Dear 16 Year Old Self...

List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.

1. That crazy boy you hang out with? Keep it up.
2. Have a Plan B, and C, for life. Things always change, be ready for it.
3. Stop procrastinating - there is no other time in your life that you could feasibly spend 6 months studying in another country. FOR GOD'S SAKE, APPLY!! (one of my only regrets in life)
4. Don't get that Dharma and Greg haircut. No really - that's not a good choice.
5. Think before you act - do you really want to leave your sweet vet office gig for a grocery store?
6. Mountain Dew does not a meal make. It is, however, quite delicious and I can see where you'd make that mistake.
7. You're beautiful.
8. Those people hanging around with you? They're beautiful too - tell them. They need to hear it, and know that you mean it.
9. Tell the truth. Lying is too much work.
10. Seriously, don't do the Dharma.

Question 4 of "30 Things My Child Should Know About Me"

Turning 33

I'm 33 today, guys!!

Steampunk cake. Because they can; wouldn't you?

As much as I love lists, I can't think of ANY topic where I could come up with 33 things, except perhaps 33 countries I'd like to visit before I die. But that would be an incomplete list, because we all know that I want to visit ALL THE COUNTRIES before I die. So.

Turning 30, being in my thirties, none of these have held any major significance for me. Most of my friends don't have issue with aging either, so when I do encounter someone who has the "I'M TURNING X AGE HOLY CRAP MY LIFE IS ALREADY OVER" freak out, I don't really know how to react.

I know it is socially unacceptable to do what Sheldon is doing below, so often I end up just awkwardly staring as they melt down, then channeling Dr. Cooper and even more awkwardly saying "there there" while I look around for an escape route.

I'm a terrible friend. Writing this makes me realize I just need to buy the sad friend a drink and call it good, and then we all win. Let's be winners and drink Arbor Mist, guys!!

By the way, Arbor Mist blackberry wine is FABULOUS. I'm a snob about a lot of things, including alcohol, but not on this one. $4 a bottle and it tastes like juice? Talk about everyone winning!

Now, where did I put my glass?

Lazy Saturday

After quite the blogging hiatus, I'm baaack! :-)

Today was a pretty lazy Saturday, from sleeping in and lazing bed for a while, to finally taking a shower and pretending to be a grown up around noon.

Kiddo and I set up and knocked down a number of domino creations, I went on a brisk walk (whew, it's chilllllyyyy out there!), Matt is making some kind of amazing (so he says) dinner, and then I'm off to hang with my friend The Crafty Geek. TCG is a good friend I met through the Timbers Army knitting group, and we have since learned that we used to attend church together and would occasionally run into each other at events. Life is so funny sometimes!

While I was out on my walk, I saw this sparse, beautiful shrub covered in these purple berries. Any ideas what plant this is?