I gotta tell you, painting my nails is like weekly therapy for me. So much so that I'm actually writing a blog post about it. But that's mostly because my blog seemed sad, and I literally just finished up my paint job.
My usual process involves donning some sweat pants (none of that VS Pink shit, I mean real, grey, drawstring waist, purchased at the U of M Sports store and say "Gopher Wrestling" on one leg), cozying up on my recliner, and watching some cable TV, God love it. I use my skills as a whack-a-doo perfectionist to ensure a perfectly executed manicure. It's like my own zen rock garden.... raking the sand....
One of the best parts is the ability to sit and do nothing with very good reason! I can't mess up my manicure!
Errrr.... so that's as far as I've thought this post through. Huh. Anyone watching Conan right now? Hilarious!
Here are my favorite nail polishes! That's a good idea!!
CND Stickey Base Coat
CND Super Shiney Top Coat
OPI Vampsterdam
OPI Skull & Glossbones (discontinued... buzzkill)
OPI Barefoot In Barcelona
OPI I Vant To Be A Lonestar
....and without further ado, here is tonight's manicure via iPhone3 (the crappy one without a flash)
This is OPI Play The Peonies and ESSIE Set In Stones on my ring finger. Swear to God, I get more comments on my wedding ring when I wear sparkly silver glitter on that nail.
Wow, this was truly boring. Sorry folks. I dedicate this post to Colin Mayr, because I doubt it he made it this far.
Apparently I'm 56 days late for my "hooray, it's a new year and a new me!" post. Surprise surprise. Still old me.
Life isn't particularly exciting -- my reasons for not blogging don't involve super cool adventures/activities, and it certainly wasn't any sort of internet protest (all the cool people seem to be eschewing social media, ironically announcing their superiority silence prior to shutting down). I have, however, been indulging in some good hibernation season activities, both of which make me feel the slightest bit high-brow and snooty! HAHA!!
Have you, like all the fanciest of folk, watched Downton Abbey yet? Because I totally have. I'm the most smartest after watching it. And it's like so awesome. I feel like I need to follow it up by reading Tolstoy and Beowulf, and listening to NPR and other hoity toity stuff like that.
Oh wait, I don't even know how to spell hoity toity. Hmphf.
In all seriousness, it's a fabulous drama full of intrigue. I think if you like Mad Men you'll love this -- period costumes and settings, social commentaries that make you wonder about life in those times, and a healthy dose of "oh no he didn't!" and "She's hookin up with being courted by who?" Watch the show. Season 1 (only 7 eps) is on Netflix Instant, and Season 2 (just finished! 7 eps) is on PBS.org for free thru March 6th! Easy peasy.
My other indulgence has been reading. I read four books in two weeks. And you might think me an intellectual. I read the first three in six days and thought myself an intellectual.... until I opened the fourth and found that it WASN'T in large print (and hadn't been housed in the "young adult" section of the book store). Here I'd thought I was some amazingly fast reader... Books 1-3 were The Hunger Games series (super addicting, loved the story, could have been written better) and #4 was The Help (perfect in almost every way). Read them both. C'mon, it only takes two weeks!
The Hunger Games was a series I'd heard about through various people, but mostly from those who'd read Harry Potter. They said "Oh if you liked Harry Potter, you'll love this series! And they're making it a movie!" Honestly, the fact that it was going to come out as a movie (in 4 weeks, no less!) was quite the motivator -- you see, I JUST read the HP series this fall and always seem to be the last to find out about good books, often after they're made into movies, so I was happy to be ahead of the game on this! Don't miss your chance!!! You have 4 weeks to read the first book (which took me less than 24 hrs). Don't let anyone spoil any of the story and try to avoid the trailers as it's much more fun to create in your own mind :-)
Also noteworthy on this: Brian loved them. He's a big fan of post-apocalyptic dystopian society stories, and while they may not tell you on the dust jacket (perhaps not appealing to young adults?), that's exactly what this story is. I do wish that the author had fleshed out the stories a bit more and made them longer. I think my smarty pants brain could have handled some smaller print.
Did I mention I also had lots of glasses of wine during this period? Because I did.
This is exactly what I want for the end/start of a year! Woop woop!!! Oh wait... no thanks.
We had originally planned on heading to Stevens Point, WI to a cabin with friends Joel & Kelsey for a fun filled weekend of hot tubbing, good food, lots of funny moments and our fair share of alcoholic beverages. But now we're not.
INSERT SAD FACE.
Because of our need for budgeting with home-buying on the horizon, we opted out of this magnificent event. And we're totally missing out. I hope they don't have any fun without us.
Instead, we are partaking in the repeat of one of my favorite NYE ever, the Adult Pajama Party at Kate & Tyge's. I don't think the recreation will surpass the greatness of the first (NYE 2009) but I think it'll be pretty awesome. The pajamas were totally my idea, btw. Because I'm a lazy motherf*cker who loves a good pair of flannel pants. Kate's planning a "Vices" theme with stations set up -- shots at one, sweets at another, cigars on the deck, hookers in the guest room..... could be a good time!
Possibly one of the greatest parts of this NYE is the fact that I TOOK SATURDAY OFF!!!!! ***head explodes***
Who wants to give me a high five? Aw, thanks Olive!
To the point. I have a list on my right menu of blogs that I follow. Most of them are people I know, one of them is ridiculously awesome, and it happens to be the one on the very bottom that last updated TWO YEARS AGO. I am Lemish.... well, SHE is Lemish, and she is my favorite!
Lemish is a bff that I met a few years ago in a really dorky way. Let's skip that. She is one of my favorite people on Earth, and I demand you read her hilarious insanity and encourage her to return to the internetz. I shouldn't even say that as if she's left because she's RIGHT THERE. Every day. Hi Lemish. Wave to the nice people. I know you're watching.
Lemish posted this to me a few weeks back regarding my own blogging:
"So eventually there will be dinosaurs on your dinosaur tour, right? Replace the first dinosaur with blog posts, and the second dinosaur with blog. Oh, and get rid of tour. Also, dinosaurs."
Here's where you should start: this post about funny stuff. Or this post about Jesus and dinosaurs and other stuff.
Christmas happened, and now it's over. And I'm kinda... sorta... glad. I've busted my arse for work, hosted inlaws, attended two separate Christmas gatherings and churched it up. I can't tell you how good it feels to hang out on the couch with my husband and not do a thing! (Well, we're watching LOTR, so that counts as something!)
All dramatics aside, we had a great Christmas. Lots of family, lots of fun and a moving and beautiful church service (summary below). Here are some pictures, all from my iPhone (the old kind), and all but one at my Uncle Russ' farm in Lonsdale, MN. Rest in peace, Russ.
Basilica of St Mary, Minneapolis - a gorgeous midnight Mass!! It started with the choir singing our engagement song and wedding processional, Ave Maria (Franz Biebl), which made us both tear up. The church started dark but all in attendance held a candle and shared the light with those surrounding. But the combination of the choir, the organ and the brass was what truly lit the cavernous church. Father Bauer spoke saying something along the lines of "Whatever brings you here, whether it's tradition, personal need, curiousity or just to appease a family member WELCOME HOME."
The Farm - Lonsdale, MN
This statue of Mary holding a rosary has been there for decades. It's both adorable (she's in a little house!) and meaningful, and what a flashback it was to visit her.
We all abandoned the bonfire to enjoy the gorgeous sunset -- a 45 degree day in Minnesota on Christmas? Lovely.
