Wednesday, January 28, 2009

reason #472 why i love the boy

Yesterday was a big day for the boy. He was dying to get a big and pretty LCD flat panel tv and while he has saved up a ridiculous amont of money, he didn't feel like he could buy it because he wants to make sure we have enough money for the wedding. After researching a particular tv for almost a year and looking at every day, he finally bought it. On Monday he got the call that it was going to arrive the next day (yesterday) and he was like a 7 year old boy running around on Christmas Eve hoping that Santa would bring him the original Nintendo so he could spend Christmas playing "Duck Hunt". Hopefully he would be nicer than my brother who wouldn't let me participate in the duck shooting games, but that's another story.

Last night I had class, so I expected to come home to the boy and his friend playing "Call of Duty 4" while yelling at 8th graders on the other team who are whispering fighting words and trying to keep quiet because they are up way past their bedtime. I walked into the door and there was a huge bouquet of roses waiting for me:

Bianca: You bought me flowers?!
Matt: Yep
Bianca: What did you do...
Matt: Nothing!
Bianca: Because you don't want me to be jealous of the tv?
Matt: I don't need a reason to buy you flowers. And as much as I love the tv, I will always love you more.

I guess he does love me more than video games.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

my love/hate relationship with costco

Today was errands day. Usually we try to limit ourselves to Target and Safeway but once in a while we decide to go all out and make the trip to Costco. Fortunately the nearest Costco is only 5 minutes away but while there are some wonderful things about that store, there are also the things that make me cringe. Here's a little play by play of my trip today:

1) We pull into the parking lot and there's bumper to bumper traffic. There are 2 lanes going towards the store. The right lane is for people who want to get gas and who will wait in that line for 45 minutes to save $.08/gallon. I'm not sure that's worth the wait. 3 people in that line didn't realize that they were in the gas line and decided to cut in front of me to get into the parking lot. When a 4th person tried to get in front of me and I didn't let them, they proceeded to honk at me and start yelling. Whatever, I think the 3 people I let in was sufficient. Hate.

2) As we're driving down the aisle we see someone walking towards their car. Turns out they have the 1st non-handicap spot. Score, rockstar parking! We turn on our blinker and wait for them to put their goods in the trunk and get into their car. Someone starts driving up from the other side and stops and puts on their blinker. Costco parking is a nightmare and I was not about to let someone grab my spot. Fortunately the person in the spot saw what was going on and pulled out in a way to block the other guy so I could get in. Love nice people. Hate Costco parking.

3) We walk in and are greeted by wonderful, huge displays. Costco displays may be my favorite thing about the store, especially in the summer when they have the boats and I can pretend that I'm in Greece drinking champagne and rocking big Jackie O sunglasses. Today's displays were far less extravagant, but I did get to watch a group of people attempt to use a karaoke machine. I'm really glad I didn't have to hear a rendition of "I Will Survive", but it was highly entertaining. Love.

4) Since Sundays are family packed days at Costco, there are tons of samples. I'm convinced that you could eat enough food for an entire meal if you go at the right time of day. Shrimp, spinach dip, pita chips, and cake make me a happy gal. Love.

5) There were a ton of people shopping today and I hate when people suddenly stop with their carts in front of the flow of people walking through the store instead of pulling their cart full of toilet paper, bottled water, and gallon jug of ketchup to the side. I decided to start counting: 5 people who randomly stopped in front of me and 3 shopping carts that hit me. Hate.

6) The beauty section keeps getting better and better. I was stoked when they started carrying some Smashbox products but now they have stuff from Stila and Bobbi Brown. I restrained myself and didn't buy, but I'm excited that the carry it. Love.

7) Longest. Checkout. Line. Ever. One should not have to wait 20 minutes. Hate.

8) The thing that makes Costco worthwhile: where else can you get a hot dog and soda for $1.50? LOVE.

So there you have it. I'm happy I survived and even happier that I won't have to go back for a few months. Anyone else have the love/hate relationship?

Thursday, January 22, 2009

dirty water, target, and feeling like a smartie

Here's a little week in review:

1) On Sunday night I was lounging around the house rejoicing that I didn't have to go to school on Monday and watching "Rock of Love Bus" (which, btw, I want to know if anyone else watches. Bret Michaels is out of control but not nearly as out of control as those girls and yet I can't. stop. watching.) Matt calls up from the basement to ask if I did laundry because if not, we had a problem. I walked downstairs and there was water EVERYWHERE. Gross, dirty, water. I'm going to let you in on a little secret. I'm a girlie girl (ok, not really a secret). But I was the 8 year old girl that refused to run in the mud during a soccer game because I didn't want to get my new, neon green laces dirty. Matt took one look at my face, laughed and saidh would take care of it. But I rolled up my jean legs, grabbed some rubber gloves, and totally cleaned. Without complaining. In fact, I couldn't stop laughing and singing made-up songs about dancing in poopy water. Am I mature or what? There weren't any leaks in the house and the city came out to check if the sewer was backed up, but it wasn't. Turned out that at some point the pipe is met with a clay pipe and that clay cracked and roots and such were growing in it and prevented things from flowing away from the house. So since it couldn't flow out, it flowed back in and was redirected to another pipe which empties into the large sink in our laundry room. All fixed now, but the basement carpet is STILL damp and we're still laying down towels to soak everything up. We'll be going through a massive carpet clean in the near future. But the greatest part of all of this is that Matt was silly proud that his future wife is helpful. I guess I'm good for more than shopping and writing case briefs.

2) I was completely convinced that I would fail my corporations class. Crying bucketfuls, hands trembling, couldn't eat, super scared. I got my grade Tuesday: A-. Fucking amazing.

3) I have a shopping problem. When people are upset or need comfort, they may clean, go for a drive, take a bubble bath. I shop. And when I'm on my shopping mission, I have to get something. Not nearly as bad as "True Life: I'm a Compulsive Shopper", but still. The biggest problem is Target. That store is dangerous and without fail, I go and leave with something that I don't need: the new Maybelline mascara, tank tops, tote get the idea. But it's my "go to" errands store, so I can't avoid it. I recently decided that I was going to try and save up my money and stop buying random crap. To help this, I've decided that I can only go to Target once a week. At the end of week 1, I was completely successful. I left Target with face wash, toilet paper, and contact lens solution. Totally necessary items. Let's see if I can keep this up.

I'm a happy girl. Since thursdays are my fridays (thank you law school for allowing me to make a pretty schedule), I feel like I should treat myself to a nice glass of wine. Or 2. Or 3...

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Maybe I Don't Hate the iPhone

A while back I wrote a post about competing with the iphone for my fiance's attention. As more and more iphone applications are released everday, and the boy's excitement over these applications, I was about ready to throw that crazy piece of technology out the window...until I realized there was an application where I could order this:

What is that? Chipotle burrito. BRILLIANT. Can I order a steak burrito? Yes I can. Can I add extra cheese? You know it. Can I add chips and guacamole? Absolutely. I guess the application broke the first day due to high demand, but they're bringing it back. I guess the iphone isn't so bad after all...

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Good Vibrations, Contempo Casuals, and Cyndi Lauper

Tonight has been a night of watching movies from the 1990s, so I thought I'd share:

1) I adore Mark Wahlberg. I think it's a combination of the accent/Calvin Klein abs/Funky Bunch. The first movie on was "Fear". I remember watching it when I was 13(ish) years old and thinking that he was super dreamy, even though he was absolutely nuts. But I don't think my sheltered suburban self fully understood the crazy until I rewatched it tonight. Example: Mark's character trashes Reese Witherspoon's father's car (that is a red convertible) and leaves a note that says "Now I've popped both your cherries". Classy. I also love his home made tattoo that said "Nicole 4eva". I guess grammar doesn't matter when marking yourself for life.

2) Next up we have "Clueless" which is one of my favorite movies of all tme. I saw it in the theater 4 times and thought Cher and Dionne were the coolest girls ever. Plus the fashion in that flick was genius. Best line: Amber: "Ms. Stoeger, my plastic surgeon doesn't want me doing any activity where balls fly at my nose." Dionne: "Well, there goes your social life." I definitely didn't understand that until many years later.

3) Finally we have "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion" which seems like a flick from the 80's because of the quality music. That movie has many quality parts, but this is by far the best:

Is it sad that this is a quality Saturday night???

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Yay Award!

The lovely Free and Flawed gave me this fabulous award! I adore her and I feel so special!

The honorees are to:

Here we go:

1) I really love buying LOVE. My roomies in college told me I had Barbie feet so shoes look cute on me. But I also love shoes because I never have to worry if they'll fit because my shoe size doesn't fluctuate like my weight. I find comfort in that.

2) I think that music sounds better on vinyl. When I was little I used to watch my dad put a record on the player and slowly lower the needle onto it and I would beg for him to let me do it. One of the strongest memories from when I was little is the day he finally let me do it. Subsequently, because he didn't like that I got mad at him for cheating on my mom/divorce, he took the massive collection of records we had because he knew it would hurt me. And it did.

3) Strawberries are my favorite fruit. When my mom was pregnant w/me, she ate them every day. On my lower back I have a little red mark and when I was little, my mom said I got it because of all the strawberries she ate.

4) I often regret my decision to go to law school. I still question if this is what I want to do forever. This gets scarier and scarier as I get closer to graduation.

5) I read a ton of fashion magazines and I always look at the "Cover Girl" ads and think about how I could do them better. Sometimes when I put my makeup on in the mornings I look in the mirror and do a "beauty shot" (antm watchers will understand). Whenever I watch the last episode of America's Next Top Model, I get so angry at the girls with bad photos. If they ever look for a "regular" girl to do an ad, I'm soo there.

6) When I was 7 I was convinced that high school would be just like an episode of "Saved by the Bell" and I couldn't wait go. Seeing that I went to an all-girls school with 180 students (total, not just in my class), clearly it was a different experience.

7) I have 2 guitars but I rarely play them. I played the piano for 15 years and my teacher made me promise that I wouldn't play guitar. I bought my first guitar when I went to college. I wonder if the reason I don't play is because I made that promise. But I'm determined to play more this year.

8) 7 1/2 years later, I still feel really guilty about moving away from Chicago. I don't know if I'll ever get over it.

9) I think that I'm too judgmental. But I'm working on that.

10) I've never broken a bone, but when I was young I always wanted to because I wanted a cast. Who am I???

Here are my nominees:

1) Kahea
2) Tiffany
3) Lailah
4) Rachel
5) Maegan
6) Andy
7) Jessica

Friday, January 2, 2009

Goodbye 2008

I intended to do this before NYE, but things were a little crazy. I do enjoy these surveys and the chance to reflect on the past year.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Walked into Target and didn't buy something, got a puppy w/Matt

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't make formal new years resolutions because I'm really bad at keeping them. But I did tell myself that I was going to try to relax a bit and I think I did a decent job at it.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Nope.

4. Did anyone close to you die? Nope.

5. What countries did you visit? Um...the U.S. Ok new resolution - take a trip out of the country.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Patience, the ability to say "fuck it" and actually mean it.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory and why? May 18th - spending my birthday in Chicago for the first time since high school with some wonderful friends; January 26 - the day we got our puppy

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting an A in law school (which seems silly but was HUGE to me)

9. What was your biggest failure? hmm...not saying "no" to things when I was clearly overwhelmed

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nope (woo!)

11. What was the best thing you bought? My Wedding Dress

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Lots of people: My mom for being able to move out of the house we lived in forever and be on her own; Matt for continuing to put up with my ridiculous law school stress; Tiffany for knowing exactly when I needed her and calling me to cheer me up; Lailah and Rhea for being able to laugh through the ridiculousness that was corporations.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My dad. 2 1/2 years after this divorce craziness, he still can't understand that I'm not mad about the divorce, but about his lying cheating ways. And his solution is to call and yell at me. Not cool.

14. Where did most of your money go? Textbooks, cell phone bill, stilettos...

15. What did you really, really, really get excited about? Picking a wedding date, realizing I only had 1 more semester of school, spending my birthday at the cubs game

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Ooo...the 2 that snuck in at the end of the year that I CAN'T get out of my head are "Womanizer" by Britney Spears and "Single Ladies" by Beyonce.

17. Compared to this time last year are you:
Happier? Absolutely
Thinner? Haha, that's cute
Richer? Not at all

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Relax, go out without worrying about what work I had to do

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Complain

20. How did you spend Christmas? With my mom and brother eating too much food and watching marathons on TV.

21. How will you be spending new years? I spent it with Matt and Tiffany and some ladies from HS at a rooftop party room at a condo downtown. You could see the skyline and the fireworks and I drank entirely too much. Awesome.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008? Still in love with the boy (which is a very good thing).

23. How many one-night stands? 0

24. What was your favorite TV program? Gossip Girl, Always Sunny in Philadelphia

25. Did you meet anyone now that you didn’t know this time last year? All the interns I worked with over the summer

26. What was the best book you read? "Love is a Mix Tape" by Rob Sheffield

27. What was your biggest musical discovery? I don't think I had any this year. I suppose "Automatic Loveletter" would fall into this category. I did get really into old school stuff like Etta James.

28. What did you want and you got? A puppy.

29. What did you want and not get? All the super expensive shoes and purses I've been tagging in magazines (it doesn't matter that it wasn't realistic...)

30. What was your favorite film of this year? "Role Models". That movie made me laugh harder than I think I laughed all year.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old did you turn? I turned 25 and spent it with Tiffany and gals from HS. We went to see Paul van Dyk.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A bigger bank account, learning to accept that I can't change everything

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Comfortable meets Gossip Girl meets vintage meets basics.

34. What kept you sane? My tivo and the people that love me

35. Which celebrity did you fancy the most? Haha, um...I went through a 2 minute period where I was into Chace Crawford.

36. What political issue stirred you the most? Prop 8.

37. Who did you miss? My mom, it's rough being away from her.

38. Who was the best new person you met? My summer coworkers. They're fab.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: The world won't end because you can't do everything.

40. Quote or Song Lyric that sums up your year: “Just Dance" - Lady Gaga