Overwhelmed

"I know you can be overwhelmed, and you can be underwhelmed, but can you ever just be whelmed?" 

I am definitely feeling overwhelmed at the moment.  With starting a new job you would think this would be perfectly acceptable, only I'm not feeling overwhelmed by my job at all (which is a nice change of pace).  So what is causing my state of angst?  

I am on pregnancy over.load. 

First, no, I'm NOT pregnant.  I really hate that any time I mention the "p" word, I feel the need to add this disclaimer, but I just feel that we should all be on the same page here.  I do realize that I'm kind of rambling here, but I want to write this entry and say something without saying something.  Am I making the least bit of sense here?  

Anyway, someone I have just met has recently disclosed that they are pregnant.  Normally news like this causes me a great deal of angst, but because I hardly know this person I'm not all that hung up about it.  I'm not jealous or sad, I'm just... whelmed, if you will.  I spent a good part of last week talking about pregnancy and sharing some of my infertility trials and tribulations (I make sound like I've been to war, but sometimes I do feel like I am at war with my body).  As we all know, I'm not really secretive about my infertility (hello, I blog about it to strangers, I think we past the point of secrets) so I don't mind sharing my experience.  All is find and dandy.  

Over the weekend though a friend asked how everything was going and if there was anything new and I really appreciated that.  I feel like we spend a lot of time talking about friends kids (which I understand and I don't begrudge them) so to have someone come out and ask makes me happy and lets me know they care.  Afterwards, on our way home though, I felt incredibly sad and frustrated.  It was not anything the friend said or did, I just think after a week of pregnancy talk, talking about friends kids and then my infertility, I just felt like a boulder was sitting on me.  That's what it feels like sometimes.  Like you just.can't.breathe.  I really can't explain it.   

I think I'm just having a "moment" as I'm wont to do.  Sometimes it's all fine and then we go through a period where everything is baby, baby, BABY and I'm like an ADD child on sensory overload.  For the most part I can handle baby and pregnancy talk, but sometimes it gets to be a bit too much for me and I need to take some time to myself.  I don't think that's too much to ask is it?

Oh, the Places You'll Go

I like to travel.  I like to see new places and I like to see places that I have been to before.  I'm not the type of person that has to do a big vacation every year and it has to be somewhere new.  I'm fine with going on just a short weekend trip or taking a week.  Last year our big vacation was a family vacation to the Florida panhandle.  I have been there a few times before, but I still enjoy it each time I go.  The year before that we did a trip to Mackinaw Island and Sacramento/San Francisco.

This year, we will probably stick to smaller vacations since I have just started a new job and don't have that many days off, plus we are really working on trying to save money for fertility purposes and for bigger trips in the future.  There are two trips that I have in mind, now I just have to find times that work and figure out if we make them group trips or just us.

First on the list is Gatlinburg.  Anyone from this area probably has been in the Gatlinburg before and you know it's not... fancy.  But I don't care.  I just love Gatlinburg.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe because it's close so it's easy to get away for a weekend and not spend a ton of money.  For those who are not in the area and have never been, I'm not really sure how to describe it.  It's right on the edge of the National Park, The Smokey Mountains.  There are hiking trails and driving trails and some really pretty scenery.  There are chalets and humongous cabins to stay in the mountains.  For example:

This is the last cabin we stayed in.  We went with a group of our friends and we stayed in this monster.  What awesome about these cabins are they are all really nice on the inside and typically have hot tubs, pool tables, bars, etc.  Then there is Gatlinburg itself.  The only way I can describe it is a small "city" full of touristy goodness.

The Gatlinburg strip during a winter night

There is a main drag or "strip" that is full of souvenier shops, candy shops, restaurants, and silly attractions.  It's tacky and fabulous all at the same time.  Where else can you play Hillbilly Golf on the side of a mountain?

So I really want to go sometime in the spring/summer when the trees and grass are green and it's not dreary like these pictures which were taken in early January.  I think I really want to do this a group trip as I think it would be a lot of fun to go off on an adult only weekend and just relax and have fun.  Now it's just making everyone's schedules work.

The second place I want to visit is Chicago.  I have been there several times before and I'm feeling the itch to go there again.  I'm thinking summer/fall and going with another couple. The only things I really have planned for this vacation is to shop and see the "beach":

I also want to try another Chicago style pizza as I've had Giordano's several times before.  Finally, I'm hopping to get a tour of the United Center in as I know someone who could make that happen.  I just think my husband the guy we are planning on going with would really enjoy it.

I know these aren't major trips, but they're what we are trying to plan for this year.  The following year I'm hoping for a big trip to NYC to celebrate our 5 year anniversary.  I can't wait!

What I Really Meant to Say

Does anyone else write a blog entry and then keep thinking, I hope no one takes that the wrong way?  Or, I hope they don't think _____________ about me?  Or should I file this way of thinking into the "am I the only one" drawer? 

After I wrote yesterdays post, I couldn't stop thinking:

"I hope that no one take offense to what I said about spending money on expensive makeup products."

and

"I hope no one thinks that I'm totally cheap and broke because I'm worrying over $18."

Because I really didn't mean either of those two things.  Thus the need to write a second blog entry titled,

What I REALLY meant to say

With regards to the first statement, what I really meant to say, was that I personally have a hard time justifying spending X amount of dollars on a MAC product.  Simply because I look at it as makeup.  I look it as it as a fun item to buy that you put on your face and may or may not use all of.  Plus, I'd hate to spend that much on a product and then hardly use it because I'm not in love.  Now, what I do spend my extra money on, is purses.  I LOVE purses.  I want to buy one right now.  It's on super sale, but I'm trying to hold out for even super-er sale in order to be a little more frugal.  So moral of the story?  I don't like to spend my extra $ on makeup, but I love purses.  I don't judge people who buy lots of makeup because I?  I have a  lot of purses.

With regards to the second statement, what I really meant to say, was that $18 is not a lot of money in the grand ol' scheme of things.  $18 won't buy you a tank of gas and hardly buys a meal for two out to eat.  I know I mentioned in the entry that my new job won't produce a paycheck until the first of February and that means that my last paycheck received was December 31st.  I feel guilty spending money and non-necessary items when I'm not really contributing this month.  I also feel guilty when I've been on a spending binge and bought a few items from Forever 21 and this (which I LOVE btw):

via here

It makes it harder to justify spending that money when I've already spent a few dollars on myself already this month.  I think that part of sharing finances with someone means respecting them and not spending a bajillion dollars on myself.  Know what I mean?  So moral of the story?  I'm trying to be frugal and it's not really working.

So there's my explanation that was probably totally unnecessary, but boy do I feel better getting that off my chest!

(And let's ignore the fact that this entry totally negates the fact that the previous entry was supposed to be in jest and all in good fun!)

What to Do?

I hereby dedicate this entry to my wonderful husband (also known as my number one blog fan) who often asks that I post more and then complains when I post (too much) about things like the snow.  Well today dear husband, enjoy this entry and let me know what you think!

As I have said before, I have a new found love for YouTube beauty gurus.  I absolutely love watching the videos and learning how to do techniques, especially using products that I already own.  The down side to watching these videos, is that I often find myself wanting to buy everything under the sun (within reason).  While I am growing my love for all things makeup, I'm trying to be reasonable about it.  Would MAC makeup be better quality vs. other brands?  Yes, probably.  Do I have money to run out every other day and buy these products every time a guru raves about them?  No, I do not.  Possibly because I have to be "adult" and pay things like the "mortgage" and "bills".  And I know that these products will last longer because they are of better quality, etc, etc.  I just can't bring myself to spend big bucks on these products either.  (And as a side note, I am NOT judging people who buy these things.  Some people probably would not spend the money I do on purses.  It's just your preferences).  I believe that I can find great deals on drugstore items that work just as well or are good dupes for more expensive things. 

With that in mind, I visited the e.l.f. website tonight.  Which, ok.  That was a mistake.  I started looking around and finding items that I have seen reviewed or mentioned on YouTube.  I decided to put things in my shopping bag just to see how much everything would be.  When I hit checkout, I noticed they were running a deal on their makeup brushes - 50% off.  50% off people!!!  Do you know how much that is?!  That's half off!  So now, I'm sitting here torn.  I have a shopping bag full of 9 items that is totaling out at $18.95 (which includes shipping) and I just don't know if I should pull the trigger.  I don't know why I'm being so batty about it.  That's less than a dollar per item - for makeup!  I know it's not the best quality, but for less than a dollar an item, that's hard to pass up!  There's some cute things in there like this lipstick (shade is Nicely Nude):

via here

I know I sounds like a lunatic worrying about $18, but keep in mind that I started a new job and I won't get paid until February.  So that's a whole loooooooong month.  But this is a sale.  A 50% off sale.  Did I mention that?  Because it's definitely worth mentioning. 

So what say you, husband?  Should I take advantage of this awesome deal that ends on the 17th and who knows when it will ever come around again?  Or should I save my pennies like a good little girl?

And just so we're clear, I'm raving about this sale/products because I want to.  No one paid me or gave me anything.  From what I understand it's a big deal if you don't disclose this or if we don't disclose that you got paid, but because I don't want any scary government agencies coming after me, I'm just going to throw that out there!

Snow, Snow Go Away

And DON'T come again another day.  Please for the love of God, don't come again.

Yeah, I know that's a loooong shot.  If I want that to happen, I should probably pack my bags and move to South Florida. 

It's January and I'm already sick and tired of winter weather.  The "snow" from Friday is all but gone, but another large(r) storm is moving in over the night and during the day tomorrow.  Ok, here's my issue Mother Nature.  If you are going to INSIST on making snow, please just dump it all over night.  Don't dust the ground for the morning (making all Cincinnatians forget how to drive) and then dump it all during the day making the ride home a nightmare.  If it snows during the night, I have a better chance of having the day off, so please Mother Nature, take care of your children and grant this one request.

Quite honestly, I would prefer that this whole thing just pass us by.  I don't mind going to work.  Don't get me wrong, I would like a day off, but I'm not going to pray for snow so that I can have a day off.  Call me crazy, but I'm really enjoying the new job so far. 

In other news, I'm really angry at this dog right here:

Yeah, don't let her cuteness fool you.  She left me a "cute" little present in the room that she stays in while we are gone.  In a way, as her mommy I am partly to blame.  The husband and I left our house around 7 this morning and I just got home at 8:30 this evening.  However, we can't shoulder all the blame as my husband did stop by the house at 5 to let her out before he had to leave again.  She's got to accept some responsibility on her end.  I've been "punishing" her by not petting her and now looking at this picture of her, I can feel my resolve melting.  Darn those puppy dog eyes.

Alright, I'm off.  Please pray that the snow comes tonight rather than tomorrow.  I really don't feel like dealing with the headache. 

Am I the Only One?

The other night while I was sitting in my car for 2+ hours, I had a lot of time to think, which is bad for me because my mind tends to wander is various directions.  Anyway, I was listening to Pandora (the Taylor Swift channel, as if you had to ask) and Rascal Flats came on, more than once.  And each time that whiny singing started I groaned loudly and switched it to the next song as soon as possible.  This got me thinking.  I know they are a fairly popular country music group, so am I the only one that cannot STAND them?  I don't know what it is.  I think it's the lead singer's voice.  It's so whiny, and I don't know what.  It just really grates on my nerves.  And the more I type about it, the more annoyed I get!  The funny thing is, I used to like them.  So what changed?  I don't know, maybe my hearing changed and I just can't handle that sound.

So then this lead me to think of other things that people to tend to LOVE and I generally have no tolerance for.  Case in point - Grey's Anatomy.  For years, I have heard people go on and on about how wonderful and amazing this show is.  I have seen maybe 2 episodes ever and I really just don't get it.  Isn't it just ER with some different characters?  For real.  I just don't get the idea of having one show concept and 50 different shows.  Like all the vampire shows.  It's like someone has one good idea and everyone and their brother has to jump on the bandwagon.  I like new and original things for the most part.  So if maybe someone could explain to me what is so different and wonderful about this show, maybe I could understand why it's so popular.

While I'm on the subject of Vampire things, let's look at the original fad that started the whole thing, Twilight.  I gave into the hype, I read the books.  And...  yeah.  They were decent enough.  I read them all and read them pretty quickly, but in the end, I could have done without them.  I just didn't think they were the most wonderful things ever.  And Edward?  I think he's a douche.  Yeah, you read that right.  I totally just called him a douche.  Whatever.  I don't find the whole vampire thing exciting or attractive.  I find Edward himself to be overbearing and possessive.  Ladies, generally these are not attractive qualities in a man, so why does everyone swoon over Edward?  Don't even get me started on those movies.  Because my left foot could do a better job of acting than Kristen Stewart. 

So am I the only one that does not like things.  Surely there has got to be someone out there who feels the same... right?

Are there popular fads out there that you feel like you're the only one who doesn't like them?  I'd love to know!

An Open Letter

To the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Area:

Learn to salt a road for the love of all that is Holy.  When the weatherman is predicting snow for a particular day perhaps you should be on your game and have your crews on alert.  True, weathermen are wrong something like 90% of the time, but 10% percent of the time, they do their job correctly.  All you have to do is think, "Hmmm, snow is predicted for Friday afternoon, better get the boys on alert and watch the radar."  Now here's the tricky part.  And I mean, you better listen closely because this gets incredibly difficult.  When that blue mass on the radar appears to be heading right for the tri-state area, you get the boys out on the road and have them salt those things up.  Because what happens is you get a dusting between 4:00 and 5:00, temperatures drop and the highway becomes an ice rink.  Seriously, Cincinnati?  The whole Northern part of the country is laughing at you right now because of situations like this.  A dusting does not a blizzard make.  There is absolutely no reason why my 30 minute commute should suddenly become two hours.  For real, can you imagine any other part of the country that would nearly stop because of this:

You can't see the road in my subdivision, but there's no snow or ice.  Why?  Because they salted this morning!  At least someone in my county has a brain!

And before you say, "California" in answer to my question above, I'm just going to stop you right there.  Because this is the midwest and we get snow here.  Sure it's not the likes of Minnesota, but we get snow.  In fact, we spent most of December covered in snow, so that excuse is as flimsy as gauze.  Try again, Cincinnati. 

Get your act together, Cincinnati/NKY.  Because the situation you've got going on right now is uncalled for.

Signed,
An Angry Concerned Citizen. 

Grab Bag

This week has been crazy since I have started my NEW JOB!!!  I just love saying that.  It makes me feel a special and warm and fuzzy.  Lame, I know, but that's just me.  So since not much has gone on this week, I thought I would just share some random odds and ends.

The J-O-B

First of all, I really like it so far.  I won't go as far as to say that I love it because I don't want to be one of those girls who goes too fast and gets all giddy in love before the relationship has fully formed.  However, I will say that so far, so good.  I don't want to divulge too much information about what I do because these here are the interwebs and you really can never be too careful, but I'm happy with it.  It is a good marriage of a lot of my interests and my talents.  There is a lot to learn, but it's manageable.  I don't look it and have this feeling that I'll never learn it.  The people are wonderful so far.  Everyone is so nice and welcoming.  You know how every group seems to have at least one Scrooge?  I haven't found one yet, and I've met everyone - which wasn't hard since it's a very small company.

Make-up/Beauty

Yeah, I'm going to be lame and write about this.  As I mentioned previously, I have a new interest in watching YouTube Beauty Guru's.  I know that people have probably been watching these videos for years, but I just found them, so to me, they are brand spankin' new.  I now have an interest in using makeup in different ways and trying new products.  While all this fun, I feel like my skin in taking a beating.  I have never had good skin.  Actually I feel like as a teenager, I had decent skin, but as I've gotten older it's gotten worse.  I have been trying to find some affordable products that will help, but along the way I have found aspirin masks.  Now again, there are probably some of you reading this that know all about them, but to me they are new so I'm going to share.  

Basically you just take some aspirin, crush them, mix a few drops of water, a dollop of honey and mix together.  It makes a paste that you smear on your face and leave it there for about twenty minutes.  I just tried it tonight so I can't tell you if it's helped my skin or not, but I can tell you that it has left my skin feeling soft and smooth.  I would show you a picture, but I'm not brave enough for that!

Droid

The husband and I are super cool and finally entered the world of Android and Apps.  We got the LG Optimus from Sprint and I think the best part of getting it was, it was free.

via here

So if you have a Droid or know of some good apps that I have to have, let me know!

Weekend

I'm so ready for the weekend.  While I am liking(loving) the new job, I am ready for the weekend.  We have no major plans yet, which are the best kinds of weekends.  The husband does have a basketball game to coach tomorrow night so I am having some girls over for a girls night.  I'm so excited about this, as I rarely do things like this.  We plan on watching a movie, ordering pizza, calling boys, fixing each other's hair and playing light as a feather stiff as a board.  Ok, we're not really doing all those things.  I'll let you figure out which are real and which are fake.

Anyway, I hope everyone else is having a great week and I hope to actually write something of substance soon!

Wishin' and Hopin'

I wish...

• I were a hairstylist so I could go to the "supply store" and buy things at cost.
• God's plan for me would become a little more clear.
• my first week at my new job goes extremely well.
• all the laundry were already done.
• that I would actually accomplish some items at my 30 before 30 list.
• I had enough money to finish my basement and decorate it.
• it would be May so that spring would be here and CCD would be over!
• my new phone would get here.
• there was an Ulta closer to me.
• that UK would win the National Championship this year so the haters would keep on hatin'.
• I could go on a cruise this summer.
• this friends trip to Gatlinburg we have been discussing actually happens!
• that I could still work with the same people I used to.
• that all my wishes come true!

What do you wish for?

Today is Never Too Late to be Brand New

My goodness, it has been a bit since I have written.  I have wanted to write, especially after my husband scolded me for not writing, but once you step away for even a minute its hard to get to it sometimes.  You know what I mean?  Since we last spoke, there has been a lot going on.  You know there was that little thing known as the holidays and oh yeah, I quit my job.  Don't worry.  I didn't go crazy and quit so that I could find myself or the meaning of life and happiness (although that doesn't sound all that terrible).  I quit because I found a new job!!!  This is exciting to me on so many levels.  It's one of those things that I never thought would happen so I am extremely happy that I found a job that suits me.  While I miss everyone I worked with, it was beyond necessary to get a new job.  Last Thursday was my last day and it was incredibly hard.  I love my (ex)boss and saying goodbye to my first job was difficult, but I'm excited to start this new year on a new foot.  It's like I have a new lease on life. 

My sad looking cubie on my last day.  I wish I would have taken a before picture because it was much cuter before.  However, I do believe in my new job I'll be upgrading to an office.  Movin' on up!!

 

 

 

 

Besides leaving my job of 3+ years, the husband I celebrated the holidays.  We both had a fantastic Christmas in which I got pretty much everything I wanted.  Ok, I just re-read that last statement, and can you say spoiled much?  I really didn't mean for it to come off that way.  Probably my most favorite gift was my Pandora charm bracelet. 

 

For Christmas I received the bracelet, the two stoppers and the pink dangle charm which is for my birth month.  I added the turtle for Delta Zeta and the glass charm for my new job.

Some other items I was patiently awaiting to get were Fancy by Jessica Simpson (don't judge), a gray blazer from Kohl's and some make up brushes.  

Christmas Eve/Christmas Day my husband I spent traveling all over God's creation.  We try and fit both our families in on both days and somehow we make it work.   

The whole fam damily.  This is my mom's side of the family.  She is one of seven - six girls and 1 boy.  I'm in the back center with the gray sweater.

For New Year's Eve, the husband and I laid low and just had a few people over to the house.  Neither of us is huge for NYE.  To me, it's just another day and you get the day off work.  We had a great time though:

And in my free time between quitting my job and celebrating the holidays, I have grown a new obsession with You Tube Makeup Guru's - because I'm awesome like that.  Has anyone else ever watched these videos?  I have learned so much, and at the same time want to buy all kinds of thing, which isn't good for the old wallet, but I'm obsessed!  It's so much fun to watch.  If you've never seen any check out LolaMarie7 or Makeupbytiffanyd.  They are my favorite so far.

So I suppose for right now, that's a good catch up, right?  I'm really trying to write a lot more in the new year.  I guess I will have to count on my husband to help keep me on track!