: Leave my family alone....I realize they are FANTASTIC, but you don't get to talk to them anymore. Also, for the record: When I said 'Fuck you' and 'Goodbye' and "I'll find someone who actually loves me for me", I meant it....That's how I roll.
SO. On that note; move away, run away, go away. Leave me (and my family) alone.
Tonight the girls were under the table being obnoxiously loud. They kept messing with our feet...it was slightly entertaining because we kept giving them bogus random threats. My sister took the cake when she said this:
"If you girls don't get out from under the table I am going to fart on you...not just a regular fart...but a PERIOD FART".
LMAO If you are a girl..you know why this is bloody funny. Period.
still......
laughing....
Let me tell you, for those of you who don't know, WHY these women don't cut their hair.
Bible Lesson of the Day
There is a scripture, 1 Corinthians 11:1-16, to be exact, that calls a woman's hair her glory. These women take this very seriously, obviously and would never 'cut' what God calls their glory.
The other day I had just helped a couple of them find Nioxin shampoo. As I walked away, one of them said to the other, "Unclean looking hair is very unattractive, and (if you are growing it for religious reasons), it’s a bad testimony".
I thought this was wildly amuzing.
The Apartment Thing
My apartment drama finally came to a head yesterday. Turns out, they were just being assholes for the sake of being assholes. There is something to be said about being face-to-face with assholes, they usually change there tune when there isn't distance, a computer or phone in the middle. I did my Goddamn hair and makeup ON MY DAY OFF,dressed cute-tabulous and drove the 15 miles North to the main office. Once I got there and spoke with them face-to-face it was like MAGIC. fuckers.
The Work Thing
We are gearing up for the Holiday season at ULTA. I'm excited; I LOVE Christmas...even in retail. My time flies, I make more money and am always relieved when the day is done which means I sleep better! We hired an old friend of mine, she worked one day and threw in the towel. WTF? I am officially NEVER putting my name behind someone else's. You can go through the same process as everyone else. Geeze. Now I'm one girl down again. The only good thing about this is...I'll get more hours! Yay Me!
The Mom Puke Thing
Just click here to catch up (I'm lazy this morning and don't feel like re-telling the story!
Embarrassing Thing
I generally don't write about my date-life, as entertaining as it would be....it is mine. However, I had my first official embarrassing moment with my policeman last night. Let's just say, there was the potential of making his bed look like a Gaddamn crime-scene. I don't really get a period...because of my dear, dear Mirena (which I love and think every woman should have). I don't think he was too tramatized. On the plus side, it was late so I just took a shower over there. I used boy body wash on my hair (gasp) and boy conditioner and combed my wet hair with one of those combs that come in shave kits. He's such a Bachelor---if you look it up in the dictionary...his picture is there. Swear. The BEST part (besides smelling like him when I woke up this morning) was....when I got home and my hair was still wet, my mom told my sister, "I bet she got cum in her hair." Ladies and gentlemen....my mom has NO shame and that is clearly not what happened.
Yeah...so, Happy Friday the 13th, may your day be half as eventful as my week was!
In England, where I lived for nearly half of the previous decade...a spade is a shovel. Calling a 'spade a spade' OR a 'shovel a shovel IS what it fucking IS.
I WISH I would've brought my camera tonight- seriously.
It was a good night! Found out that my gay husband Kyle is in the final twenty cut for The Real World and is being interviewed next month. (His newest boyfriend isn't so happy about this). We weren't suppose to mention it while he was there (the new boyfriend), but MOM got drunk as a skunk and conveniently forgot. Classic.
Kyle, for the record, you are a shoe in-Clearly.
Drunk Mom
SO on the way home, my mom classically launched her cookies in my sisters newish SUV. It smelled disgusting and my sister had to pull over to clean it up with BABYWIPES. I was laughing so hard I almost peed. It was the kind of laugh I call the 'church laughs'; the laugh you know ya aren't spose to be laughing but CANNOT for the LIFE of you STOP...yup, that was me. Tonight.
I've actually had a pretty productive morning thus far. My Internet connection is fixed and not as sketchy (which is a good thing since I am behind in posting homework), I opened a new account with USAA (which I've been meaning to do since I moved) and I cleaned my kitchen; All in 45 minutes!
. Today is going to be a pretty busy day. I am going into work early, so I can leave early and watch my niece and nephew for a bit. Then my friend Kim is coming over to brainstorm 1980's costumes to wear to work tomorrow. Pretty exciting stuff round these parts. As you can see by this post....there is probably a reason why I shouldn't blog every day. lol
This morning was well enough, but work? Different story all together. I had a lady go OFF on me because I wasn't aware of when she could use her stupid coupons. 
It was only because her coupons were for SEPHORA...not us (ULTA). That's like getting pissed at Burger King for not knowing when you can use your Monopoly free food pieces.
Holiday is gonna be fun, I can feel it already.
Do you think I could sneak a pony keg in? hmmmmmmm
One day LeAnne came storming around the corner in tears, because it happened again...to HER. It didn't help things that she was having a bad day, and only had one more cigarette; poor thing. I had extra food in my desk, and pretty much the whole night shift smoked, so she was taken care of. our lunch was comical. We split my PBnJ and pretzels and had massive amounts of instant coffee, al-la-jen's-desk.
As soon as we were done eating I grabbed my bright blue dry erase marker and wrote the following on a piece of paper and taped it to the fridge: 
Ah! The wonderful, wonderful power of suggestion! It entertained me and made LeAnne laugh. I love making people laugh; it makes my world go round!
The Sleeping Thing...
I worked more early mornings this week than normal, I think it just caught up with me. PLUS, I'm kinda broke at the moment and sleeping if FREEEEEeee! Ha!
The Cleaning Thing...
Since my hours were strange last week, I spent more time at my mom and sister's than usual, meaning that my house was neglected. Yuckity No Mas! It's back to bein fantastical!
The Apartment Thing
Two things have happened recently that annoy me to no end. First, you must know, it rained most nights in October AND the dumpster to my apartment is FOREVER away. I stuck two bags of trash on my porch, because it was dark and I wasn't going to walk all the way out there, in the rain, to take my trash out.
I HATE taking the trash out...you have no idea.
Anyway, the next day I had a nice little notice on my door that basically said, "You have been warned, remove the bags of trash from your patio; they are unslightly and attract bugs."
WHATEVER.
I double bag my trash, the bags are hefty, white and smell good. The last time I checked, bugs don't attack trash when it is below freezing and fucking raining. I took my trash out the next morning. Needless to say, I had two additional notices about the same damn thing throughout the week (even though it was gone the next morning). How annoying. THEN, my rent was due today. I had every intention of taking it to the office today....but I slept literally all day. SO I called them at 4:30, asking if I brought it first thing in the morning(so they can still deposit it with all the others) if they would waive the late fee. She said in her cheery, high-pitched little voice, "Nope!"
Fucking great.
My nap cost me fifty bucks!Now THAT my friend is PRICELESS!
My niece, Chloe is five years younger than my Cierra. They are the exact same age apart as my little sister and I. Chloe is sassy. My sister says she is a lot like me (ha!). In the same respect, my little one has a lot of my sisters' qualities. Yesterday they were arguing about something and Cierra said the following to Chloe, "You can't act that way Chloe....or the ONLY people who will be your friend is your family! You don't want THAT do you?" Chloe said no...and they continued to play.
It was really funny to me, yet REALLY true.
Things I DON'T want, in no particular order are as follows:
I don't ever want a job that I despise.
I don't want bad coffee...ev-er.
I don't want boring or draining friends
I don't want a car that isn't dependable.
I don't want bad hair.
On that note, I don't want short hair.
I don't want bad tattoos
I don't want to be forgotten.
I don't want fake nails.
I don't want a man who owns cats or one who doesn't drink beer
None of those things work for me.
I don't want to still be in school when I am 35.
I don't want to be an adult that kids can't talk to.
I don't want hard pillows.
I don't want to take myself too seriously.
I don't want ugly panties.
I don't want to stop moving forward.
I don't want my life without my family.
I don't want to live in Texas again.
I don't want to be lethargic.
I don't want to stop smiling.
I don't want my life without music.
I don't want to settle.
I don't want to stop exploring.
I am sure there are more, but yeah...that pretty much sums it up.
Last week was insane. It seems like the only reason I was at my house at all was to sleep and change clothes. Needless to say, tonight I will be clean, clean, cleaning and then doing home, home, homework!
Enjoy!
It consisted of shiny black leggings from Target, a layered black top and some mary janes. The wig we pickedm up is HORRID, I will have to find a better one before Halloween. I am going to do her makeup with white baby powder, because she already has casper white and I am pretty sure this is the only way I am gonna get her whiter. She wants fake lashes and dark red lipstick and black fingernails. (I am convinced that dark red lips are the MAIN reason she wants to be a goth girl. Move over Morticia, my lil Goth Girl's gonna look RAD!
At Powerhouse in Bellevue, the gym voice-over announcements play once every five to ten minutes or so. IF this weren't annoying enough, they SOUND like a bad K-mart annoucement, over blown speakers.
Lame.
I REALLY wish I could be one of those people who does everything in advance, but that has never been me. (Not true, there was a short spurt when I was married that I actually got things done in advance and went to bed early and blah blah, blah, blah) THAT, my friend, is what boredum'll do to you! I just don't think I possess those traits myself. I'm a subconscious adrenaline junky....seriously.
I've been actively growing my hair out for two years now. The last time my hair was this long was back in 2006/2007. Back then I had harsh bleach blonde on the top portion of my head, that I wasn't properly taking care of. There is nothing worse than dull lifeless blonde hair on a natural brunette.
Have you ever seen an old woman with gorgeous hair? I used to have a few that shopped religiously at Dillard's. If you ask me; gorgeous healthy hair is like a fountain of youth! See the difference between the mature woman with smooth healthy hair and the younger woman? (The one on your left is 31, the one on your right is 59)
I HAD to have long healthy hair again, so I had my hairstylist cut it off (two years ago, so I could have a 'do-over'. She gradually added low-lights to bring my hair back to its natural color. Since then, my hair has been different shades of brown/red. For some reason, every guy I've dated over the course of the decade has liked me better with blonde hair. First, you must know IF you date guys that prefer blondes, they will ALWAYS prefer blondes. Guys don't really get the fact that blonde doesn't look good on everybody!
I've learned a lot about myself since then. I need to have my dark brown/auburn hair for it to be healthy and shine-tabulous. For any man that has blonde-hair suggestions for me; the complaint department is closed, you can put your suggestions HERE!
Before AMY cut my hair last, I felt like it was at a plateau. I bought Alterna Caviar shampoo/ conditioning products because they are sulfate and paraben free. I get a discount, so it was more affordable. There are products such as Tigi sulfate free shampoos/ conditioners that are a bit cheaper than the caviar line; you just really need to read the labels! My hair is showing a BIG improvement and finally looks like it is growing again. I'm no Kardashian, but my hair WILL be that length sooner than later!
My last official day off was Thursday which was FAB! I will give you a play-by-play, since you asked!
WEDNESDAY
Wednesday night is ladies night at Lacy's. A group of close girlfriends (and Kyle, who is the most fabulous of us all-clearly) crash Lacy's house for modge poodeg dinner and wine. ALl the kids play and we vent about our week. It is my mid-week therapy- Be jealous...be very jealous! This Wednesday, I took my video camera with me. Aren't you excited? Ever ask a kid for relationship advice? Let me tell you it is VERY entertaining! Check it out!
Thursday
I woke up Thursday, took C to school, and went directly to my sisters house. We decided to go shopping with my mom for Fall yumness!
Next, I picked up Cierra, did the homework thang and then got ready for my date. My sister and mom graciously watched Cierra for me, so that my friend Lacy and I could double date with Hot Toddy (the 'YUM' from speed dating), and his friend Patrick. Good Times! I HAS A THIRD date (dun, dun dun, dun). Oh I am so excited!
The stupidest thing, hands down, that I've ever gotten into an argument over was Diet COKE. IT WAS RIDICULOUS-CLEARLY.
What's the stupidest thing you've ever goten into a fight over?
Recently on MSN.com, I found an article depicting other people's 'stupid fights'- enjoy!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Most Ridiculous Fights Ever
Couples dish on the stupidest and silliest fights they've ever had, and The Nest chimes in with tips on how to be sure you're fighting fair.
We had a standoff for almost a week to see who would give in first and finally buy toilet paper. For the record, I won. — steve+mel
How to pronounce Cameron Diaz's name. I said "dee-oz" and he insisted it was "dee-as." Who cares? I didn't speak to him for the rest of the night. — mcnam002
We got into a fight while assembling the furniture in our new house. If we made it through that, we'll make it through anything! — AubreyDub
It was over a t-shirt.'Nuff said. A t-shirt! — aim7896
Whether or not to tuck in the sheets at the end of the bed — every time I make the bed, I tuck them in, and every night, he untucks them. — KDTully
Fighting Fair
Some of your relationship fights may not be as silly as these. Here are some rules about fighting fairly, so you can get the most out of the argument:
1. Avoid repeats: If you find you're fighting about the same thing over and over again, your heated words aren't effective, no matter how many times you say them. Find a new method. It might mean that you have to compromise or see a professional mediator (like a religious official or therapist).
2. Be open-minded: As hard as it sounds, put yourself in your mate's shoes to consider his point of view. Can you empathize at all? Try to. And explain yourself so he can do the same.
3. Listen: Don't cut each other off. The best way to get the most out of an argument is to really hear what the other person is saying and to try to figure out where she's coming from. The only way to do that is to stop thinking about how pissed off you are and to listen. So don't plan the next point you're going to make; try to learn more about the cause of this tiff. Oh, and keep your voice down. Everything sounds and seems much worse when it's loud.
4. Remember the real point: As much as you want to be right the purpose of argument is to learn more about your partner and what you need from each other. Try to find a compromise so neither of you has to"win" (unless one of you really screwed up). That way, the real point of this disagreement is fighting for your relationship.
5. And remember: It takes two to tango, so keep in mind that no matter how you slice it you're half the problem. But if you talk to each other openly and with respect, you'll quickly kiss and make up.
Today at work some guy came up to me and said, "Thought I'd let you know that someone pooped in the urinal", and then he walked out. Just like that.
Eeew, really?
Here is my thoughts on how this went down:
"There he sat to take a shit;
he pushed a load,
But nothing showed,
he realized something was amiss,
he went in there to take a piss."
Remember the one who TOLD me about the poop in the urinal?
I think it was him..but whatever.
He was pissed that his chick was taking so long in the store. Some guys have no clue. If I was THAT guy and I was pissy because my chick dragged me into the foo foo cosmeticon that is ULTA, I would have gone about things QUITE a bit different.
How to get your chick out of a foo foo girly girl store 101
1. Tell her to take as long as she wants.
She'll aprreciate this and let her guard down, so you can work your magic.
2. Head over to talk to the girls who run the joint. Start asking them questions about products, even if you don't care about them (TRUST ME HERE).
I guarantee you, the minute she hears laughter or even talking coming from the store where her man is...she'll be cued up and ready to check out in a New York second.See how that works? You win and you didn't even do anything wrong! After all, you were "researching" presents for her! lol
In the instance you are the poor soul that gets dragged down every isle kicking and screaming...there's your sign....just sayin'.
I looked at him, held up my laundry detergent and said, "Oh my Gawd! I am sooo sorry". He smiled ear to ear. Fucking Great Jen. It takes a lot to embarrass me, but sometimes I do a REALLY good job ALL BY MYSELF! Go figure. lol
When Penny asked cat guy #3 how he liked to spend his weekend evenings, he replied with 'cat burritos'...yes I said cat burritos. Cat guys #3 proceeded to explain how he doesn't go out, but usually just wraps his cat up in a blanket like a burrito, at which point if he didn't do it fast enough then Muffy, his cat, would swat him with her paw.
The turn out for the event was pretty decent, I suppose. There were a total of thirteen guys, the conversations felt somewhat like awkward job interviews, at which point I would just ask a random question. Randomosity entertains me, what can I say? They give you a list of the guys there and you are supposed to jot down a fact or two about them to give you something to remember him by. I thought you'd be entertained by my list, so I am posting it!
1. Likes Guinness. Very serious. Feels like I'm talking to my boss.
2. Bad Water skier..policeman .and Yummy!
3. ex-AF IT contractor guy. cat. can talk.
4. Seattle, hangs out w. cat on Saturday night. IT guy
5. Parts his hair from the opp. side of head. weird. IT guy.
6. Clearly drunk. Nebraska fan..but the annoying kind.
7. Tucks in shirt weird.. IT guy (again)
8. Says tattoos hurt, but mine is 'cute' IT guy.
9. Rome. wouldn't intro. me to his mother (LOL)
10. The Italian mobster type that likes porn. (don't ask- he was funny)
11. Looks like a Mormon but prolly Air Force. (untuck your shirt)
12. IT guy, moonlights as a photographer.
13. PE teacher pedophile. weird vibe.
You entertained yet?
Then I headed BACK to work where Kim Fabulous was visiting from Urban Decay.
Then Kim, Penny and I headed downtown for the Omaha Fashion Week Boutique show. Such a good time! Thanks Penny Pen for making it happen!
On that note, I have been told that I am an intimidating person (at first). I don't think I am intimidating, but then again... I'm not you.
Ambiance.
Ambiance is the name of the color I am painting my living room. It is a pale wash of sunlit yellow.
I could use some ambiance in my life!
Chloe is the sassiest of all my nieces. She definitely does things her way, like this for instance...She only eats sandwiches from the side. You can see her mad-doggin me here! 
At one point, I told her I was glad that we were buddies. She said, "We are NOT buddies Aunt Jenny"! When I asked her what we were, she said, "We are QUEENS"! I nearly peed myself. If I followed her around with a video camera, you would be VERY entertained- SWEAR!
Speaking of video camera; I just won one on eBay. Here's to hoping it isn't a complete piece of poopity blech blech!
Anyhauser, haven't had my fat checked since 2006. Today. Today, I will have my fat checked. I am excited and nervous at the same time.
I am meeting with a new trainer, in my new/ old town in exactly 30 minutes!
This is a perfect starting point for me to start taking better care of myself, no matter what. I will take better care of myself physically, because of the following reasons:
1. Health care is expensive, this is relatively cheap and is VERY preventative against high health care bills later on in life.
2. Setting a good example for my little one is very important to me. I truly equate being strong and sharp mentally shows itself physically as well. Once I can effectively meet and exceed my own personal goals then meeting and exceeding everyone else seems completely do-able.
3.Once I snap myself back into the rhythm, I can work part-time as a personal trainer for girls only again.
4.I have the tendency to being lazy. I know I do, so this is my way of preventing it.
5. Most women I know take care of everyone else FIRST and magically forget about themselves. I feel as though I can take better care of the people around me, when ME is taken care of FIRST. 'ME FIRST MAN'
This month I will only focus on these goals, anything else is just bonus!
1. I will go to the gym at least three times a week.
I will drink more water.
I will eat clean at least four days a week (by 'clean' I mean, lots of fresh veg, clean proteins and no refined sugars and starches).
My head feels clearer when I do these things, so that is where I will start. Ciao
(I may take a picture later-in which case I will post to this same post- telling/showing the world about it is PERFECT motivation- clearly)
I went in to see if it was still there. It was, and had been marked down to 499$ (still more than I had saved at that point). I asked them if they would take 399$ instead. The nice lady at the counter called the owner and promptly said, "Yes! It has been here forever!"
I excitedly paid for it and called my dad, whom was strategically in town for a couple of days to see new grand baby Noah and celebrate his 53rd Birthday. My dad has a truck. SCORE! I asked him to help, so he and my brother met me in South Omaha at Thrift Town to pick up my newest prize! yay yay yay yay
I didn't mention to my dad that there were lots of pieces (It took two trips) OR the fact that I live on the third floor of my building. :)
Here is a picture of it. (There is actually one other matching over sized love seat couch that goes with it. That one didn't fit in my living room, so I put it at the foot of my bed in my room- perfecto!
On the house note...my kitchen needs a BIG canvas. I'm not very motivated at the moment (mainly because I desperately want to paint my living room now). ANyhoodle, I DID finish the brown trim on the bottom of the stripes though! (This is also the spot that needs some sort of artish something.)
First you must know that I absolutely HATE car payments...but I am begining to feel the same way about my car. She is dependable and cute, but could use a little 'make-up', if you know what I mean. This is her.
The clear coat is starting to peel on the front bumper, She needs rims, a stereo system with an ipod hookup, also DESERATLEY needs new interior. Whoever had the car before me-was a complete and UTTER SLOB. Once I had it for two months the stains in the upholstry began to surface. It looks gross. No matter how many times I've had them cleaned, the filth surfaces. I have seat covers on the front seats, but the back seat has no hope. I think if those things were 'fixed', I'd be happier with her. 2004 Kia Rio, bare with me...I'm not gonna break up with you, I won't use and loose you; I'll just make you A-MAZING, so I can bare your FACE for longer! lol
This is what will help you Rio:
AND...
AND...yeah...you get the picture!
On a side note: Anyone who doesn't like it can go away (or talk to me with blind-folded) because I LOVES IT!
