The Neurotic Versatile Blogger

As promised, my other award from the talented (and recently promoted!) Cole.

For the Versatile Blogger award I need to tell you all 7 things about myself.

1. I always flush the toilet with my foot in public restrooms. Yes, I realize the stall door and the sink handles have just as many germs, but I can't help myself.

2. I have this obsession with headbands. I want to wear them so badly. My favorite barista at Starbucks wears one nearly every day and looks darling. I want to look darling too! Sadly for me, I've got a big fat head, so all I end up with is a big fat headache to match.

3. I currently owe $2.25 in library late fees. If I can't renew a book I'm reading, I'll just keep it until I'm finished. Bad, library patron, bad!

4. I hate it when people mispronounce the words indicative [in-dik-uh-tiv] and preferably [pref-er-uh-buh-leel . If you can't pronounce it correctly, you shouldn't be using it in a sentence.

5. After that last one, I might as well admit this one too: I love dictionary.com! More people should use it.

6. I like to keep my email organized. I have at least two dozen folders in my Yahoo account and file everything accordingly. I realize this makes me a dork. But I'm a dork who can find any email from the last 7 years.

7. When Nate's out of town, I always sleep with the bedroom door locked. I don't know why this makes me feel safer. All it really does is slow the bad guys down long enough to wake me up so that I'm fully conscious when they come to get me, but whatever. If it helps me sleep at night, that's all that really matters.

Your turn! Give me one random fact about yourself in the comments.

A scoop of chaos with a side of nuts

Cole from over at All the Small Stuff must have known I've been lacking in the blogging inspiration department lately, so she dropped some inspiration right in my lap in the form of two awards! One for today and one for later this week (you know, because I'm lazy like that).

I love the idea of 'A Daily Scoop of Chaos' - that's exactly how I feel like my life is right now! It was a roller coaster of a crazy emotional week over here. Nothing earth shattering, just a whole lot of random insanity that we were not quite prepared for. Add in the regular HOA drama and a really crummy project at work and we had a whole freaking ice cream SUNDAE worth of chaos.

What is your signature color?
Hmmm...this one is a toughie. If I'm getting dressed, I will always reach for black as my signature 'look'. If I'm decorating, it's anything in the autumnal color family. If we're talking about the color I gravitate towards like a magpie to shiny objects? That would orange, of course!

What is your most embarrassing moment?
Oh, so many to choose from, how will I ever narrow it down to one? Embarrassing stuff happens to me all the time, ya'll. Not even kidding.

My mom reminded me of this one the other day: I was 15 years old, we were living on the tropical island of Guam, and I had a babysitting job for a new family I'd not met before. As I knock on their front door for the very first time, a giant gecko (you know, like the Geico commercial?) falls from the roof of their house, straight onto my head. I, of course, start shrieking like any girl worth her soprano lungs and batting crazily at my head in an attempt to free the lizard from my hair. And just in time to see my manic fit, the mom opens the door, with the dad standing right behind her.

Hi, guys, I'm here to care for your children. So lovely to meet you.

Would you ever get anything pierced other than your ears. If so, what?
Considering I barely survived the panic attack when I got the second hole in my ears at age 12, I highly doubt it.

Are you a social butterfly or a homebody?
I am naturally very shy in large groups. Most people are shocked to hear this because I tend to speak my mind most of the time. But that's only to people I know. Although I must say, unemployment was good for one thing - it forced me to learn how to network despite my natural proclivity toward being a wallflower.

I love nothing more than staying home in my jammies with my hubby and my puppies, a great glass of wine and a good read.

Are you done having babies or do you want more?
I used to want five babies, but given our current difficulties, I've down-scaled that to three. Nate is holding steady at two. We'll see.

Are you loyal to your hairstylist or do you try every salon in town?
I've written about my allegiance to hairstylists before. I'm sad to say I've still not found someone I'm crazy about here in Indy. Luckily, I'm doing the growing out thing right now so it's more about maintaining health than maintaining a style. When I eventually grow tired of it and chop it again, chances are I'll be headed to K-town to do it. Sad, but true.

How many times have you moved in your life?
Oh my word. I don't know if I could count them all. Let's try:
Florida to Georgia at age 2
Georgia to Virginia at age 7
Virginia to South Carolina at age 10
South Carolina to Guam at age 14
Guam back to South Carolina at age 16
Sumter, SC to Due West for college x 4 years of college (which, if you think about it, is really EIGHT moves - 4 in and 4 out!)
Sumter, SC to Knoxville when we got married at age 22
Knoxville to Boston for six months at age 26
Boston to Indianapolis apartment
Indianapolis apartment to our first house at age 27

If you could plan your vacation with just you and your love where would it be?

We have so many places we'd like to go. Too bad that pesky job thing keeps getting in the way! We'd love to go back to Europe and see the places we missed the first time - Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Spain and Italy. We want to hit Australia for at least two weeks. I'm dying to go to Turks and Caicos someday.

Your turn! If you could vacation anywhere in the world, with anyone you chose, where would you go and with whom?

Confessions on Nosiness

One of my favorite websites is PostSecret.com. I look forward to reading all the new secrets every Sunday afternoon. Maybe it's just my female tendency towards nosiness, but I love reading other people's secrets - relating to some, being flummoxed by others, and praying for the really sad ones. I've also gotten some really awesome ideas for paying it forward, like the one above, which is probably my favorite secret ever.

So imagine my delight to find out that the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting an exhibit of Frank Warren's PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death and God! The exhibit opens tonight and runs through September 18. The opening reception is tonight and I've somehow convinced Nate and some friends to join me.

I can't wait to read dozens of new secrets tonight! It's like Christmas morning for nosy people!

Food + Friends + Flickr = Fantastic Fun

If you follow me on Twitter then you already know that I got to meet the lovely Ally from Cute on the Cheap when I was in Louisville a few weeks ago. She and her sweet husband, Al, took my friend Jamie and I to Ramsi's Cafe on the World, home of what is possibly the best brunch buffet on the planet. If you're ever in Louisville, you must go. It's insane.

Anyway, I finally got our pictures from the weekend. This one's for you, Ally!


And just because she's wonderful and fantastic and let me drag her all around Louisville for a weekend and took all the pictures because I was too lazy to bring my camera, this is my girl Jamie. Sup, playa?


You can see more pictures of our Louisville weekend (and Carrie Underwood!) on Flickr.

Don't Blame Me...The Bookstore Made Me Do It

It's no secret that I love to read. It's one of my favorite ways to unwind and pass a lazy afternoon. I found a kindred spirit in my bloggy friend Cole from All the Small Stuff. I thought I read a lot, but that girl could out read me in a New York minute!

Our friends and family are always asking us for book recommendations - 'What good books have you read lately?'

Now you'll never have to ask again. Why?

Introducing....

That's right! You asked and we answered - with a brand new book review blog called 'The Bookstore Made Me Do It'! We'll review the good, the bad and the ones we couldn't even finish.

To kick off our new blog, we're having a giveaway. You know, 'cuz we're just nice like that!

Each of us will be giving away a book by our favorite author. I'm giving away the latest book by one of my all time favorite authors, Jodi Picoult. Want to know my thoughts on it? Guess you'll just have to check back here in a few days!


Here's how to enter:
1. Follow us on the new blog! (1 entry)

2. Let us know what you think of our new setup by commenting on each of our first book reviews. (Up to 2 entries) We're looking for constructive feedback here. Did you like what we covered? Did we miss something you would have liked to know? Do you want us to keep it shorter and sweeter? Or give you more detail?

3. Share your favorite book or author with us. (1 entry) What book could you read over and over again? What author are we totally missing out on?

Contest runs from today through Friday, March 12 at Midnight (EST). Winners will be announced next week on The Bookstore Made Me Do It.

And don't forget to check out Cole's book giveaway at All The Small Stuff, too. It's double the giveaway fun!

All the small stuff

Right before we went on vacation, I found out that I actually one a blog giveaway. I never win those things. So I was super stoked to win the giveaway at All the Small Stuff - especially since I won a Coach wristlet! Hello? Who doesn't love a new Coach bag?

Imagine my surprise when I got home and saw this entire box of goodies sitting on my doorstep? She even sent something for my furbabies! How sweet is she?

There is some seriously good stuff in here - Burt's Bees, OPI and my first ever Lilly - but I think this one is my favorite.


What can I say? It's all the small stuff that makes me happy!

Sweet Surprise!

After a rather drama-filled week, I am ready for a laid-back weekend. Currently we have zero plans, other than clean the house and grocery shop. The last few weekends have been so hectic, I am really looking forward to playing it low-key the next two days.

And what better way to start my weekend than with a surprise in my mailbox? The fabulously generous KT sent me two books to jump start my summer reading. Which is perfect, considering I am so sore I can barely move my legs today. Now I have a plausible excuse for not leaving my couch the entire weekend!

We have a winner!!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a giveaway winner!

Timestamp: 2009-06-01 10:54:53 UTC

1. Kimberly
2. C
3. Mel
4. Jennifer
5. Pat

It's the ever fashionable Kimberly of Fab Finds Under $50! Kimberly is a follower, left me a question, blogged and Tweeted about my giveaway - the girl really wanted to win! Kimberly can mix patterns like nobodies business and can often be seen on her blog rocking a scarf. I'm happy to be able to add one to her collection; I can't wait to see what she does with it!

Kimberly's question was whether or not I've been thrifting since she introduced me to it last summer. She is a thrifting queen and I was *ahem* a first-timer. Well, girl, I have been exactly once since then, during my unemployment a few weeks ago. While I admire all the ladies who can thrift and shop at places like TJ Maxx, I am sadly not one of them. Try as I might, I just don't have the patience for it. You have to wade through a lot of bad to find the gems and apparently I have the attention span of a gnat when it comes to thrifting.

The recently un-anonymous Mel at Just Fine, Just Dandy asked about my favorite hobbies. If shopping counts as a hobby, that would be #1. I also love to scrapbook, read mysteries, plan parties and wrap gifts. I love to give presents and wrapping them is my favorite part. I spend hours wrapping my Christmas presents, happy as a clam in mud.

Fellow Indianian Jennifer of Pour L'amour De wants to know my favorite vacation destination. That's a hard one! We spend most of our vacations in South or North Carolina visiting our families (like this weekend!). But if that weren't an issue, I love any kind of beach resort where I can be totally lazy and the drinks are pre-paid. We did the Mayan Riviera for our honeymoon and Jamaica last year for our five year anniversary.

My mom wants to know if we want to move back down South someday. Want has nothing to do with it. If it was that easy, we'd already be there!

My dad wants to know how I got so cool. All he needs to do is look in the mirror.

Emily from Caleb Mama Drama went to college with me in SC. She asked what story or joke always makes me laugh. The short answer is Sonic commercials. Yeah, yeah, I know they are stupid, but they never fail to make me laugh like a lunatic. As for a story that always makes me laugh, this one is rather appropriate since the instigator happens to be coming to visit me today. This happened one summer when I was home from college. My mom had this emergency intruder alarm thingie that was basically a little black box with a pin stuck in it. If some one tried to attack you, you could pull the pin out of the box, setting off an ear-splitting alarm to draw attention. One day, I go out to get in my car, open the car door, and am greeted by that eardrum shattering squeal....inside my car. Someone had tied the little box to one door and the pin to another, so that when you opened the door, the pin pulled out of the box and set off the alarm. The only way to turn it off was to get into the car with the alarm blaring and put the pin back in the box! Emily was all of eight years old when she came up with this diabolical plan. Ten years later, I am still waiting to get my payback.

I have two questions left, but I am saving those for another day. Ally from Cute on the Cheap wants a day in the life of my furbabies. A very good idea but one that will take some time to pull together! Jules over at Chic & Pink wants to hear more about how Nate proposed. I love to tell this story but it deserves it's very own post. Stay tuned!

Just when you need it most

Sorry for my silence this week, I've just been feeling a little less than my normal sunny self. Lazy. Unmotivated. Blah.

Which is why I signed up for this today. Crazy? Yes. Necessary? Very.

I need something to get my rear in gear. I know once I get motivated and start seeing results, I will be able to continue on my own. Someone just has to give me a good swift kick in the pants.

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I also got some delightful awards this week - always guaranteed to make you feel all warm and gooey inside.
Mmmmm......warm and gooey....wonder if there's any cookie dough left in the fridge....

(See why boot camp is so very necessary?)

Sorry, where was I? Oh, yes - awards.


First, from the lovely Leah and the sassy KT, the Love Ya award. Leah is one of my oldest friends and we found each other again last year through the lovely world of Facebook. She is expecting her first baby in just a few weeks and has the cutest baby bump ever! KT is a girl after my own heart - she reads two or three books a week and is always game to share the book-love. If you don't already know these ladies, you are missing out!

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.


I also received the Queen of All Things Awe-Sum award from the vivacious Valentine. V blogs with her sister about all kinds of randomness, including their love of all things vampire, the necessity of being grammatically correct and the origin of the phrase 'that took balls'. I mean, who doesn't want to know where that phrase came from?

My Queen Duties are as follows:
1. List 7 things that make me awe-summm.
2. Pass the award onto 7 bloggers that I think are awe-summm.

Seven things that make me awe-summm (this part is harder than you think!):

• I've got mad organizational skills. All of my jewelry is kept in little clear plastic bags, sorted by color, and stored in craft cases according to type. (OCD, much?)
• I'm a pretty cool big sister (in my own *ahem* humble opinion).
• The tips of my fingernails grow out white, like I always have a perfect french manicure. I don't have any idea why or how this happens, it just does.
• I have a very unique birthmark on my neck. I hated it when I was a kid. Nate has a smaller one in the exact same place on his neck. Kind of seems meant to be, huh?
• I can wiggle my ears.
• I tend to speak my mind. I will always give you my honest opinion if you ask for it. (But I'm not much for giving unsolicited advice - that's just rude.)
• I spell check every post. Nine times out of ten there isn't a single error. I'm oddly proud of this fact. (Sad but true, folks. Sad but true.)

Since I don't have the time nor the inclination to list 15 blogs between the two awards, I'm just going to list a handful of new ones I've discovered recently.

Little April Rose - B is very pregnant with a beautiful baby girl, April Rose. April has some complications and may not live outside the womb. B is already an amazing mama and April is lucky to have her.

I'm Living Proof - Helene has not one but two sets of twins. Her adventures in multiple baby juggling are hilarious.

OMG! We're Pregnant - I can't remember how I happened upon this unexpectedly expectant duo, but these two are too freaking funny. And they're European, so they say cute stuff like mates, wags and arse. Love it!

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Last but not least, I have not forgotten about the giveaway. I just haven't had a moment to enter you all into Random.org and answer your burning questions. This weekend, I promise!

xoxo

Did you think the blogiversary celebration would stop with just a giveaway? No way, Jose! We have way more fun around here than that.

Big announcement...drum roll, please....

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Nope, sorry, still not knocked up. Keep scrolling.
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Unwrap Life now has a sister blog! So I guess it's kind of like having a baby, but not as cute and way less expensive. I would like to introduce my brand new blog, xoxo, Closet Girl. Now that I am back to the office after two years of working from home, I am super psyched to be getting dressed every day. It's like playing dress up in my very own closet! I have been so inspired by the fashion blogs that I read, that I wanted to join the fun.

Don't worry, this blog's not going anywhere! You just get more of me! Hopefully that's a good thing...

Happy Blogiversary

Guess who's turning 1 today?

It's hard to believe it's been one year since I started this little blog to keep our families updated on our house building adventures. I had no idea what I was doing and certainly didn't anticipate how much fun I would have doing it.

What I really didn't expect was how many new friends I would meet along the way. I don't know how you found me or why you keep coming back, but I appreciate each and every one of you. Nate calls you guys my 'imaginary friends' because I talk about you like I know you personally. Which I kind of do - just in a different way. That's what makes blogging so amazing. You come here from (at last count) 32 states. All different ages. Mommies, newlyweds, college students, bosses, long lost friends and fellow Starbucks addicts. Chances are we would never have made it to 'friends' in real life because we are so different. But here in blog world, where you share your heart, or your fashion, or your coupon-clipping prowess, we have become friends. And I learn something different from each and every one of you. So thank you for sharing with me and letting me return the favor.

And to the 60 or so of you who visit every day and never ever leave a comment, I know you are out there. I can see you. I have Analytics and I'm not afraid to use them. Give a girl some comment-love and let me get to know you, too.

Okay. Enough with the schmaltzy, sappy crap. On to the presents!

Even though it's our birthday here, and technically we should be getting the presents (which btw, feel free to send), I thought I'd take this opportunity to do a little giving - as in the very first Unwrap Life Giveaway!

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Here are the rules:

1. The contest is open until Sunday, May 24 at midnight (Eastern).

2. One entry for leaving me a comment below this post. If you want to make this super fun, ask me a question and I'll answer all your questions in a future post. Here's your chance to get answers to those burning questions like how I acquired the world's largest collection of yoga pants, how I successfully avoid vacuuming for weeks at a time and how exactly I got so dang cool?

3. One entry for becoming a follower (lurkers, I am talking to you) or letting me know you already are one.

4. One entry for tweeting about the Giveaway with a link back here. Make sure to come back and let me know you tweeted!

5. One entry for blogging about how fabulous I am the Giveaway on your own blog. Make sure you come back and leave me the link.

6. The winner will be chosen randomly and announced here early next week.

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So there you go, four easy ways to enter. Want to know what you're playing for? (Said in my very best Jeff Probst a la Survivor voice).

A gift basket of my very favorite things, hand picked by me! All the things I love to talk about here, in one delightful box delivered directly to your door. A good summer read by one of my favorite authors, a pair of earrings from my favorite downtown store, a super cute summer scarf, my favorite lip gloss that lasts all day, and a little treat from the crack den itself happiest place on earth, Starbucks.

Worth playing for? I think so! Get to commenting!

Flashback

I was tagged with the Prom Queen tag by Andrea of My Chihuahua Bites. Here are the rules:

1. Upload your prom picture. If you don't have one, email your mom and have her send it to you.
   
2. Don’t forget to include the year it was taken. Again, don't be shy. The older the better.
3. Grab the "Prom Queen" button and add to your post. Isn't the button adorable? Thank you Danielle, The Design Girl. You must check out her fabulous sale!
4. Copy and paste the rules to your blog.
5. Tag 5 others!

It should be noted that I was hardly the prom queen back in the day. In fact, I didn't even take a date to the senior prom. Just went with a bunch of my girlfriends. Which explains why there are zero pictures of me from my prom. I dug and dug and dug but couldn't come up with a single one.

So, you'll get my choir ball picture instead. This was the same year and same month as prom, so it's close enough.


That's me, circa 1999. Pretty much identical to me today. Apparently, I'm not much of a risk-taker. Anyway, I loved that dress. The roses are all embroidered and the leaves are this shiny green/gold thread. I wish I had a picture of the gathers on the back because that was totally the best part of the dress.

It's hard to believe that was 10 years ago!

Now it's these lovely ladies' turn to share the embarrassment prom love:

The ladies at Cute on the Cheap - were you both cute and cheap back in the day?
Kimberly at Fab Finds Under $50 - were you a bargain hunter in your high school days?
Cole at All the Small Stuff - a faithful commenter who shares my love for cookie dough and hibachi.
Sass at Are You Sassified - one of my favorite new funny bloggers. I'm sure she could tear this post up!
Leah at Make It Fabulous - Leah and I were friends when we were just budding fashionistas. We lost touch during the high school years, but I'm sure she made her prom-look fabulous.

Sparkle on

Many thanks to Nessa from Sparkles of Serendipity for passing on the Kreativ Blogger award to me. Nessa always finds the funniest, cutest stuff like this Mr. Rogers tee which inspired my own little Mr. Rogers moment the other day.

The Rules:

As an award recipient, I must do the following:

List seven things that I love and then pass the award on to seven bloggers that I love!

Easy peasy, cause I love a lot of stuff! So let's skip the obvious (God, family, Starbucks, shopping) and get to the stuff you might not already know.

1. Prague
Nate and I went there for a few days during our junior year of college. I thought it was going to be the crappiest place out of the 20 European cities we visited but it actually turned out to be my favorite. I would love to go back some day.

{image via guide-prague}

2. Organizing

I can spend hours organizing desks, closets, clothes, the pantry, whatever. I love for things to be neat and tidy and organized. I spent a recent Sunday reorganizing my closet, including hanging my scarves by one of my favorite organizing methods - ROY G BIV. Sad, but true.

3. Wine
Specifically Schmitt Sohne. I tried it once on the recommendation of a waitress and it has become my favorite of all time.

{image via locowine.com}

4. South Carolina

{image via printfection}

There's nothing quite like going home to the South - seeing that palmetto tree on every flat surface, waving hello to perfect strangers, monograms and polka dots on every girl, black eyed peas and corn bread for dinner. Don't you just love the way the word 'y'all' rolls around in your mouth? Sigh. I love South Carolina.

5. Scrapbooking
I've been doing it for years, way before it was popular. I love memories and reminiscing. I also like my pictures to be organized (see #2).

6. My Garmin, Gigi
The best $300 I ever spent. I am severely directionally challenge. As in, my parents have lived in my hometown since I was 16 (and also from 10-14) and I still get lost on a regular basis. It's pathetic really. But Gigi makes me brave. I can go anywhere and do anything as long as she's with me.

{image via gpslodge.com}

7. My grandparents


I am blessed to have one set still in my life. As a kid, they spoiled me rotten. As an adult, they have become my friends. They're just really cool people. Love you guys!

Let's see, I will tag:

• Jennifer - She's a new blog friend and I want to get to know her better.
• Cole - Well, I was going to tag her but someone else beat me to it. Check her out anyway!
• Mrs. Realife - Eats her pets, sort of. If you want to know the whole story, you'll just have to visit her.
• Mrs. Jetplane - She always has the cutest puggie pictures. And we all know I'm a sucker for a cute puppy face.
• Andrea - She and I would totally be friends in real life. She loves shopping, doggies, Starbucks and South Carolina - now who does that sound like?
• Miss Musing - This chic always sees the glass as half full. I thought I was a positive person but this girl puts me to shame.
• Puttin' on the GRITS - Another Southern gal. 'We don't become Southern; we're born that way.' Love it!
  

Worth the wait

{image via JodiPicoult.com}

Remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned wanting to get my hands on this book? Well the sassy and very sweet KT sent me a note not too long after offering me her copy when she was done! She read it in about two days so I knew it must be good and I could hardly wait for it to come.

I started it on Friday and, despite a jam-packed weekend, managed to finish it on Sunday. I couldn't put it down. As always, the subject matter was thought-provoking and the twists were unexpected. The last five pages of a Jodi Picoult book are always the best and this one did not disappoint.

This copy is already spoken for (keeping the book-gifting chain alive, KT!) but I would highly recommend heading down to the local library to check it out. You won't regret it.

(Ad)Venture on over....

Some day when you need a good chuckle, go check out Demon Baby and Me. This is one of my all time favorite blogs and it never fails to make me smile. Erica has the patience of a saint, Demon Baby has the face of an angel and their adventures are nothing short of hilarious.