tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67748048427392722342024-03-14T00:46:38.082-04:00Here's to making every bite count...Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-40120742695666768372014-11-06T12:33:00.005-05:002014-11-06T12:33:51.158-05:00Holy Smokes it's Nov!!!!Where did the time go people?!?! I have started five or six different blog posts over the past few months and nothing has stuck. Mainly because my life, my fabulous life feels little like that stupid card game we all played as kids where someone throws up 52 cards in the air and you have to pick them up?!?! Who thought of that and why are we are gullible enough to do it?!?!<br />
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With so many things buzzing and whirling around in my life (in a great way) I have forgotten to make time to write and to also forgotten to make time to do kettlebells in the morning. Since moving into my apartment I have only done this twice!! I need to get back on the kettle bell wagon because with the holidays literally around the corner I can feel my pants getting tighter with each little bite!<br />
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As most of you know I moved this year and with a move comes one of my favorite October games to play...."How many Trick or Treaters will I get!??!" Since I am a glass is overflowing type of gal I assumed I would have a line out the door and down the block so I bought bags of candy. Bags of GOOD candy. Candy I would want to eat (mistake number 1). I bought said candy about a week before halloween because I TOLD MYSELF, "The stores might run out" (mistake number 2 and 3) **Note to self no stores will EVER run out of candy and buying candy early is just dangling the carrot right in front of my face.....if you have been following along you know I have ZERO self control with food. ZZZZZZ.....EEEEEEEEE.....RRRRRR.....OOOOO!<br />
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So after one long cold walk home from the train that week I decided to self medicate with fun size candy bars. Oh the flood gates were open people. So night after night I watched in total horror as the candy bowl slowly went down.....so on the night of Halloween I went back to the store and bought some more candy. This time I bought things I don't like (which isn't much let's be honest) in hopes I wouldn't eat THAT much of it. I 100% opened every bag I bought and taste tested everything and then threw out most of the samples saying out loud, "Not worth the Weight Watchers Points!!" It's kind of like when you see a "don't touch" or "wet paint" sign and you have to touch it.....I had to try them. Blow Pops weren't great in the early 90's and they aren't great now!<br />
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That night I ran home and sat at the front door just waiting for the little kids to come lining up! This is the first time in a long time I've lived in an actual house in a neighborhood. This could be kid-a-plooza 2014!!!!<br />
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Welp I had 8.....yes 8 trick or treaters and one of them wouldn't even put his mask on! I may or may not have been on my third cocktail by time these teenagers rolled on up and I may or may not have said, "Trick or Treat! Wait, put your mask on if you want candy kid!"<br />
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Kid....just looking at me like he doesn't understand English<br />
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Me, a little more sassy, "Put the le masko on-o if you want candyo"<br />
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Kid, looks down at my VERY full candy bowl, sticks his little hand in and grabbed three blow pops. If it were snickers I would have swatted his hand away but since it was those blow pops (who wants a blow pop again I ask you) I let it slide!<br />
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KIDS THESE DAYS!!!! Pssssssshhhhhhhh!!<br />
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The boyfriend and I spent the rest of the evening doing a pumpkin beer tasting, toasting pumpkin seeds and playing a few INTENSE rounds of farckle by my a pumpkin candle. I figured it was a great send off to the month of October.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-90232218955537639542014-11-06T12:33:00.004-05:002014-11-06T12:40:56.668-05:00Dear Fall....How I love you! You're beautiful colors, pumpkin spice everything and of course being able to lay around watching endless shows on Netflix, sipping tea, knitting, snuggling and not feeling a tad bit guilty about it. But I hate getting sick. And as of right now I am officially drowning in my own snot. I am not very good at being sick. I require a lot of pity, attention and sleep. Every night this week I have been in bed by 8pm and asleep by 8:30....thank you Nyquil and Sleepytime Tea! Thank you!<br />
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So with fall comes the colder weather. So far we, up here in New England, have had a pretty mild start to the great freeze ahead. We all know it's coming. Endless nights of below zero weather, bundling up like a zit about to pop with lots of wool and PRAYING for sun shine and no wind chills.<br />
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Sunday night I came into my apartment and found a little surprise. The heat wasn't on. It was FREEZING. I mean like penguins are about to move in freezing. I think it could have easily been about 50 degrees. I turned the heat ALL the way up and just waited.....waiting turned into hoping which then turned into swearing and then became acceptance that it was going to be a VERY cold night in casa de beth. SHIT!<br />
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I piled on the blankets, put on a very comfy hoodie, wool hat and some fingerless mittens, took some sleepy cold pills and drifted off into a drug induced como. Woke up all snuggly toasty warm and had immediate flash backs of being a teenager and not wanting to get out of bed to go to school. I haven't lived in a cold apartment with hardwood floors in years. There is something so fabulous about being extra snuggly in bed when the room is cold but not when it's Monday morning at 6:25am. Nope, nope that is hell! That go on the list of things I truly hate.<br />
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- Hate list updated.....<br />
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*Traffic<br />
*People being late to things (that keep me waiting)<br />
*Waking up early in a very cold room when I am snuggly warm<br />
*Long lines for anything<br />
*Being hangry with no food insight<br />
*Running out of water to drink<br />
*Traffic (did I say that already)<br />
*Bad weather at an airport when I have to be some where....like the start of a vacation kind of some where (ooooooo that's a good one!!)<br />
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So I manned up and called my landlord to figure out what's wrong with the heating system. I have steam heat. I don't know how the steam is made but some where in that creepy basement below me steam is created and then set up (loudly) into my fabulous apartment with tall ceiling and lots of windows.<br />
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My landlord finally called me back later that afternoon,,,,<br />
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Very nice landlord, "Hey Beth! So it looks like I forgot to tell you that you have Oil Heating"<br />
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Me "huh?!"<br />
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Landlord, "Yeah you need to call and get some oil for the heating system"<br />
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Me, "Seriously?! How much is that?"<br />
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Landlord, "ummmmm it changes all the time but it's about $3.50 a gallon right now"<br />
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Me, "WHAT?! Soooooooo how many gallons do I need?? 10?"<br />
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Landlord, "HA! Ooooooh no! The tank is about 250 and you will need to fill it up every other month during the cold months"<br />
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Me, "I am going to officially freeze to death"<br />
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<b><i>Next Day</i>: </b>Called the oil guy he recommended. 8 hours later Mr. Jackson called me back....<br />
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Mr Jackson (in a THICK Boston accent), "Hi There! I'm Mistah Jackson! So how can I help ya!"<br />
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Me, "I am cold...so cold! I need oil and I have no money. What can you do for me?"<br />
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MJ, "Have you checked the Boilah? Is there Watah in the tank? Is there oil in the tank?"<br />
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Me, "No because I am scared of the basement and won't set foot in there alone."<br />
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MJ, "ummmmm ok dearah! Are you home now?"<br />
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Me, "No I am stuck at work and won't be home until after 7 tonight"<br />
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MJ, "Yikes! That's late! How about tomorrah? I'll come by around 6 and take a look at the Boilah!"<br />
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Oh great! So not only am I sick but now I have to go down into the creepy basement and look at a Boilah! GREAT! So far this week is 275 Beth 2.<br />
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<b style="font-style: italic;">Last Night:</b> Mr. Jackson came right on time, went through everything really quickly. I manned up and went downstairs in the creepy basement with him which is still super creepy and then figured out that I will not be able to afford to eat for the rest of my life because I need to heat my apartment. HOLY SHIT OIL IS EXPENSIVE!!! So $458.75 later I now own 125 gallons of pure black gold, texas tea! (as theme song to the Beverly Hills Hillbillies said) which apparently will only last me....now hold on to your seats people....ONE MONTH. Yep, ONE FREAKING MONTH!!!!!<br />
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As those words came out of his mouth I looked up at my high ceilings, large windows and thought...SHIT! I am so screwed! So now I completely understand why people keep their homes at a brisk 60 degrees in the winter time because IT'S SO FREAKING EXPENSIVE TO HEAT!!!!!! I had no idea how good I had it with plush wall to wall carpets and forced hot air and a/c in that gosh darn condo!<br />
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So word to the wise if you come to my apartment at all this winter...bundle up people because yours truly is about to try and set the world record for making 125 gallons of oil last as long as humanly possible. I think I may need to buy another space heater or 10.<br />
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Week 733.75 Beth -10 (ate more Halloween candy)<br />
<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-51447552441994017872014-08-27T09:35:00.000-04:002014-08-27T09:46:19.018-04:00Turning over a new leafA few weekends ago I did something I haven't done in a long time. Nothing all day. Might have been partially do to being a little "dehydrated" as my mom likes to call it. Please read: hung over and sleep deprived. But either way I didn't do much of anything. Spent the afternoon reading in the sun, cataloging my yarn (yes I know.... What a WILD AND CRAZY life I lead!) as best I could and watching endless episodes of Law and Order on Netflix. But here's the real kicker. My favorite yarn store was having the most killer sale (20% - 50% EVERYTHING IN THE STORE) and I didn't go. Why? Great question.... because I have too many projects to do right now and I am broke. Very very broke.<br />
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For the past month I have been "trying" to live within this budget I drew up for myself and finding it utterly impossible. I mean like TOTALLY impossible. I am a social butterfly who likes expensive things and unfortunately my pay check does not agree with this life style at all. Looks like I need to go back to my old motto (which I don't really think I followed when I wrote it 10 years ago because some how I have $12k in credit card debt and just some hand bags and shoes to show for it.....DAMN YOU CARRIE BRADSHAW!!!!!) "living fabulously within my means". </div>
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This actually needs to be applied to my life much sooner than later because people I have big news. HUGE NEWS! Nope I am not pregnant or engaged...nope nope nope...I found an apartment! Last month I started "looking" to see what's out there and I realized that there isn't much in my price range. After a few weeks of window shopping places online and some SCARY Craigslist replies I had a sinking feeling that I was going to end up living in Chinatown in a windowless basement apartment that smelled like kung pao chicken and fish heads.<br />
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About an month ago I was having lunch and cocktails with my fabulous friend Jacqui, who suggested I check out an apartment in Savin Hill. Her friend was looking for a roommate and she thought I would just love the location plus it didn't hurt that the price was cheap. I mean like REALLY cheap. (Please note....I would rather lick a homeless person than live with someone again at this moment in time) I said, "Sure I'll check it out!". So after a few back and forth "hi how are you text messages" I found myself on a Friday afternoon in front of this turn of the century home in Dorchester.<br />
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It looked like it was converted to apartments in the late 70's. There was a decent amount of street parking, a hip bar across the street and walking distance to the red line....not horrible.... And then I walked inside the place.....The gal who was showing me the place main selling point was "there is a cop who is ALWAYS on that street corner 24 hours a day so you should feel<i><b> sort of</b></i> safe walking home from the t or parking your car at night" (god help me, Toto, Looks like we're not in Kansas any more). Oh and let's not forget she was looking for<b style="font-style: italic;"> roommates </b>(PLURAL!!!!), so far the contestants were Yours Truly and a 23 year old Gay Grad Student who she claims was shy and didn't make a sound. (i.e. will be bringing home random guys every other night and then crying in his room while cutting himself later) and the cherry on this sundae....she had a BLIND mini pincher who was named pumpkin. The dog had just eye sockets, no balls...just sockets. And well people that's just a nightmare waiting to happen. I could just picture myself waking up in the middle of the night screaming after pumpkin had taken a wrong turn and wandered into my bedroom. He would climb up onto my bed and then just be "staring" at me. Yikes!<br />
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The search for the "perfect" apartment was starting to look pretty grim seeing everything that was half way decent and not on the corner of drive by street and hooker alley was $1500 to $1800 a month. Which is waaaaaaaay out of my price range. That is until I saw this apartment come up on the MLS listings. I knew I had to jump on it. The area it's in is great! It's filled with old Victorian homes that are now converted into duplexes, on the T Line (the subway here in the Boston Area), the town has a couple of restaurants and bars I don't <i>hate</i>, near the groceries stores I like, a few good friends are just blocks away and still close enough to the highway. It's a little more than I can afford but for 1000 sq feet, a little porch and lots of sun light it sounded like paradise....I hadn't even seen it in person yet and I was already in love. I called the guy who was listing it right away and made an appointment to see it as soon as possible that week. When I got there to view the place I found out half of the suburbs also wanted to come by and see it! I was one of 22 people putting in an application to rent this apartment. WTF?!? It almost felt like I was holding the last pair of drop dead beautiful Tory Burch heels that I know I shouldn't buy and can't afford but because 22 other people want them I know HAVE TO HAVE THEM!!!!!<br />
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So after walking through the apartment with the other people like a herd of cattle I just knew I had to have it. I couldn't even begin to tell you what the space looks like or how much room I really have but at the time I knew it was PERFECT! </div>
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So with a little help from people who love me, a lot of hope that the condo will sell asap and a leap of faith I am moving. Moving in 5 short days..... And with moving comes....drum roll please...PACKING! God what a total nightmare this is. If I was a hoarder I think I would have jumped into the Charles River by now but lucky for me I have very little emotional attachment to any possessions, just people so I keep throwing away bags and bags of stuff that I have been holding on to for years.<br />
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I tend to keep things for the "just in case I might......(fill in the blank with ANY, I mean ANY scenario at all! Zombie Apocalypse (check), Being whisked away by George Clooney on a yacht in the Mediterranean (check) The list can go on and on but I think you get the idea). I stumbled across ALL of my journals and poetry from 1991 - 1998. Oh sweet baby jesus what the hell was I thinking keeping this stuff?! I have lugged these across this great country twice and now two moves in the Boston Area for what?! To listen to my 13 year old self talk about how I got grounded for 6 months from stealing nail polish at a Rite Aid. Or how my parents "just don't get it!?" I still don't get "it"! And yet here they come to Malden!!<br />
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I have tossed A LOT of crap and I think also acquired much more stuff thanks to my mom and the worlds best step father. The two of them cleaned out their basement as well as some other family members and friends who are all donating to the "Beth needs furniture" Fund. Currently we are accepting donations for a funky coffee table (think Restoration Hardware), couch (would like something Mid Century Modernish) and possibly a small kitchen table with chairs. (not sure about this one though because again I was only in the apartment for literally a minute and said I would take it!)<br />
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That's what's been going on in my life as of right now. Well that and.....I've also starting to date again...I'm currently dating a really great guy who makes me smile so much my face hurts all the time but more on that later! </div>
Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-68357142107152632142014-07-21T20:56:00.002-04:002014-07-22T07:32:41.092-04:00You're Wild Colorado.....Before I get into the Colorado trip I have a confession to make....I just ate two full lunches! What the heck is that about?!?! I guess I was hungry! And the sad thing is that I am not even painfully full! Looks like yours truly is working out tomorrow morning!! Glad I got that off my chest!<br>
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Ok back to the task at hand......DENVER!!!!!!<br>
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Denver was a week filled with LOTS AND LOTS of super rad family time which is exactly what I needed after such a wacky few months here in Boston. A lot of people think I am crazy in <i>that good way</i> or at least I tell myself that. There's just something super special about being with 30 or so people who are equally as crazy as I am and that really make me just normal.<br>
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*My favorite person on this planet!</div>
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*My other favorite people on this planet.<br>
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*Cousins!!!!</div>
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*tapping the rockies!</div>
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What a trip! I am back, in one piece and looking even more fabulous then when I left. My hair is now honey bronde (yep that's a not a real word but it's like if blonde and brown had a baby....) I basically look like Jenny from the Block. Holla at your girl!<br>
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ANNNNNNNNND, much to my mothers dismay, I got my first (and.....mom ear muffs....I know not my last) tattoo! I'm sorry mama! I can feel your disappointment oozing through the computer as I type this.<br>
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There is NOTHING that can prepare you for your first tattoo. I mean NOTHING. I must have asked every single person I saw for months what it felt like. Some people said it didn't hurt at all....well those assholes lied. Others said it felt like someone scratching a sun burn. No one in my life was EVER mean enough to do that to me so I couldn't imagine what that felt like but I don't think it was that either. To be honest I cried when I got my flu shot this year so I knew this wasn't going to be a walk in the park. I also knew that I REALLLLLLLLLY wanted it so I had to man up. There was no one else in this world I trusted to do this (and by trusted I mean would put up with me and my squealing) than my cousin-in-law, <a href="http://www.allheartindustry.com/" target="_blank">Dean</a>. He's calm, patient and VERY talented.<br>
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Everyone meet Dean! :) He's the one in the white. Dean meet everyone!</div>
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I did all the right things you are suppose to do before getting ink (yeah I am so hardcore now...I have the lingo down!). Don't drink any booze (check), don't take anything that will thin your blood (check), eat before you go (CHECK CHECK, like this was ever going to be a problem) and drink a lot of water (check). I did forget to bring snacks (fail) but thank god for my cousin because he did (which I am guessing was his lunch) and let me snack away on everything like it was my last meal on earth. He's a SAINT. A GOD DAMN SAINT!</div>
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As my brother is dropping me off at his shop in downtown Denver (http://www.allheartindustry.com) He goes, "So Mom wanted me to talk you out of this and thinks you're going to pass out. But I think it's pretty bad ass" God I love my brother! </div>
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15 mins later at the shop.....</div>
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Dean puts the stencil on and goes (in his ADORABLE British accent) "Alright are you ready?" </div>
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Me, "Oh sure!" </div>
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****buuuuuuuuuuuzzzzzzzzzz</div>
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Me "YEEEEEEEEWWWWWWOOOOOOO! OH GOOD GOD! THAT DOESN'T TICKLE"</div>
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*Dean stops after doing a single tiny tiny line</div>
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Deano, "You ok?"</div>
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Me "Yeah I think so"</div>
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Me "OH GOD! I think I'm going to pass out!"</div>
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*shit my mom WAS right</div>
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Saint Dean, "You know let's take a break. I can go as slow as you want" </div>
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Me "It's going to be like this the whole time uh?" </div>
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Saint Dean, "Well....ummmmm...."</div>
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Me "Ok let's try again...."</div>
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The Saint "Ok...."</div>
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***buuuuuuuzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz</div>
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10 seconds later.......</div>
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I guess this is the moment all of the color drained from my face and I looked like I really was going to pass out so the other dudes in the shop brought out a big industrial fan and put it right on me. Then got me a few bottles of cold water, a cold rag for my neck and a lollipop to get my blood sugar back up. All I could think was, "Shit! It's going to be a long afternoon! </div>
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*This start/stop pace continued for the entire outline WHICH WAS DONE IN WATER because this piece (again so hardcore with the lingo) was going to look as much like a water color as humanly possible! So after about an hour and a half (which my guess for any normal person would've only taken about a half hour but because I stopped every two seconds I dragged it out a little more) of pure pain I looked down and saw nothing because again he's outlining me in WATER! So sad. But so necessary so he can see the stencil once he starts filling in the color. </div>
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Let me just say again.....The outline killed. I mean KILLED. I still don't know how I got through it. Saint Deano was SO SWEET and as gentle as possible. We look a lot of breaks and he even did yoga breathing with me at one point (this part may or may not be true...I was fading in out a tiny bit) </div>
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Once we got to the color part of this bad boy it did go much faster and wasn't NEARLY as painful. I eventually manned up a little bit more once my cousin Kevin got there. I knew with him and his NEW WIFE V, welcome to the family sister, I couldn't wimp out. MAN UP! </div>
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Dean did/does SUCH beautiful work and I can't wait to get more pieces by him. My whole left arm is yours my love! If you in the Denver area and want to get a tattoo please go see him, http://www.allheartindustry.com. He's such WONDERFUL artist! Love you Deano! </div>
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So that was Denver in a nut shell. Smoothies in the am, family, tattoos, yoga boot camp from hell and a lot of laughs. I'll be back in September for more family fun....and maybe another tattoo. Sorry mom! :) </div>
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<br>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-45650051035672730762014-07-08T09:13:00.001-04:002014-07-08T09:13:46.206-04:00It takes a lot of little steps to walk a marathonAt this very moment my life is not a sprint but a very slow emotional marathon. I am a very "go go go" type gal. I love being spontaneous and grabbing life by the balls. I love "ripping off the band aid" and let the healing process start as soon as humanly possible. This is one of the first times in a long time I don't have the luxury. Don't get me wrong here I am VERY happy about the decisions I have made over the past month and the healing process has begun. I know that "every step" is going in the right direction, its just that for once in my life I just don't know where that direction is and it's kind of exciting. <br />
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Yesterday I put the condo on the market. If anyone is looking for a little slice of heaven outside the Boston area have I got the place for you!!! For the low low price of $234,000.00 this once in a life time dream could be yours!! Parking spot and all!<br />
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Ok that being said over the past year I have noticed a lot of people doing the <a href="http://100happydays.com/" target="_blank">#100happydays</a>. I like to think of myself as my "glass is over flowing" type of chick but I do have days where I want to crawl in a hole and hide. I wake up every morning and make a solid effort to put myself in a good mood. To try and find the positive but a lot of times it's easier said than done.<br />
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I don't want to get all preachy here but I think for right now in my life #100happydays seems like a REALLY good idea. I decided to do this via Instagram,<a href="http://instagram.com/elizabetheross33" target="_blank"> http://instagram.com/elizabetheross33</a>, so feel free to follow along. 100 days from now I don't know where I will be living or who I will be smiling at but I do know that regardless I will be a hell of a lot happier.<br />
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So as all of you as my witness....here's to being happy! :) <br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-5001182771143262972014-06-24T08:49:00.001-04:002014-06-24T08:49:11.702-04:00Rocky Mountain HighNow that pot is legal in this fine state (Colorado) three words have never been more true! I haven't smoked pot in years. I NEVER need help being hungry, sleepy and silly all at the same time. The last time I did smoke, about 6 years ago I bought a dime bag (which I found out doesn't cost $10 anymore!!!) from a sound guy at TT's, a dive rock club I worked at, and spent the better half of two hours and a full pack of rolling papers to roll one joint that I believe a blind 7 year old could've done better. I woke up the next day to find myself passed out with one hand in a bag of cheese Doritos and the other with a half eaten Snickers bar. Making mom proud!<br />
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I would say that almost every time I have ever smoked pot about two hours in I decide I don't want to be stoned any more and attempt to eat myself sober which NEVER works and it's not like I am trying to eat my body weight in baby carrots here people. It's more like housing a large pizza and enough candy bars to make an 11 year old sick to their stomach. <br />
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The reason I tell you this little fun fact is that in 2 days I will be sunny, warm, dry, Denver, Colorado surrounded by my very large, loving and very loud family. I can't think of a better way to spend a week off. If you knew my family you would be VERY jealous right now. Picture about 25 different versions of myself all in one room. Talk about heaven on earth right!?<br />
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There is something about spending time with family that leaves you feeling relaxed and like you need a vacation from your vacation all at the same time. I can't wait! Much more to come....<br />
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<img src="http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/filestorage/crazy-family-gay-parents-children-the-new-normal-ecards-someecards.png" />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-27344470466247877282014-06-23T08:49:00.002-04:002014-06-23T09:40:38.260-04:00Flipping the ScriptWell I have to say I didn't see this one coming. There you are, hopelessly in love thinking this is the person I am going to be spending the rest of my life with and then one day it's over. No, Alex is not dead nor is he sick with some sort of terminal disease. But we have decided to go our separate ways in life though. I have realized it's much easier to break up with someone you hate then it is to walk away from a really good guy.<br />
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Why are we calling it quits after 6 years? Because ultimately we want two totally different things with life. I want marriage and kids. He doesn't. There is more to the story then that but that's the basic plot line. The only reason I am writing this right now is to help me. It has nothing to do with <br />
"putting myself out there" or "sharing my experiences with my others like me". No it's for a very plain and simple selfish reason. I need to write. It's a huge part of who I am and how I cope.<br />
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Some of you may or may not know this but I have written a few books, nothing is published so no need to run out to your local book store (but still hopeful for the future). The theme of all of them is dating, love, funny crap that happens in my life and heart break. It's easier to write about the times when the pain is at it's worst then when you are laughing till your crying. The reason being is because you forget to take time to write when you are having fun. You are too busy living.<br />
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Right now I am on week 2 of this whole new chapter in life and I have to say it's not a walk in the park. BUT I want to take a moment to thank my friends and family who have really stepped up and threw themselves into my life. You have ALL called, texted and hugged me every few hours of last week when I needed it the most and truly made every moment that much easier. The "just thinking about you" texts, extending your guest bedrooms for LONG periods of time and phone calls really do/does make a huge difference. I know saying thank you isn't enough but it's all I can think of at this moment. <br />
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The bottom line is I decided to put myself first. And even though I am very sad I am also excited at the same time. Don't be sad for me. Be happy and get ready to share and hear about MANY MANY MANY more exciting adventures to come. So there is no reason to say, "I am so sorry to hear this" be excited for me. I am not dead yet! <br />
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P.s. on a totally different note if you live in the Boston area and I have a FABU apartment you would like me to live in and give you $650 a month please let me know. :) Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-68335767927649395372014-05-13T13:52:00.000-04:002014-05-13T13:52:03.800-04:00Wise WordsI have like three drafts of posts I've been trying to finish but just can't seem to find the time. Which I guess isn't a bad thing. I truly enjoy being so busy with life I can barely breathe. I don't do well sitting around idol. It's not my MO but some times I forget to stop and smell the roses. <br />
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"Wise words"....it's funny even as an "adult", a word I use VERY lightly to describe myself, I still learn new things every day and what's even better is when they come from people you love. My mom is now retired (Yay Mom!) and finding that time is just zipping by. I think that's true for everyone regardless of what's going on or not going on in your life. The older you get the quicker time seems to be slipping through our fingers. She told me that from now on she is going to "Say Yes to EVERYTHING!" I couldn't agree more. It's such a simple concept but can lead to so many things. What's the worse that happens...you don't enjoy the experience?? Well at least you had it. I am someone who lives to tell a good story and sometimes goes out of my way to try things in order to make "the story" that much better. Sometimes I forget to stop trying to direct the story line and just enjoy the moment. (*I'm working on this....trust me)<br />
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So with this whole new "Kum Ba Yah...free hugs for all" philosophy on life I decided to say yes to drinks with a friend on a patio in Cambridge yesterday. It was HANDS DOWN one of the nicest days in the Boston area we have had in about a year. It was warm and sunny up until 8pm last night. Like 80's sunny. It was PERFECT! I haven't seen this old friend in about 2 years and he's like the second little brother I didn't know I wanted but now that I have him I couldn't picture my life without him. He's one of the funniest people I have ever met and honestly just a solid dude. <br />
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We met at a place in Cambridge called, Charlies Kitchen. It's a divey burger craft beer bar that I could picture in San Diego or the Bay Area. The food is decent, the burgers are REALLY good, the tap list is fine and you can walk out of there spending like $50 for drinks and burgers. They have a nice outdoor beer garden and a small sidewalk style patio for good people watching in Harvard Sq. The crazies were out yesterday, nice weather tends to bring them out, so people watching was at it's prime.<br />
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My friend and I were sitting, laughing and catching up. Our waitress asked us if we were ready to order...we decided to split a bunch of stuff or as he said, "Oh yeah I can totally get behind those nachos!" and that's when I realized something. A true measure of a good friend is when you can go out to eat and just share a bunch of crap regardless of what it is. People you aren't close to you would never share food with unless forced like tapas which is basically over priced snacking for dinner. Even if you have a dietary issues I would still share food with you if you're a close friend. I will eat just about anything within reason.<br />
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So let's recap here people....lessons learned this week....say yes to everything and if you are good friend of mine we can share food! <br />
<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-21977457752872646342014-04-23T16:54:00.002-04:002014-04-23T16:54:08.092-04:00And then this happened on Monday...."You never cease to amaze me...." Is what I just thought to myself about yours truly.<br />
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The scene:<br />
a sweet suburban town just outside of Boston on a warm, sunny and all around damn fine day<br />
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It's a speculator day here the Boston area. Sunny, almost 72 (yes 72...every degree counts after this hellish winter we just had). I spent the day going on a really long walk with my mom filled with great conversation and a fabulous lunch. She helped me fix (please read...fixed for me while I inhaled a bowl of soup and sandwich) a sweater that I made <i>a little </i>too tight in the hips. (Maybe I should have thought a little more about this soup and sammy combo)<br />
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I need to start the next statement with a disclaimer...I am not a fan of lululemon not just because of their piggish views on full figure gals but because their stuff is SO over priced and everyone in there is slightly pretentious. That being said there is this zip up black jacket thing with a huge cowl neck that I have coveted for a year solid now. I have called every store around us for the past six months on and off to see if I could find one of these coats...No luck. They don't make them anymore and seems like they will never again.....so on my way back from the "best day ever" with my mom I made a quick stop at lululemon <i>just to see </i>if they had said zip up jack...I thought to myself..."What the hell!" Walked into the store and like a beacon of shinning light there it was...THE BLACK ZIP UP JACKET!!!!! It was tucked away in the back on a clearance rack and turns out that someone had returned and it was on deep deep discount (65% off) which for lulu is CHEAP. When the sales gal told me how much it was going to be a high fived her! That's how great my day was going. I should go play the god damn lottery!<br />
<br />That was until this happened.....<br />
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Cue the sinister music.....<br />
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I walked in the door to our condo (which is on the second floor of a three story building) and realized I had to take the trash out. It was over flowing and rather then making Alex do it when he got home from working the marathon I thought I should not be lazy and go toss it away... Grabbed my keys, the trash and walked outside. Pitched it in the large trash bin in the back of our building and began to walk back up to our back security door to realize ...."HOLY SHIT WHERE ARE MY HOUSE KEYS?!!?" We have lived here for 5 1/2 years and today turns out to be the day that I accidentally lock myself out of our condo. HOLY SHIT!!! Alex isn't going to be home for another 3 hours and I don't have cell phone or wallet. So since waiting this out at a local bar isn't an option or calling a friend to say, "I'm coming over" isn't happening I needed a plan C. The only thing I have is my car, office and mailbox keys....this is not good. This is not good at all people. <br />
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I look at my car (keep in mind I have NO clue about spacial relationships here...I mean NONE) and think to myself, "Ummmm...I wonder if I back the car up as close as I can to our balcony if I can jump from the roof of my car onto our balcony and pull myself up!" I mean the slider is open and I am only 33 so I still a few good years and stupid ideas left me. I drive up to our balcony and as I start climbing onto the roof of my Acura I feel my roof start caving in from my weight. "SHIT! That's going to leave a mark!!" Well I am already this invested into it I have no choice here. So here I am, standing on the roof of my car debating the following....<br />
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- There is a good 3 foot wide gap across and 2 feet up from my car to the bottom of our balcony, can I clear this?? Maybe.....<br />
- Once I get that out of the way I have to then pull myself up from the floor of our little balcony up with nothing but the old weathered rotting wooden railing. And then I should be able to get in since I left the slider open because IT'S THE PERFECT DAY OUT. Should I roll the dice!?<br />
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After spending a solid 3 minutes debating the pros and cons of this I decided not to take this leap of faith because if I failed it would be a long way down and I really didn't feel like breaking my back, our balcony or my car this afternoon.<br />
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Drum Roll Please....I give you Plan D.....<br />
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There is a small auto body shop next to our house so I walked next door and met a very sweet younger guy named Zach.<br />
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Me, "Hi! I have a random question to ask you but do you have a ladder I could borrow so I can break into my house next door?" <br />
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Zach, "Well, yes but it broke last week and it's sort of fixed but I don't know how comfortable I feel having you use it alone"<br />
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Me, "Why don't you grab the ladder and let's go for a walk my friend!"<br />
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Dear Zach we don't have any other options here....<br />
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I said, "Ok, let's try it! If you hold it...I'll climb"<br />
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Zach, "Ummmm....I don't know how I feel about this"<br />
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Me, "Zach I won't tell anyone if you don't. It'll be FINE!"<br />
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Zach (poor kid), "Ok, but I would feel horrible if you fell and you're in flip flops!"<br />
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Me, "Yeah I would too!"<br />
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We walked back to my house making small talk. I found out our friend Zach just turned 21 this past weekend and was still a little hung over from the festivities....holy shit I am going to die!<br />
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So there we are standing in front of our condo and like a ripping off a band aid I climbed the ladder as quick as possible...hopped a foot up to the balcony and pulled myself up and over!!! We both cheered and right as I landed on the "safe side" one of the rotted wooden rails comes loose.<br />
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*So glad I didn't go with option c. SOOOOO glad!!!<br />
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Me, "Thanks new friend!! I owe you a cocktail!"<br />
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Zach, "Oh ok great! So should I...."<br />
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Walked inside and shut the slider while he was still talking. Sorry Zach....<br />
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Cut to me TEARING the house apart looking for the keys. I retraced EVERY SINGLE STEP I took in our 800 sq foot condo "aka shoe box diorama you would have made in 5th grade". Nothing...no keys ANYWHERE. So then I decided I must have thrown them in the trash...F********CK! I decide to do what any normal human being would do at this point....I "try" to find the bag of trash I had thrown away an hour prior. And "by find" I mean open the door to said dumpster and think "SHIT! THAT IS REEEEEEEEALLY NASTY" and then grab a stick to poke around a little bit. Nope no keys in there! <br /><br />And here's the real kicker... our keys are special high intense Fort Knox kind of keys. You can't just go to a normal key making place to have these done...Nooooo hooooo friends! You need to go to a place and then bring a SPECIAL CARD that we 100% do not have any longer to prove to them that you are the keeper of the lock. WTF?!<br />
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So here we are now on Day 3 of me without keys and Poor Alex had to go to three different lock smith places and BRING OUR PURCHASE OF SALE to show them we in fact own said house and are not creepy people trying to break in. HOLY SHIT! Well hopefully I don't do that again! <br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-77772227204873322052014-04-03T20:12:00.000-04:002014-04-03T20:12:27.513-04:00I Have Seen The LIGHT!!!!You know I never thought of myself as a coffee connoisseur. I don't like super bitter or really strong coffee. I am satisfied with a coffee from dunkin donuts or a really pretty cappuccino from a fancy coffee house where they make a Mona Lisa on top with the foam. Honestly I can't really tell the difference. Ok well I sort of can. I just don't care all that much. But holy shit have I seen the light with coffee and my friends there is no turning back now.<br />
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For the past two months we have been debating about taking the plunge and buying a nepresso machine. What is a nepresso machine you ask?<br />
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Good question.... We stumbled into William Sonoma one day after Sunday Funday lunch and got suckered into watching/taking part in a demo of the machines. There was wizzing, buzzing, creme was flying and BAM! This wonderful woman hands me one of the best cups of coffee I have ever tasted in a little paper cup.<br />
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It's a one touch, idiot proof, a monkey could work this, expensive espresso machine. It was love at first sip. It was hot but not too hot to burn your mouth, it was rich with flavor but nothing too over the top, the foam was PERFECTLY foamy and not a bitter bone in it's body. It was the equivalent to Goldilocks and the three bears but in cappuccino form. <br />
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At the time (please see two months ago) neither one of us could justify spending $300 on a new espresso maker because our Keurig worked just fine and we were going to a fabulous two week vacation in Brazil (I can feel your pity and disdain as I write this).<br />
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Cut to our second to last day in Brazil. We pulled over at some roadside truck stop to get a cup of coffee on our way back to Rio. I am half awake and order 5 or 6 cappuccinos from the woman behind the counter to hand out to my travel companions. I mean this is a full on truck stop....no fancy Starbucks here....the chances of getting some venereal disease from touching the toilet seat by accident is VERY high in this kind of place. I look over and I see she's using a nepresso machine to make these bad boys. She hands me all of the little paper cups and I pass them back to family members.....one word...HEAVEN! It was one of the best cups of coffee I had the entire trip. It was just delish!<br />
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So here we are....back to reality and both a little sad because the vacation is over. So what do we do to cheer ourselves up?? We go to William Sonoma on Monday night and BUY A NESPRESSO MACHINE!!!!!! with foam thingy (I think the technical term is aeroccino). OH MY GOD! It was hands down the best $221 we have spent all week! (We had a gift card for $75). <br />
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Every morning this week we both popped out of bed and say, "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE?!" Every time I take a sip of my morning coffee, it's like seeing a kid of christmas morning after santa comes. And you know what....it is the BEST cup of coffee I have ever had at home. Hands down no questions ask. It is so good that I was sad after I finished the first cup. I was about to leave for work and then I decided...Screw it, I'm making a second cup!<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Here's what I love about it...</span><br />
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- It takes up almost no space on our very small counter tops. <br />
- It makes REALLY REALLY good smooth espresso and the company has about 25 different flavors. And every cup has this awesome "creme" on top.<br />
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- The aeroccino froths up ANY kind of milk. My almond milk was like velvet this morning and the froth stayed up in the cup for 45 minutes. 45 MINUTES! People are you reading this?!?!<br />
- The aeroccino is silent. I had no idea it was even working. It an easy light up button that you hit and then it does it magic. Once the light turns off it's done.<br />
- here's the HANDS DOWN BEST PART of the aeroccino...wait for it....wait for it...it makes COLD FROTH. Cold perfect froth for an iced latte or capp. OH MY GOD!<br />
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Here's what I was on the fence about...<br />
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- The pods are about .65 each and can only be bought through their online store or one of the very few nespresso stores in the world. They have free next day shipping so you won't be without coffee for very long but still you need to buy 50 at a wack.<br />
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- The pixie (the machine we bought) is a little louder than I thought it would be. I mean not like the Vitamix loud but still not silent. I guess you know it's working.<br />
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- The water tank isn't as big as I wish it could be but who cares if I have to fill it up a little more often.<br />
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Other than that I have no complaints. I am BEYOND excited to try all the flavors and see what I like.<br />
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I have fallen in love with coffee people....FALLEN IN LOVE! I will never look at an almond milk cappuccino again in the same way.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-37106743454983340342014-03-30T20:55:00.003-04:002014-03-30T20:55:18.775-04:00Another Day in Paradise.....part dois I woke up this morning kind of in a funk. It was the first day that I felt a little bit of the "post vacation blues".<br />
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All I had to do was start looking through everyone's pictures and it perked me right back up again. Between all of the people in my life that will allow me to gush about my trip, pouring over pictures over and over again and stopping by a Dunkin Donut that is ran by Brazilian's where I used my fifteen Portuguese words to order my morning coffee I still have that slight tinge of vacation left in me.<br />
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*almost EVERY time I was in the water (ocean or pool) this was the permanent look on my face. Why you might ask??!! Because I was CAKED in sunscreen and it kept dripping down into my eyes. Never got a sun burn but may be going slightly blind. </div>
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I won't bore you with all the vacation details but I do want to say this. It was truly (as I mentioned many times before) the most unique vacation I have ever been on. Only because I was able to really experience this area of Brazil and not by tour group or by water down version of a country. It was full on VIVA La Brazil!<br />
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Was it totally relaxing? YES! There were times when I felt slightly more on guard or a little frustrated because I had a hard time communicating with people but even in those uncomfortable times I was still relaxed and learning about life. There was no resort with all the plush over the top amenities like a swim up bar but who really needs a swim up bar when you have water this blue as your back yard?!<br />
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The most utterly surprising fun facts about where we were staying in Brazil....</div>
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1. No water heaters in the homes only in the showers which you need to figure out how to light the pilot lights each time if you feel like taking a hot shower. This means that when you turn on the kitchen sink to wash the dishes or maybe clean up a cutting board after prepping raw fish there is no hot water at all to work with. After day one of this all I could think was "a little soap and a little hope" that none of us get sick. This fun fact is brought to you by Hepatitis A, the number 7 and the letter C! GET THE SHOTS BEFORE YOU GO!</div>
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2. This one really took me off guard. You can't flush toilet paper down the toilets! Nope not at all. Can't flush a square or KABOOM! And as my brother's girlfriend said, "Plumber No aque" Awesome. It wasn't as bad as it sounds. Our house keepers came and cleaned out the small trash cans by the toilets every day and they all had small lids too. I do have to say it felt REALLY good to wad up a big handful of TP and flush it in the airport on our layover when we got back to the states! (little things in life) </div>
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3. Every time you go out to eat it will take (if you go to a bar or restaurant) at a MINIMUM an hour and half. This country likes to take their time and has no real concept of a schedule. If for example your boat/booze cruise is going to leave the docks at 11am.....it MOST LIKELY will take off closer to 11:30ish but you never know it could leave on time!! So be ready to bring your patience to every situation. </div>
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*they are such a good looking couple!!! And would have VERY cute kids! </div>
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4. It takes a LONG time to explain things in the Portuguese language. You think I talk a lot....I don't hold a candle next to ANYONE who speaks Portuguese. Their language just doesn't seem to work with the "one word" type answers. We would ask my brother and his girlfriend a question (like a pretty straight forward yes or no question). They would then turn to each other and go back and forth for a solid 2 minutes (I know I exaggerate at times....this is not one of those times) and then Andy would turn back over to us and go, "Awwwww....she said maybe" UH?! </div>
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5. This is how you will look after every lunch....Lunch is your biggest meal. Get use to filling up at lunch because dinner is going to be a yogurt. I actually didn't mind this at all. I almost liked it better. It doesn't work with my current schedule at work but it was a nice change.</div>
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*Small spanish artist's town about 2 hours south of Angra with some very beautiful and color homes. </div>
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Brazil is a beautiful, large and very interesting country. I couldn't recommend it more to people looking to really dive into a new culture and have a very relaxing vacation. I am so grateful I was able to share these experience with members of my family as everyone brought something fabulous to the table and made every moment that much better. </div>
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Get out of your comfort zone and see the world. It makes you appreciate what we have here but makes you a better person in the end. </div>
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-35008648523962394392014-03-27T19:27:00.003-04:002014-03-27T19:27:40.592-04:00Hola!!!So we are back from Brazil! I am little tanner, wiser and tired. We are slowly trying to get back into the swing of things in real life but I am not ready to let go of the vacation yet. I plan to load up on self tanner to hold on to this glow as long as I can as well as get back on the weight watchers...all the cheese and bread is starting to catch up to yours truly. With all that said....drum roll please.....<br />
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So I give you our trip to BRAZIL!!!!! (as a disclaimer I promise this won't be as boring as looking at someone's slides from their Hawaiian vacation in the 1970's but it's not nearly as interesting as if you were there with us! So if you need to take a break from said blog posts I do understand)<br />
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Alex got a little excited about his vacation before we even took off from Logan.....an hour later and this is how I found him after I got back from buying plane snacks.....<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Day 1: Grab your coconut people and join in on the fun!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">And now I give you....the plane ride from hell! We got on the long leg of the flight from Charlotte to Rio at 10pm and sat on the plane for almost 2 hours while they said they had an "issue"....SHOT ME NOW! I took the little blue pills a little too early and was delirious by 11:30pm. That brown doughnut of a pillow was ZERO help at all. I should've taken better drugs!</span><br />
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Holy shit we just flew for 13 hours in a tin can and now we're in Brazil!!!!<br />
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First impressions.....it's hot. I mean like instantly need a shower after you walk outside kind hot but god damn it's beautiful!<br />
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Top four things that people in Rio and Brazilians in general embrace....<br />
<br />1. Carbs and cheese...they eat them for breakfast lunch and dinner. The sprinkle bread crumbs on bread for christ sake. They LOVE the pao (bread in portuguese...I am going to teach you as you read)!<br />
<br />2. "I'm too sexy for my shirt" should be their theme song! Americans cover up and Brazilians take it off! All off and they have no issues at all with self imagine. Regardless what you look like the rule of thumb here is the smaller the item of clothing the better. Large women and men wearing next to nothing with fat rolls for days with not a care in the world eating bread and cheese and wearing tennie tiny bikini's and banana hammocks!<br />
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3. Drink em if you got em! You can stand and drink any where. On the weekends every where you look people are standing up against a wall drinking beer out of small glasses. It's their thing. Viva la booze!<br />
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*you can't see it in this picture but those guys have tall beers in their hands...it's 8:30am on a Sunday morning. Viva Viva la booze!!! This is the view from our posada on the first night in Rio. It felt like we could be any where in Europe. It was adorable!!!<br />
<br />4. Havaianas.....you are no one in Rio without a pair of havianana's. Super comfy flip flops that come in all shapes and colors. The expensive ones are about $18 US totally worth getting and for that money who cares if you loose them, rip them or ruin them in anyway. Go to the havaianas store in Leblon in Rio. Hands down the best selection and cheapest prices.<br />
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Within in the first 10 hours in Rio we walked, we saw and we ate. My brother led us on a fabulous death march around the city where we saw the gardens, climb a mountain, walked on Copacabana beach and had two very different but very fabulous meals all in the matter of what felt like 15 mins but luckily was stretched out over half the day and walking 8 1/2 miles. I wouldn't have traded a single moment of it in for the world.<br />
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*the public gardens in Brazil....BEAUTIFUL and LOTS OF SHADE!!!!! Which is KEY in this city if you are here in the summer time. The fountain shoots water straight at you when you step on the little peddle. Sneaky sneaky Brazil...sneaky sneaky!<br />
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*Next up....Cristo from the top of Sugar Loaf while the sun is setting. It's a total tourist trap but worth the $30 USD to go to the top and see the views of the city at sun set. If you have to do one thing that is super touristy in Rio, I would say this is it. </div>
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*more shots from the top of sugar loaf...again worth the $$....screw going to see Cristo you can see him from every where in the city. Sugar Loaf people...Sugar Loaf. </div>
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Now this is hands down one of the BEST bars in all of Rio, it's in Leblon and it's a party. Great bar food, great Chopp (their version of tap beer) and just a really authentic, fun atmosphere. It was totally by accident we found this spot and I am so glad we did. </div>
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*these are views from the roof top deck and dining space of our posada in Rio and a traditional Brazilian breakfast. If you take one thing away from a trip to Brazil it's how amazing the coffee and fruit are. You haven't tasted a mango until you get one there. They are so sweet, ripe and fresh you feel like you are really induleding in something but it's just ultra fresh fruit! </div>
<br />Day 2:<br />And the adventure continues....we left Rio and drove about three hours south to Angra dos Reis.<br />
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It's a large sea side town that is surrounded by 365 mountainous islands.<br />
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On the way we stopped at the most fabulous cheese shop where they made sweets, cookies and a few different kinds of cheeses that are just amazing. Made from the cows milk that is on their small farm. Still wish I bought more of the homemade cookies with guava in the middle of them. Holy shit were those good. Sorry there are no picture of any of this. We were all a little "hangry" at this point in the three hour car ride.<br />
<br />I am going to leave you with this....We stayed at what looks like the Swiss family Robinson house on the ocean. It's this massive tree house that is multi level and built into the side of a hill on the ocean with a pool, sauna, wrap around double deck and dock where you can safely just dive into a blue green ocean that is like bath water, 80 + degrees!!!<br />
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*view from the top deck off the main house which has 4 bedrooms and two a suites. <br />
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*down the steps to the second level </div>
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*tv/living room/ extra sleeping space</div>
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*view from the deck </div>
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*spa room with steam room and sauna</div>
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Back side of the house, yet another horrible picture. The water in the ocean is warmer that the water in the pool! Pinch me I'm dreaming!<br />
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More to come.....<br />
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-20719785815468888462014-03-07T12:16:00.006-05:002014-03-07T13:08:48.915-05:00Holy shit we are going to South AmericaYes you read that right! We (as in my crazy, wacky, loud and possibly the greatest people on this planet, family) are packing up and heading south to the continent below us NEXT WEEK! Brazil will never be the same. The poor people of the little town we are staying in will never be the same. I can promise you we will be the loudest people there and I will come back with MANY stories to tell. <br />
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I have traveled a little bit in my short life time here on this blue green marble we all call home but not to too many different continents and definitely not south of the equator. (* I already know that the toilets do not flush in the opposite direction even though I wish they did!) Do I speak Portuguese, you ask? (Fair question)....absolutely not. Does anyone there speak English?? NOPE..... And let's see what's behind door number two...drum roll please..... Hablas Espanol?! Nada Mucho! So what's left....my power of charades and acting skills!!!What a trip it's going to be!!<br />
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I think we all feel the same way about this... vacations and time off go by waaaaaaaaaay too fast. No matter how much you try focusing on the present or being in the moment you just blink and it feels like you are heading back home to the shit show that is your daily life. I think one of my favorite parts of a vacation is anticipation leading up to it. There is <b>NO</b> better feeling than putting on your out of office and walking out the door. Those moments are almost a vacation in itself.<br />
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I have no idea what the internet situation will be down there. I don't believe we are living under a rock so I have faith that there will be some good WiFi but you never know. Either way I hope to get some writing done.<br />
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So last night I took myself on a little culinary adventure to a place called Stir, <a href="http://stirboston.com/category/class/" target="_blank">http://stirboston.com/category/class/.</a>
My mom gave me a gift card about 1 1/2 years ago and I finally cashed
it in. It took FOREVER to pick the "class" because a. it's hard to
decide what you want to eat and learn about and b. they ALWAYS sell out
in a matter of hours after they are released which is only two or three
times a year. <br />
<br />
The "classes" are basically a chef who cooks for
you and 9 other people around a table, explains the dishes, ingredients
and ties in stories of their experiences. You interact with everyone
like a fancy supper club/dinner party type atmosphere. It's usually
about 5 - 6 courses all paired with BEAUTIFUL wines. It was a REALLY
special experience but holy shit am I full! <br />
<br />
The other thing is I
went alone, not a big deal at all but out of the 10 of us 6 people were
regulars. Which means that these people go more than once a week to
this place for dinner which is $165 - $210 per person without blinking
an eye. They knew each other, they knew the chef's, they knew everyone's
story which was fine but added some pretentiousness to the whole
experience if you know what I mean. <br />
<br />
At the end of the night (it
was a 4 hour long meal...again HOLY SHIT!) we got to go around the table and
vote on our favorite entree, our favorite wine and our favorite pairing.
We also got to take home a cookbook (which was the theme of the night).
It's an asian fusion cookbook from a couple based out of San Francisco.
The food was amazing and the wine was perfectly paired so overall a
totally special experience but listening to these people go on and on
about where they go to eat and trying to out do one another with it made
my head spin. One couple said how they went out to dinner on Saturday
night at this place in Boston called O Ya (it's a VERY high end sushi
place, voted one of the top 10 places to eat in the country)...did the
tasting menu with Sake pairings there....she said it was $1,000.00 FOR
DINNER!!!! These were the kinds of people I was having dinner with last
night. Even if I made six figures a year there is NO WAY IN HELL I would
spend that kind of money on a dinner for 2 people. I would rather fly
to Japan and eat some where there than a place in Boston. <br />
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Before the dinner I had a little time to kill so I decided to wander around the South End in Boston and pop in an out of some of the little artisan shops. It's such a cute neighborhood with TONS of little restaurants, bars, shops, gay men and little dogs. I think it's a prerequisite that in order to move into the hood you MUST have a dog...size does not matter but you MUST have a dog. <br />
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Towards the end of my window shopping adventure I stumbled upon this hidden little gem called, Olives and Grace, www.olivesandgrace.com, and got a chance to meet and chat with the owner, Sophi. She was thoughtful, funny, kind, refreshing and had this magnetic energy about her. I felt like I was talking to an old friend. When I left her shop (which is just down right adorable and sells all these fabulous local items. It's the kind of shop you could walk in and create the most thoughtful hostess gift for anyone) I left with a huge smile on my face and felt so relaxed. (No I had not had a glass of wine yet, valid question though) It was her. She was just such a fabulous person. I hope our paths cross again soon. I love meeting people like that. <br />
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Anyway....I
digress. Hope you all had/have a FABULOUS week and weekend...I need to do a salad detox
for the next few days and spend some time working out to work off the
meal I had last night for sure. :) Wish me luck! I will leave you with this...I saw this today and thought to myself, "So true....so so true" <br />
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<img alt="" class="bf_dom" src="http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-03/enhanced/webdr03/4/17/enhanced-21154-1393971049-15.jpg" height="469" width="625" />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-11434579990716890572014-03-03T20:15:00.002-05:002014-03-03T20:15:17.181-05:00Things I am in love with right now....Talk about slacking on writing lately!!! I have been so into my knitting that with every free moment I've had I have been working on a knitting project. I thought it would be fun to do a list on here of some things I am in currently in love with right now.<br />
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1. Knitting with very expensive, beautiful, bright hand dyed yarns....I am head over heels in love with yarn. I can't get enough of it. My 23 year old self is hanging their head in shame and disbelief....But I think she'll get over it though. :)<br />
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The past three weeks I have been spending EVERY free moment I have finishing a knitting project...aka The Tennis Ball Cardigan.....and drum roll please....IT IS DONE!!!! Blocked and Everything!! I just adore it! I came out way better than I ever thought it would and to be honest I just can't believe I made it. These two little hands!<br />
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Next up....the three pattern (very expensive) COWL!!!! It's soft, warm and cozy. I nicknamed it the "hate cowl" but half way through I slowly started falling love with it and now that it's done it makes me so happy to put it on. </div>
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My obsession continues of course with a new knitting projects. Currently I have these two going on<br />
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- The hedge hog<br />
- The cardigan with Zen Garden Yarn (need to start)<br />
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2. Fresh Berries to snack on. I am CRAVING summer. I need sunshine, flip flops and warm weather. This winter has been BRUTAL up here in the Boston area and it doesn't look like there is an immediate end insight. So yours truly has been buying organic, expensive raspberries and strawberries to snack on during the week. It's like $10 or so for two little packs but it is SO WORTH IT. Every time I take a bite of one of them it tastes like summer to me. Organic berries are well worth the money because they are packed with flavor. The other ones seems to lack that ripe berry flavor. Trust me pick some up at Whole Foods and you will taste the difference. It's a total guilty pleasure but one that is well worth it in my book.<br />
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3. Biena Chickpea Snacks (Current Flavor I am in love with...Cinnamon Maple). They taste like cinnamon toast crunch cereal. 1/2 a bag is 3 weight watchers points and totally kills a sweet tooth craving or just a crunchy snack craving. It's a super roasted chickpea that is coated with maple syrup and cinnamon. DELISH! I would try and make these myself but I can never get the chickpeas roasty toasty enough like they do so I figure why waste my time and chickpeas when I can just get them already done for me. Some things I know I should leave to the experts, roasting chickpeas happens to be one of them. <br />
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4. My, Isa Does It...cookbook. Everything we have made from here (3 recipes thus far) have been HUGE winners. The cookbook is easy to follow, beautifully laid out and I actually love the paper it's printed on. If you are interested in healthy vegan recipes and don't want to have to buy an entire new pantry worth of crap to cook with than this is a good book for you. As most of you know we (alex and myself) are not 100% vegan but I cook that way for us a few times a week.<br />
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5. Last but not least....DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....(Yes, I too can't believe I am admitting this to all of you) I finally broke down and bought the Complete Will and Grace box set...Woooooo Hoooooo!!!!!!!!!! <br />
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I have only made it through the first two dvd's of SEASON 1!!!! And there were 8 seasons total...it's going to take me a lifetime to watch it all but who the hell cares. It was/is a total guilty pleasure tv show...one that I have seen a hundred times and even now still makes me giggle...Jack and Karen I will love you always!<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-53410445253649631422014-02-05T20:40:00.002-05:002014-02-05T20:43:42.986-05:00When it rains it pours....This post has now taken me 4 times and figured tonight I needed to sit down and just finished the damn thing...it was about how lovely my weekend (2 WEEKENDS AGO?!) when this shit storm rolled in this morning....well more like yet another snow storm. I am, like every one else here in New England, DONE with this winter.<br />
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The past few weeks I have been in a shit mood on and off, tired, had trouble sleeping and slowly picking fights with Alex. I would like to blame it on a mix of the "winter blues" and pure boredom.<br />
I was driving home tonight with the roads still covered in snow and decided to make a change. I took Alex and I on a culinary adventure tonight and I made the most AWESOME vegan New England "Clam" Chowder. I mean AWESOME! Alex totally agreed with me that there was no way either one of us could tell that this wasn't the real deal.<br />
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The recipe is from the "Isa Does It!" Cookbook. It's the first thing we've made from the cookbook and can't wait to try the "pizza bowl" later this week. Please note I did not eat my feelings here but I love when I surprise myself in the kitchen. </div>
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The only changing I made to the recipe was adding fresh thyme, bay leaves, 2 cloves of chopped garlic, no lemon juice and used only 1/2 the tomato paste. SO GOOD! I can't wait for lunch tomorrow good. </div>
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Tomorrow I plan on working out in the morning, wearing a bright yellow sweater, bringing out some jazz hands and trying to turn this crap funk I am in around before I fling myself off the Mass Ave Bridge. Sunshine, Rainbows and Puppy Dogs oh my! </div>
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KNITTING UPDATE: (if you could care less about knitting this is when you should tune me out)<br />
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As some of you may or may not know....I LOVE to knit. My fabulous mother....<br />
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(the one on the left....the one on the right is my older sister misplaced at birth...love you too doll!) </div>
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taught me a few years ago and I have become, a self proclaimed, idiot savant of all things knitting. I don't know why I get it but I do. In my head it makes sense. Plus while I am knitting I do not snack in fear of dropping a stitch or ruining the yarn so it's a great thing to do while I am watching tv so I don't turn into a land whale.<br />
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Over the past few years I have done what all new knitters do...you learn to make scarfs, hats, cowls and then move on to things like socks and other things that might require patterns.<br />
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In 2013 I discovered I a. love working on double point needles (I don't know why and when I say this to other knitters they think I am crazy) and b. love making small animals.<br />
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(this was suppose to be a chicken...but turned out to be more like a drunk pigeon) </div>
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...again I could not tell you why.<br />
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For a year now I have wanted to make a cardigan but after watching my mother (who is a VERY experienced and amazing knitter) make cardigan after cardigan over the years and seeing the time, money and effort (not to mention the fact that they NEVER fit her right in the end... she makes one in the winter time, looses a bunch of weight and then come fall, when it's actually cold enough to wear it, she is SWIMMING in very expensive yarn) that goes into them I have been put off...until three weeks ago!!!!<br />
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Yarn alone can run you any where from $20 - $35 per ball (on average for really nice hand dyed yarn) and for most pattens you need 5 to 7 balls of yarn...Yeah you do that math. There is something so satisfy and addicting almost to make these suckers. Sure you can buy cheap yarn at AC Moore or even at some yarn stores and here's what I figure....if you are going to spend a couple of months making this why wouldn't you spend the money on yarn you just love. Some people might fall in love with $3.00 hanks (balls) of yarn and some people also drink Blue cocktails....I am neither one of those people. I like good bourbon, expensive hand dyed yarn and long walks on the beach...nice to meet you.<br />
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Cut to three weeks now and I just can't stop knitting.<br />
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I know what you're thinking, "Holy Shit! Where can I get one of these and why does it look so good?!?!" ha! Well friends I am not taking orders at this time but when I do I will let you know. Really I know what you're thinking...why did I pick yarn that looks like a giant tennis ball. I don't know.... but for some reason I liked it. Did I $154 like it?? You god damn better believe I did! </div>
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Once I am done I will model this fabulous frock for you but until then pray my hands don't fall off. Gods speed knitters....god speed! </div>
<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-15821791938300783902014-01-19T22:17:00.002-05:002014-01-19T23:33:51.302-05:00Second Bulu Box Review and a New Fun Fact about Yours Truly...<br>
Hi Again Friends.....Only 2 more months to go with the reviews. :) The January Boxes! Bulu has two different types of boxes. One that is focused on supplements and general fitness and one that is more focused on weight loss. For three months I am receiving both to review them for all of you.<br>
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To be honest this month I am not super jazzed about either box. Each box costs about $10 per month and in both boxes this month it was all small samples. I think they should include at least one deluxe item but neither box did. </div>
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Both boxes had nice information cards and coupons for full size products on their site. </div>
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By far the highlight for me was more smarty pants vitamin gummies and some new "sleepy time" tea from a company called HELPS. But to me this isn't worth $10.</div>
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The box I got for December though I felt was WELL worth $10. It came with a full sized bottle of Vitamins (A Brand that Dr Oz loves...if Dr Oz loves it then you know it has to be good. Thanks Oprah) which I found online for $40. But the few samples. The full sized item was totally worth it but again I don't know if this was a fluke or if they do this every other month? </div>
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Either way I still like the idea of this monthly box but again I would like to see more full size or deluxe sample items. What I do like about this site is that once you get your box you have the option to go online and review each item. They give you 10 points (equal to $1) for each item you review. Every month they let you review at least 5 items which you can then use the points to pay for boxes or items on their site. So really it means each box is only $5 per month. </div>
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And of course here's a coupon code (just copy the code and click on it to send you to the site) for 50% off your first box or first subscription (3, 6 or 12 months), <a href="http://www.bulubox.com/" target="_blank">BULUGAN880.</a></div>
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But onto the fun stuff in my life...besides my online shopping addiction. Alex and I have been making an effort to do things that a. don't cost a lot of money and b. don't involve JUST going out to eat (please read I DRAG Alex to activities over the weekend that he would NEVER want to do even with a gun to his head) This weekend's adventure took us to the ICA in Boston. Our library has an AWESOME pass program and one of the places they give discounted passes to is the ICA. So for $12, $2 spent on parking and $10 for the two tickets... (found a metered parking spot in the Seaport District because IT WAS DUMPING SNOW and no one in the right mind was out and about on Saturday...thanks weather people in Boston for "guessing" it was only going to be a coating when in fact the snow flakes were<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> the size of dinner plates and coming down fast and furious for three solid hours) </span></div>
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There was only one wing open in the museum. They are installing a new exhibit so because of that we got free tickets to come back. SCORE. </div>
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We spent about 30 mins wandering around the exhibits on the 4th floor and here's what I learned. I have NO CLUE what abstract art is. Who puts two old chairs on a wall and calls it art?! Not this guy. Who video tapes themselves licking up what looks like watered down strawberry jam on plexiglass?! Again, nope not me. When we walked by the video I yelped slightly out loud in disgust and the security guard goes, "Oh god I know! This part turns my stomach" *THANK GOD I AM NOT ALONE HERE PEOPLE!</div>
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I knew it was time to leave (about 20 mins into my enlightenment) when a group of about 10 hipster 25 year olds with goodwill looking outfits (that I am SURE cost WAY more than they look) and all wearing large geeky glasses walked in. The ring leader (the most homeless looking one of the bunch) goes, "Oh my god it's here! (as he points to the chairs) The GENIUS, (...I can't remember the artists name who did the hanging wall chairs) actually has their work HERE!" Annnnnnd that my cue to leave!!!</div>
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As we were about head out I saw the gift shop. I love the gift shop at the MOMA in NYC, It's not as pompous as it sounds.... look at their online store...fun stuff people, so I thought this has got be along the same lines. We walk up and down the small aisles. Saw a few things I thought were pretty cool. Then as we were leaving I saw they had some jewelry done by famous designers (not a clue who anyone was....the only famous designer I know is Tiffany and I don't see any little blue boxes here). </div>
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I was looking at a few items and saw a pair of earrings I liked made out of gold and gemstones. The very nice lady behind the counter took them out, told me the price (a couple hundred bucks) and tried explaining to me why they were so special. I liked them because they had pretty yellow gemstones and happen to match my outfit. She was saying how the designer basically went to Mars and back to make these and is blind with no hands...blah blah blah...(no not really) Then she told me they were 45% off. REALLY?! </div>
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Ok here's a good fun fact about me...There is NOTHING I mean NOTHING more I LOVE in life then getting a good deal on high end crap. Even if I don't need it or want it that badly. If a good deal was to be had well then SIGN ME UP! Without even spending another second thinking about it I bought them! UH?! What just happened here?!?! There goes our cheap trip to the museum! </div>
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Alex goes, "Just because you got a flu shot does not mean you need to buy yourself a little pick me up!" (I am deathly afraid of needles so a flu shot is a big deal for this guy, i.e. ME) He knows me so well....It was almost like a "push present" for myself. ha ha ha</div>
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Next month we are going to the Aquarium on the cheap with the same passes. I swear to god if I come home with a penguin I think Alex is going to kill me. </div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-58719575231368064592014-01-14T13:24:00.000-05:002014-01-14T13:24:01.540-05:00Update on First Bulu Box....So I know you are all just sitting at home on the edge of your couch waiting for me to come clean with what I really thought about the products in the Bulu box after trying them out! I bet some of you even lost sleep wondering about this....well wait no longer people!!! Strap on your seat belt and AWAY WE GO! <br />
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The, "Flap JACKED" pancake mix tasted like pure protein powder. There is not enough syrup, butter and tasty fruit compote in this world to cover up this nasty disaster. This was not the highlight of the food I scarfed down over the weekend. I would not buy this nor recommend it to ANYONE, I wouldn't feed this to a pet or starving child in China.<br />
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Nasal Health, not a clue if this works. Just took one packet....I am guessing it's going to take awhile for this to "kick in" and with only a few free samples I doubt I will ever be able to tell and don't feel like investing in this one to find out.<br />
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Slimming Smoothie Protein Packs, LOVED THIS! Love love loved this. Loved this so much I actually bought a very large tub of it from the site. I tried the Chocolate from the box and it was sweet but good. I mixed it with Almond milk and a frozen banana. With the Vanilla (the large tub I just purchased) I decided to water it down a little with Almond Milk, Ice Cubes, Frozen Banana and Dash of H2O. IT IS DELISH! It tastes like really good cake batter. I made one as a mid day snack today and it's taking every ounce of me not to drink it now. I would 100% recommend this to anyone.<br />
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The Smarty Pants Gummies are tasty but expensive. If you are ok with swallowing vitamins the old fashion way I would just do that. I don't think they are worth the price tag.<br />
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So all in all I think it was an ok box. I am looking forward to the next one which I am guessing should be coming any day now.<br />
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Again if you want to try this out, use this coupon code (just copy
the code and click on it to send you to the site) for 50% off your
first box or first subscription (3, 6 or 12 months), <a href="http://www.bulubox.com/" target="_blank">BULUGAN880.</a><br />
Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-63798225354454037642014-01-12T18:35:00.002-05:002014-01-12T18:41:36.816-05:00My newest obessesion.....fruit.....There aren't many things that can get me excited like a new local market. Lately I have been OBSESSED with exotic fruit. Living in New England in the dead of winter it's hard to find anything beyond apples, flavorless berries and cheap grapes. I have been on the hunt for Cherimoya, Mangosteen, Limonstello and Bread Fruit. So there is no other place in the Boston Area to find such things other than..... Russo's in Watertown.<br />
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This market has been here for decades but I have never made time to adventure down there. It's been on wish list though. Hands down this is one of the best fruit and vegetable markets in the Boston Area for unique and interesting items. It's perpetually summer in here with wide variety...sun chokes people...sun chokes.... (*here's where I get REALLY geeky with food)</div>
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It was an anxiety induced mad house in there (controlled chaos) so the next time we go it will be on an "off time" because it was more of mad dash to get in and get out as soon as possible then it was to leisurely walk around but still a VERY successful trip. </div>
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We scored the elusive Cherimoya (it's the texture of custard but the flavor of apple, pear and pineapple. If you scoop out the insides and put it in the freezer it tastes like a fruity ice cream), Guava, prickly pear (this isn't too hard to find but wanted to get one because it was so cheap and I was on some sort of exotic fruit high), very SWEET italian grapes (I forget the name), Pineapple Quince (no idea, need to google this more), some meyer lemons and an Oroblanco (sort of like a sweeter white grape fruit). Hands down the most expensive thing was the Cherimoya but all told only $20 for everything. I am in love with it all. </div>
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My goal this week was to try a new fruit or vegetable and people...mission accomplished!!!! Beyond accomplished. </div>
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And to top it off....I learned how to make REALLY good Korean Bibimbap. </div>
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BOOM!!!!!</div>
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The key is finding those stone korean hot pots, season them with sesame oil and get them SMOKIN hot. </div>
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I normally wouldn't gloat about these kinds of things but it was three weeks in the making so any one who wants to come to our little love shack I would be HAPPY to bless you with the new gift I have that is making Bibimbap! Plus after spending $50 on these pots I want to get some use out of them!!!<br />
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How was your weekends?? Tell me all! That's all that's going on in my little life. I am off to watch Alex eat two boxes of girl scout cookies (he bought them last night WHILE WE WERE LEAVING A BAR....sneaking girl scouts...Very sneaky!) And when I dare question him about this purchase he goes, "We are giving back to the community!" UH?! So now I am watching the cookie crumbs fly and about to judge celebrities on the red carpet from the comforts of our house in my pjs! Happy Sunday Peeps!<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-17745825310606205282014-01-04T21:47:00.001-05:002014-01-04T21:54:24.974-05:00New Year and a New Subscription Box.....Hello Friends...I am your Vitameatavegamin Girl! Are you tired, run-down, listless? Do you poop out at parties? Are you unpopular? The answer to all of your problems is in this little bottle. Vitameatvegamin. Yes, Vitameatvegamin contains Vitamins, Meat, Vegetables and Minerals. Yes, with Vitameatavegamin, you can spoon your way to health. All you do is a take a great big tablespoonful after every meal. Mmmmmmmm......It's so tasty too! Taste just like candy! So why don't you join all of the thousands of happy peppy people and get a greta big bottle of Vitameatavegamin tomorrow! That's Vita-meata-vegamin! (wink) *I LOVE, I love Lucy!!<br />
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So yet again I am trying out a new subscription box. This time though they contacted me to review their box for three months and blog to you folks about it. It's called Bulu Box. It's a health food, weight loss and general health box.<br />
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Every month they send you either the "weight loss box" or the "regular bulu box" which is still healthy themed but not necessarily just about weight loss. My first box wasn't a typical monthly box but one for me to review and share with all of you.<br />
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The box was nicely packaged and came with a card which described everything in the box, how much a full size version of each product would cost and how many servings are in the full size version. (so you can get your money's worth)<br />
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This box had a few things that I actually was excited to try...</div>
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- The smarty pants gummies, I have actually had before, It's the adult gummy vitamins. They taste great and give you a whole array of fabulous vitamins, minerals and oils. I don't think I would buy a full size bottle of these because I don't mind taking vitamins but for someone who did this is a great option because they are a multi vitamin that also has Omega 3's and Vitamin D. </div>
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- Rootology Nasal Health, I received two samples of this which couldn't have come at a better time. I am on the tail end of a nasty cold and plan on taking these right away to see if I can get some extra relief. It's suppose to help with seasonal allergies too which I get pretty bad so again if it helps and it's cheaper than an allergy pill why not give it a shot. It's all natural herbs and vitamins to help combat my sneezing, sniffles and everything else...I am in!</div>
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- Slimming Smoothie in Chocolate Truffle - 110 Calories, GMO free, No Gluten and made with Stevia....it works out to being about 2 WW points per smoothie and has 26 grams of GMO free soy protein. I have NO clue how this could taste but if it taste good and keeps me full throughout the morning it would be a total keeper for breakfast or afternoon snacks! I will keep you posted on this.</div>
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There was also a protein pancake mix which makes about 8 pancakes in the box. I am not a huge fan of pancakes but Alex is so we might try this out next weekend in the morning. It's not super low cal but I like that it's GMO free and has Quinoa flour to help increase the protein in the pancake. I will keep you posted on how these puppies taste. </div>
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The last thing in the box was some kind of chocolate gummy vitamin thing...it was NASTY...I chewed it for about 10 seconds and spit it out. Not worth my time or taste buds. </div>
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Anyway everything in the box was only samples but sometimes I would rather get a sample to see if I like the product first then a full size version. Either way I am not disappointed in this box and excited to see what the January boxes are! </div>
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If you want to join me in this adventure here's a coupon code (just copy the code and click on it to send you to the site) for 50% off your first box or first subscription (3, 6 or 12 months), <a href="http://www.bulubox.com/" target="_blank">BULUGAN880.</a>. Let me know what you think!!!! More reviews to come! (wink)</div>
<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-73040126908788152582014-01-03T09:15:00.001-05:002014-01-03T09:18:07.910-05:00Snow...Snow...Snow and more SnowWhy did I leave San Diego again?!?! It's 3 degrees outside and still snowing. I am FINALLY feeling better. Still taking dayquil (which makes me feel woozy all day long) but I don't have tissues permanently shoved up my nose so I look at that as a true improvement. I have some serious cabin fever right now. I am debating in a few hours to go to the local Marshalls to just get out of the house and walk around some place.<br />
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Last night when Alex finally got home from work I literally bombarded him with words. I am a people person...I NEED to talk all day long. Since I was so isolated because of this god damn snow storm he was the first person I had spoken to all day long. Poor Alex.<br />
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Since we both knew we weren't going any where last night we decided to make the most of it and break out a game that two people could play....Hello JENGA!<br />
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We had some serious rounds of Jenga and then decided to go back to Son's of Anarchy. We are at the end of season 4 and it's getting REALLY good. Alex wants to get a HOG and join a bike gang. I am going to draw the line if he starts calling me his "old lady". </div>
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In other news Alex made some REALLY good low cal chocolate chip cookies on New Years Day. Yesterday I was home making lunch and saw the two tuppies filled with cookies. I said to myself, "Self...don't eat a cookie before lunch...you can have one after lunch...don't do it..." </div>
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I didn't listen to myself and reached right in, grabbed a cookie, took a bite and then guilt took over so I put it back. I said I would finish the cookie after lunch. Well I am not going to lie to you the 6 year old in me took over and I did eat two cookies after lunch but I decided to take two NEW cookies for a snack after lunch rather than the one I bit BECAUSE I wanted two of the bigger cookies. Holy shit I have issues. </div>
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Alex finishes dinner and goes for two cookies,</div>
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he goes, "Honey..." </div>
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Me "Yes dear?"</div>
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A "Why is there a bite taken out of a cookie here?"</div>
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Me "Oh....ummmmm....ahhhhhhhh.......welllllllll" </div>
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A (cuts me off from digging my own grave on this one) "I see" </div>
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He walks over to the living room (which happens to be our kitchen and dining room space too (oh condo living) with a couple of cookies. I look at his cookies and say, "Oh did you take<i> the cookie</i>?" Alex says, "No, I left that for you".....</div>
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I have decided to eat around this cookie until it is the last one left. God I need to get out of this house!!!!!!</div>
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-46758453081454443052014-01-02T10:07:00.000-05:002014-01-02T10:07:48.404-05:00Saying Good Bye to 2013 and Hello to 2014! Well here we are all again....about to say good bye to another year together and hello to a fresh start and new promises to one another whatever those may be. Some of you may or may not know this about me but I ALWAYS make a list at the beginning of the year of things I would like to accomplish through the year but that's not what this post is about.<br />
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I am sick...I am sick with a bad cold sick that Alex has kindly given me. Not that I blame him at all here people. I 100% saw this coming last week but there is not many worse things I can think of then to have a week off from work and happen to be sick the whole time. The only good thing is now I have an excuse to lay around, watch as much tv as I can, online shop and nap on and off all day long. Really when you put it like that it doesn't sound all that bad.<br />
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Last night to ring in the new year I made us some veggie pho...it was AMAZING! I have no idea why I don't do this more often.<br />
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I called Alex on his way home and said, "What do you feel like for dinner"<br />
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A "Ummmm...oh I don't care. Whatever."<br />
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Me "Are you sure? There is nothing you want?"<br />
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A "Nope."<br />
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So veggie pho it is! He walked in and when I told him what we were having it was like someone ran over his puppy. And then when I said the leftovers were for lunch the next day it was like the same person backed right over said puppy again. He ate it and then chased this healthy meal with a captain and diet coke with a large bowl of chocolate.<br />
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We did the count down till 8pm....<br />
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said cheers with some sparkling apple cider and both asleep by 9:30pm. Honestly as much as I would have loved to gone out and see some great friends it was almost a blessing in disuguise to have me sick so we could have an excuse to stay home and do nothing together. I always feel like New Years Eve (among many holidays) puts such pressure people to go out and live like there's no tomorrow. After bartending for 12 years I saw too many people trying to accomplish this and decided that I didn't need to be that person. I would rather chew broken glass then pay a cover for a bar that you would normally walk in, get a seat and drink without a problem or it costing $65 for the fun memory of having some puke on you.<br />
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Enough of that so this morning we woke up to the heat in our house being broken. SO SAD! Tomorrow we are suppose to get about a foot of snow here in the Boston area and we are without heat. The high on Friday....15. YEP 15! Oh people it's time to get cozy! We called the heating guy (we got a guy!) and they are going to try and come by tomorrow which I am sure will cost a pretty penny but for now we are bundling up and I told Alex to bake something in the oven, HOPING that will add some extra heat into the mix.<br />
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Don't feel too bad for us. I usually keep our house heated to 70 or 71 in the winter. If I can't live in San Diego god dammit my house will feel like. Right now it's a ripe 65 and I am bundled up on the couch. I am about to put on another sweater shirt, thicker socks and another blanket. Alex is loving it. He's trying to make the perfect bloody mary and watching hockey on tv. Oh man!<br />
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Well much more to come about our holidays but for now I bid you all a very happy new years and cheers to a fabulous year ahead!<br />
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xoxoxElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-80296220248881403872013-12-14T20:53:00.001-05:002013-12-14T21:10:37.802-05:00My obsession with subscription boxes continues......I have been meaning to write about this company but other things just keep coming up. So here I am, sitting home on Saturday night with the Christmas lights on, cup of tea and the snow is coming down!<br />
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When I was a kid the big thing was to sign up for those music clubs (BMG I think it was called) and get the free cassette tapes (and then after a few years) or cd's in the mail. When you signed up they would let you pick (I think) 10 different albums and send them to you in the mail. After that you had to buy (again just guessing here) 5 or 6 more for a like $20 a tape over the course of a year. Could've been less but when your income is only $10 a week for an allowance that you are doing next to nothing for every penny counts. So there was NO way I was going to actually buy the tapes but god dammit I wanted the new Pearl Jam album and NOTHING was going to stop me from getting it. <br />
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I must have signed up for every club to get as many free tapes that I could. Once I maxed out the companies with my name I then signed my little brother up for it (he was 7), the family dog and ANYONE I could think of (dead or alive) because what I realized was that there was no limit to the household address, just the name of the person. Awwww to be 10 and thinking I have figured it all out! What I didn't realize was there was a little thing called "collection agencies". Needless to say my poor parents had to have MANY phone conversations to these companies explaining that Jake Eross is the family dog who DOES NOT have thumbs and CAN NOT sign up for these services. (My poor poor parents)<br />
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But this is where I think my obsession with getting fun things in the mail started....so glossy box. I am OBSESSED with glossy box. I think I like these monthly subscription boxes so much for two reasons, it's like opening a present when they come (who doesn't love that) and what girl doesn't love to play with new beauty products! I think it's the adult version of going into your mom's bathroom and smearing red lipstick and blue eye shadow all over your face. The little girl in you just squeals with joy!<br />
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Glossy box is a monthly service that hand selects higher end beauty products and ships them in a BEAUTIFULLY package themed boxes.<br />
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I decided to sign up for the year and with that I also got the holiday bonus box for free (see above). The service is $18 a month when you sign up for the year and they give you about $50 or so in deluxe samples and full size beauty products each month.<br />
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The holiday box had $150 worth of full sized beauty products in it. Which range from body wash to clay masks to fun nail polish.<br />
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Each box usually has about 5 to 6 items it and range from makeup, skin care to hair products. So far out of the two boxes I have received so far 3 out of the 5 products were organic. I think one of the things I love about these boxes is it really feels like I am opening a present each month because it is so beautifully packaged.<br />
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This box had a body scrub, clay mask, body wash, some make up that made you look "dewy"(when you put it on it almost brightens your skin), a lip gloss (bright red) and bright red lip pencil. I don't wear a lot of make up any more but I like the deluxe sample sizes because I have a hard time using up the normal sized beauty products. I end up throwing things away after a year or so and this way I can try a bunch of new things without committing to a large size. Who doesn't like variety!?<br />
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Each box comes with a beauty card explaining each product and the value which for me is good because half this stuff I have no idea what to do with. And the things I can't use or already have something similar I am putting aside and sending friends and family so it's a win win for all. </div>
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If anyone does decide to do this let me know. I can send you a promo code for the holiday box (i think it makes it 30% off). </div>
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Hope you are all having a fabulous cozy evening! </div>
<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-59677456609073644532013-12-11T18:59:00.001-05:002013-12-11T18:59:04.435-05:00HAPPY BETHMAS TO ALL!!!!!<br />
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What is Bethmas you ask?! It's the day I graced this world with my presence and because my birthday is 12 days before Christmas (I am the partridge in the pear tree or in this case more like a hippo hanging on to a maple leaf...I've gained a few lbs)<br />
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I have renamed my birthday, Bethmas! I know it sounds a little self absorbed but it's not. If you feel this way it's because you are only jealous that a. you didn't think of this first for your own special day and b. your name doesn't rhyme as well as mine with a near by holiday. Is it a national holiday?! No but it should be....I try to take it off work every year. So I say to you, HAPPY BETHMAS TO ALL!!!!!<br />
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Enough about me (more to come the closer we get....It's Friday, the 13th you still have time to finish your Bethmas shopping!) Dinner tonight was OUTSTANDING.....make it and let me know what you think. </div>
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Chickpea Cranberry Pecan Salad Sandwiches </div>
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*the pictures I took are HORRIBLE because I was so hungry after work I didn't take the take to take a good picture but trust me it was EXCELLENT and so easy to make! For a 1/3 of the bowl it was 7 WW points (if you are counting) but I think I could have made 4 portions out of this. </div>
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Here's what you need:</div>
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3 stalks of celery (if they are bigger use two), chopped up</div>
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1/4 cup of chopped pecans</div>
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1/2 cup dried cranberries</div>
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1 1/2 cups of cooked chickpeas</div>
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2 scallions (green onions), chopped up</div>
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Salt </div>
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Pepper</div>
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1 TBSP of vegan mayo, tahini or regular mayo</div>
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2 TBSP of a good Vinegar (I used Trader Joes Orange Champagne Vinegar, if you can't find that I would use Apple Cider)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwh6r7-vrRzmOXfSpLld3iBaqd3XyitLY1-NF26KSXaxRM5kGAjWHunjN0jqCESpxPsk2YVcVqlCGzNSmB7HcuU2fXsgUbwiPLB4-v-70xjZmFe7jm7mSRTGWkzVaphsvUVaGCrBKSrM/s1600/IMG_0160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwh6r7-vrRzmOXfSpLld3iBaqd3XyitLY1-NF26KSXaxRM5kGAjWHunjN0jqCESpxPsk2YVcVqlCGzNSmB7HcuU2fXsgUbwiPLB4-v-70xjZmFe7jm7mSRTGWkzVaphsvUVaGCrBKSrM/s320/IMG_0160.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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You can put this on chickpea salad on bread, in a pita, over greens...whatever tickles your fancy....</div>
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Toss the chickpeas in a bowl and smashed the with a potato masher. (Yep) Then toss in the celery, scallions, nuts and cranberries....toss it around. </div>
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In a different bowl put the mayo (or whatever you would like to use), Vinegar, Salt and Pepper....wisk (or mix with a spoon) until it all comes together. </div>
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Mix the "dressing" with the chickpea bowl and there you have it!</div>
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DONE!</div>
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It was DELISH!</div>
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*I told you, it's not the greatest picture but it was DAMN good! </div>
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One of Alex's talents that some of you may or may not know is he LOVES to bake. For everyone's birthday he ALWAYS asks what they would like as their special dessert. Most years I say nothing but a cupcake because I am always watching my weight. Well I said to hell with that and picked out a tricky dessert. He stayed up until about midnight this morning making it for me (HOW SWEET IS HE)...drumroll please.......</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIvakMfB63jLpcGJQ5tVoLENhyL7ztcHDkAOqOng8CN1GEX35eZ6qV1E-c00Fen22ZDyVpPX7ccGIiTe1quEOslPmqETEjTrVrcbn1KEWUvqpcdqPSNGSnanrRXuD2Wj0usjKXte8Ym0/s1600/IMG_0161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIvakMfB63jLpcGJQ5tVoLENhyL7ztcHDkAOqOng8CN1GEX35eZ6qV1E-c00Fen22ZDyVpPX7ccGIiTe1quEOslPmqETEjTrVrcbn1KEWUvqpcdqPSNGSnanrRXuD2Wj0usjKXte8Ym0/s320/IMG_0161.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sprinklebakes.com/2012/11/the-best-sea-salted-chocolate-caramel.html" target="_blank">Mini Sea Salt Chocolate Caramel Tarts!!!!</a>! </div>
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I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to dive into one of this bad boys. It is taking every ounce of me not to eat one right now. The dessert blog I found these on is hands down what I would consider dessert porn. It is rich, beautifully done, creative and I gain weight just looking at them. </div>
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On that note I will leave you with one other very good deed our Alex did this week. It's cold, VERY cold up here in the Boston Area. Alex isn't one of those guys who thinks to buy me flowers often. (I think in the 6 years we have been together he's done it 4 or 5 times total) but I can tell you what's better than flowers..... this.....</div>
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He will, without question, get out of a cozy, toasty warm car and pump my gas on a FREEZING cold night after dinner and drinks. He is the best!</div>
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So with that Happy Happy Bethmas to all of you! On Friday evening raise your glass and send me some good cheers because I would give it all to be with all of you in a room sharing some laughs and making some memories! xoxo</div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-8377429205864618762013-12-03T20:31:00.000-05:002013-12-03T20:31:54.611-05:00The words everyone dreads most......"So I think I MIGHT have figured out what's wrong with the shower!?"<br />
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Cut to the last two weeks of our lives.....COLD, ok more like LUKE WARM showers. This would be fine in let's say July but when it's 20 degrees outside, dark and you have to motivate yourself to get up and go to work the LAST thing you want to do is get into a luke warm shower. This is just like dreaming about the last of vanilla ice cream in the freezer and diet root beer in the fridge that you have been saving for that rough day mid week (YEP I eat my stress). And all you want to do is make a root beer float after dinner only to find that someone drank said root beer with their lunch and ate the last of the ice cream at his 1am late night snack attack the night before while crushing episode after episode of Always Sunny in Philadelphia. (I am still upset about this one...Bitter table for one!)<br />
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Ok maybe not that bad but the luke the warm shower is pretty bad. I must have finally whined enough because this morning Alex woke up early and started "fixing" the shower after I left for work. He calls me tonight on my way home and goes, "So I think I might have figured out what's wrong with the shower?!"<br />
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Me, "Wow! Really that's great! What's the problem"<br />
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Alex, "Well...blah blah blah blah blah blah (I can't remember what he said because to be honest I was yelling at the car in front of me)......BUT (got my attention) I think I found something!"<br />
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Me, "What?!"<br />
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Mr. Fix It "A SMALL leak!"<br />
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Me, "Uh?! In the shower!?"<br />
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Bob Vila Jr "And I think I may have made it worse....."<br />
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Me, "Uh...."<br />
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Bob Vila Jr "BUT I am going to stop by Home Depot on my way home and don't worry I will have it fixed before morning!!"<br />
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Me, "Ok, great!"<br />
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I hang up the phone and the first thing I think....Shit I am 100% going to have to go to the gym in the morning and even better...going to have to take a shower there!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiLk7dXeTmopNpr-9s-TNY1defpyUkudmDgC_5MAXqRtfJzduKLyBOtz0wuHSICaqGmDDtmMiFW4b5XXe_VcrVWAhhCMeN7gEi6-b8f8DWwPxhtJXMpED2cG5MnMe7g7Q9QIOmKwuQHQ/s1600/IMG_0139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiLk7dXeTmopNpr-9s-TNY1defpyUkudmDgC_5MAXqRtfJzduKLyBOtz0wuHSICaqGmDDtmMiFW4b5XXe_VcrVWAhhCMeN7gEi6-b8f8DWwPxhtJXMpED2cG5MnMe7g7Q9QIOmKwuQHQ/s320/IMG_0139.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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How did this end you ask?! Well as of right now the shower is running....hot water is coming out and that's good enough for me! </div>
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In other news from this past week...... Got the band back together and realized we can not play Rock Band at all....nor should anyone be subjected to it in public....</div>
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Made this little guy over the weekend....Alex named him Olly</div>
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And amazon.com STRIKES again! I thought I was ordering a small bag of stuffing for little projects like the one above and ended up getting this instead....<br />
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Say it with me people.... "HOLY SHIT BALLS!"</div>
<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6774804842739272234.post-3625646701497596942013-11-14T19:02:00.001-05:002013-11-14T19:02:45.046-05:00Trying something new... Stitch Fix!*No one paid me for this post, even though they should have, and everything written and expressed are my own thoughts.<br />
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I do a lot of reading at night. Not the "War and Peace" kind of reading but more like reading my favorite blogs or cruising Buzzfeed for an hour or two before I start drooling on my pillow. A little while ago I came across a blog that was talking at this service out of San Francisco called <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3241512" target="_blank">Stitch Fix!</a> It's a styling service that sends you 5 custom tailored pieces to your house....you try them on at home, keep what you like and send back what you don't want.<br />
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What makes this better than going to the mall and shopping yourself? (like I need to spell this out for any of you) Well you get to try different brands that you may not be able to find in your local mall AND you don't have to deal with people...ANY people, No HORRIBLE dressing room lighting that make you look anemic and the temptation of those god damn Annie's Pretzels! DAMN YOU Annie's Pretzels and how good you smell.<br />
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How this works...you go to the site, <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3241512" target="_blank">Stitch Fix</a>, and fill out a profile. They ask you a lot of questions of what you like, what you don't like, who you are, could they have your first born child...so on and so on. After that you pick a price point of what you are willing to pay for the pieces, I said between $50 - $75. Next up schedule a date for your "fix" and for $20 (which goes toward anything you want to keep) they send everything right to you!<br />
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I got my first one today<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOQCp-umevTFrqRtSOrr9C3AhGKZMYcJ1CQ294dxv_Y_3dYE27UDDsAYchEwHPZCDcQ0oabdUqRUouriDW09eliODAO-lDn6jytohqBqIx_Nm1pmpQ3xVPUTSYImV07yl5ZDK6OT1jXY/s1600/IMG_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOQCp-umevTFrqRtSOrr9C3AhGKZMYcJ1CQ294dxv_Y_3dYE27UDDsAYchEwHPZCDcQ0oabdUqRUouriDW09eliODAO-lDn6jytohqBqIx_Nm1pmpQ3xVPUTSYImV07yl5ZDK6OT1jXY/s320/IMG_0054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and I have to say I was impressed. I really liked it a lot actually. I would have NEVER picked any of the pieces out to try on but I really liked trying on something new. They had a large colorful chart of outfit ideas with each piece with staples you most likely already have at home. They give you work friendly ideas as well as more casual ways to wear the pieces.<br />
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This is what I had in my box....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwib6BNubw1u-O1gRPYEetPZE8bhpAjADQKq8idZkVtv58hccafRYfDJCNr7Dp9CLhL2xlYo5WMdzRKR1IB0gtT9ZXJ_MGmzdGa0AFKrqdHSksnbIviX-nXqIMpHLsUvsN5HUajPoxAnw/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwib6BNubw1u-O1gRPYEetPZE8bhpAjADQKq8idZkVtv58hccafRYfDJCNr7Dp9CLhL2xlYo5WMdzRKR1IB0gtT9ZXJ_MGmzdGa0AFKrqdHSksnbIviX-nXqIMpHLsUvsN5HUajPoxAnw/s320/IMG_0055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hard to see everything and didn't want to bore you with a picture of each item but in short...<br />
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- Dark wash stretchy skinny jeans ($80)<br />
- FUN dress (double lined...VERY important here in New England in the winter time) with a scoop neck ($78)<br />
- Lined Blazer ($68)<br />
- Long sleeve blouse ($28)<br />
- Pair of earrings that almost looked like coral (you know, the stuff you find in the ocean) ($38)<br />
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Every piece was under $80 and seemed like nice quality as well. Each piece also had a small tag and cheat sheet on it as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNRRH8PQZc6j868MojqOS9Z384P-Yx72jnZb-G7xaaOE-VwNq_YqiZoO0z55s1IzadqQNQdySWnEyGtQoOADFx8FMrYjIgU3anhbAE87-AFBGu57KJnpzNeyYTKFuEjaQOYvbmM7MUjM/s1600/IMG_0060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNRRH8PQZc6j868MojqOS9Z384P-Yx72jnZb-G7xaaOE-VwNq_YqiZoO0z55s1IzadqQNQdySWnEyGtQoOADFx8FMrYjIgU3anhbAE87-AFBGu57KJnpzNeyYTKFuEjaQOYvbmM7MUjM/s320/IMG_0060.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I have to say I was really skeptical at first but I figured, "Hell I have thrown $20 at REALLY bad ideas so why not try this!". I really loved it and would/am totally trying it again!</div>
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So if you want to keep everything...they give you the $20 credit towards your purchase as well as 25% off the total. If you don't want to keep any of it or just certain pieces you send everything back in pre-paid bag and off in the mail it goes! When you "check out" online you do need to fill out a small questionnaire that helps customize your next fix even more. </div>
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I will let you know how my next one goes but I think it's something I could see myself trying once in awhile as a little "pick me up". In my 30's I have come to realize that I LOVE getting things (ANYTHING) in the mail that isn't a bill so bring it on <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3241512" target="_blank">Stitch Fix</a>. Let me know if any of you try it and what you think!</div>
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Well off to pack, going to NH this weekend to see this guy before he leaves for Brazil!</div>
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152654790916189113noreply@blogger.com2