A Pinterest Success Story

I've been in a really crafty mood the last month and a half or so. Incidentally, I started working at Hobby Lobby about a month and a half ago. Let's just blame my crafty cravings on my being constantly surrounded by people who work miracles with pipe cleaners (which we apparently call chenille stems, by the way) and hot glue guns.

Unfortunately, I am by no means a creative and crafty person. But the need to make something was overwhelming, so I consulted my DIY Pinterest board and found a simple project to get my craft feet wet with: Styrofoam wall art, aka fabric-covered Styrofoam.

On Saturday afternoon, Randel and I went to Hob Lob to get my supplies. Every time I enter that crafter's paradise, I get this ridiculous notion that I can create/build/craft anything. I feel invincible with my glue gun and dare anyone to tell me I can't make a masterpiece out of Mod Podge and yarn. Feeling thusly empowered, I left the store with a 4-pack of Styrofoam rectangles, hot glue sticks, picture-hanging strips, and an intense desire to fire up the glue gun immediately.

I decided not to subject Randel to an afternoon of crafting with me, though, and planned to wait until Sunday to tackle the Styrofoam wall art. But I was so anxious about finally satisfying my craft craving that I found it difficult to sleep that night.

After a night that felt like Christmas for a seven-year-old, Sunday finally arrived. I pulled up my Pinterest page and laid out my supplies: leftover fabric from when Shawna and I re-covered my chairs, Styrofoam blocks, and a low-temp hot glue gun.

The project basically consisted of wrapping the Styrofoam like a present (too bad I'm a horrible gift wrapper) and securing with hot glue. Easy peasy.

(I was so caught up in finally being a legit DIY-er that I only remembered to take one picture during the project.)

Once I did this with three Styrofoam blocks, I recruited my brother to help me hang them. We didn't want to bother with a level---I don't have one anyway---so we took turns eyeballing each block on the wall. However, we did measure the length of the bookcase they'd hang above, as well as the distance between each block.

I'm pretty satisfied with the end result:

Not too shabby for thirteen bucks and a couple hours on a Sunday afternoon. Thanks, Hob Lob and Pinterest! I couldn't have done it without ya!

Are You My Doppelganger?

To borrow an overused phrase that's popping up all over Facebook (and often used incorrectly, I might add): you know that awkward moment when someone you've never laid eyes on tells you--not asks, mind you--that they know you from somewhere?

That happened to me a couple days ago. But it went a bit further than the "well, I guess you have a twin somewhere" response that is typical when you give them a pity laugh and gently inform them they're wrong.

Allow me to elaborate.

For starters, it happened in the bathroom. It was awkward from the get-go. I was washing my hands, ready to get back to writing my project sheet about feathers, when a lady I had seen around HobLob a few times before told me, "I know you from somewhere."

Dumbly, I replied, "From somewhere other than here?" I grabbed a paper towel and began drying my hands.

"Yes," she said. "I know I've seen you before, and I've been trying to figure out where."

She then told me she thought she had figured it out the night before. "Did I teach you in children's church?" she asked. I said no, that I hadn't grown up in OKC. She asked me where I grew up.

"Tipton," I said. "It's a tiny town. You've probably never heard of it." I finished drying my hands and edged closer to the door.

"Well, I've heard of it," she said. "But never lived there or anything."

She then told me that she was so sure I had been one of her children's church students that she had searched out, finally found, and studied a picture of the family she thought I belonged to.

At this point, I was feeling extra awkward. I've never (to my knowledge) had someone I don't know research me after seeing me in passing a couple times and being convinced she knows me.

I just gave her the pity laugh and told her I wished I could help her, as she was obviously quite hung up on my mysterious presence in her past.

She ended the conversation with: "You must just have a doppelganger, then."

"I guess I do," I agreed. And we parted ways.

For the time being...

***

On my way to the bathroom today, I came face-to-face with my stalker again.

"This time I did figure out where I know you from," she began.

"Oh yeah? Where from," I asked, intrigued.

"Well, I used to live in Altus, which is close to Tipton," she said.

I nodded, thinking maybe she actually had seen me around. I was unprepared for her next question.

"Did you used to work at Walmart?"

"Uh...no," I said, while thinking, How specific...

"Oh," she said, clearly upset that she was wrong once again.

She then told me that she used to pass through Tipton on her way to church in Frederick and asked me if I had ever gone to Bible Baptist Church there. Once again, I had to give her a no.

"Well, I guess I really don't know you after all," she said. "I guess I'll just give it up."

I wasn't sure how to respond to that. I mean, was she hoping we'd be besties or something? Keep in mind, she's probably in her fifties. So I simply said, "Well, I'll keep trying to figure out where you might know me from," and we parted ways again.

What was I thinking? Now we really might have to be BFFs. I can see it now. We'll bond over bathroom breaks and joke about the first time we met. We'll have crochet parties on the weekends.

Unless she feels awkward about researching me--and admitting it--and from now on uses the bathroom twice as far down the hall to avoid me at all costs.

Either way, I'll let you know what happens. And if you see my doppelganger around, please let me know.

*Side note: Early on in this story, I mentioned a project sheet about feathers. You can do some really cool stuff with feathers. When the project sheet is published, I'll fill you in. 

Are You There, Readers? It's Me, Irregular Blogger

Well, hello there. Long time no blog, huh? I told myself I was going to be a better blogger now that I write for a living. But maybe that's why I've been slacking. No one's paying me for being so interesting, witty, and awesome on my personal blog. What's that you say? It's because I'm not actually interesting, witty, and awesome? I guess I'll just continue on for the fun of it, then.

Since I last blogged, I've gotten a root canal, picked up another Zumba class (bringing the grand total up to four classes a week), put in three weeks at my new job, and been too exhausted to do anything but come home and crash after work, which includes both HobLob and the gym most days. Thus, I'm not where I'd like to be on my read-52-books-this-year goal. But I'm still three books ahead, so I won't panic just yet. (Also, my Reading Challenge meter thingy on your left is incorrect for some reason. I've actually read 33 books, not 28. But moving on...) I have realized, though, that a big part of the reason I was breezing through my reading goal is because I got off work at 3:00 and worked from home two days a week. This working til 5:00 every day stuff is for the birds. But for a better, less-stressful job, I'll adjust.

Okay, changing gears here. I've basically been rambling so I can delay admitting that I failed my July goal. But I really don't have much else to talk about, so there you have it. Womp womp... If you'll recall, my goal was to run at least three times a week. I rocked it the first two weeks of the month.

Then I started my new job and couldn't just go to the gym anytime of day on my telecommute days or in between getting off work at 3:00 and teaching Zumba anywhere from 5:30-6:00. With my new work schedule, I go straight from work to the gym for Zumba class most days and can barely walk to my car afterward, much less run a mile. I entertained thoughts of running before Zumba on Saturdays and at some point on Sundays. I quickly dismissed them when the weekends rolled around.

So long story not so short, I guess I halfway met my goal. I don't know why I didn't set realistic goals for myself, like "drink three Pepsis a day" and "play a ridiculous amount of Triple Stack (addicting card game) on my phone."

Nonetheless, this month's goal is to keep a food journal. I almost forgot Wedneday was the first and was halfway through the day before I remembered to write down the Big Gulp and blueberry muffins that were my breakfast. But I quickly recovered and am current on my food journal. There really is something to that whole thing about how seeing your daily food intake on paper opens your eyes. Consuming my recommended daily amount of calories before lunchtime is not okay. Since the running thing didn't work out, maybe this will help me get rid of those stubborn five pounds that just won't go away.

Either way, I'm going to meet this month's goal. I've failed my last two, and I really don't like the way that feels. So wish me luck...and hope that I don't fill up an entire notebook while tracking everything I eat for the next month.

New Beginnings

Okay, I know you've all been on the edge of your seats since yesterday (that is, if you didn't see my Facebook comments about it), when I teased you with multiple mentions of my glamorous new job and wonderful career move. Well, maybe I didn't make it sound that exciting yesterday, but it's going to be. I just know it.

Let's start from the beginning. Things have been happening at work over the last couple months that have made me realize it's time for a change. I had been craving new job opportunities for a while actually, and the craziness at work gave me the push I needed to seek out those opportunities. I won't go into much detail, except to say that while May and June were hectic/stressful/terrifying months for me work wise, July is already shaping up to be a heckuva lot better.

I know you're all thinking, Get on with it already. Where is this supposedly glamorous new job? So without further ado, here is the moment you've been waiting for, the moment I reveal the heretofore top-secret location of my new job. Drum roll, please... Hobby Lobby! No, I won't be selling scrapbook paper, greenery, fabric, and picture frames. I have accepted a copywriter position at their corporate offices.

I anticipate that when people ask me what I do now, I'll have just as much difficulty accurately describing my position as I do when I tell people I'm an editor. Most people think I read all day. That, my friends, is false. Some days I don't get to read at all. I also answer e-mails and phone calls, attend a boatload of meetings, write the promotional copy for the back cover of books, and lots more. The woman who conducted my second interview at HL led me to believe I would perform a variety of different tasks in my role as copywriter as well.

So while I'd love to gush about all the cool stuff I'll be doing, I'm not yet sure exactly what cool stuff I'll be doing. The only thing I do know is that I'll get to write up some of HL's project sheets. Once again, not easy to describe, so if you're that interested, Google "Hobby Lobby project sheets" to get an idea. But in a nutshell, I'll be writing info about and instructions for creating the crafts and projects HL's craft team puts together.

I have high hopes that I'll now really start decorating my house, what with all the ideas I'll be writing about...and the sweet employee discount I'll get. Holla!

I start this new chapter of my life on July 16, after ending my current chapter July 13. I already know saying good-bye to my coworkers and job as an editor will be bittersweet, but this is the right time for a change, and I couldn't be more excited.

Where, Oh Where Has My Willpower Gone?

My willpower seems to have vanished. Or maybe it's just buried in my closet, under the new clothes I shouldn't have bought this month. But let's face it; June just wasn't the month for me to forgo retail therapy. Most of the month was spent job searching, updating my resume, interviewing, and stressing about the three previous things. (Good news: I found a job! But more on that later.) So I should have actually revised my June goal when I found out I'd be conducting such fast-and-furious job searches, because shopping is my go-to stress reliever. And I did plenty of it last month.

I admitted halfway through the month that I bought a shirt that tells the world who my [fantasy] husband is. If you don't know by now that I'm talking about Serge Ibaka, Mr. Gorgeous himself, you're dead to me. Apparently this purchase was destined to be the start of many June shirt purchases---I bought six more shirts throughout the next two weeks.

I was a smart shopper, though, because four of those shirts came from Tarjay and cost me just six bucks each. They're simple V-neck shirts with a pocket (but not nerdy), and I got one in teal, pink, gray, and kelly green. They're versatile, comfortable, and were a steal. I couldn't in good conscience pass them up.
The other two shirts were from Old Navy and were just a couple items in a string of impulse buys on a shopping outing with the bestie.

Jennifer needed to go to the mall last Wednesday evening, so we decided to make a day of it. We went to the mall and did lots of damage while having too much fun to care. Along with a very nautical tank top and a deep green tee, I came home with a new pair of sunglasses, some fabulous pink nail polish, Wild Citrus Sunflower products from Bath & Body Works (semi-annual sale, ya know), and a new gay BFF---his words, not mine.

Jennifer and I met Dylan at Lush, and we bonded over the cookies I had just bought at the Nestle Toll House store. Hands on his hips, rose-pink faux hawk prominently displayed on his cocked head, he sassily told me I wasn't allowed in the store without offering him some of my cookies. I told him that if he gave me a discount on bath bombs and lotion bars, he could have 'em. He rejected my offer, I told him I was keepin' my cookies then, and a beautiful 30-minute friendship was born. I spent that half hour laughing off the calories I was consuming as I devoured my lemon crinkle cookie and chocolate chip walnut deliciousness.

These shopping trips helped me survive the month, as did my procurement of a job (but again, more on that later), so I'm okay with my failure. On to the next one, I say. Actually, I think that was Jay-Z, but whatev.

And the next one happens to be running three times a week. Seeing as how I've written seven posts [note: that's only a slight exaggeration] about "sticking with the whole running thing this time," I should probably just give it up now and start writing my admission of failure for your reading enjoyment in August. But I refuse. I haven't met my last two monthly goals, so it's high time I started putting more effort into achieving one.
I actually think I'll look forward to meeting July's goal because after I start my new job (guys, I'm serious--more on that later), I won't be able to go to the Tuesday and Wednesday aerobics classes I now attend. I'll need to do something to fight off those pesky calories in all the cookies I eat. Since I can't visit Dylan at Lush every day (that's a lotta gas...and I don't know his schedule), then running it is!

I'll keep you posted.

And also stay tuned for news about my career move!

Fabulous Friday # 16: Being an Aintie

You may be wondering just what an "aintie" is. Or, more likely, you're probably ready to call the editor out for misspelling the word "auntie" in the title of her post. I've been known to do that before, but I did not this time. An aintie is what I am.

My best friend, Jennifer, has a two-year-old son, Reed. Jennifer and I aren't biologically sisters, but we're sisters in every other sense of the word. So while I'm not Reed's actual Aunt Ashley (he does have an actual Aunt Ashley; Jennifer's real sister's name is Ashley. Confusing much?), I'm his Ain't Ashley.

I fell in love with this adorable boy the second I saw him, just minutes after he was born. Since then, he has been a big part of my life, and I couldn't enjoy being his aintie more.

Last night, I went over to Jennifer's, and we took a nice, long walk around her neighborhood. We got back just in time for the start of the Thunder game. While we were watching, Reed showed me his new trick of hopping and "ribbiting" like a frog, counted all the way to 4!, had me kiss his boo-boo, and climbed in my lap so we could read The Robot Book (I'm debating on counting it as one of my 52 for the year...). Snuggling up with the toddler who has stolen your heart is one of the best and most rewarding things ever. Seriously, you should try it sometime. When it was time for Reed to go to bed, I got kisses and "squeezy hugs," the best kind.

An evening spent with the bestie and Reed was just what the doctor ordered after a stressful week. I'm a lucky aintie.

And here's the man of the hour in the "woof woof" shirt I got him for his birthday. Too cute, right?

Shop Til Ya Drop...or Not

We're officially halfway through June, so I suppose it's high time I fess up about both May and June's goals. May's goal was to take Deuce for a walk every day. We started the month strong and walked a mile around the neighborhood every day for the first week and a half. Then I went to Tipton one weekend and it rained every day. I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I'd melt in the rain, so I wasn't about to chance a walk on those days.

Then I suffered through the worst/most hectic few weeks of my professional life and certainly couldn't be bothered with little things like exercising and meeting a goal I had set for myself and just knew I'd accomplish with no problem. Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), Deuce hasn't gotten a walk since May 10. Once things settle down in my professional life, I'm hoping to give the whole walking thing another go.

So now on to June. My goal for this month is to forgo retail therapy. I'm trying to save money this year, so I knew my shopping habit was going to suffer. When I set this goal back in January, I had no idea how difficult this month was going to be for me. When I'm suffocated with job stress, shopping is my go-to comfort. But I'm not supposed to do that this month. Except that I already did. Just once, though.

Friday, my friend Sabrina sent me a picture of a shirt and said "YOU NEED THIS SHIRT!" Indeed I did. So I bought it. Dying to know what shirt I just had to have, at the expense of June's goal?

I mean, how could I pass this up? If nothing else, maybe me wearing this will send a subconscious message to Serge and he'll soon propose.

A girl can dream, right?

No more shopping this month, though...at least not for me. Both of my brothers' birthdays are this month---Chance's is today, and Kendall's is Tuesday---so big sis has some other shopping obligations.

I guess I'll have to fill the shopping void with reality TV and ice cream.