Domesticated.

I spent my Sunday afternoon and evening in the kitchen and doing crafts and it. was. awesome.

Project 1: Cutting up wedding invitation, shower invitations, save the date, and a picture of my newlywed friends and putting them inside a clear ornament. I first saw the idea on Pinterest, and now I can't find the pin, but here's a link to something very similar.

Project 2: Rice Krispie treat cupcakes. I'm trying to put together Christmas gifts for all 100 people in my office, and this was a great place to start! 20 gift bags down, 80 to go...



Project 3: Cookies 'n cream holiday bark! Also for my coworkers, also incredibly easy and DELISH. I used white chocolate, and oreos with red filling. I sprinkled holiday sprinkles and top and voila!

Project 4: Not really a project, but I am seriously still eating Thanksgiving leftovers. I'm down to turkey and mashed potatoes, but seriously. I'm over it. I saw a recipe for chicken salad on -- guess where?? -- and figured I'd make it work with what I had.

A couple of months ago we had a catered lunch that included 'kicked up chicken salad', which was just chicken salad with a drizzle of sriracha. Done and done.

2c turkey

1/2 c mayo

2 celery stalks, chopped

1 c grapes, chopped

salt

lemon pepper from Trader Joe's

1 tsp sriracha, to taste

Mix it all together and eat with a fork. I like my chicken salad not very mayo-y and with a crunch, hence the extra celery and less mayo. The recipe also called for some apple but it tasted pretty damn good to me without. I'll probably eat all of this by tomorrow, because I think it is that delicious.

Project 5: One of my best friends is on an exchange program here in the states. He's originally from Italy, and unfortunately the time has come for him to return home. We had a surprise going away party for him on Saturday night and we wanted to get something that would commemorate his year here, but wouldn't be difficult to pack.

Enter IKEA picture frame with a collage of pictures. Success! Everyone signed around the edges of the frame and wrote notes to our sweet friend. It was an easy, cheap project that I know he'll enjoy forever. In fact, rumor has it he'll be carrying it on the plane and sharing his seat with the frame on his way back to Italy...he loves us that much!

What have you been crafting and cooking lately?

 

Are You Tired of Hearing About My Garden?

I bought my garden and planted everything in mid-March, so a little over 2 months ago. I have been tracking the progress on the blog, which has been a lot of fun for me!

I check on my little plants every morning & water them then. I typically fill up 2 pitchers of water and distribute evenly.

I took these pictures on Thursday morning, so before all the giant storms hit Atlanta. The bigger peppers are starting to turn red as of this morning, which is super exciting to me! It means they are almost ready to be picked! 

Those are my cucumbers. So far, they haven't been so successful. There is one on the vine right now that I don't think is going to be a keeper either. From what I have read, I should probably just go ahead and pick it but I want it to grow! Hopefully I'll get one that I can eat! 

And the tragedy that was my broccoli seems to be coming back to life. I am convinced that I have a green thumb. Remember when I tried to drown my cucumber plant? Well, that's the one that is producing the most vegetables! I just left it alone and it came back to life and now it's just going to town on cucumber production! I guess the broccoli felt the same way about the worms. I'm not going to hold out hope but at the same time...it's growing! I guess the broccoli didn't really need those leaves anyway. 

So, I've learned a lot about growing plants. I'm definitely going to do it again, maybe even in the fall! Honestly, it's been really, really easy. There was a little effort at the beginning to get the planters and the soil & fertilizer, and now I just have to water them. I added more fertilizer last week and that seemed to really jumpstart the broccoli. As I did more research, I realized that I probably should have been adding fertilizer every week. Lesson learned! 

I think the biggest thing I learned is that some things you have to do kind of fly by the seat of your pants. I could have done tons and tons of research, but it seems like when it comes to growing plants you just have to jump in head first and try. The worst thing that happens is that worms eat your plants and they die before they grow anything. But, you can remedy that too! Plus, with a view like the one I have, I am convinced you can grow vegetables anywhere. 

Hopefully I'll have more to report back in a couple weeks :)

At-Bat Music. This is IMPORTANT.

I joined a softball team. It happened way too fast, and I was in the middle of a meeting and my computer was being projected on the screen in front of like, the most important people in my office, and my friend Kate sends me a message that says "Hey! Wanna play softball?" and I just wanted to clear the screen so I typed yes and then minimized because I was overwhelmed and confused and embarassed. Then everyone in the room started laughing at the prospect of me going outside and doing something active, outdoors, in the heat of spring, but that's another story for another time. So now I'm signed up for and playing on a softball team, and I got an email today. This email has sent me into a panic, a tizzy, a whirlwind.

I have to email them with my song of choice to be used as my Walk Out Song. This selection will determine so many things: how many new friends I make, how many old friends I keep, who thinks I am cool, how cool I think I am...so much is riding on this song choice.

Just...no. It's my friend Jason's song - the smelly shoes guy? It won't work.


This was Jason's 2nd suggestion. It's more of what I am looking for, but still not quite there.

Also, when I referenced his stinky feet in a previous post, he had the gall to be pissed at me for not also name-dropping, so here ya go Jase. Ladies, he is still single and looking if you're interested. He enjoys long walks on the beach, dancing like an idiot, and using his preacher voice to make you feel guilty about anything and everything. I love him anyway :)


Just...no.


This is Chipper Jones's walk up song and I could steal it but I think then I'd have a lot to live up to and well..remember when people laughed when I said I was going to play softball? Yeah.


One of my coworkers suggested Hanson. Even though there is no first place currently, this is a close 2nd.

The winner:

If that doesn't pump you up, I'm not sure anything can. Thank you to the biggest pain in the ass I know for the suggestion.

I'll report back on the softball season as it unfolds. Oh yeah, and I'm playing tennis. This could get interesting...

What would you have chosen? Anything I should look at, just in case? I'm a woman, I'm entitled to changing my mind 17 times.

A Green Thumb

Yesterday, in an effort to karate kick the Tuesday blues away, I decided I am going to grow a garden. I have been thinking about this for a long time, and I decided yesterday was the day to put my plan into action.

My mom has always told me that I have zero patience, and when I get a bee in my bonnet it's now or never, so this time I was bound and determined to prove her wrong. I did, but only because I had to.

First things first, I went to the only place I would trust regarding everything garden.

http://www.pikenursery.com/

 I found a very delightful woman to help me in my quest to grow, well, a garden. In case you forgot, this is what my growing space looks like:

Right, there isn't one. I have a balcony, and that's it. When the nice woman asked me what I had already, that's what I told her. I said, "Well, I have the balcony where I want to grow things!" She just stared at me, apparently my humor does not translate well to plant enthusiasts.

We walked up and down the aisles as I ooh-ed and ahh-ed over the various things I could potentially grow. First she showed me these planters that I cannot for the life of me find via Google. They looked pretty cool - automatically watered, and you grow the plants through a shield depending on the level of sun you get. Those are $59.99 a piece. Anybody know what I'm talking about?

I kind of ix-nayed that for now because I was not intending to spend $120 on planters alone without researching my other options. We looked at basins and planters like these, and they were super expensive at Pike. I think I am going to head over to Ikea when I have a spare 5 minutes and see what they have and at what price point. Ikea is like the WalMart of furniture stuff, they have everything.



So, that's the long & short of my first day in the life as a gardener. I think it's not going to get much more exciting. I am slammed for the rest of the week and through the weekend, but I think exploring my planter options has moved to the top of the priority list next week (as soon as I regain my sanity). The nice lady at Pike Nursery told me that I should probably aim to plant in early April, so I gotta secure my pots! Crucial step in the process.

I am just so excited to have another hobby (among many) and a useful one. I haven't mentioned yet, but I want to start out growing lettuces, peppers, and peas. Depending on how those fare, I want to add cucumbers and some parsley or dill. Ambitious, yes, but I think with a little help I can do it. Plus, I don't have to start from seedlings, which makes me a very happy camper.

Like I said, a little instant gratification goes a long way with me, so if I can see something poking out of the soil immediately upon being planted, I'm all set!

5 things on my BRAIN

1. I have decided to start a 2-drink-per-evening max rule. I think it will apply through the end of April with the exception of 2 birthday parties. I have tried before and failed, hopefully this time will be more successful with a less lofty goal.


DON'T DRINK MY BEER (Panama Canal, 2008)

2. I have been drooling over this couch for the last week or so. Well, much much longer than that, but in the last week-ish I have determined that my life will be over if I don't have said couch.
3. Now that I have purchased my jumbo-sized television, I really, really need a Wii. Hopefully Craigslist will pull through for me.

4. I finished The Swimming Pool yesterday and really didn't like it, but I had to finish it to see what happened. I don't recommend.

5. I've started carrying my camera with me again - after football season it needed a little rest (so did the paparazzi, that sucker is heavy!)

The end.

Looking back at this list, it actually quite accurately describes my hobbies and how I spend my time. Drinking with friends, socializing, watching television on my couch, playing video games, taking pictures of everything and everyone and reading. Who said I wasn't well-rounded?

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Let me tell you the following 2 facts about myself:

1. I hate beans. Black beans, pinto beans, blech. It doesn't deter me from eating Willy's, but I really really hate beans.
2. I love dips. I love buffalo dip, artichoke dip, crab dip... if it has ingredients such as 1 bag shredded cheese, 2 blocks cream cheese, and 1 jar ranch dressing, consider me in love.

I passed around my buffalo chicken dip recipe a few weeks ago for Super Bowl parties, and I got a ton of feedback telling me how great it was. But I didn't make it for myself, because, well, again... recipes that include 2 blocks of cream cheese and 1 bag of shredded cheese are not exactly healthy.

A while ago, Angela inspired me to substitute food processed beans for cheesy things. First I added pureed navy beans to a crockpot soup fail. It failed, so I never got to determine if the beans were a good or a bad thing. Then, I started thinking that I really wanted a healthier version of buffalo chicken dip. It is a staple at parties and meetings and honestly, I've yet to find someone who makes it better than I do (although that's because when I make it, I can include exactly what I want!)

Sunday morning, I woke up bright and early. I got to work sewing my sunglasses case. Then, I decided it was late enough in the morning (10am) to start boiling chicken and mixing together beans and ranch and Frank's hot sauce. Yep.

I had already soaked & cooked the beans per the instructions on the bag and they were just waiting in my fridge. I scooped out 1.5 cups of pureed beans and dumped those in the food processor. Then I added 3/4 cup of fat free ranch dressing. I started the food processor, and slowly added the last 1/3 of a bottle of Frank's red hot sauce. I have no idea what the actual measurement was, and you're lucky I bothered to measure the other 2 ingredients.

With that mixture sitting nicely in my food processor, I started to boil 2 chicken breasts. Some people would use canned chicken in buffalo chicken dip, and to that I say, I am not a cat and I do not eat things that smell like canned chicken smells. Yuck. I boil chicken breasts, wait for them to cool (or not) and shred them. It's the way real buffalo chicken dip is made, I'm telling you.

Mix the chicken and the saucy beany goodness. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top. Bake in oven for 20 minutes at 350.

Amazing.

Making the Most of Your Google Reader

So, I've had quite a few people ask me how in the world I followed all these blogs and connect with people. How do I remember where I went, and how do I keep up with them?

Let me introduce you to my best friend, the Google Reader. Just like with Gmail tricks, I'll take you on a little Reader tutorial complete with pictures so you can fall in love, too.

1. In Gmail, click at the top right of the screen on the link that says Reader. I circled it in red. I also left my ESPN Bowl Mania page open because I'd like it to be noted that I am currently in 4th place. I'm beating most of my friends and I love it.

2. This is what my  Google Reader looks like. If you haven't set yours up, then under the big Home page on the right, there won't be anything except suggestions from Google. On this homepage, you'll be able to see most recent posts, how many new posts there are, and find posts that you have starred or shared. You can also see on the left-hand column names of people you follow and things they have shared.

3. To start adding blogs and RSS feeds to your Reader, click on the top-left "Add A Subscription" button, and copy/paste the link to the blog or RSS feed into the field. Click Add, and voila. If you scroll down a little further in the column on the left, you'll see the name of the feed. You may want to change it, or you can leave it the same. Up to you.

4. As you follow more and more blogs, you'll find, or at least I found, that it was easiest to sort them into folders. My folders are Atlanta, Design, Entertainment, Foodies, Friends, Mommy Blogs, Money, Crafts, and Wedding.

5. To add a subscription to a folder, you'll see downward pointing arrow to the right of the blog title. Click that, and at the bottom of that list you should notice an option for "New Folder."

6. Type in the preferred name for the new folder. After adding so many blogs recently, my folders could use a bit of a makeover. Then, voila. After you've made all the new folders you want, you'll be able to just drag and drop the blog names into the correct folder. That way, if you only want to look at wedding blogs at a certain time, you can just let the entries pile up unread and browse all at once.

The world is your oyster with Google Reader! It's a great way to keep track of the blogs you follow, star important tips or tricks you want to remember, and share blogs you read with friends. So hop to it, young grasshoppers! I hope your blog-reading days are immensely simplified!

No other love, no other way, no day but today.

I'm on a MAJOR musical kick, in case you haven't noticed. I blogged a couple of weeks ago about my lucky streak, and going to see Rent last week was a part of that.

The entrance to the theater!

Yes, I saw Hairspray one night and Rent the next. And I may or may not have mad a "Musicals" playlist comprised of Rent & Hairspray songs. And I might have listened to that playlist on my way to the airport this morning, home from the airport this morning, and then on my way to the airport again this evening. Thanks, AirTran, for both of the round-trip tickets! I'll put them to good use! 

All the actors/actresses pictures on display!

Anyway - on to Rent. IT WAS AWESOME. I know Hairspray was awesome. But so was Rent. After seeing it, I realized that Rent is probably a really difficult musical to put on without the funding from a major production theater. However, Fabrefaction's performances were top notch. The music was really great, the acting was well done, and the theater was small and personalized enough that I felt like I was getting an intimate performance, just me and the actors. I loved it! And, I really have listened to the soundtrack for the last 24 hours straight.

Part of the stage, with the LIVE BAND underneath the set!

The people at Fabrefaction were SO NICE (my friend Jackie is on crutches and they were super accomodating!) and even sought us out afterwards to talk about upcoming shows and whether or not we liked it. Plus, the location rocks. For you Atlanta folks, it's behind Chow Baby off Howell Mill, over in the Westside District. My new favorite place! If you aren't an Atlanta native, based on my 2 experiences last week, I highly recommend checking out local theaters for their production schedule. You can usually get tickets for less than $25 and if you aren't socially awkward like me, you could probably stick around and meet the actors.

Hats off to you, Rent performers, because that was awesome! I'll be listening to the soundtrack approximately 525,600 times.

PS - I wrote about Hairspray & Rent because I went and becuase I was really impressed, not because anybody told me I had to. Over & out.

Rainy Wednesday

How to spend a rainy Wednesday night, version Katie: 

The giant mess I created in an attempt to "clean up" and cross things off my to do list. Does this happen to anyone else, or am I special? And, yes those are my clean clothes drying in the middle of our dining room, and my sewing machine on top of the dining room table. I work with the space I am given. I am the epitome of flexible, after all.

First up, camera strap cover with elephant fabric. In hindsight, this was really quite terrible fabric for this project, but I was a woman on a mission and I'll be damned if I was going to admit I was wrong change my mind. Remember, epitome of flexible.

You can't really see it, like, at all, but that's the finished product. And most of my bathroom. Welcome to my home, interwebz. Also please note the unpainted fingernails.

Oh, what's up Lincoln Park After Dark? My sister took too long eating her dinner so I painted my fingernails while she picked and poked and finished. Then I made a little pouchy thing. Again, poor choice of fabric and really poor planning when cutting. It's fine, I'm practicing. I can't be perfect allllllll the time.

Oh, filled it up with stuff! Medicines & cough drops & chapsticks. This sucker is never leaving my purse. I also have plans to show any/everyone who will look. Sorry coworkers old & new, you are obligated to compliment my barely-there sewing skills.

Oh hello senor elefante. I hope you enjoy life at the bottom of my purse, and if you don't, well you better get used to it. It's where you belong, crooked seams & all.

PS - I'd say I can officially claim sewing as a hobby, don't you? 

To Do Lists

To say I'm busy would be an understatement. Between being out of town last weekend and preparing for that, changing jobs, football season, and just life in general, I feel like I don't have time to get anything done.

Enter to-do lists. Does anyone else have a to-do list that is 8 miles long? When I make my to do list, it's basically a brain dump onto paper in list form. I start out with an attempt at organizing the list, but really by the time I hit #33 on the list, I'm just writing stuff that needs to get done. How do you to-do list? Do you keep your lists separate? All 1 list? A mental list? Do you cross off as you go? There is nothing as satisfying to me as crossing things off a to-do list. When I was working as a personal assistant, my boss used to tease me because I wrote every little thing down only for the gratification of crossing it off. Whatever, if it keeps me motivated then I keep doing it!

Here's a little snippet of today's to-do list for you:


If you need a translation, that says:
- read camera manual
- deodorant
- Halloween costume
- dust (in preparation for leaving AGAIN for the weekend)
- sew camera strap cover
- sew wine koozies
- sew case from Corie
- bday card for Dad
- clean freezer
- filing
- pick up books at library
- bake for Clemson
- wipers to Lauren

It's going against every single grain in my body to not explain each of those in further detail but I'm going to leave it at that.

Except 1. I do not need new deodorant. I am wearing deodorant. I do not stink. I'm going to go cross more things off my list now.

PS - Yep, making lists is a hobby of mine. What of it?

Friday Confessions

Can You Tapas This?

I have never been much of a nail polish girl. I mean, I always had it in my house, but rarely on my fingers. Then in college I had acrylic nails. My boyfriend swore he would disown me if I ever got rid of them (so of course when on the verge of a break up, what do I do? Bye bye, beautiful acrylics!) But now, for some unknown reason, I have become a nail polish hoarder.

It started with the OPI Espana Collection. I love all things Espana, and these colors were to die for. My first true love was Can You Tapas This?

Lincoln Park After Dark

I think I wore that color on my toes & fingernails for a solid 3 months before moving on to bigger and better things, like Lincoln Park After Dark. It's what I'm wearing today. It's almost black, but it has a beautiful shine to it that makes me not feel like I'm channeling my inner 14 year old goth chick at Town Center Mall. Anyone else know what I'm talking about? I swear I'm not wearing a belly shirt with chains and low rise baggy cargo pants. And I also swear there isn't any pink or blue in my beautiful blonde locks. But, I really love Lincoln Park After Dark. It does make me feel like I've stepped out of my comfort zone. I love that feeling, of being out of the box when you really aren't.

And then, earlier this week, I was feeling really gutsy. My mom & I stopped at ULTA because they have nail polishes Buy 2, Get 1 Free and of course the nail polish junkie in me just had to take advantage, especially because I had a $5 off coupon. That made the polishes a mere $4 each. Half price! The more the merrier! And I bought an awesome white -- Alpine Snow. I loved the white, but it didn't make me feel nearly as badass as Lincoln Park After Dark makes me feel. I felt pure and innocent, 2 things I am. (Not). 

In conclusion, is anyone else obsessing over nail polishes? The OPI Swiss Collection is really kickin it up a notch, too. I got this Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous sparkly color all over my toes and it's just... exciting!

Now, I just need to figure out how to do my own nails without smudging it or having the color up to my first knuckle and we're in business. 

Happy painting (and sorry if I offended the goth kids at Town Center). 

PS - I tagged this as a hobby. Can painting one's own nails really be considered a hobby? It is now! Hobby away!

Faith

I don't talk about my religious beliefs or faith much, both in real life and through the interwebz. But, if you read between the lines you might have figured out that I am a) Catholic and b) a volunteer with high-school teens. Volunteering with the teens is one of the best decisions I have made post-college. It's up there with my decision to only go out 1 night per weekend. Somehow, those 2 things are greatly related. I'll let you figure out how... It's also been an incredible way to meet new friends and foster new relationships. I think it could even be described as a hobby :)

Anyway, I was incredibly involved with this group as a HS teen, and the program and the leaders had a huge impact on me at a time in my life when I had no idea who I was or what I wanted. Ultimately, I want to have that impact on someone else. I want to pay it forward, if you will. So I am. And it's awesome, rewarding, satisfying, exciting, funny, and a million other things. I love it.

I am telling you this because I am looking for some new, creative, exciting ideas to incorporate into some of our planning sessions. Have you heard any songs lately that could apply to a religious teaching? I have -- Never Alone, by Lady Antebellum. Have you seen any inspirational YouTube videos? Seen any emails that have a great lesson inside them? High school kids are so plugged in, so we want to relate to them on their level. I'm also looking for ice breakers, games, and fun activities to play. We do a weekly Minute to Win It challenge that I love!

I guess the whole purpose of writing this was two-fold. I'd love to hear about your beliefs, religious, spiritual, or otherwise, and how you implement them in your daily lives, and your ideas for reaching out to a bunch of teenage punks!

Exercise

To expand more on my tips for hobbies, I thought I would share with you all how I have incorporated running into my daily routine.

7am - roommate leaves for work after her hour long AM workout (she gets up at 5 to go run in the morning...she's sick, I know) and I contemplate getting out of bed
8am - I finally get up and contemplate running on the treadmill (again) and justify not running in the morning by declaring that I prefer evening workouts outside
9am - I get to work and wish I had run in the morning so I didn't dread it all day
10am - I gchat someone and tell them that I am going to run tonight (accountability partner by means of force)
11am - I think about the healthy choices I am going to make when eating today since I am running tonight
12pm - I eat nachos and pizza for lunch
1pm - I die
2pm - I start the countdown until 5pm when I go into the bathroom & change into my sneaks
3pm - I gchat someone else about how running really isn't my thing
4pm - Whoever I gchatted at 10am asks what time I'm running, I lie and say I think I've come down with the chicken pox and I can't run today.
5pm - I go change clothes, come back and sit at my desk a while longer hoping someone tells me something that is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL AND MUST BE DONE IMMEDIATELY
5:10pm - I finally go outside and start my measly mile around the complex... twice
5:25pm - I've made it the first mile (what? there's lots of hills and I'm out of shape) and I contemplate going back in to the a/c. Depending on how much I ran in the first mile, I either do the same thing again (if I only ran a little bit) or call it quits (if I ran a lot).

Basically what I'm trying to tell you is that I am just starting out. I have tried to quit running more than once and I keep going back to it. I'm determined to win it over, to be able to do it, and to be able to do it mildly well. And my mom would probably tell you I'm kind of stubborn, so damnit I'm going to do it, even if it takes me forever. I will never run a marathon. I will probably never run a 1/2 marathon. I am perfectly, 100% okay with that. I applaud others who do it, but it ain't my cup of joe. That doesn't mean I'm not going to run though. One of my very good friends said that she doesn't ever want to feel like she can't participate in something because of a lacking physical ability and I agree wholeheartedly, which is why I keep at this whole running thing. I want to be able to go for a hike and survive, or go for a walk/jog/run with a friend and hold my own. So slowly but surely, I am going to conquer this running beast.

Now can someone please come pick me up off the floor, stop my hands from shaking, and feed me ice chips? It's 90+ degrees in Atlanta right now and I might be dying.

Just Because

Because I am exercising my right to a mental health day today, and because I'm feeling indulgent, and well.. just because, here are some things on my wishlist.

1. This giant screen to put on my balcony and ward off the dust that the trains that drive right by my house stir up. That way, I can sit and enjoy my balcony without hacking up a lung. Unfortch, because this isn't my house, and because who knows where I will end up next, this badboy will remain on my wishlist until who knows when.

Bamboo Folding Screen can be found HERE

2. Nikon D3000 DSLR camera. I am not 100% sold that this is the exact version of a DSLR that I want, but I'm pretty confident that I want to go with a Nikon, and based on the reviews I have read, this is the best model for a beginner (i.e. me). This is the item on this list I am most seriously considering purchasing because I think it will get the most use and I will enjoy it the most. I am resident picture taker amongst my friends, always have been, so why not upgrade?

3. These cowboy boots. I bought my previous pair of cowboy boots at Aldo following a particularly fabulous night at my favorite fraternity house in college with Peanut and her cronies. I have literally worn those boots out, to the point that once on my feet, they don't really come off that well, as evidenced by the night that I slept with 1 boot on. Although I'll never get rid of them, I really need a new pair. And, have no fear, my feet shall never go cowboy-boot-less. I bought them last weekend!

4. (A little hint at a post I have coming up later this week!) I am looking for new sewing projects! I am now on sewing machine #2 because apparently my curtain-making was a little too much for sewing machine #1. But, all is well, and I am seeking out new projects. It's a little early to start my Christmas sewing, even for me. But that doesn't mean I haven't already purchased presents for half my family...

What are on your wishlists? Are they practical, absurd, necessary, or just your wants?

On that note, I'm going to enjoy the 2 hours I have left of my mental health day. I forgot that I agreed to run carpool & after-school pickup today for the kids I babysit for, so my mental health day is being cut short. Not the end of the world, really... I could stand to make a little money today! Happy Tuesday!

Mission: Find a Hobby

I've been feeling rather hobby-less. A few weeks ago I spent a large chunk of time in the car with a friend who has seemingly millions of hobbies, and I felt left out and unfulfilled. This has happened before, that feeling of being left out, and it ended up with me learning that I hated running AFTER I had signed up for a 10K. I learned my lesson, and I knew I had to take this feeling of having no hobbies and move very slowly so as not to get ahead of myself again. My first hobby was baking, but I was forced asked to curb that hobby for the time being.

So then I had to go find another hobby, and hobby find I did. It's an addictive one. One that is relatively inexpensive and very useful. I discovered my new hobby this weekend, and I can't tell you exactly what it is right now because I don't have appropriate photo documentation of the outcome of my hobby, but once I take some pictures, I'll show you and share my new hobby with the world. The image to the right is a little sneak peek... can you guess what my new hobby is?! If you follow me on twitter, you probably already know!

What are some of your hobbies? I'd consider mine to be reading, watching TV, cooking the same recipes over and over again, couponing, organizing, tweeting, and my new top secret hobby. Do you have "normal" hobbies or are yours a little more original? Are they time consuming, or quick fixes for when you have a few spare hours? I'm so fascinated by what other people find fun, interesting, and pleasurable!