It's going to be a project weekend!!

 This weekend I am the lucky owner of the 24 hour support pager. I win this "prize" every third week. When I'm on call, I have to bring my pager and my support laptop wherever I go, which shouldn't be more than an hour away from my place of work (incase there was a computer meltdown or something). Basically, I'm stuck at, or significantly close to, my apartment.

I've decided this weekend is going to be project weekend. I ran this past hubby, and he has accepted the challenge. I've been meaning to get curtains up in the apartment for forever, but we are currently sporting only blinds. For the first year of our inhabitation I told myself we were in a trial period, and no one should expect me to hang curtains in a trial period apartment. Since March, we've officially moved out of the trial period. We've been at the apartment for a year, a happy, problem free year, with a nice landlady and laundry in our basement. We're not moving. Did I mention that the rent is affordable?

Off and on throughout the day, I've been trying to look at DIY window treatments. Very on the sly of course, as I wouldn't want anyone to think I wasn't working (well any more than they already do). I have curtains that we used at the last apartment. Five sets of ivorish panels. Some of them a little gross on the bottom, so I was trying to think of styles that would cover or exclude that section. Here are some ideas that I found on the internets:

From BHG.COM

From DiYideas.com

From BHG.com

From BHG.com


 

Celtics vs. Lakers

I really wanted to say something about the Celts v. Lakers game tonight, but didn't think it fit in my last Pens for Jesus rant/post. 

I'm a Boston sports fan through and through, even when I lived in Maine (we don't really have our own teams).  I really want the Celts to win.  There are too many famous people associated with the Lakers, and lets be honest.....their lives are good enough without the championship.  So....Lakers, you get Jack Nickelson at every game, and we'll take the championship title.  It's only fair.  I mean.....how many of our players are married to a Kardashian....  That's right. None. 

I think I've made my point.  GO CELTS!  GO BOSTON!  Lakers....GO HOME!

Jesus loves you.....have a pen.

I take the train to work every morning from Dorchester.  In the evening, we walk from the station, to our car, which is parked on my in laws street (which is slightly closer than ours).  As we turn the corner from the station to the neighborhood, there are usually men standing there trying to pass out pens with a message about Jesus on them.

The men with their bags of pens and "Jesus Loves Me" flyers just fascinates me, for several reasons,
1. Why pens?  What makes these guys think that tons of people getting off the train from work would want another pen?  Not even just another pen, but the shitty Bic Stick pens they are passing out.  I mean....if I was going to take a Jesus pen from someone, it wouldn't be for a Bic Stick. Just Sayin..
2.  What about proselytizing your religion and passing out pens makes sense to them.  I mean...the marketing strategy is just wrong.  There's just nothing about getting a pen that's going to remind me how much Jesus Loves me.

Sometimes in the morning, there's a lady that stands on the island between the buses and the drop off area and yells "Jesus Loves you" to people.  Now this lady, for me, is much more effective.  I mean...it's early, she's up and she's absolutely SCREAMING at people.  That makes me turn around and think...wow...she really loves Jesus.  I wonder why.  Maybe I should go talk to her about it.  (I wouldn't actually go talk to her though.  I try to stay away from anyone that is that passionate about their religion.  Not that I'm an agnostic or anything.....it's just my internal red light goes off when any ones passion about anything is that strong).

I almost grabbed one of the Jesus Pens today, simply for the sake of being a visual aid for this blog entry, but I couldn't do it.  I was just way too tired to risk starting a religious dialogue with those guys and their pens.  They would try to sell me their religion, (I already have one thank you), when all I really want to know is why Bic Stick Pens.  Why??

If the day comes when they are passing out Pilot pens....those fine tipped Gel ones I like....or the RSVP pens, then I'll stop.  I'll talk to them.  I'll take their pen.  But, until then, I'll just get my Bic Sticks like everyone else does, after signing the check at the restaurant.

You are the wind beneath my wings..........

Since I've decided to make my clothes from here on in, I thought I would troll the world wide web today for some inspiration.  I know that the title of this post may seem a little random, but honestly, who doesn't think of Bette Middler and this song when they want to be creatively inspired.

For the inspiration I checked out a few of the blogs that I follow in Google Reader (I have an obsession with reading. Books, blogs, the backs of shampoo.  I read it all and remember it all.  It's just weird really).

First, I stumbled upon this really cute idea to make a wine rack out of coffee cups.  Now, if you were the kind of person that could actually keep a wine rack stocked, this would be a handy idea.  My "wine rack" consists of a bottle of nice wine (that I haven't gotten to yet) and three bottles of two buck chuck that we bought for the weekend.  But on to the project:

seriously?? How cute is that??

The instructions to the craft are at http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/double-duty-decorating-ideas-00000000034283/page4.html

Next, I threw an eye over at Anthropolgie.  I just love that store.  I found a few cute things there that I would like to try to recreate for the summer.  Especially the tank top:

Notice a theme?  I must like ruffles or something.  I think I'm going to start with the tank top.  It's racer back, and except for that, the tank I'm wearing today kinda has the same shape.  How hard is it to make a racer back, ruffles and an asymmetrical hem?

But then, how hard is it to keep an apartment clean?  I keep trying, but I just can't seem to master that one.

Goodbye Mall, Hello Brother!

I <3 a good challenge.  I think this love of challenge comes from being a middle child.  My unfortunate order meant everything was a competition growing up.  I didn't get to do things first, or last, so to make my mark, I had to do them. ....better or at least memorable. Now that I'm an adult, I love challenges because they force me to stir up my competitive spirit in the fight against laziness.  In complete self honesty, I battle laziness every day.  Especially, when it comes to work, cleaning, moving, etc.

Yesterday, the hubs and I went to the mall.  Getting him to the mall with me is a battle in itself. But, I fought hard for mall time, and I won.  I was planning on getting some work clothes for summer.  I ended up finding one dress.  One plain black dress.  Hubby, he did much better, he got two pairs of pants and two shirts.  I was so downtrodden (great word right?).

After much contemplation, I realized, I see clothes that I like but am just so unwilling to pay for them.  I have some pretty expensive taste.  I decided I'm going to challenge myself to make what I wear.  So, for at least a month, I'm not going to buy any new clothes.  I'm going to make what I need to wear either from scratch or from re purposing. This should be fun....

Beiber Fever Rampant in Massachusetts

Yesterday, hubby and I took his little sister to the Taylor Swift concert at Gillette.  Being the fabulous brother and sister-in-law we are, we had given her the tickets as a Christmas present.  She loves Taylor Swift.  Conveniently, I love Taylor Swift as well.  I am happy to report, that in the entire concert, there was  only one song I didn't know the words to.

It was really a fully rounded day of concert going.  I had gone to the mall and gotten a new outfit in hopes to fit in with the teenage crowd.  I'm not sure it worked.  It was so hot, I feel like my skirt got bigger....or it was too big to start with..or I just have an awkwardly sized body.  The world will never know.

We loaded up the car early. Got lil sis and headed down to Foxboro.  Did hubby think that he may possibly run into Tom Brady?  Yes.  Did he have a special conversation in his head all prepared for if this did happen?  Yes.  (On behalf of the people of Massachusetts  I would like to thank you for all you have given to us and the organization.  Also, I would like to ask; how are you wife and children?).

The little propane grill was broken out, and burgers and dogs were cooked.  Honestly, this may have made the oppressive heat even worse.   Two cars down from us a little girl had decided that it was too hot to wear her shirt.  While this may have been true....I wish men and little children wouldn't feel the need to flaunt in front of me that they can go topless whenever they want....when I can't (without being a stripper/super inappropriate).  It's selfish, I know....but that's just the way it is.

Around 5 we headed into the stadium.  The first act, Gloriana, started at 6.  Then Kellie Pickler, Justin Bieber, and Taylor.  I can't tell you how many Mrs. Bieber shirts I saw.  I kinda felt like I was at a New Kids on the Block Concert back in the day.  The girl two seats down from me nearly broke a capillary screaming over the 15 year old Canadian god.  It was intense.  I know all the words to some of the Beib's songs.  So did I sign along and scream as loud as I could to try to embarass lil sis?  ABSOLUTELY!

Tay Tay came on just after dark.  I think she may have been a little overwhelmed by Gillette Stadium.  Cause she kept staring at us just looking, and then turned around and did her thing. It was awkward at times....but all in all, it was a good concert...really good.

My favorite part of the concert, other than trying to convince my sister in law that eating flattened Mike and Ike's will help to reduce stomach bloat (really...I don't know what's wrong with me.  I blame it on my IT job and my lack of creative outlet), was hubby singing along in my ear.  Somehow, he got wasted without my internal "hubbys drinking too much" red flag going up.  He usually has a lovely voice...but last night, he just had a really loud, off pitch, drunk voice.

It was, as Taylor would say, the "best day".

One day later...unfortunately, we're a day closer to work, and I can't ignore that my apartment needs to be cleaned anymore..  Well.....after  I go to the mall for a few of course.

The Recovery and Reinventment Project .......Take Two!

Looks like I haven't posted on the blog since....what...November. One hell of a project I've got going here huh? Geez.

Well, lets bring you up to speed, since I've decided to give it another go. And, don't worry...I promise, I'll actually update this time. Not that anyone is actually still reading...

Since my last blog entry, in bulletted (is that even a word?), short story format:

• I did reorganize my pantry......it's kinda cluttered again...but still very organized.

• I've spent considerable (I mean considerable) amounts of time with the MBTA. (Ps. I have a few suggestions....especially about the Green Line D Train service).

• The job has gone from "Love it", to "Like it", to "ugh", to "AAAAH". Now, it's just "please hold me while I cry gently on your shoulder and you tell me that everything is going to be okay."

• I've lost all my Post Disney World pounds !!! While the Free Disney Dining Plan was definitely economical it wasn't really waistline friendly. Sadly, I'm still about 10 pounds away from getting into my pre wedding, pre all inclusive vacation clothes (and being able to breathe).

• Miles Run: Over 80
  
• Books Read: Probably about 40.
  
• Pants hemmed: 2
  
• Clothes made: 1 shirt, 1 dress mended.
• Fallen down the stairs: once, outside....it hurt.
  

• And finally, I've tried, and failed, to live like an adult several times. And by live like an adult I mean, clean the apartment and take care of my clothes on a regular basis like real adults do. Isn't 28 still considered in your teenage years now?

Now, I wish that I had something incredibly catchy to write about. Something that would steal tons of people's interest. Something that would propel my blog into the blog stratosphere, and align myself with the blogging greats like Julie Powell. But, alas, I'm not a jilted lover who is going to see how many ways they can use their ex's wedding dress, nor did I find an adorable baby animal of some sort to photo-document on my property. All I've got is a semi -catchy (though I really did steal most of it from our President) blog title, some craftiness, and my stories about my life. Hopefully, that's enough to give me a chance.

My co-workers, the ones I talk to, think my life is a sitcom. Come to think of it, this makes a lot of sense, since my hasty arrival to this world came while my parents were watching "All Creatures Great and Small". If that's not humor, I don't know what is. (god I hate that show)

Chat with you soon....I promise....