We all have that room in our house. You know the one. The one where everything goes to die. The room of randomness, storage, clothes that don’t fit, things that need to be filed, shoes that hurt your feet but are too pretty to go in the trash. For us it is our guest bedroom, you know…because we never have guests so the door has been opened like twice since we have moved in. Well, other than the times that we open it to throw crap in there.
I started cleaning it out this weekend because I need somewhere to work out in the mornings that won’t wake up my husband. It is amazing all the stuff that I was able to just throw away. I was going through one of the boxes and found some stuff that I had packed up from the desk of one of my old jobs.
The job was one of those jobs that I have many regrets about. I know everything happens for a reason, but gosh darn was it hard when I was going through it. It was one of my first jobs when I moved to Birmingham. I took it to get myself out of another bad situation, and I knew that it hardly paid anything but I figured the grass had to be greener right? Well, only if you enjoy working for satan. I never actually entertained the idea that satan could be female until working for this company. The job itself wasn’t bad, I was managing a building in downtown Birmingham. Our tenants were wonderful, our maintenance staff were some of the best guys you could ask for, the property manager and accountant were as sweet as could be…but we all worked for satan. This women was such a bully. There were days that I literally would go to the bathroom for 15 minutes and hide in a stall just to get away from her. I have also found myself crying in that very bathroom stall, asking myself how I got into this mess.
The property manager “T” and the accountant “A” and I all started to become friends. You know, because what brings people closer than their hate for another person.
We would start sending each other hilarious ecards about our situation, and satan. We would make faces at each other when she would be talking to one of us, to keep the other person from crying or killing the nut job. Our office was the perfect set up for our shenanigans. A and I were in cubicles next to each other, and the property manager was at an open desk across from us, and could see both of us. The cubes had half walls, so even though I couldn’t see A sitting down, you could see over the wall in general.
I used to do some stupid stuff over the cubes to make A laugh. I would hold up a help me sign, or throw an airplane…anything to get through the day. One day A came in with her sons finger puppets and she kept the tiger one for Auburn, gave T a turtle and me…I got an elephant for Alabama…duh! I named my elephant Elle, and she began her own shenanigans instantly.
Meet Elle.
Elle would peek her head over the cube at A and tell her jokes or make her laugh. Sometimes she would wake at T while satan had her back towards me or start dancing. It became a daily thing. Elle would always come out at the best of times and the worst of times. She had a funny voice and always made things better. Elle also liked to tell it how it really was.
When I found her Sunday, I had a huge smile on my face. Even though it was a terrible work situation, I had some of the best times with those girls! I hate that we sort of drifted away from each other since then….but I only have fond memories of them and our time together. Thankfully each of us was able to find another job and get out of that place. I always see a dark cloud over that building every time I am downtown. Sometimes I text T a picture while I am driving buy and tell her that I smell something burning. It is amazing the joy that something like a finger puppet can bring you in desperate times.
Elle now sits on top of a pen in my new office to make me smile 🙂 The tales that Elle could tell you!
Good morning my peeps! It appears to be Monday already, and that means it is time for the Weekend Shenanigans! This weekend just flew right on by! My office is shutting down Thursday and Friday for a 4 day weekend, and I couldn’t be more excited! You know what that means? Technically today is Wednesday! What what!
Friday night Chris and I went out on a sushi date to Konomi in Trussville. Best sushi in Alabama if you ask me. (And yes I have had Surin about 1,000 times but Konomi is still better!) This was my fortune…what does it mean? All I have to say is, true that.
Saturday we road tripped in through a tri-state hunt for Bargains. Not just any bargains…Bargain Hunt bargains! I know I have mentioned this place on here a few times, but we can’t get enough. We have my sister-in-law and brother-in-law addicted as well. What do you do when you’ve shopped out the store in your area? You travel out of state and check out some more, bitches! That is just what we did. Of course, all that bargain hunting called for some lunch at the Brewhouse in Rome GA, yum yum. The downtown area of Rome is so cute with tree lined streets and tons of little shops. I am sure we will make another excursion to all the Bargain Hunts again soon.
Unfortunately, we didn’t come out with a lot of stuff in Rome, though the store is very very nice! Chris and I found an outdoor bar set we were in love with but there was no room in the car for that with all of our people! Maybe one day….
My sister in law scored a pair of Michael Kors shoes and Jessica Simpson shoes there for dirt cheap though, so that was a win. Chris did get a network card for $5 that sales for $115 on ebay! So that was pretty awesome.
Since we were so close to Dalton, GA…we decided to head to that Bargain Hunt too! I am so glad we did! I scored 2 pairs of Michael Kors shoes!!!! You won’t believe how much I paid for these. They were marked $59.99 but because they came in back in March, they were 70% off!!! That’s right, I got these for $18 each! I also scored some work out DVDs, all of those were $4.50 total!
But don’t go checking this store out, it’s all mine. I don’t want any of you taking my bargains! We also bought an iron and some steering wheel clutch game thing that Chris wanted. Unfortunately neither of the items worked quite right, that was part of our Sunday…taking those items back to the Bargain Hunt in Birmingham.
After we left Dalton, we headed up to Chattanooga and stopped by McKays. We scored a used Kinect for $39.99! How awesome is that!? Then it was time to head on back home. I love day trips, they are full of fun!
Sunday we took the items back that we didn’t want to our Bargain Hunt, looked around there to make sure there wasn’t anything new then headed over to Game Stop to buy some Kinect games! We also stopped and had lunch at Panchoes, out favorite local Mexican. Also, nothing makes me happier than biting into a plum and seeing this dark red flesh. Oh yum yum!!
It’s Friday, and you know what that means….The Friday Five with Joy! It also means that we can finally have our “It’s finally Friday” dance party! Whoop Whoop!
Today I am going to share with your five small changes I try to incorporate to help in my weight loss.
1. Parking far away from your destination and walking.
Sure, it’s easy to park up front, run in and get what you need and get on your way. Do you know how many extra steps you can add by parking in the back, walking in the door farthest from where you are going and walking back out to your car in the end? It makes a difference people. Unless it is raining…then by all means… 🙂
2. Drink water. This is something I don’t really have a problem with. I drink tons of water every day. It is the only thing I drink at home, and I have at least 4 cups at work as well. However, I also crave bad things like Diet Coke. While it is OK to indulge every now and then…I try to cut out all drinks except for water, unsweetened teas and one cup of coffee a day. I gotta have my coffee in the mornings to function!
3. Take the stairs! I don’t really encounter stairs in my every day life outside of my home, so I will randomly walk up and down the stairs a few times just to get them in. I am also going to just take a few bags of groceries up at a time instead of trying to make just one or two trips!
4. When a sweet craving hits, have some fruit. Usually I can curb most cravings by grabbing a plum or some pineapple. There are so many wonderful fruits in season right now, there is no excuse!
5. Skip the toppings. Don’t add sour cream, butter or other calorie heavy toppings to you foods. Try doing without or replacing them with something low in calorie but full of flavor like salsa.
I wanted somewhere to write and express myself. A place to document my daily life and thoughts. I also liked the idea of the blogging community and being able to connect to others that I would not have met otherwise.
4. What is your favorite part of being a member of the Alabama Women Bloggers community?
I love to be able to connect to other wonderful women bloggers right here in Alabama! I feel like we already all have a connection just living in the same area.
5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
That is a good question. None of us know what the future holds for us, or what His plan is for us. I don’t like to speculate about where I see myself in 5 or 10 years….what I thought when I was in high school about 5 and 10 years out, and what I thought in college or when I was 25…they have been all wrong, so I’d rather not guess! I like t focus on the present and making myself happy today.
6. If you could choose an actress to play you in your life, who would you choose and why? Reese Witherspoon. While she had a recent run in with a bad night, she seems down to earth and genuine in the roles she plays. I am well aware I look nothing like her…haha.
7. Name 5 things on your Bucket List that you hope you’ll check off before you die?
1. Disney World – I have never been and always wanted to go. I want the full 5 year old experience, complete with mickey ears, pictures with characters and lunch with the Disney Princesses. I want to stay in a hotel in the park. This better happen sooner than later! 2. Visit another country. I am not quite sure which one. Maybe Germany or Italy? 3. Successfully accomplish one of my far fetched dreams. Owning my own store or design line of some kind. 4. Learn how to sew. 5. Learn how to take amazing pictures…or at least decent ones!
8. If you could be known for one thing, what would it be and why?
My humor. I love to make people laugh and feel good. I try not to take life too seriously, and have fun and enjoy the little things.
9. Describe the best moment in your life.
Marrying my best friend. It was the most perfect day. The weather was perfect, our location was beautiful and it was so relaxed and just about us, our love and our marriage.
10. If you could “be” anything (no consequences, no fear), what would you “be”?
I would have my own store and design line and dabble in a little of everything! I would love to have my own clothing line tailored to real women. Your average size, every day woman who still wants to feel sexy and fashionable. I constantly say things like, “I love this shirt if it would have this instead of this.” Or if the cut would have been here instead of here it would look perfect!” It would be amazing to be able to put my ideas into something real! Even if I didn’t have my own line, it would be so fun to go to the mart and purchase things to sale in my own store. Maybe one day…
11. What or who inspires you to blog?
Life in general inspires me to blog, to put all my thoughts in to words. The blogging community is so inspirational and supportive, for the most part…that every single blog I read is inspiring to me. The girls that talk about the hard things that come along with being a newlywed, the athletes or the people who are trying to lose their weight and work their ass off doing so, the new moms trying to find their way in motherhood, the pet owners who adore their furry critters, the twenty somethings that are still trying to figure out who they are….every single person is inspiring!
12. We’re headed to your neck of the woods… what restaurant would you recommend?
Someone is coming out to St Clair County?! Are you lost? Well this is exciting! While we do not have many choices around here, we have the best BBQ ever! You would have to go Landmark BBQ in Argo/Margaret!
13. What’s a southern tradition you and your family have?
I am a Yankee turned southern so any tradition that we may have adapted has been a recent thing and not quite tradition.
14. If you could pick your favorite blog post from your blog this year, what would it be?
One of my favorite posts this year is my post on remembering April 27, 2011. It was a life changing day for many people that I know. The south lost so many people that day. My sister lost her in laws and her house, my dad lost his house. I have always been and probably always will be terrified of bad weather.
15. We all love social media, tell us your links so we can follow you! I have been seriously slacking in the social media department, but I promise to be better again soon! I could use some encouragement with some more followers….so go do that! 🙂 Facebook
Well this was a fun link up! If you live in Alabama, make sure you join the Alabama Women Blogging community. You can meet some great ladies right here at home!
With all the hoopla over what crazy and crazier named their child this past week, North West…I thought it would be fun to take a stroll down some of the craziest, stupidest baby names of all times.
Hold on Kanye, your baby name is stupid…but Beyonce’s takes the cake!
Blue Ivy…seriously? I had higher hopes for you Beyonce
Apple…why Apple? Why not Orange or Strawberry? Is this what you ate when you were pregnant?
Some more on the list…Fifi, Homer, Alcamy, Denim, Spec Wildhorse, Audio Science, Rufus, Dweezil, Pilot Inspektor, Buddy Bear, Sage Moonblood, Moon Unit, Sunday Rose, and last but not least Tu Morrow. These are just a few that I stumbled across that make me wonder why? Why would you do that to your child?
Maybe I can’t talk. I don’t have a child. I know it has to be stressful to come up with the perfect name. One that fits the kid, one that means greatness or kindness or whatever you are looking for. Maybe you have to keep certain names in the family and chose from that. Whatever the case, if I ever have a child…I will not be naming it something stupid. Something that makes people laugh and feel sorry for the kid.
