I'm trying to get my ass motivated to get into wedding day shape! I am definitely sore from my core workout yesterday but I must not have worked my arms enough because they aren't as sore. Now I just have to get motivated to work through the pain and do it again today. Maybe some yoga would help with the soreness.
I'm about to scour my Cosmo mags to find some workout routines I can do from home. I want to have the bod of a celebrity come July, haha. Maybe not the boobs though, I don't think I can will those to grow.
Sometimes I wish AZ wasn't so full of hot weather and bugs so I could go for a run outside! Maybe I'll have to opt for a swim instead.
Maybe I should consider upgrading my 5 lb. weights, too :)
Until Next Time,
Nora
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Dress.
Dear Dress,
Why are you backordered?!
Sincerely,
The girl who wanted to order you for her engagement shoot.
Until Next Time,
Nora
Why are you backordered?!
Sincerely,
The girl who wanted to order you for her engagement shoot.
Until Next Time,
Nora
Sometimes I'm really bad about posting in this thing...
Over the past few of weeks I've been writing some articles (yay for work!), I got an editor position at a magazine! And I got some other freelance/side work. I am also hoping to learn how to decorate cupcakes so I can start making them for weddings!
My fiance's parents also visited this month.
One of the places I'm freelancing for has been assigning me some political/government-type articles so I'm pretty excited about that. It's kind of funny cause I don't enjoy talking about politics a lot but I really like covering them. I think it is really interesting to hear both sides of a story. And it's kind of cool to just deliver the facts so people don't attack you for your opinion or any of that.
So far I'm glad I decided to pursue writing still. I've gotten a few different jobs/opportunities, including the editing job, which is really exciting!
I'm looking forward to more work and really being involved in journalism again. Plus I think it is helping me feel more settled down here. And pursuing magazines as well as newspapers has helped broaden my options.
Aside from work, lots of wedding planning and time with my adorable puppy. I bought the stuff to make our wedding favors (and save some money by doing so!). And my sister is planning on making the programs!
Until Next Time,
Nora
My fiance's parents also visited this month.
One of the places I'm freelancing for has been assigning me some political/government-type articles so I'm pretty excited about that. It's kind of funny cause I don't enjoy talking about politics a lot but I really like covering them. I think it is really interesting to hear both sides of a story. And it's kind of cool to just deliver the facts so people don't attack you for your opinion or any of that.
So far I'm glad I decided to pursue writing still. I've gotten a few different jobs/opportunities, including the editing job, which is really exciting!
I'm looking forward to more work and really being involved in journalism again. Plus I think it is helping me feel more settled down here. And pursuing magazines as well as newspapers has helped broaden my options.
Aside from work, lots of wedding planning and time with my adorable puppy. I bought the stuff to make our wedding favors (and save some money by doing so!). And my sister is planning on making the programs!
Until Next Time,
Nora
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Sometimes when you want something you have to just reach out and take it.
Today I got offered a job.. and I accepted! It's to be the editor of a magazine here in AZ. I'm super excited because it's journalism-related, I get to write articles AND it's an editor position. It's not full-time but that's not what I was looking for so I'm okay with it.
One of the things that is really cool is I didn't like read an ad and apply to an open position, yadda, yadda. I actually just sent my resume and cover letter and some clips/author archives to a bunch of publications and I heard back from this one and they happened to need someone. The person who interviewed me said she really liked my cover letter and that means a lot to me because I'm kind of proud of it. I've developed/rewrote it a lot and I think it gets better & better with each draft.
One of my teachers in college actually told us about using unconventional cover letters. She said hers at one point was about how she decided she wanted to be a journalist in the Taco Bell drive through. I guess when you're applying for a writing position there can be positives to having a more creative cover letter. It might be a risk but it also might show off your writing skills, style, etc. and really pay off.
I actually heard back from quite a few places, which was kind of nice, even if it was just to tell me they didn't currently have any open positions. Some of them had leads on jobs coming up or were interested in using me for freelancing and others said they'd keep my resume on file.
When I was in school one of my teachers told me a story about a girl who went down to this news station because she wanted a job there and they didn't have anything open and she said she'd work for free. She just kept going in until they made a position for her. I think that's pretty awesome. I guess when you want something sometimes you just have to go get it.
People won't always just give you things, hand them to you on a silver platter. Sometimes you have to reach out and take what you want from the world. Demand it. Because that may be the only way you will ever get it.
Until Next Time,
Nora
One of the things that is really cool is I didn't like read an ad and apply to an open position, yadda, yadda. I actually just sent my resume and cover letter and some clips/author archives to a bunch of publications and I heard back from this one and they happened to need someone. The person who interviewed me said she really liked my cover letter and that means a lot to me because I'm kind of proud of it. I've developed/rewrote it a lot and I think it gets better & better with each draft.
One of my teachers in college actually told us about using unconventional cover letters. She said hers at one point was about how she decided she wanted to be a journalist in the Taco Bell drive through. I guess when you're applying for a writing position there can be positives to having a more creative cover letter. It might be a risk but it also might show off your writing skills, style, etc. and really pay off.
I actually heard back from quite a few places, which was kind of nice, even if it was just to tell me they didn't currently have any open positions. Some of them had leads on jobs coming up or were interested in using me for freelancing and others said they'd keep my resume on file.
When I was in school one of my teachers told me a story about a girl who went down to this news station because she wanted a job there and they didn't have anything open and she said she'd work for free. She just kept going in until they made a position for her. I think that's pretty awesome. I guess when you want something sometimes you just have to go get it.
People won't always just give you things, hand them to you on a silver platter. Sometimes you have to reach out and take what you want from the world. Demand it. Because that may be the only way you will ever get it.
Until Next Time,
Nora
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Books.
Summer always seemed like the perfect time to read books I truly wanted to read. During the school year I was so bogged down by lengthy textbooks and deep, thought-provoking narratives filled with metaphors for life and love that I very rarely had time to read something just for me. And while I have enjoyed some of the books I've been more or less forced to read by the CA school system, many of them I never actually finished partly because they were boring and partly because I had to read them. Having to read something can really take the joy out of reading. Though I must point out that some of the literature forced on us in school wasn't so bad. Some of them I actually enjoyed. Reservation Blues, Speak, The Chocolate Wars, Cyrano de Bergerac, Of Mice and Men, Maus I & Maus II.. the list probably goes on for quite a bit.
Now that I've been out of school I have more time to read what I want to read. Before, summers were the time I could get lost in a book and now one of the gifts graduation has given me is the ability to not put my book list on hold as the summer ends and the school year approaches.
There is something really nice about reading in the winter months, especially during the brief time I lived in Reno. When it's seriously too cold to spend any time outside and almost all houses come with a fireplace, it's seriously a great time to read. Over the past year, since I've graduated, I have read some really good books. Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Commencement, Chelsea, Chelsea Bang, Bang, Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me, The Choice, Shopaholic and Baby. All pretty light reads, nothing too intense.
Since I've graduated I've gone back and forth on whether, or not, I want to go back to school and this is just one of the pluses of not being in school that I've found. Sometimes when I'm missing school and the constant learning it's nice to focus on the positives of not being a slave to my degree.
Another thing I appreciate is not being a slave to one, single genre. A person who only reads sci-fi is missing out on so much, like a person who only watches horror movies. I like being able to read a variety of books. Classics, memoirs, biographies, chick lit, mysteries, fantasy, fiction, non fiction, etc.
Below are 10 books that stretch across different genres that I recommend.
1) A Million Little Pieces, because regardless how true the story actually is there is no denying the guy can write. Also, if you like it, look into My Friend Leonard, the sequel. A sequel that actually may rival the first.
2) Dear John, because it's better than the movie, seriously. Some people completely discount Nicholas Sparks because he's commercialized. But his books are almost always better than the movies made out of them. If you like it, check out The Choice (which has not yet been made into a movie). The Last Song is also pretty damn good.
3) The Way the Crow Flies, because it's just plain good. It's this awesome mystery that surrounds a young girls classroom and a murder that takes place on the air force base.
4) Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, because if you like comedy, you'll like this and if you like Chelsea Handler, you'll love this. I think this Chelsea Handler book has been my favorite so far and I've read them all. Like it? Check out My Horizontal Life, Chelsea, Chelsea, Bang, Bang and Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me.
5) Something Borrowed. For some reason I really like books that turn into movies. I like reading the book before the movie comes out so that I can see it and compare. Ya, this is chick lit, but it's chick lit at its finest. Like it? Read the sequel, Something Blue.. not (yet) a movie.
6) He's Just Not That Into You. I recommend this book to any single girl. I read it in high school, before there were even talks of a movie, and I seriously think it helped change the way I looked at relationships. The book is harsh, harsher than the movie, but it's oh, so true.
7) The Giver, because it's a classic. A "Young Adult" book done right. I read it forever ago, I think in 8th grade, but it's such a good book and it's definitely worth a read. Plus it's a quick read, less than 200 pages.
8) Speak, a novel I read in high school (also was turned into a movie, featuring Kristin Stewart in her pre-Twilight days) but the book is, of course, better. It's another "Young Adult" read, but once again, a good one.
9) Of Mice and Men, because sometimes the classics are classics for a reason. I also (attempted) to read The Grapes of Wrath. In my opinion, Of Mice and Men is a million times better.
10) Bone Fire, it's different, I'll give you that. But I wanted to include something on this list that felt a little more artistic. Bone Fire is that. I'd compare it to the Indie Music version of a book. It's worth a read. It's a book that can really make you think about your life and question your dreams and purpose(s).
As an afternote, anyone who likes reading and hasn't read Harry Potter should just get on that. I didn't even include it in the list because it should be a given. The best series of books I have ever, ever read. And once again, though the movies are amazing, the books are better.
My current reading list includes:
1) One Day (David Nicholls)
2) The Help (Kathryn Stockett)
3) The Lucky One (Nicholas Sparks, of course)
4) Don't Sweat the Small Stuff And it's All Small Stuff (Richard Carlson)
5) Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography (Rob Lowe)
Recommendations are always appreciated!
And now I'll leave you with this, a quote from the book One Day.. because it really struck a chord with me and I think it is beautifully written.
"She didn't feel like an adult. She was in no way prepared. It was as if a fire alarm had gone off in the middle of the night and she was standing on the street with her clothes bundled up in her arms. If she wasn't learning, what was she doing? How would she gill the days? She had no idea."
I love books so much maybe I should work for a publishing company.
Until Next Time,
Nora
Edit: Did I seriously forget To Kill A Mockingbird?! This book is a must read for EVERYONE.
Now that I've been out of school I have more time to read what I want to read. Before, summers were the time I could get lost in a book and now one of the gifts graduation has given me is the ability to not put my book list on hold as the summer ends and the school year approaches.
There is something really nice about reading in the winter months, especially during the brief time I lived in Reno. When it's seriously too cold to spend any time outside and almost all houses come with a fireplace, it's seriously a great time to read. Over the past year, since I've graduated, I have read some really good books. Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Commencement, Chelsea, Chelsea Bang, Bang, Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me, The Choice, Shopaholic and Baby. All pretty light reads, nothing too intense.
Since I've graduated I've gone back and forth on whether, or not, I want to go back to school and this is just one of the pluses of not being in school that I've found. Sometimes when I'm missing school and the constant learning it's nice to focus on the positives of not being a slave to my degree.
Another thing I appreciate is not being a slave to one, single genre. A person who only reads sci-fi is missing out on so much, like a person who only watches horror movies. I like being able to read a variety of books. Classics, memoirs, biographies, chick lit, mysteries, fantasy, fiction, non fiction, etc.
Below are 10 books that stretch across different genres that I recommend.
1) A Million Little Pieces, because regardless how true the story actually is there is no denying the guy can write. Also, if you like it, look into My Friend Leonard, the sequel. A sequel that actually may rival the first.
2) Dear John, because it's better than the movie, seriously. Some people completely discount Nicholas Sparks because he's commercialized. But his books are almost always better than the movies made out of them. If you like it, check out The Choice (which has not yet been made into a movie). The Last Song is also pretty damn good.
3) The Way the Crow Flies, because it's just plain good. It's this awesome mystery that surrounds a young girls classroom and a murder that takes place on the air force base.
4) Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, because if you like comedy, you'll like this and if you like Chelsea Handler, you'll love this. I think this Chelsea Handler book has been my favorite so far and I've read them all. Like it? Check out My Horizontal Life, Chelsea, Chelsea, Bang, Bang and Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me.
5) Something Borrowed. For some reason I really like books that turn into movies. I like reading the book before the movie comes out so that I can see it and compare. Ya, this is chick lit, but it's chick lit at its finest. Like it? Read the sequel, Something Blue.. not (yet) a movie.
6) He's Just Not That Into You. I recommend this book to any single girl. I read it in high school, before there were even talks of a movie, and I seriously think it helped change the way I looked at relationships. The book is harsh, harsher than the movie, but it's oh, so true.
7) The Giver, because it's a classic. A "Young Adult" book done right. I read it forever ago, I think in 8th grade, but it's such a good book and it's definitely worth a read. Plus it's a quick read, less than 200 pages.
8) Speak, a novel I read in high school (also was turned into a movie, featuring Kristin Stewart in her pre-Twilight days) but the book is, of course, better. It's another "Young Adult" read, but once again, a good one.
9) Of Mice and Men, because sometimes the classics are classics for a reason. I also (attempted) to read The Grapes of Wrath. In my opinion, Of Mice and Men is a million times better.
10) Bone Fire, it's different, I'll give you that. But I wanted to include something on this list that felt a little more artistic. Bone Fire is that. I'd compare it to the Indie Music version of a book. It's worth a read. It's a book that can really make you think about your life and question your dreams and purpose(s).
As an afternote, anyone who likes reading and hasn't read Harry Potter should just get on that. I didn't even include it in the list because it should be a given. The best series of books I have ever, ever read. And once again, though the movies are amazing, the books are better.
My current reading list includes:
1) One Day (David Nicholls)
2) The Help (Kathryn Stockett)
3) The Lucky One (Nicholas Sparks, of course)
4) Don't Sweat the Small Stuff And it's All Small Stuff (Richard Carlson)
5) Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography (Rob Lowe)
Recommendations are always appreciated!
And now I'll leave you with this, a quote from the book One Day.. because it really struck a chord with me and I think it is beautifully written.
"She didn't feel like an adult. She was in no way prepared. It was as if a fire alarm had gone off in the middle of the night and she was standing on the street with her clothes bundled up in her arms. If she wasn't learning, what was she doing? How would she gill the days? She had no idea."
I love books so much maybe I should work for a publishing company.
Until Next Time,
Nora
Edit: Did I seriously forget To Kill A Mockingbird?! This book is a must read for EVERYONE.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Is there really anything more important than pursuing your passions?
Even while I was in college people told me that journalism's future was bleak. There was a lot of uncertainty surrounding it as I started taking my major classes and truly embracing the craft. There were major papers shutting down and talk of how giant corporations like Yahoo! and Google were ruining newspapers. And perhaps, in a way, that is true.
I don't think I fully realized what this meant for me. Sure maybe I would never make $100,000/yr., but surely as a degreed journalist I would land a job that paid the bills and the larger sums wouldn't matter because I'd be doing what I love. But perhaps I underestimated just how much things were changing. Perhaps I should have expected more complications along my career path due to the job I ultimately chose to pursue. Sometimes I wonder how much of my trouble in getting a job is me, how much is the economy and how much is journalism itself.
I spoke with a potential employer yesterday and he said something that made me think. He works for a magazine in AZ that has been around for a couple of years now and they interview some pretty cool people like Blink 182, Brett Michaels and Linkin Park - to name a few. And as he acknowledged the potential downfall of newspapers he pointed out the still very prominent need/want for magazines - because they serve a different purpose. He said, in so many words, that people could now get their news almost anywhere, but magazines offered something different - something that couldn't be looked up on Yahoo! and Google.
In a way this gave me hope. There are so many forms of journalism out there I could embrace any of them. And right now I would like to pursue working with magazines because they offer something different. In fact, I was originally going to declare a focus in magazine writing but ended up getting my degree in just journalism - encompassing all facets of the craft.
The more I search and research the more I learn that there are so many places my degree could take me. I can be a writer without writing hard news stories about local crime and city council meetings (though I am not counting this out completely because I do still have a passion for writing and reporting the news) but expanding my horizons and allowing myself different opportunities and variety is a gift I should have given myself a while ago. Or perhaps I did without being totally aware of it.
Since my minor career breakdown and my brief stint wanting to be a lawyer I have rediscovered my passion, perhaps in part from rereading my cover letter I send to employers, and I've realized I'm too young to give up on my dream. And really, perhaps people are never too old to give up on their dreams. Even if one day I am forced to get a job that pays the bills, even outside of the realm of writing and journalism, I hope I still love journalism and writing enough to continue to do it even if only on the side.
After reading one of my latest posts my sister in law pointed out how she changed her major to one that may offer her less security in her future but that she had a true passion for. I can't think of a better reason to go to school for something than to pursue your passions.
And so I leave you with this, one of my favorites.
"Passion is passion. It's the excitement between the tedious spaces, and it doesn't matter where it's directed...It can be coins or sports or politics or horses or music or faith...the saddest people I've ever met in life are the ones who don't care deeply about anything at all." - Nicholas Sparks (Dear John)
Until Next Time,
Nora
I don't think I fully realized what this meant for me. Sure maybe I would never make $100,000/yr., but surely as a degreed journalist I would land a job that paid the bills and the larger sums wouldn't matter because I'd be doing what I love. But perhaps I underestimated just how much things were changing. Perhaps I should have expected more complications along my career path due to the job I ultimately chose to pursue. Sometimes I wonder how much of my trouble in getting a job is me, how much is the economy and how much is journalism itself.
I spoke with a potential employer yesterday and he said something that made me think. He works for a magazine in AZ that has been around for a couple of years now and they interview some pretty cool people like Blink 182, Brett Michaels and Linkin Park - to name a few. And as he acknowledged the potential downfall of newspapers he pointed out the still very prominent need/want for magazines - because they serve a different purpose. He said, in so many words, that people could now get their news almost anywhere, but magazines offered something different - something that couldn't be looked up on Yahoo! and Google.
In a way this gave me hope. There are so many forms of journalism out there I could embrace any of them. And right now I would like to pursue working with magazines because they offer something different. In fact, I was originally going to declare a focus in magazine writing but ended up getting my degree in just journalism - encompassing all facets of the craft.
The more I search and research the more I learn that there are so many places my degree could take me. I can be a writer without writing hard news stories about local crime and city council meetings (though I am not counting this out completely because I do still have a passion for writing and reporting the news) but expanding my horizons and allowing myself different opportunities and variety is a gift I should have given myself a while ago. Or perhaps I did without being totally aware of it.
Since my minor career breakdown and my brief stint wanting to be a lawyer I have rediscovered my passion, perhaps in part from rereading my cover letter I send to employers, and I've realized I'm too young to give up on my dream. And really, perhaps people are never too old to give up on their dreams. Even if one day I am forced to get a job that pays the bills, even outside of the realm of writing and journalism, I hope I still love journalism and writing enough to continue to do it even if only on the side.
After reading one of my latest posts my sister in law pointed out how she changed her major to one that may offer her less security in her future but that she had a true passion for. I can't think of a better reason to go to school for something than to pursue your passions.
And so I leave you with this, one of my favorites.
"Passion is passion. It's the excitement between the tedious spaces, and it doesn't matter where it's directed...It can be coins or sports or politics or horses or music or faith...the saddest people I've ever met in life are the ones who don't care deeply about anything at all." - Nicholas Sparks (Dear John)
Until Next Time,
Nora
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Haboob
Dear Arizona,
What is up with freak storms in the summer? And why is it called a "haboob"? Someone please explain.
Sincerely,
A California Girl
What is up with freak storms in the summer? And why is it called a "haboob"? Someone please explain.
Sincerely,
A California Girl
Maybe your 20s are supposed to be a time for confusion...
Wow. So I have not been fantastic at posting lately. Whoops!
Today I read a FB post by a friend who posted something about feeling stuck in her career, no way to move forward and no funds to pursue what she ultimately wants to do in life - her dreams. Apparently it's not just me who feels like pursuing what you want in life career-wise is also often done at the sacrifice of money. It made me feel a little better to know I'm not the only one.
Since I lost my last job and have moved to AZ it has been hard to find a job as a journalist that truly pays all of the bills and freelancing seems to be the way to go with a lot of publications so building up a good base of places to write for can take some time.
I guess the point is that it's not the specifics, it's not what I want to do or what my FB friend wants to do, it's about not feeling like the only person out there struggling to make the next move career-wise. In other aspects of my life I feel like things are moving forward but for a while now I've felt like my career is standing still and I'm standing on a road with a bunch of forks leading off of it and I don't know if I should continue the way I've been going or take one of those forks.
Life is full of possibilities. So cliche, but it really is. And I guess today knowing I wasn't alone in my feelings was nice. Perhaps your 20's are just a time to be confused and pursue different opportunities, take risks, etc. After all, it does kind of seem like the time when you make a lot of life-altering decisions. So maybe I just need to be at peace with being in my 20s and being confused.
One of my bosses once told me that your 30s are really the best time of your life because in so many words you're established and know what you are doing. You're more likely settled in your career, relationships, etc. and things probably become clearer at this point. You still have your whole life ahead of you but it's a clearer picture of what is to come.
I usually write about about other stuff, less my deeper feelings but I think this has been slightly therapeutic.
Until Next Time,
Nora
Today I read a FB post by a friend who posted something about feeling stuck in her career, no way to move forward and no funds to pursue what she ultimately wants to do in life - her dreams. Apparently it's not just me who feels like pursuing what you want in life career-wise is also often done at the sacrifice of money. It made me feel a little better to know I'm not the only one.
Since I lost my last job and have moved to AZ it has been hard to find a job as a journalist that truly pays all of the bills and freelancing seems to be the way to go with a lot of publications so building up a good base of places to write for can take some time.
I guess the point is that it's not the specifics, it's not what I want to do or what my FB friend wants to do, it's about not feeling like the only person out there struggling to make the next move career-wise. In other aspects of my life I feel like things are moving forward but for a while now I've felt like my career is standing still and I'm standing on a road with a bunch of forks leading off of it and I don't know if I should continue the way I've been going or take one of those forks.
Life is full of possibilities. So cliche, but it really is. And I guess today knowing I wasn't alone in my feelings was nice. Perhaps your 20's are just a time to be confused and pursue different opportunities, take risks, etc. After all, it does kind of seem like the time when you make a lot of life-altering decisions. So maybe I just need to be at peace with being in my 20s and being confused.
One of my bosses once told me that your 30s are really the best time of your life because in so many words you're established and know what you are doing. You're more likely settled in your career, relationships, etc. and things probably become clearer at this point. You still have your whole life ahead of you but it's a clearer picture of what is to come.
I usually write about about other stuff, less my deeper feelings but I think this has been slightly therapeutic.
Until Next Time,
Nora
Friday, August 5, 2011
Running on hot pavement in over 100 degree weather was probably not a good idea.
People amaze me.
Today some guy rang the doorbell, which is a cue for my 80 lb. German Shepherd puppy to go nuts and ran to the door barking and growling and jumping all over. I grab him by the collar and open the door and some guy is there and he wants to come in and give me an estimate on blinds. WTF?! First off we've already ordered our blinds so this is completely unnecessary but do people really go door to door for this?? So Heineken, my puppy, gets away from me but the guy is petting him while he talks to me so I'm not to worried. Without warning he like stops and Heineken takes off to the neighbors yard and the guy is just like "Oh, he'll come back." Says I'm covered for blinds and like goes out to his van and leaves. I was flabbergasted. Really?!
I was still in my pajamas and completely barefoot, which I'm sure this guy could see, so I go out to grab Heineken but he is still a puppy so he takes off running. I go after him but the faster I run the faster he runs. I am not about to take the chance that "oh, he'll come back," because we just moved (duh! hence why we don't have blinds) and his name collar has our old address on it from NV.
So I chase him all along the sidewalk (good thing he apparently has enough sense not to run in the street), out of our neighborhood, (which is like a giant circle, not a court), and onto the road across the street from the school. Now I'm concerned. I'm afraid if he sees a kid he'll make a break for it.
What makes it worse is the guy clearly saw him taking off and me chasing him calling his name and he just drove off. Douche. A little helping grabbing my overgrown puppy you let go would be nice considering you're a full-grown male AND are currently wearing shoes.
So I chase him like half way down the street the school is on and finally grab him by the collar because he's stopped to smell what appears to be a piece of poop (gross!) But the adventure doesn't end there.
I know have to go all the way back down to our house, which by this point is pretty far away, with minimal shaded sidewalk patches. So by the time I get back I'm wincing and on the verge of tears because my feet hurt so bad. I'm afraid they are going to blister and walking around the house HURTS. I'm now using ice bags to try and cool them down and hopefully prevent blisters/swelling but it f@#&ing hurts.
To make it worse every time Heineken needs to go outside or I need to get something I have to get up and walk across the tile floor. I'm about to crawl upstairs now so I can wash my feet.
So thanks douchebag blinds salesman. And thanks Heineken, we are not friends today.
Until Next Time,
Nora
Oh, and as I side note, I was also woken up before 7 a.m. this morning by my puppy who decided to rip up a cardboard book. Seriously?! I had to clean it up and when I vacuumed the remaining pieces it smelled like something was burning. We leave him around the house by himself while we're sleeping all the time and he is perfectly well behaved so I'm not sure why he chose today to be a jerk.
Today some guy rang the doorbell, which is a cue for my 80 lb. German Shepherd puppy to go nuts and ran to the door barking and growling and jumping all over. I grab him by the collar and open the door and some guy is there and he wants to come in and give me an estimate on blinds. WTF?! First off we've already ordered our blinds so this is completely unnecessary but do people really go door to door for this?? So Heineken, my puppy, gets away from me but the guy is petting him while he talks to me so I'm not to worried. Without warning he like stops and Heineken takes off to the neighbors yard and the guy is just like "Oh, he'll come back." Says I'm covered for blinds and like goes out to his van and leaves. I was flabbergasted. Really?!
I was still in my pajamas and completely barefoot, which I'm sure this guy could see, so I go out to grab Heineken but he is still a puppy so he takes off running. I go after him but the faster I run the faster he runs. I am not about to take the chance that "oh, he'll come back," because we just moved (duh! hence why we don't have blinds) and his name collar has our old address on it from NV.
So I chase him all along the sidewalk (good thing he apparently has enough sense not to run in the street), out of our neighborhood, (which is like a giant circle, not a court), and onto the road across the street from the school. Now I'm concerned. I'm afraid if he sees a kid he'll make a break for it.
What makes it worse is the guy clearly saw him taking off and me chasing him calling his name and he just drove off. Douche. A little helping grabbing my overgrown puppy you let go would be nice considering you're a full-grown male AND are currently wearing shoes.
So I chase him like half way down the street the school is on and finally grab him by the collar because he's stopped to smell what appears to be a piece of poop (gross!) But the adventure doesn't end there.
I know have to go all the way back down to our house, which by this point is pretty far away, with minimal shaded sidewalk patches. So by the time I get back I'm wincing and on the verge of tears because my feet hurt so bad. I'm afraid they are going to blister and walking around the house HURTS. I'm now using ice bags to try and cool them down and hopefully prevent blisters/swelling but it f@#&ing hurts.
To make it worse every time Heineken needs to go outside or I need to get something I have to get up and walk across the tile floor. I'm about to crawl upstairs now so I can wash my feet.
So thanks douchebag blinds salesman. And thanks Heineken, we are not friends today.
Until Next Time,
Nora
Oh, and as I side note, I was also woken up before 7 a.m. this morning by my puppy who decided to rip up a cardboard book. Seriously?! I had to clean it up and when I vacuumed the remaining pieces it smelled like something was burning. We leave him around the house by himself while we're sleeping all the time and he is perfectly well behaved so I'm not sure why he chose today to be a jerk.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
I hope you dance, just not to THAT song.
I spent a lot of time wedding planning today and a huge part of that was looking at different songs to use during our wedding. I am not a huge fan of the traditional when it comes to weddings. Yes, I'm wearing a (shade of) white dress, having an officiant, a venue, etc. BUT one thing I really don't like is when DJs play their go-to cliche, wedding songs. I really don't want to do the Macarena, Chicken Dance or Electric Slide at my wedding. I don't. And I will go a step further.. I am going to BAN them lol. Even if I have to give my DJ a list of songs he is forbidden to play, I will. I don't want to do a Conga line and I don't want to dance to the YMCA. If you want to listen to the Bee Gees and rock out to Brick House, my wedding will not be the place to do it. I'm all for having fun but I'd rather play music you can dance to.. and not a choreographed dance that makes you look ridiculous. Call me a wedding grinch, but I just don't like it.
I am really excited about the music for our wedding though! We are working with one of my fiance's family friends right now to hopefully book her for our ceremony/cocktail hour. She is a professional harpist and from what I hear a pretty damn good one. I think it'll be pretty to have instrumental music but once again I'll stray from the completely traditional. I don't think I'll walk down the aisle to "Here Comes the Bride" but I guess we'll see. That just might happen as I'm still kind of torn. She also said she does some Disney songs and Taylor Swift and she said she'd learn some songs for us too. I hope we can finalize things soon and book her! Then I just need to pick a DJ haha.
There's seriously so much to do for a wedding I had NO idea. Some of these things I simply hadn't thought of. Like the fact that you need a cake cutting song.. a special song to play while you are cutting your cake. It's crazy the thought that goes into the little details that people probably don't even notice. Insanity.
Luckily after some much needed wedding talk today my song list is coming along. I plan on playing lots of country and some good rap and pop music that people can actually dance to. Hopefully I can put a ban on Techno/House music as well. I don't think I'm a bridezilla but when it comes to the music I guess I'm just a tad picky.
I saw an episode of How I Met Your Mother (seriously one of my favorite shows EVER) where they made a list of wedding cliches they refused to have at their wedding. I think this is a FANTASTIC idea. Consider the music ban item number one on the list haha.
Until Next Time,
Nora
I am really excited about the music for our wedding though! We are working with one of my fiance's family friends right now to hopefully book her for our ceremony/cocktail hour. She is a professional harpist and from what I hear a pretty damn good one. I think it'll be pretty to have instrumental music but once again I'll stray from the completely traditional. I don't think I'll walk down the aisle to "Here Comes the Bride" but I guess we'll see. That just might happen as I'm still kind of torn. She also said she does some Disney songs and Taylor Swift and she said she'd learn some songs for us too. I hope we can finalize things soon and book her! Then I just need to pick a DJ haha.
There's seriously so much to do for a wedding I had NO idea. Some of these things I simply hadn't thought of. Like the fact that you need a cake cutting song.. a special song to play while you are cutting your cake. It's crazy the thought that goes into the little details that people probably don't even notice. Insanity.
Luckily after some much needed wedding talk today my song list is coming along. I plan on playing lots of country and some good rap and pop music that people can actually dance to. Hopefully I can put a ban on Techno/House music as well. I don't think I'm a bridezilla but when it comes to the music I guess I'm just a tad picky.
I saw an episode of How I Met Your Mother (seriously one of my favorite shows EVER) where they made a list of wedding cliches they refused to have at their wedding. I think this is a FANTASTIC idea. Consider the music ban item number one on the list haha.
Until Next Time,
Nora
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
"The boy who lived, come to die"
I feel like it's been a while since I updated but my awesome SIL was in town and so I was spending some much needed time with her. While she was here we saw a lot of movies. We saw the last Harry Potter and I'm sad there aren't going to be anymore.. or at least there aren't anymore planned right now that we know of! (I'm hoping J.K. Rowling decides to write another book). I'm pretty sure I was in 5th or 6th grade when I read my first Harry Potter book and I read the last one in like 2 days during the summer before my freshman year of college. Now I'm 22 and saw the corresponding movie. As you can see Harry Potter has been a part of my life for a loooong time and I'm sad there isn't an eighth book to read right now. I imagine this may be how people felt about Star Wars in the 80's haha. Perhaps I'll check out Pottermore.com once its up to get my HP fix.
While she was here we also went and saw Friends With Benefits and Crazy Stupid Love. My fiance came to those movies as well. They were both really good. Crazy Stupid Love was SUCH a cute movie. It's one I'll probably pre order :) We also watched Zombieland, Takers and Love and Other Drugs. SIL time often means movie time haha.
Now she's gone back to CA but I hope she comes down to visit again soon! It was nice having her here especially since I'm still pretty friendless in AZ lol. It makes me appreciate all my friends in other places though.
Maybe I'll write more later.
Until next time,
Nora
While she was here we also went and saw Friends With Benefits and Crazy Stupid Love. My fiance came to those movies as well. They were both really good. Crazy Stupid Love was SUCH a cute movie. It's one I'll probably pre order :) We also watched Zombieland, Takers and Love and Other Drugs. SIL time often means movie time haha.
Now she's gone back to CA but I hope she comes down to visit again soon! It was nice having her here especially since I'm still pretty friendless in AZ lol. It makes me appreciate all my friends in other places though.
Maybe I'll write more later.
Until next time,
Nora
Saturday, July 23, 2011
List.
Since things have been stressing me out lately I decided to make a list of things I like. 22 things that this 22 year old likes.
1) Heineken (not the beer) - my dog that likes to be lazy with me and cuddle when we aren't playing fetch or tug-a-war with his toys.
2) Lazy days on the couch spent watching Netflix.
3) Nicholas Sparks books.
4) Inspiring quotes - they can be a really good pick-me-up and help me gain perspective on things going on in my life. Two of my favorites are listed under the "about me" on my profile.
5) Date nights in.
6) Arizona summer nights spent in the pool with Stella (this time I do mean the beer).
7) The San Francisco 49ers and Sundays spent with my fiance watching the games. Also the new VS NFL line that I am impatiently awaiting. Is it football season yet?
8) My family. Even if they are scattered across the country just a phone call with one of them can often make me feel better. Especially my mom.
9) Looking at friend's FB pics of their adorable children. Sometimes their cute little faces can cheer me up, especially my nieces.
10) 80's movies.
11) San Francisco. Period.
12) Baseball games. Weather it be an A's game or a Diamondbacks game I generally like going to them. I do not, however, like watching them on TV much.
13) Wine nights with girlfriends.. which makes me miss Reno and my friends and book club there.
14) Wedding/Honeymoon planning. Sometimes this makes me more stressed than happy, but sometimes it is really fun.
15) "Mod About You" nail polish by OPI. It is like my go to color.
16) Charming Charlies.
17) Learning/Museums.
18) Writing. In lots of different forms.
19) The beach, which right now I currently miss.
20) Laughter. Comedies. Things that make me laugh.
21) Tennis & Yoga.
22) Christmas time. Almost everything about it. Sleeping next to the Christmas tree, sipping hot cocoa, family, buying gifts for people, stockings, etc.
1) Heineken (not the beer) - my dog that likes to be lazy with me and cuddle when we aren't playing fetch or tug-a-war with his toys.
2) Lazy days on the couch spent watching Netflix.
3) Nicholas Sparks books.
4) Inspiring quotes - they can be a really good pick-me-up and help me gain perspective on things going on in my life. Two of my favorites are listed under the "about me" on my profile.
5) Date nights in.
6) Arizona summer nights spent in the pool with Stella (this time I do mean the beer).
7) The San Francisco 49ers and Sundays spent with my fiance watching the games. Also the new VS NFL line that I am impatiently awaiting. Is it football season yet?
8) My family. Even if they are scattered across the country just a phone call with one of them can often make me feel better. Especially my mom.
9) Looking at friend's FB pics of their adorable children. Sometimes their cute little faces can cheer me up, especially my nieces.
10) 80's movies.
11) San Francisco. Period.
12) Baseball games. Weather it be an A's game or a Diamondbacks game I generally like going to them. I do not, however, like watching them on TV much.
13) Wine nights with girlfriends.. which makes me miss Reno and my friends and book club there.
14) Wedding/Honeymoon planning. Sometimes this makes me more stressed than happy, but sometimes it is really fun.
15) "Mod About You" nail polish by OPI. It is like my go to color.
16) Charming Charlies.
17) Learning/Museums.
18) Writing. In lots of different forms.
19) The beach, which right now I currently miss.
20) Laughter. Comedies. Things that make me laugh.
21) Tennis & Yoga.
22) Christmas time. Almost everything about it. Sleeping next to the Christmas tree, sipping hot cocoa, family, buying gifts for people, stockings, etc.
Seeing the US of A.
I like to travel but I'm afraid of flying. Airplanes give me some serious anxiety, especially take-off, landing and any time there is turbulance. BUT I really want to take a road trip across the U.S. with time to stop and stay in all sorts of places along the way and see ridiculous landmarks like "The Biggest Ball of Yarn." (I'm not sure that this even exists lol).
I've driven across the U.S. before (well I rode while other people drove) when I was younger. My family and I drove from Cali to Florida and back AND we made the drive from Cali to Illinois and back. But since I've been older I haven't done that big of a roadtrip.. I think the biggest was Nevada to Arizona, which took about 13 hours.
Now that I'm older I want to take like a summer-long, or even a month-long, roadtrip all over the U.S. One of the things on my unofficial bucket list is to go to all 50 states. I think I have about 19 of them down, but that leaves quite a few left to see.
Since I'm in AZ, I figure we could drive through New Mexico, Texas & Louisiana (even though I've been to these states before, I want to go again), up through Arkansas or Mississippi to Tennessee and North Carolina and then up the coast from there, through Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, etc. all the way to Maine and back down through New York, Pennsylvania, etc.
Now I just have to figure out how to fund the trip, take a month off from responsibilities and find someone to go with me. With our wedding and honeymoon planned for next summer this may have to wait but maybe during law school, or even the summer after, I'll be able to take a summer off and do this. Who's in?
Until Next Time,
Nora
I've driven across the U.S. before (well I rode while other people drove) when I was younger. My family and I drove from Cali to Florida and back AND we made the drive from Cali to Illinois and back. But since I've been older I haven't done that big of a roadtrip.. I think the biggest was Nevada to Arizona, which took about 13 hours.
Now that I'm older I want to take like a summer-long, or even a month-long, roadtrip all over the U.S. One of the things on my unofficial bucket list is to go to all 50 states. I think I have about 19 of them down, but that leaves quite a few left to see.
Since I'm in AZ, I figure we could drive through New Mexico, Texas & Louisiana (even though I've been to these states before, I want to go again), up through Arkansas or Mississippi to Tennessee and North Carolina and then up the coast from there, through Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, etc. all the way to Maine and back down through New York, Pennsylvania, etc.
Now I just have to figure out how to fund the trip, take a month off from responsibilities and find someone to go with me. With our wedding and honeymoon planned for next summer this may have to wait but maybe during law school, or even the summer after, I'll be able to take a summer off and do this. Who's in?
Until Next Time,
Nora
Friday, July 22, 2011
80's Movies
I consider myself a pretty big fan of the 80's. The music, the movies, even the fashion... to an extent. Most people who know me well know that I like a lot of 80's movies.. the John Hughes movies like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, 16 Candles, Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club are some of my favorites. I've also seen some of the big box office 80's movies like Top Gun, all of the Back to the Future movies, Batman, Star Wars 4, 5 & 6 and Indiana Jones. Other Tom Cruise movies like Cocktails and Risky Business top the list as well.
But my love of 80's movies doesn't stop at the obvious. Can't Buy Me Love, with Patrick Dempsey, is perhaps one of my favorites along with Just One of the Guys, Say Anything and, most recently, Peggy Sue Got Married. I even own St. Elmo's Fire on blu-ray, which I bought after hearing about it (although I wouldn't call it one of my favorites).
I've even seen some of the more kid-friendly 80's movies like Romancing the Stone, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Labyrnth, The Princess Bride, The Little Mermaid, Oliver and Company and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, though some of these I haven't seen in such a long time I feel like I need to see them again. There's also a lot of 80's movies I'm pretty sure I've seen but it's been so many years that I hardly remember them.
Other 80's movies I've seen include Heathers, Xanadu, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Footloose, Stand By Me, The Outsiders and Look Who's Talking.
I even like movies about the 80's, like Take Me Home Tonight and Hot Tub Time Machine. Easy A is also one of my favorite movies and while it's not set in the 80's, I feel it sets out to resemble them.
I think one of the things I like about 80's movies is the cheese factor. At least a lot of the rom coms and chick flicks from the 80's have this always-a-happy-ending motif. They are often laid back and while they may send a message they are (usually) fun to watch.
I recently googled some lists of best 80's movies to give my self an idea of what I'd seen and some new ones I might want to search for on Netflix. After I heard about Peggy Sue Got Married from a friend I figured there must be tons out there I hadn't even heard of.
Looks like I was right! After checking out some lists online and browsing netflix I've found quite a few 80's movies I've never seen, some of which I've been meaning to watch, and a bunch I can't even remember ever hearing of. So what's on my to-watch list? Loverboy, It Could Happen To You, When Harry Met Sally and Dirty Dancing (which I have on blu-ray and haven't watched yet).
What 80's movies do you think I need to add to my list? (Though I don't know if anyone will answer this considering I'm pretty sure my future SIL is the only one who reads it).
Until next time,
Nora
But my love of 80's movies doesn't stop at the obvious. Can't Buy Me Love, with Patrick Dempsey, is perhaps one of my favorites along with Just One of the Guys, Say Anything and, most recently, Peggy Sue Got Married. I even own St. Elmo's Fire on blu-ray, which I bought after hearing about it (although I wouldn't call it one of my favorites).
I've even seen some of the more kid-friendly 80's movies like Romancing the Stone, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Labyrnth, The Princess Bride, The Little Mermaid, Oliver and Company and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, though some of these I haven't seen in such a long time I feel like I need to see them again. There's also a lot of 80's movies I'm pretty sure I've seen but it's been so many years that I hardly remember them.
Other 80's movies I've seen include Heathers, Xanadu, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Footloose, Stand By Me, The Outsiders and Look Who's Talking.
I even like movies about the 80's, like Take Me Home Tonight and Hot Tub Time Machine. Easy A is also one of my favorite movies and while it's not set in the 80's, I feel it sets out to resemble them.
I think one of the things I like about 80's movies is the cheese factor. At least a lot of the rom coms and chick flicks from the 80's have this always-a-happy-ending motif. They are often laid back and while they may send a message they are (usually) fun to watch.
I recently googled some lists of best 80's movies to give my self an idea of what I'd seen and some new ones I might want to search for on Netflix. After I heard about Peggy Sue Got Married from a friend I figured there must be tons out there I hadn't even heard of.
Looks like I was right! After checking out some lists online and browsing netflix I've found quite a few 80's movies I've never seen, some of which I've been meaning to watch, and a bunch I can't even remember ever hearing of. So what's on my to-watch list? Loverboy, It Could Happen To You, When Harry Met Sally and Dirty Dancing (which I have on blu-ray and haven't watched yet).
What 80's movies do you think I need to add to my list? (Though I don't know if anyone will answer this considering I'm pretty sure my future SIL is the only one who reads it).
Until next time,
Nora
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Summer TV
Random Thought: Summer TV doesn't seem too bad this year.
Usually when Fall shows end I feel like they are replaced by a lot of regular-season rejects and summer shows that are worthwhile are often eventually moved to the regular season. However there are actually some summer shows I've been following that are pretty good.
Below is some of my favorite summer programming.
1) Pretty Little Liars (one of my favorite shows anytime of the year)
2) The Secret Life of an American Teenager
3) Teen Mom/16 & Pregnant
4) The Challenge: Rivals
5) The Bachelorette
6) Love in the Wild
7) America's Got Talent (though I haven't been following this so closely this summer)
Also there are the summer shows still coming up including Project Runway (another favorite), a new ABC Family show called The Lying Game that I want to see and Bachelor Pad, which I don't usually watch but since I got into the Bachelor and the Bachelorette I kinda wanna check it out. I also wanted to watch the Glee Project show but I didn't end up doing that. Whoops!
Anyway, this was pretty random but whatever. I've also been checking out Fall shows coming out and it looks like tons of good ones! At least ones that I want to check out. Maybe I'll post a list of some of the good looking ones later. I think my fiance is getting skeptical of getting into new shows during their first season since Mercy, Trauma, Life Unexpected and Mad Love were all canceled.
Until next time,
Nora
Usually when Fall shows end I feel like they are replaced by a lot of regular-season rejects and summer shows that are worthwhile are often eventually moved to the regular season. However there are actually some summer shows I've been following that are pretty good.
Below is some of my favorite summer programming.
1) Pretty Little Liars (one of my favorite shows anytime of the year)
2) The Secret Life of an American Teenager
3) Teen Mom/16 & Pregnant
4) The Challenge: Rivals
5) The Bachelorette
6) Love in the Wild
7) America's Got Talent (though I haven't been following this so closely this summer)
Also there are the summer shows still coming up including Project Runway (another favorite), a new ABC Family show called The Lying Game that I want to see and Bachelor Pad, which I don't usually watch but since I got into the Bachelor and the Bachelorette I kinda wanna check it out. I also wanted to watch the Glee Project show but I didn't end up doing that. Whoops!
Anyway, this was pretty random but whatever. I've also been checking out Fall shows coming out and it looks like tons of good ones! At least ones that I want to check out. Maybe I'll post a list of some of the good looking ones later. I think my fiance is getting skeptical of getting into new shows during their first season since Mercy, Trauma, Life Unexpected and Mad Love were all canceled.
Until next time,
Nora
Friday, July 15, 2011
First Post
Unemployment does not sit well with me.
Ever since I have been old enough to work I have almost constantly had a job, or three. So when I got fired, except I don't know if you can really get fired from being a freelancer, I didn't really know what to do with all of my free time. That was almost 2 months ago and I am still unemployed. So, I decided to start a blog, about anything and everything, to help me fill the days and take breaks from applying to companies that I'll probably never hear back from, online.
I graduated last August, almost an entire year ago, and I have held multiple odds and ends jobs since then. Nothing I've really gotten settled into or could call a "career job." I'm 22 years old and sometimes, I feel like I'm having a mid life crisis.
Unemployment has made me consider a lot of things. What's my next move? What do I want to do with my life? So far, I still don't know, but I considered what I like.
I finally came to the conclusion that I would go back to school... law school. So while I am studying for the LSATs, planning my wedding/honeymoon, looking for work and pondering how the hell I got in this position I figured I would start a blog. I also made an agreement with my awesome future SIL (that's sister-in-law) that I would start a book. But that is a slower process so I'll start here.
One thing I've learned for sure, when you are ready to graduate and the country is currently in a recession, consider double-majoring or going for your PhD. You'll save time on paying back your student loans and won't have to face the depressing job market.
Until next time,
Nora
Ever since I have been old enough to work I have almost constantly had a job, or three. So when I got fired, except I don't know if you can really get fired from being a freelancer, I didn't really know what to do with all of my free time. That was almost 2 months ago and I am still unemployed. So, I decided to start a blog, about anything and everything, to help me fill the days and take breaks from applying to companies that I'll probably never hear back from, online.
I graduated last August, almost an entire year ago, and I have held multiple odds and ends jobs since then. Nothing I've really gotten settled into or could call a "career job." I'm 22 years old and sometimes, I feel like I'm having a mid life crisis.
Unemployment has made me consider a lot of things. What's my next move? What do I want to do with my life? So far, I still don't know, but I considered what I like.
I finally came to the conclusion that I would go back to school... law school. So while I am studying for the LSATs, planning my wedding/honeymoon, looking for work and pondering how the hell I got in this position I figured I would start a blog. I also made an agreement with my awesome future SIL (that's sister-in-law) that I would start a book. But that is a slower process so I'll start here.
One thing I've learned for sure, when you are ready to graduate and the country is currently in a recession, consider double-majoring or going for your PhD. You'll save time on paying back your student loans and won't have to face the depressing job market.
Until next time,
Nora
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