cuteness

Thanks Nikki!!

Didn't she do a cute job on these pillows she made for the Pay it Forward challenge?!

This means that I should probably get my butt in gear to send out my something homemade to my three people...

we're not ready yet.

So it's February and for some strange reason it's 70 degrees today in Kansas.  Last week we had negative temperatures and like 40 inches of snow on the ground (or something close to that).

I mean don't get me wrong; I'm so ready for the snow to be done with and for spring time weather and everything that comes with it.  But what I'm not ready for is the fan in the bathroom at work to take a hiatus.

I wrote about that here before. 

Talk about awkward.

Sometimes it's a challenge to even pee with the fan off because of the silence. 

I got to work yesterday from being in California and saw the worried faces of my coworkers when they explained that the fan had been off for the last couple of days. 

It's way too early for this to be happening.  I mean, I thought we at least had another month or two!

Because the weather changes so frequently, I'm sure that the fan will be back at least for a few days in the coming months, but nothing like we've been used to...I'm going to miss that 'ol girl and the sounds that come out of it.

As a side note: a chunk of our ceiling in the bathroom fell out today and then apparently water was leaking all over the bathroom.  Additionally our floor smelled like a bonfire.  Something weird is going on...

handwritten

Jerrod over at the Yellow Factor tagged me in a fun meme (if you haven't read his stuff, you're missing out, just sayin'); 7 simple questions that you have to answer by hand.  I know, who really "writes" things anymore? 

Oh, me, I do. 

I love making lists and writing things out by hand, so it's a good thing he tagged me. 

(I also secretly like my handwriting.  It's very straight.)

(Oh, and I also LOVE felt tip pens. My coworker and I ordered a huge box of them in bright colors.  We're nerds.)

Instructions: 

Answer the following questions in written format:

1. What's your name/your Blogger name?
2. What's your blog's name/URL?
3. Write "the quick fox jumps over the lazy dog".
4. Favorite quote?
5. Your Favorite song?
6. Your favorite band/singers?
7. Anything else you want to say?
8. Tag 3-5 other people.

Ok, you five, write your hearts out!

i'm baaaaaack

Oh. Hi.

I'm here! 

I've been in sunny California for the past few days and I'm so far behind on blogging and reading blogs and life in general.

But don't you worry, I'll get my hiney into gear and post some pics soon!  It might take me some time to get all of my pictures uploaded and to get back into the swing of things...I've been quite busy lately, but I'm working on it!

For now I'll share this picture from a morning bike ride with you:

flights and kites

For the past few months, a handful of some of my alumni sorority sisters and I have been getting together to plan our first (and hopefully) annual Wine Tasting Event.  We are so excited about it and may be more excited to have the first one under our belts!

We have so many fun things planned: a live band, lots of good food, and obviously tons of booze.  We have 12 different kinds of wine to sample along with food paired along with each of those wines, and, if you're not a wine lover, we're also providing beer, just in case. 

So come already!  What are you waiting for!  Your RSVP is due on Saturday!  Or you can show up the day of for $10 more, but it would make my life a lot easier if you'd let us know beforehand so that we have enough alcohol to get you nice and buzzed.

Oh, and did I forget to mention that the proceeds of this event go to one of my favorite organizations ever?

When I joined my house in college, the philanthropy that we work with sold me on which house I was going to join.  For real.  I kind of knew that I'd be a Theta before I even went through recruitment, but when I learned about CASA, I knew that no matter what happened with the whole sorority thing, that I had to be a volunteer.

CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocate's volunteer to help children involved in the court system.  During my four years at college I had six kiddos that I met with on a regular basis to hang out, get to know them and to figure out if their parents, basically, were fit to be their parents.

It, at times broke my heart to hear the stories that these kids would tell me.  Show the kids some love and they open right up... 

I remember one specific incident where I was taking the kids shopping at Target.  While getting out of the vehicle and attempting to get the kids out of their car seats one of the younger ones started screaming as his older brother and I came around the other side of the vehicle to get him out.  I'm sure it's because he was used to being left alone and he thought that I was going to leave him in the car while I went shopping. 

Other times there was evidence of abuse.

CASA volunteers get to know these kids on a very personal level and then write a court report that is given to the judges at hearings.  Because social workers don't have time to attend to every child as much as they'd like to, the CASA court reports tend to be the child's only voice in the court system. 

So, even if you can't make it, think about making a donation so that we can help more of those kids in the court system.  Contact me if you want more information or if you need to know who to make your check payable to!

wednesday weigh in

Well, the good news is that I didn't gain any weight.  The bad news is that NOTHING changed this week.  I mean I guess it's good that I didn't gain anything, but for the love...

Things may have been different had I been doing my normal workouts last week. I had to make a few trips to the back-cracker for my old-lady shoulder and she told me that I could only do cardio for at least a week.  Bah-rrrring.

On top of having a restricted work-out schedule, I also went out for dinner A LOT.  It was not a good week for me.  I mean it was; the food was delicious and the company was great, but it didn't help the diet at all!

Since the weather blows (literally) here, this weeks article is about foods that promote happiness. 

baby it's cold outside

So, in Kansas City we're in the midst of a massive snow storm.  I mean people are calling it such names as "Snomageddon", "Snowpocalypse", or my personal favorite "Snow-torious B.I.G". 

While the snow didn't start until around 6AM; sitting at home now, there's a good 8-9 inches on the ground. 

I was a huge pansy and called into work this morning for fear that I'd get trapped in my cube overnight.  I'm glad that I did too...I don't think there's a chance that I would've been able to get into my driveway now.  There is so. much. snow.

Last week we had unseasonably warm weather, I'm talking 50-60* in January; so most of the previous snow had melted.  I was hopeful that we were in the clear for no more snow for the rest of the winter...boy was I wrong! 

The meteorologists are claiming that this snow storm could be one of the worst that we've ever seen. 

WTF. 

I thought last winter was bad. 

ALSO, they said that the worst of the snow or the heaviest would happen later this afternoon.  Did I mention that we already have 8 or 9" on the ground at 2:30?!

I went outside to shovel a little spot for Laila to go to the bathroom because she was swimming in the snow otherwise.  As you can see, the snow is taller than her.  About ten minutes after I shoveled this spot out, it's already filled back up.  I give up.

Sometimes I think she likes being in the snow because she face plants into the drifts.  Other times, I have to force her out the door.  Maybe it has something to do with the snow blowing from all directions.  I think it's even coming up from the ground.  Basically it's miserable outside.

So anyway, if you need me.  I'll be here.  Trapped in my house with my crazy dog.