21.

In the good ole U S of A, turning the big 2-1 is a milestone usually celebrated by going to a bar and drinking your face off. You get to bid farewell to that trusty fake ID. You get to say bye-bye to the big black Sharpie 'X's on your hands (and you can use Chapstick for just your lips!).  You can finally purchase alcohol on your own, and you get to experience your first legal alcoholic beverage!


Well as you may or may not know, my dear cousin Gaby celebrated her 21st birthday a few days ago (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GOOB!). In America, 21 year-olds like to try and consume 1 drink for each year they have been outside of the womb. Keeping in line with this American tradition, Gaby accepted the challenge. Since it was going to be unlikely the next day that she would remember what she drank the previous night, I created a log for Gaby's liquid consumption--more commonly known as a SHOT BOOK.

It's simple. You need 21 pages (or more if you want to fit photos too), pretty paper, stickers, markers, and whatever else your creative mind encourages you to gather. Make sure the book is small and portable. I also like to buy the mini keychain Sharpies, because those are also easy to carry and pass around. This is how it works: (1) Buy the 21 year-old a drink; (2) Write down the name of the drink; (3) Sign your name, and also ask others who shared the drink to sign.

She wasn't my first victim. A couple years ago, I made my first shot book for Tamie! She is a champion, for she filled out every page of that book (I allowed one page for water!). Although she may have felt horrible at the end of the night and into the next day, she can now proudly say that she completed an American challenge. She can also say that she's able to drink more than her little cousin. Gaby only made it to number 10. Don't worry, 11 more are coming your way!

Turkey Bells

Thanksgiving is in one week. Black Friday is in 8 days. Christmas is in 35 days.



It is not just me that panics over these statements. I know that others are panicing because I work in retail. How many years has it been since you have asked or witnessed someone else ask for a unwarrented discount on the items they are purchasing just to save a little money? (All those also related to my mother need not reply to that question- we already know the answer. Thank you, Mommy, for your influence. Few others know the true satisfaction of a $1 sweater you purchased from a secret discount store two towns over.) If you have spent very much time in a mall you may have noticed that until recently the answer to that question would have probably been: never or not for a long, long time. But, times are tough. Our wallets are strapped- whether you are old, young, big or small. Days feel longer than ever: we are all working harder for less and lucky to be working at all.



Take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. You are far from alone in feeling financial despair and a lack of play time, friends. With the holidays right around the corner not only are we all under the gun to get work completed but we have obligations tied to family, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, churches, work extracurriculars, reading clubs, gym pals, running buddies... Ok, I'm stressed out just thinking about it.



There is only one way to deal:

Last Year's Resolution: No more jello shots, ever.

Drink. Drink until you can't stand.

Just kidding. (kind of)*

In honesty, one of the best and only ways to deal with end of the year and holiday stress is to remember what it's all about. Christmas and Thanksgiving (the holidays I celebrate) are two holidays that are rooted in an appreciation for what we have been given- faith, love, family. Not the things you need to live, but the things you live for. I find that if you maintain your focus on what you need to collect in order to celebrate this cause, the process is less painful. Think: you are making macaroni and cheese for your family because you know it makes them feel warm, full and comforted. That is an opportunity so many do not have.

Let the person freaking out behind you in line go ahead- take the extra five minutes to remind yourself how lucky you are to have someone to cook for, clean up after, and love you back.

If that's not enough, go home and make one of these:

Autumn Delight

2 oz. whiskey

6 oz. apple cider

fresh cinnamon

Top ingredients over ice in cocktail shaker, shake, strain, serve in an old-fashioned glass. (If you are making this for your warn out girlfriend add a couple slices of apple and a cinnamon stick as garnish- girls love stuff that look pretty, too.) Source

*We does not recommend drinking to excess. If you're going to do it make sure you have a loving roommate there to quickly pick your a$$ up and feed you yummy food the next day.

Fat. Lip.

<--Those are mine. I'm not even pouting! I know my lips are normally big, but right now one is ABNORMALLY big. Bottom lip. Swollen. Mystery. Ow. It feels really heavy and almost numb. Maybe I ate something not so tasty this Tuesday =/ I feel like Hitch. 

CottonHeadedNinnyMuggins

Have you ever seen a cotton field? Until this weekend I hadn't. I wear a lot of cotton, I know what cotton balls look like and I've heard of cotton plants but the full connection between the plant and my shirt never occurred until this weekend. Rows and rows and rows of cotton plants occupied the field outside of my weekend getaway (please pardon my lack of posts.) Upon arriving I had to stare, "Is that what I think it is?" Cotton. I couldn't wait to jump out and get my hands on it!

The touch, the feel.

I made my way through the field and picked a few cotton buds from their shell. It felt like you would think: like a cotton ball. However, there were small impurities embedded among the fluffy, white mess. The crop was out of season so it looked a bit wilted and frosted but the fluff balls that once bloomed were still white and soft despite past encounters with the elements. I grabbed a few fluff balls, snapped a few shots and we headed down the road to Nashville, TN.

I must admit that I am a bit fidgity. Sitting in a vehicle for over two hours with a cotton ball in my hand could only lead to one thing- my picking, pulling and removing its impurities from the ball of cotton all the way. I made it my goal to make my first homemade cotton ball from what I harvested by hand. This is what I ended up with. It was soft, lush and dense as it appears. Although, I still wasn't sure it was safe for me to use as I would a store bought cotton ball.

Great Ball of Cotton!

A few moments surfing the world wide web (how's that for a throwback!?) led me to find that what I have been using as a "cotton ball" or "cotton swab" is really made of synthetic fibers. How could I have overlooked something so obvious?! The cotton balls that many of us use are made of polyester or polypropelene-ick! Cotton, Inc. attests that these fibers are reletively slippery and slick on the skin, are more abrasive to sensitive skin and don't hold the same emollient qualities that natural cotton does. (Source) Note taken! Boy do I feel like a cottonheadedninnymuggins!

I suppose next time I'm visiting down south I'll have to spend some time making more homemade cotton balls if I can get away from picking the neighbors' crop ;)

Kenya Hike It?

Hi friends and family! Dana here!

Thank you SO much for being a part of Kenya Hike It?! (If you're not yet a part of Kenya Hike It?, well it's time to get involved! Visit www.KenyaHikeIt.com and register NOW!) We've raised almost $1,500 in pledges to support the kids of Kenya. Saturday is right around the corner, so I wanted to send along a few reminders to those of you who are participating:

Location: 11618 Manor Road, Glen Arm, MD 21057

Time: Please be at our house at 1 p.m. for check-in, located on the driveway; please be ready to sign a liability waiver. The actual hike will begin at 2 p.m.

Parking: If you plan to attend the afterparty, please feel free to park in our driveway (it can fit many cars); if you have to leave a bit early, please park on Wineberry Court (street parking) and continue to walk north on Manor Road (probably a two-minute walk).

Donation: Please remember to bring your $20 (preferably cash) donation to the event. We will also have several auctions, so be sure to bring extra cash if you would like to participate.

Clothing: Remember to layer! Saturday should be in the high 60's/low 70's. Tennis or hiking shoes are also reccommended for the trail.

The Hike: The route is a 2.4 mile moderate hike through the Loch Raven trails. If you would prefer not to hike, all are welcome to hang out at the house for snacks and music.

Doggies: All four-legged LEASHED animals are permitted. =)

The Afterparty: Menu will include Louie’s hot dogs, chicken, salads, water, sodas and cake. BYOB!

I think I've covered everything. We cannot WAIT to see you there -- it's going to be an awesome day! Thank you all again for being part of something very special and important to us.

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	Join us for a 2.4 mile moderate hike through the Loch Raven trails to a beautiful cove on the reservoir. Post-hike party to include a cookout, music, raffle drawing and Chinese Auction. Hiking not your thing? All are encouraged to join the festivities! Proceeds will fund meals, medical care and education for the children of the Mount Olives Learning Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. $20 donation per person. Children under 12 free. All pre-registrants will receive a free kenya hike it? t-shirt. Hikers who complete the full course and anyone who donates $50 or more will be entered into a drawing to walk away with an iPod Nano, among other prizes! Leashed four-legged hikers are welcome too! Serving Louie’s hot dogs, chicken, salads, sodas, cake. BYOB. Questions? E-mail susan.gugliuzza@gmail.com, or call 410-661-7809. Register and make your pledge today! Please bring your cash donation to the event.

I am the STAIR MASTER

Here I am! Sorry for the lack of Beans. After a full week of busyness, I have finally found some alone time with my computer. Let's rewind 24 hours and pretend today is Wednesday, because I want to tell you about a new workout I've incorporated into my weekly routine.

Early last week, a coworker of mine presented me with a task: "I need to lose weight for my wedding and I want your help!" A few problems I saw with this were: (1) we don't belong to the same gym, (2) we only see each other at work, and (3) we have different fitness levels. Because I was determined to not only help out a friend, but to also integrate more exercise into my day, I wanted to come up with a solution!

The answer: At the beginning of our lunch break on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, we are going to run/walk the STAIRS in "the tower". The tower is the highest section of our building that has 7 floors. This workout plan overcomes all the problems I found because: (1) we are doing this at work, (2) we are doing this at work, and (3) I can run (ehhh..jog)/she can walk and I can go up & down 4 times/she can go up & down 3 times. We will both still be getting a GREAT cardio/leg/butt exercise! My main rules for her were, "Don't STOP. Keep going. If you get tired, just walk slower" and "KEEP BREATHING" (<- very important).

Since our first stairwell expedition, we have had two more people join us and a few more who are interested in starting next week :) yay! May I also add that after the first session, I could not walk like a normal person for 3 days, so stretching is also très important- especially the quads, calves & gluteus maximus. I suppose you're wondering how sweaty we get and whether we have showers at the office. To that, I say: pretty sweaty (but we change our clothes) and not real showers (but Mexican showers--deodorant and perfume).

It is also fun to go DOWN stairs in a sleeping bag!

If you have any free time at work, I encourage you to keep moving--take a walk, do push-ups. If you sit in a chair behind a desk all day, stand up and do your work from time to time so all that flubber doesn't get so comfortable settling in your booty. I love to eat, so to balance that out, I cannot stress health and fitness enough. OBESITY is reaching EPIDEMIC proportions, people! Together we can fight obesity, one STEP at a time!

Is this the beach body you want?

...I didn't think so.

Simple Pleasures

This week hit me like a tornado. What was supposed to be relaxing, day-to-day week, without a lot on the schedule turned into a fury of events, classes, work, more work, cleaning, cooking, drinking, laughing, working. Somewhere along the lines I found myself trying to look behind at the week. Like many of you, I am astonished at how I find the time to do anything nor do I know how I do what does get done. It's a lifestyle, I suppose. It is a blessing that we manage to fit a few moments into every day that we can enjoy a simple pleasure: something that doesn't cost much, requires little energy, and reminds us what is important. Simple pleasures are the moments that slow us down while we move at the speed of light.

Here are some of my favorite simple pleasures:

1. Beauty Berries

2. $1 Natty Boh's accompanied by good company, even if the band playing at the local watering hole is awful

3. Stolen unauthorized hugs from your roommate/best friend

4. Clean kitchens

5. Matt Costa and looking forward to his show tonight in D.C.

Goodbye Plastic, Hello Green.

Still riding the tail end of a short-winded Halloween season, I have been reflecting on the things that scare me. While many fears present immediate threats (spiders, public speaking, popping the lid on that forgotten lunch container) others are are like looming, anxiety-causing, grim reapers standing over us and following our every move. Closest to me, this fear is never achieving a financial security, understanding, or freedom. The development of this fear was slow at first: In college I always wrote it off by telling myself that once I got a "real" job I'd be able to straighten things out. Now that I have a "real" job, I have really real bills. Something that I didn't anticipate happening for at least a couple more months. Now that the bills are here my fear has escalated: I don't know how to ration my income, what to pay off first, or what to do with my feelings of neglect for renting not owning. I just want it to all stop and simplify itself. (How someone could spend five years pursuing a business degree and still have such a lack of personal finance skills is beyond me.)

In effort to simplify, understand and plan I am attempting the dreaded cash budget (bom, bom, booooom!) I have closed the credit cards, frozen the credit card, and reserved my checking account for monthly expenses only. With the exception of a small amount of spending money I have budgeted for, all purchases must be planned. I share this for one reason: I hate it. I don't want to do this. I want to go shopping, eat out, travel, buy! buy! buy!. I never want to pay the price for the impulses I've had in the past ("Patron for everyone!"<---regret.) Surely some of you also related when Isla Fisher couldn't resist that perfect green scarf in Confessions of a Shopaholic. It was going to get her the job! (And then, an interest increase.)

Happy? Looks like it...

It is my plan to achieve success by spending more time doing and thinking about the things in life that make me truly happy. I recently read that if money is going to be spent it should be on experiences rather than objects. Doing so fufills a higher need or purpose than, say, a shirt. (Easier said than done, my friends.) This ideology is one thing that did "click" while I was in school- most likely because of a pyramind that was drilled into my head from the first day of school through the last:

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

I encourage all of you that aren't yet familiar with Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to research the philosophy. It is applicable in everyone's lives someway or another and is a great method to understand how you could ever spend $20 on a pin cushion. If you don't feel like researching here's the jist: once you're focused on buying for needs at the top of the pyrimid you have achieved "having what you want, wanting what you have. " Unfortunately, the difficulty in achieving self actualization is that it only becomes a second nature as we make small decisions that affect progress up the lower levels. In my life that is the ultimate goal. We'll see how it fits into $80 a week... wish me luck!

Ouchies!!!

Have you ever been on a cash budget? How did you make it work?

Matside Manners?

Have you ever gone to a yoga class and the smell of sour feet is all up in your grill?! About a year ago, there was a weekly hot yoga class that I went to, and the toe cheese stench originated from the same tootsies every time. I named the guy who owned these stinkers, Pete--"Smelly Feet Pete". And I'll never forget the man whose butt sounded like a frog every time he did a 'downward dog'. This was the guy I liked to call Carter--"Carter the Farter". 

So yogis & yoginis, BEWARE of the "Pete"s and the "Carter"s! There will most likely be that person in your yoga class who forgot to wear socks with their sneakers that day. And there will always, ALWAYS be that one person, who in the middle of class, cannot contain their gas. 

Also, here is a sneak peek of next week's rollerblading episode. I call it: THE CAMEL TOW. I also just decided that these are only going to be posted every other week. Tough cookies.

Do's and Donuts

It seems almost everyday there is a new trend in the "things to avoid" category of life. My personal skepticism of the industrial process of food and household commodities makes it nearly impossible for me to turn my head to any of these heeded warnings. Although, I find some to be completely over the top. (My favorite crazy "don't" is drinking milk. In my opinion, unless you have a lactose intolerance you should drink milk. It's good for you.) Although, to be fair, some don't's are completely valid:

Ya'll Ready fo' This?! (Nice Plums )

1. Don't eat/buy certain vegetables unless they are organic. (Here is a great list of foods that you can buy non-organic, though!)
2. Don't litter
3. Don't drink soda

4. Don't buy (fresh) food from Wal-Mart. In fact, try not to buy anything from Wal-Mart.

5. Don't use cheap health and beauty products. (I really stand by this one, gals. If you haven't explored what goes into the makeup you're wearing, you should. Find out what's in your makeup HERE.)

While these don'ts can be rules to live by I still think the phrase, "Everything in moderation," prevails. Sometimes you need to go to Wal-Mart for socks! Sometimes you need a soda with your burger! Sometimes it doesn't make sense to get organic russet potatoes from the market across town when there is a grocery 1/2 of a mile away. Moderation is the key to most of life's choice, simple or complex. When we discuss the detrimental effects of sugar and fat on our diets we should also remind ourselves that a little treat is OK every now and again. Understanding food and how it can be used as a way to fill our lives with nourishment and keep our bodies and souls healthy is so important. I believe my ideas about food are similar to Jamie Oliver's:

"My philosophy to food and healthy eating has always been about enjoying everything in a balanced, and sane way. Food is one of life's greatest joys yet we've reached this really sad point where we're turning food into the enemy, and something to be afraid of. I believe that when you use good ingredients to make pasta dishes, salads, stews, burgers, grilled vegetables, fruit salads, and even outrageous cakes, they all have a place in our diets. We just need to rediscover our common sense: if you want to curl up and eat macaroni and cheese every once in a while – that's alright! Just have a sensible portion next to a fresh salad, and don't eat a big old helping of chocolate cake afterwards.Knowing how to cook means you'll be able to turn all sorts of fresh ingredients into meals when they're in season, at their best, and cheapest! Cooking this way will always be cheaper than buying processed food, not to mention better for you. And because you'll be cooking a variety of lovely things, you'll naturally start to find a sensible balance. Some days you'll feel like making something light, and fresh, other days you'll want something warming and hearty. If you've got to snack between meals, try to go for something healthy rather than loading up on chocolate or potato crisps. Basically, as long as we all recognize that treats should be treats, not a daily occurrence, we'll be in a good place. So when I talk about having a 'healthy' approach to food, and eating better I'm talking about achieving that sense of balance: lots of the good stuff, loads of variety, and the odd indulgence every now and then. " Source

While for many this sounds like common sense, some might find it to be a wake up call. Others might be surprised how much changing their outlook on food could benefit their life. Start tracking your food intake and find out how accurate it is to what your body actually needs. (USE THIS).

To get you started here is a recipe that I made tonight. It's fresh, it's fast, it's healthy and, um, super yummy :)

1 package of pizza dough crust
1/3 cup BBQ sauce (I didn't have any BBQ so I made my sauce with A1, ketchup and a little bit of Sriracha- it worked!)

black beans, roasted corn, tomato and scallions to taste (I used Trader Joe's Black Bean and Roasted Corn Salsa which worked perfectly)
Shredded lite mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Roll pizza dough out to preferred thickness (be sure to flour your surface first), bake for approximately 5 minutes then turn over, coat with BBQ sauce, vegetable mixture and cheese. Bake for another 5-10 minutes, let cool, gobble up.

Adapted from: Smoky Corn & Black Bean Pizza

Happy Birthday to Ewe!

Tonight's post features TWO of my recent creations! The first was a gift for my friend, and the second was a gift to myself (a.k.a. my Halloween costume).


(1) For Ellen's birthday last week, I painted her something she requested about 8 months ago: "All I want for my birthday is a paisley lamb." So here it is...the paisley lamb!

(2) As you may have already seen in Toni's Sunday post, I was a narwhal for Halloween. All you need are some snorkeling flippers for a tail, an empty gift-wrapping paper tube for a horn--along with white duct tape and a headband, couch cushion covers for fins, a gray ensemble, someone to help you walk backwards all night, and someone to help you adjust your arm fins when they fall off because you don't have fingers. Next year I'm going as a unicorn.

This is what I was aiming for...

Oh yea, one more thing... HAPPY BiRTHDAY, CHAU!!!

It was IN-TENTS.

Oops, this post is a whole week late. Sorry! Whatever, you're still reading it aren't you? :)


Well, last weekend I went camping in WV with 17 friends. T'was tons o' fun. We camped, ate, hiked, climbed, ate, drank, danced, explored caverns, and ate. It got pretty chilly at night--not to be confused with CHILI, which we didn't get any of because it was all gone by the time we arrived at the Chili Cook-off. 


Staying on the topic of "lessons learned" (refer to Bologna's Halloween post), here are some lessons I learned from the trip and tips for your next camping trip:

1) Don't leave your car keys at the top of the mountain.

2) Don't bring your pet coyote with you.

      

3) DO travel with a doggie, so he can protect you against bears, bugs, mothman, etc.

(...or so that other climbers' dogs can stay entertained while their owners are too busy to watch/control their pet)

4) DO keep your helmets on at all times while inside the caverns (ahem, Erin...)

5) Do NOT feed the West Virginian wildlife.

This little kid actually came up to me and my friends, with an empty styrofoam cup in his hand, and asked for beer "for his daddy"...hmmm...

6) Invest in a nice, quality sleeping bag. While many of my fellow campers complained of their cold sleepless nights, I was warm, comfy and cozy inside my goose down mummy bag from L.L. Bean. I love it.

7) Get a headlamp. Although you may be confused for a miner or a giant lightning bug, you will find that headlamps are useful for so much more than just camping trips.

8) For cold feet, do NOT layer socks. Layered socks tend to be tighter on your tootsies, limiting circulation, and causing your feet to actually be COLDER! So get one good pair of wool socks and keep your piggies warm. I wore my SmartWool snowboarding socks.

9) Good snacks/drinks to bring for hiking/climbing: jerky, Smartfood popcorn, nuts, Clif bars, apples, Gatorade, lots of water.

10) Choose a tent partner who doesn't snore.