Fluorescent Grey [Monochromania & Thoughts on Blue Valentine]

Suggested soundtrack:

RIP Jay Reatard. I love his music, and I love Calvin Johnson's ominous, deep voice as an addition on this track. 

Tuesday was my first time taking OOTDs with the tripod I got for Christmas, and it was fun. As comfortable as I am around Ger, it was liberating to be in front of the camera without anyone behind it. I didn't have to wait for him to decide when I was looking "good" or worthy of pressing the button. Automatic timers just keep going, and that means I gotta apply all my ANTM Tyra tips (like smizing, haha) and show the camera some love. Since it was my first time with the tripod, I just went outside my house. I hope to eventually start dragging my tripod around, and doing some shoots in more inspired settings. I also hope to eventually learn a new pose other than putting my hands on my hips. Someday, dearies, someday. 

Monday night Ger and I got to talking about clothes, and how, generally, I tend to prefer making contrasting statements with color, and he tends to go more complimentary. This all-gray outfit was my attempt at dressing (somewhat) against my instincts. Ordinarily, I probably would have chosen a colorful cardigan or a brightly colored scarf, but I liked putting together this mostly monochromatic look. I love this blouse, I have it in pale green too. They're on sale for cheap, cheap, cheap at Avenue right now, and are such a great basic. Very easy to layer and coordinate. 

Sweater LB / Blouse Avenue / Skirt Avenue / Tights LB / Boots JC Penney's / Belt Target / Necklace Homemade gift / Bracelet Avenue

I wore this outfit to go lipstick shopping (unsuccessful) and to see Blue Valentine. I don't remember the last time a movie has affected me so much. The entire time I felt like a voyeur, watching these two people meet and fall in love while concurrently watching them struggle, fight, disconnect and fall apart. The contrast, especially at the end when their rise and fall is flipping back and forth faster than I could mentally disassociate from it, got to me in a big way. I cried during the movie, and I cried afterward describing it to Gerry. Everything about Blue Valentine, from the dialogue, to the looks, to the sex, to the heated fights, to the tears, etc., felt real and honest. It made for a strikingly beautiful, but also gut-wrenchingly sad film. My friend and I were in agreement that when the movie ended, we weren't ready. The character development was just too great, and we wanted more of them. So since then, I've been indulging in that feeling, watching clips and interviews. Here is a scene of Cindy and Dean from one of their highest points in the movie.  

Gosling's character in the film was adorable, charming, realistic and engaging; a true hopeless romantic. I now have a full-blown crazy celebrity crush (as does my homegirl. We just spent at least 15 minutes talking about his general handsomeness). Seriously guys, I feel like a teenager! Maybe I need to get laid, but for now, I'm obsessing over Gosling/Dean and the way he pulled off those sexy one-liners. Here is one of the interviews I especially liked:

Have any of you seen it yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Best movie of the year, second to none. Go see Blue Valentine. Bring kleenex. 

Northern Lights [Date Night at Rox City Grill]

Suggested soundtrack:

I think Bowerbirds are the only band I have liked more on an album as opposed to seeing live. Maybe it's because I wasn't into them when I saw them. Maybe it's because they were opening for St. Vincent (My mind totally blanked when trying to remember St. Vincent's name. For some reason I could only remember her first name (Annie), and I had to look up Thunderant on youtube to get to her name. [this video is what I'm referring to, if you're lost]). At any rate, I think this song is lovely, and Bowerbirds have this very laid-back, organic, minimalist folky-pop sound that is nice to listen to while blogging. So that is what I'm doing. And the frontman has a really sexy beard. I love bearded men... 

My bearded man and I had a date on Friday. I was feeling really down: I had a shit day at work (which happens often these days), I haven't been making as much money as usual, and I'm really struggling to figure out what I want to do with my life. I'm sure I'll figure it out, but for now I'm feeling pretty confused. So on Friday when Ger showed up I was in sweatpants and acting kinda mopey. Rather than staying in (like we had all week), we decided to go out for a fancy, schmancy dinner and act like we had money. It made me feel better.

We shared the potato soup and a blue cheese wedge, and then split this amazing prime strip steak flight. The first was French inspired with a bordelaise sauce atop pommes frites, the second, Asian inspired with a hoisin-chili glaze atop wasabi and blue crab mashed potatoes, and the third, American inspired with garlic butter atop smashed, sea-salt flavored new potatoes. Medium-rare deliciousness.

Rather than getting dessert, we opted for after-dinner drinks. This place has the best espresso martini, using a full shot, Stoli Vanil and Kaluha. Ger ordered the Macallan 12 year. Idiotically, I decided maybe I would have another-go at scotch. My limited experience with scotch includes my bad-influence friend ordering me a shot of Johnny Walker Black. Yeah....gross. Turns out, I still think scotch is nasty. Here is the proof. (Please ignore my sassy peach bra. Ger doesn't tell me about these things)

Here is an outfit shot, comprised entirely of clothes I've worn before. Had it not been so goddamn frigid, I probably would have opted for sassier shoes as opposed to flat boots.

Tunic Evans / Cardigan Target / Jeggings Avenue / Boots Torrid / Necklace Macy's 

Also, just thought I'd add these pictures from Sunday when I went and hung out with my cutie twin cousins.

I had debated not going with my family so I could go drink and watch the Bears game with friends. I'm really glad I went though. It's ridiculous how quickly babies grow. They had changed so much from when I last saw them at Christmas. It's so interesting how differently they are coming along developmentally. Anthony always acts very engaged when you're holding him,making lots of eye contact and laughing when you're being funny, where as Samantha observes the environment. She also is doing a funny crawl wiggle to get to objects, and will hold her own bottle. Anthony just wants to be fed. It's really nice to be around babies, but, for now, I'm glad it's only in small doses. 

Intimacy

I've been thinking about taking these pictures since before I even had a blog. Along with snuggling, spooning, pillow talk and making love, one of my favorite intimate moments in this relationship is manscaping my boyfriend. I remember on our first date Gerry had a bit of a unibrow (hope he doesn't give me a pinch for sharing that fact). While being a bit unkempt didn't prevent the sparks from flying, I wouldn't exactly call it a turn on. Several weeks into our relationship I made mention of his connected caterpillars, and he said he'd take care of it. And like a silly man, what did he do? He shaved in between them. Oh, the horror of that stubbly focal point. Basically, from that moment on, I've been taking care of it for him. He is pretty calm about it now, but in the beginning he acted like a big baby, wincing and yelping, when I'd pluck the good ones. It still happens on occasion, and I'll admit I take a tiny bit of sadistic pleasure in it. For the most part though it's just a lot of carefully inspecting his cute face, defining his masculine features, and it generally leads to some smooching. Falling into this routine was unexpected, but natural. It's a special kind of intimacy, and I absolutely love it. 

P.S. In case I never include this sweater in an OOTD, this is one of my favorite cardigans. It's a man's canary yellow, grandpa sweater. When I saw it at the thrift store I was immediately drawn to it, because of my own grandfather's collection of Lacoste cardigans. I'd still like to find a bright red one as well. Sometimes the reasons we wear clothes are more interesting than the clothes themselves.

Making My First Roast

In my last post, I discussed making my first roast for my family and Gerry for dinner. I'm pleased to say that it turned out fantastic, amazing, delicious, scrumptious and wonderful! I really love cooking and being in the kitchen. Cooking, for me, is a fun and rewarding activity. I like meal planning, grocery shopping and putting time into something I know everyone can enjoy. I like cultivating a skill.

This recipe I used for my pork loin roast is a complete home run. Tuscan-inspired and written by the Lobels, the New York "prime purveyor", it made the most well-flavored roast I've ever had. Considering it's something I had never made before, I was truly ecstatic. Everyone cleaned their plates and most of us went back for seconds. So if you're considering a culinary venture or are just in need of a tasty meat recipe, I urge you to go for this garlicky, herbaceous pork roast. I bet it would be good on beef, too.

Roast Loin of Pork with Rosemary, Sage and Garlic
adapted from the Lobel's Meat and Wine cookbook
(serves 4 to 6)
One 3-pound boneless pork loin roast w/ a generous layer of fat left on
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh sage, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon coarsely ground back pepper
Kosher salt
1/2 cup dry white wine (more to taste if necessary)
1 cup beef broth
1 cup water
*measurements have been adapted for a 3-pound roast. Original recipe called for a bone-in, 4-pounder, but turned out beautifully as adapted above. 
1) Using a sharp knife, score the fat on top layer of the loin in a crosshatch pattern, cutting through the fat, but not into the flesh.
2) In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, garlic, sage, rosemary and pepper. Rub half of the herb mixture on the top and into the slits of the pork, and rub the rest on the bottom. Let the roast marinate for at least one hour and up to three hours. (You could also marinade overnight, wrapped in plastic wrap and refridgerated, but bring back to room temperature before popping it in the oven. I marinaded mine for two-and-a-half hours.)

3) Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit
4) Generously salt the loin on all sides before putting it in the roasting pan (fat side up). *The addition of Kosher salt really amped up the flavor by forming a nice crust on the loin. Roast for 10-12 minutes (should begin to brown).  Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and roast until a meat thermometer registers 140-145 when inserted in the center of the roast, about 55 minutes to an hour and 15 minutes.

After cooking for 12 minutes

5) Put the roasting pan on the stove top, and transfer the roast to a cutting board. Let it rest, tented loosely with aluminum foil, for 15 minutes (or however long it takes you to make the sauce). *If you do not feel like making the sauce/jus, the pork is perfectly tasty and juicy without it. The addition of a sauce does add some nice, additional flavor, but if you skip it, definitely still let the pork rest!

6) Meanwhile, begin making pauce by adding the wine to the drippings and begin to simmer over a medium-high heat. Simmer until reduced by two-thirds, 4 to 5 minutes. 

7) Add the broth and water and continue simmering until reduced by almost half, 12-15 minutes. The sauce should be flavorful (pretty salty) but still quite liquid, midway between a broth and a sauce in consistency. Cook to reduce further and add salt and pepper, if necessary (totally unnecessary when I made it). *(For further flavor, add in whole sage leaves and rosemary sprigs while simmering. Remove them before serving.)

8) Slice the loin into slices slightly less than 1/4 inch thick and divide them among plates, about 4 slices per plate. *Gerry sliced these a bit thicker, so it was about 2-3 slices per plate.

Once cutting into the pork, it appeared a little too pink toward the middle, bottom section of pieces (despite having been cooked to temperature). I popped the slices back into the oven for 5 minutes, wrapped in foil at the advice of my mom. Pink pork doesn't scare me because I like everything on the medium-rare kind of side, but you know, I didn't want to give everyone trichinosis. 

9) Spoon sauce over and around meat and serve immediately. (The recipe notes drizzling with extra olive oil, if you'd like, but I think that's unnecessary.) 

In the notes, it suggests pairing the loin with a leafy green (I chose spinach) sauteed in olive oil. I also paired the pork with  The Pioneer Woman's Crash Hot Potatoes. I have made these suckers many times, they are always delicious and a big hit. It was the first time Gerry tried them, and he was in love. I like to add a sprinkle of shredded parmesan while they bake, and I've tried them using thyme instead of rosemary and they were equally as yummy. 

I gotta say, I couldn't have been more pleased with this meal (which is unlike me. I'm always critical of my own cooking). Doesn't it look tasty?

How My Heart Behaves

Suggested Soundtrack:


I've been listening to "The Reminder" while cooking. Feist is a babe. This song is kinda sad, but I am not.

We (Ger, whomever takes my photos and I) are still trying to figure out the best setting to take pictures on my new camera. I have a Canon Powershot, and I know jack about cameras, so if you have a suggestion for good indoor photos, let me know. Blogger-in-progress, I must confess. I wore this outfit to the mall to return some things and then out to dinner with Gerry that night. I really loved this outfit. Several of the items are from a recent thrifting trip (an allowed exception to No Spend January). However, these boots are a total NSJ cheat. I went to Target to purchase the booties I had mentioned in my exceptions, but they just didn't fit right. These boots, however, did! They were only $8.50, and I had a gift card, so how could I not?!?!?! A cheater is a cheater though, I know. I had eyed them several times, thinking they weren't "my style", but in an effort to push myself toward my New Year's resolution to try things that aren't typically my style, I tried them on and LOVED them. They're so comfortable and I love how flashy the gold hardware is. I caught so many people looking at them while I was at the mall. One thing though, I didn't wear them with socks over my tights, and they totally snagged and caused runs in my tights. Bummer. Worth it. Lastly, This is probably as short as I would ever comfortably like my hemline.

Dress Thrift (Salvation Army) / Scarf Thrift (Salvation Army) / Slip-dress Target / Tights Target / Shoes Dolce Vita for Target / Jewelry Inherited 

My grandma's wedding band on my pinky. The other ring is a gold band with two tiny opal stones, and an even tinier diamond in the center with a carved star shape around it. It's kind of a weird ring, and it belonged to my mom's aunt. I've had it forever, but only recently started liking it. My necklace belonged to my bestie's grandmother. One day,  late last summer, she and I went thrifting for jewelry only to come up empty. When her mom got home that evening, she suggested we raid Grandma Inez's costume jewelry collection. The raid yielded an amazing haul. I'm sure I'll wear more in future posts. Also, Gerry made the most disgusted sound after taking this photo of me holding up the monocle backing to this necklace, but it's such a nice feature to this precious necklace.  

I'm currently feasting on the scent of garlic, rosemary and sage emanating from my oven. I'm in the process of entering a domestic rite of passage: cooking my first roast. Cooking meat intimidates me so much! It's the centerpiece of a meal, it needs to read a certain temperature, and if you overcook it, there's no turning back! I'm trying to document this venture to blog about, but I gotta say, how do food bloggers do it? Cooking is, generally, all about timing. Stopping to take photos throughout the cooking does not seem analogous to the inherent timing of the process, but I'm going to try anyway. Wish me luck! Hopefully I'll have this domestic milestone documented to share with you.

One Beat

Suggested Soundtrack:

This song is a feminist anthem. It's abrasive, demanding and empowering. I know I quoted it in a paper in college because the lyrics own. "Your word for me is fusion, but is real change an illusion? Could I turn this place all upside-down, and shake you and your fossils out?" Listen to riot grrrl, not Rhianna. 

On Tuesday, a gal pal and I hit up the library to have a study date. I miss the days of college where you'd live in the library, cramming a semester's worth of knowledge into your head in preparation for a final. I miss all-nighters and chain-smoking from stress. Weird, huh? So I went there to find some feminist books and read a little. I was hoping to write a blog I've been thinking about for months, but I still haven't gotten to it. Oh well.

I did find a few rad books, but the feminist section at the public library in this conservative midwestern town is pretty sparse. Fat acceptance books are non-existent with the exception of Fat Chicks Rule: How To Survive in a Thin-Centric World, which I found in the Diseases call number section with books about obesity, heart disease and cancer. It should go without saying how obnoxious that is. The book itself was basically a tutorial on how to be fat and not hate yourself; not exactly what I was what I was looking for. I was hoping to find some material about fat feminism. If you have any book suggestions for me, please share. The feminist books I checked out give me things to read and think about, but I've yet to find anything that all-encompasses institutional fat discrimination, competing fat feminist ideologies and fatphobia. Fat!So? looks good though and I might purchase it in the near future. 


At the end of our library day, my friend and I had a photoshoot. When I woke up Tuesday knowing I would be going to the library to read feminist lit, I felt the day's theme influence my outfit. I think the outfit gives off a late 80s/early 90s indie-alternative/Carrie Brownstein/Pacific Northwest vibe. I really quite like it.

photo: Carrie Brownstein via The Bulletin

Plaid Torrid / T-Shirt Thrift circa high school / Belt LB Skirt Avenue Tights Target (Assets) Brogues Simply Comfort

My favorite accessory lately has been this gold pinky ring. It was my grandmother's wedding band. My mom recently gave it to me, and then tried to take it back because she thinks I'm going to lose it. I would never! Also, this is the current state of my hair. I hate my gold streaks. They should be red. I'm trying someone new soon. I've been trying to hold off until the end of the month. 

And also I'd be remiss if I failed to mention this killer quinoa recipe I made tonight to accompany my honey and cumin-spiced salmon and roasted broccoli. Even my dad liked it, and he embodies a meat-and-potatoes man more than any other.

Quinoa with Black Beans and Cilantro (Bon Appetit Sept. 2008 via Epicurious)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cups chopped white onions
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 cup quinoa, rinsed, drained
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups water
1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed, drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, divided
Crumbled Cotija cheese or feta cheese (optional)


Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and red pepper; sauté until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in next 4 ingredients. Add water; bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until quinoa is almost tender, about 14 minutes. Add beans and 1/4 cup cilantro; cook uncovered until heated through and liquid is fully absorbed, about 3 minutes. Transfer to bowl; sprinkle with 1/4 cup cilantro and cheese, if desired.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Quinoa-with-Black-Beans-and-Cilantro-243392#ixzz1AyZmnpsP

Have you made anything super delicious lately?

Love Is Like a Bottle of Gin

Suggested Soundtrack:


I realize my last blog was pretty intense, but that's how it goes; crying one day, happy as a clam the next. For now, letting the future weigh down the present makes no sense; it just kind of creeps out of the periphery every now and then. I don't know when we'll make it to Portland, but it's our dream. We'll get there. And we're better together. Enough on that.

Post-fight, make-up time is bliss. Ger surprised me with breakfast in bed because I was supposed to have to work.

That's Dixie watching and begging for meat bites, some delicious grub, and Ger sitting in a chair because he doesn't know how to sit up in bed (I don't get it either.)

Right when I got outta the shower I got a call from a co-worker saying she'd work my shift. I did a hallway dance in my towel. We ended up having a nice afternoon date. We saw a Saturday matinee of The Fighter, which was incredible. Christian Bale deserves an award for his quirky, cracked-out performance. Our mall food court lunch was filled with the standard sub-par food and pre-teen PDA. We rounded out the day by making a stop for an outdoor photoshoot.

Cardigan Thrift (Men's) / Boyfriend T Target / Jeggings (pegged) Avenue / Shades Arizona Trading Company  / Bandana-Scarf Thrift /  Necklace Gift / My Favorite Socks Salvation Army / Brogues Strictly Comfort (Xmas gift)

I'm obsessed with these socks I found at the Salvation Army. Socks are not the kind of thing you grab thinking "OMG, these will change my life", but I never knew I could love socks the way I love these. They cost $.30, they're warm, they're sweat-proof, I love the colors and the pattern. I like showing them off when I wear 'em. I wish I could find more. I'm also loving these shoes. Thanks, Santa!

And also, Follow my blog with bloglovin

Should We Keep Thumping?

 Suggested Soundtrack:


I spent most of my life single... or maybe better yet, I spent most of my life watching my girlfriends act stupid over boys, and every so often, over men. Critically watching from the outside, I always vowed not to make their same mistakes. I vowed to maintain independence and a strong sense of self within a relationship. I vowed not to let a man dictate the way I felt about myself. I vowed to do what I wanted to do no matter what.

My strong feminist ideals have no doubt shaped the way I think about relationships, or maybe more-so the way I think I should think. I don’t think I should change my last name when I get married. I don’t think I should be a stay-at-home mom. I don’t think I should change what I want for myself because it’s incongruent with what is best for my relationship. This is what I think I should think.

Love is funny though. Love transforms the “I” to “we”, the “my” to “our”, the “me” to “us”. Over time my plan became our plan. Over time I stopped envisioning how I would act in a new city, and started thinking about how we would build a life there together. I still want what our love caused my imagination create for us. But what if it’s not all coming along as planned? If one member of the “us” cannot hold up his/her end of the bargain, then how do you proceed? Do you stick to your guns, and carry out your own original plan? Or do you accept the way love softens and changes you, and accommodate the one you love? Perhaps it means extending a time frame, perhaps it means forming a new plan. I don’t know. These are the questions I’m asking in love. I know that love isn’t the question, but haven’t figured out if it’s the answer.

I want to move to Portland.
I want to stay in this relationship.
Perhaps never the twain shall meet.
And maybe you can’t have it all.

NSJ

Over the course of the past few months, I've come to define my shopping habits as an addiction. I'm mainly a clearance and sales junkie. I'll buy anything if it is 50 percent off. When I read that Anna was organizing No Spend January, my first reaction was "haha, yeah right, I can't do that," but I also know that I really need to cut back. I have spent way too much money on clothes over the past few months and I need a break. I also have some other expenses this month.... like paying to fix the front of my car because I rear-ended an idiot in the snow (this person just slammed on their brakes, fishtailed, I bumped them and then they kept driving, so I did too! So weird). Knowing that I'm going to be tapping into my savings account this month means I should make a little sacrifice elsewhere. It's just one month. I can handle it!




In January, I will not spend money on:
-Clothing
-Shoes
-Accessories (including jewelry)

We are allowed to give ourselves a few exceptions. My exceptions are:
- I am allowed to go thrifting, but only if I am with my partner-in-crime/bestie. Homegirl is in town for a short period of time, having just come back from Mexico and will be moving to Korea for a whole year. I will not deprive us of one of our favorite past times.
- I am allowed to make exchanges on the clothes I'm returning from Christmas.
- I am allowed to buy an outfit for the 10th annual holiday party, Friendsgiving, which takes place January 29th. I was going to hold myself back, but ASOS keeps lowering its damn prices! I actually meant to order this before January, but I'm glad I didn't because it's cheaper now. I also tried on some booties at Target, which I plan to buy to go with it, but I'm using Christmas gift cards, which makes it less bad, right???

Other than those exceptions, I'm staying away from the stores and not buying anything this month.
Here is the complete list of bloggers participating this month:

Abigail of Mitten Paws
Anna of Bargain Fatshionista
Christina of Randomness ala Mode
Courtney of Loving the Reflection
Desiree of The Frugalista Fatshionista
Elizabeth of The State I Am In
The Notorious ZAG of Bigg Badd Wolf

You Can Have It All

Suggested Soundtrack:


This song's meaning of "you can have it all" is a little bit different than the way I mean it for myself, readers and how I plan to approach the year, but I felt like it was still the perfect song to soundtrack this post because its sentiment is beautiful in all its interpretations. "You Can Have It All" is my "falling in love in a movie" song. I wonder if it is in some indie flick I've never heard of doing just that. If not, someone should get on it. What is more romantic than telling someone they can have all of you? Nothing. I want this song involved in my wedding somehow.

Here are some NYE pix.

Shrug Avenue / Cami LB / Dress Faith 21 / Boots Torrid

My motto and resolution for 2011 is "You Can Have It All." I know 2011 is going to be filled with a lot of new life experiences and personal growth. I can feel it, I'm planning it and apparently, the stars are aligned as well. Although any day can be a day for change and betterment, I think the new year is the most perfect time for slackers (aka me) to begin again. My new year's resolutions are basically a public to-do list. Here we go, in no particular order or theme:

In 2011 I Will...
- Get a new CAREER, not just job
      I am a college graduate, it's time to start acting like one.
- Start wearing lipstick
      Lipstick intimidates and intrigues me. I've never found a proper shade. I'm ready to be more fabulous.
- Dare to wear what I want to wear whenever I want to wear it
      When getting dressed, I often find myself catering to my audience (be that my bf, my super-stylish friend, my family, etc) I need to get dressed for me. I also sometimes hold myself back when I try on clothes (ex: "this skirt is short. short skirts aren't subtle. therefore it's not "me", but sometimes I want to wear a skirt that is short. Sometimes I want a super colorful print. Sometimes I want to wear unseasonably inappropriate attire. I just need to do what I wanna do and acknowledge that personal style does not need to always mean one thing. 
- Continue to squirrel away the dough
      Last year was the first year I was able to save a significant amount of money. I came up with a system that works for me. I took a bit of a break with it because of a trip and the holidays, but I need to always be saving my money to plan for the future. 
- Move to Portland, Oregon
      I will move away before I turn 26. I have been fantasizing about moving to Portland for years. In March '10, Gerry and I shook on moving away together. We initially said we would move in April, then May, then June and now August. I am 100 percent fine with the date extensions (for monetary reasons), but the date will not be extended again. I will move away before I turn 26. 
- LIVE IN SIN
        It's so hard being 25 and living with your parents.... actually, I think it's really just hard being 25 and not being able to sleep in the same bed as my boyfriend. I respect our parents "old school" beliefs, and again, saving money to move away takes precedent over the present desire to cohabitate. I can't wait to live with my boyfriend though. 
- Get a new social security card
         Mine got stolen in Sept. '09. Why haven't I replaced it yet? Oh yeah, it's because I'm a slacker!  
-  Continue to accept, but improve myself
        Emotionally and physically.
- Keep up with my hair
        It's tempting to just let my hair do its thing. But I colored my hair for a reason, I need to keep up with the maintenance. I also need to find a new colorist who can make my highlights shine.
-  Listen to and write about music more
        The most difficult part about graduating college was losing my creative outlet. My last semester in school was consumed with being a part of a student-run radio station, knee deep in new, independent music. More music than I could properly process. I had to listen to, write and review multiple albums a week. I got to go into the studio and have thousands of albums at my disposal to try out. I need to figure out how to get back into the loop without it all being at my fingertips. It's hard to keep up with, but the reward is so great. 
- Go to the doctor
          I haven't been in forever. I think I've been telling myself to go for a year now. I use my lack of health insurance as an excuse, but if we look at how much I spend on clothes, it's very obvious that I'm just procrastinating it.
- Read a book, not just blogs
         Maybe the resolution really is just watch less Bravo TV? I like reading though. I should just do it. 
- Make sure I honor my blog intentions
          As I stated in my first post, I want to blog my life. I do not want my blog to just be OOTD after OOTD, it's to be about everything I like and dislike in life. It's a lifestyle blog, not just a fat fashion blog. I need to remember that. I also need to remember that I wanted to WRITE. It's easy to be a blogger, but not every blogger is a writer.
- Be more fabulous
          When I look good and act lavishly, I feel good. So in 2011, I'm letting the good times roll.