2011 And A List Of Things I Might Think About Doing

So, here we are, the day before a new year. Less than 7 hours before a new decade. You're probably getting ready to eat some dinner, put on your sparkly clothes, your big-girl heels, and head out on the town to sip champagne and eat tiny foods.

Here's where I'm sitting. I"m eating chicken soup, in my pajamas, in my slippers, on my couch, drinking TheraFlu and sucking on Ricola cough drops.

That's right, 2010, decided to wait until the very last minute to really give it to me good with a nasty cold. Instead of celebrating in DC with my sister, laughing it up at a NYE comedy show, I'm here at my apartment, next to an accumulating pile of tissues, watching a Seinfeld rerun.

Lindsay, pity party for one? Your table is ready.

But, I can't complain. 2010 was a pretty decent year. It got me thinking about 2011. I'm not one to usually make resolutions, but what the hell? What else am I going to do? I am certainly not going to be able to sleep any time soon for my neighbors are all being very (loudly) festive. Good for them. As it should be.

2011 (A Working List)

• Find some new hobbies and/or take some fun classes
• Finally take the coffee table and busted TV in my bedroom to Goodwill (we're going on 2 years of procrastination here.)
• Learn how to eat/cook some new veggies (ex: raddishes. I don't eat them. But, why not?)
• Save some money. (Not sure how I'm going to do this one. But it desperately needs to happen)
• Try a new work out
• Read 1 book/month (Current avg: 1 book/3months)
• Run a 5K (eh...)
• BLOG MORE (Seriously, you guys.)
• Transition to a more relevant/thematic blog (see above) (any ideas for a more consistent topic?)
• Be more social and attempt to meet new people
• Pick back up on learning Spanish and/or Italian
• Vacuum once a week
• Try answering my cell phone more often (or ever)

That's all I got so far. I hope everyone has a VERY HAPPY AND EXCITING NEW YEAR! May 2011 by your best year yet!

5 Things I'm Loving Right Now - Holiday Edition

It's been a while since I done a "5 Things" post, so I think a holiday edition is appropriate. I love all things about the holiday season, but here are a few favorites!

1. Christmas Lists

If you haven't guessed from this ongoing blog post theme, I like lists. A lot. So Christmas Lists are the BEST. I love when Amazon picks out 10 things they think I would like to own. I couldn't stop smiling on the day of Oprah's favorite things. The "Gift Issue" of InStyle magazine? Heaven.
I love investigating, discovering, and prioritizing the items that belong on a Christmas list. (Thanks to Anne, for helping me discover these gems of a gift. Gloves that are compatible with touch screens and are adorable? A perfect find.)
To make sure I don't sound totally selfish, I must clarify that I don't mean I like lists simply for people to buy me things. I've made lists of possibly perfect gifts for each of my family members. And, some may call them "spam" but I actually read each of the "Great Gift Ideas!" emails that arrive in my inbox from my favorite retailers. You brides and your registries...JEALOUS.

2. Mulling Spices

On a recent visit to the Biltmore Estate, I purchased a bag of Wassail after my mom informed me wassail is the same as mulling spices. And, after 1, maybe 3, samples of it in cider. Whether you call them wassail (is that singular or plural?) or "mulling spices" (like Williams-Sonoma and I do), they are delicious. In wine, in tea, in cider, in wine again. Nothing makes you feel more festive than filling your home with the smell of these spices and drinking hot apple cider while you watch the classic "White Christmas." Ok, fine, I was actually drinking mulled wine and watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Nonetheless, still wonderful.




3. Christmas Lights

I'm talking Griswald Christmas lights.

Do You Want Some Cheese With That Wine?

Quick follow up. For those of you who were keeping score...my spicy squash goat cheese thing (I don't even remember what it was called. I spent 30 minutes making it and 4 minutes eating it) turned out well! Here's proof:




Ok, so it doesn't photograph well.

I think I just don't have the patience to ever be a super stellar cook. Famous chefs like Rachael Ray promote the convenience of "30 Minute Meals." But, to me, 30 minutes seems like a long time. I'm still not giving up but I think I need to learn how to relish (food pun intended) the process of cooking. Because, right now I spend the time cooking, eat it quickly, and then think "that was it?" Perhaps I just need to eat more slowly. My mom always warned me about that.

I fear for my own future children. I'm not a fan of overly processed food (Minus candy. Candy doesn't count. Duh.), fast food, yada yada yada. So, it looks like my future family and I will be part of that crazy raw food diet. Or, we'll just be visiting grandma a lot. Like, 3 times a day. No, that would be drastic. The solution is obvious. I need a husband who can cook. Is there some sort of Match.com for people looking specifically for Chefs?  Let's call that Plan B. Plan A? Learn some patience, turn off the TV, and get cooking. Stay tuned.

Thankfulness

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I wish you a day full of family, friends, and turkey.

Move Over, Julia Child...You're Blocking My Microwave.

I said I would get back to you on my recent cooking endeavors. So here it is. I decided that I would try to "cook" at least one recipe a week. It's not that I'm stuck in a rut of take-out and frozen dinners, but I never really "make" anything that requires trying new things, mixing ingredients, or following instructions. Ex: If I have green beans then I make green beans. If I have pasta, then I make pasta...maybe I'll add a little olive oil and spinach. I would never take those green beans and mix them with other ingredients to create a "dish."

An Electronic Evolution

Not to be Captain Obvious here because you've probably already noticed but, I'm writing to you from my new laptop. You can totally tell, right? I'll let you in on a little secret - I just wrote those sentences without my computer freezing, spazzing, or blowing up. Luckily, the latter never actually happened with the old laptop, but I think it could have at any moment.

I don't have a very good track record with laptops. They don't last very long. In my defense, it's rarely my fault.

My first laptop, the one I got for college, was awesome. Well, actually, maybe awesome isn't the word.

These Blogs are the Cool Kids and I Want to Sit at their Table.

So here's my excuse for not blogging this time....I was reading other blogs. I was also cooking! (More on that later).

I've gone crazy reading other blogs and wishing they were mine. At some point in the future this blog will take more direction, serve purpose, and appeal to people outside of my immediate family. But I need a totally awesome theme. Until that revelation, it will be what it is. TV, YouTube, Shopping, Food, and Random Goodness with infrequent unapologetic irregularity. (Not as redundant as it sounds. I thought it through.)

Also, please read past the jump. I will stop writing blog posts about my blog posts. (Now that is redundant).

Smart Girls (And A Dancing Baby)

How is it that I have NOT seen this video yet? This kid is HILARIOUS. This is why all us white babies (not a racist remark) grow up to clap and snap on the dance floor with a contrived sense of rhythm. Maybe if I'd been learning these moves instead of clapping to "If You're Happy And You Know It," I would be far more impressive with my moves at weddings and in "da club."


What's even cooler than this baby dancing is where I came across this video. After watching an interview with Amy Poehler (who is hosting Saturday Night Live tonight! Joyous day!!) and hearing about it on Twitter, I checked out SmartGirlsattheParty.com. Smart Girls at the Party is the brainchild (I actually hate that expression...) of Poehler, Meredith Walker, and Amy Miles. It celebrates "extraordinary individuals who are changing the world by being themselves." It features girls who are into smart things and doing things they enjoy, even if it isn't necessarily what they're told is the most cool. "Smart girls have more fun!" Although, when a 12-year-old builds robots, how can that NOT be cool?? The website targets girls around 8-13, at a time when they first start to become aware of how they look to other people and can become unecessarily self conscious. Instead, they should be smart, be goofy, be themselves! I'll tell you something, if super incredible Amy Poehler tells me it is cool to be into gardening and dance around like crazy, then bring me a shovel and crank up the Shakira. Game on. Way to go Amy P, Meredith, Amy M., and all the smart girls for being so awesome!

5 Things I'm Loving Right NOW

I said I would start blogging regularly...two weeks later, here I am. Not quite the frequency I hoped for but oh well. And, I haven't done a "Things I'm Loving Right Now" blog in a while. You're probably thinking, "Gosh, what is Lindsay loving right now? I'm dying to know. I'm still thinking about the fro-yo and Real Housewives of NJ...does she have new interests?" Well, my friends. I do. Rest assured, here are 5 more new and wonderful things for you to love too.

1. TV Season Premieres

This is probably the most important one.

It's been a good summer. I've had more freedom in the evenings...not tied down by my unhealthy addictions to television programs which are further complicated by my lack of the life-altering technology of DVR.  I hate to see summer go (Ok, that's a lie. I live for the days when it will not be 90+ degrees outside) but FALL is my favorite season! Cool days, changing leaves, and TV PREMIERES. What am I most excited for? Glee, How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang, Gossip Girl, Weeds, Life Unexpected, Modern Family, Cougar Town, 30 Rock...and the list goes on. Pretty much anything on after 8pm on any of the networks. Gossip Girl and Life Unexpected both premiered this week....everything I expect from the CW and more. And, thanks to internet television, I am fully engrossed in this season of Weeds.

Oh fall, why are you so good to me?

My Hips Don't Lie

I forgot I have a blog. Seriously, it totally slipped my mind. What a blogging faux pas! I bet Perez Hilton never up and forgets to post. 

This weekend I am heading to a wedding. I'm excited to share in their special day, visit with friends, yada yada yada. But, what makes me especially excited is that I get to partake in one of my top 5 all time favorite activities - dancing at weddings!

Not just dancing, dancing at weddings!

I like to dance to the right, to the right, to the right, and get a little bit softer now, and live on a prayer.

Thinking about dancing at weddings made me reflect on the "first dance songs" I've witnessed. Fortunately, all of my friends and family have, so far, picked great "non-cliche" first dance songs. There is nothing worse than sitting there, wine in hand, waiting to hit the dance floor and celebrate only to have to sit through 5 minutes of slow, cheesy, elevator music. And you have to say, "Awww."

It's like trying to have fun party and someone turns on Delilah's radio show. 

I mean, this day is all about ME, the wedding guest, RIGHT?

No, I'm not truly that snarky. I can appreciate a good first dance. It is quite sweet and I have been known to shed a tear or two. (The father-daughter dance almost always gets me). So my thoughts of wedding music led to extensive research of popular first dance songs.

By "extensive research" I mean that I Googled (Sorry Bing, but quit trying to make "Bing'd" happen. It's not.) for 5 minutes and read the first 3 results. Highly scientific blog here, huh?
 
I have to mention that THIS websites lists "Classic Love Songs" that include:
- "I Do" by Westlife
- "I Do (Cherish You)" by 98 Degrees
- "This I Promise You" by 'N SYNC
It claims you "can't go wrong with these classic love songs."

Yes, yes you can.

Unless you are trying to be ironic or are marrying Nick Lachey, please don't play "I Do (Cherish You)." Although, this website is Australian so, perhaps, "classic" means something different Down Under. Maybe it translates to "totally awesome in 1998."

Interestingly, while most of the lists of top wedding songs differ, the common artist was Elvis. Apparently, Elvis still rocks the dance party and love song genres at weddings. I have yet to see a bride and groom start their marriage with a dance to "Love Me Tender," but statistics (unscientific statistics in my head) show that it is only a matter of time.

Well, I need to go pick out my dancing shoes and start packing for the upcoming nuptial celebration. I may give a little practice to my twist, my shout, and, of course, the obligatory "Single Ladies" dance for all us single gals. (Thanks for that, Beyonce.)

And, because this was a blog (loosely) about wedding music, I have to include it:

A Great Everyday Day

There is no real point or message for this post. Although, let's be honest, is there ever?

Turns out today was AWESOME. It was one of those great everyday days. You know what I'm talking about. Nothing particularly extraordinary happened...I didn't win anything, meet anyone famous, or make any life-changing decisions. It was just a good and pleasant day. And it went a little something like this.

True Love 4 Ever

I'm in love.
I'm in love with frozen yogurt and I don't care who knows it.

Don't Take Your Toilet Seat For Granted and Other Lessons I Learned in France

I'm baaaack. I am well-rested, well-fed, and ready to blog. I'm thinking this may even end up being a 2 post-a-day kind of a day. We'll see. I don't want to put the wine before the grapes if you know what I'm saying. (I don't think that French play-on-a-cliche works as well in writing as it did in my head.)

Before I get back to blog posts of great substance and importance, I thought I'd share a little of what I learned on my 9 day excursion.

1. Five years ago, when I lived in Italy for 4 months, I learned an important lesson: Don't take your toilet seat or your toilet paper for granted. Somehow, when I think back on my days in Italia and the Tuscan countryside, that lesson isn't in the forefront of my mind. However, after an 8 hour plane ride and 3 hour car ride, it suddenly came rushing back to me as we pulled over to a "public restroom" also known as a "hole in the ground" with four walls around it. T.M.I.? I don't think so. I think this is a lesson everyone should heed. Toilet seats are privileges and you don't know how much you will miss them until you can't have them anymore. Just like ice water.

2. You don't put ice in your beverages in France.

5 Things I'm Loving Right Now...

Last post for a while as I leave for France tomorrow afternoon. Bon Voyage!! (Actually, I think you're supposed to say that to me)

1. Rompers

THAT'S RIGHT, I SAID IT. I was once opposed to rompers, onesies, whatever you wish to call them. But, recently I've changed my mind. There are some totally awesome rompers out there right now. Check out this cute one from ModCloth. Add some gold or turquoise jewelry and cute strappy sandals...adorable! Now, let's clarify, I do not like the rompers for ME. I think I would look like an overgrown 4-year-old. But I'm digging the style now. Maybe if I grew 5 more inches and took some kick boxing classes, I could make them work. 

2. Trader Joe's Frozen Grilled Asparagus

Random? Yeah, I know. But, seriously, it's awesome.

Entrepreneurs, Fanny Packs, and Flying Marsupials

Anyone out there looking for a business idea? Here are two products needed...affordable, attractive, comfortable walking shoes and affordable fanny-pack/backpack alternatives. I'm sure these products are out there, but they're difficult to find and often times expensive. I want to go to France and not look like a futuristic, jungle-dwelling, soccer mom. Is that so wrong?

With! With!

This time next week I will be halfway to Paris. That's right, I'm crossing the ocean for vacay, with Mom and Dad in tow. OK, so I suppose it is more the other way around. It's their vacation, I'm in tow. Yet, for once, I'm happy to have them dragging me with them.

I'm also slightly concerned. Yesterday, I stopped by my parents' house and enthusiastically shouted "Bonjour mon mere!" to my mom when I walked in the door. She rushed over and exclaimed "Avec! Avec!"

"What? That means..."

"With! With!"

God help us. We're going to be staying in a few small towns and I think we won't blend in as well as I hoped.

I studied abroad in Italy and traveled to several European countries during that time, but I never made my way to Paris (where we will spend 3 nights!). Look out croissants with Nutella, I'll be there soon enough.

The Other BP

Let me start by saying that this post has the potential of coming across as judgmental or catty, but I mean it more as an observation. Who am I to judge other people? I write my thoughts to about 3 people on a blog named after a TV show.

But I digress..

So, I turn on the Today Show this morning to hear that Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston have announced their engagement in US Weekly. Good for them. Then, I log onto Twitter to read the same "breaking news" from about 6 reputable news sources. (Yes, Zap2It, I'm inlcuding you in the company of NPR and CNN)

5 Things I'm Loving Right Now...

Did you know this was going to become a "thing?" Because it is. I love things in 5s.

Also, as a sidenote, I'd like to point out that it took me one week to become a blog slacker. Maybe I'm not cut out for this gig. Although, in my defense, I had to take an unexpected trip to New England. A dedicated blogger would've found internet access but I'm kind of lazy. Also, I knew that my sister was away on vacation and she's pretty much my only reader, so it's all good. Nonetheless, my apologies for my absence.

Ok, back to the list! These are 5 things I am loving right now!


1. EMMY NOMINATIONS

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose! Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler were (finally) nominated for Friday Night Lights. I'm loving that. About freakin' time! Everytime I hear someone say how Charlie Sheen is one of the highest paid TV actors, I think a little piece of my television-loving heart dies. Connie and Kyle (yeah, first name basis...you know.) are unbelievable week after week.  Also, Best Supporting Actor: Tim Riggins' Shirtless Torso

This Will Change Your Life...IN SECONDS!

I don't have cable. For many people this is shocking because I am a TV addict. I always have been. In fact, when I would come home from school, I had a line up: Saved By The Bell (2 episodes on TBS), California Dreams (Thanks, WGN), then my attention turned to...Roseanne, Married with Children, and Night Court. Seriously.Could I have selected three more inappropriate television shows to round out my evening?

Five Things I'm Loving Right Now

The title says it all. Here are things I am loving this week:


1. Etsy.com

 

I recognize that many have long known about the fabulousness that is Etsy. But, I am a serious Etsy fanatic this week. I could search the site for hours and hours. Not only does it provide unique options for everything from clothing to jewelry to art to gifts, but it also provides you the opportunity to support local retailers and artists. Even if you don't buy, it's worth it just to check out the great blog.

Tis A Sad Day...

...for my Happy Birthday Garden-in-a-Bag. That sweet little Viola plant never stood a chance. They make it sound so easy with their 1-2-3 directions. It is not, my friends. I am here to tell you that it is NOT that easy.


Right: The Viola in its natural brown-bag habitat.

Way to Go America!

No, this post isn't about the World Cup. It's about So You Think You Can Dance. Which means it is mostly for my sister. I would be remiss to have a blog and not write about my thoughts from the dreaded "results show," especially since the title of the show has already appeared in 2 out of 2 posts. So here's where I stand: GOOD JOB, America. You got it right.

When Did THIS Happen?

I know it's common once you graduate college to look back and think "Wow, I'm a grown up now." There are the hard-to-miss signs...bills, rent, insurance...and, of course, the smack-you-in-the-face obvious indicator: a job you have to go to every day, even in the summer!

Once I graduated, my checking account became my lifeline. It was no longer an "Oh- Boy-I-Hope-There-Is-Money-In-There-So-I-Can-Go-To-The-Movies" kind of thing. Necessities seem to cost actual money and that money is not so easy to come by. While I tried to be frugal with whatever money I'd earned from summer jobs, babysitting, etc, in the back of my mind I kind of always thought, "My parents won't let me go hungry, right?"

I think they might.

The Beginning

My sister said I should call my blog, "Log."

"Get it? Lindsay's Blog."

Although Log Blog is an interesting choice for a blog title, I wasn't quite sold. So, as we do with everything else in life, we reverted back to television. TV is our go-to for any situation. Can't think of a witty response on the fly, quote TV shows. Awkward pause in conversation, bring up reality television. Need a gift idea, boxed set of DVDs. (My family doesn't know how to watch less than 4 hours of television at a time. That's thanks to holiday gifts of Veronica Mars, Friday Night Lights, and Gilmore Girls.)

So, when I couldn't come up with a blog name, it was TV to the rescue. I'm not sure why I felt the urgency to start a blog. I really have nothing important to say. Nonetheless, I made up my mind, I need a blog and I need it now.

"So You Think You Can Blog" is born!

Except, it's not. Because that name was taken.