a little of this, a little of that

all the best blog posts are in list form. it's true.

• Again, it's been over a month since my last blog post, and again, I have no excuse except that the holidays happened, I've been crazy busy at work, and I just didn't feel like blogging. In fact, I contemplated shutting the whole thing down, but then I thought of all of the hours I've spent getting the formatting just right and I couldn't do it. So I'm trying out something new: actual writing about my life, verbal-diarrhea-style. Get ready.
• Because I would probably lose my Native Minnesotan card if I didn't talk about the weather, I need to mention two things: it has been unseasonably warm this winter, like 50 degrees in January. Until today. It is currently five degrees below zero. 
• And because he's smart like that, my cat picked last night to escape out the back door, which I didn't realize until this morning. I found him across the alley, scared and shivering, but thankfully he's okay.
• Cold weather = dog booties.  Who's my special boy?

• Ryan and I recently realized that we were in a very boring mac and cheese/Chinese food/veggie burger rut, so I've been trying to actually make some of the recipes from my Pinterest food board (what a concept!). So far I've made this and this and this, all of which were pretty freaking delicious.
• I'm not much of an Ani DiFranco fan, but I randomly started listening to her new album on Spotify today and I'm really loving it so far. Who knew?
• We can all agree that Angelina Jolie looked terrible at the Golden Globes, right? And that Nicole Kidman looked amazing? Good, I'm glad we're on the same page.

stay warm!

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on quitting social media

If you read this blog (obviously, because here you are), or follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, etc., you have probably (hopefully) noticed that I've been absent as of late. That wasn't unintentional.

I've been thinking a lot about social media lately, trying to figure out what it means to me and my life, and my reasons for participating. And I realized that I'm kind of over it.

I mean, let's think about it. I check in on Foursquare so I can earn points that do nothing, while in the meantime my husband or friends or whoever sit there and wait for me to get off my damn phone and pay attention to them. I tweet so I can get @ replies and more followers, which does nothing, while in the meantime I am losing time that could be devoted to my work or my life or, I don't know, sleeping. Now that my wedding is long over, and until I have a baby, no one on Facebook cares what I do (don't deny it), and the time I spend uploading pictures or crafting the perfect status update or stalking people from high school is wasted, because WHO CARES???

 

Also, I'm just tired of the constant self-promotion that often comes with social media. I'm tired of being all "hey read my blog!" or "hey follow me on twitter!" or "hey I said something funny!", and feeling like I'm constantly seeking approval.

Certainly, there are a lot of people to whom social media is very valuable, for very valid reasons. But for me, it has simply become a distraction from my real life. I have begun to feel like something isn't valid until I blog/tweet/Facebook/whatever about it, which isn't okay with me. I want to live my life, not just report on it.

So I've decided to go on a social media diet. I've pared down the tweeting, all but stopped the Foursquaring, and I'm working on the Facebooking (that one's harder than the rest). I will continue to use my Pinterest and Goodreads, because I love those sites. And I'll blog, although probably less often (if I had a dollar for every time I've said that here, I would have...several dollars).

And there you have it.

But I'm interested to know how others feel about social media. Is it valuable to you? Why or why not?

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you say it's your birthday

Today is my 28th birthday. Cupcakes for everyone!

Surprisingly, I'm really okay with turning 28, and with getting older in general. In my 27th year, I transitioned from law student to full-time employee and normal member of society, and with that, managed to kiss my years-long quarter-life crisis goodbye. I'm excited for what 28 (and beyond) has to offer.

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an open letter

Dear every guy that lifts weights at my gym,

Hi. Yes, I'm a girl. Yes, I lift weights. Yes, I do so while bouncing around to Robyn or Lissie or even Britney. Yes, the weights I lift weigh less than yours. Yes, I see that you're tough and strong and oh-so-dedicated to weight-lifting. Congratulations.

NOW WILL YOU PLEASE GET OUT OF MY WAY?!?!?!?

Seriously, you are all ridiculous. You do not need to sit on a machine for five minutes in between sets. You do not need to look at me condescendingly when I ask you to move so I can use a machine or a weight. You do not need to judge me for being in the weight room in the first place. You do not need to check me out. You can just keep to yourself and stay out of my way, and we'll all lift our weights and all will be well.

Okay? Okay.

Love,

Erin

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odds and ends

a few random things that have nothing to do with anything...

 

First: In the hopes of not letting another gorgeous Minnesota summer pass me by, I've made a summer 2011 bucket list. I'll be adding to it as I think of things, so I'm looking for ideas. What's on your summer to-do list? 

 

 

Second: I'm in the market for a few new beauty products, and again, I need your help. I want:

1. a new mascara that is relatively inexpensive, will give me the lash drama I so desperately crave, and that won't irritate my tired, sensitive, contact lens-wearing eyes.
2. a new lip gloss or lip balm that is moisturizing and pretty. bonus points for fewer chemicals.
3. a nail polish brand that is relatively inexpensive, that goes on easily and dries fast.
4. a primer that will help me keep shininess at bay but that won't clog my pores.

Third: After about a month of no sidewalks, our never-ending concrete project has finally ended! I don't have photos for you (yet), but I am so excited about our brand new front steps, sidewalks, and patio!!

Fourth: I biked the MS150 last weekend, and despite having two flat tires within a few miles of the end (blurg), it was a fantastic ride. I plan to blog more about that in the next few days, as well.

Happy Tuesday!

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reboot

During the early months of spring, I was so motivated. I was eating healthy, exercising several times a week, biking a lot, getting things done around the house and being productive at work. I looked and felt good.

I'm not sure why, but in recent weeks that has all but stopped. We've been busy with house and yard projects (jackhammering up all of our concrete and pouring new front steps and sidewalks...blurg). and I've been tired. and unmotivated. I don't go to the gym anymore. I've been eating worse. and I'm exhausted.

So today, I'm rebooting. Back to exercising, eating healthy, and being productive. Back to daily green monsters and back on my bike. No more tv, mac & cheese and beer. Okay, there will be some beer. I'm not a robot. But back to moderation.

yep.

source

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vice

Sometimes you come home from work after a long day in an equally long week, and you open the door to find that the cats have pushed three now-broken plates off the counter, and that the dog has done something disgusting which will not be detailed on this blog (you're welcome), and your house is a disaster due to never-ending home improvement projects, and you are informed that your inlaws are coming to stay this weekend, and then the hem falls out of your pants, and you have so much to do, but you're just so tired...

and then this happens.

I guess I should be glad that I don't have more damaging vices.

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