It’s been a month and a half of living with Alan. I’ve lived with him once before, four years ago but we were still just platonic friends at that time. He was one of the best roommates I’ve had but we were not sharing a bathroom or bedroom. Shoot, we didn’t have to share a closet! It’s a world of a difference living with him now than it was living with him then.

There was a bit of a culture shock at first. He was shocked I had so much stuff, namely shoes. I am still recovering from the fact that he does not like to sleep with a flat sheet. I knew this about him after years of spending nights at his place, but there’s still some adjusting needed when his bed is also now my bed. There’s no “coming home” to a well-made bed complete with flat sheet after spending a weekend with him. I am already home! Also, there might have been a few incidents where I freaked out about napkins.

Yeah, not pretty.

It’s not all compromises though. There are perks. I don’t have to carry around a clean pair of undies in my purse for spontaneous overnight stays. (This has saved me embarrassment when I dig frantically through my purse for my elusive wallet.) He eats more home-cooked meals. I have easy access to hugs and kisses. His collection of chick flicks has quadrupled. I have more updated news on football. I mean, the list can go on for quite a bit.

All in all, I find cohabitation a great move (ha!) for us. We have grown as a team as our shared responsibilities have increased. I cook and he does the dishes. He takes care of our dog and I do the laundry (he does some folding.) We each pay different bills and come together at the end of the month to work out the gritty details and expenses. We indulge in date nights once a week and eat at the kitchen table at home instead of the coffee table. Perhaps most importantly, being in each other’s space all the time has helped improved our communication.

I’m just very grateful for him and proud of how we’ve navigated living together so far. After deciding to share a place, I remember being terrified about us crumbling. (I have this fear about moving in with all my past roommates.) I’m so happy to report no one has lost any appendages and we’re still loving on each other.

I’m looking forward to creating more memories in our home.

Starting with tonight, since it’s his birthday!

I had my birthday celebration with friends over the weekend. We saw Friends with Benefits at the Alamo Drafthouse and then just mingled over drinks. I went to bed incredibly late both Friday and Saturday (think 4-6am). Sunday, Brandi cooked dinner for me and made orange chocolate cupcakes (heavenly!) and we watched Sweet Bird of Youth, another Tennessee Williams movie to close our spree of 4 Tennessee Williams movies.

So ends the month of July and today is the first day of August and VEDA (Vlog Everyday of August). I recorded my video already but experimented with doing it with my new smartphone. I can’t seem to get it uploaded through the networks at work. I’ll figure out the upload later today and embed both today and tomorrow’s on the blog tomorrow. Or you can watch for it today by subscribing to my Youtube channel.

If I were to describe my weekend in just one word, I’d use “convivial.”

I’m 28 years old today.

Last year on my birthday, I shared with you, 27 Life Lessons I Learned by the Age of 27. This year, on my 28th birthday, I present to you, 28 Life Lessons from 28 People. I hope you makes you smile and laugh like it did me.

Many many thanks to my sweet friends who took time out of their schedules to record their tokens of wisdom. I had more than 28 submissions, so thank you to Kym, Davey, Valerie, Will, Rogue, and Thomas for their contributions. They’re not in the video but may have inspired me to make a sequel soon.

If you cannot view the video, you can find transcription and credits below.

1. Always have a can of Raid handy. – Naz
2. My bit of advice: Take care of your feet. – Mef
3. It’s okay to act like a kid. Wee wee wee! – Alyssa
4. A healthy person works out 3 times a week. – Tony
5. Learn to cook or find someone who does. – Suki (Twitter)
6. So going forward in your life, it’s very crucial that you listen to yourself and don’t give two craps about what other people think about you. Do your thing and do it for why you do it. And enjoy it. – Treavor (Twitter) (Youtube)
7. You should listen to both sides of a story. – Ali
8. By Robert Frost: In three words I can sum up life: it goes on. – Abby
9. You know when you’ve done something excellent. Don’t ever let anybody else take you down a peg and tell you that what you’ve done is substandard. – Nic (Twitter) (Youtube)
10. To quote Maya Angelou, when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. (Not the 39th time) – Kim
11. The saying is, “Ignorance is bliss.” I don’t think ignorance is bliss. Holding the truth to make them happy, can only make you unhappy in the end. – Adam (Twitter)
12. Everything looks and feels better after a good night of sleep. So sleep, dammnit. – Nicole (Twitter)
13. Never skip out on breakfast. It helps increase your energy level and metabolism. – Alan
14. Enjoy your day. Take time out and enjoy your day. You’re going to have bad days, don’t get me wrong. I have bad days, I mean, this hair for one. But if you try not to worry about the little things and just go into today and have the BEST day you can possibly have, I think your life is going to ultimately be that much better. – Ian (Youtube)
15. My momma always says the only thing that matters is people. – Andrew
16. One life changing lesson I recently learned, is acceptance. When I started to accept that every person, thing, and situation is exactly the way it’s supposed to be at this moment, I was able to let go of my tight grip of the world and become a happier person. – Brandi
17. If you’re on a flight of stairs, keep your hands out of your pockets. If you’re clumsy like me, you’ll end up in the ER with 6 stitches. – Cindy (Twitter)
18. Anything worth doing, is worth doing poorly. For example, I can’t sing, but I do it anyway. – Michael
19. The only thing that you can control is your training; you have no control over your opponent. – Deesh
20. The one thing my parents have always taught me, was balance. Balance yourself physically, mentally, and spirtually. -Thinh
21. If you have to take a poo and a shower. Make sure you poo before you shower. – Sae
22. If I were to give you some advice, I would say that if you ever plan on picking your nose, try not to pick your nose after eating some Flaming Hot Cheetos. – Willis
23. Never talk while you’re eating because that’s just rude. – Jason
24. Chocolate is always the answer. – Monica
25. Don’t be afraid to satisfy your sweet tooth. – Karen
26. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. – Elisa
27. (Translated) Learn a foreign language – Bing
28. The best way to make sure you have a great day is make sure your day has 4 elements: Novelty, Beauty, Growth, and Love. If you get those four things everyday, you’ll probably have a good time. – Neville

The majority of my weekend was spent with Totes Awesome Channel’s Ashley, AshleyD, and Nicole. It was the sort of weekend that leaves you dazed (the good kind of dazed) on Monday morning.

I’m was honored and grateful to not only meet these girls, but see how close and sweet on each other they are. I have a soft spot for very close group friendships and love watching from the outside like the nosy voyeur that I am, but what stunned me even more is that these girls met online! They have this sisterhood that spans more than just the three of them, and they see each other sometimes more than they see their family members, and know secret stories that don’t broadcast on their blogs. I’m just amazed by their dynamic. It’s a joy to be around and I was thankful to share some of these moments with them.

We caught a performance of Footloose at Zilker Park (my new thing last week.)

We blogged, baked, and tweeted. Made a dessert mountain that was chocolate chip cookie layered under Oreos, layered under brownie, layered under hot fudge sauce. Yes. Here’s the link for recipe.

We brunched.

I also managed to squeeze in a coffee reading date with my friend Davey.

Not pictured from this weekend but too special not to mention are a dinner with Alan’s family celebrating my birthday early and 7 straight hours of Dawson’s Creek.

If I were to describe my weekend in one word, I’d say “special.”

It’s that time of year again! I share with you my personal recap of 2010. This year was much better than 2009 (which was much worse than my 2008). It was a year of recovery and regaining balance. I feel very fondly of 2010 but I’m ready to embrace 2011. Bring it!

Note: All links open in a new window.

January 2010

• Rung in the new year with Alan, Jen, and friends.
• Started a book club.
• I finally organized my books.
• An old high school and college classmate randomly invited me to Gourdough’s. I’ve since had 13 of their donuts.
• Made a cooking video with my mom. Significant because it’s the most popular youtube video I’ve posted with over 10,000 views.

Celebrating New Year’s Eve

February 2010

• Will came to visit from Dallas.
• Launched a separate food blog.
• Sent out Valentine cards and socks.
• Had a Valentine’s Date with Alan at Joe DiMaggio’s and received beautiful flowers from Cindy and a lovingly abusive voice mail from Jon.
• Progressive meal in Houston that took us to three restaurants for one meal.
• Organized a trip to San Antonio to eat a 42 inch pizza.
• Spotted a car hoarder. This blog entry got a lot of Austin search hits.
• First real book club meeting. Discussed The Shack.
• Despite all of the above, it was still a tough month.

March 2010

• Watched An Education by myself.
• Had a crawfish broil.
• Went to Austin’s first annual Bacon Takedown!
• Participated in a food blogger’s workshop, called TechMunch during SXSW.
• Celebrated two years with Alan.

Crawfish Boil

April 2009

• Saw Anthony Bourdain speak!!!
• Went to Houston for my daddy’s birthday.
• I piped my first cake (disaster) and saw the famed albino squirrel at the University of Texas.
• Posted my first video blog.

May 2010

• Made my first lasagna.
• Learned to be more careful. More specifically, not to roam gas stations at night.
• Treated Alan and myself to a date with Conan.
• I ate a double down.
• Austin Wine Festival with Brittany.

The back of Conan

June 2010

• Went canoeing for the first time.
• Moved out of my 2 bedroom apartment which I shared with Brandi and into a 1 bedroom by my lonesome. Meanwhile, Brandi moved to Dallas for culinary school.
• Started a weekly writing exercise with my best friend.
• Celebrated Brittany’s birthday at a bingo hall.
• I ran into the same cat, dog, and mouse that I had previously first seen in San Francisco the year prior.
• Saw Anthony Bourdain speak for the second time this year. Also had the pleasure of meeting him. And touching his tricep.

July 2010

• Celebrated Fourth of July poolside and downtown.
• Seriously started to write letters and my pen pals actually wrote back.
• Hosted a girls’ weekend. Alex and Hillary drove in from Houston and San Angelo and we ate, drank, and were merry.
• Celebrated my 27th birthday with two celebrations. An one-on-one date at a fabulous new sushi restaurant and then a group birthday with a handful of friends.
• Jon who flew down and was able to make it to my birthday dinner, was in town an extra day and we spent all day eating, drinking, and being merry.

Jon and Me at my Birthday Dinner

August 2010

• Participated in VEDA and met some wonderful people.
• I vlogged my scoliosis scar which was a difficult feat for me.
• I had my heart broken by someone dear to me.
• Participated in an attempt to set a world record of most amount of people icing cupcakes at one time.
• Finished my 21st book of 2010 : A Man Without a Country. One of my favorites.
• Went to Houston to celebrate Aishah’s 27th birthday.

Aishah’s 27th Birthday

September 2010

• Alan took me to see Joe Rogan!
• Went to the wedding of Alan’s childhood friends.
• Finished Reading Cook’s Tour by Antony Bourdain. My 28th book of 2010.
• Made Bucatini All’ Amatriciana , my favorite recipe of the year.

Me & Joe Rogan

October 2010

• I planned and organized a regional conference for work.
• My dude turned 26! We celebrated for over a week.
• Tried my first absinthe.
• My half sister whom I haven’t seen in over ten years found me on Facebook.
• Dressed up as a cop for Halloween.
• Auditioned for a travel reality TV show after receiving an email from a casting director. I took Neville as possible partner and he totally outshone me.
• A close friend’s brother died unexpectedly. Being with her has been a top priority whenever I’m in Houston. I’ve grown deeper in love for and with her.
• Tried out Breakfast Klub, a culinary highlight in 2010.

November 2010

• Voted!
• Went to Austin’s first trailer park food festival.
• I posted a blog post everyday in November as part of Nablopomo.
• Walked Race for the Cure with Brittany and raised over 500 dollars for breast cancer research.
• Saw Louis C.K. thanks to lovely boyfriend.
• Saw old friends in Houston over Thanksgiving.
• I listed 100 things I am thankful for.
• Sent out Thanksgiving Day cards
• Joined the Sketchbook Project.

Brittany & Me at Race for the Cure

December 2010

• Participated in Reverb10.
• Road trip to Oklahoma! Why Oklahoma? To cross off another state.
• Attended annual Christmas Party for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America with my little and her cousin. This is our third year in attendance!
• Had hot pot on Christmas day twice. Lunch with Mary Ellen and her mom and her brother, and dinner with my own family. I did exactly this last year for Christmas!
• Tomorrow’s plan is to party on a rooftop downtown in celebration of a new and fresh year. A stretch Hummer may have been rented.

Annual Christmas Party with my Little

That was my year! I’m happy to have shared it with you and have your support, comments, and readership. It means an awful lot to me. Thank you!

photo credit

It’s my best friend’s birthday today. 13 years of friendship. 10 years of it a best friendship. She’s lived in Boston for quite some time now. Now that she’s bought a grown up house, it looks like there’s a likely chance that we won’t ever live in the same state again. Except maybe when we are little old ladies moving into the same nursing home. In the meantime, we make due by sharing everything mentally (I like to call her, my brain) and seeing each other at Christmas and occasional visits. We’ve agreed to visit each other once a year, alternating our states. I start next year so I can see her new house.

I like to marvel at the scope of our shared experiences. She’s literally been my refuge after major break ups, offering up her miles and and East Coast home. I’ve seen her meet, date, and marry her boo. I have a random memory of her as a 1st grader with boogers in her nose from when we crossed paths as munchkins. I’ve grown to fiercely love her family and her husband. We’ve walked each other through familial falling outs. We bumped heads repeatedly as teenagers. We’ve traveled to Europe together. Hell, we once invited a strange man into our hotel room as high school students just to hang out and managed to not get sexually assaulted or killed. It’s just been quite a ride with this girl and I cannot wait to see where our lives take us. I always know we’re going to be okay because we have each other.

I love her and am wishing her the best birthday. :)

A batch of my friends have been turning 27 this year. Aishah joined the club this weekend. Saturday night, I met her up with her little sister and another high school friend. It’s hard to feel old when you’re eating birthday cotton candy and sipping Prosecco.

Do you see that flute? 5 seconds after this picture I flung it at the poor little sister (whom I see as my little sister too). Which explains the next picture…

I sorry.

What a full weekend! Friday night (pictured above), I had a birthday get together at a Mediterranean restaurant and then a handful of us hopped over next door to smoke hookah and play chess over some beers. (I stuck to my mint green tea). Saturday, I spent the day in my fat pants with Jon and ate at all the places he missed while living in NYC. Then I gave back by offering my designated driver services and went out downtown Saturday night. Even rubbed elbows with Brittany who joined us. The last time I was downtown with Brittany was about 2 years ago. Finally, Sunday was spent doing chores, cooking, and recovering from a fantastically full weekend. I miss Jon already :(.

Now it’s Monday. I started my day off with breakfast burritos courtesy of a sweet boyfriend and then picking up coffee at a drive-thru, which led to me spilling it all over my white ensemble. Oi. Happy Monday.

Every Friday I post a 7 Quick Takes entry and was going to do the same this morning but realized I left my camera USB cord at home, making it impossible to share dance videos (not of me) and birthday pictures I was planning on sharing for 3 of the takes. Next week, it’s back on. I’m having a pretty happy birthday this year. Had a one on one birthday date with zee boyfriend at a DELICIOUS new restaurant in town. Last night was spent downtown after a night of comedy. Finally tonight, the last leg of celebrations include my birthday dinner with friends. I can’t wait to see them. Jon, my best dude friend is down for the weekend! He’s instructed me to put on my “fat” pants because he plans on eating Austin, Texas in 60 hours.

Being 27, isn’t that bad. I did have to do some reprogramming. I still feel young enough to think 28 is old. Must readjust my perspective. As my best friend’s mom said, we’re no longer spring chickens.

Summer chicken it is.

I was bummed this morning when I fished in my purse for my USB cord and couldn’t find it. What am I supposed to post now, I thought? I then logged on and saw that the lovely Suki @ Super Duper Fantastic gave me the Cherry on Top Award.

The award has three contingencies.

1) Answer this question that Tasha posed: “If you had the chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?”

I think I would become a Computer Science major instead of minor. Instead of majoring in Biology and Philosophy with a minor in CS, I would have tried: Double majoring in Computer Science and Biology and no minor. I enjoyed the taste of programming I had and think it would have been easier to look for jobs. But mainly because I liked the act of programming. The sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing and debugging a program and having everything work well was addicting.

2) Pick six people to pass the award on to. Their blog should be truly deserving.
ME @ Knitting for Bears, Brenda @ Numbered Confessions, Neville @ Neville’s Financial Blog (even though he’s probably not going to do it), Cindy @ Dorkyme.curious-notions.net, Martin @ This Rugged Life, A.J. @ Read A.J.

3) Thank the person who gave you the award, in the form of a comment on this post.

Done!