C'mon Man Wednesday

Inspired by the guys on ESPN's Monday Night Football show, I thought I would do a different take on my random posts (especially since Cris over at Goodeness Gracious did one of her fun random posts today and I don't want to look like I am copying her! :)

My car is attracted to curbs. I swear. Somehow it has hit two this week, one in front of the frozen yogurt shop. Oops.

Source: yes-butno.tumblr.com via Megan on Pinterest

C'mon Man!!

Staying on the car theme...have you ever seen anyone driving around with their coffee mug on top of the car or their purse on the trunk? Did you laugh?

That was me this week. I set my cup of water on the roof so I could open the door without spilling my coffee. I pulled out of the parking lot and drove about 100 yards before hearing something hit the car. I drove another 100 yards before I realized what it was.

C'mon Man!! Oh well, hopefully I made someone chuckle.

What is it with bloggers writing awesome posts lately?

From laugh-out-loud funny ones, like Jent's story about her boy with no pants and HIMYF's engagement ring shopping escapades, to posts that made me stop and think, like Leah's post that asks if we are all fat, uppity Americans.

C'mon Man!! I wish I could write posts like these.

And finally...I just found out that there will no more new iCarly shows. No more Random Dancing. No more Spencer setting their apartment on fire.

Source: bellatrixareforkids.tumblr.com via Megan on Pinterest

C'mon Man!! Wait a minute...what did you say? No, I am not a 12-year-old girl, but I love me some iCarly.

Rambling Friday Confessions

I went to the grocery store today mainly because I didn't have any whipped topping in the freezer. I bought four tubs of it. I'm hoping those last me for a while. I can (and do) eat the stuff by the spoonful. I get the Fat Free kind so it's OK, right?

I put out a rain gauge last night and immediately called my dad to tell him. Not sure why I was so excited about my new rain gauge but it was a thrilling moment.

I had to Google to get the term "rain gauge" before I wrote the previous line. Don't you hate those moments when the word you are looking for is just out of reach?

I'm wearing a sweater and jeans on the first day of June. I'm pretty sure I was wearing a t-shirt and capris on the first day of May. Gotta love Indiana weather. Though I'm not complaining because the cool weather came with a bit of rain and we (especially the corn and soybean crops & the garden) needed some.

I love Ina Garten. Sometimes I wish she was my friend and her show revolved around her making a meal for me. Today she's making a bacon, potato omelet and I can almost taste it. Yum!

I'm going to Vintage Indiana tomorrow after my cousin's graduation party (actually he's my cousin's son but that makes him my cousin too, right?). Vintage is one of my favorite festivals of the year. What's better than being able to taste wine while listening to music after working a booth where you ask fun questions about farmers and farming to a bunch of slightly tipsy, yet fun-loving, people?

Linking up to Friday Confessional over at Blonde Ambition.

Some Comic Relief

What's a girl to do when the server is down at work for almost an hour?

Clean out her desk drawers.

After I threw away some expired vitamins and two-year old Splenda packets, I found a collection of comics that I have cut out of the newspaper over the years.

This one is a favorite. 

I forget if she is analyzing her Facebook profile or her profile on a dating site, but it's a hoot. Mainly because I totally relate to it.

"Eating cold cereal" as a main interest. Check.

Never read Hamlet. Did in high school, but remember the movie more.

And, absolutely, 100 percent, this is still one of my favorite lines from Friends and I use it myself when people ask me to do something that I don't really want to do...

Gotta love Phoebe!

Random Friday Confessions

I confess that I left my purse at home this morning and my ONLY thought was "How am I going to get my Starbucks?"

Thank goodness for my Starbucks App on my iPhone.

I confess that I turned around and went back to Starbucks this morning because I swear they gave me black coffee topped with whipped cream. What is up with that? When I pay THAT much for a cup of fancy coffee (if you can call it coffee with all the extra stuff in it), I want what I ordered. 

I confess that I judged a few people at my church festival tonight...so NOT the place to be judgmental, huh? But, I am sorry...it was just too easy.

I confess that for some reason it takes me DAYS to put away the Jenga game after my nephews come to my house. I swear every other toy is back in the toy closet (yes, I have a toy closet but no children) right after they leave but I leave Jenga in the middle of the floor for days.

Is it a game OR an art piece? 

I confess that I am very excited each Friday when I reach into my mailbox and pull out US Weekly! Gotta love 30 minutes of mindless entertainment. I don't think I have ever read an actual article from start to finish in the magazine but I do love the photos!

Linking up to Friday Confessional over at A Blonde Ambition this week.

Better with a Straw

Random Question of the Day

Why do I drink twice as much water if it is in a cup with a straw?

I'm trying to drink more water. 

I even posted this on my bulletin board at work...

Source: weheartit.com via Megan on Pinterest

I'm not quite up to 8 cups a day, but I'm close.

The trick for me is a cup with a straw. I know. I'm not 8 years old, but what can I say, I like a straw.

I even bought one of those reusable cups with a lid and straw and it works good when I remember to use it. I usually end up re-using my cup from a lunch out until the straw starts to look "used."

What can I say, I'm classy that way.

Everything is better with a straw. Water, soda, "adult" sodas (the ones you shoo your nephews away from), margaritas, everything!

Note: The link in this post is an affiliate link and I'm up to one cup of water so far this morning - just thought you might want to know.

Random Posting 2012 Style

I took a look around my house today and realized that I had a lot of randomness going on...perfect for another round of Random Posting!!!

I just can't make myself put this away. I'm not sure why. I think I see it as a representation of all that is good about my four nephews.

I had all four of them spend the night the week after Christmas and it was bedlam. Actually, it was a lot of fun. They are loud, messy and always asking for candy. They get out EVERY toy that is in my closet, including the Jenga game. 

Now they never play Jenga...just use it to build stuff to knock over later. However, they are very good about picking up the toys (after I tell them a couple of times and threaten them with no more candy). 

I looked over during clean up time and the two youngest nephews were stacking up the Jenga game the way I taught them - except for the one missing piece at the bottom. It just made me smile...

Sticking with the nephew theme, here are the two youngest and they stick-on ties that I got them.

Don't they look fancy?

Have you taken down your Christmas tree and decorations yet?

Obviously, you know how I would answer that question! 

I decorate mostly with snowmen so I can keep them up through January but I really need to take the tree down this week. Mainly because my niece is coming to stay with me while her parents abandon her go on a cruise and her bed looks like this right now...

It's a holding bin for my holiday storage bins and some new decorations I bought after Christmas.

Speaking of clutter...I did accomplish a couple decluttering projects while I was off of work during the holidays, including the pantry in my laundry room. 

The pantry holds a bunch of random items, including my huge supply of plastic bags, foil, wax paper and garbage bags. I actually called my mom while cleaning out this section and told her that I might just be a hoarder after finding 6 boxes of wax paper and 10 boxes of aluminum foil. Her response was "bring me some foil and do you have any quart size bags?"

I sent her 3 boxes of foil, a box of wax paper and 3 boxes of plastic bags! 

That's it for this round of Random Posting...until next time!

Friday Confessional

It's Friday! 

Does anyone else think this week was 8 days long?

Whew...I'm ready for the weekend. 

I'm participating in the Friday Confessional over at A Blonde Ambition hosted by the lovely Leslie. I'm a big fan of random blog posts (been known to write a few myself) so I can't wait to see what others "confess" today!

Here we go...

1. I have been experiencing some serious road rage this week. Now, I haven't ACTED on my rage but I have given people dirty looks and yelled at them in my head. I swear that my car is invisible at times the way people cut in front of me and turn out in front of me...it's crazy!

2.  While I unpacked my Christmas decorations last weekend and put up my tree, the boxes are still strewn about my living room floor and all my snowman are strewn randomly on top of my china cabinet. Maybe I'll finish decorating this weekend and throw put the boxes out in the garage.

3.  My name is Megan and I'm addicted to Pinterest. I know...it's so cliche. Everyone is obsessed, but I can't help it. It's just too easy to sit on the couch and start scrolling! Right now I have a couple dozen recipes pinned and have only attempted one of them and it was simply to throw cinnamon rolls on the waffle iron! Don't even ask about the decorating and craft projects I've pinned!

4.  Speaking of Pinterest, I get kind of depressed when I click on some of the very cute outfits other pinners create via Polyvore only to find out the cute t-shirt is $100 and the scarf is affordable but from a store in the UK.

5.  Every night this past week I have fixed myself a cup of decaf coffee (yes, I'm getting too old for caffeine in the evening) with a splash of Bailey's with a Hint of Mint Chocolate and a dollop of Cool Whip. It's my new favorite.

I think that's it for my confessions! Be sure to pop over to A Blonde Ambition and check out her most excellent blog, as well as the Confessional link-up.

Random Posting State Fair Style

I may have mentioned it a time or two here but if I haven't...then let me say it again...I've been consumed with the Year of Soybeans at the Indiana State Fair this summer.

via

It's been a great experience and there's still five days to go! So if you live in Indiana (or close by), come on out and see me!

However, I've been a bit scattered in my everyday life lately so I haven't been posting as often as I'd like and there is so much I've been wanting to say on here...so let's go.

It's another round of RANDOM POSTING!!

1.  I woke up this morning and immediately reached for a green shirt and then realized that I did NOT have to wear a green shirt today. Let me explain a bit...as part of the Year of Soybeans, we have these great "Bean Team" T-shirts that we wear at the fair. They are green. 

We also have a very cute "Bean There, Done That" T-shirt that is for sale in the fair gift shop. Guess what? It's GREEN too!

Don't get me wrong, I love green but when you wear the same shirt day after day, it gets old. Guess I now know what it would be like to wear a uniform to work!

2.  I've been growing my hair out for a while now. For the last two weeks, I thought I had been using conditioner when I actually had been using shampoo. Yes, I would shampoo my hair and then pick up another container of shampoo thinking it was conditioner and shampoo my hair again. NEVER realizing that conditioner doesn't suds up like shampoo. YIKES, no wonder my hair has been so ratty after my shower!

3.  Do you ever fill guilty when you don't go to your regular morning coffee place? I do, but then I eat my donut and drink my iced coffee with cream and mocha and I get over it. I'll go back to my peppermint mocha tomorrow.

4.  I've discovered something over the last 12 days...I'm not cut out for manual labor.  Earlier today, I counted no fewer than 12 bruises on my arms and legs from moving boxes from one end of the fairgrounds to the other. Crazy! I think I need some of these...

via

Thanks for joining me for another round of random posting!

Another Round of Random Posting

I'm feeling a bit random today so stick with me here...

1.  I watched two movies over the weekend that I had recorded on my DVR during a free HBO/Showtime weekend. They both disappointed me so I turned to a movie that ALWAYS makes me laugh...

Source: google.com via Megan on Pinterest

"To the windows, to the walls..." Sing with me girls!

What's your go-to movie?

2.  This Facebook post almost made me laugh out loud during a meeting this morning!

If you don't "like" himyf on Facebook, check her out. What are you waiting for, go now! Be sure to check out her blog too.

3.  When is it time to switch from an over-the-counter PM medication to a prescription option? Excederin PM has been the only thing that's kept me asleep for the last week and I'm worried that I may soon grow immune to its power! Right now, I'm writing this post about 30 minutes after taking two tablets...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz - just kidding!

4.  Watching my nephews trip and fall over NOTHING - multiple times - this weekend, I realized that lack of grace may just be genetic! The joke when I was growing up was that my middle name was definitely NOT Grace.

Source: None via Megan on Pinterest

In less than 3 hours on Monday, I tripped over a large ottoman that was sitting in the middle of my living room AND ran into a closed door at the office. In my defense, I was in the dark on both occasions, but I should have known better.

5. Did you know that Milwaukee has an area called "old town" (I think) that has several German-style bars and restaurants? They even have their own version of the famous Hofbrauhaus in Munich.

Once I saw this, I immediately called my dad who told me that I had to go in and see if they had the dark beer that he enjoyed so much when we visited the real Hofbrauhaus in Germany earlier this year. Check out more about our afternoon in Munich, including beef and pretzels, here. BTW, I didn't go in. I was by myself and a girl just doesn't hang out in a German-style bar on her own.

6.  Nothing makes a girl feel more on display than sitting in a restaurant alone with not one, but TWO beers in front of her. While in Milwaukee for business last week, I ate at a very nice restaurant and decided to order a Spotted Cow - a Wisconsin brew - with my dinner. It was 2 for 1 night and the waiter brought me BOTH beers at the same time.

No worries, I drank both of them and by the end of the meal, I wasn't feeling like a loser any more! Also, I didn't need my Excederin PM that night.

Thanks for joining me for another of my rambling, random posts!

Feeling a Bit Random

I'm feeling a bit random tonight. 

Hope you bear with me...here we go!

Did you see the cool Google effect earlier this week? I called it the "Google guitar."

 When you ran the mouse over the strings, it played like a guitar. Very fun and cool.

Last week, I was able to hit Half-Price Happy Hour at Steak-n-Shake twice! Score.

After one long day at work, I might have even gotten a chocolate milkshake AND a Coke Zero...

In my defense, it was still cheaper than the milkshake would have been at full price!

Isn't this the most adorable dress ever? I couldn't resist it...even if it's a size 3 and my oldest niece is just 8 months old. It won't go out of style in 2 years, will it?

 Speaking of my eldest niece...here she is.

Can you see her hair? I was having a bit of fun while riding in the backseat with her!

It cooled off today after a week of very hot weather so I decided it was time to work in my "yard" and put out a few flowers. Here are a couple of flowerpots...

I also put out some mulch. My fingernails may never be the same...

One more thing...

Did you hear that we are giving away a SIGNED copy of The Pioneer Woman's book - Black Heels and Tractor Wheels - over on Real Farmwives (and Friends) of America? Check it out!

Well, that's about all I have. Check back tomorrow for my fourth recipe in my RFOA and Gooseberry Patch project!

More Random Shots from My Phone

I am feeling a bit random this week.

So here's another installment of "Random Shots from my Phone."

While typing that last phrase, I imagined it being said in the booming announcer's voice like "Random Dancing" on iCarly. Yes, I love iCarly. Sue me.

Can you read what the tire cover says on this photo?

It says "Home of Champion Dachshunds." Love it.

Saw this as I was driving in town last weekend.

Yes, that's a bale of straw in the back of that station wagon.

Then there are these photos. I took them while on a business trip to Hamburger University...yes, there is such a place. It's McDonald's headquarters near Chicago.

Can you tell a common theme in the pictures?

Yes, all the women are enjoying some fast food. These were in the hallways of the hotel that adjoins Hamburger University. Sorry about the quality, I used my Blackberry and the hallways were a bit dim.

Hope you enjoyed this edition of "Random Shots from My Phone."

Random Friday Thoughts

It's Friday.

Did you hear me?

It's FRIDAY!!

That's better. Even though I was only in the office two days this week because of a meeting at my Alma Mater (Go Boilers!) and the Great Icestorm of 2011, it's been a long week! Top it all off with a work event tomorrow, and I'm ready to wave the white flag.

So I'm going to be a little lazy on here today. Please forgive me.

Here are just a few thoughts I have had over the last week...

1.  I can no longer kid myself that I can pass for a college co-ed. While on campus on Monday, the signs were clear. As more than a decade (gosh, that sounds like forever) has passed since I got my college diploma, I am woefully out of touch with the college set from fashion to vocabulary. A co-worker did an unscientific study and declared 7 out of 11 co-eds were wearing Uggs (in their defense it was FREEZING). I also saw WAY too many sock hats in the shape of monkeys, bears and even raccoons!

2.  I love living in a community where they take care of snow/ice removal! I know I pay for it monthly, but after hearing about how many people fell this past week while trying to remove the inches of ice from their driveways, cars and sidewalks I'll gladly hand over my HOA fees!

3.  Along that line, I am grateful for my garage! Here's one of my favorite Tweets from the Great Icestorm of 2011...

SpaldoBusiness: Looks like the #Indy AM commute was icy but back to full swing. You also can tell the haves (garages) from the have nots.

4.  Sticking with the winter weather theme, isn't she adorable?

My baby sister posted the photo on her blog Frugalista Farm Life.

5.  While iced in at home this week, I realized that I need a couple of overnight work trips soon because I'm almost out of coffee! What? You don't take the coffee packs from the hotel room to use at home? I don't believe you! They are perfect for a single gal wanting to brew up a cup or two!

6. You never realize how nice it is for the gals at the Starbucks drive-thru to recognize you until those said gals are not there and you get the wrong drink! Boy, I hope Pam is back on Monday.

Off to get some work done! Happy Friday all.

It's RANDOM POSTING!!!!

It's been one of those weeks. I'm on vacation and had grand plans of everything I was going to do with my time off...clean my house, catch up on my blogging, do some shopping. Well, it's Wednesday night and I just haven't been as productive as I dreamt I would be. Oh well, I am enjoying the days off and plan to make the most of the next four days of freedom.
Since I am not as on top of my blog posts as I planned to be, I decided to do some RANDOM POSTING!!!

1.  Anyone get the iCarly reference above? I know I probably shouldn't admit this but even as I type iCarly is on my television. I just enjoy the witty dialogue and physical humor of the pre-teen sitcom. I've actually had in-depth conversations with a co-worker who is also a closet iCarly fan (she has 3 boys so you know she shouldn't be exposed). We are seriously contemplating tickets to see Miranda Cosgrove (i.e. Carly) when she comes to Indy soon. Maybe I should have asked for this for Christmas...

2.  Speaking of coworkers, I just LOVE my coworkers, especially those who share my love of pre-teen sitcoms, the Sound of Music and cheesy reality shows. Though I can't convince them that Storage Wars is the NEW Parking Wars!

3.  Have I ever told you my middle name? It is NOT Grace...though my dad claims that it should be. I am definitely NOT graceful. I'm always running into doorways, tripping over my own feet and hitting my head (especially on the STUPID old-fashioned phone my parents hung by the back door). On Christmas Eve, I proved just how graceful I am and had no one to witness. I fell down my stairs in a blaze of glory...think windmilling arms and a scream worthy of a little girl. Luckily, I wasn't hurt (a bag of Gap returns broke my fall) except for my pride!

4.  I bought my first little black dress in almost 10 years earlier this week! Actually I bought two...couldn't decide and they were both very reasonable in price. Then I bought a gray one, just in case I'm not really in love with the other two. I'm very excited to wear one of them to a dear friend's wedding on 1-1-11...isn't that a cool wedding date?

5.  Are you one of those people who don't like getting practical gifts for Christmas or your birthday? I'm NOT. If I need a vacuum, then get me one if my birthday is soon. This year I got two very practical gifts...

    

I was totally excited about both. I also got another wonderful gift from my dad that I'll be blogging about soon.

6.  My life has turned into "is this something I can blog about." Has yours? I can't believe how many times I do something silly or stupid or funny or cute and think to myself "I should blog about it." But, it's really bad when I'm sitting on the examination table with a cup to my ear and the nurse flushing warm water in my ears and I'm thinking "I wish I had my camera!"

That's what happened today. I went to the doctor because I have a cold that isn't getting better and I don't want to start traveling next week with it. Instead of telling me I have sinus congestion, the nurse practitioner told me that my ears are full of wax (duh...I haven't been able to hear out of my left ear for like a year) and tells me she's going to flush them. I won't go into details, but WOW let's just say there could have been a comparison to what was in my ears and a head of a Lego man...I said too much, huh?

7.  Did you hear that? I know, I did too! I can't believe how much better I can hear with two good ears! My Corolla is way louder than I remembered. The keys on my laptop are way loud...or I just type too hard. And I can now have a conversation with someone standing on my left side without constantly, saying "Excuse me" or just nodding and having NO idea what they are saying!

8.  I made THE BREAD tonight...have you heard about THE BREAD? I read about it on The Pioneer Woman (of course) and just had to try it. Since it only uses two ingredients - butter and bread - I figured I could handle it, unlike the cinnamon rolls that I'm still too intimidated to try.

I thought about photos when I started prepping the bread and got one of the Italian Bread loaf I cut in half...

But then forgot to take anymore until after supper...here's what was left after my parents, sister, brother-in-law, nephew and I ate my mom's famous cheesy ham and potato casserole (yeah for Christmas ham leftovers) and THE BREAD.

I was supposed to use a stick of butter on EACH side of the bread but I chickened out and only used one and three-fourths sticks of butter. I can't imagine how much better it would have been with that extra butter! It was some serious goodness. Though my dad claims that I am trying to push him into a second heart attack...I swear I'm not.

Well, that's it for RANDOM POSTING...wait a minute I just saw the blonde guy from Glee (you know the new guy) on iCarly! See I told you it's a cool show!

Smiling at Randomness

"It's a Social Parade Friday!"

Are there things that happen in your everyday life that make you smile or even laugh out loud?

It happens daily to me and I always think to myself, "I should blog about that." But then life moves on and by the time I sit down at my computer the thought is gone.

Well, let's be honest. As soon as my smile fades, the thought is gone. Sometimes I swear there's a giant eraser in my brain. Once I tell myself to make a mental note, that eraser wipes it right away!

Oh well, today I have had several of these funny little thoughts that I HAVE remembered, so let's see if I can hold onto them just long enough to get them all in this post!

My Christmas cactus has NEVER bloomed at Christmas! It starts blooming around Thanksgiving and the flowers hang on until about a week before Christmas and then they are gone! I call it my Thanksgiving cactus.

After I eat a bowl of my white chocolate snack mix, I look down and it's like an M&Ms graveyard. In this mix is the only time I don't enjoy M&Ms!

After a long day of work in a cute skirt, tights and sassy boots, I look down and see this...

You just gotta shake your head and laugh...and not buy expensive tights because this happens more often than I should admit!

I called my mom today and she was baking Christmas cookies with my nephew because his school was closed due to snow. This reminded me so much of all the times she baked Christmas cookies with my sisters and me. It makes me happy to know that she's passing those traditions on to the next generation. And my dad is happy because he still taste-tests each batch claiming it's his favorite kind of cookie!

My only Christmas decoration currently up is the lovely wreath my boss gave me...it's outside where I NEVER see it.

Shouldn't I put it somewhere that I can see and enjoy it? Oh well, enjoy neighbors!

I think I had a couple of more things to talk about but that darn eraser got to them before I could...maybe next time.