Ten On Tuesday

30 Mar

It’s time for ToT, my sister-in-law’s fun blog feature! I’m typing this on my phone, so please forgive any typos… Also, I’m typing this at 5:45am, because I can’t sleep. Don’t expect much, haha.

1. What television character do you identify with?

I’m not much of a tv watcher (my dvr records Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and Masterpiece… Nerd alert!). So I will have to stretch it and say Eliza Bennett fom Pride and Prejudice, the BBC version. That originated on tv, so it counts. If you haven’t watched it, you just come right over to my house and we can watch all 6 hours together. Everyone could relate to this story – amazing for something written 200 years ago!

2. Describe your morning routine.

Wake up later than I should. Check and reply to email etc. from my phone, maybe read a few websites. Get up, brush teeth, hair, take vitamin, and lately: dose of allergy medicine. Get dressed. Grab breakfast and lunch. I usually eat breakfast at my desk. Wow, that was boring. Almost put me back to sleep!

3. How do you do lunch? Bring from home or dine out? Same thing every day or mix it up?

I usually bring a weight watchers smart one. Many weeks I have at least one luncheon or event with lunch served. I also work with an awesome group of girls, and every so often we will go to lunch together.

4. What is one moment that, although seemingly trivial at the time, changed your life?

Well, when I signed up to do the Crawl For Cancer, it didn’t seem trivial; it was a ton of work! But I didn’t realize that planning that huge event would help me find my dream job in the career path I’ve always hoped to be on. Yay!

5. Name your top three beauty products.

– concealer – hmm am I supposed to know the brands? It’s a stick that you twist and it goes onto an applicator sponge. Perfect for covering up the puffy bags under my eyes from allergies.
– perfume – I don’t wear much make up, but I wear perfume every day. Quelles-ques Fluers, Marc Jacobs, and Armani.  Not all at the same time.
– moisturizer – my mother looks at least 10 years younger than her true age, and her secret is moisturizing every day. Every day. I’m trying to emulate her, and it’s hard. My lovely friend Karen is an aesthitician in L.A. and I buy the skin-care she sells . It’s wonderful!

6. What do you do when you’re alone in the car?

Listen to NPR or music. Not much, I guess. I talk to myself sometimes. That shouldn’t surprise anyone who is familiar with my chattiness!

7. What is the ideal city for you to live in? If you can, take this survey (< that’s a link) and tell us the results. Do you agree with them?

Well, my top three were Orlando, West Palm Beach, and Houston.  Florida has 12.2 unemployment right now, so I’m thinking I’m in the right place!  Other intriguing suggestions were Augusta, GA, Charleston, SC and Memphis, TN…  Guess the survey took my aversion to snow seriously.

8. Are you waiting for something?

My allergies to be over. Ugh.

9. What was the last shocking news you heard?

I was going to say Jessie James cheating, but really, not too much of a shock for celebrities to act like idiots.

10. What are three things you wouldn’t do for a million dollars?

Cheat on my boyfriend, touch a live cockroach, or get naked in public.

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what the heck is in the air?

29 Mar

I am so sick of being sick!  The weather is GORGEOUS, and I am sick!  Swollen head, sore throat, sinus headache, yucky, cruddy, crawled into bed right after dinner, SICK.  Allergic to Houston sick.  And I’m not the only one.  The whole town is suffering.

And even though I am trying my little heart out to blog, and tweet, and gowalla, and professionally plan events, and voluntarily plan events, and maybe talk golf lessons(!), and joining the Junior League – it is nearly impossible to get anything accomplished when I feel this bad.  Meh.

So that’s my post for the day.  The end.  zzzzzzzzzzz

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Sunday Stills

28 Mar

Tropical Bird House, Houston Zoo

Tropical Bird House, Houston Zoo

Waxy Monkey Frog, Reptile House, Houston Zoo

Monitor, Reptile House, Houston Zoo

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headfirst into social media

25 Mar

I did it.  I signed up for two more social media time sucks this week.  First, after obsessively reading everything I could about SxSW so I could pretend I was actually there, I signed up for Gowalla.  What is Gowalla?  Well, it’s a location-based social network, where you “check-in” at actual locations.  There are two major ones called Foursquare and Gowalla (plus other smaller ones) vying for the market, and it seems likely that eventually one will win.  (Does anyone use Myspace anymore?)  If you’re interested, try Googling “Gowalla vs. Foursquare”, and while you’re there, bone up on ways to protect your privacy when/if you choose to use this kind of media.

The reasons I chose Gowalla over Foursquareare two-fold: it’s an Austin-based business, and it seemed to be the bigger buzz this year at SxSW.  Most people who attend SxSW Interactive are the early-adopter types, who will suss out all the bugs and tell the rest of us which direction we should go in.  So I’m trying Gowalla and will fill you in on my thoughts.

The second thing I’ve signed up for is Twitter.  Let me share something with you that if you are reading this blog you probably already know (because you are my mom or my sister or my sister-in-law).  I leave very long, drawn out messages on your voicemail.  I have to force myself to keep my blog posts from going into multiple pages, usually by going back and editing everything out.  I’m what the old folks might call “long winded”, especially after a beer or two.  So.  Can I conform to the 140 character limits of Twitter?  Will I want to?  We shall see.  It will be fun to find out.  (I’m practicing brevity there. ha!)

I’m thinking about devoting one blog post a week to my adventures in social media.  I will even create a whole category for it, just to remind myself to do it!  I’m hoping to chronicle not only my personal experiences, but also a big upcoming project for work.  I will be bringing our Foundation into the 21st century through Facebook and maybe even Twitter – exciting!  Stay tuned.

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job loss as a form of freedom?

24 Mar

The economy sucks.  Talented, educated, awesome people are being laid off every day.  And yet it seems as though there is a thread of optimism amongst the younger people whose lives could be most affected by the downturn.  Is it possible that the silver lining to this unrelenting nightmare is that our generation is learning to take a chance on their dreams?  What do they have to lose?

I believe I have mentioned that I love, love my job.  And, *crossing fingers*, I believe I have pretty good job security.  But I’ve seen so many talented friends find themselves unexpectedly unemployed and what could be a crucial time in their careers.  After asking, “why?” and “how could this happen?”, you have to start thinking, “now what?”  I am so lucky that I haven’t found myself in this situation, but I have to wonder: will some of these friends ever look back and say, “thank goodness I lost my job that year”?

Of course, that seems a far stretch, but beneath all the doom and gloom, there are a few hopeful stories.  A January 2010 New York Times article covers several people with the same story line: loss of job, despair, decision to pursue a hobby or impossible dream, and success.  One laid-off architect, with dim prospects of finding a new position, set up a booth at a farmer’s market under the banner “Architecture 5 Cents“.  He now has several clients and makes more money than he did at his old job.   Another architect and her designer friend, both laid off, decided to start an ice cream sandwich company in an old postal truck.  With quirky flavor names, and indie cred, they’ve become very successful.

Another New York Times article, this one from December 2009, describes how hobbyists are becoming small business owners through websites like Etsy.

Several shop owners interviewed for this article, including Morgan Peterson, who runs a fashion label — Eliza + Axel — on Etsy, view their layoffs from traditional jobs as an opportunity to build a more fulfilling career online. In Ms. Peterson’s case, she lost her job as an assistant designer for Dillard’s and decided to create and sell her own line, made from reclaimed fabrics.

Of course, in order to do any of these things, whether it’s an Etsy business or a traditional business, you have to start a business.  Beyond the fact that it’s hard work (which most unemployed people I know would be more than happy to work hard), you have to know how to start a business.  All of the success stories mentioned had some catchy idea, or untapped niche market (knitting seems to figure prominently in many of these articles – who knew?)  On top of that you have to market yourself and/or your products, and the new world of social media can be daunting despite all the opportunities.

A group of young, crafty entrepreneurs have come up with something called Indie Business, a workshop to help start your own business.  They all have started their own business, and hey, this enterprise seems to be doing well, too.  (The first two sessions seem to have sold out, and there are plenty of happy customer testimonials.)  What an inspiring phenomenon – a business to help others start their own business!

I do know of several friends (who all happen to be women, and who weren’t necessarily laid off) who have recently started their own businesses.  [La Casa d’ Letras, Lucky Mae, Korcula, a couple of friends selling Arbonne or Avon, and another friend with a yet-to-be-named event planning company.]  In fact, after a completely unscientific, ten minute poll on my facebook status, I had 3 friends and family link their Etsy shops [Nana’s Shop, Maison de Lucille, MaeFair Vintage]  It’s so inspiring and exciting!

Rodeo baby dress, Nana's Shop

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Ten On Tuesday

23 Mar

It’s time for my lovely and fruitful sister-in-law Chelsea’s blog feature: Ten On Tuesday.  If you want to play along, just repost the questions to your blog, or answer in the comments!

1. When you were a senior in high school, what career did you think you’d choose? Did you? Why or why not?

I thought I would be a lawyer, because I am best at reading and writing, and I wanted to be rich.  I am not a lawyer, because I didn’t really excel at being a student.  I think I would be a much better “adult” student, but now I know actual lawyers who warn against going into debt and actually becoming a lawyer.  Perhaps a conniving maneuver to limit the competition?  Hmm.

2. What one thing about the “real world” did you find most surprising once you were on your own?

I’m surprised that I don’t feel any different than I when I was younger, and yet am still expected to be a responsible adult, who could potentially be someone’s parent one day.  Yikes!

3. Name 3 things you think your closest friends DON’T like about you.

– I am a know-it-all

– I am bossy

– I am chronically forgetful, to the point of thoughtlessness

4. In order to sleep, do you need background noise or absolute quiet?

I prefer background noise, but don’t NEED it.  Luckily, a train lives behind my house, so I get all the background noise I could ask for!

5. Why do you choose to reside in your current city? Yes, you have a choice

I chose to come here to be close to (most) of my family, and to have better prospects for a job.  What do you know, that worked out, and I now have the best job ever.

6. Are you close to your parents?

Yes.  We are Facebook friends, even.

7. What is your favorite fiction book? Poem? Blog?

Pride And Prejudice (I was an English major. So?)  Barbara, by Jacques Prevert. Instapundit.

8. Do you enjoy cooking or is it a chore?

Love it.  Cleaning up is a chore.  (And maybe eating what I make, too…Andrew is kind, though.)

9. Be honest. What one thing would (the majority of) your blog readers be shocked to find out about you?

People read my blog?!

10. If you were given your own national holiday, what would you require people to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner on the Day of You? Would there be a parade? Greeting cards?

Being the libertarian that I am, there would be no mandatory meals.  That said, truffled macaroni and cheese would be the traditional way to celebrate, like black-eyed peas at New Year’s.  Costumes and gift giving would be encouraged as well!

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kitchen, check.

22 Mar

Ahhh………  I am laying on my couch as I type this, enjoying the wonderful feeling one gets when one has hunted down, captured, and brought home the perfect and most-needed piece of furniture.

Andrew and I moved into the new house the first weekend of January.  We painted our bedroom, and moved about half of our stuff over.  And, boy, do we have a ton of stuff.  In fact, since both of us had at least another month on our previous leases, we ended up leaving a lot of furniture and other junk at our old places for a few weeks.  We finally got everything moved into the new house throughout February, and we realized that we didn’t have enough furniture.   We just kept all this stuff in boxes and then stacked it up in random corners.  (Well, the boxes did create some additional seating for houseguests, haha.)

We weren’t really ready to spend a lot money on new furniture.  We both started scouring Craigslist for shelves, cabinets, and a buffet for the kitchen, as well as lurking around the interesting pools of humanity known as Goodwill and Salvation Army.  Other than morphing us into total misanthropes, and providing compelling evidence for birth control, we learned what hard work it is to find decent furniture.

So, finally, we have found it.  THE buffet.  The one that we had been looking for all this time.  Andrew spotted it last week, and when we went together on Saturday, we both loved it.  Andrew stood next to it to scare off any competition, while I ran to the back to find a salesperson.  It’s from the Salvation Army, so there was a discount since it was there for more than 30 days.  How had it avoided capture for a full month?  We couldn’t allow anyone else to take advantage of this clear oversight!

I love it so much.  I couldn’t wait to get it home so I could unpack all the kitchen boxes and fill it up with all the junk!  Here’s the before and after pictures:

My new buffet - still at the Salvation Army

And, in my kitchen. YAY!

What an adventure.  To be fair, there was some pretty neat stuff every so often.  Finding a good piece made it worth all the hours meandering through particleboard mazes.  For example, I saw these chairs that wouldn’t really fit in my house, but that I love and make me wish I had one room I could make totally mid-century modern:

these were only $40 each!

Our other project in the kitchen was to build a shelf above the stove for the microwave.  Here’s the before:

nice, 40s era cabinets with random empty space above stove

And after:

lovely, no? Andrew got skillz.

Andrew just bought some brackets, braces, whatever they are called, and some wood, painted it up, lost a ruler behind the stove, and presto!  A beautiful microwave/cookbook shelf.  That Andrew, he’s pretty handy.

So, we’ve got the kitchen done, except to hang a few pictures.  Now on to the other 5 rooms!  And front yard.  And back yard.

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Sunday Stills [where I’ve been the past few months]

21 Mar

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Homeslice Pizza, Austin, December 2009

Christmas 2009

Painting the new house, January 2010

Houston Zoo, February 2010

Gettysburg, February 2010

Lady Antebellum, Houston Rodeo, March 2010

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Sunday Stills

22 Nov





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Ten On Tuesday

17 Nov

I am typing this up on my phone, so it will be short, to the point, and chock-full of typos!

1. What are some of your family traditions?
We always used to cut down a Christmas tree on the Friday after Thanksgiving, then ate lunch with everyone. Some of my happiest memories about Christmas begin with a story about doing that!
I think we are ripe for some new traditions…

2. Do you know how to change a flat tire?
Do I know how a tire is changed? Yes. There is a jack involved. You remove 5 lug nuts, take off the flat, pray that the spare isn’t flat, and then screw the new tire on. Do I change tires? No.

3. Do you subscribe to any magazines? What are your favorites?
Just Real Simple, but Glamour shows up at the house for some reason. I donate it every month to the Magazine Monday Program at work, which provides reading material for patients waiting (for many, many hours sometimes!) at the clinics at Ben Taub and other facilities.

4. What are your top three favorite office supply items?
I think planners should count – that would definitely be both my most needed and my favorite to shop for! Since I’m in charge of the bulletin board at work, I also get to shop for scrapbooking supplies! I have the BEST JOB EVER.

5. Are you a good public speaker?
Well, I’m not scared to speak in public. It’s hit or miss: sometimes I think I’ve done pretty well, other times I know I didn’t. (I thought my speech at my brother’s wedding was pretty good until I started crying, a rehearsal dinner speech for my friend Jenny bombed.)

6. How do you feel about acronyms?
There are some great ones: WTF is a nice way to express dismay. I work for the Harris County Hospital District Foundation, so the acronym HCHDF is my friend.

7. What’s the most creative things you’ve ever done? (Bloggers, feel free to include pictures!)
That is hard, because I love getting creative and I have a poor memory. So the most creative thing I did this month: a storyboard recounting Mayor Bob Lanier’s influence on the creation of HCHD (see above). I’ll try to add a picture, if I can! It involved researching the county archives, old newspapers, and lots of paper cutting!

8. I’d rather jam a pen in my eye than…
– be required to do math problems
– shop all day in a mall at Christmas
– fold and put away laundry
– share the same room with a cockroach, live or dead

9. What company has the best advertising?
the fun theory from vw

The piano stairs! I posted on this previously, but it’s so so good!

10. When is your birthday?
August 27th, I am the typical Virgo!

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