{Sort of like a “Friday Five” or a “Life Lately” except it’s probably not Friday, and I gave up on the idea of a catchy alliteration. These are some bits and pieces of my glam #postgradlife. See past posts HERE}
1. Baby Ego
Most people who know me personally have heard me refer to Josh “my uncle who is more like a brother since he’s only a few years older than me” (which is usually my go-to line). So anyway because of this my sister and I do not have any first cousins on that side of the family.
Well after 23 years WE ARE FINALLY GETTING A COUSIN!
Don’t get me wrong, we obviously enjoyed growing up with our grandparents all to ourselves, especially since we have a family flower shop and we grew up just down the street from them, but its safe to say that Janci, me and the rest of the Ego/Spoo clan are pretty darn excited.
Baby Girl Ego is due mid-July and even though I wasn’t able to be home for any festivities, my family made sure I was included via FaceTime and SnapChat.
2. Speaking of Babies…
My best friend Richole is also expecting at the end of 2017. She shared the news with me a few weeks ago before she made it public but the excitement was a bit delayed because apparently I was a bit distracted that day…. click the image below to see our funny conversation.
3. Face App
My sister texted Josh and me about this new app that allows you to take your picture and then adjust it to be a girl, boy, old, young, etc. When she tried the boy version she thought she looked a lot like Josh, which she does…. but not as much as me. Regardless, its pretty funny and it shows that we are definitely related!
Janci as a boy, compared to Josh.
Me as a boy, compared to Josh.
Me and Josh, as “normal” as we can be.
4. Ellie
A few weeks ago I wrote a little tribute for our family pup, Ellie, who passed away. She was the sweetest dog I’ve ever met and I am sure going to miss her when I am home next.
5. Turnpike Troubadours
This concert definitely made me miss the Midwest and Manhattan, where there is at least one (or more) red dirt concerts in town every weekend! Surprisingly though, this was my first time seeing Turnpike Troubadours ever! A group of Kansas kids and other friends caught this concert at the Fillmore which wasn’t my favorite venue in the area, but it wasn’t too bad at all.
6. Girls Night
Thankful for these bible study small group girls who’ve turned into friends….and thoroughly enjoy margaritas and dancing as much as I do.
7. Snapchat Voice Changer
I am well aware that most people probably don’t find the SnapChat voice changers as funny as I do…. and that’s just too bad, because I think they are hilarious.
So when I having a ridiculous time trying to navigate the ONE MILE between work and home because of a ONE BLOCK DETOUR, I figured the occasion deserved to obnoxiously documented.
8. Out and About
A few snippets (and Snapchats) of life lately.
Had a great time visiting my friend Chelsea in Blacksburg for the Virginia Tech spring game a few weeks ago… so much that this was the only picture that I took the entire weekend!
I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed this from Trader Joe’s, considering it was an impulse buy while I was waiting in line.
Virtual meeting with Kansas agriculture commodity and university folks means chatting up with all of your friends and mentors.
Another week, another bouquet of flowers from Trader Joe’s.
…so a 10 minute drive home turned into 45 because of traffic.
9. My Life in Memes
Memes that are speaking to me right now… both thought provoking and just plain funny.
{Sort of like a “Friday Five” or a “Life Lately” except it’s probably not Friday, and I gave up on the idea of a catchy alliteration. These are some bits and pieces of my glam #postgradlife. See past posts HERE}
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This post should really be titled “What has been going on in Amanda’s life for the last two months to keep her from blogging even once?” But obviously that would have been a bit long and obnoxious.
Well as you will see below, I’ve been pretty busy! Every week day has been full at work and my weekends even more full. I’ve actually been slowly adding to this post for a few weeks now, and final found a moment to send it off.
I also returned last week from a quick work trip to GUAM! So as soon as I can get to the pictures on my nice camera I will be blogging about that (hopefully this week)!
Anyway, back to not-so-regularly scheduled programming…
1. NEEDTOBREATHE and Mat Kearney
I crossed two old favorites off my list of live concerts to see with my friends Sarah and Elissa. I have been a fan of Mat Kearney since he debuted about 10 years ago when I was in high school. And NEEDTOBREATHE I discovered early in college. The Monday night concert was out at Wolf Trap Park and was a great venue!
The fact that Mat is originally from Oregon and includes it in a lot of his songs definitely makes me an even bigger fan.
I LOVE when artists cover other classic songs and artists, and blend it in with their own songs.
I was a bit disappointed that we did not get a full rendition of my favorite NEEDTOBREATHE song but the acoustic snippet was still great.
2. Labor Day Weekend
After some back and forth of who was going to visit who where… Nicole made the trek up from Raleigh for a weekend in DC. I am sure I have said this before on the blog, but Nicole is a fellow kid from Eastern Oregon who studied Ag Communications at K-State, and now lives on the East Coast. Yeah, we have a lot in common…
Our weekend was filled with attending the K-State watch party, wandering through Eastern Market and Capitol Hill Bookstore, a few museums and typical DC sightseeing. I’m pretty sure she would agree that the highlight was going to the Newseum! I will never understand why I waited so long to go! There were many moments where Nicole and I both had to pause to collect ourselves, we were really nerding out.
If you are in DC or a visiting book nerd, a stop at Capitol Hill Bookstore is a must for your list. This video does not do it justice.
This story probably deserved its own blog post, but I think too much time has passed for that so I’m sharing it here.
So to get into my condo building you need a separate key from the one I use on my apartment (it is a really old building.) Because I was wearing jeans that evening I decided to not carry a purse or clutch, and just put everything in my pockets, except for my keys which I gave to Nicole to put in her clutch. Except I was trying to be efficient and just gave her my apartment key instead of my whole key ring…
Fast forward to us getting home at 3 a.m., a bit tipsy and realizing that we were locked out of the building, and to top it off the buzzer that is supposed to allow me to open the door remotely from my cell phone was not working. Right about when I am thinking that I am going to have to get us a hotel room, this guy walks up and listens to me go on and on about how I promise I live here and am not some crazy person trying to break in. He lets us in and then I continue to badger him to let me know which apartment number he is in so that I can bring him a bottle of wine. He tried turning me down (and not tell the drunk crazy girl where he lived) but if you know me you know I am persistent.
I did indeed make good on my promise to leave him some wine outside his door (and promptly left very quickly) and just so happened to have this wine on hand with the perfect name.
3. Costco
My family have been Costco members through our business since I was little and it was about time that I got my own card, you know, to spend all of that extra money that I have…
4. Virginia Tech Game
In September, I visited Blacksburg again to spend the weekend with one of my favorite Kansans, Chelsea, who is going to grad school there. I am a sucker for a college gameday and tailgate no matter who is playing… even if they do have some strange traditions.
5. West Virginia vs. K-State Road Trip
Speaking of college football… I started out October the right way by road tripping with my fellow DC K-State alum to our game versus West Virginia. The end of the game was a tad bit embarrassing but it was a great day overall, and for the most part the WVU were very welcoming. Now if I could only get that John Denver song out of my head…
Also, I just love how small the world is! Katie was a part of our group because she was visiting her BF who is at Georgetown Law and also happens to be the sister-in-law to one of my best friends from college, Blaine.
6. Eric Stonestreet K-State Video
And speaking of K-State Football…
So cheesy and so, so wonderful.
And the fact that it is narrated by everyone’s favorite K-State alum makes it 10 times better.
Just do not make me admit how many times I’ve watched it.
7. Gilmore Girls Revival
Have I mentioned lately HOW EXCITED I AM!?!
8. Chasing Bubbles
Looking for a bit of motivation or a break from binge watching on Netflix? I HIGHLY recommend checking out this documentary, “Chasing Bubbles.” It is about really seeing life as a journey and a story about how one guy sailed around the world to discover that. Of course its about a lot more than that, but you should just really watch it to find out.
For me it was also interesting because the younger brother of the guy the film is about is one of my friends through my AFA leadership network. I honestly do not know Joe all that well, but it was interesting to learn about the family he comes from and a bit of what makes him who he is. Overall, this documentary really touched me and it is a story that deserves to be shared.
9. My Puppies
I miss these two all the time, and certainly could not pass up giving them some love on Instagram on #NationalDogDay
10. My Dad and His “Kitty-Kitty”
Over the past two months my parents have been in the process of moving houses, and while living with my grandparents for a few weeks the pets had to stay at various other places. My Dad has a rather strange affection for one of the cats and so this SnapChat from my sister is just too funny NOT to document.
11.Coffee Things
Coffee has been the real MVP lately.
12. Forever Country
The Country Music Association is turning 50 this year and recently released this medley of songs with a long list of country music all-stars.
I have yet to watch it without tearing up.
13. National Taco Day
My sister posted this collage on #NationalTacoDay.
We may or may not have a taco obsession in our family.
14. Out and About
A few snippets (and Snapchats) of life lately.
The scaffolding is FINALLY all removed, and the Capitol sure does look gorgeous!
On the Key Bridge overlooking the Potomac River
I recommend “Bilbo Baggins” restaurant. It’s quirky and cute.
Excited for this K-State friend to be in DC for the next full year!
Volunteering at a community garden with my church.
Got dinner and did some site seeing with my cousin Dave who was in town for work.
15. My Life in Memes
Memes that are speaking to me right now… both thought provoking and just plain funny.
Substitute a Dirty Chai Latte for the PSL and this is all me.
Pretty sure my parents thought this on the daily for the first 10 years of my life.
16. Update on My Favorite Kiddos
Because this has become the best part of my “So There’s That” posts.
Wesley Ray – somewhere between 6 and 7 months old.
Robin Michele – somewhere between 5 and 6 months old.
I just LOVE the picture above of Robin with her Mama.
Friends, I know I am not the only one who struggled a bit with the first full week back to work after the holidays.
I knew that the Christmas in the Country Gift Reveal blog posts were going live this week but everyday after work I just couldn’t bring myself to look at a computer screen again.
So my slacker plan was to write the post on the plane this morning on my trip to the West coast and post it during my layover.
And then I missed my flight this morning.
So now I’m back in my living room, with a re-booked flight for this evening.
Such is life.
Anyhow, I excited to finally share about my first Christmas in the Country exchange!
I particularly love that this exchange brings together bloggers in agriculture.
I had SO MUCH fun “getting to know” Myla at “The Purple Front Door” and going shopping for her. Read her post on my gift HERE.
I received my fun box from Chelsea at BoilermakerAg, and she did a fabulous job! Everything was so personalized and well-thought out. Chelsea is a newlywed from Indiana, a proud Purdue Boilermaker and like me, an agriculture communications grad! I have read Chelsea’s blog before and I’m guessing that we have a lot in common. I am looking forward staying in touch.
First I want to share about that little lump of coal you see above on the red bag. This lump of coal (which is really a colored and scented piece of soap), has been passed along through the exchange since 2013 as a little reminder of the true reason for the season. The white tag says” A lighthearted reminder coal deserving sins places us on Santa’s naughty list. Thankfully naughty boy and girls are offered the gift of Jesus.” On the back of the tag it has the history of where this coal has traveled each year so my job now is to keep it and pass it on to someone next year!
If you know me or have read my blog before you know that I love to be creative and tap into my artistic side, and paints are probably my favorite to use. Chelsea sent me a jar of turquoise custom chalk paint and a few brushes. I haven’t done as many projects since my move to DC and my mind is spinning with all of the ideas that I could use this for! Plus you can never have too many brushes.
In my mind coffee is a love language all on its own. Chelsea sent me this adorable mug, a few K Cups and homemade chocolate spoon stirrers. They were SO GOOD — now I feel like I need one for every cup of coffee I have.
Everything in the gift was great, but this last part really hit it out of the ballpark. I love saving different wine corks (and the wine itself of course) and stealing them out of my stash from time to time for a craft. But I’m not sure Chelsea understands just how PERFECT this particular holder is for me. Yes, I used to work for the Kansas Pork Association, but my love for pigs runs far deeper than that. Everyone has a few things that they find hard to explain their love for without seeming a bit loony, and for me, pigs go on the top of that list. This is SO CUTE, and will go perfectly in my home.
Chelsea, thank you so much for taking the time to get to know me and for each of the fun gifts. I hope you had a wonderful season with your family and I wish you the best in 2016.
Oh hey, what’s up? I’m excited to finally jump in on this fun link up! It happens the last Wednesday of every month with the same list of questions and is hosted by The Larson Lingo, Mix & Match Family and Pinterest Told Me To.
What I’m Eating This Week… Normally I would not really have anything interesting to share here. I don’t really enjoy cooking, so I usually keep it pretty basic. But I know that I eat better when I plan a little ahead of time and with a busy week ahead I knew that I was not going to want to come home after work each night and put any thought into it. So aside from a few of my easy go-to staples, that I bought or prepared ahead of time I also made these two recipes: Parmesan and Spinach Orzo (I substituted bleu cheese crumbles) and Baked Chicken. I have some pork and other chicken that I am trading off mixing into the orzo (although it would be good by itself,) and the baked chicken I will pair with some steamed veggies and maybe a sweet potato! I have enough for about 6 meals this week, and I am actually pretty proud of myself for how well they turned out!
What I’m Reminiscing About… Back-to-school memories at K-State. I always LOVED the week before classes started back up. Lot of traditions, moving in to new places, buying new supplies and getting organized, and catching up with friends you haven’t seen all summer before the busy semester starts. Yepp, I officially “Miss Manhattan.” Here are a few of my favorite back-to-school college photos.
What I’m Dreading… Flying on my upcoming trip (see below)? I don’t know, life is pretty good right now, so that would have to be it. I don’t get sick when I fly, but I never feel all that great. And honestly airports and the whole process of flying just pushes all of my buttons. I get it, you just have to practice a bit more patience then a normal day, but people who are rude or have no common sense, nope, the struggle for me is very real. Although packing is right up there with flying…
I promise, I really do love traveling.
What I’m Working On… That’s a good question. During the day I am a communications specialist for the U.S. Wheat Associates. It’s a busy job, but I love it. I always have multiple projects going on at once, but something that is a bit different than the norm is a set of writing and editing courses that I am taking online through Poytner’s News University. Continuing education is an important part of just about any career!
What I’m Excited About… Aside from my answers to some of the questions below? (!!!) Considering almost every blogger I follow also has a deep love for fall, I feel a bit cliché saying it, but seriously though, I’m SO EXCITED FOR FALL.
What I’m Watching… My list of shows to eventually binge watch on Netflix is never-ending, but for some reason I kept putting off Friends. I had seen enough random episodes over the years to know some of the references and storylines, and know that I would like it. I finally gave in and now I am wondering why the friends have not been a part of my life sooner than now, other than I might appreciate it the most right now, also being in mid-20s. I just started season 6, so I am on the downhill and I just know that I am never going to want it to end.
I remember back in 2013, when the original promos for Graceland came out and wanting to pick up, and for whatever reason, didn’t. My sister brought it back to my attention this summer, and I am definitely hooked. I love Aaron Tveit from Les Miserables and his guest spots on Gossip Girl (no shame), but I honestly expected him to be awkward in this somewhat gritty show. And he is at times…but it surprising fits into the story pretty well. Crime/cop shows are my favorite genre, and this one separates itself with an unique angle and has characters that are really easy to become invested in. I definitely recommend it!
I have no shame. I Facetime with my friend Brandi back in Kansas and it’s the best entertainment.
What I’m Reading… My reading list is significantly longer than my Netflix list. Throughout college I would buy cheap books here and there for my library, but didn’t get to read very many of them, because, college, duh. #herestoneverhavingtoreadatextbookagain. So essentially I have a ton of unread books on my shelf, yet I have no willpower from buying books that are popular right now and reading them right away. This month I only read one book…
I read Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, the same author who brought us Gone Girl. Overall, I really enjoyed it. Like Gone Girl it was twisted, with well-crafted scenes and characters, and also very hard to review without giving too much away. I will say that this one was just a tad bit predictable before I would have liked (still a good shock though) and I felt like after so much detail, the ending was kind of misplaced and hasty. On the other hand, this book makes you think A LOT, which I particularly like. Definitely recommend it!
What I’m Listening To… I recently started up a new version of my Friday Jam Sessions, sharing each Friday what I have been listening to throughout the week. Check it out HERE.
What I’m Wearing… I don’t really consider myself that fashionable, but I like to look nice. I also don’t usually take mirror pictures… so maybe next time, maybe. But I am looking forward to a change in wardrobe with the upcoming change of season, especially so I can wear my new scarf! All of fall and winter, I really wanted a blanket scarf but couldn’t make up my mind on wanted. This year I told myself that I was going to make a decision and stick to it. This is what is on its way in the mail right now…
What I’m Doing This Weekend…
I’m going to Guatemala!!
I will be spending six day in Antigua, Guatemala at a World Staff Conference for my job. In addition to our East and West Coast U.S. offices, we also have 15 Foreign Offices around the world, so every other year this conference happens. Yes, a lot of my time will be spent in meetings at the resort, but I will still get to enjoy quite a few things. We have a day-long hike up the Pacaya volcano and weather permitting, I am going to be going zip lining! This is my first big international trip aside from a vacation in Mexico so I am extremely excited! I will be taking my camera, so be prepared for lots of pictures!
What I’m Looking Forward to Next Month… K-STATE FOOTBALL!!!!!
I’ve said many times that my perfect last day on earth includes a K-State Gameday and I know that I am going to be incredibly homesick for Kansas this fall. But I am very excited to join some of the watch parties here in D.C. and meet some new friends here that also bleed purple.
This Month’s Bonus Question: What’s Your Favorite Back to School Tradition…
So I definitely wrote the above answers before I read what the bonus question was. Oh well. We didn’t really have an consistent traditions growing up and I already mentioned that the week before school started at K-State was always my favorite. I will say my favorite thing at the end of the first week of school was sitting down with all of my syllabi and extra curricular schedules and organizing it all in my planner. I even had erasable colored pencils… #nerdalert
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Well, that’s what’s up this Wednesday!
Cheers!
As I’ve ventured back into blogging, I’ve wondered whether or not I should engage with other bloggers. I blog primarily because I really like to write and share/scrapbook my life with my friends and family who enjoy keeping up with me. So there was never a negative thought towards engaging (because that is a huge part of blogging) but it just was never my original purpose to invest in. However things change and I went back to a mantra that has been big for me in 2015… Why Not?
Well, I LOVE list making so if this is what engaging with others looks like, then count me in! I will say though, I struggled a bit writing this because I know at least one of my college roommates will read this and would immediately call me out for not listing all of the weird things I have really strong feelings about, so in other words, this post should instead be titled “Owning the Crazy.”
– LOVES –
1. K-State Gameday I could go on for days about why I love sports, but there are few things that parallel my love for K-State Gamedays. If you tell me it’s just a football game, we can’t be friends. It’s tailgating, kegs and eggs, bean toss games, going to the Ville afterward and friends. It’s the sea of purple, Snyder’s pre-game playlist, traditions, doing the Wabash and tearing up every time I hear this song…
I’ve said before that my perfect last day on earth includes a K-State Gameday and I mean it.
I’m going to miss my first Family Reunion (opening game) since I became a Kansas State Wildcat six years ago….and I will definitely be a little extra homesick for Kansas that day.
2. Showers This is what my college roommates would have called me out on for not including, partially because I didn’t realize it was something I LOVED until I lived with them and vocalized it to the point that it became a joke. But seriously though, I know it sounds weird, but I just love a long, really hot shower before bed (at night because I have curly hair.) And it must not be just an adult-me thing because I’m pretty I haven’t had a bath since before I was young enough to remember. Ok, now that we are bordering the TMI line… 3. Caffeine
To know me, is to know how much I LOVE coffee and Diet Coke.
PEOPLE, I have a Pinterest board just for Caffeine.
I could keep going for days.
4. Live Concerts
In the same way that I could write multiple lists and blog posts about sports, I could about music. My tastes stretch far and wide to encompass a pretty unique influence of people, places and experiences. But the true test and the best way to experience music is live, whether its in a huge stadium or a college bar. I could never pick a favorite genre, artist or song, and at this point I couldn’t pick a favorite concert…I’ve been to A LOT…my college budget was basically built around them. So far my favorite venue is Starlight Theatre (an outdoor amphitheater in Kansas City,) and Red Rocks is at the top of my bucket list.
6. Chips & Salsa I would eat them with every meal if I could.
Every. Single. Meal.
I did once, when I was in vacation in Cabo San Lucas.
It was fabulous.
7. Turquoise I’m one of those people, whose favorite color is obnoxiously obvious at all times.
This is just my jewelry.
Then if we start branching out into the blue color family, it’s incorporated in some shade into every room’s theme in my home except for the kitchen and its my clothing neutral color.
Ironically, I really hate the song Blue (Da Ba Dee) by Eiffel 65.
8. 80’s Movies
In my past life I would have been in a John Hughes film.
I can quote Breakfast Club on command, Footloose is my anthem, I wanted to be Andi in Pretty in Pink and really, we shouldn’t get started on my love for Top Gun.
The music! The hair! The cheesiness!
Basically I’m saying if you stood outside my window with a boom box I’d fall in love with you forever.
9. Pigs
This is another one that my college roommates always found pretty amusing. I don’t expect you to understand, especially if your only reference is Charlotte’s Web. But when you grew up in agriculture and showing livestock, its different. I’ve always loved swine science. They are incredibly smart, cute and yes…great to eat. Honestly, my first job with the Kansas Pork Association was perfect for me. 10. My Sister Okay, I know this one is kind of cliché to list, its usually assumed that most people love their family. And my Mom is now rolling her eyes because I’ll see Janci in just two days and it’s a guarantee that we’ll argue at least once. But I know people who genuinely can’t stand their siblings or will never understand them, and that just makes me so thankful for our friendship. She turned 21 this summer and I wrote about that HERE.
Other Things That I LOVE… Flowers, giving presents, messy braided hair, mountains, watermelon, my Dad’s cooking, fireworks and the 4th of July, weddings, babies, Grumpy Cat memes, taco trucks, western boots, Summer Shandy, basketball, agriculture, mason jars, reading, Criminal Minds, Gilmore Girls, Doctor Who…I’m sure I could go on.
– HATES–
1. Green beans As an adult there are foods that I still don’t like but will eat anyways every now and then.
Except for green beans, I can’t even stand the smell of them.
My first semester in college I went home for a three day weekend with one of the girls who lived in my scholarship house. When we sat down with her family for dinner, everyone passed their plate to the Dad and he filled up your plate for you, which was totally fine except that he gave me green beans and right as I was about to say no thank you, the girl pipes up and says, “Amanda, my mom makes the best green beans!” It was traumatizing and at the end of the weekend I called my Mom to tell her, just so she would say she was proud of me.
2. Winter
This hate is multi-faceted…
I hate being cold, anything peppermint is gross and I’d rather dropkick the chipmunks than listen to them sing. Actually I dislike Christmas music in general, with a few very specific expectations, that can only be played between the day AFTER Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. I could write a whole other post just on the reasons why I hate snow, the static air drives me loony and I have this weird complex with cheesy Christmas anything. And did I mention that I hate being cold? I promise there are a few things I do like about the season, but for the most part I wish we could skip it all together.
3. Balloons So if I had continued the list on things that I love I would have eventually written about flowers, mainly because my family are florists. But for as much love and nostalgia I have for flowers, but I feel the exact opposite about balloons. The helium gel stinks, tying them off makes my hands cramp and one can handle only so many popping noises. One time, one of the grade schools had ordered something like 500+ balloons because the kids had met their reading goals, so everyone was going to get to release one. To me that was the definition of pointless and wasteful. But yet I’m the one who got pulled out of school to blow them all up.
My Mom jokes that she’s going to decorate my future wedding with them.
4. When People Act Dumb, or Speak and Write Incorrectly…On Purpose
I thought about making poor grammar one on this list, but decided it kind of a given considering my career, so I thought, “What actually gets on my nerves?”
There is a time and a place for shorthand and slang. We all make mistakes and no one should ever be made to feel belittled for what they genuinely don’t know or understand. But when people do it on purpose to manipulate a situation, be lazy or say “whatever, I don’t care.” NO. You are privileged to have an education. Please use it.
5. Masks
Think mascots, Halloween corn mazes and actors dressed up as animated characters.
Think about it. Grown adults putting on silly and usually oversized costumes that hide their identity whose primary purpose is to hug children. Ummm HELLO, why am I the only one who is bothered by this?!
Yes, it may be a bit irrational and no, I don’t have some traumatizing childhood experience, but if I can’t see your face I won’t trust you and seriously, DON’T TOUCH ME.
The fact that this picture exists is a big deal. #ididitforthetshirt polo
6.The Princess Bride (the movie)
Yet I’ve seen it at least 3 times…
Don’t try to reason with me, it’s a permanent hatred.
7. Laundry
Always have and always will.
The rest of my house will be organized and clean, but I will always have laundry, both dirty and clean piled on the floor. One of my apartments in college had a community laundry room that was literally across the lawn (and around the pool) from our door and I would have to bribe my roommates to go with me to help carry all the laundry I procrastinated on or just because I needed the motivation.
8. Shopping
OK, I don’t actually hate shopping, but it definitely doesn’t go into the LOVE category. I can be incredibly indecisive so it stresses me out. And crowded malls with overly aggressive sales people who aren’t actually helpful when you need them to be is just not how I want to spend my time. Growing up we had to shop in a order for back-to-school stuff. Dad went first so he could then wander off to the book store (he was a teacher), then me and then Jancz. Poor Mom, she could always tell by the look on my face that I was DONE.
9. “I Gotta A Feeling” by The Black Eyed-Peas
Not that I liked it at all to begin with, but every time I hear it, all I can hear is a specific someone’s annoying high-pitched, nasally voice screaming the lyrics.
I know that’s kind of mean, especially since I can’t sing at all either, but still…I just can’t handle it.
For good measure, the music video is also just as stupid.
10. Automated Telephone Services
The hours of my life that I’ve lost to automated telephone services.
I know they have a purpose, blah, blah, blah.
But I just want to talk to a real human being and not to have to push “1” 60 billion times just to realize that I’m in the wrong menu.
The only thing worse is when you do get a real person and then spend 7 hours over the course of two weeks trying to get things sorted out. (I’m looking at you Comcast.)
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This was fun to write!
If you haven’t done a post like this before, join in!
{Sort of like a “Friday Five” except it’s probably not Friday, and I gave up on the idea of a catchy alliteration. These are some bits and pieces of my glam #postgradlife.}
1. This has been on my mind a lot lately.
I stole this from a friend’s Instagram. I revisited it about 5 times before I finally took a screen shot. This is my life right now. Stay tuned…
2. The coolest coffee mug ever.
My bestie Megan gave me this for Christmas, and of course ordered one for herself.
We jumped into the Doctor Who fandom our last semester of college.
Please be easy on us newbies, we’re STILL reeling from the loss of Rose.
But PEOPLE this mug! When it warms up the Tardis disappears and reappears on the other side.
#MINDBLOWN
3. “5 Things Successful People Do to End Their Days Right”
A few months ago at a conference, this conversation came up multiple times in the workshops and again among friends. I think in particular, post grads struggle with the “after work till bed time” hours. Many of us go from very little structure, and always-changing routines in college, to 8-5 cookie cutter weekdays. We each swapped a few tips that we had incorporated into our routine in order to get a good night’s rest and finish day feeling positive and settled.
My reading list is lonnnnnnggggg and pretty diverse.
But I’ll admit, if there is a movie adaptation coming out that I think I’m going to want to see relatively quickly, I will move that book up to the front of the list. Here’s what I’ve read lately.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand: I love history, and the WWII era has always been one of the most interesting to me. I was already vaguely familiar with who Louie Zamperini was as an athlete, but his whole story is so much MORE. It’s hard to grasp how people have survived such things. The book was very detailed, but easy to follow. If you skipped the book and just watched the movie, I highly recommend going back and reading it.
Paper Towns by John Green: If you have read/watched Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars,” and wasn’t a fan, don’t give up on the author completely (personally I loved it.) His stories might involve teenagers, but to be honest I don’t know if I would have fully understood or appreciated this book, when I was a teen. It’s a hard one to summarize without spoilers, but personally it’s reminds me why I love words and reading so much.
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks: I’m a sucker for enjoying Mr. Sparks’ stories every nowand then, and this one is my new favorite from him. It’s poetic and has a bit different pace than some of his other stories. There’s letter writing and art, and there’s a cowboy. Sounds just about right to me.
6. Girl’s Weekend
MIke’s Wine Dive
Spice Merchant (photo by Leah)
This is how wine should be done.
My favorites 🙂
We did a pretty great job at wearing Luna out.
Leah’s work had her in Wichita for the week, so I joined her and Megan for an impromptu girl’s weekend.
Those are my favorite kind.
The Good Stuff 