Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!
I'm not usually a very thankful person. It's a terrible thing to say, but it's true. I usually go about my life taking everything for granted, or being pessimistic and telling myself nothing is actually worth being happy about.
Today, though, is Thanksgiving. An entire day devoted to gratitude. At least, kind of. It's also devoted to turkeys and pilgrims, but we'll save that for some other time.
Below is my list of the top five things I'm thankful for this year. While it could be much longer and much more complex, these are the things that instantly pop into my head when I think about what I'm grateful for.
5. The Internet
Maybe it makes me a bad person to be thankful for the internet, but it's true. I'm a child of the technological age and I would be completely lost without the internet. I use it to learn, to shop, and to avoid calling people to ask them stupid questions. I will be forever grateful to Al Gore for inventing the internet. :-)
4. My Job
My job sucks. I hate my job. But no matter how frustrating my job is, I am very glad I have it and the paychecks it provides.
3. My Friends
My friends mean the world to me. They make me happy, they teach me things, and they give me people to care about and spend time with. They keep me from being lonely. I love every single one of them, and I am so thankful they're in my life.
2. My Roommate
Yeah, sure, he's a friend, but I love my roommate enough that he's in a class of his own. He's given me a great place to live, he feeds me, he fixes the bathtub drain, and he lets me use his awesome TV. Without this guy, I'd probably be living in a crappy apartment with a bunch of cockroaches, trying to stay out all night doing stupid things just so I didn't have to go home.
1. My Brother
The number one thing I am thankful for is my little brother. My brother completely changed my life in the best possible way, and he gave me a reason not to give up on family completely. He's sweet and funny and creative and I couldn't have asked for more.
What are you thankful for this year?
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Hallogivmas
I currently have bats hanging all over my living room, Thanksgiving recipes open in my internet browser, and, to top it all off, I have a Christmas CD in my stereo.
This is wrong.
I'm typically very strict about my holiday seasons and go VERY FAR out of my way to keep them from overlapping. I make a habit of giving dirty looks to anyone going Christmas-crazy before Thanksgiving, and for me (and my roommate, by association), the Christmas season isn't allowed to officially start until December 6th.
This year, however, I have failed myself.
Have you ever tried to give yourself a dirty look in the mirror? It's not very good for your self esteem. I don't recommend it.
My first brilliant idea to keep myself chilled-out this year was to be uber-organized. I started this by setting up an Excel file with gift lists. It's not helping. No, as a matter of fact, I think I spent ten minutes staring at it, getting more depressed. ("Holy crap, how am I supposed to get all this done on time????? Do I actually like these people? Do they like me back? Am I going to spend too much money on Bethany? Am I going to spend too little money on Matt? Are these worth buying? Am I going to have to special order that? How long does it take to ship DVDs from Liechtenstein?") It shouldn't be this daunting. It really shouldn't. I only have fourteen names on this list. *cough* (It may be SLIGHTLY more than fourteen presents. Maybe. Just slightly. It might possibly be, oh, I don't know....closer to 53 or something.....but that's just a guess!)
After angsting over my Christmas presents, it finally hit me that Thanksgiving is in less than a week. Yep, that's right. Less than seven days. By my calculations, I have less than 119 hours before Thanksgiving. In those 119 hours, I have to work 30 hours at my sucky day job, bake at least two pies, conjure up a Thanksgiving menu I may actually be able to cook without disaster, clean my house so it's semi-presentable, figure out who I'm actually spending Thanksgiving with this year, and then maybe try to sleep at some point.
Me? Stressed? Nooooo.....
I'm also beginning to think it might be time to take down my Halloween decorations, since the people two doors down already have their lawn buried under Christmas decorations. Then again, if I keep procrastinating and stressing out about other stuff, maybe I can just leave them up until next year.
How are your holiday plans coming along? Are you cool as a cucumber or will you be running around like a madman trying to buy cranberry sauce on Wednesday night like me?
This is wrong.
I'm typically very strict about my holiday seasons and go VERY FAR out of my way to keep them from overlapping. I make a habit of giving dirty looks to anyone going Christmas-crazy before Thanksgiving, and for me (and my roommate, by association), the Christmas season isn't allowed to officially start until December 6th.
This year, however, I have failed myself.
Have you ever tried to give yourself a dirty look in the mirror? It's not very good for your self esteem. I don't recommend it.
My first brilliant idea to keep myself chilled-out this year was to be uber-organized. I started this by setting up an Excel file with gift lists. It's not helping. No, as a matter of fact, I think I spent ten minutes staring at it, getting more depressed. ("Holy crap, how am I supposed to get all this done on time????? Do I actually like these people? Do they like me back? Am I going to spend too much money on Bethany? Am I going to spend too little money on Matt? Are these worth buying? Am I going to have to special order that? How long does it take to ship DVDs from Liechtenstein?") It shouldn't be this daunting. It really shouldn't. I only have fourteen names on this list. *cough* (It may be SLIGHTLY more than fourteen presents. Maybe. Just slightly. It might possibly be, oh, I don't know....closer to 53 or something.....but that's just a guess!)
After angsting over my Christmas presents, it finally hit me that Thanksgiving is in less than a week. Yep, that's right. Less than seven days. By my calculations, I have less than 119 hours before Thanksgiving. In those 119 hours, I have to work 30 hours at my sucky day job, bake at least two pies, conjure up a Thanksgiving menu I may actually be able to cook without disaster, clean my house so it's semi-presentable, figure out who I'm actually spending Thanksgiving with this year, and then maybe try to sleep at some point.
Me? Stressed? Nooooo.....
I'm also beginning to think it might be time to take down my Halloween decorations, since the people two doors down already have their lawn buried under Christmas decorations. Then again, if I keep procrastinating and stressing out about other stuff, maybe I can just leave them up until next year.
How are your holiday plans coming along? Are you cool as a cucumber or will you be running around like a madman trying to buy cranberry sauce on Wednesday night like me?
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
My Rant About Staples
I apologize for appearing to have fallen off the deep end over an envelope, but I've been rather peeved for two weeks now and I feel I need to share my peevedness with cyberspace.
On October 2nd I ordered some online-exclusive black invitation envelopes from Staples. Ordinarily I would suck it up and pay for shipping, but I was very excited to see that Staples offered an in-store pickup option for no charge. I opted for this, and checked the order info online every few days. Every few days the page was the same. Estimated date of arrival was 10/12/12, and it was "Shipped From Warehouse: no box status available." I just checked and my order status is still "Shipped From Warehouse: no box status available."
On the 18th, I finally got a call from Staples telling me my order was in. By this time, I'd already hand folded (ow...ow...ow) all my own envelopes and had no need for the ones I had ordered, so I didn't rush over to get them. I waited until yesterday to pick them up, as a matter of fact. When I got to the store, I patiently waited in line at the checkout counter (which said "Customer Service" on a big sign above the cashier's head) with my online printout and ID, which the confirmation notice told me I was required to present to pick up my product. When I got up to the register and explained to the cashier that I had ordered some envelopes and was here to pick them up but was hoping it would also be possible to return them as well since I didn't need the anymore, the cashier looked at my printout, told me he didn't think I'd actually paid, but I'd have to go over to the customer service area. I got all confused (cuz, yaknow, HE was supposed to be customer service) and could only figure he was sending me to the copy center. I went over to the copy center and gave them the same shpeil about wanting to pick up and return the product. They said they had to call their manager. The manager came over. I gave him the shpeil. He called another associate over and told her to take care of it. I then had to give HER the shpeil. She was very nice, retrieved my box from behind the counter, then took me back over to the register to process the return. Of course, processing such a return required us to wait for the manger to come back over and key in his ID.
Here's the kicker: they had me sign the paperwork they had with my order. According to this paperwork, the estimated delivery date was 10/5. The form said the customer was to be contacted three days after it was delivered on 10/8. I was contacted on 10/18.
WTF? Does that not seem a wee bit tardy to anyone else?
Regardless, I was able to finish up my transaction and left envelopeless with the $7.50 back in my bank account, thanks to the one associate worth her salt.
This leads me to my question: What's your worst shopping story? How has corporate America abused you lately? Do tell! (Misery loves company, after all.)
On October 2nd I ordered some online-exclusive black invitation envelopes from Staples. Ordinarily I would suck it up and pay for shipping, but I was very excited to see that Staples offered an in-store pickup option for no charge. I opted for this, and checked the order info online every few days. Every few days the page was the same. Estimated date of arrival was 10/12/12, and it was "Shipped From Warehouse: no box status available." I just checked and my order status is still "Shipped From Warehouse: no box status available."
On the 18th, I finally got a call from Staples telling me my order was in. By this time, I'd already hand folded (ow...ow...ow) all my own envelopes and had no need for the ones I had ordered, so I didn't rush over to get them. I waited until yesterday to pick them up, as a matter of fact. When I got to the store, I patiently waited in line at the checkout counter (which said "Customer Service" on a big sign above the cashier's head) with my online printout and ID, which the confirmation notice told me I was required to present to pick up my product. When I got up to the register and explained to the cashier that I had ordered some envelopes and was here to pick them up but was hoping it would also be possible to return them as well since I didn't need the anymore, the cashier looked at my printout, told me he didn't think I'd actually paid, but I'd have to go over to the customer service area. I got all confused (cuz, yaknow, HE was supposed to be customer service) and could only figure he was sending me to the copy center. I went over to the copy center and gave them the same shpeil about wanting to pick up and return the product. They said they had to call their manager. The manager came over. I gave him the shpeil. He called another associate over and told her to take care of it. I then had to give HER the shpeil. She was very nice, retrieved my box from behind the counter, then took me back over to the register to process the return. Of course, processing such a return required us to wait for the manger to come back over and key in his ID.
Here's the kicker: they had me sign the paperwork they had with my order. According to this paperwork, the estimated delivery date was 10/5. The form said the customer was to be contacted three days after it was delivered on 10/8. I was contacted on 10/18.
WTF? Does that not seem a wee bit tardy to anyone else?
Regardless, I was able to finish up my transaction and left envelopeless with the $7.50 back in my bank account, thanks to the one associate worth her salt.
This leads me to my question: What's your worst shopping story? How has corporate America abused you lately? Do tell! (Misery loves company, after all.)
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Halloween Costume Roundup: DIY
The final segment of our Halloween Costume roundup is the do-it-yourself portion. Now that we're inching closer and closer to Halloween (only fourteen days away, people!), time is running short to find that perfect costume, especially if you were planning to order it online.
If you're in a pinch and headed to a party in the next couple of weeks, try one of these:
1. Gangster
You probably already have a black suit, so all you need now is a fedora and a potato gun. Alternatively, you could bring it into the 21st century and go as a secret service agent, just add a Bluetooth earpiece and you're good to go!
2. Insect
Dress in one color, be it your favorite red dress (ladybug), your green sweatsuit (grasshopper), or tin foil (computer bug...ha ha), and throw on a pair of antennae. I love the pair shown above from TheElfinForest on Etsy, but if you're looking for a low-tech, low-budget option, pipecleaners work too.
3. Toga
Sometimes you gotta do what you can do with what you've got. When all you've got is five minutes, strip your bed and go as a Greek. The only accessories needed to complete this outfit are your grungiest flip flops and maybe a belt, if you're really feeling extravagant.
4. Ghost
5. Risky Business
My favorite idea on the list. Very, very easy, you just need the confidence to pull it off. The confidence and a button down, some sweat socks, and a pair of tighty whities, but really, the only difficult part is the confidence. (You are, after all, in your tighty whities.) Consider swiping one of grandma's candlesticks for the evening, just to show you were really paying attention.
Well, that's it, folks! This is the end of our Halloween Costume Roundup. What's your favorite DIY costume?
If you're in a pinch and headed to a party in the next couple of weeks, try one of these:
1. Gangster
You probably already have a black suit, so all you need now is a fedora and a potato gun. Alternatively, you could bring it into the 21st century and go as a secret service agent, just add a Bluetooth earpiece and you're good to go!
2. Insect
Dress in one color, be it your favorite red dress (ladybug), your green sweatsuit (grasshopper), or tin foil (computer bug...ha ha), and throw on a pair of antennae. I love the pair shown above from TheElfinForest on Etsy, but if you're looking for a low-tech, low-budget option, pipecleaners work too.
3. Toga
4. Ghost
It's not cliche, it's classic. And it's a great option when your toga-wrapping skills are lacking. Low effort, comfortable, and highly recognizable (no "who are you? Johnny Depp? No....the weather guy from channel 8? No....my Uncle Louie?), the only drawback is that you can't really eat without blowing your cover completely, but that's okay. You can hang with the scantily-clad ladies eating celery sticks so they don't gain an ounce and look fat in their costumes.
My favorite idea on the list. Very, very easy, you just need the confidence to pull it off. The confidence and a button down, some sweat socks, and a pair of tighty whities, but really, the only difficult part is the confidence. (You are, after all, in your tighty whities.) Consider swiping one of grandma's candlesticks for the evening, just to show you were really paying attention.
Well, that's it, folks! This is the end of our Halloween Costume Roundup. What's your favorite DIY costume?
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Halloween Costume Roundup: Men
Here it is, folks: the second part of our Halloween Costume Roundup, dude-style.
1. Knight
Horse or no, going headless for the evening is certainly sure to turn some.....eherm....heads.
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/cc-headless-horseman-adult-med/
3. Taco
Why dress up as a taco? Why the hell not?
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/taco-adult-costume/
4. Pot
Quite possibly my favorite costume on the list, and definitely the one my particular group of friends would get the biggest kick out of....although they might not agree with the plant's message of "keeping off" the grass!
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/Fn-Keep-Off-Grass-Weed-Pot-Os/
5. Good in the Sack
I'll admit, it took me a minute to get this one. While this may not be the best execution of a pun costume, it is one likely to be embraced by the (hopefully single) men in your life.
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/good-in-the-sack-costume/
What's the best costume you've seen a guy rock? Any suggestions on talking them into costume in the first place?
1. Knight
Every girl is looking for her knight in shining armor, and with this tin gent at your All Hallows celebration, they can all be one step closer.
2. The Headless Horseman
Horse or no, going headless for the evening is certainly sure to turn some.....eherm....heads.
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/cc-headless-horseman-adult-med/
3. Taco
Why dress up as a taco? Why the hell not?
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/taco-adult-costume/
4. Pot
Quite possibly my favorite costume on the list, and definitely the one my particular group of friends would get the biggest kick out of....although they might not agree with the plant's message of "keeping off" the grass!
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/Fn-Keep-Off-Grass-Weed-Pot-Os/
5. Good in the Sack
I'll admit, it took me a minute to get this one. While this may not be the best execution of a pun costume, it is one likely to be embraced by the (hopefully single) men in your life.
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/good-in-the-sack-costume/
What's the best costume you've seen a guy rock? Any suggestions on talking them into costume in the first place?
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Halloween Costume Roundup: Women
I love Halloween, and even though I've had my costume picked out for months, I've decided to share a few of my favorite costumes with you.
1. Honeybee
This honeybee costume is adorable! Sweet, with just enough sass to keep it from being too cutesy.
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/ht-honey-bee-28/
2. Scarecrow
This is, without a doubt, the least frumpy scarecrow costume I've ever seen. WAAAAAY better than shlupping around in an old flannel and some blue jeans on Halloween.
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/es-whimsical-scarecrow-med/
3. Cowgirl
If we're discussing space cowboys, this costume is definitely from the dark side. A dark, mysterious alternative to the ever-so-cheerful Jessie-from-Toy-Story costume that seems to be popping up everywhere this Halloween.
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/cc-round-em-up-cowgirl-adlt-md/
4. Fairy
I have a thing for fairies. Especially badass fairies, which is what little miss thang up there appears to be. I love the tattered skirt and the hypnotic devil horn headpiece.
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/pn-amy-brown-i-like-to-bite-12/
5. Witch
Sure, everybody's been a witch, but not everybody has been a witch like this. Undoubtedly my favorite witch costume ever, hands down. Fun, funky, and oozing poison-green sex appeal, this is a costume that will be staying on my wishlist for a little while.
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/cc-hocus-pocus-witch-adult-md/
Keep your eyes peeled for more costume ideas from me in the future, but in the meantime, feel free to post your favorite costumes in the comments!
1. Honeybee
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/ht-honey-bee-28/
2. Scarecrow
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/es-whimsical-scarecrow-med/
3. Cowgirl
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/cc-round-em-up-cowgirl-adlt-md/
4. Fairy
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/pn-amy-brown-i-like-to-bite-12/
5. Witch
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/cc-hocus-pocus-witch-adult-md/
Keep your eyes peeled for more costume ideas from me in the future, but in the meantime, feel free to post your favorite costumes in the comments!
Sunday, October 7, 2012
DIY Halloween Coasters
I have spent the better part of my weekend so far with my coffee table buried under felt.
Why, you ask?
Because it finally occurred to me that I had no coasters.
Don't ask me why I had no coasters. It's a sad tale, involving many drinks placed atop junk mail, but alas, not a very interesting one. To spare you the boredom, I will cut to the chase and show you what I have done to rectify this sad, sad situation.
I have made coasters!
Yes, that's right, ladies and gentlemen! I have made coasters! Wonderfully festive Halloween coasters, if I do say so myself.
I must admit, I was completely inspired by (read: stole) the idea for citrus coasters I stumbled across here: http://www.purlbee.com/citrus-coasters/
If I make these for other occasions in the future, I will take the advice of the Purl Bee tutorial and double-up the back circle of felt, but for these coasters that will, for the most part, only see one evening of use, I'm not terribly concerned about it.
Anybody who has spent any time in a craft store will undoubtedly be able to recreate these without any instruction from me, but in case you're curious, this is what I used:
- Black and orange felt
- Black and orange embroidery floss (split in half to make 3-ply strands)
- The mouths of two separate cups to trace out circles
- A black pen and a black Sharpie for tracing
- Scissors
- The sharpest yarn needle I had on hand, seeing as how it never occured to me to purchase, yaknow, REAL needles.
I covered up the mouth of the mug I was using for tracing with plastic wrap to protect it from the Sharpie ink I used on the black felt. Surprisingly, Sharpie was the only thing in my entire house that made a visible mark on the black felt, including the white marking pencil I bought specifically for that purpose.
If you have more coaster ideas for me, post them below! Also, can anyone tell me what you're SUPPOSED to use to write on black felt? I think I might still be high from the Sharpie fumes...
Why, you ask?
Because it finally occurred to me that I had no coasters.
Don't ask me why I had no coasters. It's a sad tale, involving many drinks placed atop junk mail, but alas, not a very interesting one. To spare you the boredom, I will cut to the chase and show you what I have done to rectify this sad, sad situation.
I have made coasters!
Yes, that's right, ladies and gentlemen! I have made coasters! Wonderfully festive Halloween coasters, if I do say so myself.
I must admit, I was completely inspired by (read: stole) the idea for citrus coasters I stumbled across here: http://www.purlbee.com/citrus-coasters/
If I make these for other occasions in the future, I will take the advice of the Purl Bee tutorial and double-up the back circle of felt, but for these coasters that will, for the most part, only see one evening of use, I'm not terribly concerned about it.
Anybody who has spent any time in a craft store will undoubtedly be able to recreate these without any instruction from me, but in case you're curious, this is what I used:
- Black and orange felt
- Black and orange embroidery floss (split in half to make 3-ply strands)
- The mouths of two separate cups to trace out circles
- A black pen and a black Sharpie for tracing
- Scissors
- The sharpest yarn needle I had on hand, seeing as how it never occured to me to purchase, yaknow, REAL needles.
I covered up the mouth of the mug I was using for tracing with plastic wrap to protect it from the Sharpie ink I used on the black felt. Surprisingly, Sharpie was the only thing in my entire house that made a visible mark on the black felt, including the white marking pencil I bought specifically for that purpose.
If you have more coaster ideas for me, post them below! Also, can anyone tell me what you're SUPPOSED to use to write on black felt? I think I might still be high from the Sharpie fumes...
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