I’m putting it out there, Universe.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to do acrylic nails. It’s the only reason I’ve considered going to beauty school. I don’t want to earn my living at a beauty salon, that’s not what I’m saying. I’m an artist at heart. I love being creative. I’m also a cheapskate, I will never be the girl who goes to get her nails done every couple of weeks. So what I AM saying is this: I love to do nails as a creative outlet, as a hobby. It makes me feel good. But I’m also not saying I wouldn’t enjoy making a little extra on the side doing something that I really enjoy. It’s kind of like etsy. You make crafts because you love to and then you make a tiny profit. I’d love to be able to do that with nails.

So today I spent at leastfour hours watching countless video tutorials on the correct methods to do acrylic nails. And, you know what? I could totally do that. In fact, I’d rock at nails. I just have to put in a lot of time and practice. I have to commit. And ‘m ready to do that.

I’ve set a new life goal for myself, except it’s more like a 6 month goal. By July at the latest, I’d like to be able to make at least 10 dollars doing acrylic nails. IT doesn’t have to be a random customer, there are plenty of my family members who know I can sort of do them and have already expressed interest in my product. I’m just not confident enough in myself yet. I cut up my cuticles all the time and I make myself bleed and I don’t have quality products. I don’t want to offer something that I’m not proud of.

So there, I said it. It’s out there, Universe. I’m gonna make it happen.

BiSC-uit, through and through.

I swear, it’s like this week just would not end. I started off waking up on Monday (my day off) to the first day of registration for Bloggers in Sin City 2012. If you’ve been reading this blog for any amount of time, you should know that I’m a #BiSC-uit. I’ve attended BiSC in both 2010 and 2011. I’d been planning to sign up all along, but not for about another month or so. For one, I didn’t realize that the price would increase by so much, so I had to take that into account. Second, I’m broke. So there’s that.

But then, Katherine asked me to be her roomie and I was just so excited that my heart was pretty much set on making it happen. In the past, there have been plenty of spots available to sign up months after registration opened. So both Katherine and I thought we were in the clear. Turns out? BiSC is SUPER FUCKING POPULAR this year. 45 spots filled up in the first day! I just sat there on Monday getting more and more discouraged as the spot counter on the BiSC website ticked down closer and closer to zero.

I figured out how to make the money work days ago. I’m basically broke forever now, but I was saving up that $500 no matter what. The only issue that I had was my roommate. I was really hoping to have a roommate secured before I signed up. In the past, I’ve just gone the spontaneous route and let Nicole pick for me, but this year I wanted to go in knowing the person I’d be living with for 3 nights. That’s why I died when Katherine asked me. But as the spots dwindled, Katherine made the decision that she just wouldn’t be able to come up with the money in time. So I hit twitter to try and scout out a new BFF. But it seemed like everyone had either already paired up, or weren’t going to be able to make it!

This morning after I got off work, I checked my bank account to make sure my check went through and, sure enough, the funds were there. So basically what I’m saying is that I JUST SIGNED UP FOR BLOGGERS IN SIN CITY 2012! And I linked up with the lovely Canadian sex/relationship blogger Simone from SkinnyDip to be my roomie! And I’m still sad that Katherine isn’t going. Like, really sad. But at the same time, OMG I’M ACTUALLY GOING TO BiSC WHEN I THOUGHT ALL HOPE WAS LOST! Oh, yeah, and Paper’d (Jamie & Nicole’s new iPhone wallpaper app) is sponsoring a contest for one lovely BiSC attendee to go for FREE! And do you remember when I said I was broke. So, yeah, I could really use the refund!

If you want to learn all about what BiSC is, I suggest you head over to their website, follow on twitter, and read my posts from last year: Part Un, Part Deux, Part Trois, Event Sponsors, & Swag Bag. Oh, yeah, there are 5. Because we got ALL OF THE THINGS in our gift bags and we went ALL OF THE PLACES thanks to amazing, lovely generous sponsors. And I’m sure it’s only going to get better. I’d love to see you there, what are you waiting for?!?

I Need to Wash My Face.

Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://www.discoverbeautywithin.com/.

I don’t know if most of you know this, but I hardly ever wear makeup. If I’m working, no makeup. I don’t have anyone to impress at Michael’s, and It’s almost impossible to KEEP makeup on at the Soccer Center even if I felt like wearing any. Which I don’t. ThankYouVeryMuch. When SC and I first started dating, I wore makeup a lot more, I mean I didn’t let him see me without makeup on for at least a couple months. You know, the newness and all that. I don’t even know why I wouldn’t let him come over unless I had makeup on because I am so NOT That Girl. But whatever. I wanted him to think I was beautiful. Which is totally silly, I realize.

Basically, my point is that I have bad makeup habits. I don’t wear it everyday so I don’t have to wash it off every night. So when we go out and I get all dolled up and then we come home and have crazy sex, I just pass out afterward. And then I wake up with a huge zit on my face. I know, I pretty much deserve it. But guys!

So I have a few resolutions, which are not exactly new year resolutions because I haven’t started them yet, that are on my Life List and I’ve yet to put myself up to the challenge. I’m resolving to (#30) wash my face and brush my teeth every single night for one month. I’m hoping that this will kind of take hold as a new habit, similar to the theory behind #12changesin12months (whichI am SO NOT prepared to bring into my life). I really like Clean & Clear Advantage 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser and Clean & Clear Morning Burst Cleanser. I’m definitely a drug store kind of girl. You won’t catch me paying 20-30 bucks for a bottle of face wash. Nope.

Let’s face it, this is what I ACTUALLY mean when I say get all dolled up and go out. #winetoreach

Similar to the whole washing my face thing, I have issues with brushing my teeth each night. I mean, I totally brush them at least once a day, but have probably not brushed them 3 times in one day more than a handful of times IN MY LIFE. I also never floss unless I can’t get something out of my teeth. I like mouthwash though. Doesn’t mean I use it consistently. P.S. I have major cavity issues. Who knew?

Those are a couple things I’d really LOVE to work on, because I just know they’d improve my beauty regimen and, really, my quality of life. I just need the self-control to follow through with myself.

ANNOUNCEMENT: I’m a Nerd.

Hey vloggers, I’m back! I’ll be posting videos every single Monday over on The Nerd Nook. This is the first video, check it out. And check out my other amigos on The Nerd Nook: Katherine, Tabitha, and Jeff.

What I’ve been reading: 2011

This year, I made it my goal to read 30 books. It’s actually been a goal on my life list for some time. I started with 20, and when I completed that I pushed the goal up to 30. That was what I was working toward in 2010, but I missed it by 4. I read 26 books in 2010, so I had to start all over in 2011.

This year, I completed my goal and read TWELVE books on top of that for a total of 42 books read in 2011! 

My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler
The Girl Who Played With Fire by Steig Larsson

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest by Steig Larsson
Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Atonement by Ian McEwan
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult 
Faithful Place by Tara French
The Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries: Origins by L.J. Smith

The Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries: Bloodlust  by L.J. Smith
Looking For Alaska by John Green
Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler
The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Shadow Souls by L.J. Smith
The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Midnight by L.J. Smith
Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

[I spent July reading the 1200 page book that is Infinite Jest]

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace 
Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler
Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me by Chelsea Handler
Divergent by Veronica Roth

Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Matched by Ally Condie
The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane by Suzanne Collins
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods by Suzanne Collins
Gregor and the Marks of Secret by Suzanne Collins
Gregor and the Code of Claw by Suzanne Collins

Bumped by Megan McCafferty
The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard 

If I Stay by Gayle Forman 
Where she Went by Gayle Forman
Love The One You’re With by Emily Giffin 

Now It’s time to set a goal for 2012. I clearly already made the goal I should have been setting for myself next year. If I read 30 this year, I’d be aiming for 40 in 2012. But since I actually read 40 in 2011, I’m gonna have to up the ante to 50 books in 2012.

That’s my official goal. I put it out there, universe. There’s no take-backs. Here’s to reading my butt off in 2012!

Two Thousand Eleven: A Year in Review

In previous years, I’ve done a recap of my year in posts. I even wrote about the past decade of my life in 2010. This is my first one on this blog, but I’m excited to share my year with you!

 

 

 

 

I stepped away from my past and started this blog. I was ending a chapter and I needed a change. I couldn’t handle all the weight of my past relationships anymore. Because I couldn’t handle it, I didn’t write. It became a chore for me to even post. So I walked away. And then I came to a new place. A better place.

I talked about my two great loves, and compared them to Dawson’s Creek and Sex and the City. This is still one of my favorite life theories.

I made the last steps in getting over The Ex.

I ran a series about my five favorite things on a number of subjects called 5ives.

 

 

 

 

I went back to school to finish my transfer credits.

I had a naughty dream.

I ran a series on the Seven Deadly Sins. Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, & Lust.

I showed you my California accent.

For some reason, I kept feeling things about the Ex. So I wrote about them.

And then I fell in love with SC.

 

 

 

I listened to some music and had a dream. It must have been uneventful. Either that or I spent all month having sex. Probably the latter.

 

 

 

 

SC turned 24 & his nephew was born.

I started participating in Ten on Tuesdays.

My dog ate a used condom.

My unconscious self worked on getting over The Ex.

I dreamt I was on a Bachelor spin-off show.

 

 

 

I became a Clever Girl.

That led me to post my very first giveaway! (And across an item off my Life List!)

I ranted about 5 fabulous ladies.

I went to Bloggers in Sin City 2011. There were sponsors. And swag bags. And I still can’t believe I wrote FIVE freaking posts about #BiSC.

 

 

 

I started reading Infinite Jest and a part of the Infinite Summer program that @writetoreach Ashley mapped out for us. Did you ever finish, Ashley?

I went majorly mushy.

The Ex Texts were really starting to cause problems.

I wrote about what turns me on to life.

I rehashed some old flings.

I cut my hair off!

I fell in love with all things post-apocalyptic. This obsession hasn’t ended. I’m on episode 5 of The Walking Dead, counting down the days until The Hunger Games comes out in March, and I’m still reading tons of books about the collapse of society.

 

 

 

 

At this point, I was still reading Infinite Jest. But I’m pretty sure I was behind. And completely positive that I was frustrated.

And then I dreamt the dream that inspired the most popular post I’ve ever written.It’s called “He was eye-fucking me during the whole performance.” Can you tell why it gets the most traffic?

SC broke his collar bone. Kaiser sucks ass.

 

 

 

 

I hardly blogged during the month of August because  was way too fucking busy recording vlogs every day for VEDA.

I did manage to post a sponsored giveaway for Sprayology.

SC and I vlogged together, It’s really adorbz. You’ll probably puke. There’s also an entire blooper reel dedicated to this shoot.

I finished Infinite Jest and I did it on time. (sidenote: I hated that book.)

 

 

 

 

Jenny Blake inspired me and I got overwhelmed.

I continued to post VEDA videos from the previous month because I was completely burnt out on the internet.

 

 

I turned 23 and SC got a new job and moved in and we went to Disneyland and I got a job at Michael’s and WHEW!

Nico, Hung, Ashley, SC and I had a VEDA meetup in Pasadena while Hung was visiting from Canada, eh?

 

 

The VEDA-ers put out a call for a time capsule themed video, and I responded.

My sister visited from MA and we made a huge tent out of sheets and clothespins and chairs and christmas lights and it was amazing. We also went to the L.A. Zoo and learned to shoot with a bow and arrows at the archery range in town (SC is basically Robin Hood).

I switched cell phone service providers (from AT&T a.k.a. the worst service ever to Verizon where I have not had a single dropped call in almost three months thankyouverymuch) and I got an iPhone 4.

I joined the #twookclub. We read The Scent of Rain and Lightning.

 

 

 

I baked a lot. Cherry Cobbler, TONS of cookies, and I made Cowboy Cookies in a jar as Christmas presents.

My sisters and I started a youtube channel called The Bert’s Bees.

The Bert’s Bees

Pigs and Cowboy Cookies

This is the first Christmas that SC and I are buying gifts as a couple. As in, WE are giving gifts to his mother, father, sister, etc. and vice versa. CONFESSION: Usually, I wait till the last minute and get things only for the people I know I’ll be seeing on Christmas, if that. But not this year, folks. Let the craftiness commence!

We’ve got 14 days until Christmas (HOLY COW) and I’ve already got 90% of my shopping done. Ironically, the only people I haven’t shopped for are those whose gifts I have to ship, and therefore are behind on those. The only gift still not covered is SC’s sister, because I’ve only met her twice and so I delegated that role to him.

We aren’t exactly rolling in the dough right now, since my transmission just went out and so of course everything after that has to go to shit as well, so I really wanted to create all my gifts DIY style. And I think I’ve accomplished that for the most part. A few people in my life, mostly on my side of the family, are getting Cookies in a Jar that I stole and modified from Bakerella (Yes, the CakePop goddess).

These things are so freaking beautiful. I made them in advance because 1) I bought self-sealing jars and 2) I’m giving one away as a Secret Santa gift tonight at my work party. And, of course, I’m making tons of cookies and putting them in tins/takeout boxes as smaller gifts.

The other handy idea is one I’m pretty sure I stole from Shatterboxx, though I’m really too lazy to search for the exact post. SC and I are spray painting piggy banks with chalkboard paint and giving them out with a little pack of chalk included. The idea is to create a space that you can identify what you’re working towards, but enabling that goal to change. Something like this:

Oh, wow. I just searched chalkboard piggy bank images and the Shatterboxx link and image came up. So, there you go. I’m really excited to spray paint those babies to see how they come out. Oh, yeah, & we’re totally keeping one.

The other exciting DIY items are scrapbook pages for both SC’s mom and my Grandad with all their kids/grandkids on them. I had the pictures printed and made the pages. The finished product got framed and I think they’re really going to love them. We did end up purchasing a couple gifts with no DIY theme, but I’m not too worried about it since I caught some really good sales! I think we’ve spent under $100 so far and we’ve gotten gifts for 12 people.  I didn’t do anything DIY for SC, but honestly, we decided we weren’t getting presents for each other, and somehow there are already like 10 presents under the tree! Oh well, I think this is going to be a good Christmas. I mean, I already knew that actually GIVING gifts was fulfilling, but now I’m excited that I’m actually able to do it without completely stressing out!

What are you gifting this year? Anything DIY? I need ideas for next year!

Cherry Cobbler Makes Everything Better

Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There’s no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com.

This weekend was definitely a long one. SC’s mom was moving, and we celebrated two birthdays among our family and friends.

So in between working and driving 30 minutes to my future mother-in-law’s new house to help her move and decorate, I had to come up with some way to keep everybody’s spirit up AND celebrate the birthdays. Enter Duncan Hines.

I had already made the boyfriend some rice krispies, because he wanted to buy the store bought ones and those are TOTALLY not the same. And also, he worked his butt off this weekend and was totally exhausted, I wanted to do something to perk up his spirit a little going into the workweek. But I decided to double up the desserts because, well, who doesn’t love a good (and super simple) cherry cobbler?

I got off work on Sunday night and whipped up the cobbler in no time at all. Seriously, it took me all of 10 minutes to open the can, pour all the ingredients in the pan, and throw in the oven to bake. Then it was off to SC’s mom’s new house to celebrate with a group of friends. His mom had actually already made brownies, so we all just completely gave up being healthy this weekend. But I think we all earned it.

To make the cobbler, all you have to do is open a can of Comstock Cherry Pie Filling (you can use any of their canned pie fillings, I just love the cherry) and dump it into the bottom of the pan. After that, grab a box of Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix and pour the dry mix into the pan, right on top of the cherries. After that, grab a stick of butter and cut it into slices, spreading the slices all over the surface of the cake mix. throw it in the oven for 30-35 minutes at 350*. That’s it! Super simple. (I also LOVE it in a crock pot. Little changes to the recipe but still deelish!)

I think SC both loves me and hates me right now, but it was totally worth it! Oh yeah, and this also happened. A little Christmas spirit, amiright?

Blame SC.

Remember to check out Duncan Hines’ website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective.

Trouble in Paradise

So it can’t always be rainbows and butterflies, right? After a year, I’m just figuring this part out. I guess that makes me pretty lucky. Anyway. SC and I have talked and talked and TALKED about marriage and babies and all that. It’s pretty much inevitable. We both know that.

Our issue is money. In this economy, many people are opting for elopement or the court house route. But I really don’t want to go to Vegas and neither does he. His big thing is that he wants to get me a nice ring. He wants to do it right. He’s very old fashioned that way. It’s romantic. I just don’t know how realistic it is.

We had talked about a timeline a few months back. Mostly because I’m a control freak and I need to know that this thing called life is gonna start sometime soon. I’ve played the waiting game before, and it blew up in my face. When we talked, he hadn’t broken his collar bone, but he also hadn’t gotten a new job. But my transmission also hadn’t gone to shit, but he also hadn’t refinanced his truck. Back then, he thought it might take him 6 months to pay off his truck and then he could start saving for a ring.

So that timeline was pretty much set in stone in my mind. By next summer I’d be planning a wedding. That was until this evening over dinner. He casually brought up the way  that my family is on his case about putting a ring on my finger. I casually joked that he could put his good credit to good use. That’s when things got serious.

He said some things, I said some things. And feelings got hurt. (By feelings, I clearly mean mine) He explained that things changed when he got hurt. he couldn’t make the payments on his truck if he was out of work and so he refinanced. I knew all about that, and it sounded like a perfect plan at the time. what he neglected to mention is that the truck wouldn’t have to be paid off for another two years now. He said he’d still like to make double payments and get it paid off in 6-12 months, but I have to look at the worst case scenario (because ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN PEOPLE) and assume that it’s going to take 2 years.

That kind of thing takes a bit for me to process, and the fact that he was working off of a different plan than me for about 3 months kind of hurt. I mean, here I thought we were on the same page and we totally weren’t. For THREE MONTHS.

And we came home and talked more about it, but he doesn’t get where I’m coming from. He doesn’t know why we have to be on a timeline. I can’t imagine living life any other way. I’ve been waiting to get married and start my family since I was 16 years old. I’ve been waiting for this for seven years already. And I know that he’s not gcoming from the dame place. But from what he tells me, he’s realy for all of that, it’s strictly the money that’s holding him back.

And you know what? I fucking HATE living my life based on money. Or rather NOT living my life because I can’t fund it.

I don’t know where it goes from here. All I know is that I can’t wait until I’m 25 to get started. I just can’t. It would break my heart. It would break me.