Hippity Hop... and you don't stop...

My, oh my, where does the time go?

DC was a lot of fun... I went to see the Allen Ginsberg exhibit and I was really glad I did. Such an amazing collection of photographs. One thought while I was looking through the gallery, we don't typically see the way people lived - in reality - during the 60's thru the 90's. We think of things today, like packaging, and other consumer goods as very vibrant with lots of colors to catch your eyes on the shelves. Cigarette packages, cereal boxes, even mugs or chinese takeout - everything was so plain, so simple. I enjoyed that aspect of the shots he took.

I also really enjoyed his take on life outside his kitchen window. His thoughts on the world, written below on the photographs above, were interesting.

I also went to the sculpture garden, the National Geographic Museum where the DaVinci exhibit was displayed, and a few other places. I only had a half day on Sunday to check anything out because I worked so much. I literally got 4-6 hours of sleep a night because I was at the office or in the hotel. Crazy busy with my project.

While in the hotel, I rented a few movies, one of which My Sister's Keeper. I cried. Sobbed, actually. I can't remember a time where I've cried that hard to a film. I could completely relate to Cameron Diaz's fight for her daughter's life. That's how, I have a feeling, I'll love my children one day... with such a passion.

The project was a success, and frankly, I'm burnt out on PR work. I've always known that branding and marketing for one brand has been my niche, but I didn't really have a choice with this project and the Consulting company.

Speaking of, I did have a talk with my boss and accepted one of the offers - for a chain of sandwich shops. I'll be the Marketing Manager and focus on Local Store Marketing across the US. August 9th is the day :) Super excited about it!

Last night, I went to a book club meeting (my first, ever) and we discussed The Unbearable Lightness of Being. It was a good book - and I was only halfway through (was invited to read it only a week and a half ago!) but it was a really intense, awesome book. The next is A Reliable Wife. We'll see how this one goes!

My family comes to town tomorrow - it'll be good to see them! I just don't know what I'm going to do with them quite yet. I know we'll go to the zoo, and we have a painting class lined up for Monday night. I'm sure we'll hit the pool and do a little exploring for them... I just hope they don't get bored! My little sisters will probably be fascinated with all that Dallas has to offer... but I haven't done any of that yet. You know, explore those things.

I'm pushing away a friend who recently got her third strike. I've known she's been a questionable friend for a little while now, but I really think she's shitty now. It's hard to do - especially when my friend base is not huge... but I'm ok with that. I'd rather surround myself with no one at all than someone who acts the way she does.

C'est la vie, right? ;)

Anyway, that's the 'me' update now. There's more, but you'll have to wait for that...

Rice Krispies and a treat!

Last night, I carved some time out (finally) to do some much needed grocery shopping. Now that Rae isn't here (I'm not sure if I told you already but my roommate moved out... and in to a house with her boyfriend) I can throw away all the unused old stuff and start a-new.

I've been a coupon clipper for the past few months now and last night I saved the most money I've saved thus far... $30 on $100. (my previous record was like $23 on $95 or something) I'm really quite shocked about the amount of money I've been saving just by getting the newspaper every Sunday - but it's been fabulous!

Anyway, so I'm not normally a cereal buyer. I usually try to eat really healthy and most cereals have a TON of sugar in them (and the ones that ARE healthy for you are like five bucks a box... SO not worth it). I had a coupon that included Rice Krispies and Raisin Bran. Sounded good to me! So I went for it. I even picked up some marshmallows so I could make some rice krispy treats for Michael soon. :)

This morning, it was breakfast-time... so I decided to have some. On the back of the box, there were all these characters like Nemo and Dori from Finding Nemo, Goofy and Mickey, etc. I thought to myself... "Whatever happened to the toys in the cereal boxes? Everything now-a-days is buy 4 boxes and then send this thing in with a few dollars and we'll send you some colored plastic."

The thought passed and I opened the box.

And there it was.

My VERY OWN Goofy two inch stuffed head. I was SO excited! When's the last time you've gotten ANYTHING from a cereal box but a sugar high??

10 [random] Things...

1. I'm working on a scrapbook for Michael and I. It's of all of our 2008 pictures. Somehow this nostalgia has brought him into a SUPER lovey-dovey mode (you know, extra special sweet... not just the normal sweet he already is). And I love it! :)
2. It's that time. Of the month. And I dispise it.
3. I bought a textbook for school online at textbookw.com.... I've been waiting on it for 2 weeks. I JUST now found out it's out of stock. Fuckers.
4. This website is extremely cute. :) Shineboxprint.com


5. I enjoy the new "job" only somewhat. It's tedious and somewhat boring but pays well and is EASY-peasy. What more could I ask for while I'm in school? (free money, that's what!!)
6. I L-O-V-E Michael. love love love love him :) Yep. Everyone knows it. That's nothing new :)
7. Saturday night we got drunk with some friends and watched the fight. I did some funny drunky mcdrunkerson things. hehe... that's what I do, apparently.
8. I've started reading a series of books by Wendy Markham... Slightly Single, Slightly Settled, Slightly Engaged, Slightly Married, and Slightly Suburban. I JUST finished Slightly Settled and both books have been really really good... and ended up being quick reads because I've gotten into them.
9. I also read (in between those two) "Dedication" by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. I loved their other two books (Nanny Diaries and Citizen Girl) so I had to pick this one up... and ended up read it in like 3 days.
10. Yesterday, Michael and I went to my mom's house to have lunch with my two little sisters, my brother and his girlfriend, and my mom and stepdad. We had a blast! We all played the "are you smarter than a 5th grader" board game (because it's their favorite... they're only 7 and 8 yrs old). Michael and I came in second :) But it was just great having my family there... all of it! My mom arranged for us to have a family picture done because we haven't had one since my littlest sister was only a few months old. Geeze, that was forever ago!

Anyway, so many random things going on. I think we're going to eat sushi and go to the park tonight. :) Hope you guys are doing fabulous!

Word Of Mouth

Ok, Ok... so I've been avoiding it even though Odette tagged me more than a week ago to do this whole Word of Mouth thing. Since you don't know where I live (sneaky, sneaky)... I think I'll give you reviews of something everyone can buy/read/see. Sounds fair to me!

1. Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella.
I will continue to sing praises of this book because it was ABSOLUTELY fabulous. I couldn't put the damn thing down. Basically, this girl wakes up in the hospital after a gruesome car accident and doesn't remember anything from the past 4 or 5 years. She has this gorgeous husband, huge house, rockin body, glamorous job - yet has no idea how she got there. The book takes you on the journey of her figuring out how she got to where she is today and does so beautifully.

2. The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes.
I have read several of her books and this one was the best yet. It tells the story from all different perspectives and is the epitome of chick-lit. Friends forever become not friends at all and not so good friends become even better ones. It's a pretty thick book, but a quick read.

3. Sex and the City. The movie
I absolutely LOVED this movie. It probably didn't help that we were drinking mini bottles of wine while watching Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte wrap up their lives that I followed on the TV for all those years. I suppose if you hadn't watched the series, you might not like the movie as much because certain things are "inside jokes" (if you will) that make it that much better.

4. Definitely, Maybe. The movie
I plan on buying it on my way home as a reward for this week of hell i've had to endure. I'll update you once I've seen it.

Holla! I tag Casey Murphy's Law and Letters from limbo!

Pandora.com

For the past year or two, I've listened to Pandora.com while at work and even at home while I'm just chillin. I have a few stations that cater to my selective music tastes and they continue to get even better over time.

Pandora.com is something they call the "music genome project" that guesses songs you would like based on the feedback you give it. It's a great way to find new music in the same genres you currently listen to, things you would have never discovered otherwise.

You put in the name of the song or artist that you like and go from there. If you don't like a song, you tell it. If you do, you tell it. Based on your feedback, you get a station of streaming music that plays only songs you like. It's actually really cool.

If you'd like for me to share my Kaskade station with you, I'm more than happy to... it's fabulous House music!

Check it out. www.pandora.com :)