tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13763709379524237822024-03-13T10:53:35.986-04:00(re)discoveredAubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-75515495082598119102012-05-02T21:55:00.000-04:002012-05-02T21:57:47.678-04:00Oh, how Pinteresting! Wednesdays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thevintageapple.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="https://sites.google.com/site/michellevintageapple/files/pinterestingwed.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.littlemissmomma.com/2010/12/anthropologie-lace-flower-necklace-as.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">littlemissmomma.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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DIY flower necklace</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.flamingotoes.com/2011/05/dutch-wax-collage-bracelet-knockoff/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">flamingotoes.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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DIY chunky vintage bracelet
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Source: <a href="http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2012/04/make-origami-bows-from-magazine-pages.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HowAboutOrange+%28How+About+Orange%29&utm_content=Google+Reader" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">howaboutorange.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Origami bows</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.theyummylife.com/blog/2012/04/300/Make-Ahead%2C+Healthy+Egg+McMuffin+Copycats+--+a+grab-and-go+breakfast+with+reduced+calories+%26+fat" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">theyummylife.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Make-ahead, healthy egg mcmuffin copycats</div>Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-43327510385714932222012-05-01T22:29:00.001-04:002012-05-01T22:42:02.642-04:00a list of things1. <b>We had another uneventful weekend</b>, hanging around the apartment with the exception of Ross's grandmother's birthday party. We go crazy on the weekends, obviously.<br />
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2. <b>I HATE GOING TO THE DENTIST.</b> Finally had an appointment today, and let's just say I walked out with a long list of crap-that's-wrong-with-my-teeth and thoughts of "maybe I should sell my car to pay for all of this." Oh happy day!!!<br />
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3. <b>On chapter 7 of Mockingjay</b> - love it so far! I now have a library card, so I'm hoping to find some good (and free) post-Hunger Games reads for my Nook. And yes, I'm still reading Wuthering Heights (it kind of got shelved after I started HG).<br />
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4. <b>Declared this week to be "healthy eating/cooking week."</b> So far, so good. I've made two meals this week that I found via pinterest, and they both turned out great! <a href="http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/2011/07/bubble-up-enchiladas.html" target="_blank">Bubble Up Enchiladas</a> and <a href="http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2011/03/25/lemon-garlic-tuna-burgers/" target="_blank">Lemon Garlic Tuna Burgers</a> if you're interested.<br />
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5. <b>Some thoughts on grocery shopping:</b><br />
• I could not find anything on my list at Earth Fare. I thought I'd do my entire shopping trip there...either I am severely challenged when it comes to navigating that store, or they sell nothing I need. I only plan on going back for meat & produce, but honestly, who wants to go to two grocery stores??<br />
• I'm done with making grocery lists on my iphone. Somehow, I accidentally check off items without realizing it, and then when I get home I end up in that "I'm so pissed off HOW COULD I HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT" kind of mood. so I'm sticking with a paper and pen from now on.<br />
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6. (Healthy continued) <b>I downloaded the "My Fitness Pal" app</b> and it's helping in the calorie-counting arena. Eating less calories is important if you are trying to lose weight, but I wonder how much it's actually helping me. I'm an instant-results kind of person, obviously, since I'm asking that question after two days of cutting calories. Back to the app - I'm pretty impressed with how easy it is to find items. Tonight, I easily found the calorie information specifically for the tuna burgers from the exact blog where I got the recipe. Exciting, right?<br />
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7. <b>There are two shows I am really liking right now:</b> The Ricky Gervais Show on HBO, and Workaholics.<br />
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<b>Current fave song:</b><br />
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Happy May, y'all!Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-41541389587859014902012-04-25T21:12:00.000-04:002012-04-25T21:12:01.592-04:00Updates and my birthday!Well, it's been over a month...and I wish I could say that was because I've been super busy doing all kinds of exciting things, but it's not. I've been working. Spring is our busiest time of the year, and it is not fun. But I'm surviving.<br />
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That doesn't mean I don't have a few exciting things to share, though. I'm 27 as of Monday, and we celebrated my husband's birthday in March! The only significance 27 really has is that it's three years away from 30.<br />
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As always, I decided it was best for me to buy my own gift from my husband rather than him getting me anything...aka taking a birthday shopping trip! It was all spent at Hobby Lobby on things for our apartment. I am not a decorator, so I always end up in a bland state of nothingness in-between holidays. Luckily, almost everything at Hobby Lobby was 50% off!<br />
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I took Friday off, went shopping, then Ross and I ate dinner at one of my favorite steakhouses in Charlotte, <a href="http://www.beefandbottle.net/" target="_blank">Beef and Bottle</a>. Saturday, I met up with a few friends at <a href="http://cajuncanvas.com/" target="_blank"> Cajun Canvas</a> and created a masterpiece!<br />
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It's "Paris in the Rain," and if you look close enough, you can see the couple dancing under a red umbrella on a sidewalk covered in reflective puddles. So, that was the idea. It was my first "wine and paint" experience and certainly won't be the last! We had a lot of fun. Sunday, Ross and I had a great birthday lunch with my fam, so it was definitely a very good pre-birthday weekend!<br />
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On a side note: finally started reading The Hunger Games. Finished Catching Fire last week, and hope to start Mockingjay tonight! I've been a little distracted with our shiny new cable tv upgrade...HBO fo free (for a couple months, anyway)!<br />
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</table>Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-46787159545186258232012-03-15T14:56:00.002-04:002012-03-15T15:02:51.393-04:00Oh, how Pinteresting! Thursday - The Spring EditionI missed Wednesday...but better late than never! :) I am so ready for spring and warm weather!<br />
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Source: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1376370937952423782" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">Uploaded by user</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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(My first honest question was: are the lemons real? <a href="http://www.ehow.com/facts_5690644_put-lemons-vase-flowers_.html" target="_blank">Apparently</a>, lemons are actually good to put in flower water. Who knew?)
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Source: <a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/bp-paxton-oxford-flat/3279924?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=506" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">shop.nordstrom.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/untitled_1333/set?.svc=copypaste&embedder=0&id=44391365" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">polyvore.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
</div>Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-80266103274945900072012-03-04T21:07:00.000-05:002012-03-04T21:13:40.175-05:00a wedding & our mini vacayWell, February is over and I spent the first weekend of March laying around the apartment and then cleaning (have I mentioned I hate cleaning??). We kicked the weekend off with a bang and watched two new (to us) movies. We watched Bridesmaids- LOVED it...and loved Chris O'Dowd. Kristin Wiig and Maya Rudolph are also two of my faves right now. Next, we watched "Take Me Home Tonight" (with Topher Grace) on netflix. The movie was a little lackluster as far as a storyline goes, but I enjoyed the whole 80's theme. Demetri Martin also made a few very brief appearances, but he was hilarious in the small role he played.<br />
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Onto the wedding... it was fabulous. Everything went smoothly, and I think everyone loved the small/laid back vibe.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">in front of Barley's - if you look close enough, you can see my sister and her husband dancing/making funny faces at the camera :)</td></tr>
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The reception was held at Barley's in Spindale, NC. They have amazing pizza, seriously. and good beer. That's a recipe for a great wedding reception...who knew? I know I promised a picture of my $35 dress, but of course I neglected to get a full length shot. Guess I'll have to wait until my sister gets her pictures.</div>
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Our trip to Myrtle Beach (immediately following the wedding) with Ross's family was a much-needed winter break. We spent most our time hanging out, shopping and eating. Ross's brother, who recently moved to New Mexico, was also able to go with us, so it was just a good time all around with the whole fam!<br />
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Sadly, I didn't get around to any reading while we were there. At this point, I'm trying to decide what to take up next (even thought I am STILL reading Wuthering Heights). The Hunger Games or The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo?? Or something else?<br />
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I am counting to down to whenever/wherever it is we go on vacation this summer...Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-4524334787154400642012-02-21T21:30:00.000-05:002012-02-21T22:56:12.587-05:00February.Honestly, that's as creative of a title I could think of. It's been a while, and this month has mostly been comprised of work and me being tired (my life story, basically). But I'm happy to say it's all downhill from here. My sister is getting married this weekend - YAY! - and then my husband and I are off to the beach for a little four day vacation. Cannot. wait.<br />
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Hope everyone's Valentine's Day was fabulous. Ours was pretty low key. To avoid the crowds, we went to our favorite local Mexican restaurant, which we probably would have done on Tuesday night anyway. I bought myself a purse (Thirty-One's 5th Avenue, it has a gazillion pockets and is awesome) and told Ross "thanks for my Valentine's Day present!!!" For the record, I bought it used for a significantly cheaper price than what it retails for...so...go me! And then he sent me beautiful flowers at work even though we agreed not to do anything special for each other. :)<br />
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I feel like I need to share this with other iPhone (or smartphone in general) users. Maybe I'm behind the times, but I just recently started using the app Songza. Love it so far, and it's serving as a very good replacement for the SiriusXM music stations I loved so dearly but no longer want to pay for.<br />
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Speaking of music...I recently went through a week long-ish period of complete White Stripes obsession. Also just recently heard Jack White's new single, "Love Interruption"...thoughts? I like the female vocal, but could do without whoever is singing it. I also finally realized who Jack White reminds me of:<br />
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The child catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks that, since I found this picture on google from someone's <a href="http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/lol_as_if_anyone_is_searching_for_chitty_chitty_bang_bang" target="_blank">tumblr</a> (tumblog? I don't know). I then stumbled upon the fact that Roald Dahl was the screenwriter for that film...who knew?!<br />
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I've moved on from my incessant White Stripes listening to other things now, and here are a few songs currently on my playlist:<br />
1. Change of Heart - El Perro Del Mar (original version and Robyn's Rakamonie Remix...I think I actually prefer the remix, but I like both)<br />
2. Someone Like You - Adele...I could listen to this song a million times a day and probably not get tired of it.<br />
3. Are You Satisfied? - Marina & the Diamonds<br />
4. As Ugly As I Seem -The White Stripes (a current WS favorite of mine)<br />
5. Come Back Down - Greg Laswell featuring Sara Bareilles<br />
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Post sister's-wedding-and-beach update to come soon! I plan on at least getting a good pic of me in my bridesmaid dress I found at a thrift store for $35...AWESOME.Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-25499204193233078942012-01-25T14:40:00.001-05:002012-01-25T14:40:38.065-05:00Oh, How Pinteresting! WednesdaysHappy Wednesday! Hanging on to the fact that I only have to survive 2.5 more days of work...<br />
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Pearl Jam. I have a new respect for them after watching PJ20 this past weekend.
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Source: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1376370937952423782" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">Uploaded by user</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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...and a much more accessible one thanks to a new Keurig at home AND work!</div>
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Source: <a href="http://penniesonaplatter.com/2011/11/30/queso-blanco-dip-the-second-and-final-attempt/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">penniesonaplatter.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Finally found a pretty-close-to-perfect recipe for cheese dip (the kind you get at Mexican restaurants)!
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Source: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1376370937952423782" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">Uploaded by user</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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favorites // Tori Amos // Under The Pink</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/flourish-de-lis-dress" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">modcloth.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Flourish De Lis Dress from Mod Cloth. LOVE this color.
</div>Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-57293317258899286152012-01-22T22:47:00.000-05:002012-01-22T22:48:09.210-05:00Lately...I guess I've fallen off the face of the earth a little....well, for three weeks-ish. My journey to "Frugal Living," well, that's another post (or maybe not, because the daily challenges are sitting unread in my inbox). There's not even a reason for my lack of blogging other than I've been readjusting to five day work weeks after the holidays.<br />
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The closest thing to exciting that happened recently is a couple weeks ago, I won tickets to see Sarah Jarosz at Neighborhood Theatre here in Charlotte! She is what I would consider bluegrass...but I guess maybe more progressive bluegrass. Probably a couple years ago, I purchased her first album on iTunes after randomly stumbling across it, so I was kind of familiar with her songs (although she had also put out a new album since then). I happened to see that Creative Loafing was giving away a pair of tickets, so I submitted my email address and won! It was a nice surprise since I think I had forgotten I even entered to win in the first place.<br />
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Several things hit me that night: (1) Sarah Jarsoz is far more talented than I realized. (2) Going to see live shows of not-so-well-known musicians is something I should do WAY more often. (3) There is a difference in spending time with your husband on the couch watching tv and actually going out and doing something. (4) Someday, I want to learn how to play the banjo.<br />
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Items #1 and 4 are pretty self explanatory. Sarah spent most her time on an octave mandolin, which I had never seen before, but she also switched between it and the banjo. She usually performs alongside a cellist and fiddler, but was sans cellist for this one. Sad face. BUT, fiddler Alex Hargreaves was out of this world.<br />
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Number two, Charlotte isn't exactly what I'd call a music scene hotspot, but I think it's improving. Not too long ago, Sara Bareilles played at Neighborhood Theatre. Ross and I have seen a couple good smaller shows at Amos' Southend, too.<br />
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As for number three, it really was kind of an "a-ha!" moment. My husband and I both thoroughly enjoy being at home, but we realized that it is fun to actually go out and do things together sometimes. Who would have thought? We eat out a lot, but that doesn't count. And to be honest, seeing a movie doesn't really count either. I mean, those are fun things to do, but we both love music...and it was just something different. Had we paid for the tickets, seeing Sarah Jarosz would've cost us the same as seeing a movie, anyway.<br />
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Since we live right down the road, we also need to take more advantage of NoDa, and I suggest you visit if you live near Charlotte...it's almost like a mini-Boone, which I love. I really liked Neighborhood Theatre as a venue, and we tried Revolution Pizza for the first time and enjoyed that as well (side note: I tried Four Friends Queen City Red there and would recommend it).<br />
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So those are the recent happenings, and hopefully there will be more similar things to discuss in the future now that we have realized there is a world outside our apartment!Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-79181670968892995202012-01-05T21:52:00.000-05:002012-01-05T21:52:19.419-05:00Frugal Living...? Oh snap.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The f-word isn't even one I'd consider to be in my vocabulary. Ever. Before I make it sound too bad, I promise I'm not someone who needs to go to shopaholics anonymous or anything like that (my husband would probably say that's debatable). I do have some self control when it comes to finances, but I'm willing to admit there is room to grow. Either way, I want to be smart about things. I want to recycle things and be wise when it comes to purchasing (or not purchasing) everything from clothing to food. I know it's possible, it just requires a little creativity and discipline.<br />
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So, I'm giving this a try. I'm not quite sure what to expect, but it will be a fun way to attempt being, what's the word again? Oh, yeah. Frugal. This whole thing starts tomorrow, and hopefully I'll have some positive updates from time to time on my life as a frugal-person-in-training!<br />
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</div>Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-76641099105181759792012-01-04T15:50:00.000-05:002012-01-04T21:13:06.551-05:00Oh, How Pinteresting! WednesdaysSome of my recent favorites!<br />
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Source: <a href="http://www.aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Love this idea! Recycle Christmas cards into gift tags. I saved several of my cards this year in hopes of finding a good idea like this one. </div>
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So true.</div>
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Source: <a href="http://jimhillmedia.com/columnists1/b/floyd_norman/archive/2009/03/09/babes-in-waltland-part-i.aspx" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">jimhillmedia.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Babes in Toyland (Disney, 1961) </div>
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I loved watching this movie when I was younger, and decided to buy it on DVD this year!<br />
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Source: <a href="http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/2011/10/31-days-to-organized-home-day-one.html?showComment=1317529450728#c6214642460755755114" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">imperfecthomemaking.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Thankful that there are so many blogs out there that have such great cleaning and organizing tips! I enjoy reading them. Still working on the whole actually going through with it part.</div>
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<br /></div>Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-72467912327500804572012-01-03T23:21:00.002-05:002012-01-04T10:52:48.765-05:00a shiny, brand new year!Happy 2012 to you all! Hope everyone had a very relaxing and stress-free holiday. Ours felt crazy busy...four family get-togethers. Thanks, marriage. I do love every second of it, though. I managed to squeeze in a few days away at my grandparents' mountain home. Definitely needed that, but it wasn't long enough (it never is).<br />
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Christmas in the mountains</div>
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Those few days away gave me time to enjoy my new Nook, which I actually AM using. Currently reading Wuthering Heights and loving it. It was actually kind of witty here and there in the first few chapters, which was a bit of an unexpected surprise. I'm only on chapter ten, so I have a ways to go. Not sure what book is next...so many choices!<br />
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Other Christmas gifts I'm enjoying include<br />
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<a href="http://www.newislander.com/season/2009/11/minnetonka/moccasin/photo_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.newislander.com/season/2009/11/minnetonka/moccasin/photo_2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://cdn.blisstree.com/files/2010/01/pink-snuggie-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://cdn.blisstree.com/files/2010/01/pink-snuggie-300x300.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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my Minnetonka Moccasins/slippers, and my new pink Snuggie, for starters. The pink was a welcomed replacement for my camo one. Somehow I always manage to wind up with Snuggies after Chinese Christmas/Dirty Santa/whatever-you-want-to-call-it games.<br />
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Now for my Minnetonka mini-advertisement (can I get paid for this?). The moccasins have lived on my feet for the past four-ish days because they are amazing. They are toasty warm, soft enough to be bedroom slippers but durable enough to wear out, and they molded to the shape of my feet after a few wears. Five stars.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">And...I jumped on the Keurig bandwagon! Didn't feel like that warranted a picture. It really just made sense, especially since my husband is not a coffee drinker. Best part...I don't have to wash the darn thing out everyday. I know, how lazy is that? But for real.</span></div>
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As for New Year's resolutions, I'm still thinking about those. Really, if I had any, they'd mostly be things I've been trying to do all along. Come up with a cleaning routine, wake up earlier, go to bed earlier (obviously I'm trying real hard), eat healthier, the norm. Maybe it would help if I set goals. Well, resolutions or no resolutions, last year was wonderful and I hope this year is even better. </div>Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-43891645913023658462011-12-22T00:18:00.001-05:002011-12-22T00:18:56.247-05:00last update before the holiday madness beginsWe have been busy since not long after Thanksgiving. Busy, and I've been tired. Not that ten+ days without a post is a rare thing around here. Between work and getting ready for Christmas, there hasn't been much time.<br />
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I did really well this Christmas in terms of shopping. Really well considering I'm usually a day-before-Christmas marathon shopper. With work and an hour-long commute home at the end of the day, I realized there would definitely not be time for that. I wouldn't say I started early, but it's one step closer, so maybe next year I'll have most of it finished before December 1!<br />
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Speaking of December, I cannot believe tomorrow is the first day of winter and it's supposed to be 70 degrees here. This is ridiculous, and I hate it. Honestly, ever since I moved back from Boone, there have been several heavy sweaters I can't even wear because it just doesn't get that cold. I like the seasons, winter included, and I at least want to be able to comfortably wear a sweater and a cute scarf or something without burning up. Snow would be nice, too, but I realize the chances are slim.<br />
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The next item on my list of things to talk about is: Merry early Christmas to me, I have a Nook! I bought it yesterday. Just the Nook Simple Touch. I really like the Kindle Fire, but I don't want to feel like I'm staring at another computer screen after I've stared at one all day. I like that the basic e-readers look so much like book pages, and I'm kind of disappointed that the Fire, etc don't have an option to somehow switch display modes. Someone get on that. <br />
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I guess if I decide I want a tablet, I'll spring for an iPad. I got some funny looks from <strike>everyone</strike> some people (namely my husband) when I told them I wanted a Nook, because I'm not big into reading. But maybe now I will be? Seemed like good logic for purchasing one. Haha. In all seriousness, there are a lot of books I want to read, and this just makes them way more accessible. First on my list is (free, of course) Wuthering Heights. Don't ask me why, because I realize it's kind of random. I'm also excited to get into this whole library thing, I guess I need to get a library card so I can borrow via my Nook. Yay reading!<br />
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This weekend (and beginning of next week) is going to be a whirlwind of traveling and family get-togethers, and I'm excited to see everyone and spend a few days in the mountains. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!! I'll leave you with our we-didn't-send-out-Christmas-cards-so-I-posted-a-picture-on-facebook picture:<br />
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ps. our bow is red, not pink. (it kind of looks pink in this picture, doesn't it?)Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-17623271269007617952011-12-06T09:12:00.001-05:002011-12-06T16:16:43.083-05:00Ten on Tuesday1. What are three things that are on your Christmas wish list?<br />
<a href="http://www.zappos.com/minnetonka-cally-slipper-cinnamon-suede" target="_blank">Minnetonka Slippers</a>, a Kindle or a Nook (the basic, not the tablet), and that's about it.<br />
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2. What's your favorite Christmas song?<br />
Do You Hear What I Hear?<br />
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3. Do you have a favorite band or singer that sings it especially awesome?<br />
Not really...but Destiny's Child did a pretty good version of it. Haha<br />
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4. Have you heard about the website goodreads?<br />
Yes, I'm on it...I like the idea, but I don't read that often.<br />
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5. What are three books you want to read?<br />
I think I would like to try The Hunger Games series (I know, that's more than one book), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and The Help.<br />
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6. Do you hunt deer?<br />
No. I know people who do, so I have eaten deer meat before and it's pretty good.<br />
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7. Have you started Christmas shopping? Are you completely finished?<br />
I'm ahead of the game compared to most years, but "ahead of the game" for me means doing any shopping before December 20. I only have a couple things, so I've still got a ways to go.<br />
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8. Did you shop on Black Friday? What was the best deal you got?<br />
I did! I've gone shopping during the day on Black Friday before, but this year I decided to try midnight shopping! I left for Concord Mills at about 11:45pm on Thursday night and arrived at about 12:10am on Friday. It was a madhouse! As big as Concord Mills is, I thought for sure it wouldn't be busting at the seams, but it was. As for the "deals," I was pretty disappointed. They didn't seem any different from the sales that happen most days in December. BUT - I have been looking for a pair of boots for a while now, and I didn't want to spend $50+ on them. I found a pair (the very last pair of these specific boots, I might add) that were regularly $59, had been marked down to $45 or something like that, but were on sale for Black Friday for $22!!! It was a fun experience, but I can't say I'll do it again. <br />
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9. What's one holiday tradition your family has?<br />
On Christmas morning, we always read the story of Jesus' birth out of the Bible, and then we go around the room and each of us talks about what we are thankful for. We do this at both of my family get-togethers (mom's side and dad's side). <br />
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10. How many blogs do you read? Do you subscribe/unsubscribe often or do you purge every once in a while?<br />
On a regular basis, I'd say there are 7-10 blogs I keep up with via google reader. As far as subscribing/unsubscribing goes, I guess I just purge every once in a while.<br />
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Questions found <a href="http://www.rootsandrings.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-63557142725571248572011-12-01T20:32:00.001-05:002011-12-01T20:43:47.599-05:00Christmas continued: decking the halls!Everyone else is posting pictures of their trees and Christmas decor, and I took pictures a week ago with the same intention...so here we are!<br />
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The perfect Christmas tree! This was a difficult choice for me, and major props to my husband for standing in Lowe's while I stared at pre-lit trees for an hour trying to make a decision. I grew up with real trees, so the switch to an artificial wasn't easy, but it made the most sense. The tree is pre-lit with clear lights, but I added multi-color strands. :) It being the first year I've had my very own tree to decorate, I cannot believe how expensive tree skirts are! Maybe it's just me, but I refuse to fork over $40 for a round piece of fabric that someone decorated. I bought the cheapest one I could find at Target...solid red, and it was either $15 or $20.<br />
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My stocking display...another "first" - first year without a fireplace! These shelves are a great replacement. On a side note, we have the most randomly placed thermostat.<br />
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And the elf & ornaments. Plenty of NC State candy canes and my little ASU snowman! My grandmother has an (very vintage) elf she puts up every year and has a few smaller elf ornaments. I love them, and happened to find one in a store. I just realized the ornament on the bottom left kind of resembles a grapefruit. The picture doesn't do it justice, though. It's beaded and sparkly, and I bought it when I visited the Biltmore in December a couple years ago.<br />
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I love Christmas decorations, and I may just leave mine up until March. Ok, not really, but I wish I could!Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-58762698449595134982011-11-29T21:48:00.001-05:002011-11-29T23:12:40.055-05:00Christmas music is my favorite!Christmas music never gets old to me. I know, crazy. For someone who says every other song is "way too overplayed," I sure do have a high tolerance for holiday tunes played 24/7 over the course of two months (Light 102.9 starts on Nov. 1!). I think it's because I appreciate the variety. So many different interpretations of the same songs. How many times can one song be recycled? Every year there's something new.<br />
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I have an old favorite this year and a new favorite. My old favorite Christmas album (well, old as in 2006) is <i>Wintersong</i> from Sarah McLachlan. When it came out, I listened to it every night as I was going to sleep for like three weeks. That's pretty huge for me because I'm not a listen-to-the-tv-or-radio-when-trying-to-fall-asleep kind of person. One of my favorite songs is "River" (originally by Joni Mitchell), but I love the whole thing. Sarah McLachlan has a heavenly voice, and this is the perfect quiet/peaceful/soft Christmas album if you are looking for one.<br />
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My new favorite is the recent release from Kate Bush: <i>50 Words for Snow</i>. LOVE Kate Bush. I guess it doesn't really qualify as Christmas music...more like winter music. This album is completely slow-moving (in a good way), but the story each song tells keeps you waiting for the next note and lyric. Definitely the most haunting winter album I have ever heard. "Snowed in at Wheeler Street" (w/ Elton John), "Snowflake," and "Among Angels" are the three I'm loving right now. A snippet that sums the whole thing up for me:<br />
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<i>they (the songs) contain wondrous multitudes thanks to the singer's still-expressive voice and knack for uncanny arrangements. And mood. There's an appealing creepiness that runs through this album...</i><br />
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I'm willing to admit the record is a little bizarre, but that's Kate Bush.<br />
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You can see a little pattern here, I guess. All creepiness and bizarreness aside, I prefer the Christmas (or winter) music I'm listening to to be as relaxing and/or quiet as I hope the holidays will be. Hah! What are you listening to this holiday season?Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-90332245974201677582011-11-17T21:20:00.000-05:002011-11-17T22:12:25.753-05:00Home.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, second home. Boone and ASU definitely have a special place in my heart - I graduated from App, and so did my parents and grandparents. I grew up spending fall weekends in Boone for football games, and (obviously) I spent four crazy but wonderful years there.<br />
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My senior year of college, I was so blessed to become a part of a group of great friends, and every year we get together and rent a cabin for a fall weekend. I LOVE that we are continuing this tradition and it is something I look forward to every October (or November). We had a great weekend that involved King Street, Macado's, Dan'l Boone Inn, downtown Blowing Rock, and of course the game vs. Western Carolina (that I, admittedly, was quickly bored with).<br />
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There is just something amazing about Boone. I love that beauty is everywhere, and you don't have to look hard to find it. It's hard to be unhappy when the awesomeness of God's creation is so in your face. Sorry, I couldn't think of a more eloquent way to say that. I would move back in a heartbeat. And yes, I love snow. My husband hates snow and the cold, but we're going to work on that.<br />
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Speaking of snow, we saw a few snowflakes this past weekend! Somehow, that led me to the decision that it is not too early for Christmas decorations. With a few hours to spare on Sunday afternoon, Halloween was packed up and a few Christmas decorations were put out! I have a pretty good beginning collection, but it needs to be improved upon. This weekend I am (a) deep cleaning our apartment and (b) buying and putting up the Christmas tree! Hooray! I know some people think it's too early, and that's fine. I just decided it wasn't too early for me. Maybe, instead of a fake tree, I can convince Ross that another trip to Boone is necessary to get a real one...Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-15234074149481065342011-11-15T13:03:00.001-05:002011-11-15T16:33:12.146-05:00Ten on Tuesday<b>1. What are your pantry staples?</b><br />
Umm...haha. Right now, my pantry is an abyss. On my to-do list is inventory everything.<br />
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<b>2. What are your refrigerator staples?</b><br />
See above. Just kidding, my fridge isn't quite as bad. Orange juice, milk, Pepsi and cheese.<br />
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<b>3. You already look like Heidi Klum (or your favorite supermodel). Now, what are the top three non-physical things you would change about yourself?</b><br />
That's tough. And I mean that in a completely non-cocky way, it's just hard to pinpoint exactly what I would choose to change. I could stand to be more assertive, I wish I was more organized, and more motivated.<br />
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<b>4. What's holding you back from your dream job? (If you already have your dream job, how did you get there?)</b><br />
The short answer: money.<br />
The long answer: Well, what I think would be my dream job (still a little uncertainty there) would involve more money and schooling. The tough part is that it's completely non-related to anything I've studied before. That would mean the schooling wouldn't be improving upon what I already have (i.e. getting a Masters degree), but starting completely over. And it isn't like law school, so in other words, it would basically be a completely new Bachelor's degree. Not to mention it would be in a field where I think there is a lot of uncertainty, and getting a job would be quite a feat (but that's almost every field right now, I suppose). It would probably also involve me not being able to work full-time while going back to school. Kind of a perfect storm for financial disaster. Just call me Debbie Downer.<br />
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<b>5. You have $500 to spend but it has to be on one item only. Go.</b><br />
If we are speaking in terms of frivolity, I'd say a new Kate Spade bag. Reality - my car is in need of some body work, so I'd probably do that.<br />
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<b>6. What is something you are embarrassed to admit you buy on a regular basis?</b><br />
Starbucks. The item isn't embarrassing - but I'm embarrassed to admit that my habit has become out of control lately. Like seriously, I don't even want to know how much I spent on coffee the past month. My excuse is that I can't get coffee I make at home to taste right.<br />
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<b>7. What's in/on your bed every night?</b><br />
Pillows, sheets, blanket, and my super soft green blanket that I got from Target.<br />
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<b>8. What is a non-necessity item that, no matter how expensive it gets or how tight your budget is, you will always find room for?</b><br />
Nail polish. I've always found it to be a good way to buy something new and fun even if you are having to clamp down on the rest of your spending.<br />
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<b>9. What is the weirdest sandwich you've ever made?</b><br />
I haven't, really. But my husband always eats cheetos ON his sandwiches (like if he has a turkey and cheese sandwich or something). I think that's pretty weird.<br />
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<b>10. Would you rather: Be banned from Pinterest forever, but gain a million captive Twitter followers; or, never get on Facebook again but gain five thousand blog readers?</b><br />
Tough question. I think I would go with the Pinterest scenario. Of all those things, Pinterest is what I use the least. I don't really care about Twitter, but I think I'd rather keep Facebook and live with the fact that probably only 5 people read my blog. :)<br />
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Questions found <a href="http://www.rootsandrings.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-15923414059985947632011-11-08T12:13:00.000-05:002011-11-08T12:19:30.772-05:00Ten on Tuesday1. What's your favorite television show for each day of the week?<br />
Monday: The Sing-Off, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune ...and that's about all the tv I watch. I've been falling behind lately on Sister Wives (Sunday nights).<br />
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2. How many times do you wear your jeans before you wash them?<br />
Twice...maybe three times. I've noticed the tags on a couple pair of jeans I recently bought even say, "wash me as little as possible."<br />
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3. What is your favorite pasta shape?<br />
I don't have a favorite. I love all pasta equally!<br />
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4. Do you read newspapers?<br />
I read them online...haha.<br />
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5. Do you sleep in socks?<br />
Usually I do in the winter. Just depends on how cold I am, but my feet tend to stay freezing most the time. I have some of those slippers that are made to look like Uggs, and I actually get so cold that I sleep in them sometimes.<br />
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6. Favorite genre of movies?<br />
Romantic comedies, duh!<br />
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7. How do you feel about wrestling?<br />
Eh...I don't like it. I guess I can understand it as a competitive sport in high school or college. But I have no desire whatsoever to watch it, and I definitely don't like any kind of pro wrestling.<br />
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8. Should men pluck their eyebrows?<br />
If they need to, then yes!<br />
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9. Do you have dimples?<br />
I do not.<br />
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10. Do you like to camp?<br />
LOVE it, but I rarely get to go. We went camping as a family a lot when I was growing up. But I had my first "rustic" camping experience a few years ago. Rustic as in - not at a campground, but at some random spot 45 minutes off a dirt road in the mountains of Tennessee, no running water or restrooms, no one else nearby. That was really a lot of fun. I don't think I strike a lot of people as someone who would enjoy camping, but I definitely do. There's something about no electricity, sleeping in the woods, sitting by a fire all day and doing nothing that's just wonderful.<br />
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Questions from <a href="http://www.rootsandrings.com" target="_blank">Roots and Rings</a>.Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-49606193906143562762011-11-03T19:17:00.000-04:002011-11-06T10:07:33.663-05:00end-of-the-week hodgepodge: movies & moneyHope you all had a wonderful Halloween weekend/Monday! I have zero to report from Halloween, since Ross and I spent the weekend hanging out at home. :) This is the first year in quite a while that we didn't dress up and go out, but a weekend of rest is definitely what we needed. Well, a weekend of rest and switching out summer and fall clothes for me. That was a chore, and I'm still not quite finished yet. I really don't mind doing it though, because I forget what I have and then I'm like "I forgot I had that sweater...love it!"<br />
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Aside from swapping out clothes, I also spent the weekend watching all the Halloween movies on ABC Family. Saw Coraline for the first time and was thoroughly freaked out. What a weird flick. But then it came on again, and I loved it after watching it a second time. Same with The Corpse Bride (except I loved it after watching it the first time).<br />
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We saw Puss in Boots as well. Very cute. It got great reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and someone even said it was funnier than Shrek. I wouldn't go that far, but I'd say it's worth seeing if you like Shrek-ish movies. Had no idea Zach Galifianakis was in it either, so that was an added bonus.<br />
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On a completely different subject, in my quest to be more organized lately (I haven't gotten too far with that), I've also been thinking about getting organized financially. I will be the first to admit that personal money management is not my strong point, nor has it ever been. Marriage has forced me to be a little better about finances only because I know that my decisions affect someone else now. So this is mostly a question to you all. What are your tips on money management? What budgeting programs (if any) do you use? What have you found to work and not work? I've tried using Mint.com, but it was too elaborate for me. I just need something simple where I can keep track of everything, and see when I'm spending too much in one area, etc.<br />
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Not that this post needs anymore randomness, but I want to end with a couple links:<br />
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<a href="http://cleanmama.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Clean Mama</a> - I stumbled upon this blog somehow and found "31 days to a cleaning routine" (and free printables to go with it). She also has an etsy store for all her additional cleaning/organizing printables which look awesome. AND, there is currently a giveaway going on for two of her starter kits! *crosses fingers*<br />
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<a href="http://www.kylaroma.com/2011/11/best-case-scenario-me/" target="_blank">Best Case Scenario Me</a> - Something I really enjoyed reading. Featured on KylaRoma.com, written by Sarah Von from <a href="http://www.yesandyes.org/" target="_blank">Yes & Yes</a>Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-84879863253997483192011-10-26T20:39:00.000-04:002011-10-26T20:51:50.605-04:00Oh, how pinteresting!Trying something new and fun today...a collection of some of my favorite pins from the week:<br />
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<center><a border="0" href="http://thevintageapple.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="google" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/aubsmiles03/pinterestingwed-2.png" /></a></center>
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Source: <a href="http://www.katespade.com/cute-stationery/personal-organizers/kate-spade-knightsbridge-debra/PWRU2215,default,pd.html?dwvar_PWRU2215_color=109&start=5&cgid=paper" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">katespade.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Kate Spade knightsbridge debra agenda. Loooove this - and love the color! If only I had $225 to spend on a planner...early Christmas present to myself, perhaps?<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/368775616/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/10273905369495485_cLsFU0N1_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://lyndarthemerciless.blogspot.com/2011/03/talon-tastic-thursday-sophisticated.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">lyndarthemerciless.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Sparkle in a sophisticated-not-sixth-grade way. Although I'm not gonna lie, I love all things sparkly, so you will still probably catch me wearing all out glitter nail polish from time to time.<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/311174662/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/10273905369482298_j3wcAhK2_c.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.bonadrag.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=33" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">bonadrag.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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This is another LOVE. I have honestly spent time browsing zappos.com looking for ballet flats that actually resemble real ballet flats. Why? Because I like the look. These fit the bill perfectly.<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/296520711/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/10273905369477463_hCRIxNev_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://tinyapartmentcrafts.blogspot.com/2010/12/golden-snitch-ornament-tutorial.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">tinyapartmentcrafts.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Golden Snitch ornament (Harry Potter)! Not sure what the wings are made of, but it looks super easy to make.<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/296506385/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/10273905369477457_sQxO08CR_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2011/07/summer-social-guest-project-make_21.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/aubreyb/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Aubrey</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Practical pin of the week! I have not tried this yet - but it's on my to-do list. It looks like the plastic bag monster vomited all under my sink in my kitchen, and plastic bags are just stuffed wherever they will fit. What a clean and neat way to store them, assuming that it does actually work.<br />
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And that's it. Happy pinning!Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-15932029885838604262011-10-25T22:00:00.000-04:002011-10-25T22:03:00.141-04:00On being a homebody.Before starting this, I pulled out the trusty ol' webster.com and looked up "homebody." The definition is this: one whose life centers on home. That's a really good definition, in my opinion. I actually expected to see something more along the lines of "introvert who has no life." I guess I just think that is what everybody else thinks.<br />
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Although the two aren't really connected, what started me on this topic was when I realized that this blog is picture-less (I'm not counting the pictures of random things and wish list items, etc.). The obvious explanation for this is that I'm not a picture taker. I wish I was, but I'm not.<br />
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But that led me to my next point - I don't do much. And I'm lucky to have a husband who loves being home just as much as I do. Maybe I'm normal in that I spend 40 hours a week at work, and can't find time to do much more than just hang out on the weekends. But I have always, even in my teenage years, "not done much," and I enjoy it. "Not doing much" isn't really an accurate way to describe it, though. There is still a lot I don't know about myself, and things I'm still figuring out. One thing I do know is that I have always loved home. There is absolutely nothing I love more than to be at home with my family, or spending an hour (or several) chatting with a good friend. Those times are especially precious now, when it seems like no one knows how to press the slow down button (or does that even exist). Spending time with the people I care about is something I never get tired of, and something that I will never not have time for. Not sure how many of you listen to Sara Groves, but her song "Every Minute" might be a perfect description of what I'm trying to convey. You can listen to it, too. :)<br />
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<i>I am long on staying, I am slow to leave</i><br />
<i>especially when it comes to you, my friend</i><br />
<i>You have taught me to slow down,</i>
<i>and to prop up my feet</i><br />
<i>It's the fine art of being who I am</i><br />
<i>And I can't figure out why you want me around</i><br />
<i>I'm not the smartest person I have ever met</i><br />
<i>But somehow that doesn't matter</i><br />
<i>No, it never really mattered to you at all</i><br />
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<i>And at the risk of wearing out my welcome</i><br />
<i>At the risk of self-discovery</i><br />
<i>I'll take every moment, </i><i>and every minute that you'll give me</i>
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<i>And I can think of a time </i><i>when families all lived together,</i><br />
<i>four generations in one house</i><br />
<i>And the table was full of good food, and friends and neighbors</i><br />
<i>That's not how we like it now</i><br />
<i>Cause if you sit at home, you're a loser</i><br />
<i>Couldn't you find anything better to do</i><br />
<i>Well no, I couldn't think of one thing </i><i>I would rather waste my time on</i><br />
<i>than sitting here with you</i>
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<i>And at the risk of wearing out my welcome</i><br />
<i>At the risk of self-discovery</i><br />
<i>I'll take every moment, and every minute that you'll give me</i>
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<i>And I wish all the people I love the most </i><i>could gather in one place</i><br />
<i>and know each other, and love each other well</i><br />
<i>And I wish we could all go camping</i>
<i>and lay beneath the stars, </i><br />
<i>and have nothing to do</i>
<i>and stories to tell</i><br />
<i>And we'd sit around the campfire</i><br />
<i>and we'd make each other laugh, remembering when</i><br />
<i>And you're the first one I'm inviting,</i>
<i>always know that you're invited, my friend</i>
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<i>And at the risk of wearing out my welcome</i><br />
<i>At the risk of self-discovery</i><br />
<i>I'll take every moment, and every minute that you'll give me</i>Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-28303997107546266352011-10-19T23:42:00.004-04:002011-10-19T23:47:38.148-04:00things to be excited about.I feel like all my posts revolve around lists, but that's ok I guess.<br />
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<b>Leather Baggus</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.baggubag.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/aubsmiles03/LeatherStandard_Black_Enlarge-2.jpg" /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/aubsmiles03/LeatherStandard_Platinum_Enlarge-1.jpg" /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/aubsmiles03/LeatherStandard_Apricot_Enlarge-1.jpg" /></a>
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I'm pretty stoked about this. Well, let's say 50% stoked, 50% not sure what to think. I absolutely love regular Baggus - nylon reusable shopping bags that come in all the happy, neon, and fun colors you could ever want. And I've thought before that they should come out with something a little more purse-like. Not to say that you couldn't use their nylon bags for that, but you know. Here is the answer, I suppose. Part of the appeal of Baggus is that they are effortlessly cute. Mostly because of the colors, but also because of the simplicity. And I think I love this. The ultimate question is...is simplicity (even the 100% leather kind), worth $130.00?<br />
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<i><b>New Blood</b></i><br />
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<a href="http://www.petergabriel.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/aubsmiles03/blogPeterGabrielNew_Blood.jpg" /></a><br />
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The new album from Peter Gabriel (orchestral remakes of older songs). Not many songs give me goosebumps these days, but every song (especially "In Your Eyes") off this album does. Some people might get tired of artists reinventing things all the time, but I love it. If songs are so good that they can be reinvented multiple times and be amazing in different ways, then why not? <br />
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<b>Ranch House Crock Pot Pork Chops</b><br />
Found at <a href="http://realmomkitchen.com/287/ranch-house-crock-pot-pork-chops-with-parmesan-mashed-potatoes" target="_blank">Real Mom Kitchen</a>
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No picture, but this recipe turned out great! I love it when recipes turn out well. :) This was super easy, and the flavor was really good. The recipe called for one can of cream of chicken soup, and one packet of ranch seasoning, but next time I'm going to do two of each. I also made mashed potatoes for the first time, and they turned out pretty well. Kind of bland, and I think everyone has their own take on the perfect mashed potatoes, so I'm open to input. On days like this (I was off work), I say to my husband: "See, don't you like me better when I don't have to work??" Seriously.<br />
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<b>Some Additional New Music </b>
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Obviously. Aside from Peter Gabriel, I have a new playlist this week. Hooray! Tracks include:<br />
1. "If I Had a Gun" -Noel Gallagher.<br />
My math goes a little something like this: Noel Gallagher - Liam Gallagher still = Oasis.<br />
2. "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)" -The White Stripes<br />
Not sure how I missed this one until now. Thank you, satellite radio.<br />
3. "Sail" -AWOLNATION<br />
If you haven't listened to this song, do it now.<br />
4. "Mistakes" -Mates of State<br />
We've been through this <a href="http://aubreylynn.blogspot.com/2011/09/recent-music-obsessions.html" target="_blank">already</a>.<br />
5. "Mother" -Pink Floyd<br />
I've become a little re-obsessed with this one after listening to Pearl Jam's cover.<br />
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<b>KitchenAid Retweeted Me</b><br />
Yes folks, you read that right. Do you even care? Probably not. But I'm kind of a big deal. You can view said tweet <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/KitchenAidUSA/status/126758132423720960" target="_blank">here</a>. They didn't respond to my follow-up tweet regarding the free mixer I get for giving them such great advertising. #lame<br />
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Happy Thursday! <p>Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-69004171672337746962011-10-11T22:04:00.000-04:002011-10-11T22:09:20.299-04:00a wish list, and more KassidyI don't keep a physical wish list, but my mental list has been getting pretty long lately. Turns out marriage means way more bills. More bills, and a lot less money to burn (as if "burning it" was a wise choice before). So, my list of things-I-can't-buy-now is a whole lot longer than it used to be. I'm pretty sure a lot of the funds are sitting in my closet, and somewhere on my to-do list is figure out ebay so I can sell all the junk (re: purses I don't carry anymore) and make room for the new!<br />
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1. Riding boots. (Am I the only one who calls them that?) This hasn't been a money issue as much as it has been a picky issue. I am VERY picky about riding boots. Certain heels I like, certain ones I don't, I don't want them to look like cowboy boots, but I don't want them to look too military, I don't want too many buckles, but I don't want them to be plain. I'll admit, it's all getting a bit ridiculous and eventually I will just have to settle.<br />
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2. A new black purse. I need a solid black purse. One smaller than my Longchamp. Again, this has been somewhat of an I-can't-decide problem. I want it to be casual but dressy if I need it to be. I can't spend $400, but I don't want it to look cheap.<br />
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3. A piano. Haha, I know, WHOA where did that come from. A couple years ago, I started piano lessons because it's something I want to do, and I need a hobby. For various reasons, it didn't work out, but I want to try it again. I would love to have a nice digital piano. Actually, I would prefer a real one, but space is a small issue considering we live in an apartment.<br />
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4. A pair of Birkenstocks. Just call me Julie Patchouli, but they might be some of THE most comfortable shoes on the planet earth. I've been through two pairs already, and I need new ones. Yes, I said *need.* I can't wear my ever-so-stylish Danskos everyday of the fall and winter, ok??<br />
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5. Ballet flats. ACTUAL ballet flats. I think they are super cute, and <a href="http://www.bonadrag.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=33" target="_blank">this</a> confirms my suspicion that I'm not the only one who wants to wear them in public.<br />
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Is all that too much to ask for? I think not.<br />
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On a completely random note, we all know I love a good cover song, and I'd love to know what you think about this:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gnFuq-raWio" width="560"></iframe>Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-48933645602115224752011-10-09T21:56:00.001-04:002011-10-09T22:25:33.515-04:00wine and crazy thoughts I probably shouldn't be blogging aboutThis post...I'm not really sure where I'm going with it. But it's something that might be a little interesting, so here we go.<br />
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Sister Wives. You're probably already laughing. I LOVE the show, and have absolutely no idea why. I guess I've always found people interesting. Who they associate with, why they behave the way they do, different cultures, etc. My minor in college was Sociology, and I would've majored in it if my advisor hadn't told me it was a waste of time. That's another story.<br />
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One of the first places that forced me to semi-seriously contemplate the subject of polygamy was in class for a Human Rights course I took at App. I think what we discussed could be summed up with this: is it wrong for us to pull people out of their norms, because their "norm" isn't the same as ours? And who defines norms? Something to that extent. It's been four+ years, so that's a sloppy recollection. It really does ring true, though. I do want to make it clear that I draw a line somewhere - this is all in regards to consenting adults. In no way, shape or form do I think forced marriage, sex, etc involving minors is acceptable. That's my personal conviction anyway.<br />
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My conclusion here is that I have no problem with polygamists. And I've gotten some shocked looks from people when it comes up (I know you're probably wondering how often does that randomly come up in conversation?). I originally thought that Kody (the husband on Sister Wives) was a self-centered jerk who manipulated four women into worshipping him, but I've changed my tone after watching multiple episodes. I'm going to take it a step beyond that. I can see a few pros to their situation. They have a major support system, and God knows it isn't easy being a wife and mom these days (I speak from experience only regarding the former half of that statement). I'm not going to sign up for the show anytime soon (hah!), but In simple terms, they aren't hurting me or affecting how I live my life. And I'm gonna be honest, I think they value family and marriage way more than a lot of monogamous families do. I do laugh when the jealousy issues arise on Sister Wives because...um, when you're married to someone who you know is sleeping on a regular basis with three other women, that MIGHT be an issue. But also, I'm not here to tell people what they can and cannot do, right? This spills over into a lot of issues. Gay marriage, even. Maybe it boils down to my take on government, and that they should in no way, shape or form be dictating who an adult can or can't "marry." Who defines marriage, anyway? I think marriage is VERY important. But at the same time, a piece of paper defines your lifetime commitment to another person?<br />
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And this is what happens when I drink half a bottle of wine and watch Sister Wives on a Sunday night. I welcome your thoughts!<p>Aubreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906096176070028291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376370937952423782.post-176490765858426042011-10-06T22:28:00.001-04:002011-10-06T22:28:45.698-04:00It's beginning to look a lot like Halloween!So glad fall is here! Well, it's sort of here. Not a fan of this 40 degree morning/80 degree afternoon thing. Weather wise, those are my LEAST favorite times of the year (when the weather can't make up its mind). Either way, Halloween is my second favorite holiday, so I'm definitely excited about that. Here are some of my favorite fall things!<br />
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<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/aubsmiles03/c703b521b22242209da723664fd2175f-1-1.jpg" /><br />
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. I know, I'm one of the bajillion people
who talk about this when fall comes around, but it truly is
fall in a cup. I would also recommend the Salted Caramel Mocha (but
maybe in latte form - the mocha flavoring was a little too much for me).<br />
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<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/aubsmiles03/PDIS_D17758D-1.jpg" /><br />
More of an excuse to watch one of my favorite movies: Hocus Pocus! Finally bought it at Best Buy the other day. The cashier said, "I used to love this movie!" And I was thinking...um, I still do. Speaking of Halloween movies, can't wait til ABC Family's 13 nights of Halloween...The Addams Family, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and CASPER! My kind of "horror" flicks. :) AND more of an excuse to watch Young Frankenstein and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (both of which I have on DVD). The Addams Family musical is actually coming to Charlotte this month, and I think I'd like to see it. I wonder if it's any good.<br />
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<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/aubsmiles03/gcs_offersShop_woodwk.jpg" /><br />
Fall candles. This is my latest favorite - Woodwick Glazed Pumpkin. Combination between cookies and pumpkins. It smells soooo good. And of course makes that fun crackling noise.<br />
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<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/aubsmiles03/DisneyHalloweentreat-1.jpg" /><b> </b><br />
Oh, and while I'm talking Halloween movies - does anyone remember watching this? As a child, it was one of my favorite things to watch on Halloween. I watched it on The Disney Channel every year. There are listings on ebay for it, but they are mostly 25 year old VHS copies that go for around $80.00. I so wish Disney would release it on DVD...maybe someday!<br />
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Aside from those things, I LOVE decorating for Halloween, and I also hope to make some pumpkin cupcakes before the season ends. Not sure if Ross and I will do anything costume-related this year, but I'm hoping we'll have some trick-or-treaters at our apartment. There seem to be a lot of younger families/children where we live, so I'm assuming we will. Happy Fall!<br />
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