#87 and Snazzy New Library Card Syndrome

Guess who's got a new library card and another one of the 101 tasks checked off?  It’s ME!!!  Congrats if you guessed right.  Yes, a library card. I realize this sounds super lame since they hand these things out like candy at a parade. Fingerprints aren't required, blood samples (I'd be out if this was the case), a waiting period or even an application fee. We lived about 5 minutes away from a library for over two years and I couldn't ever seem to get myself there though. I added it to my 101 list thinking it would be simple to cross off, something to get me motivated. Over a year later I’m FINALLY crossing this off.

We were on the way to Home Depot for the millionth time (seriously at least twice every. single. weekend. I can't even understand this) when I YELLED "we should get library cards!" Mr. C looked over (he's used to me randomly yelling stuff) to see a very stupid looking grin on my face and without asking questions (he’s learned it’s better not to) turned down the street towards the library. After about 10 minutes I was holding my snazzy new card which of course I just HAD to use immediately. 

I headed over to the computers to search for an amazing book.  At first I blanked out. I couldn't think of any books. Then one popped in my head. I did a quick search only to find out that not only was it not at the library I was but there was a waiting list. Okay, no biggie. I searched again to discover the same problem. I finally found a book that was actually in the library.  It was like winning the lottery.  I wanted to do a cheer but figured that would not be appreciated by the other patrons.  The book was written by one of my favorite authors and although the name sounded familiar the cover did not. I walked myself over to self-checkout and then hurried out to the car to start reading on the way home.  I know, I sound overeager but I was of course suffering from snazzy library card syndrome (which of course is a very real and documented thing).  As I was reading I realized I had indeed read this book before. A month before to be exact.  I have the paperback (I should also mention I have a signed author's copy of the paperback so it's not like I shouldn’t have remembered I had the book...it was a huge deal when I got it). Unfortunately the hard cover looked much different. My stupid grin faded away and I was left sitting in the car with a book I had already read and a snazzy new library card that couldn't get me any books I hadn't yet read and actually wanted. I was too embarrassed to go back inside, face the nice older lady that explained the entire library system to me, and swap my book out.  Plus, although the place was full of books it seemed to not be full of any books I actually wanted to read (like when the fridge is empty because nothing looks good or you have NOTHING to wear even though the closet is jam packed full of clothes).

I proceeded to go home and reserve about a bazillion books online. The entire reservation process is actually quite dangerous; it's like when I discovered ebay. I'd smile every time the message popped up saying I successfully reserved a book. The time it told me I was 40th in line for said reserved book I may have in fact been swearing instead of smiling but that's really beside the point. Now I'm really hoping all of my bazillion reserved books don't become available at the same time. By the time I get any of them I will probably have forgotten or perhaps my excitement will be over by that point. Or, perhaps I'll forget to pick them up and will be charged a $2 for every single one of those bazillion books I was crazy about reserving.

Point of this very long story = if you don’t have a library card you should rush right out and get one, but don’t hold your breath that you’ll be able to get a book you actually want.  If you get a library card today there is a strong possibility that you’ll be able to get a book you want within the next 6 months.  Unfortunately if you live in the Phoenix area I probably already reserved that book in my quest to reserve a bazillion books.  Sorry about that.

March Madness

Hello?  I’m not sure if you remember me?   I used to blog here but I’ve been a horrible blogger lately.  I’ve been falling apart (physically, not emotionally or mentally) and all over the place with organizing, crafting, cooking, doing some fun things around phoenix as well as spending some quality time on the couch with Mr. C and the TV.  I have a bunch of posts in store for you – something crafty, a bit of organization, something that actually required a trip to Home Depot, and a foodie post to name a few.  I’m sorry to say that the main reason I haven’t posted these amazing sounding posts is because I needed to actually plug in the camera, load the photos, and then put them into the blog post.  I know there’s a word for why I haven’t done that….  Oh, it’s lazy.  Anyhow I have really missed posting and am renewing my blogging vows today to post regularly (If you didn’t know about blogging vows, they are very serious).

To tide you over until I can get those photos uploaded later this week, today I’m sharing what I’ve been mad about in March (mad as in crazy in love with, not mad/upset of course!) AND you even get pictures!

Wicked!  I’ve never been to a musical before but I’ve always wanted to go to Wicked!  We bought our tickets months ago when I heard Wicked was coming to town and one Wednesday night we drove out to Tempe for the show.  It was amazing!  I hear the book is better but I never read it so I REALLY didn’t know what to expect.  For those of you who may not know, the show is sort of a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” and explains how the Wicked Witch came to be “wicked” as well as the back story behind the Good Witch, Tinman, Lion, and Scarecrow.  “The Wizard of Oz” has always held a special place in my heart and Wicked fit right in there next to it.  I definitely recommend it and for the record I’m not usually one for people bursting into song.  Mr. C didn’t even fall asleep!  This was also #56 on my 101 list so woohoo for crossing things off lists!

Jen Lancaster.  For those of you who haven’t heard of her, Jen Lancaster is an amazing author and one of my favorites.  I found her first book in a bookstore one day and took a picture to remind myself to download it.  Months later I finally did and couldn’t put it down.  She’s sarcastic, hilarious, easy to relate to, and doesn’t care what anyone else thinks (in a good way).  If you’re looking for a good read I highly recommend, Bitter is the New Black.   Not to spoil it for you, but Jen started a blog as an outlet for her frustrations/boredom and that eventually led to her book deals and where she is now.  It’s so inspiring to hear about “normal” people who have become so successful.  Her book and blog actually pushed me to start my own blog.

What does this have to do with March?  Well, Jen’s newest book was released in paperback and lucky for me and a bunch of other excited phoenix readers, Jen came to Phoenix for a book signing.  She was in person just what I would have imagined.  She made us laugh during the Q & A session, read a passage from her new book due out May 1^st , and happily chatted with us even as she signed her name a million times and smiled for all the pictures.  I proudly walked away with a couple signed books and a photo of us.  I’ve now preordered the next book and am eagerly awaiting its arrival in my mailbox! 

I’m not the biggest fan of springtime because spring means that summer is coming and summer in AZ is what I imagine Hell to feel like.  Seriously, I think it’s that bad.  While everyone else is enjoying Spring I’m usually clinging to the last bit of winter – wearing scarfs and shoes while Mr. C is in a t-shirt and sandals and I become upset when my weather app shows anything above 75 degrees.  This spring however I am enjoying the blooming flowers, the sounds of the birds in the morning, waking up to a room glowing with the morning light, and the bright colors.  I still know that summer is coming and I’m dreading it, but for now I’ll enjoy spring and all that has to offer.

What are you mad about in March?

Blue Man Group, #55

It’s been awhile but yes, I am still alive! This weekend I felt like I was run over by the cold and sinus truck. I’ve been battling a sinus infection for the past few days and am finally back to normal! Luckily I had Mr. C to take care of me and pick me up my fav restaurant soups (that’s the only way I get soup around here when the cook – i.e. me- is under the weather).


Before I got sick we spent our Saturday celebrating Mr. C’s early birthday. He’s always wanted to see the Blue Man Group so for his b-day we got him two tickets. Lucky for me he took me along with him! His b-day isn’t for another week but I actually gave him the tickets awhile ago. Since opening tickets doesn’t involve much, I found this “blue man” pencil holder at target and decided to wrap that up for a clue. I made a big deal about it and when he opened it he thought that the pencil holder was his big gift. He tried to act like he thought it was amazing while concealing his confusion at the same time. After asking him about a million times to describe what he was holding, he finally got that it was a “blue person”. Still didn’t click. Didn’t work out quite as planned, he finally got it, found the tickets buried in the gift bag and then I spotted the genuine look of excitement I had been waiting for.

This weekend we headed to Tempe for a quick lunch before the show. It’s odd driving around ASU because so many things have changed since I was there and I’m reminded that it wasn’t just yesterday when I was working in the computer commons until 3am, having lunch in the M.U., and sleeping…er, I mean studying…in the library. It’s hard to believe it’s been four years. Geesh, I’m getting old. See how I just got off topic there? I did that the WHOLE time we were in Tempe. I wonder how I don’t drive Mr. C totally nuts sometimes. Getting back on track now though….. We went to Five Guys burgers for the first time ever. We must have not looked as confused as I thought because no one asked us if it was our first time (we get asked that a lot…to places we’ve been to frequently…so I assume that either everyone is super helpful or we always look confused). That meant that we assumed we knew what we were doing and both ordered cheeseburgers - not little cheeseburgers - and a large fry instead of a small to split. The cheeseburgers came with two patties which is more red meat than I typically eat in a month, and the fries were HUGE. I think we threw half of them away. Next time we try somewhere new I might ask for some clarification instead of just ordering. Other than that, the food was great and they give you FREE peanuts! I’m a big fan of free.


After lunch we headed to the theatre. I’m not sure what my expectations were, but they were most definitely exceeded. The show was amazing. If you haven’t been to see the amazing Blue Men, I very much recommend it. I’ve heard the Vegas show is a bit messier and crazier, but I couldn’t imagine anything better than what we saw. The best part for both of us was the “dance party” that occurred in the end, complete with lights, music, and huge inflatable balls that changed colors being passed through the crowds. It was so much fun! Mr. C loved it as well which was pretty important since it was his b-day gift! And, I finally get to check something else off my 101 list! It’s been awhile since that list has seen any action!


By popular demand, I’ll be posting a recipe for you tomorrow. Two posts in a row! I’ll be on a roll then ;)

Frozen Moments

There’s no way to really capture nature, sometimes a picture just doesn’t do it justice.  But other times a photo can single out a smaller scene, something left unnoticed or unappreciated, or freeze a special moment in time.  The Grand Canyon will never be the same in a photo because it’s just too large to get perspective from a picture, no matter how great the photo or the photographer may be.  On the other hand, there are moments and details that may be appreciated even more when a photo focuses on these things such as the look on a man’s face when he looks at the woman he loves or a flower in the morning dew.  Photos give us the chance to dissect a moment and to hold onto it.  This is why I love photography.

Our SLR camera purchase was a big decision for us, but something I haven’t regretted for even a moment.  It was something we had wanted for a VERY long time and it was even on my 101 in 1001 list…something I’ve been neglecting a bit lately.  Another item on my 101 list was to get a nice camera bag.  When I wrote that I knew exactly which bag I wanted, even before I had the camera.  Apparently a million other people also wanted that same bag because after I ordered it I had to wait another 2 months to receive it!  Waiting was so worth it though!  So, here’s my bag, the one that makes me feel like I should be a real photographer. 

I was so excited to begin a 365 photo challenge, however the challenge would entail me taking a photo every single day of the year.  That’s a very big commitment and between wanting to actually spend time with Mr. C, keeping up with the zoo we have at our house now, my cooking adventures, and the everyday things like laundry and cleaning and bills, I’m not too confident in my ability to take a photo EVERY single day.  So, instead I’ve decided to do a 52 week challenge.  I’ll pick a topic for that week and take a single photo.  Well, knowing me I’ll take a ton of photos but pick just one!   I’ll be posting these weekly with a little bit of rambling to go with each one.  You’ll also be able to see a running post of these on my new photography page under the Pages box on the right (if you subscribe to my blog emails, you’ll need to actually go to the site to access this page).

I’m really enjoying the camera, when I take the time to use it.  I’m amazed that my photos are finally turning out the way I want!  Apparently a SLR camera has the ability to do that!  I’ve begun editing my photos a bit more but I haven’t touched many, mostly because I have a lot of nature photos and nature doesn’t need editing!  I’m not too confident in my skills at this point with anything other than nature, although I’d love to start taking more people shots.  I guess I should look for volunteers for this!  (If you want to volunteer, please let me know!)

For now, I’ll share a few of my favorites with you.  Most of these were taken in Sedona, a place that seems to have an abundance of beauty.

I didn't want to tell the tree or weed what it was.  I wanted it to tell me something and through me express its meaning in nature.  ~Wynn Bullock

The bear I found in the woods.  Just joking!  We were safely inside our car at a wildlife park.

This photo I of course did not take, however I really fell in love with it after I edited.  Those are my grandparents on the left, looking great as always.  They've been married for over 65 years!

Sedona in the Spring and #58

It’s so sad that as I’m writing about our last Sedona getaway I’m thinking that we need another!  Life has been so packed full of things lately that I haven’t had much time for relaxing or even packing for that matter!   Our weekend was wonderful though and I’m so glad we somehow fit it into our packed schedules!

I’m very stingy with my vacation time.  Usually I save it all up for something important, like visiting family in the summer or Christmas.  I have so many people that I miss seeing during the year that I figure if I’m going to go to the work to fly back and spend time with family and friends, I better have lots of time to do it!  I think I can count on one hand the number of days I’ve taken off when I wasn’t going home or to California for an actual vacation.  Mr. C and I picked a weekend to go to Sedona (this time when there would not be snow).  I was so excited and even had it written in my calendar – in permanent marker!  Then I realized that I hadn’t booked the room which was pretty important because I’m not the camping type.  Mr. C called to book and found out we had waited too long because Saturday night wasn’t available anymore.  Eventually we decided to go Friday instead which meant that I’d have to take Friday off (gasp!).  Although I felt guilty since I didn’t really NEED the time, I did it anyhow and I’m so glad I did!

We had a plan this time around and it worked out perfectly!  We drove to Sedona in the morning and arrived around 1, just in time for a picnic!  We had stopped at AJ’s on the way up and picked up a few delicious things which tasted even better than they looked.  We drove up 89A which is a scenic drive along Oak Creek with tons of trees and red rocks in the background.  We got lucky and even found a table for our picnic.  This was very fortunate because I forgot to bring a blanket in my Sedona/picnic excitement.  The food was delicious and we got to enjoy the sounds of the creek as we ate.  Mr. C’s favorite was the mini fruit tarts which he scarfed down pretty quick.

After lunch we continued driving down the windy 89A and found a great spot to stop.  We walked awhile and came to this beautiful spot on the creek.  The water was crystal clear and all we could hear was the sound of the creek. 


Mr. C got a little crazy with the camera and took about a million pictures.  I got a few in :)

We headed to our B & B and checked in so we could wander around for awhile before dinner.   We stayed at the same one as last time and it was just as nice as I remembered.  We sat outside for awhile and had planned to watch the sunset but the clouds apparently didn’t agree with our plans.  We were able to spot some ducks though and enjoyed the creek.  Here’s the beautiful view we saw from our patio. Unfortunately I couldn’t capture the sound of the creek to put online! 

We had another delicious home cooked breakfast the next morning and after checking out we spent some time at the art galleries picking out the art we’d buy when (not if, WHEN) we win the lottery someday.  We finished our trip uptown at the ice cream shop where we were mistaken for locals.   We were both pretty excited we didn’t look like the fanny-pack toting tourists! 

Now I’m just dreaming of going back…  Fall would be beautiful but we’ll see what’s in store for us in the next few months!

#91 and a bunch of ramblings

Some weeks it feels like I rack my brain to think of something to write about.  Other weeks, it seems that I have too many things floating around my head and not enough time.   This week is one of those occasions I have A TON to write about!  I actually took some time off this year during spring break and have a bunch to write about that!  Unfortunately I was so busy that I didn’t have time to write so I’m catching up now (after having caught up a little bit on sleep).  First up though is a little “housekeeping” - one of my 101 in 1001 items that I’m super excited to have checked off my list.

Mr. C and I have been shopping around for over a year for a D-SLR camera.  I don’t know about you, but I think a year is a very long time.  We didn’t even shop around a year for mattress, or wedding rings, or a computer, or socks.  Hey, socks are super important and should not be selected lightly.  And, wedding rings are forever!  Anyhow, we knew we wanted a Canon but didn’t want to run out and buy just any camera.  We shopped around, I watched for deals, stalked the reviews on amazon.com and we FINALLY decided on a Canon Rebel T2i. 

We were still waiting for the right time though and couldn’t quite take the plunge.  A few weeks ago we were in Sedona taking pictures of the beautiful scenery with our little point and shoot camera (which I still love).  The pictures weren’t turning out like I wanted because my zoom just couldn’t cut it and everywhere we looked there were people with their amazing SLR cameras taking amazing pictures with their amazing zooms (I’m sure zooms is a technical term).  That was it.  When we got home I found the best deal I’d seen since we started looking.  Last week we proudly walked out of the store holding our new purchase.  We were like little kids with our bike, or tickle-me-elmo or something like that.  Although tickle-me-elmo is awesome no matter what age you are.  Elmo just rocks.  Not sure how this is related to the SLR purchase at this point though…but nevertheless Elmo rocks.

In the beginning it was just me that wanted the camera but then Mr. C started catching on.  He says he always wanted it but I don’t remember this and it’s my blog so we’ll just say he wanted one after I began obsessing over them.  We both knew we’d like the camera but I never expected to love it as much as we do!  We might have to eventually buy another (a long ways down the road!) because we’re fighting over who gets to use it already!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the clarity of the photos.  The night we got it we were super excited that it showed the dust particles on the dresser!  (Yes, I know this is totally lame, and probably means I should dust more often).  Plus, it just does stuff our old camera just couldn’t.  I’m also excited that the lenses are compatible with other Canon SLR’s so if we upgrade down the line or end up purchasing another (we joke that we’ll become a wedding photography duo soon on the side) then we can still use our lenses which I LOVE!


Luckily we purchased the camera before our spring break guests arrived, meaning that we got some great pictures of off the festivities.   I tried my best to take lots of pics so the next posts will probably be packed full of them.  It might end up like a picture book with like three words for every photo.  I’ll try to contain myself! 


I also feel the need to mention that I know I’ve been slacking on my 101 in 1001 list lately.  I just get so busy that at times I forget about it (gasp - I know it’s terrible).  I’m sure you’ve all been distraught at home wondering when I’d get to my list.  Right?  Yeah, I know I’m not the centner of your world (get it!) but you never know!  When I read the 101 list I get tingly and excited all over again (because we all know about my love affair with lists).  So, after checking #91 off my list, I’m hoping to start getting serious on #’s 5-12 which are my scary fitness goals.  Honestly, most of them aren’t that scary, they just require a little time and some accountability.  Stay tuned for more riveting posts on these.  I know I’m rambling but I’m just telling you so I don’t flake out on them :)   My friend told me the other day that I’m really good at saying a lot of words without actually saying anything.  Why yes, I do believe I’ve perfected that art.  I considered taking a poll on this but I assume the outcome wouldn’t be good for me!  Ok, I’m stopping myself now. 

101 in 1001

I love lists. LOVE them! I make grocery lists, to-do lists, honey-do lists, and the list goes on and on. I have about a million post-it pads around the house for the moment I decide to create another list. Lists = organization which is also in the category of things I love! My grandmother is even more serious than I am - with pencils, post-its, and sharpies (don't even get me started on sharpies!) stashed around the house, leading me to believe that this listing/organization obsession is hereditary! When I say obsession I really mean awesomeness because seriously, who doesn't love an organized space! Or, an organized space full of lists! Anyhow, the point of my ramblings is that lists are awesome. This brings me to my next point.


I recently read about the Day Zero Project and loved it! The general idea of the project is to create a list of 101 goals to be accomplished over the next 1001 days. Did you read that - 101 goals on a LIST! It's like a normal list on steroids! My fav!


The guidelines from the project per the Day Zero Project website include a specific goal (ie: no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is easily measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must be realistic but involve work by the participant. The 101 in 1001 is somewhere between a “bucket list” and New Year’s resolutions.


After containing my excitement I set out to create my own 101 in 1001. It was actually harder than I thought to come up with 101 goals, especially keeping the timeline in mind. I wanted to travel to every continent but decided that may not be attainable in three years, unless of course I win the lottery. If I win the lottery I'm so re-doing this list! Anyhow, I finally finished my list and I'm so excited to begin. The challenge starts today! I'll blog about every accomplished goal (this is actually one of my 101's) and update the list as I go.

Check out my 101 in 1001 list.