Category: the not so single life

2011 in Review

December 29th, 2011 · · Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America, Bob, creative play, holidays, Houston, lists, love, memory, misadventures, silver screen, Stars of my Life, still-frames, the not so single life 29 comments - Tags: , , , , , , ,

I’ve posted yearly recaps since 2008. I’m a stickler for tradition so here’s my recap for 2011.

Previous years: 2008, 2009, 2010

I had a good year.

Note: All links open in a new window.

January

February

  • It snowed.
  • I didn’t see Alan often because of his work.
  • BDF (Best Dudie Friend) visited Austin! This ended up being the only time I saw him this year.
  • BDF surprised me with cookies. His note gets me Google search hits that make me a little sad.
  • Sent out Valentine cards and socks to my girlfriends.


    • Alan and I hanging out

March

  • Alan took me to my first NBA game, Heat vs. Spurs.
  • BFF had cake balls delivered to me at work.
  • My solemate (deliberate misspelling) visited Austin.
  • Went to Austin’s 2nd Annual Bacon Takedown.
  • Went to Sketchbook Project 2011 tour stop in Austin.
  • Hosted my first giveaway on the blog.
  • Attended a free screening and Q&A with director of Meaning of Tea, a fantastic documentary about tea. Really!
  • Alan and I had a two part dinner to celebrate our three year anniversary at Haddington’s and Uchiko (my favorite restaurant).
  • Attended Austin Food Blogger’s Alliance Launch Party and applied for membership.
  • March was a turning point in my life. I faced myself in therapy. I’m still reaping the benefits.


    • At Sketchbook Project event

April

May

  • I got bangs impulsively, changing my do for the first time in 5 years.
  • Took a canoe trip with coworkers, facing a handful of irrational fears very reluctantly. Obviously, I survived.
  • I participated in Leo’s Habit Course and developed a palate for vegetables by eating one serving a day for 30 days.
  • Flew to Boston to see BFF. We drove to New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island, all three were states I’ve never visited.
  • Read 8 books this month.
  • Totes Awesome Channel was founded.


June

  • Went home to Houston for Father’s Day.
  • Rolled down a hill inside of a ball.
  • I hit a boulder with my car. I always hit non-moving objects. Anyway, this was the start of a chain of bumper problems during the rest of the year.
  • I hemmed my first dress! As part of my new year’s resolutions, I wanted to do 10 learning tasks with sewing. This was my first major lesson.
  • Went to third Annual Cupcake Smackdown

July

  • Met Ashley D, Ashley, and Nicole of Totes Awesome Channel and recorded a vlog.
  • Celebrated my 28th birthday simply with a dinner with Alan and then a movie and drinks with friends.
  • Made my favorite video: 28 Life Lessons from 28 People (for my 28th birthday).
  • I caught up to 2007 and got my first smart phone!
  • My friend, Naz surprised me with a vlog from my dad.
  • I got really cozy with Tennessee Williams and his movies. Cat on Hot Tin Roof is excellent!


    • Celebrating my birthday

August

  • Successfully completed VEDA despite being out of town twice and moving!
  • Met up Hillary and Alex in Dallas for our second girls’ weekend of the year.
  • Moved in with Alan.
  • Used my passport for the first time since renewing it 2007. Alan and I took a vacation to Vancouver, Canada, my new favorite city.
  • Saw the bats in Austin for the first time.


    • In front of the Vancouver Aquarium

September

October

November

  • Posted a blog post everyday in November.
  • Ran two blocks of a 5k for Race for the Cure and raised 460 dollars. Thanks to a lot of you!
  • Went to Texas Renaissance Festival with Brandi and Jessica. It was our third year going and we decided to only do new things. We threw knives, shot bow and arrows, and had our face painted. It was the first time I’ve ever had my face painted!
  • Had my second blogger date with Treavor.
  • Attended a We Are Girls conference with my little. It was incredibly insightful.
  • Had a Thanksgiving picnic with friends at the park. We threw a whole cooler’s worth of ice cubes into an enormous fountain, to create ripples, to help push a soccer ball to a sad toddler across the fountain. We were successful.
  • Had a progressive meal day with Kim, Thomas, and friends.
  • During breaks between eats, we made paper cranes for Kim’s tree.
  • My bumper nearly killed Kim and me and got us murdered in the woods.
  • Made our sparkly tattoos dance.


December

  • I decide to like Christmas. I discovered it took more energy disliking it than it does to give into the cheer.
  • Partcipated in Austin Food Blogger’s food swap.
  • I was without a car the whole time I was in Houston for Christmas (the bumper needed to be replaced) and was touched to have friends pick me up for dates.
  • Sewed couch pillows with help from mom.
  • Hosting a “Never Have We Ever” dinner party tonight. Post to come!


    • Bob hanging out with snowman

In writing this post, I realized this year was really sweet for relationships. It may have a lot to do with my prioritizing close friends over acquaintances and then learning to set boundaries. Recently, I’ve been in a funk about not having a life’s calling but I have to say, I’m really content with my tribe. Word on the street is that it’s the relationships that really matter.

Wishing you a terrific end of year celebration! Lots of love!


Question: What happened this year with you?

Cohabitation

October 6th, 2011 · · Birthdays, the not so single life 31 comments

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!


Questions: Thoughts on cohabitation? What are your experiences? Any Life Lessons learned from cohabiting?

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 58)

September 9th, 2011 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), Bob, new thing(s) of the week, the not so single life 21 comments - Tags: ,


1.

This week on Totes Awesome Channel, the other girls seem to be recouping from VEDA but Nicole and I thought we’d still upload videos.


Youtube Link

For those without video capabilities, I talk about how this week I feel particularly old for two reasons. My high school ten year reunion is this weekend and as a child I thought only old people went to their high school reunion. The second reason: I received an unexpected lecture from a new doctor about how I should start planning for kids soon since after the age of 35, it gets biologically much more difficult for women. The verbal assault lasted up to 5 minutes and was neatly closed with a, “7 years will pass really quickly!” Thanks, doctor!

P.S. Please subscribe to our channel or my personal one!


2.

Speaking of high school reunions, it’s not going to be so crazy to see the bunch of girls (I went to a private all girl’s school) who can make it this weekend. For starters, most of us are friends on Facebook and still close friends with a handful of each other. When I stalk them on Facebook, it’s so refreshing to see other classmates in their wedding photos or vacation photos. My BFF is a HS classmate. I lived with two HS classmates during and after college. Just yesterday, I talked to 5 of the 48 girls. As a class, we had such a special time ten years ago. To be secluded from guys during the school hours and have just 47 other classmates in one of the largest cities in the country kind of sets you up to have deep special bonds.

I’d love for my daughters (if I’m lucky to birth kids since apparently my eggs days are numbered!) to go to my high school.


3.

Kind of smokey in Houston and Austin. If you’re in the giving mood, Bastrop, Texas could use some of your help. If you’re the praying kind, please pray of the people who lost their homes and that we get some much needed rain.


4.

For the month of September, I’m making a conscious effort to sleep 30 hours a work week and 14 hours on the weekends. So far I haven’t met quota on my week nights, but averaging 5 hours a night is still better than the recent average of 4 hours. Still working hard at this.


5.


Bob has opened up and is such a mischievous puppy now! I find that I break out in hives when he licks or scratches me and they only happen at areas of contact. I don’t want to give him up so I’ve been wearing jeans when I remember to at home and trying to train him not to lick me or jump on me. He’s just too cute!


6.


It’s almost been a full month of living with a boyfriend. It was a bit rough adjusting at first and I found that I’m a little bit of a control freak. It’s starting to feel comfortable and I like it. He’s made me breakfast two times this week!


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ walking Bob with Alan ♥ Alan making me breakfast before work ♥ not waiting so long for a doctor’s visit ♥ tater tots ♥ emails from Kim ♥ my first Indian market experience ♥ planning out a progressive meal in Houston ♥ by planning I mean, letting Thomas plan it for us ♥ Watching Crazy, Stupid, Love with Alan ♥ making my first curry even if it didn’t turn out fantastic ♥ free dinner because dearest Naz has a funny habit of buying Groupons and then not being around when they expire


Question: What are some of your favorite memories from high school?

What About Bob?

September 5th, 2011 · · Bob, the not so single life 31 comments - Tags:

Over the weekend, Alan and I visited a couple of dog shelters and looked for our dog, we had already named Bob. We didn’t commit to any dog yet and the next day, we went grocery shopping. As we were walking into the grocery store we both caught sight of an adoption booth with some dogs on site next door. That is where we met our Bob. Within 10 minutes we signed the adoption papers.

Bob is between 6 and 9 months old. Most likely, Bob had been abused. He loves his kennel and is terrified of leaving our apartment and even more scared of going up and down stairs. He doesn’t quite understand the game of fetch and loves to wiggle between your legs and flopping down between your feet when out. This makes walking difficult. He likes to chew on sandals and doesn’t beg. His tail is usually between his legs but we already live to see it out and wagging.

In just a couple of days, there have been already a lot of progress. He went from having to be carried up and down stairs, to being able to make it up when carried halfway.

Meet Bob. We already love Bob.

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 56)

August 19th, 2011 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), the not so single life, VEDA, videos 23 comments - Tags: , , ,


1.

This week on Totes Awesome Channel, we disclose some of our Secret Single Behavior. Coined by Sex and the City, Secret Single Behavior is what you do that you don’t want anyone seeing.


Youtube Link

For those without video capabilities, I like to do my grooming in private (plucking, pore strips, teeth whitening strips, and nail clipping) and also I revert to lots of Korean ramen when I eat at home by myself. There’s a bonus bit for those who can watch.


2.

Today’s VEDA (Vlog Everyday in August) topic is to talk about some of our controversial beliefs.


Youtube Link

I’m Anti-Capital Punishment, Pro-Choice, and Pro-Gay Marriage. Let’s still be friends?


3.

I haven’t yet linked and embedded the videos from Tuesday through Thursday. You can catch them on my channel. Or! Here are the individual links: Books, Vlog to Future Self, and my laminated list.


4.

Last week I got my sketchbook from Sketch Book Project 2012 in the mail. The dust from the move hasn’t settled and we’re gearing up for a vacation but I cannot wait to get started. This will be my 2nd year participating. Here’s the post I did about SKP touring Austin in March (with links to some of my sketches).


My Sketchbook and Me during Austin Tour, March 2011


5.

Vancouver in 6 days! What’s on the agenda there? So far nothing!


6.


We didn’t have hot water til Wednesday. We still don’t have internet or cable but here’s hoping (for real this time) we’ll get them Sunday.


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ every time I flatten a box and put it outside our apartment to be picked up ♥ trash valet Sundays – Thursdays ♥ the first hot shower after not having hot water for 4 days ♥ admitting that it was worth the money to have a cleaning lady do the last clean of my old apartment ♥ data plan ♥ Alan surprising me with True Blood ♥ phone calls to my BFF freaking out and her reassuring that what I’m freaking out about is normal ♥ watching Alan kill a fly ♥ seeing Brandi twice in one week despite moving 30 minutes further away ♥ making a healthy slow-cooker meal ♥ making it through last weekend and this week


Question: Tell me something weird about yourself?

Friday Quick Takes (vol 55)

August 12th, 2011 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), the not so single life 22 comments - Tags: , , ,


1.

This week on Totes Awesome Channel, we talk about who we would like in our Breakfast Club Saturday detention.


Youtube Link

Planning this vlog was the most fun I’ve had in my history of making vlogs. I came up with this list with my BFF and I totally manipulated the reasoning behind each stereotype for 4 of the 5 people in my Breakfast Club. The one that actually fits the stereotype was not even my choice but my BFF’s substitute. I chose Michael Jordan for my jock and she instantly balked, “What are you, 40?!” She exchanged him for Kevin Garnett, a basketball player for the Celtics who is just as good looking and bald.

So here’s my Breakfast Club.

Jock = Kevin Garnet (only legit answer)

Princess = Ryan Gosling (He’s really not a princess in attitude as far as I can tell, but he sure is pretty!)

Brain = Bill Clinton (I think he’s so sexy and would love to have him in my BC. So if charisma and saxophone playing count for intelligence, then he is my Brain.)

Criminal = Anthony Bourdain (What? LSD and cocaine are illegal.)

Basket Case = Eric Northman (He’d normally be classified as the Criminal but he’s currently a basket case in True Blood because he lost all his memory.)


2.

Today’s VEDA (Vlog Everyday in August) topic is what we wish someone had told us. I also tacked on my first walk through of the apartment I’m moving into TOMORROW. (Don’t ask me if I’m close to done packing.)


Youtube Link

I wish someone had told me a BA in Philosophy is useless and a BA in Biology is only slightly useful. I wish someone had told me a minor is CS isn’t quite useful either because it’s not deep enough. I wish someone had told me to major in CS or in engineering.


3.

I slacked on posting the VEDA videos from yesterday and day before. You can catch them on my channel. Or! Here are the individual links: We talked about TV shows (♥ Sex and the City, True Blood, Ally Mcbeal) and things we’re awful at doing.


4.


I was in stitches discussing the Breakfast Club in Take 1 with BFF. Here are some snippets of our conversation. (Broken into two takes)

Me:
Michael Jordan for jock!

BFF:
No. NO!

Me:
I love black and bald!

BFF:
What are you, 40?

Me:
Michael Jordan!? He’s perfect. He’s hot. Space Jam! Hello!?


* * *

Me:
Oprah can be my princess. She’s TV royalty. She’s more a queen
but lets downgrade her.

BFF:
What happened to Gosling? Are you kicking him out?

Me:
He’s the hottie. Is there a hotite? No hottie?

BFF:
There’s no hottie.

Me:
NO HOTTIE?


5.


Re: Ally McBeal as a basket case.

Me:
I don’t like her. I just relate to her. Hmm. This says something.


* * *


BFF:
Eric Northman, Ryan Gosling, Bill Clinton, Anthony Bourdain, and Kevin Garnett

Me:
Can I tell Youtube I might need a change of undies?

BFF:
Yes.


6.

I’m moving tomorrow at 8 am. I’m not nearly done packing so it might be another late night tonight. There are things I’m going to miss. Living close to most of my local girl friends. It’s really fun to drive just a few minutes and be able to sit in front of the TV with Brandi. I had some great friends who didn’t have to drive too far even though they live just north outside Austin. I’m going to miss my library and seeing Deesh’s brother who works at that branch every other week. I’m going to miss my gas station cashier.

However, I’m also looking forward to starting a new chapter. I’ve only lived with one male roommate ever, and it was Alan. We lived together as platonic friends so it’s kind of neat to now live with him as a boyfriend. I’ve never done this before but I’m excited to learn and grow.


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ helping Alan pack up his apartment, the conversations and bossing him around were super fun ♥ conversation with my BFF coming up with my Breakfast Club companions ♥ conversation with my coworkers who called me out on stretching all the stereotypes for my Breakfast Club just to have dreamy men around me ♥ email from Brandi reminding me to be selfish sometimes ♥ smartphone! ♥ coffee ♥ waking up 2 hours late and still finding a parking space (typically impossible) and still being on time to work ♥ air conditioning ♥ VEDA ♥ Totes Awesome Channel this week ♥ bubble wrap


Question: Who would you want in your Breakfast Club?

Ten Reasons Why I Feel Out of Sorts

June 28th, 2011 · · lists, pursuit of happiness, quotations, the grind, the not so single life, wanderlust 39 comments

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart
and try to love the questions themselves,
like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue.
Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you
because you would not be able to live them.
And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now.
Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it,
live along some distant day into the answer.”
— Rainer Maria Rilke


 

 

  1. I’ve been sick since Saturday. Complete with fever and three days of the sweats and shivers. It not only has ruined my weekend but I can’t stop hacking.

  2. I haven’t kissed Alan in about three weeks. First he was sick, and now I’m sick.

  3. I don’t know where I’m living come August. In a week it’ll be a month from move-out date. I’m moving in with Alan. We only started looking last weekend. We can look again this weekend for places, but next weekend I won’t even be in town.

  4. I turn 28 in exactly a month.

  5. I don’t know how much my new bumper will cost me. I’m taking it to a body shop in Houston next weekend.

  6. I haven’t had coffee in 4 days.

  7. A trip to Canada is suddenly a strong possibility and real soon. Not knowing when and when to ask off is throwing me off.

  8. There’s a lot going on in the upcoming weekends that are inherently fun. Hello? A mini girl’s trip to Dallas? Meeting some Totes Awesome Channel vloggers? Going to Canada? Turning 28? Celebrating mom’s birthday? Moving in with a boyfriend for the first time? It’s just the back to back weekends that are overwhelming me. I have to constantly remind myself that the anxiety comes from juggling very good things.

  9. Not having a spending plan in place for the second half of the year. Without knowing what my rent will look like or how much a dog will cost us, I have no idea what the paycheck breakdown will look like. Oh yes, we’re looking at dogs too.

  10. I haven’t been saving for at least 3 months. I’m such an automatic saver but with car troubles this year and a fun trip to Boston, I haven’t been putting anything in the savings account. This makes me feel a little wonky.


Question: What helps you when you feel wonky?

Three Year Anniversary

March 12th, 2011 · · love, the not so single life 10 comments - Tags: , ,

Yesterday was Alan’s and my three year anniversary and he sent me flowers to my workplace.

Then, he treated me a 10 course meal (not counting a couple of courses gifted from the restaurant) at my favorite sushi restaurant. The night before I took him to a new restaurant downtown that is up and coming. It was actually for an event that got canceled and I never got the memo, so the bar manager spoiled us rotten to make up for it. We were amazed at their generosity. I was going to do a more reflective post honoring our anniversary and what I’ve learned from our relationship but with a slew of out of town friends in town for SXSW, it will have to wait til next time.

In the meantime, the poor lilies in the arrangement looked really cramped. Worried that they wouldn’t have room to bloom, I pulled these little guys out and made a sweet little secondary bouquet. Not that I need any more hobbies, but flower arranging looks like a fun skill to acquire.


Happy Weekend to you! How are you spending it?

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 33)

March 4th, 2011 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), lists, new thing(s) of the week, savory, the not so single life 12 comments - Tags: ,


1.


Alan is taking me to my first NBA game tonight! The other night he commented, “How sick is that this will be your first NBA game and you get to see the Big Three?”

I excitedly agreed but totally had to later google who the Big Three are. I knew only one by name and only because it was such a big stink when he left Cleveland for Miami.


LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh


2.

I feel very blessed for the close friends I have. I feel beyond blessed to have my bestie as my surrogate sister. Earlier in the week I commented to her crabbily that I finished the last of my dark chocolate orange bar and wished I had some chocolate on me. Shortly after I walked away from my office for a bit to come back to a delivery from an Austin cake ball business (aptly named Austin Cake Ball). There were chocolate balls and (wait for it….) DARK CHOCOLATE ORANGE BALLS waiting for me!

What did I do to get so lucky to have such sweet people in my life?


3.

We had our annual work cocktail party this week. It was my first since last year I missed out as I was still working an additional night job. Apparently they have a longstanding tradition of the ladies taking a photo sitting primly on the love seat in the ladies’ room. I don’t know about the previous years, but we did not sit very primly on that tiny love seat.


4.


I love Steve Martin as a writer and am reading my fourth book of his. I loved this line: “In spite of their odd beginning, he was deciding not only that Lacey Yeager would make his life wonderful, but that her absence would make it tragic.”

I want to be with someone who thinks the same of me.


5.

My nervous smile:


6.


I wanted to come up with a clever DJ name for myself to use as a caption for this photograph. Everything I came up with sounded cheesy.

Alas, I’d never be cool enough to pull off being a DJ.


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ pizza for breakfast ♥ Board Game Night ♥ surprise deliveries ♥ free dessert at our downtown sushi joint ♥ doggy kisses ♥ making friends at food trailers ♥ food trailers


Question: If you were to choose a DJ name for yourself, what name would you choose?

We Blog, We Vlog: Penguin Awareness Day – #pad11

January 20th, 2011 · · pursuit of happiness, resolutions 2011, the not so single life, videos, wanderlust, We Blog We Vlog 9 comments

Hey HEY hey! We Blog, We Vlog is launching a mini vlog event today in celebration of Penguin Awareness Day. I love that we’re honoring this day. Penguins are only my favorite animal in the world. I’m wearing my Valentine’s Day (favorite holiday) penguin socks today. Seriously.

Today, we’re vlogging about long journeys we plan on taking in 2011.


Youtube Link

Happy Penguin Awareness Day!


Questions: What long journeys are you embarking on in 2011? What are the rewards for taking the journeys?