On a lighter note

I've had some time to collect a few interesting/random things this week. Let me emphasize: RANDOM. Lets begin with a quick highlight of blasts from the past. If you were a child in the 80s and early 90s you so recognize this stuff. I mean... Stirrup pants?! So hot. To switch it up sometimes I wore the stirrups outside my frilly/lacy socks and sometimes underneath. I tried to keep 'em guessing. 

Then there was always the TV shows watched while wearing those charming stirrup pants (and giant sweatshirts with iron on teddy bears donning real bows)... Fraggel Rock, for instance- classic (thanks for sending this to me, Alison!). But you can NOT forget Zoobilee Zoo! That show- looking back: TERRIFYING! I mean these people were like.. freaks in animal makeup. I LOVED that show... until I saw the weeping willow episode- scared those frilly socks right off! Don't ask my why. I'm not sure. This is the same child who would cut the tag out of EVERY shirt because it hurt my neck and wore my socks inside out bc the line over my toes dug into them and hurt (I know. I'm weird).

On a more... up-to-date note, I wanted to share some more... mature? findings. I was looking at msn.com (my favorite place to start my finding while at work... you get some education about whats going on in the world then after that, I hit all the links on the main little box and then right over to the lifestyle section- in that order- everyday).

I found this super cute purse while checking out the story of the day the other day highlighting the "Rules of the Season". They had a few good rules... like the flowery dress and the big leather bag... but this purse DEFINATELY caught my eye. I love clutches but would put mine down and never pick it up if i had one. I have a few with a wrist loop but this one is way better. WAY. Better.

THEN... on ThisNext.com I found these AWESOME shelves. They look like they're floating! Like they're something out of a Dr. Seuss book! I just loved them. They're so expensive though that if you want a shelf, you have to call them up and tell them- this is not something that you'd find at your local IKEA (although it does remind me of that.)

One last thing.... don't you just LOVE these hangers? I mean... if I had a cute/hip bookstore/coffee shop I just might have to have these. They would make the place way more airy and how cool are they!? I also like the idea of having them in your closet- as a "behind the doors bookshelf" although my closet is WAY too packed for that.

Okay that is all. Until next time...

Slightly different

Well school started yesterday so my unique and oh so interesting summer thoughts have been replaced by boring, stressful ones involving extensive group projects and other oh so thrilling topics. I will try to spare you details of the classes and will avoid lame blogging highlighting what I ate for lunch and what the weather is like..... and with that, I continue.

I work for a very small nonprofit organization that works with kids in orphanages and detention centers outside the US (I think I'll refrain from naming it at this point... I don't want something I may say in the future to hurt this organization in any way)... I think that what we're doing is awesome and so worth it - kids, who may not have otherwise had a chance, are getting the love and support they deserve. - - - On Friday, a woman came into our office and tried to drop her kids off- we are not an adoption agency, a foster care place, or social workers. The poor woman was bawling as she explained that she was a wife of a military man (who was gone) and not a US citizen. She simply could not afford to care for her children (around 3 and 6) and wanted us to take care of them for her for a while so she could get herself back on her feet. It was SO sad and reminded me of something that you might see on TV- NOT something that happens (or should be happening) in the US in 2008! That situation got me thinking... and I'm not sure that I have completely sorted things out... Was she clean out of options? Move into a smaller house/apartment? Work longer hours? Perhaps even go to a shelter that could take in the small family? I am by no means blaming the woman for her desperate actions - simply pondering the situation- and thinking what I may do if I found myself in the same awful situation. It was clear she had reached the end of the rope - not many (normal/stable) people give up their children out of mere inconvenience.

I know that there are tons of nonprofits out there helping people in the US and that countries need our help. It's just sad. And it's life. Everyone does the best they can - and should help someone else if they are capable even if its something small- kinda like that movie Pay it Forward or those insurance commercials.

Some good organizations doing good things... check 'em out. get inspired.

• Pay it Forward Foundation
• Operation Smile
  
• Ronald McDonald House Charities
  
• Boys and Girls Clubs of America
  
• Save Darfur
  
• SPCA (cant forget about the animals!)
  

I was thinking about creating a blog for my work- so people who have gone on trips to see the kids can share stories and pictures with not only eachother but also donors and volunteers/ people who want to get involved. I thought it would also be a great way to share some of the children's stories and allow people to see what is going on - on a more personal/upclose level. What do you think? Let me know.

Change is good

I think that part of this sudden desire to make things comes from the fact that I am simply starved for change. My mom has always said (reminding herself, of course), "Change is good." My life has become rather routine- but that's not even it. I just want something new. I started small- decorated my room a little different, moved some furniture slightly, added some things to the walls... it just wasn't enough. I need to change myself too.

I've been in dire need of a haircut so - why not do something different? Honesty, I would love to get one of those "scene girls" aka... emo (I know. I said it.) haircuts... I just... am slightly too old- especially to do a 180 on my style; plus, I'm not sure I quite have the "emo" attitude for crazy hair. So, after I came to that conclusion, I just keep telling myself "Maybe next time." I do that a lot. You would think that I believe in reincarnation with that thought pattern, but I do find myslf thinking just that: "Maybe next time." I guess it just shows what a procrastinator I am. I even procrastinate when considering my own... being. I am constantly having to remind myself, "Hello! This is IT." So it's time to compromise with myself. Instead of going totally emo, I'll just change something minor- maybe add some thicker bangs or a streak of pink- I am trying to avoid looking trashy or totally emo, however. I do want to hold a job. We'll see I suppose. Hopefully I won't put it off much longer or I might go Britney Spears on myself.

I just need an entire makeover- hair, clothes, makeup, the works. Maybe I should apply for "What Not to Wear" - I could get my friends to tape me wearing heinous outfits and when Stacy and Clinton jump me, I'd make sure to act surprised.

Meanwhile, I'll just stick to online pretend-shopping, something I have become particularly good at. I have listed some of my favorite and most frequented sites to the right and will try to share some of my findings. I've found I'm rather good at finding the coolest, most expensive things. To start off, check out this crucial table (below, too) it is SO going in my future dining room. It's a table, pool table and ping pong table. I mean, who needs a formal dining room anyways?

There is a hunger for cooking

Going along with my recent crafty mood, and against my theory that buying things is cheaper than making, I have also had this desire to cook things. I actually don’t even like cooking (I’ve heard hate is a strong word) but I think I might try to be more open to it. Recently I tried this recipe for curry chicken. It was so good and so easy (I’m talking minimum ingredients and effort)! My kinda cooking! The only thing I would suggest for this recipe is that you might want to up the chutney and curry to add more “zing.” Other than that, it was really good- kinda like making your own delicious hotpocket! I think my next cooking adventure will be apple pie! I mean... who DOESN'T like apple pie?!...

While we’re on the topic of cooking, let me recommend a super easy and delicious chicken dish- pretzel chicken poupon- it’s a fave. That, and the salsa chicken recipe on the back of the Pace Picante jar. I wish I could say I thought of it myself – kinda like that Friends episode (see below) where Phoebe and Rachel are trying to figure out Phoebe’s grandmother’s secret chocolate chip recipe- Nestle Tollhouse (said in a very obscure accent, of course).

There is a need for creativity

I have had this creative itch recently that I just can NOT scratch! I just have this need to MAKE stuff! The problem is, things these days seem way cheaper to simply buy than to make them from scratch- everything from children's desks to apple pie. I say a desk because I have been casually looking for a new desk (since I put my cheapo one together and found that it was designed for a child around the age of 6 - or a person under the height of about 4'5"). While killing time at work the other day, I came across this great DIY desk project- and whattya know? It costs up to $650 to build! A desk for petesake! If you take all that money you would spend on wood, glue, nails and such, you could buy a crucial desk! So to reiterate, why make what you can buy for way cheaper? I know, to get the satisfaction of making something with your hands. Believe me, I get that part, but blowing money is simply not MY kinda satisfaction. Anyways, so here I was trying to come up with a craft... and then it hit me... flower pens! (I know. random). Off I went to that dreaded mega-store on a Saturday afternoon. I got some floral tape, a pack of pens, and 11 fake flowers in a bouquet (for only $2.50!) (Hint: the flowers come off the stem, resulting in the ability to make your own, ideal, bouquet- the pre-made ones were ugly. --- Note: this hint is most likely not supported by management- be sneaky). It's really easy to make these rather cliche and tacky pens- you simply wrap the tape around the stem of the flower and the pen. I found that this is kinda ugly and weird looking so instead I just popped the cap off the top of the pen and shoved the stem down there with a little super glue. It makes the flowers look more "real," if you will. Check 'em!

And it begins..

Okay. Here I go... I'm officially a blogger! Although I'm sure there will be about.. oh... one person reading this, I'm excited to share my thoughts and things that I have found interesting/inspiring. I'm not sure where this will take me- maybe i'll get bored of this by next week or maybe this will stick and something will come of it - even if its just a way for me to put down my thoughts and findings. I'ts going to be a very random journey (hence maundering - look it up) but I'm excited! I pertty much always have something to say so we'll see how it goes!