Responsibilities start piling up and before you know it you’ve lost touch with people that used to consume your life.  You weed out people you don’t need to talk to and squeeze in minimal amounts of time with others.    Those goofy pictures you saw of adults juggling all these balls and looking frustrated and miserable?  It’s for real, it really does feel like that.

Simply put, this sucks.

(Yes, I’m a college graduate who still uses: For real, this sucks, no way, that’s cool, bummer and many other phrases that would have both my English and journalism professors cringing.  If I close my eyes I can see Lessenberry’s chicken scratch all over this post.)

I’m a firm believer that life doesn’t have to be as complicated as we make it.  I think the first step is to stop being so complacent, letting life’s current just take you.  I’m extremely guilty of this.  It’s much easier than to actually make decisions, especially hard ones.

The past year seemed like a game of monopoly.  Buying properties because it was feasible and it’s a “good time to buy”.  I’m grateful for it all but it just adds a lot more pressure.  More bills to pay, more things to clean, more plans to make and less time to chill.  Yes, I’m 28 and sometimes I would really just like to be 18 again (let’s be honest, I only act my age 75% of the time).  18 was a very good year, the first 6 months anyways.

This is getting ridiculously off track.

Lisa and I have added one more participant to the 3rd annual girl’s weekend.  Sad it’s only one but I’ll take it.  All relationships take time and effort, including friendships.  If you haven’t seen your friends in awhile maybe you need to take a step back, re-evaluate and simplify.  Things don’t make us happy; it’s people, experiences and memories.

*jumping down from my soapbox*

We took the barely 5 minute walk to Lake Huron yesterday.  It was balmy and dreamlike with the steam coming up off the pavement.

Really, how can you go wrong with a view like this?

sunset: view from the front yard

For all of you that laugh and joke about how I can’t cook, I would like to stick my tongue out at you.  I’m a closet cooker.  There are days that I actually cook dinner and bake dessert just like a good 1950’s housewife.  True, they are few and far between and if you actually referred to me as that I’d have to round kick you to the head to knock some common sense into you.

Most recently I’ve made homemade granola bars, chocolate chip walnut cookies, artichoke and mushroom alfredo pasta bake (I adapted the recipe from my friend Sarah. And yes I said I adapted it!), black bean tacos and macadamia nut and tropical fruit pancakes.

In other news, I’ve been missing photography like crazy lately.  I haven’t owned a  nice camera since my 35mm SLR was popular.  Sure I carry around my handy Canon Powershot but there are more and more days I’d like to capture the world with something more professional and powerful.  I’ve looked into the Canon XSI Rebel but as stated, money is a little bit tight.

Trying to supplement my income has been a bit of a challenge too.  I had a freelance job but it’s on the back burner because getting me content is an issue.  I’m a little disappointed, but hopefully something else will come along.

I’ll have some exciting news to announce in a week or so!

Enjoy all this lovely sunshine we are getting in April!!

For someone who is a tiny bit afraid of heights, I never thought I’d be taking aerial yoga classes at the Detroit Flyhouse.  I didn’t think I’d be trying to flip myself upside down while I have my foot locked into fabric.  And I certainly never envisioned myself flying in mermaid pose on a trapeze.

This step of leaving my comfort zone has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.  A month ago I didn’t even know something like this existed.

Clearly, I need to open my eyes to opportunities that  are less mainstream.  I’ve never felt particularly trendy or with the “popular” crowd.  I’ve tried, but it never felt right.  The more I embrace marching to my own tune, the more like me I feel.

For someone who is slightly antisocial I never thought I’d attend a blogger meet up.  I didn’t think I’d have so much to laugh and talk about.  And I certainly didn’t know that after meeting these 6 awesome ladies, I’d have wonderful new friends.

2010 is the start of exploring things I would never think of, going places I didn’t know existed and putting myself out there.  I suppose that is what living is.  Not only learning each day but taking chances and risks.

If you take a good look at your life, is that what you are doing?  And if not, what’s stopping you?

Probably the most exciting hockey game I ever went to was Game 7 of the Red Wings vs the Anaheim Ducks in May 2009.  I was with Chuck, my Uncle Andy and Aunt Liza.  It was beyond the edge of your seats game.  I’ve never heard the Joe so loud before. It really was an experience.

Unfortunately, I picked that night to forget my camera!  We had a really good time and we were definitely high on the crowd’s energy and ready for the next round to start when we left the arena!

The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge:
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19 Minutes by Jodi Piccoult.

It was an emotional book that showed both sides of a school tragedy.  You didn’t want to sympathize with the shooter because of the awful situation he created but you couldn’t help it.  The book made me really understand that there are two sides to everything.

If you are looking for a thought provoker this is definitely a good read.

The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge:
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I told Amy that we aren’t allowed to sit by anyone because I really don’t want to get yelled at for our sarcastic remarks. It’s about the experience of the movie, not the movie itself. Plus, I won’t have to feel bad about not working out tonight because Amy makes me laugh so hard it’s like doing sit-ups anyways.

At work yesterday someone’s daughter had a baby and named her Isabella, yes it is thought after Bella in Twilight. This scares me. These poor babies being born that are named after characters in a book. And let’s be honest, a book that wasn’t exactly well written. It’s not like it’s a classic. This lady got lucky. The plot is great, the writing, not so much.

Moving on, it just so happens that Jacob is one of the only boy names Chuck and I have both liked. Now, if* we ever have a boy Jacob is totally out of the question because of all the twilight freaks.  Now if only I can get Chuck to like Evan…

Total bummer.

*THAT IS A BIG IF DON’T READ INTO IT. THANKYOUVERYMUCH

Chicago – March 29th for Chuck’s birthday.

We took the train.  I found an awesome deal on a classy hotel.  We did a lot of shopping, some sightseeing and had an awesome time.  We want to go back soon!

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The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge:
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I got my haircut and colored today. Not sure how I feel about the bangs…

What do you think?

Anyhow, I forget how it came up but I was like I’m almost 15 years older than you, I have an excuse why I don’t want to spare.  One of the parents heard me and couldn’t believe I was 27, she thought I was 19, at most.

Everyone always told me I’d love my young look when I got older, and you know what?  I totally do.  I’m not going to lie, it irritated me when I would go to the store and the person behind the register told me “You don’t look old enough to ride a tricycle” (haha funny dude) or when I got asked how old I was before I even got up to the counter to get a library card this summer.  Yes, a library card.  The librarian didn’t think I was 18. (When exactly did they start carding for a library card anyway?)

I think it’s because most of the time I’m in jeans and a t-shirt and I don’t wear much makeup.  I honestly don’t know.  Since I’ve been scanning old pictures (thanks to Michelle) I thought I’d compare a couple, and I guess I haven’t changed that much.  Sure I have more laugh lines around my eyes but I consider that a good thing.

What do you think?

July 1999

August 2009