Favorite Things 3.14.2015

HOCKEY

Seriously it has been the winter of HOCKEY.  Columbus Blue Jackets Hockey to be exact.  I went from casual fandom to total rabid season ticket holder.  Example, I only got one sentence into this blog post before I was sucked into a hockey discussion on twitter.  Which brings me to my next new favorite thing.

TWITTER

Football is America's sport of choice.  In Columbus Buckeye football is the sport of choice.  Even though we have a professional hockey team, it's not as easy to find hockey fans in your current circles  as you would think.  I have yet to find another equally rabid fan casually in person.  Twitter is full of rabid fans.  Posting stats, commentary and hockey nerd humor.  I also follow the players and the beat writers which adds a lot of insight.  The Blue Jackets twitter account is hysterical as well as informative.  They are also very responsive and I have reached out to them twice with situations that I needed assistance with and they have always been responsive an helpful.  Twitter has been awesome.

PeroxiClear

The older I get the more sensitive to preservatives I become.  I've been really struggling with food induced migraines again ( really need to go see an allergy Dr.) and the trigger seems to be preservatives.  When I went to the eye Dr. complaining about red painful eyes he asked what solution I use.  I used the cheapest generic solution at whatever store I was at.  He told me that they have preservatives in them that could be irritating my eyes.  He then gave me a sample of peroxi clear.  This stuff is amazing.  My eyes feel better. my contacts last longer and are cleaner.  I really thought I was going to have to give contacts up so this makes me extremely happy.  Totally worth the money it costs.

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Punk Goes...

Pop, 90's, classics.  There is a whole series of Punk goes records and they are so much fun.  Despite my better judgement I have always loved pop music and I have always loved guys with guitars.  It's really like they made these just for me.  This summer when you hear a punk version of Taylor Swift's Blank Space blaring through open car windows, they are probably mine.  Here it is for your listening pleasure.  I heard it first at a hockey game because, you know, hockey.

A Wood Pecker + Wandering = A Very Good Day

 I walked out of my house and heard a tapping sound.  I turned towards the only tree in my yard as I was going to cut across the yard to my car.  Sitting in my tree, peck peck pecking away was a giant wood pecker.  I had never seen one before, and I had no idea how big they were.  I have since googled them, and they really don't look that big in pictures either.  The one in my tree... big...huge... and scary.  He wasn't afraid of me in the least.  I inched closer and closer to him. trying to get a good picture.  I only had my camera phone and he did not sit still.  The pictures aren't great but you can get a general idea of his size.

After work I was wandering around Columbus waiting for the Women's Fund annual Key Holder to start and I discovered this.



I've lived in Columbus and worked downtown for nearly 8 years and had never seen or noticed it before.  This makes me think I should wander around more often.

 Have you had any good wanderings lately?

Favorite Things

1.  I have this thing for Elephants.  Big mammals in general ( hippo, rhino, horses) but the elephant is the clear winner.  Why do we all have that one animal that speaks to us?  Any ideas?   We don't go to Target much, but we were there recently and found this:

Now, I already have this one:

But it is an at home mug.  The new one is a take to work mug.  Elephants everywhere!

2. How did I survive 4 years without a dishwasher?  Absolute insanity and I will never do it again.  Ever.

3.  Sticking with appliances, Check out one of Brad's birthday presents:

Soda Stream

Cool right?  So far so good!  Having easy drink variety for every whim is nice.  I also think that with most of the start up cost out of the way it will be cost effective.  As long as we turn in the old Co2 cartridges we will get a replacement at a discount.  Every flavor we have tried so far has been very solid, which has been a relief.  Favorite so far is Root Beer!

4.  Thai Food, specifically curry.  I just discovered a Thai restaurant much closer and much more affordable.  Brad will probably be getting dragged there a lot.

5.Hockey!  SO much better live than on TV.  Probably my favorite sport for the last couple years.  If you have never treated yourself to a game ( and you like contact sports) you should.  It is a lot of fun.

New Years Eve 2013

We went to the Columbus Fish Market for our annual New Years Eve dinner.  It was amazing.  I am hoping to do a review for it on our restaurant blog soon.

I ordered steak, like always.  Fillet Mignon Med Rare.

The steak was cooked perfectly and was delicious.  I have low expectations for all sea food restaurants and steak but this was perfect.  So were the sides!

I ordered their drink special for the night.  Little bit to much vodka for me but better towards the middle.

(the bread was yummy too)

Brad ordered lobster tails and mashed potatoes. 

I am allergic to shellfish but Brad said it was very good.  You know what I am not allergic to?  Mashed potatoes.  They were SO GOOD.  Next time we go, hopefully soon, I am getting mashed potatoes.

What is New years Eve dinner without dessert?

We ordered the mini shark fin.  It was the perfect end to the meal.  It kind of taste like a drumstick, but better.  If you ever go, you should order it.

I said I want to put this on our restaurant review blog so I am trying to not go into this to much, but I also have to say that the service was perfect.  Constant refills, instant non intrusive plate clearing, and well timed food delivery. 

If you are looking to treat yourself you should give it a try.

After that?  

Sparkling grape juice for everyone!  We have a very quiet night, but it worked for me.

  I also gave blood today.  I am not a good blood donor.  I can donate in 5 minutes, but I take a really long time to recover.  I am trying to decide if the cost is worth the benefits to go again. 

I hope you had a good New Years Eve!

Happy New Year!

Thinking, Feeling, And The Little Things Grab Bag

Did anyone else eat themselves into 5 lbs over Thanksgiving?  I did.  That's a bid deal for me.  It takes me at least 2 months to lose 5lbs, and apparently only a couple days at my parents for a holiday to gain it back.

Besides the Jaba the Hutness going on I am feeling the need to move.  I am missing muscle and endorphins.  Everyone is doing 30 day challenges to the end of the new year, I think I might start one 10 days late.  Most of them have planks.   I have no idea how to plank, so I looked it up.   Plank + Eye Candy



I have an appointment with the Dr. tomorrow will I will probably be scolded for my weight gain and not allowed to continue on my current treatment.  Which is okay with me I think.  There are no easy fixes, and that one really helped me think about food differently which was what I needed.  I need to stop putting things in my mouth because that's what I always do.  Huge lesson for me to learn.

Speaking of my food issues, I am finding myself super obsessed with baking cake.  Kind of like my bread baking spree.  I even asked for these for Christmas so I can bake flat cakes.  Because my current dream is to make a lemon layer cake for me and a chocolate layer cake for my niece. Why?  No idea.

The big ticket item on my Christmas list this year?  A new camera.  Camera reviews are  really hard to interpret.  Are they saying that just because they are a camera snob who carries around a $3,000 camera?   Would I even notice their complaints?  After reading articles and review after review after review I settled on this one.  Better than my Sony Cyber shot point and shoot, but still with in my technical capabilities.  I hope.  If I get it I'll let you know.

More  food related I am totally digging these Bob Evans South West Breakfast Bakes.  Less than 150 calories and very very yummy.  You heat each side for 1:30 on each side the voila!  Hashbrowny goodness.  And we all know how I feel about potatoes.

Let's see what else am I loving that's not food related.....

Suave Dry Shampoo.  There are two different kinds, right now this is the only kind I can find at my store.  Both are awesome and spare my hair and my scalp daily shampooing.   One of these day's I'll be brave and go No Poo, but for now, this is making my life.

As previously discussed here I supinate.  Badly.  I recently had a test done on my feet and I was 99% severe.  Duh.  I have to go back to see if they think they can do anything for me.  In the mean time I bought my second set of these, since I wore the last ones out.  I also got a pair for my brother for Christmas who walks exactly the way I do.   It may not sound like an exciting gift, but when you aren't breaking your shoes every 2 weeks and you can walk like a half way normal human being it means a lot.  I hope he likes them.

You would also find this on last Nov or Dec's post but it is WoW season again.  If you need me, start playing World of Warcraft and we can chat.  My character is almost a level 80!  So.... close.....

What are you up to?

Lunch In The Park

We love our local parks.  We use the trails for dog walks, geo caching and bike rides.  We go there occasionally for breakfast lunch and dinner.  We really enjoy being out by the water, the trees and fresh air.  Bella likes it because she gets new smells and can claim new fiefdoms. Here is last Sunday's trip.

Thanks to Ni Hao Yall for hosting Sunday Snapshot!

A Good Way to Get Back to Blogging

I saw this on Running with Tongs and thought it would be a good idea to steal.  Give me a little direction to get back to blogging.  I am really struggling with really wanting to write and really wanting to read but really not doing anything.

Thinking about:  Vacation!  Really really, really want to start planning it and setting up reservations.  Really.  We've decided to go back to the beach this year and I am looking forward to waves and relaxation.  Come on Groupon!

Feeling:  Really sad, anxious, and lost.  We have another week or two of guess work and then we have to make a big decision.  And every variation of that decision makes me want to curl up in a ball and hide.

Watching: Nashville.  So random, I don't even like country music.  It is entertaining me, and even pushing out the Good Wife during my TV watching time.  ( You don't know it, but I am mildly obsessed with the Good Wife.  Team Will!)

Reading:  I just finished Murder on The Mind and have started The Fifth Avenue Series.  Murder on the mind was meh, thinking about giving the series one more book to reel me in.  I am 18% of the way through The Fifth Avenue series and it is losing me.  At least 10 character's story lines going on right now, no forward motion, and I don't care about any of them.  $6 down the drain.

Looking forward to: A quiet (er) weekend coming up.  Time to clean the house and hopefully nice weather for a bike ride.  I've been gyming it up lately thanks to the crappy, crappy weather.

Making me happy:   My ridiculous little dog.  Who is ridiculous.

Happiness is the Little Things 2.13.13

1.  Archer

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I am soooo soooo obsessed with Archer right now.  Like, I've watched the first 2 seasons 3 times.  The third season wasn't great, so I've only watched it once, and I now buy the 4th season by episode so I can keep up.  There are really no words for how much I love this show.  I would quote an obscene and inappropriate comment I saw on an Archer blog,  but it was obscene and inappropriate.

2. WoW

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I know you are currently adding this to the " total nerd" pile but its true.  I played last winter and stopped when the weather turned and I was spending most of my time outside.  I started playing again at Christmas ( When I got my super awesome new computer) and am loving it.  We will see what happens.  I think I'll keep playing through out the year this year.

3.  Little Debbie Brownies

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My aunt bought me a crap ton of these.  I unfortunately have been eating them.  A lot.  Delicious but it's time to cut back.

What are your fav things this week?

Thanksgiving 2012

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My favorite Thanksgiving food...and let's be honest all time food....mashed potatoes.

My husband and I switch off years to spend Thanksgiving with our families.  This is his year and the first time I will be at a "traditional family" Thanksgiving.  The only year I've gone it wasn't at the house it normally was.  That person had a cat and Brad and I had to leave early.  Since I am extremely allergic.

But that is not what this post is about.   This is the top 3 of what I am thankful for this year.  Besides mashed potatoes.

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 1.  My Husband 

My husband is pretty awesome.  He is always trying to make my world a better place.  He is the calm glue to my scattered randomness.  What impresses other women about him is that he helps cook and clean, and will pack my lunch for me in the morning.  What should impress them is what that says about him.  My husband loves me, respects me, and wants me to be happy.  He wakes up everyday and asks himself how he can be a better partner, and then he does it.  I can't ask for more than that.

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 2.  Good Health

I know everyone says this, but last year was crappy crappy. 3 surgeries, limited mobility, a horrifying glimpse into what bad health, and it's ramifications on everyone, really is.

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3.  My Job

I have a job that pays a livable wage, a boss that stays out of my hair, and work that I enjoy.  I haven't always been so lucky and I know that things won't always be this way.  I am going to be grateful for it while I have it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope your mashed potatoes are delicious and the memories that you make with your family are precious.

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Happiness is the little things 11.9.12

1.  Video Games

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Seriously love RPG's.  I played Dragon Age I at least 6 times ( 30 hour game) I've played Dragon Age II, 4 times ( 40 hour game) Fable II so many times I can't tell you ( much shorter game) and Fable III 3 or 4 times.  I am kind of an addictive personality and an escapist.  Ok, I am totally an addictive personality and an escapist.  It's more interactive than reading or TV.  People who don't read or play video games only get to live one life. I have lived hundreds.  When you do all of the really sad nerd math up there you will realize why we don't have cable. 

2.  Indoor Cycling

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Yet another opportunity to reveal to you my oddities.  I love working out.  We had our hardest class yet on Monday and I was walking out talking about how much fun I had.  Other people were crying.  It's all about pacing yourself people!

3.  Carmel Apple Spice from StarBucks

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Just like drinking apple pie.  Don't let the picture fool you.  You have to order this VENTI or it does not taste as amazing as it can be.  I hate coffee with a fiery passion.  Yet somehow I am a gold card holder at Starbucks.  Figure that one out.  I started the whole card system for the free soy.  But they recently took that perk away.  Let's not forget I have to avoid soy now as well.  Maybe these will keep me at Gold Card status.

4.  Democracy

 

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I discovered during this election that I truly love democracy.  I was listening to people talk about how they would throw away their spouses absentee ballot if the knew they had voted for the other party.  Between conversations like that and some of the other craziness going on, it made me realize what a great country we live in.  We can choose our leaders.  As flawed and damaged as our system is, at the end of the day We The People have a voice.  And of you are even tempted to throw away someone else's vote you do not believe in democracy or America.  Being part of the democratic process is an honor, and a thrill.  That also means accepting the vote of the majority, even if you do not agree.

5.  Jonathan Apples

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I love tart and sour.  I know the world loves the Honey Crisp but not I.  Give me a half green, half red, tart, fleshy Jonathan Apple.  Which reminds me, I need to go buy another batch at the Farmer before they are out.

What's been getting you through the day?