Unrelated Ramblings

Goals: I was able to cross off another item on my list of things I wanted to accomplish in 2011- "Reach 625 Etsy sales by January 1, 2012." This morning, a woman from Israel bought 6 of my origami cards, which brought my total number of Etsy sales to 626. (check, woot!) I'm already thinking about what to put on my list of things to accomplish on 2012. A part of me is a little apprehensive because, as I'm looking at my 2011 list, I'm going to be able to cross off most of the things on my list. I know that I'll have to step it up a notch in 2012 to really challenge myself.

Interesting links: 10 Things 90s Kids Will Have To Explain To Their Children. I think the one that I can identify with the most is #7. ::shudders at the thought::

Important message about equality, human rights, and family that another one of my friends posted on Facebook. I thought the student in the video was very articulate, and I hope his message had an impact on his audience.

Good customer service report: About a month ago, I bought an Aerobed. With this purchase would come a $10 gift card to Bed, Bath and Beyond. I got an email saying that the card had been mailed, but it's been a month and I haven't received it. I contacted customer service yesterday to tell them my problem. After some research, they found that the address they had on file for me was incorrect. I got an email today, notifying me that the new gift card has been reissued. ::applause::

At the office: At a meeting today, we were talking about stuff we had to do. I mentioned "well, cookies around here definitely speed things up." A director replied, "No, Tina. YOUR cookies speed things up around here." I think a part of teamwork is to find what motivates people. If the "carrot" is cookies, I make sure that I'm on those people's good sides.

Family: My cousin recently upgraded his iPhone, and he was nice enough to let me have the old one to use as an iTouch. I have never had an Apple product before (I know that's kinda shocking in this day and age), so this was a new adventure to me. I love it! I'm able to do so many things from this little handheld thing and not have to turn on my computer- email (both personal and work), monitor my Etsy shop, Twitter, facebook, IM, etc. I have finally caught up with the world! Here are two pictures that I took with it. Julie and I were talking about hummus, which is why tahini was brought up.

Food Surprises

Surprise #1: When I got to the office this morning, I saw that there were 2 pieces of chocolate on my desk, near my monitor. However, there was no note. I had no idea where the candy came from! Tips: when you give surprise gifts to people, leave a note so that a) the recipient can properly thank you and b) so that the receiver can actually eat the gift, if it's edible. As tempting as the chocolate was, I didn't think it was safe to eat it unless I knew who it came from, even though both pieces were wrapped.

Surprise #2: I opened up a container of hummus that I bought last night at the grocery store and there was a clump of mold in it! Gross. I went back to the grocery store before spin class and was able to exchange it, even though I didn't have my receipt.

Spinning: During class today, Janice was like, "I noticed that some of you have been losing weight. What is your secret?? Did you not have pie? Tinaaaa???" There must have been something wrong with her eye sight. I'm still burning off all the food that I ate that one meal!

With all this talk about exercise and trying to get food consumption under control, I asked the HR director if we were going to have a cookie exchange this year at the office. Why do I torture/sabotage myself?! UGH!

My card making mojo has sorta taken a vacation. Maybe I'm in a creative funk. I hope it comes back after the craft shows this weekend.

A List Summary of Today

Good things that happened today:

• I woke up to an Etsy sale after a 2 week drought.
  
• I didn't have to wait in line at all at the grocery store. For once, I picked the right line.
  
• My sister came over to help me make chicken marsala so that I could try a new recipe and have some thing to eat for dinner this week.
• Because the USPS guy stopped by, I was able to cross off 2 names on my Christmas gift-giving list.
  
• I ate dinner with my family and watched several episodes of Big Bang Theory and laughed. A lot.
  

Semi-bad things that happened today:

• I dreamt that I was pregnant last night. I have no idea where that came from. That was not a welcomed dream. Therefore, I didn't get a good night's rest.
  
• I witnessed some bad manners from a grown man at the grocery store. He snapped at me because I got in his way in the vegetable section. Oh, dude, I can snap just as hard as you can, but I choose not to, mkay?
• I went all the way to the DMV to get the address changed on my driver's license, only to find that the office was closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Sometimes, you just gotta take the good with the bad. And the good definitely outweighed the bad today. No complaints here!

Fall-To Layout #168

Spinning: I was so lucky this morning at spin class. I made sure to call the gym this morning to secure my seat in the class, but was put on the waiting list. Being that today was the day after Thanksgiving, of course there would be a lot of people that would be there to work off all the goodies they ate the night before, myself included. I was number 2 on the waiting list, but was able to get a seat, whew! Working out on the cardio machines would have have been the same.

Food: Since my parents' house was on the way home, I stopped by there to eat some Thanksgiving leftovers (mainly a slice of apple pie that I didn't have room for last night). Oh well. At least I worked out, right?

Shopping: I didn't go out for any Black Friday because the crowds and parking lot traffic kinda freak me out. I'm sure there will be other similar deals after Black Friday. I did manage to cross off a person on my gift giving list, so that's success to me!

Card: Here's my take on Fall-To Layout #168. The center piece gave me an opportunity to try out some new dies, and I love how the circle fits perfectly into the red piece. The finished size of this card is 3.25 square.
Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Ocean, French Blue, Warm Red
Stamps: Studio G (all)
Paper: My Mind's Eye- Countdown to Christmas
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Large, Floral Doily Motifs

My goal tomorrow is to go to the DMV and get my address changed on my driver's license. That shouldn't take too long, right? ::fingers crossed::

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope that those who are celebrating Thanksgiving today had a wonderful holiday! :)

My parents are hosting Thanksgiving this year, but the meal was actually cooked in 3 separate houses: Mom/Dad's house, my cousin's house, and my house. It's really convenient when your family lives close by! My contributions this year were a green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, rolls, and stuffed mushrooms. Yum!

My cousin brought over some of her nail polishes so that we could do our nails. I decided on OPI on Collins Ave. as my base coat and then OPI black shatter as the crackle top coat.

Pre-Thanksgiving Baking

Taking the day off today = best idea ever. I got to sleep in, go to the grocery store to pick up some last minute baking ingredients without having to deal with a long line, and got to spend some time with my sister making desserts for tomorrow: apple pie and blueberry cheesecake. Baking, in and of itself, is already enjoyable as it is, but then you tack on a NCIS marathon...that makes it even better!

Here are some pictures from our baking extravaganza.

Wee Memories Challenge #77

Wheee! Short work week! I'm working today and tomorrow and then off the rest of the week to goof off, eat a whole bunch, and have fun with my family.

Here's my take on Wee Memories Challenge #77: woodland creatures. I decided to fold an origami owl and make him flying through a cloud filled sky. The Fiskars cloud punch would have really come in handy for this card, but I managed by cutting out some clouds freehand.Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Ocean, Warm Red
Paper: Recollections
Stamp: Inkadinkado (birds)
Stickers: Lily Bee Design- Picket Fence Collection - 12 x 12 Cardstock Stickers
Punch: Fiskars Upper Crest border punch
Other: Black Sharpie Ultra Fine Point marker