4 Simple Goals Before 2013

While browsing through Pinterest the other day, I came across a blog post that really spoke to me.

Unfortunately, I found it through another pin and thought I pinned the post but didn't. 

Oh, Pinterest you giveth and you taketh away! 

Fortunately, I remember the gist of the post. The blogger came up with four simple goals that she could start right now and still accomplish by the end of the year.

She encouraged setting simple goals that are personal as well as action-oriented, not result-oriented. She also suggested giving yourself a reward for each goal accomplished AND to blog about each goal once it's done.

So, I decided to go for it. 

Here are my four Simple Goals before 2013...

1. Make my health a priority. This means exercising regularly, actually eating vegetables daily, taking my vitamins and getting enough sleep. Hopefully, this leads to some weight loss but if it doesn't, then I'll settle for feeling better.

2.  Decorate with conviction. What I hope to accomplish with this one is for my home not to look like I just moved in. Put some pictures on the wall. Get rid of my old TV which is sitting next to my new flat screen. Put away the boxes of stuff that always seem to appear.

3.  Reconnect with my friends. I do NOT like to talk on the phone and I live a boring life so I never think my friends will want to talk to me. However, I DO want to hear about their lives, so I am going to pick up the phone and start calling. If you are my friend, you've been warned!

4.  Tackle one housekeeping job every day. This one is going to be the toughest...I hate to clean and I've gotten used to my house the way it is (No, it's not a candidate for hoarders, but I wouldn't eat off my floors!) But I think if I just choose to do SOMETHING each day, then hopefully it becomes routine.

For my rewards? I haven't decided on my individual rewards but I AM going to buy myself a rocking pair of jeans in the New Year if I am successful!

If you've seen this concept on another blog, let me know. I'd love to give the credit for this idea to the blogger who came up with it.

Lorelei Gilmore is My BFF

I receive Mama Kat's Weekly Writing Prompts, well weekly, but I rarely act on them.

However, when I read this week's email, I knew I had to jump in with both feet.

Here's the assignment:
Share 5 Fictional Friends you'd want in real life. (Movie/Book/TV etc.)

Wow, how to narrow it down to just five?

Source: someecards.com via Megan on Pinterest

It was tough, but here is my list countdown style:

5.  Penny from the Big, Bang Theory

Source: fanpop.com via Megan on Pinterest

She drinks a LOT of wine AND has ready access to a rockin' IT department. She is a great foil to the geekiness that is Sheldon, Leonard, Raj and Wolowitz! Girls Night with Penny, Bernadette and Amy would be so much fun.

4.  Rapunzel from Tangled

Source: google.com via Megan on Pinterest

Not only does she have magic hair, she knows how to use a frying pan. She is probably my favorite Disney character ever! I could hang out in the palace and NEVER worry about security when she's around.

3.  Elnora from A Girl of the Limberlost by Indiana author Gene Stratton-Porter

Source: amazon.com via Megan on Pinterest

This is my all-time favorite book ever. Elnora is a strong young woman who overcomes a tough home life. She'd be a steadfast friend who I could count on in almost any situation, especially if I get lost in the woods! Best of all, she's from Indiana so we could get together often.

2.  Maggie from Born in Fire by Nora Roberts

Source: goodreads.com via Megan on Pinterest

Maggie is one tough Irish woman. She is artistic. She is temperamental. She is loyal. All the makings of a very good, entertaining friend. Also, she could teach me how to make glass paper weights!

And drumroll please...

1. Lorelei from Gilmore Girls

Source: imdb.com via Robin on Pinterest

Does this pick really need any reason behind it? She is just the ultimate friend. Witty dialogue, great fashion sense and a lover of junk food and movies!

But, my main reason for choosing Lorelei as my BFF (best fictional friend) is Stars Hollow and the cast of characters that call it home. Who wouldn't want to sit in Luke's and hear the town gossip from Miss Patti and Babettte before heading to the Firefly Inn to annoy Michele and sample Sookie's food, all while waiting for Kirk to do some quirky!

Source: google.com via Megan on Pinterest

This was such a fun post to ponder. If I had a sixth selection, it would have totally been either Phoebe from Friends for the pure entertainment OR Carrie from SATC for the wardrobe!

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!

Ladies in My Life

This week a few things happened to remind me how lucky I am to have some extraordinary women in my life...women whom I have known for just a year or so and women whom I have known my entire life and women whom I have know in between. (That's a terrible sentence and I know at least one person who will be very disappointed in me - sorry Mom.)

When I started thinking about how to write this post, I headed to my Pinterest boards to find some inspiration.

Here are a few that sum up my feelings about my gal pals...

Source: boxergifts.com via Megan on Pinterest

My family is actually extraordinarily ordinary. I am a product of two parents (who are still together after 40-plus years) who raised four daughters who actually like each other.

Crazy, huh?

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net via Megan on Pinterest

I'd like to think the above saying refers to me, but I'm not sure. Luckily, I am blessed with three sisters who are some of my best friends. I always know even if I say or do something that makes one of them mad, they won't stay that way long. Why?

Because...

Source: etsy.com via Megan on Pinterest

Or it may be because they need a sitter for Saturday night. Either way works for me.

Source: holidaysnobs.blogspot.com via Megan on Pinterest

My mom is great. She still feeds me, takes me shopping (well, I usually drive) and listens to me ramble on about my life, even when I know she just does it because I'm her daughter. My home will ALWAYS be where she and my dad are at...even when they are living in my attic when they get old (just kidding).

Source: google.com via Megan on Pinterest

Judging from the number of "friends" pins I have on Pinterest, I either have a lot of friends or wish I had a lot of friends!

I recently got an invitation to the baby shower of one of my BFFs from elementary, junior high and high school.

It made me smile.

It made me remember all of the stupid things we did as kids.

It made me wish that she still lived down the road so she could pick me up on her way to school.

It made me realize that even though we haven't talked in AGES, it will be like no time has past when we see each other again.

It made me realize that I have lots of friends like that and reminded me that maybe I should pick up the phone and catch up with them.

Source: etsy.com via Megan on Pinterest

Speaking of phone calls, one of my BFFs from college called today. I immediately acted like we were in junior high and asked her if she was mad at me because I hadn't heard from her in "like a week."

She laughed at me and all was right with the world. I know that we'll probably be having similar conversations when we are in our 80s. (Well, she'll be 80 and I'll be her younger, hotter friend at 76.)

Source: yellowdoggrannie.blogspot.com via Megan on Pinterest

When I read this one, I immediately thought of one very special friend who befriended a lonely Midwest girl trying to find her place on the East Coast. I know she has my back FOREVER!

Source: Uploaded by user via Megan on Pinterest

This one hit home as I stood in line tonight with three women waiting to hug another lady as she faces life without her dad...all of whom I got to know through this wonderful thing called Social Media. She saw us, smiled at us, and hugged us.

I realized that while I'm blessed with many friends I am equally blessed to have true friends both old and new.

Source: Uploaded by user via Megan on Pinterest

Do you have a favorite saying that sums up the friends in your life?  If you do, please share.

This or That: The Flu or a Cold

I've been thinking about a new feature here on my blog and decided today was the day to kick it off.

It's called "This or That."

I'll tackle age-old questions like "heels or flats" and "body wash or bar soap" - it'll be great. Trust me!

I'm starting with one that isn't very cool but it's appropriate this time of year...

Stomach Flu or Head Cold

Source: google.com via Leigh on Pinterest

I know this might seem odd but I would totally take a bout of the stomach flu over a head cold any day.

Honestly, I'm in the first stages of a head cold right now and I am miserable. (Maybe I should re-consider this post until I feel better...the Nyquil and Blogger might not mix.)

Here's why I'd choose being nauseous over blowing my nose:

1.  The stomach flu usually lasts 24 hours. A head cold can linger for days, if not longer.

2.  I don't go to work when I have the stomach flu...I don't even THINK about leaving the house. With a head cold, I drag myself out of bed in the morning and sniffle, sneeze and cough my way through the day. By the end of the work day, I feel terrible but the next morning I do it all over again because who stays home with a cold?

3.  With the stomach flu, at least I usually lose a pound or two. Enough said.

4.  The stomach flu seems to only hit once a season. A head cold can hit again and again - or at least it does with me.

5.  There are not a lot of lingering signs of the stomach flu - at least not visible ones - except the weight loss. Two days into this cold and my nose is bright red and I swear that I am more prone to drooling - what's up with that?

I did think of one upside of a head cold over the stomach flu.

I like my "sexy cold voice."

You know what I'm talking about, don't you? Just think about the Friends episode when Pheobe has a cold and her singing voice rocks.



If you want to hear me sing Smelly Cat, I'm available!

So if you have to be sick, which would you choose...Stomach Flu or Head Cold?

Weekend in NYC

Remember my Dreams of NYC post?

The one where I was going to experience the city so well-portrayed by my favorite television shows?

I NEVER FOUND Central Perk, though I did find a bakery and had these for breakfast one morning.

Crumbs

Don't worry about the calories consumed. We split the two cupcakes between four girls...and we walked 6 miles that day! The White Hot Chocolate cupcake on the left was DELICIOUS. 

I NEVER FOUND McLaren's Bar but we did have some wonderful cocktails at Stecchino in Hell's Kitchen .

I may have had one or two French 75's!

I NEVER DID karaoke in a bar with my posse but we did catch a Broadway Show!

One thing I DID do that was on my list was visit Mood - the fabric store from Project Runway!

Don't you just love just love what they did with some orange tulle?

Despite an early cold spell and rain and SNOW, we had a great time in the city and I'm even more determined to go back. This time I'm planning a late spring/early summer trip though!

Hooking up with Kelly's Korner - Show Us Your Life Non-Mommy Bloggers!

Dreams of NYC

The Big Apple better watch out...my posse and I are heading your way soon.

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Well...at least two of my sisters, a friend and I are taking our first trip to NYC. I'm going to consider them my posse because the trip was my idea!

I am probably more excited about this trip than I have been about a vacation since my first (and second) trip to Kauai...or paradise as I call it.

I'm not sure if my excitement is because I've never been to NYC and there's so much to do and see...

OR if it's because so many of the shows I watch on TV are set in the city.

Here's how I'm envisioning our visit going...

Cue dream sequence music...


We'll be picked up at the airport in a taxicab by Ranjit from How I Met Your Mother...

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and he'll drop us off at MacLaren's where we'll suit up and be AWESOME!

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The next morning we'll get up and grab a coffee at Central Perk.

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Before heading out for a day of sight-seeing and shopping.

We might even end our evening at a fabulous bar doing some karaoke like this Fab Four...

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What? You don't think ANY of that will happen. Really?

OK, I admit that my dreams of hanging out on the couch at Central Perk with Monica and the Gang probably won't come true.

But what about all the cool places I see in the reality shows that revolve around NYC.

We could stop by Mood and pick up some fabrics...

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and run into Tim Gunn who will tell us to "make it work!" I think this would totally be the way he'd look at us if we were to try and design an outfit for him!

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Or we could just go into Second Time Around - the cool upscale resale shop featured on Bravo's Fashion Hunters.

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I'm pretty sure I still can't afford anything in the store even if it's priced 75 percent off the original price but wouldn't it be fun to browse?

Then we could grab a bite at one of the city's many food trucks...

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Maybe we could even find the Korilla truck from the Great Food Truck Race show. I'd love to find out if they really did add money to the till.

No matter what we end up doing, where we end up visiting and who we end up seeing, I know the trip will be great.

Any suggestions on must dos while we are in town? Send them my way!

Throw on a Jacket It's Fall

Fall is hands-down my FAVORITE time of the year. 

I love wearing jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt then throwing on a jacket and heading out.

I recently got a comfy track jacket from the women's line at Carhartt...

and I've been wearing it every where, including the Fountain Square Art Fair with my very cute niece (above).

I think it will work great with a warm winter vest as the weather turns colder but for now I've been layering it over t-shirts to go out to breakfast with my pal Jane and her kiddos...

and dinner with a great group of gal pals (thanks Cris for the photo and Leontien for the meal).

I even wear it to the farm to hang out with my other cute niece - JJ. (Side note: Her shirt says "My Auntie is Awesome" - wonder who bought her that?)

Stubby, the barn cat, came out to see us.

And look who we found at the grain bins? My uncle Sam wearing in his Carhartt overalls!

Carhartt jackets, overalls and coveralls are part of the "uniform" for my dad and uncle on the farm, especially when they are working outside in the winter. There was definitely a nip in the air while we were visiting with Uncle Sam so we didn't stay out long.

Just long enough for JJ to bat her eyes and get a taste of Uncle Sam's apple...well maybe more like 3 or 4 bites!

To win a Carhartt of your own please visit the Real Farmwives of America blog to sign up for their giveaway.


Carhartt did provide me with this product to review but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own, of course.

Divine Wine Cupcakes

I am thinking that this would be a great wordless Wednesday post but I want to share the recipe with you because these cupcakes are seriously delicious AND easy to make.

Remember the Friends episode when Rachel makes the trifle and accidentally mixes two recipes together and adds a layer of beef sauteed with peas and onions (I think) and Joey says..."Jam, good. Custard, good. Beef, good."

I promise that there's no beef sauteed with peas and onions in these cupcakes but there is an unusual ingredient...

Zinfandel wine! It's in both the cupcake AND the frosting...thus the blog post title "Divine Wine Cupcakes!"

Here's the recipe for all of you chocolate AND wine lovers!

Zinfandel Cupcakes

Batter
1 box devil's food cake mix (super moist recommended)
3/4 c. water
1/2 c. Zinfandel wine
1/2 c. vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 c. miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees (325 degrees for dark or nonstick pan). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. Make cake batter as directed on box using cake mix, water, wine, oil and eggs. Stir in chocolate chips. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (about 1/2 full).

Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center. Cool in pans 10 minutes, remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Frosting
6 c. powdered sugar
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. unsweetened baking cocoa
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. Zinfandel wine

In large bowl, beat powdered sugar, butter, cocoa and salt with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Beat in wine. If frosting is too think, beat in more wine a few drops at a time. Frost cupcakes. Garnish with chocolate curls (if desired).

I veered from the recipe in a couple of cases.

I didn't have mini chocolate chips so I used regular chips...however I failed to coat them prior to mixing them into the batter and the chips fell to the bottom of the cupcakes while baking. So I suggest taking a couple of tablespoons of your dry cake mix and tossing it with your chips. This should keep them from dropping to the bottom of your cupcakes!

Second, I just realized as I am typing the recipe that I forgot to add the salt to my frosting...I think it turned out OK.

And...I sifted my powdered sugar and cocoa before mixing them with the butter. I also started with four cups of powdered sugar and a quarter cup of wine and added more of each until I got the consistency and the taste I thought worked best.

I definitely recommend these cupcakes...they'd be great for a girls night in or a bridal shower or a Tuesday night.

It All Relates Back to Friends

I've been fighting a sinus infection or allergies or a cold for more than a week now.

Every time I start talking to someone either in person or over the phone they almost immediately ask me if I'm sick. I think it's my raspy voice...could be the coughing, blowing or sniffing, but I think it's the raspiness.

I kind of like the sound of my "sick voice." It's a bit raspy.

I looked up the definition for raspy and it means "harsh, grating" so maybe my new voice isn't that cool. Oh well, I'm going with cool, not grating.

My new cool voice got me thinking about an old Friends episode. I like to relate things that happen in my life to episodes of Friends. Not sure why I do this, but it's been happening for years. For example, before I got my first spray tan I couldn't stop thinking about the episode where Ross's spray tan went horribly wrong!

Do you remember the episode when Phoebe caught a cold that made her singing voice sexy? Remember how she was desperate to get it back once the cold was gone?

Phoebe: I lost my sexy phlegm!

Monica: [Sneeze] Oh, gosh, Phoebe, I think I caught your cold!

Phoebe: You mean you stole it!

Monica: [Sneeze]

Phoebe: Don't cover your mouth when you do that!

Maybe I need to work on my version of Smelly Cat before it's too late.

Butterflies, Chocolate & Wine...Perfect Birthday Gifts

Birthdays are not at the top of my "favorite" list anymore.

Once your 21st birthday passes and it's legal to do everything fun (that's not illegal for everyone), are birthdays really necessary?

However, I have some great friends and family who know me so well and gave me some perfect gifts. I'm not going to list them all here, but I LOVED them all and a big thank you to all!

Earlier in the week, my East Coast pal, Patti, sent me this beautiful framed butterfly that will find a home with my others shown in this earlier post.

I love this type (can't think of the correct term...don't you hate that?) of butterfly because even though it doesn't have the brilliant colors as most, the illusion of a pair of eyes is just breathtaking.

That takes care of the butterflies. Now comes chocolate!

My good friend, Bathtub Mama, is spending the weekend with me. As a birthday treat, she made me a pan of Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownies. If you've never had these, you must try them. They will change your life. OK, probably too dramatic, but they will become your favorite boxed brownie the instant they hit your mouth. And since they are "dark chocolate," I'm sure they have some health benefit to them!

Bathtub Mama wanted to add candles to these, but I already had a knife in them before she could find the candles and matches.

The next gift incorporates chocolate AND wine and was given to me by another good friend - I'll call her "S."

S loves shopping at Trader Joe's and loves buying wine with pretty labels. Combine these two and you have the perfect birthday gift...

Yes, you read correctly...Chocolate Wine!

I don't think I'll mind this birthday quite so much once I open this!