No Blanks

Hey friends, I don't have blanks lined up for today. Lauren is a new mama and I can understand why some of her regularly scheduled posts have gone to the wayside lately. I say, "good for her!" The blanks will be here when she has posted prompts. In the mean time, you get to read my babble. Ready?

We gave the kitten a proper burial yesterday evening. It was sad and there was not a single dry eye between the two of us. He was buried facing the east at the foot of the biggest tree in our yard.

Spring Break is officially over. It will be the last one for me unless I teach or go back to grad school. Both are way up in the air. I did get some much needed time in at the beach. Now I remember why I have stayed in Florida, especially so close to the coast. I will be going to my sandy spot much more often, even if it's only for an hour or two. No matter how noisy it is there, I can clear my head. The sun came out an hour after I took this photo.

Like I said, I will be spending more time here.

This weekend is the Honda Grand Prix so it will be a little busy around here. Chris is covering the race and I will be driving him back and forth so he doesn't have to worry about parking. Guess who won't be donning a photo bib this year? This girl. Last year was exciting and I learned a lot, but photographing races really isn't for me. I like people a little better. I'm itching to spread my wings. Call me.

Anyhoo, I would love for everyone to have a great week. Stay beautiful, friends.

Fill in the Blanks

1.  My favorite room in my home is     our "back room"    because     it's my craft room and Chris's work space. I craft, blog and do homework in here while he edits photos and makes business contacts. It's a creative space for both of us.

2.   My current decor style is      a mash-up. We don't have a solid theme in any room  but I wish it were more     modern, beachy/rustic. I would love for our house to look like the little beach cottage I used to clean. Of course we would still have our vinyl toys sprinkled throughout. 

3.  I wish I could redecorate the     bed  room in my house to make it more      cozy and less cluttered. It's a very small room, but we only sleep in it. I want to repaint and de-clutter our (my) nightstands. 

4. My dream house absolutely has to have a      a ginormous bathtub with a seperate shower stall.  A beach view wouldn't be bad either. 

5. One house item I am willing to splurge on is    bedding. I love mounds of pillows, fluffy mattress pads, and cozy sheets. Gimme all the thread count! I don't sleep well, so I may as well feel like a princess and be a comfortable insomniac! 

6. A decor trend that I just don't "get" is    the super sleek lines and ultra modern look where the furniture is super hard, or lacking cushion. I call that trend "doctor's office chic."  

7.   Warm scented (pine, cinnamon, pumpkin kind of warm) candles and big throw pillows (not the wimpy ones)    is/are a little touch that makes my house feel like home

Blanks from The Little Things We Do

Fill in the Blanks Monday

1.  The highlight of my week was   (because it is only Monday, the highlight last week was) proposing to Chris!!!!

2.   If I had to classify my interior design aesthetic it would be   a mix of geek, antique, modern and well, just a mix. We don't really have a plan at the moment and it's killin me.

3.  My first vehicle was   a white 1989 Plymouth Acclaim. The "Dirty Snowball." It was missing the headliner, so I stapled some pink and grey fabric to the roof. Cost? (tax, tag, title) $450. I bought it myself.

4. An item I need to have in my day in order to function is  a drink. I don't mean alcohol. I mean tea, coffee, water, something! I'm one of those "always thirsty" people.

5. My favorite way to waste time is  by checking twitter and instagram. I also like to just nap.

6. Right now I could really go for   a caprese sandwich from Mazzaro's and a Pennsylvania Dutch Birch Beer.

7.  This weekend I will be  catching up on homework so I can relax during Spring break.

Prompts by Lauren

Fill in the Blanks Monday

Happy Tuesday-eve! Lauren took a break from the blanks last week, so I thought I'd come up with some of my own. These were the questions I came up with for the ladies I tagged in the 11 things meme.


1. What was your first car?   A white 1989 Plymouth Acclaim.  
2. How do your like you coffee?   Black.  
3. Who is your favorite cartoon (Disney, Universal, etc) character?   I really love Hello Kitty, but my favorite Princess is Ariel. I also really love Alice.  
4. Do you have a favorite musical? What is it?   Funny Girl.  
5. What is your go to scent for everyday?   Heaven by Gap. It's very crisp and feminine.  
6. If you had the power to end one reality show right now, who would get the ax?   All the dating shows. Gone. Go find your mate like the rest of us!
7. What are you most proud of yourself for? Right now I'm feeling extra proud that I've made it this far in college. Most proud? Making it 8 years in the Army!
8. How do you blow off steam after a long and/or frustrating day?   A glass (or 3) of wine and something to read tames this wild beast.  
9. What is one thing (or a few) that you try to keep off of your blog?   Religion and politics.  
10. You know that one drink that made you so sick that you don't even want to see it ever again? What is it?   For awhile it was Rumplemintz. A long while. I snuck a shot from the freezer the other day though. I gagged but went back for another. I love and hate the stuff!
11. What is the one food that you can sit down and eat anytime of the day, the one meal/dish you are always in the mood for?   Gimme all the cottage pie!


Link up! I want to see everyone's answers!

Fill in the Blanks Monday (Love)

I love goats!

1.  The love of my life is   Chris.

2.   Falling in love is   is something I used to do too easily. As I got older I realized I was never in love, I was simply infatuated. I'm learning that real love takes time to grow and actually has to be nurtured. People don't fall in love, rather they grow to love someone.

3.  Marriage is   not something I've tried. I guess we'll come back to this later.

4. The longest relationship I've ever had was  3 long and unhealthy years. Chris and I have been together for a little more than 2 years now and those 2 years have meant more to me than anytime I've ever spent with a guy.

5. The key to a good relationship is  communication and compromise.

6. I feel loved when   when someone remembers the little bits. Especially because of my ticks, it's nice when someone remembers that I like something just so or I have a fit (read OCD).

7.  My favorite quote about love is  "If you want to be loved, be lovable."

Ovid

Blanks by Lauren

Fill in the Blanks Monday

1.  I started my blog because   I needed an outlet. Writing, photos, stories...I have stuff to share.

2.   One thing I love seeing on other blogs   real life happening. Well, real life that happened and the stories about it that the author wanted to share. I know everyone doesn't run around taking pictures of their outfits and shopping sprees everyday. I like to read the off days. I like to read about adventures.

3.  Something I love about blogging   is that just when I think no one is listening/reading, a voice from the back of my head says, "It doesn't matter, you aren't here for that." Then I go back to writing for me. I love that blogging gives me a place to share the things in my life and in my head, whether anyone reads about them or not.

4. A favorite blog post of mine is probably  my most popular one. I'm not being vain. My most popular post is the tutorial on how to change your oil. Yeah, sure it's a little girly (pink car and goofy grins) but it also shows my stronger "I can do anything you can do better" side. I worked hard and earned that "strength."

5. Something my friends in real life know about me that I've never before mentioned on my blog is   that while I am super introverted, it only takes a few seconds to get me out of my shell. After that, you. are. screwed. I talk a lot and sometimes I don't realize that I'm the one doing most of the talking. I remember in the 7th grade my Uncle Barry timed me to see how long I could be quiet. I didn't even last a whole 5 minutes. I even talk in my sleep. #ChattyCathy

6.  My new favorite blogs to read are  Educated... not so domesticated, ApriliaLove, The Wild + Wily Ways of a Brunette Bombshell, The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower, and The City Birds Nest.  

7.  Some things I tend to avoid doing on my blog are   writing about politics and religion. Trust me, I've got some opinions and I could write all day about them. However, we all have very different views and there are people out there that want to argue (go to war) because their views are different. If I wanted that I'd take my blog and go back to Iraq or become a politician. I ain't even got the time.

Blanks by The Little Things We Do

Fill in the Blanks Monday

1.   If money wasn't an issue, the first thing I'd cross of my life list is   an extra long vacation to Europe. I want to see England, Spain, Germany, Ireland, Italy, France, you get the idea.   

2.   Walking in mud   is something I like that other people think is weird. (Well, others might actually think it's gross, but I love the squishy/gritty texture of mud.)

3.  If my life were a movie right now, the title would be  Caffeinated Confessions of a Rabid Bookworm. I'm not sure that that's a good title but at this point in my life I think it works. I don't know what I consume more of, words or caffeine.    

4.  Three things I am looking forward to this month are   Valentine's Day    ,    making my notebook for 30 Days of Lists   and   Leap Day. 

5.  My favorite song to sing in the shower is  pretty much every song from Funny Girl (in my best Babs voice, of course).  

6.  If I found out that the production of     Tazo Passion tea    was ending this month, I'd go out and buy as much as I could tomorrow.

7.  One thing I'll never grow tired of is    reading books. I love them so much and I'm pretty big into escapism.  

Prompts by Lauren

Fill in the Blanks Monday

1.   My favorite place i've ever traveled to is  Key West. I loved the atmosphere and I can't wait to go back.

2.  The UK (and Ireland)  is somewhere I'd love to go someday.

3.  I pass the time on a plane (or bus, or car ride or train) by   reading (on planes) and crocheting in the car. I actually get car sick these days!

4.  My three must-haves when I travel are a hoodie,  muchies and a new book.

5.  My favorite travel companion is Chris.

6.  The craziest thing that ever happened to me while traveling is yet to come (unfortunately/fortunately). My travels so far have been pretty smooth.

7.  The most exotic food I've ever tried while traveling is not very exotic. When I was in Iraq I ate in the Iraqi chow line a lot. They had better vegetarian options. It was a lot of this salad stuff, smushy/spicy stuff mmmmm.

8.  If I could live anywhere else, I'd live in Europe. I would want to move around the countries of course. I just want to soak it all in.

9.  I have been to 21 states in the U.S.

Prompts from The Little Things We Do

Fill in the Blanks Monday

Well, just when you thought the blanks were back they have been put on hold. The blanks come from The Little Things We Do blog and Lauren is skipping a week because she just gave birth to her little girl! I thought about going back a few weeks in her blanks to post one I hadn't answered but I thought it would make me look un-creative/not creative/can't think for myself (what evs). I can in fact come up with a pretty darned good post for this day on my own and here I go!

As some may know Chris and I are pretty big nerds and one of the biggest ways we show it is in our home "decor." Our house has vinyl toys everywhere. Heck, we probably have a few blind boxes that got missed during the rushed and ecstatic opening of toys on our many trips to get our toy fix. Sometimes when I'm super excited about a dunny (etc) that I opened and forget about the other 3 in the bag! For example: Chris and I went to the UO in Ybor a year ago and while picking out our blind boxes I stated that I wanted the Kathie Olivas chaser. Guess what I opened that day. Yep. That's happened a few times. ("May the odds be ever in your favor!") For the next 10 minutes I was stunned by my luck that I didn't open any of my other goodies! So I decided to do a few toy themed blanks of my own.

Fill in the blanks for the toy nerds:

1. What was your first vinyl toy? I bought my first toy at Vinyl Fever in Tampa. I bought a yellow and a grey Unicornasaurus.
2. Which toy is your favorite? Do you own it? My favorite is easily my collection of Big Sals. I really miss having a Super7 here in St. Pete.
3. What do you collect the most of? We actually have a lot of different kinds, but if you went through and counted, we probably have more Disney Vinylmation than anything.
4. Who is you favorite artist(s)? I love love love Amanda Visell and Joe Ledbetter.
5. If you're like me, your wishlist is pricey. Forget about the money for a minute: What is your "holy grail" of toys? What toy do absolutely adore and do not own? 1. I would leap at the chance to own any of Amanda Visell's concrete sculptures. 2. Frank Kozik's 'stache Labbit stool.
6. Are there any artists you would like to see make or collaborate on a toy? Yes! I would love to see what Danny Brito would come up with.

I know there are more toy lovers out there and I want to know about your collections! Write a post with your answers and link up!

Fill in the Blanks Monday

The blanks are back! This was one of my favorite weekly posts so I'm back on the wagon!


1.   The last thing I ate was  frozen waffles with syrup.

2.   The last song I listened to was "Flux and Flow" by Lights. I'm going to her show in March here in St. Pete. I screamed when I found out she would be in town. <3

3.  Using the letters in my name I can spell (Jenny)...Jen, Jenn....ugh... not much.

4.  If I had to dress in one color for the rest of my life I would pick blue. I love pink but I'm not 6 anymore so it would get old. Blue of any shade is easier to wear everyday especially because most denim is blue. I need denim because I am "jeans and tshirt" girl, Most of my  shirts are blue. 

5.  If you were to look in my bag right now you'd find my planner, 3 different lip glosses, a cliff bar, wallet, receipts, perfume and keys. My bag is clean and small this week.

6.  When I finish filling in the blanks I'm going to to finish the laundry.

7.  My all time favorite song to dance to is "Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats. You have to dance to this song.

Prompts by Lauren

Fill in the Blanks Monday

1.   My go to outfit for a dress-up occasion like a wedding is a pretty neutral/pastel colored dress.

2.  This week has been...well since it is only Monday, easy. Last week wasn't too bad either. I finished the summer term.

3.  When it's dinnertime and I'm feeling lazy I'll usually eat Jimmy Johns, Chipotle or Pei Wei. Not gonna lie.

4.  My favorite pair of shoes is my hot pink and black Saucony running shoes. They're going on 8 years old and I will cry the day I have to throw them away.

5.  A random item that I own that is completely unnecessary, but that I could never part with is a ring that my mother gave me. It is unnecessary because we don't have a relationship, and like our relationship, the ring is broken in half. I just can't bring myself to throw away jewelry, especially gold and diamonds of any size! 

6.  My favorite person is my sister. She is good for a laugh, a cry, advice and always answers the phone.

7.  If I were going to write my own blank it would say what is your favorite photo of yourself? (Everyone would answer with that photo.)

Prompts by Laura

Fill in the Blanks Monday

1.   My favorite color is Pink!

2.  My travel destination of choice is somewhere new. I'd love to explore England, mostly for the literary world's hot spots.

3.  My favorite  food is chocolatecheesesushi

4.  My happy place is anywhere it is warm, cozy and I have access to tea or a glass of wine. I guess the answer is home.

5.  My favorite saying is "Here kitty, kitty, kitty!" I love my cats. I say the same thing when I call for my ferrets, I did it even before I had the cats.

6.  My dirty little secret is that "I don't have a dirty little secret." Isn't the point of a secret not to tell? Why broadcast something like that over the internet? 

7.  Something friends might say about me is that I am such a recluse! I need not be afraid to hang out more.

Prompts by Laura

Fill in the Blanks Monday

1. One of my happiest moments ever was AIT graduation day (2003). I had finally finished all the initial training the army had to throw at me. I made it!


2. Summer is wedding season and weddings are not quite my cup of tea. I'm the girl that ducks into the bathroom to sob when the bouquet is tossed. I tear up at movie weddings and the fact that I feel like I'm going to be a cat/ferret lady for the rest of my life doesn't help either


3. This summer has been stinkin' hot! 


4. My summer food of choice has been yogurt. It should've been Taco Bus though. (I see dinner in my crystal ball right now)


5. My summer uniform has been Shorts, tanks, tees, my Blowfish shoes and Keds.


6. If I could spend the entire summer in one location I would choose St. Pete, Florida. I live in a vacation destination....why leave?


7. My summer anthem is everything Motion City Soundtrack.

Prompts by Lauren

Fill in the Blanks Monday

1.   I am a (morning, evening, middle of the day person) I'm more of an anytime kinda person, just as long as there is a good enough reason to be.

2.  My favorite Pandora stations are ....Well, I don't actually use Pandora. I prefer the shuffle feature on my old-ass iPod classic.

3.  3 of my "must-have" songs for a road trip playlist are "Supermassive Blackhole" by Muse, anything Christina Aguilera, Madonna or Britney (don't judge).

4.  My favorite pattern is probably everything. Polka dots, stripes, plaid, hounds tooth....it all depends on the colors I guess.

5.  My favorite perfume is Burberry Brit. Well, any of the Burberry scents. I also love Carolina Herrera 212 Sexy and Paris Hilton (all of them, hush).

6.  Rules are crazy! ...but we do need them to try to keep the weirdos in check.

7.  My most overused phrase or punctuation is just about any "naughty" word you can think of including my fav (I'll be nice because somehow others find this word offensive, it's just a word people...sticks and stones) c**t. Yep, I learned a lot of words in my 8 years in the military. I really like the term "charlie foxtrot." It's a more PC-army way to say cluster-fuck. I could go on, but who wants to read the word 'fuck' all day!? Haha

Have a great effing day and mind your mouth around wee ones!   
Prompts by Lauren

Fill in the Blanks Monday

1. My plans this summer include finishing out my summer classes and then in August trying to relax as much as I can before Fall classes (mayhem) begin. A lot of the beach I hope!


2. The best summer I ever had was the summer I was in basic training....NOT! Last summer was pretty awesome. We went to Disney World a lot.


3. Summer is warm wind, bare feet, lemonade, the flea market, picnics, drive-in movies (I miss Silver Springs in Pa), the beach, sun-kissed cheeks and the smell of coconut.


4. My favorite summer food is watermelon. Or any kind of fruit in season....strawberries...


5. The best way to quench a summer thirst is with any flavor margarita. Mmmmmmm


6. My summer uniform consists of comfy shorts and cute tees, breezy skirts and tank tops. Lots of flip flop and ked-style slip-ons.


7. The best thing about summer is that in Florida it comes a little sooner and lingers a little longer. It might not always be summer weather but from March-September we rock a summer vibe. Everything feels more relaxed and fun.

Fill in the Blanks Monday

1.  The best news I ever received was I found out my sister was pregnant. Yep! Best news ever! I can't really think of anything that tops my nephew <3

2. Something I'm looking forward to is getting to see my sister again. I need to call her. It just seems like it's one thing or another these days.

3. Something I would never do is abuse an animal. Except spiders. I would abuse those til the cows come home!

4. If I could choose someone to be my life coach (famous or not, living or dead), I'd choose my Nana. (She is soooo much smarter that Oprah, by the way). My Nana is very level-headed, she gets what she wants and she is such a strong woman. I really wish we lived closer.

5. If I had to put a label on my style it would be a "pretty good mix." I don't really care to be labeled, I wear what I like whether it is fashionable or not. Who gets to decide what's good and what's not? Certainly not the Do's and Don't page in the back of a fashion magazine. I prefer natural fabrics and I won't wear something if it doesn't fit.

6. One should always be proud of themselves.

7. I want to finish de-cluttering our backroom. I've started but I keep running into Chris "the resistor." Boys and their toys.

Prompts by Lauren

Fill in the Blanks Monday

1.   The last movie I saw was Resident Evil: After Life. I watched it Thursday night. I also VERY recently just saw Avatar. I'm VERY behind.

2.  I want to fit into all the jeans in my closet. Even the little ones!

3.  Surprises are are good for the most part. Don't "scare" surprise me though. I'm skiddish and I swing when I get scared!

4.  The best accessory is a smile. Yeah, I said it. I have Chronic Bitchface, but I do know that I look good in a smile. After that, a simple bracelet.

5.  My favorite warm drink is tea. Hands down. Mint, Chai, Early Grey... gimme gimme gimme.

6.  My favorite cold drink is (are) tea, beer, and wine. I like my white wine chilled, red slightly above room temperature.

7.  Currently loving my bracelets from Flourish, the new 311 song, oreos, and The Airborne Toxic Event.

Prompts by The Little Things We Do

Fill in the Blanks Monday

 

Since the weather is just about stifling here and warm everywhere else, this week's theme is vacations!

1.   This weekend I'm going to Epcot! We're doing the 6th (or 7th) annual Drinking Around the World and celebrating a few birthdays. 

2.  My last vacation was not really a vacation. We went to Disney and stayed in a hotel for the night instead of at Chris's brother's place. We go to Disney a lot anyway, but we were out of town for a few days and Chris took some time off work.

3.  My next vacation will be (hopefully) after graduation, if not before and I want to go back to Key West.

4.  My favorite way to relax is a glass of wine and a spankin' new book. Or a glass of wine and a foot massage. Or a glass of wine and a movie. Or a glass of wine and a spankin' new book at the beach. (See any patterns here?)

5.  When vacationing one should always take loads of pictures and an extra duffel bag for all the extra goodies one might find. 

6.  When vacationing one should never try so hard to stick to a schedule that all the fun is zapped out. Have a list of the things you want to see and do, prioritize "want to do the most" and "it's ok if we don't get to it" and just go from there! 

7.  The best part about a vacation is the first night away and the first night back home. The first night away you can truly let your hair down because "YEAH! You're on vacation!" and the first night home because you can sleep in your own bed and you know you have clean towels and coffee.

Prompts by The Little Things We Do