300th Post

For this my groundbreaking 300th blogger post I would like to share my newly posted Craigslist ad:

Custom Hand-Painted Portraits

Random Bit of the Day

I've been experiencing difficulties getting to sleep at a decent time these past few nights (for reasons completely obvious to me, but not worth sharing).  Last night, I was explaining my woes to my best guy pal Jason via Skype video chat when he said I should check out some video on YouTube.  So I opened a new Safari browser and the front page story on my Yahoo homepage at that particular moment was this:

5 Foods That Help You Sleep

What's really interesting is that I had just eaten a banana about 30 minutes before.  Synchronicity is awesome and creepy like that.  Unfortunately I couldn't really tell if the banana actually helped since we ended up talking until almost 1 am...

Brassiere

I was recently exposed to (no pun intended) a YouTube video tutorial of how to unhook a woman's bra (for a man, as I would assume a woman would know how to do this simple daily task).  It struck me as absolutely hilarious because unhooking my own bra is a-less-than-2-second endeavor.  However, from the reach-around position and an opposite point of view I can see how it might be troublesome.  Therefore, it would be considerably easier (for him and me) if he could unhook the blasted contraption in one fell swoop, same as I do.  Unfortunately that is easier said than done which I guess is what started the ridiculous YouTube tutorials including (but not limited to):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eorw05P_HSg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXvMp8LqmYE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvjKWtluiIA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JamX8-gwr_Y

World records: (cuz apparently this kinda shit is cool)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F84ZtfpSuYM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlUXgEXBTBk


And this Wikipedia description is hilarious in its own rite:
http://www.wikihow.com/Unhook-a-Bra

That is all...I think for the night seeing as it's almost 3am and I guess we have folks coming for coffee around 8-8:30...but since tomorrow's my weigh-in I'll be getting up slightly earlier than that...providing my alarms work as set...

I guess we'll see what happens...

...

Ok so I'm totally into Fatal Attractions...but also, I decided to listen to some music made by an old coworker/friend of mine and some of his friends.  This awesomeness is available at:

Jet Stone and Moving On (aka Tim Young=Awesome)

PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT: HE'S TOTALLY AWESOME (and I'm not makin' it up)

This couch potato is TVing it up tonight...

I can't believe it.  I totally forgot that tonight was Spartacus: Gods of the Arena night!  I had to work tonight and when I got home it was half over...at least we've got it on the dvr, I can watch it in 5 minutes if I want to.  Maybe I will cuz it's always just Aaron and me watching it when it first comes on (seeing as Terri's in bed by 8:30 even though it's Friday night and she doesn't work Saturdays).  And though we both LOVE the show, it is definitely a little awkward to watch some of the scenes with my brother.  :-P


And now that it's over and Aaron has retreated to bed for the night, I did a quick channel scan and decided to watch Fatal Attractions (for the first time) followed by Confessions: Animal Hoarding (a fav of mine).  I can't explain my fixation with shows like this but I can't seem to get enough of shows about other people's problems.  Other shows I've been watching as of late include (but not limited to):
Hoarders and Hoarding: Buried Alive
My Strange Addiction
What Not to Wear
My Life is a Zoo

Honestly, I can't wait until I have regular old full-time job where I'm not home during the day and I can't really watch all the crazy odd shows on Direct TV.  Also, when I get an apartment of my own, I have absolutely NO intention of paying for TV...just wifi, on which I can stream nearly everything I want.  Then maybe I won't be so attracted to these bizarro shows and I won't watch nearly as much TV as I do right now...

Did you know?

...that graphing calculator buttons are all individual buttons, not connected by anything but the plastic plate that holds them in place.  No?  Well I do now after dismembering two of them this evening.

I know, the extent of my life's excitement is staggering...

Random Bit of the Day

I just finished watching the movie The Hand that Rocks the Cradle.  This would be the first time I've seen it from beginning to end.  HOLY CRAP AWESOMENESS! :D  The part I find the most entertaining is that the little girl in the movie, Emma, is played by the actress Madeline Zima.  She's had cameo roles in tons of different network shows like Law and Order, JAG, Touched by an Angel, King of the Hill, Gilmore Girls, 7th Heaven, Ghost Whisperer and Grey's Anatomy (only a few of which I actually watch or watched, ie the linked shows).  But her bigger roles were on The Nanny (barf) and on Heroes (yay!).

It's Thursday again?

Shame on me again for neglecting my blog again...and now a recap of the past week:

Last Friday, Matt and Angela and I hung out despite it being a Z-day for me.  Angela really wanted to get me a haircut (for my birthday, which isn't till June) so she and Matt kept Zidane company while I was getting my hair chopped off by Angela's stylist at Studio 26.  Then we had delicious soup, salad, and breadsticks at Olive Garden.
I worked most of the weekend.  Sunday was Jason's birthday; Monday was Valentine's Day.  The only thing of note that I did that day was apply for a job at a place that pays really really well despite the boring work and the required drug test.  I'm hoping to hear back from them ASAP because I'm broke and I really need to get out of this house.
On the plus side, the weather's been almost like spring this past few days though we can't get too used to it since winter is definitely not over.
Unfortunately, I still haven't filed my taxes yet but I've started my loan consolidation processes so I feel slightly accomplished.  I also finally heard back from the people in charge of the knitting and crocheting classes at Michaels.  I am officially the primary instructor for crocheting and the backup for Deb's knitting.  I, of course, have to take a course myself to get certified but I was told that I could take the course online while teaching classes in store.  I'll get a gift card to pay for my supplies plus 50 bucks per 2-hour class.  Sweet deal.
And now, since I finally got Z to sleep for his AM nap I'm going to utilize my time wisely.  Workout followed by taxes if possible.

Random Bit of the Day

I took Z to lunch with Jon today; we had Chinese Express (naughty me).  Afterward we hung out at his house watching season 4 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  Sweet Dee is my favorite character, especially when she's drunk or performing in public.

Nothing but porcelein under her skin.

Wow, I've been slacking in posting for a bit.  Well, my schedule got all whacked out this weekend because Angela was sick.  So I worked Saturday night and more hours Sunday.  Afterward went to the Super Bowl party at Jon and Marcy's house.  Mom and Dad were there, and Chloe, poor sick little girl.  I read her a bedtime story though. :) <3

Unfortunately this evening was more of the same with the master and commander of this nest.  I'm just tired of getting so angry that nothing I ever do is right around here.  It's blatantly clear that my time here at this residence is limited far more than originally anticipated.  I've got to regroup and get out.  Enough said.

I pulled myself out of my earlier funk with the beginning of an episode of Glee but it's loading presently so here I type.  I watched the Rocky Horror Glee Show episode this afternoon which was totally awesome.  I loved that Barry Bostwick guest starred in it.  Today I also got that massage that mom gave me a gift certificate for.  I got a half hour long massage and it was blissful but now that the day has worn on and I foolishly took a nap after Glee this afternoon instead of working out or folding laundry, my back has started to ache in strange new places.  So I think if I can manage to squeeze some yoga tomorrow between chasing Ella and keeping Z from pounding her, I'll feel a little better.  For now I'm skipping laundry for now and curling up in bed with my freshly loaded Never Been Kissed Glee episode.  But first I'm going to find a healthy snack to accompany this pear I have.

Move it

I've spent the bulk of my online time today putting together this list of links to exercises I may want to integrate into my workout and some that I already consistently do*.  I may add more eventually cuz I'm feeling lean and mean after a couple hearty workouts today (while Z was napping and after Aaron came home and that ugly post earlier).  I hope I don't cave later and have more of a snack than this banana I just grabbed from the kitchen.  I've been working hard this week and with a few additions to my workout sequences I may have a really good weigh in/measure this Saturday.  I'd say right now that I do about 30% weight/strength training, 40% yoga, 20% cardio, and 10% free-form (dancing, tossing Z, etc).  I switch up my routine daily and try new things a lot.

Ab/Core Exercises:
*Core Strengthening Exercise
Ball Balance
Seated Torso Twist
Side Bridge with Hip Drops
Rotations on the Ball
Core Strengthen and Stretch
*Oblique Crunches

Leg Exercises:
*Squats
Squat Modifications
*Quadruped Hip Extensions
*Lunges
*Step Ups

*Arm Exercises

Back Exercises:
Strengthen and Stretch
*Dumbbell Pullover
*Dumbbell Rows
*Back Extension

Yoga Poses:
Yoga and Pilates for Abs
*Mountain Pose
*Raised Hands Pose
*Standing Forward Bend
*Standing Straddle Forward Bend
*Downward-facing Dog
*Extended Side Angle Pose
*Extended Triangle Pose
*Warrior 1 Pose
*Warrior 2 Pose
Pyramid Pose
*Awkward Chair Pose
Lizard Pose
Reverse Warrior Pose
Revolved Side Angle Pose
Revolved Triangle Pose
Knee to Ankle Pose
Cow Face Pose
*Hero Pose
Lotus Pose
*Pigeon Pose
Bow Pose
Camel Pose
Fish Pose
*Locust Pose
*Upward Facing Dog
Side Plank Pose

I switch up my routine daily and try new things a lot.  However, I'm thinking of focusing more attention towards yoga and increasing my flexibility.  I don't think I'm quite back at the same level I was 5 years ago when I did yoga every single day.  But I think soon enough I will be and I want to actually surpass my abilities from before and start doing more advanced poses.  All the ones above here are beginner or intermediate and are all poses I can do (or try at least one rep of).  I think that if I slowly work at it I could eventually become really good at advanced yoga.

As a little aside, I'm watching Aaron play Dead Space 2 right now and hot damn is that shit brutal!  But kind of awesome too...

Random Bit of the Day

I happened upon this site in my quest to find out the nutrition value of an orange last night.  Here's some other superfoods I've been eating in my journey to health:

Awesome nutritional information about Oranges

Awesome nutritional information about Cauliflower

Awesome nutritional information about Baby Carrots 

Awesome nutritional information about Asparagus

Awesome nutritional information about Bananas

Awesome nutritional information about Green Beans

Awesome nutritional information about Brown Rice

Awesome nutritional information about Coffee

Awesome nutritional information about American Cheese

Go Me.

Today marks my fifth official weigh-in and measure since starting my diet/lifestyle change New Year's Resolution.  So far I've lost only 3 pounds but almost 10 inches!  I feel stronger and leaner besides only the slight change in weight.  However, if I amp up my cardio workout in addition to the arm, leg and ab routines I already do I think I can start to shed those pounds a little quicker.  (like 1-2 lbs per week instead of 1/2-1 lb)
Anyways, I think I'm doing well...now I gotta go get ready for work.

Third Frog

Three I finished this evening...Z was as much of a doll a 9 1/2 month immobile boy could be but I got a lot done this afternoon and once Aaron got home I soared through this guy (hence the lesser number of pics).  Without further ado, the third frog:

Second Frog

Start to Finish, Number 2...finished today, this afternoonish:

First Frog

I may as well get a head start on uploading these pics of the new mural...

Several days ago I finished the first of at least 13 but possibly 16 frogs on Zidane's nursery walls.  I took progress shots of it as I painted to record the changes.  They are as such:

Random Bit of the Day

So I've been stewing on this all day long...

Did you know that Sir Alec Baldwin narrates a totally awesome narrative wildlife show on NatGeoWild  called Planet Carnivore???

I saw snippets of 3 episodes today in my fragmented Z-day littered with work on the mural and working out.  The illustrious three:  Sharks, Polar Bears, Lions.  I love Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock.  But who doesn't, really??

Historically speaking

I've been watching the History Channel's How the Earth Was Made series this morning...FASCINATING STUFF.  I've always had a taste for geological history in the same way the that I like astronomy and architectural history.

In visiting the website I found a link to This Day in History.  The lead story is that today is the anniversary of the founding of the National Geographic Society (1888).  And the Photo of the Day is gorgeous too...

Random Bit of the Day

I was just poking through my old sketchbooks and notebooks on my bookshelf (books, books, books...didn't think I said it enough times in that sentence).  I came across an idea notebook from high school and found this poem written inside:

Reflecting Beauty by Pamela Dugdale

Small Child, clear crystal

Bright and clear

Faceted as none before you

Catching the light from every lovely thing

and turning it to rainbow

Reflecting beauty back into the world

Making all things new

I know I liked it back when I jotted it down in my notebook but that's nothing compared to now.  Now, with a heavy anniversary looming ahead this weekend, I'm thinking about motherhood.  I've spent a huge amount of time with my nephew but he could never replace what I lost.  And I guess now that a year's gone by I can agree with Nature's assessment that 2010 was not the right time for me to become a mother.  With all I've experienced this past year I know that I can and will be a great mom...when the time is right.  Right now is the time to focus on kicking my career into the fast lane.  That's the really tricky part.  That and landing a Mr. Wonderful to father my babe(s).  But I digress...

I just read a little further along in the notebook and found that the notes carried over into early freshman year at SAIC (2004) including:

-detailed (yet cryptic) notes from a class trip to the Art Institute.

-a list of things for my family to bring out to me on their Thanksgiving trip to Chicago

-a Christmas list and shopping agenda

-the first 9 songs I emailed to my sister Jessica and her college roommate Tammy as the "Song of the Day"
-an AWFUL list of books to read, of which I've only read one. HAH!

Now if that's not a random post from beginning to end, I just don't know what is.

Time-sucking updates

I didn't realize downloading the latest version of iTunes would be such a damn travesty...  When I went to install the new update, the computer prompted me to update my Quicktime Player as well, and now my Safari browser.  Oh but the first version of Safari I downloaded is too new for the format of my computer.  So I have to download an older version now to be compatible with both my old computer and my new iTunes download...ANYTHING ELSE???  I just wanted to organize up my music a little and now I'm downloading all sorts of shit and getting grumpy about having to re-learn iTunes...I haven't updated in over a year because I'm a creature of habit.

However, this has quickly become an even bigger headache because I still only have a version 10.5.4 and I need at least a 10.6 to get any of the compatible downloads to work.  This means I'll have to transfer all of my files to the external and do some major maintenance.  Very boring, very time consuming.  I don't think I'm going to do it right now...Z's going to wake up soon so I should go squeeze in a little workout.