Tuesday Tunes. ::: Beneath the Brine by The Family Crest :::

Good morning, and happy Tuesday Tunes to you all!

How was your weekend? And what all did you do? When I first started writing this post I started with, "I didn't really do much this weekend", but I ended up erasing it. Because this weekend was busy. 

On Friday I did a lot of chores, cleaned the house, walked around Wash Park, and took down the wonderful birthday decorations that had adorned my walls for the last week. Saturday, I continued my chores by doing what felt like 19 loads of laundry. After major laundry-ing, I went to Vert Kitchen with my friends Sonya and Brendan (and their 5 week old baby boy) for a Birthday Lunch. Vert Kitchen has incredibly fresh ingredients with a European influence. To start, we shared a ridiculously delicious (and Gluten Free!) brownie before our lunches were ready. For lunch, I had the Curry Chicken sandwich and Mexican coke-a-cola (which is obviously the best kind). It was a great birthday lunch! Saturday night, I went to Hacienda Colorado and then to Dave and Buster's with my friends for Kimberly's birthday. We played games for hours and, if given the time, I'm sure I could have spent several more hours playing Skee-Ball and doing the "Red Cup Challenge" (which I basically just Beer Pong, without the beer). When I woke up Sunday morning, I was planning on taking hours to wake up and just being lazy. Instead, I went to the Pearl Street Farmer's Market with several friends who live in the neighborhood. We walked around, sampled and bought food, and then had the arepas of Quiero Arapas. Just thinking about it, is making my mouth water. Then, Sunday afternoon I met with some friends to help plan an upcoming wedding shower for our friend.

Whoof! What a weekend! I'm slightly exhausted. But, doing all of those fun activities (minus the laundry) was somehow energizing as well. I have a new outlook on a couple of things (thanks Juliana!) and I'm ready for the busy week ahead. To help you with the week ahead, I'm presenting "Beneath the Brine" by The Family Crest. I first heard this song on "All Songs Considered" on NPR. I downloaded this song as soon as I got home (I was on one of my marathon walks around the park to reach my 500 Mile Goal) and I've had it on replay for the last week. This song takes so many twists and turns, it should keep you on your toes for the week ahead. Enjoy!

Sunday Funnies. ::: So great, SO GREAT! :::

Good Sunday Morning, my friends! And happy Sunday Funnies to you!

While we were busy celebrating my birthday last weekend, my friend Sarah noticed that I said the words "So Good!" a lot. A whole lot in fact. So much, that she assumed that I had seen a certain SNL video and was quoting it. The truth is, I hadn't seen it. So, while waiting to get into Snooze for a Birthday Brunch, I got to watch this video. 

Obviously my favorite part is when Jimmy Fallon starts laughing so hard that he ducks down to laugh and then regains his composure for the last part of the scene. This skit is (said like Justin Timberlake as Jimmy Fallon) So Great, SO GREAT! 

Birthday Girl.

Because you know me, you also know I love my birthday. Really. I always have, and I always will. I have a child-like excitement for my birthday; the kind of excitement where I can't sleep the night before my the big day. Having a July birthday meant when I was in elementary school, I never got to bring birthday treats on my actual birthday. I did however bring brownies at the end of the year to celebrate my upcoming birthday. Since then, I've brought treats to work (or school) on my birthday to relive those elementary school days. Also, my mom used to make me a Birthday Poster every year. The poster had pictures of all the activities I was into (gymnastics, riding my bike, etc.) and it appeared bright and early the morning of my birthday and I always looked forward to seeing it. I know, it's juvenile, but my birthday is my own personal holiday symbolizing another year I've traveled around the Sun. And I love it!

26th Birthday Celebration- BBQ at Home
(Krystal made that awesome cake and the yummy cupcakes)

27th Birthday Celebration- Drinks Downtown

28th Birthday Celebration- Pedal Hopper

29th Birthday Celebration- 1920's Theme

This year, just a couple of days ago in fact, I turned 30. And before my birthday I wasn't sure I wanted a party. As you can see from the last couple of years, birthday parties are my modus operandi. At one point this year, I didn't even feel like planning a party. This is the first year I can ever remember feeling "blah" about my birthday. But, thankfully, with the help of one of my closest friends, Sarah, I snapped out of my Birthday Ennui (that's what I chose to call it). I have to say, it was her excitement for my birthday that changed my attitude. Sarah wanted to make the trip from California to Colorado just to be here to celebrate with me and she was completely in when I finally came up with a theme.  Her enthusiasm was the best peer pressure to get me out of my Birthday Ennui. Knowing one of my besties wanted to celebrate with me meant I needed (wanted) to show her a good time. And I think the "Dirrrty XXX" Birthday party did just that.

In the end, my Birthday Ennui dissolved and I was able to revel in my juvenile tendencies on my 30th Birthday. I absolutely could not sleep the night before my birthday, due to all of the excitement of turning another year older (which made working the next day a little on the difficult side). I brought in Voodoo Donuts to my coworkers at the hospital in celebration of my birthday. And my sweet friend, Sam, made me a Birthday Poster (like the ones my mom used to make) that I opened on my birthday.

30th Birthday Celebration- Dirrrty XXX
Me (as Xtina) and Sarah (as the Orbit gum lady... "Dirty mouth, clean it up!")

So, I just want to thank you Sarah! And all of my wonderful friends who helped with planning this event, dressed up in a "Dirrrty XXX" costume, and made my last trip around the Sun so spectacular. Without you, this birthday celebration would not have been as amazing as it was. In fact, it wouldn't have happened without you. 

And here's to another trip around the Sun! I'm so excited to see what my 31st Trip Around the Sun brings!

Xoxo!

Sunday Funnies. ::: SomeECards. :::

Happy Sunday Funnies to you, my friend!

How has your week, and weekend been? Was I the only one who felt incredibly overwhelmed by all the facebook posts this week regarding Teacher Appreciation Week, Nurses Week, and (today,) Mother's Day? Because I certainly didn't even know that this week was dedicated to all of those wonderful people. But in all of my being overwhelmed, I realized what a crazy coincidence it is that all of these celebrations fall within the same week.

As a nurse whose parents (and siblings) are teachers, I found this coincidence to be fitting. Both teachers and nurses have professions that are challenging and the people who choose these professions are nurturing and compassionate. But here's the rub: these descriptions also pertain to mothers. And, I think it's fair to say, many mothers tend to be a combination of a nurse and a teacher. Moms teach their children to be wonderful human beings and in the process they nurse their kids' injuries. Who would you want taking care of you when you are sick on the couch and can't leave the house? If you are like me, it's your mom. And who taught you to spell your name, do your laundry, and the important life lessons needed to make friends? Again, for me, it's my mom. 

So to celebrate Teachers, Nurses, and Moms, I've found SomeECards that I hope you'll enjoy.

Thanks again to all of you teachers, nurses, and moms out there. This world wouldn't exist without you. 

Tuesday Tunes. ::: Happy by Pharrell Williams :::

Good morning! And happy Tuesday Tunes! (I say, hoping that you'll forgive me for being an absentee blogger for the last 3 months.) 

If you know me (which you do because no one else reads my blog), you probably know that it's been a busy couple of months. I applied for, and got, a new job; celebrated St. Patrick's Day with friends, had an amazing Game Night, found my dress for a wedding I'm in this June, went to an 80's Prom, ate way too many 7am breakfasts at Snooze, and in general have just been living a scintillating life.

And to cap it all off, today's song, Pharrell's "Happy", popped into my life. What do you think about today's song? Some friends and I were discussing it during our "Tres de Derby" party (think: big hats, burgers, hot dogs, Derby watching, ice cream, basketball watching, and shuffle board playing) and I think the final point was this: "Take it for what it is." (Thanks Alan, for the insight.) 

Whether the song makes you smile, change the station, dance in the car, or unhappy (as a guy recently told me it made him), it evokes some reaction. For me, this song makes me dance in the car and smile. Unless, however, I've heard it more than two times in one day, and then it evokes the changing of the channel. But it never makes me unhappy (I think the guy who told me that was a little off his rocker). As a special side note, one of my coworkers recently messed up the lyrics to "Clap along if you feel like a room without a view" and we laughed for the remaining two hours of our night shift (I'm sure you too would forget the lyrics at 5am too). 

Anyway, here's the video, if you choose to watch it or not:

Additional side notes: 1) Like most videos, I hadn't seen this until I wrote this post. But apparently I like videos of people dancing (see "Brave" by Sara Bareilles). 2) I like Pharrell's multitude of outfits in this video. 3) I've heard (via NPR) that his latest album G I R L is pretty great, I guess I'll have to check it out, maybe you will too.

 Have a Happy Tuesday!

Sunday Funnies. ::: Financial Advisor. :::

Happy Sunday Funnies, everyone!

Today I present an actual Comic Strip from the one and only Zits Cartoon. I have loved Zits since it first appeared in the Sunday paper. Back then, I probably associated with Jeremy, the teenage boy in the cartoon. These days, and this day in particular, I side with his parents.

Why you ask? Well, because this week, I did exactly what Jeremy's mom, Connie, and his father, Walter ("Walt" to those of us who know them well), did. I met with a financial advisor*. A friend had actually suggested this meeting years ago and I was absolutely certain I didn't need it. More than that, I was terrified. What if this person looked at my finances and said "You are screwed." I've watched enough Suze Orman in my life to know that sometimes our goals are out of our reach. But I didn't want to face facts. Ignorance is bliss, right? So, I spent the last 4 years avoiding my finances. Spending how much I wanted, on what I wanted, when I wanted. The problem? So many "wants", too little money. Well, that's not completely true. But you get my point. I wasn't ready to take a good hard look at my financial future and make any short or long term plans.

This year though, it hit me: It's time to support me. (Later, I'll be sure to tell you all about my New Year's Phrase... this sentence is part of that.) And how can I support myself without some financial support? I can't. Basically, I'm finally ready to get my finances under control. And, like they say, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." I was finally ready to take control and support me. Because of that, I've been reading more about the "Spending Diet" and  the "Spending Fast" (thank you And Then We Saved for some much needed inspiration!), I've been reading the Suze Orman book that has been on my shelf for 6+ years, and I finally contacted my friend's financial advisor. This first meeting was a step in the right direction, but the journey hasn't ended. Frankly, it's only just begun. In our first meeting, my financial advisor gathered all of my financial paperwork and will be looking over it in the next couple of weeks. But we meet again in two weeks so she can help me set some attainable financial goals (buy a house/condo/duplex, retire before I'm 80, etc.). I'll keep you posted on my progress in the meantime. And if I learn any gems, I'll pass them along to you. But you have to promise to do the same.

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend (even if I did bring Sunday Funnies to a more serious side)!

* - "adviser" and "advisor" are considered interchangeable according to the internet and my most trusted grammatically correct friends.

Tuesday Tunes. ::: I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers :::

Good morning, and happy Tuesday Tunes to y'all!

How was your weekend? I worked this entire weekend, so mine was pretty much just filled with work and sleep & sleep and work.

In a previous post, I talked about listening to the signs around me. Realizing (read: hoping, wishing, believing) the Universe has some cosmic way of saying, "Hey! I have a plan for you, now go out and do what I say!" Well, I've been feeling like the Universe is back at it recently. This may not seem odd to you, but I've heard today's Tuesday Tunes every time I turn on the radio. Every time. Not only that, this song recently showed up while I was watching "How I Met Your Mother." Twice. What does it mean? That 97.3 KBCO is obsessed with The Proclaimers? That I listen to the radio too much (and by the way, who else is listening to the radio when you could listen to digital music or Pandora or Spotify?)? That the Universe is not only controlling the radio, it's also in control of "How I Met Your Mother"? I don't have the exact answer. 

But what I do know is this: I am listening (who remembers those old Deep Rock Water commercials?). I figure if the Universe has a plan for me, it must know me pretty well. And it must also know that I am a very literal person. So, with that said, I've decided in 2014 I will walk 500 miles. And perhaps next year, I will walk 500 more. Just to be that (wo)man who walks a thousand miles to fall down at your door. 

Thus, I present you with I'm Gonna Be (500 miles) by The Proclaimers.

Please note three things: 1) I have never seen this music video before so don't judge based on that 2) it must be a legit video- it has the MTV logo in the lower left corner (which makes me nostalgic for the days when MTV showed music videos. Odd concept, right?) and 3) I apologize for falling down at your door in advance.