A Week without Facebook

A week without Facebook sounds so silly when we think about people around the world that live without food, clothes, internet, etc.  

I typically take vacations as a reason to cyber-disconnect, however this year I thought about disconnecting early.  So last week, for no good reason, I decided to make it a challenge for myself.  I didn't know what to expect because I will openly admit that I'm addicted to Facebook, addicted to knowing what people are doing, what they like, where they are, what they're taking pictures of - all of it.  It's embarrassing, but step 1 is admittance.

So here we are on a Monday morning at 8:00 am where I make this decision.  And it was hard for a couple of day, especially when I found myself wanting to not get out of bed in the morning, my old pal Facebook wasn't an option.  Also not an option when I was in a long security line, nor when I was just bored or looking for a reason to procrastinate.

So, I found that I reached over for my Nook more and read before sleep when I was in a hotel room.  Who knew reading would help me sleep more soundly.  And you know what, the world did not end without Facebook.  I found out what was happening with good friends by talking and texting with them.

So this week has been interesting now that I'm off my Facebook ban.  And  I find that I don't reach for it as often.  I check it a couple times a day, but it's no longer that constantly open tab on my browser, nor is it the first thing I check each time I reach over for my phone.  I think I may try just giving up my iPhone for a weekend and see how that goes - this may be a test for a long weekend.

And even though I'm 31, I'm counting this on my 30 before 30 list :)

R's 30 Before 30 - Update

I have an update of my 30 before 30.  You'll see some items have been crossed off, some have been replaced, and some have stayed the same.  I better get a cracking - I have less than two weeks left!







1. Be able to do 5 pull ups without the assist at the gym, if not 5, then at least 3.  If not a pull up, then a rollout.


2. Go to a movie theatre alone

3. Give money to a homeless man without judgement. This was easy to do in Europe.  I also gave a homeless man a ton of Chinese food without judgement...does this count as 2? :)

4. Learn to say no and not feel guilty  This one is hard, but I'm trying really hard and learning to say "no" to things/people who aren't as important.

5. Go to Europe.  Gone!

6. Spend 24 hours without my cell phones  Did this on Saturday the 18th.


7. Go on a roadtrip with no real destination in mind  Did this over Thanksgiving weekend, and ended up in Bodega Bay with a wine bar, 3 course meal - I really got out of my comfort zone ;)


8. Cook a 3 course indian meal that would make Mom proud.  Done!  I did a full three course meal with alcohol pairings.  I spent 12 hours making from scratch:  aloo chaat, chicken tikka, serrano chili chutney, lamb vindaloo, tamarind prawns, channa masala, rice, naan, and carrot halwa.


9. Spend 24 hours in silence.  Have not done this yet..it makes me nervous.


10. Go camping (preferably on a beach).  Camped in KAZK's backyard, and since I put together the tent, we decided it counts.


11. In an excercise class, stand in the front.  Went with Gravy Train to her zumba/belly dancing class and she made me stand up front next to her.  It wasn't as intimidating as I thought - it actually made the class easier when you can see the instructor!


12. Actually paying attention in a cooking class.  Did a cooking class with my coworkers and paid attention the entire time!


13. Plant an herb garden - Planted a basil...made pesto with it, kept it alive for a week...COMPLETE!


14. Go on a sailboat.  G said that the Windstar counted..


15. Kareoke alone.  Sang "Don't Stop Believin" during Miss N's 30th birthday celebration.


16. Volunteer at a soup kitchen at Thanksgiving.  Volunteered at the food bank Thanksgiving week - made G$ do it too!


17. Do something amazing for my husband - something that he'll remember forever.  I recently surprised G with a trip to Tucson to see our great friend open his first art gallery.  G said that this was the awesomest thing I've done and I can cross it off my list.


18. Take my parents on a trip.  MY parents won't let me do this as I'm their daughter and never should spend money on them.  So its been replaced with:  Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge.


19. Play one set of tennis (I must own a cool outfit). This will be replaced by Find my signature scent!  which I found...Chanel No 5 :)


20. Play a 18 hole golf course, 18 may not be realistic, so we'll even take 3 holes.


21. Go in a hot air balloon...no time for this, so it will be replaced by do either a 5k or 10k for charity.


22. Plan a vacation by closing my eyes and pointing at a domestic location.  This one isn't realistic at all and has been replaced by going to the dentist!


23. Go to DisneyLand...there's no time for this, so watch the Sound of Music.


24. Read one book a month and blog a review.  HA!  This hasn't even happened and its too late to catch up.  What I can do is promise to blog weekly (when I'm in town) until my 30th Birthday - and the posts will be something more than just pictures.


25. Visit the something from my childhood in Barcelona.  Done!

26. Go white water rafting.  This is replaced by conquering a fear, which I completed in Ibiza.


27. Learn to ride a bike!.  This is in progress...one lesson down!


28. Win a radio station contest.  Not realistic.  I have always always wanted to see U2.  I was unable to put it on this list as I didn't know if they were still touring - so its been on my general bucket list.  Well - they were touring and I saw them.  CHECK!  See U2 in concert


29. Take a wine making class


30. Become a US citizen

So to date, I've completed 21 things.

Reverb 10: Day 4 for N

Day 4 Prompt: Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year?

Guess what my answer is. I told you guys I'd be bringing this topic up for awhile! Making my "30 before 30" list forced me to think about the fact that there are so many things out there in the world that seem scary but actually don't kill you. I'm not talking about silly things like blindly ordering food from a menu; I'm talking about grabbing opportunities and always being aware that taking the smallest actions can result in great things. As a risk-averse overplanner, I'll never be the most spontaneous person on the block. I'm just glad I've learned this year that making that purchase, taking that trip, sending that email, having that talk, or going out that night when you'd rather be in your PJs will almost always be worth it.

Done!

I managed to finish the last item on my "30 before 30" list at around midnight on my birthday. It was a living document so I made some changes as I went along, but I can now officially say I've done everything listed below. 29 was a good year for new experiences and breaking out of the ole comfort zone.
Kudos to everyone who put up with me starting every other sentence for the past 6 months with "Well, according to my list I have to..." I must admit, I'll probably be riding this topic out for awhile because it tends to be a great conversation starter on dates. Not that I've had a date recently - but that's neither here nor there. :)

1. Make a 3 course meal from scratch
2. Visit one of the places in NC that I've heard about but never made it to
3. Give money to a homeless person
4. Plant something - anything - and keep it alive
5. Buy a right hand ring
6. Create a piece of artwork to hang in my house
7. Find out my blood type
8. Initiate a conversation with a stranger
9. Dance the zorba in Greece
10. Go 24 hours at home without turning on a TV
11. Take a singing lesson
12. Go for a walk in the rain
13. Buy a bikini
14. Find my signature scent
15. Go on a scavenger hunt
16. Buy a drink for a stranger
17. Learn to hem my own pants
18. Watch 5 documentaries
19. Go to high tea
20. Order from a menu by closing my eyes and pointing at something
21. Try a new recreational activity
22. Reread one of my favorite childhood books
23. Watch a movie outdoors
24. Sing a karaoke solo
25. Go to a temple alone
26. Leave inspiring messages in 5 public places
27. Accept a dare from my girls during my 30th birthday weekend
28. Do a "difficult" yoga pose
29. Face my aversion to creating to-do lists for fear of not completing them
30. Get photographic proof of as many things on this list as possible

The New 20

I decided to approach my 30th birthday with excitement about seeing all of my girls rather than being bummed about leaving another decade behind. I can't even imagine how much thinking and emailing and organizing and creating went into planning the weekend - and how on earth they all (especially R, since we generally share updates on our lives like a CNN news ticker) were able to keep it a secret!

Friday: Got R from the airport and bummed around drinking chai. Went for a walk, got R to play personal shopper and find me a birthday dress, did lunch and then Tinis and Toes (P.S. check out the names of their waxing services if you visit that site)! L-Woww and J-Ho arrived. Managed to catch up on all the gossip that all 4 of us had with all of us talking simultaneously. Donned our rockstar attire, got Ree from the airport, and toasted with Ms. M and Ms. K. Read the fabulous book presented to me with pictures and messages from everyone I could possibly think of. Dined at Shaba Shabu. Went to a karaoke bar (to knock that off the list) and learned that we were not only the coolest people there but also "unattainable" women. ;) Vogued as a group, Joyrided alone, and cheered R along as she took her Journey. Slumber partied at home with Love Actually.

Saturday: Opened a suitcase chock full of presents from Ree and C. Donned my tiara and brunched in our PJ's with the mimosas and cake that Ms. M and Ms. K brought over. Changed into our matching t-shirts, complete with a poem on the back - yes, they even ordered shirts to commemorate the weekend! Walked to the grocery store for more snackage. Dressed up all girly and went to afternoon tea at The Umstead. Bought matching PJ pants and wore them at home before getting dolled up again. Binged on truffle mac 'n cheese, truffle fries, fondue, risotto, and pina colada and mocha cupcakes at Solas. Made some friends at the rooftop bar who bought us endless bottles of bubbly. Bought a drink for a large car salesman (another one off the list) who ended up being escorted out. Oops. Went home to devour frozen tater tots and pizza because we're classy like that.

Sunday: Said a sad goodbye to J-Ho. Brunched at NOFO. Said a sad goodbye to L-Woww. Took R and Ree to the mall, where we picked up free Sephora birthday gifts and amused ourselves with Desi(red) shirts. Said a sad goodbye to Ree. Searched for food with R (because we can never find what we want). Ate Thai and fell asleep watching the best episode of SATC ever.

Monday: Gossiped over chai and found out R's flight was canceled. Took the afternoon off to shop and get drinks at Mez. Lost track of time and got to the airport a leeetle too late. Oops. Decided that excitement over another few hours of RoNi time outweighed guilt over making R miss her flight. Watched 90210 until time to go to the airport yet again. Said a sad goodbye to R. Went home to sip on leftover champagne while re-reading my book and cards and playing with my presents.

Dinner for Three

Because I heart food, I don't hate cooking. However, I don't have a ton of experience with it. I also get obsessive over what to cook for people, how to make things pseudo-healthy, and how do make do if I don't have the correct fancy gadgets. Ms. M and Ms. K were brave enough to be guinea pigs the first time I made a 3-course meal from scratch last week.

Drink

prosecco with muddled fresh pineapple

Appetizers

whole grain bread (store-bought) with herbed dipping sauce

zucchini bites, minus the cheese and sun-dried tomatoes and plus kalamata olives

Entree

spinach ricotta gnocchi with sun-dried tomatoes and basil pesto

Desserts (yes, plural)

individual pumpkin tiramisu with sponge cake instead of ladyfingers

apple blueberry cardamom bread pudding with fresh whipped cream

The zucchini bites were probably my fave since they were basically like bruschetta but in little zucchini bowls. And using a melon baller is fun! The gnocchi was tricky and ended up looking more like little dumplings than the traditional pasta. I had to trash the first sponge cake I made for the tiramisu because it wasn't to my liking, but the second was nice and fluffy. I will totally make the bread pudding again because it was not too rich, customizable, and can be relatively healthy.

2010 Reunion-a-RoNi #4

What better excuse for a reunion and a trip to ATL than Ms. J's wedding?! It was a fabulous weekend.

Wednesday: Drove to the Dirrty Dirrty and gorged on Antico Pizza and King of Pops with Ree and C. All the food totally lived up to the hype.

Thursday: Got R from the airport and drank coffee on Ree's awesome rooftop (so jealous) while the sun rose. Checked in to the Hotel Palomar and sat outside to enjoy lunch and champagne cocktails at Pacci -whose executive chef, BTW, went to school with us! Ran errands, impulse bought some mark makeup (stay tuned for recos) picked up the bachelorette, and got dolled up. Met up with the other girls to get our nails did and watched Ms. J experience her first pedicure ever. :) Dined at ONE.midtown kitchen and freaked out about their homemade limoncello. And then...pole dancing! It was quite an experience and workout. Wore the fab t-shirts that R made and chose "sexy" names for the night. Guess which one of us was Ooh La La and which one was Spice. :P Each of us 6 girls had our own pole - and dude, did anyone know that you can change them so that they either stay stationary or spin on their own?! Made fun of ourselves and later made fun of the instructor, who apparently got into the business to "teach women how to keep their men at home." Interesting. Headed back to the hotel with Ms. L in tow for drinks on the rooftop at AltoRex and a slumber party.

Friday: Brunched at the GT WaHo and cried about how lucky the current students are to have easy access to grits and smothered, covered, diced, peppered hashbrowns. Hightailed to Norcross and then Perimeter Mall for one of the most productive RoNi mall experiences ever. Found R's signature scent (see previous post) and these adorb atomizers. Randomly managed to find our matching right-hand rings! Deets coming soon to a blog near you. Had a drink with G back at the hotel, got dolled up, and rehearsed Ms. J's wedding. Ate delish rehearsal dinner food at Ippolito's. Returned to the hotel bar. Of course.

Saturday: Met the bride and other bridesmaids to get our hair/makeup did over mimosas. Watched R feverishly look for Paris Hilton's mugshot so she could imitate her 'do. Rehearsed, took silly pics, and hung out at the church. Stood up with the beautiful couple as they took their vows with absolutely no disasters, major or minor. Headed to Flint Hill for a reception full of yummy veggie spring rolls, LOTS of dancing (we are still pros at the Electric Slide, thank you very much), and Ms. J's amazingly fun family. Vogued like there was no tomorrow and made the other guests jealous that they can't rap as well as we can. Returned to...you guessed it, the hotel bar. Drank shots of ouzo/sambuca/151 that are apparently called Yellow Jackets. Convinced Ms. L to slumber party with us again, leaving the 2 hubbies to fend for themselves.

Sunday: Brunched at The Flying Biscuit. Hung out with Ree and C and mom until time to hit the road, leaving R and G with the fam. Sad goodbyes all around.

And the winners are...

We both ended up going with the timeless Chanel brand.

Nº5 for R: Aldehydic floral. A bouquet of abstract flowers with an indefinable feminity. Launches with bewitching notes of Ylang-Ylang and Neroli, then unfolds with Grasse Jasmine and May Rose. Sandalwood and Vanilla round out the fabled composition with unforgettable woody notes.

Chance Eau Tendre for N: Both delicate and radiant, with an intoxicatingly light, fruity trail. An unexpected mingling of grapefruit and quince meets the crispness of fresh green notes, while a trace of Jasmine Absolute lingers in the air. Gently warmed by a sheer veil of White Musk, at once, innocent and seductive.

R's 30 Before 30: Become a US Citizen

Yup - that's right, I am now a US citizen, one that is legally recognized by her married name!

It was quite a whirlwind of a process that I'll outline below:

• Submitted my application (and $600+) around Memorial Day weekend
• Mind you - there are 30 questions inquiring if you've been a hooker or a prostitute
• Had to get fingerprints taken on July 12th (mind you the day after AA's wedding weekend - I had the shakes from the lack of champers in my body)
• Received my notice for an interview on August 18th
• Was shaking because I was so nervous
• Was convinced there was a conspiracy to stump me, b/c I'm so awesome - so I overstudied
• How did I overstudy?  I made flashcards and forced N to ask me thousands of questions over gchat during our work day
• Passed the test
• Seriously tho, I had to write a sentence of 3 words "We pay taxes"
• Yuck, I hate taxes
• Was told that my marriage certificate looks fake
• SERIOUSLY!?  How does the ONLY american document in my file look fake?!
• Finally the guy agreed that my marriage certificate was in fact a real document
• Scheduled my oath for September 23rd
• Received on August 22, that my oath would happen on August 26
• Freaked out because it meant my parents coudn't come
• Had great friends and MIL and hubby who all made it to my oath
• Thousands of pictures and LIVE video :)
• Was amused that NO one spoke English in the oath ceremony
• My seat neighbors thought I was insane
• Received a certificate and started the name change process on all my documents
• Celebrated with wine / cheese / awesome food / great friends

YAY!

N's 30 Things Update

7 down, 23 (in 3.5 months) to go! Yikes. I've been lazy and have only done the easy/fun items. The newest are as follows:

• Saturday: It started drizzling when I got home from the gym, so I figured it was a great time to go for a walk in the rain since I was about to shower anyway. Granted, it stopped raining by the time I got to the end of my street, but it still counts - right?!
• Sunday: I'm not extremely religious, but I appreciate the peace and spirituality associated with temples. However, I've only gone when my parents have taken me. So I made an effort to visit the Hindu temple nearby, only to find that there was a kids' camp going on and the whole building was insanely loud. The purpose was a bit defeated, but I stayed for a bit and made my donation. Maybe I'll go back.
• Today: I took a 45 minute voice lesson. I felt extremely self-conscious but learned some cool info AND have a recording of the entire lesson.* No, I don't plan to take classes regularly or actually pursue singing. It was just something I've wanted to do.

*I was totally about to attach an audio clip here since I don't have photographic proof (and count it as a bonus item on my list since it's like performing a solo), but I'm too lazy to sign up for online storage and upload the clip and link it here. Your ears will thank me.

The Perfume Project

1. R and I take quizzes* online and read descriptions to find 3 potential "signature scents" for ourselves and each other.

2. Each of us, hopefully armed with store-provided coffee beans, sniffs away at the predetermined list of aromas to narrow it down to one.

3. We send each other the names of our personal scent of choice and the scent we each think will best fit the other.

4. Discussion and trips to Nordies will ensue, and we'll score our signature scents! Added bonus: I will cross another item off my "30 Things" list.

*In case you're interested:
http://www.marieclaire.com/fragrance-finder/
http://www.lhj.com/lhj/quiz.jsp?quizId=/templatedata/lhj/quiz/data/FragranceQuiz.xml

Cross Camping Off of R's List!

So - some may argue that what I did below does not qualify as camping - but in my world it does!  SO...here are the details:

Some friends of ours's son decided he needed to camp (he is the coolest 3 year old ever!), so they decided to have about 6 of us come over and camp in their backyard.  The camping included grilling, chevelas, wine, s'mores, a nighthike, and sleeping in tents.  I put a tent together with some help from Mrs I.  Man - putting those things together is quite a challenge - I almost lost an eye.  S'mores on a campfire are awesome - it was like crack!  I also perfect my technique and ended up making some for many people :)  Its all in toasting them first, before catching them on a bit of fire :)

I did sleep in a sleeping bag in a tent, which was cool.  The ground is not nearly as comfortable as my bed, but I'm glad I did it :)

YAY - only 29 more to go :)

5 Happy Things of the Week

1. A lovely long weekend which will look like this:

2. 4th of July sales!

3. The completion of another fabulous weekend in ATL

4. Iced tea

5. Crossing another item off my list of 30 things*

*I've been a bit slack, but here's a brief update. I planted a tiny pot of basil (boring i know - but baby steps), bought a bikini, saw a movie outdoors (Invictus), and today K and I decided to indulge in some cake at lunch which I picked out with my eyes closed. Other more interesting items are in progress. :)

R's 30 Things Before 30

Here are my 30 things - I keep feeling like I forgot random ones...POOP.  I will try to blog about each experience that I complete here.

1.  Be able to do 5 pull ups without the assist at the gym
2.  Go to a movie theatre alone
3.  Give money to a homeless man without judgement
4.  Learn to say no and not feel guilty
5.  Go to Europe
6.  Spend 24 hours without my cell phones
7.  Go on a roadtrip with no real destination in mind
8.  Cook a 3 course indian meal that would make Mom proud
9.  Spend 24 hours in silence
10.  Go camping (preferably on a beach)
11.  In an excercise class, stand in the front
12.  Actually paying attention in a cooking class
13.  Plant an herb garden
14.  Go on a sailboat
15.  Kareoke alone
16.  Volunteer at a soup kitchen at Thanksgiving
17.  Do something amazing for my husband - something that he'll remember forever
18.  Take my parents on a trip
19.  Play one set of tennis (I must own a cool outfit)
20.  Play a 18 hole golf course
21.  Go in a hot air balloon
22.  Plan a vacation by closing my eyes and pointing at a domestic location
23.  Go to DisneyLand
24.  Read one book a month and blog a review
25.  Visit the hospital I was born in
26.  Go white water rafting
27.  Learn to ride a bike!
28.  Win a radio station contest
29.  Take a wine making class
30.  Become a US citizen

Ok - DONE!

Backup:  Sew a Dress

30 Before 30

As much as I try to ignore it, my 30th birthday will come to stomp on my already squished body exactly 6 months from today. So I present to you, in random order, my list of things I'd like to do before then.

Disclaimer: This is, by no means, a bucket list. I can't realistically take a massive road trip, cliff dive, or volunteer in a foreign country in the next 6 months. I've also left off items that are too dependent on other people or circumstances.

1. Face my fear of "things I must do" lists (DONE)
2. Make a complicated, 3 course meal from scratch
3. Visit one of the places in NC that everyone raves about but I've never seen
4. Give money to a homeless person
5. Plant something - anything - and keep it alive
6. Initiate a conversation with a stranger
7. Learn to whistle
8. Create a piece of artwork to hang in my house
9. Buy a right hand ring
10. Go 24 hours (while at home, not out of town) without turning on a TV
11. Call 2 people I rarely speak to, just to say hello
12. Take a singing lesson
13. Go for a walk in the rain
14. Buy a bikini (even though I can't commit to wearing it)
15. Find out my blood type
16. Buy a drink for a stranger
17. Learn to hem my own pants
18. Find my signature scent
19. Order from a menu by closing my eyes and pointing to something
20. Reteach myself one thing I learned in college (in class, not socially)
21. Try a new recreational sport (leaving this vague - skiing, surfing, anything else - based on opportunity)
22. Watch 5 documentaries and actually learn something from them
23. Reread one of my favorite childhood books
24. Watch a movie outdoors
25. Buy something "significant" from an airport store that isn't food, drink, or reading material
26. Master a complicated yoga pose
27. Buy myself a lottery ticket
28. Leave inspiring messages in 5 public places
29. Go to a temple alone
30. Get photographic proof of as many things on this list as possible

Backups:

1. Smash a plate in Greece
2. Go camping
3. Sing a karaoke solo (no hiding behind a group) at a bar
4. Go to a movie alone