something for a rainy thursday in may

morning! Another outfit post for you today. Please, again, ignore the picture quality and the state of my bathroom. I will get better at this. I will get a tripod. I will find pretty places to take my picture. I do in fact own a digital camera. So then! Today, I had a belt debacle (debuckle, oh thats bad). I need one more notch on my belt (heh heh) (no, really). Let's take a small moment to acknowledge an item of my clothing being too big. Rejoice!...ok and we're done.

So I'm sitting there, trying to make the slight too big belt work. I start thinking, who is this belt made for? I'm not exactly itty bitty and I would appear to need a small. And then my mind goes to... for whom is this belt? You can see where this is going. For whom the belt, tis not for me. Before you know it, I've jumped from Donne to Metallica and in my head I'm all "for whom the belt tolls, time marches On on on on". Yes, it was a dorky moment, and I'm happy to share it with you.

Outfit!



Details:
Blouse: Banana Republic, a few years ago
Sweater: J Crew, here
Pants: Victoria's Secret, in Black, here
Belt and Shoes: Ann Taylor
Rings, Necklace, bracelet: Tiffany's, gift from Fred

oh chloe

want.

Week 2 Report / Week 3 Goals

My report on Week 2 is just SAD, because I twisted my ankle on Tuesday morning. In the parking lot of Safeway. Fell right on my ass. It was awesome.

So..no running. No pedicure.

Run outside 3 times this week BEFORE WORK. - See above, Fail.

Again, don't eat any of that processed packaged crap available to you at work. - Ding ding ding!! Did good here this week! No processed crap!

Go through closet and dresser and select items for ebay/goodwill. post ebay items. - Winner winner again! I did this too. I've got 6 blouses up on ebay right now if you are at all curious..

Don't buy anything except food, gas, and household items(this would mean TP, not art or chair)...(and pedicure). - And again, pretty good! I bought 20 records, at $1 a piece, and the thrift store. I don't count those.

Get a pedicure. - See above, Fail.

Week 3 Goals!

1) Were gonna stay onboard with that "don't eat any of that processed packaged crap available to you at work" theme - seems to be a good reminder.

2) Finish decorating the master bedroom and my office

3) Get that dang pedicure.

That's enough, really, that's a lot.

blogger ate my post and other tales

Good morning!
I had written a post over the weekend, and all that remains is the headline. So sad. I seem to have become a victim of the great blogger debacle of '11.

I will re-write to catch up on my daily questions. I also mentioned that I'm putting off 30 for 30 until next Monday.

However..I do have an outfit picture for you today, and I can 100% guaruntee that these items are making it in to my 30. So here goes, first outfit post. Please excuse the picture quality, I'm gonna need a tripod! (also please excuse the unmade bed, ugh)




Outfit details:
Blouse, Target. Here
Cardigan, Urban Outfitters. Here
Pants, Victorias Secret. In Denim, Here
Belt, Target
Shoes, Talbots, no longer available.

(But wow, I'm in love with these)

Necklace, Bracelet, Rings - Tiffanys, gifts from Fred.
Ring - Ann Taylor Loft

30 for 30 update and 365 catch up

30 for 30 Remix

Morning! If I had readers, many of you may be familiar with Kendi and her 30 for 30 Challenge. I've decided I'm going to join in for this next one.

The basic premise is that you select 30 items from your closet, and create different combinations of those items and only those items for 30 days. Hence, 30 for 30. Accessories are "free", if you will.

So, I'm going to try this challenge. I'm going to post each outfit here to my blog. I warn you, Fred leaves for work before I wake up, and I go to the gym after work, where I change (imagine that), so I will be flying solo on the picture taking, which will often mean mirror pictures. I'll try to improve on that.

I'm allowing myself "free" shoes too, b/c I don't have a shoe shopping problem, I have a clothes shopping problem. That is the essence of this challenge, to inspire creativity and to "shop" your own closet.

I won't be buying anything during this challenge either. Except if I win the pair of $19 Hudsons on eBay that I have slated for jean shorts. Because I have determined my own Hudsons, regular length jeans, are best suited in fit for to be making the jean shorts but i am NOT CUTTING OFF $200 jeans. Okthanks.

I'm excited. I'm starting on Monday.

Week 1 report / Week 2

Progress against my week 1 goals:

Don't eat any of the processed packaged crap available to you at work - only ate one processed packaged crap item all week, during a stress-fest of a Friday morning. Felt terribly guilty about it.

Run outside 3 times this week - cpmplete fail, have gotten out of running habit due to gym-going all winter. I don't know whether to run in the morning or evening so did neither. This week - morning. Its a good wake up and the weather is pretty and cool in the morning.

Listen to the whole Beastie Boys album in one sitting - almost done, I got through all but 2 tracks.

Kick ass at that thing you have to do on Tuesday - I think I did - still pending results.

Okay, so, not wonderful on last week's goals, not horrible. Time to set goals for Week 2!

Run outside 3 times this week BEFORE WORK.
Again, don't eat any of that processed packaged crap available to you at work.
Go through closet and dresser and select items for ebay/goodwill. post ebay items.
Don't buy anything except food, gas, and household items(this would mean TP, not art or chair)...(and pedicure).
Get a pedicure.

5/3. 365

May 3rd (known as the day after my birthday, or boo sad day. also an ex's b-day. he's ok)
Q: If you could have a superpower for today, what would it be?
A: If I could have a superpower ANYDAY it would be to transport anywhere in the world instantly. hellooooo world travel minus any inconvenience. seriously, i want this to be possible. like star trek. get on it, scientists.

birthday bloggin

hi! so its my birthday today!! woop! I'm ..gasp..33. But I feel great. Really really great.

ok, so my question of the day today is:
May 2
Q: Are you hesitating?
A: Whoa, little question book. You can't be asking that of an engaged lady planning a wedding. Ok, well. So. Ahem. No, not hesitating. Thinking, deeply, about lots of BIG THINGS, yes. Hesitating to type that I'm not hesitating, so maybe a little bit. But really, feeling quite solid and happy about life in general, really.

Let's take it broader. I do, by nature, and by disease, hesitate. It kind of comes with the territory of panic disorder. I hesitate to do anything that will stretch my comfort zone, and so life is a series of hesitations. I'd love to be rid of it, but managing it and behavorial therapy is what I can do, so..that's what I do.

Where do I not hesitate..
When I know what I'm doing and what I want to get done.
To express love for those that I love.
At the thrift store when I see the perfect thing for that one place in that one room.
To sit back and enjoy life and maybe not vacuum right this second because its sunny out and I have a new book.

Another thing I want to do this year, is not to make grand plans and goals for "before 34" but to make small weekly goals each and every week to make myself better. (Thank you Danielle at Sometimes Sweet for the inspiration).

Week one of my 34th year..

Don't eat any of the processed packaged crap available to you at work.
Run outside 3 times this week.
Listen to the whole Beastie Boys album in one sitting.
Kick ass at that thing you have to do on Tuesday.

So, happy 33rd birthday to me. Thank you mom and dad for life and the life you gave me. I love you so much.

4/17 to 5/1

Apr 17
Q: What do you think is your biggest shortcoming?
A: A unique combination of procrastination, proneness to daydreaming, laziness, and conceit.

Apr 18
Q:Write down a problem you solved today.
A: A crossword is just a word-problem, right? Did one of those today.

Apr 19
Q: What famous person would you bring back from the dead to have dinner with?
A: Hunter S. Thompson

Apr 20
Q: How many times did you curse today?
A: I think just once. This is rare.

Apr 21
Q: What do you want to say when someone asks, what do you do?
A: I like what I do, although I would prefer to do it in an industry I care about. Also, lifestyle blogger. As in, that is my only job.

Apr 22
Q: You wish you could stop ________________ from happening.
A: Death of loved ones. Not sure how to answer this differently.

Apr 23
Q: How would your parents describe you?
A: Unique. Impulsive. Successful (i hope). Beautiful (its my parents, come on). Smart. Indecisive.

Apr 24
Q: Is life fair? Yes? No? Sometimes? Not today?
A: I think life is fair in that noone is targeting for bad experiences or anything. I don't believe that there is anything doling out this supposed fairness. But the experience of life can sometimes feel very unfair.

Apr 25
Q: Who do you need to call?
A: Everyone, probably, I'm not much of a phone person.

Apr 26
Q: How much spare change do you have?
A: 1.79, in my purse

Apr 27
Q: What "type" of person are you?
A: I don't know. Per Myers-Brigges, INTJ. A nice person, an interesting person, I hope.

Apr 28
Q: Who would you trade places with for just one day?
A: I'm not sure I would want to, really, but as long as I'm assured its just one day...I still don't know...oh, I guess I would spend a day as a mother, so I can see if I love it or hate it. But then, I wouldn't BE me, would I? sigh. Okay, I'll go for vanity and be crystal renn.

Apr 29
Q: Who can you make happier? how?
A: I think everyone is responsible for their own happiness, but I could probably postively affect Fred's happiness - or not, I'm perfect and he's still a curmudgeonly bastard. Whom I love. My cats, I can give them ham.

Apr 30
Q: What are 3 words to describe your social life?
A: Non-existent, except, once in a while. hehe.

May 1
Q: Messy or neat?
A: Natural tendency is far from detail-oriented, and therefore somewhat messy. But I cannot stand a true mess for long.

a to z

Age: 32, for another day and a half

Bed Size: full. we need a bigger bed.

Chore you hate: Loading the dishwasher. I apparently "do it wrong!". <
Dogs: none =(

Essential start of your day: coffee

Favorite Color: mustard

Gold or silver: silver

Height: 5'2

Instruments I play (or have played): violin, piano, guitar

Job Title: Recruiting Manager

Kids: None.

Live: Fairfax

Mom's Name: Carol

Nickname: Snorey the bear

Overnight hospital stays: never had one, knock on wood

Pet Peeve: people who misuse literally

Quote from a movie:
I don't want to live in a city where the only cultural advantage is that you can make a right turn on a red light.

Right or left handed: Right

Siblings: 1 older sister.

Time you wake up: 7-ish

Underwear: hanky panky

Vegetables you dislike: um, i think i like all veggies. that can't be right

What makes you run late: figuring out what to wear, bad hair days

X-rays you've had done: feet, head, wrists

Yummy food you make: i'm a decent cook - right now i like chicken saltambocca

Zoo animal: red pandas, dude. they rock.

thinking about newspapers

so i've had a conversation from Easter pop into my head from time to time this week, and I think its interesting.

As you may know, the New York Times starting charging for online usage. Fine, I say. My sister was complaining about it. My immediate answer was, 1) How do you want them to make money, then? and 2) You can use my sign in (I'm a paper subscriber, I get unlimited online access - and she decline on a moral basis).

So here is this interesting conundrum. We seem to belive the news should be free. Why? That's a new thought, certainly new within the confines of the internet age. Newspapers were never free before the internet. They may have been damn close, but you still had to cough up that quarter. Why do we expect them to be free now?

If the Grey Lady's model works out, you can be assured our Washington Post will follow. I won't have an issue because I get the paper daily of the Post anyway. Yes, it gets recycled, but I belive in supporting newspapers. I like this model that acknowledges paper subscribers and doesn't make you pay twice.

I think I could strongly argue that in a free society, news should be abundant and freely available. And I believe it always will be, at your local library, just where it always was.

I apply the NPR approach to this issue. I would gladly drop a quarter, if I could, into my car radio each and every day to listen to NPR. I would gladly drop a quarter into my computer to read the Times and the Post and the Chronicle and the Globe and any other major paper. I donate to NPR as my payment, and I get the old paper versions of the Times and the Post dropped on my driveway. I'm paying for it, and I'm getting what I'm paying for, and more, I'd argue.

Do we then get into an oh-so-slippery slope about payment for content on the internet? Academic journals have been doing it for years..

What do you think?

a kitchen conversation

Scene: I'm taking freshly baked banana chocolate chip bread out of its pan..

Fred: i can has banana bread?

Sara: Sure

Fred: What's that (makes poking gesture at chocolate)

Sara: Its chocolate

Fred: Why is there chocolate in it? It's banana bread

Sara: Its chocolate chip banana bread. It's good.

Fred: That's not a thing

Sara: It is.

Fred: Is not

Sara: It is, fucking google it.

Fred: You fucking google it. I'm googling something else.

Sara: Try it

Fred: Its pretty good

Sara: Its fucking delicious, and you know it.

Ahhh, I love my relationship, and I mean that, sincerely and truly. We make eachother laugh on the hour.

4.16 365

Apr 16
Q: What is a political issue that interests you?
A: What is a political issue that doesn't interest me? Ok, I'm sure there are some. Here is one that is very current. We are engaged in 2.5 wars right now yet we are still incessently, idiotically focused on tax cuts. You can't have both. CAN'T HAVE BOTH.

lots of catch up to do! 365

Apr 4 Q: If you could wish for one thing to happen today, what would it be? A: For me to magically be cured of all panic-disorder related things. Apr 5 Q: ___________ was inspiring A: This article I read in the Women's Empowerment issues of the NYT magazine. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/magazine/24volunteerism-t.html?ref=magazine Especially the woman who has taken on childhood shelter, health and education in Nepal. Truly inspiring. Apr 6 Q: What was the last take-out meal you ordered? A: I got Chinese food the other night - Mongolian Pork, Beef and Broccoli, Veggie Lo Mein. It wasn't spectacular, but not the worst take out we've ever had. Apr 7 Q: What colors are you wearing? A: I'm going to have to answer this one for today, as I have no idea what I wore on April 7th. Had it been a Friday, I might have known, because at least one part would be "jeans". Today I am wearing a black cardigan, a mustard yellow shirt with cream flower pattern, a tan belt, medium-dark blue jeans and tan sandals. Apr 8 Q: What is your secret passion? A: Its no secret, just ask! I love cultural anthropology, specifically linguistic I got a little giddy when this article came out. Ok, so maybe my secret passion is reading the journal of science. Also, amateur stylist. Apr 9 Q: Where do you feel most at home? A: At home. My home was my parents home for 10+ years, so I feel very comfortable and happy here. Its got a lot of good memories, this house. Apr 10 Q: A chore you ignored today ____________. A: If you catch Fred on a bad day, he'll say I ignore all my chores. And on a really bad day, maybe I do. But today, no chores have gone neglected thus far. Apr 11 Q: What sound affect are you most like today? A: I've felt like hitting the buzzer that tells you you have a WRONG ANSWER a couple of times this week. Fail. Apr 12 Q: Write down a new fact you recently learned A: The person who received the first experimental stem-cell treatment, a 21-year old who was paralyzed from the chest down from a car accident, is also a devout Christian and believes that his treatment was brought to him by God. How you like them apples Apr 13 Q: What is your favorite thing to do on a Sunday morning? A: Read the NYT Magazine, do the NYT Mag crossword, grab a coffee, browse the thrift store. Apr 14 Q: If you could acquire a talent (without any extra effort) what would it be? A: I just want all my gymnastics skills back with a strong apptitude for picking up new skills. Talk about excercise being fun. Apr 15 Q: Which celebrity would you want to interview? A: Bob Dylan, hands down no question. Q:

things i like

this volvo 240

greene mountain lake

this chair

this emerson quote

gardenias

san francisco

all the pretty pretty boys

top to bottom: matthew goode; diego luna; casey affleck; brandon boyd; conor oberst

baby dreams

Something strange is afoot. With the exception of last night, I have dreamed of babies almost every night for a week. I had a dream about being pregnant, which was totally uneventful, with the exception of me, pregnant and all. I had a dream about giving birth, in which I was slightly inconvenienced but all in all, it was, you know, no bigs. I had a dream about having a newborn at home with me. My mother was there too. I would put the baby in its car seat and it would fall asleep, and I'd basically leave it be for 4-5 hours, and then go, huh, maybe I should check on the baby, and then I'd go change its diaper, and leave again for another 4-5 hours. I spent a lot of this time pondering my post-pregnancy body, which was pretty damn svelte, I must say, and enjoying my time off of work by, apparently, sitting around daydreaming and checking on the baby every once in a blue moon. So, um, yep. I may not be a mother, but I have enough mother friends to know that none of the above is remotely realistic. What on earth is my brain doing up in there? What's with all this baby-dreaming with the ease and no-big-ness of it all? Is this what its like when the time to have babies alarm goes off? It hasn't crept into my waking days yet. Sigh.

formatting

what is going on with blogger formatting? All my posts are running together, ugh.

3/30 - 4/3 / 365

Mar 30 Q: Pick a color for today. A: Yellow Mar 31 Q: What inventions can you not live without? A: Well, I'm fairly sure I could live without, but.. Washing machines and dryers. Running water/indoor facilities/electricity. Cars. Non-stick pans. Refrigerators. Irons. Dry-cleaners. Record players. Elliptical machines. The multitude of fabrics my gym clothes are made of - so breathable and sweat-wicking! Apr 1 Q: Who are you fooling? A: Noone, I hope. Apr 2 Q: Who do you feel closest to? A: My mom and dad, my sister and my brother-in-law, and Fred. Apr 3 Q: Did you have fun today? Because? A: Well, its only 12:43, but so far, sure did. I finished watching Black Swan, great flick. I did some weeding and clean up of the garden, hoping its warm enough to plant very soon. The rest of the day should be lovely and relaxing.