A glimpse...

I haven't blogged lately because... Well... I got nothing...

However, I promised she who shares my namesake that I would blog by the end of the week (which obviously didn't happen, seeing as how it is now next week) so here I am. I know you've missed me. Don't lie.

So you say to yourself... "What's been going on Karen?" To which I reply... "um, let me think about it"

On yoga - Yes, I'm still going. Yep, you guessed it, my body still hates it. Some of the most basic things my body just refuses to do. It screams, protests and threatens to shut down while I try to make it bend and pose. I know patience is a virtue and at some point I will be bending and posing with the best of them but in the meantime it's a struggle. 27 years of being sedentary are coming back to haunt me. No worries though, I will make my body love yoga, whether it wants to or not is irrelevant.

On my quest for better health - Obviously I've been having some issues when it comes to staying with it. Legolas (my Elf boyfriend) is trying his hardest to remind me. Juicing has also been a little problematic as I've been lazy and also have been having a hard time finding kale that isn't dry. So what happens when I don't do the things I know I should be doing? I get sick. My sinuses are killing me. Consequently I can't sleep (especially if I try to take a Claritin D close to bedtime) and have raging headaches. However, I'm getting sick of being sick so I think that will spur me back to the path of health.
In a related note I tried some Almond milk a while back and decided that it is supreme yum. I'm hesitant to try soy products just because I'm heard so many bad things about it... Any recommendations for dairy substitutes? (And if you are a family member reading this don't freak out, I'm not going vegan anytime soon)

On my new phone - I got an iPhone! We've been together for 2 weeks now. The honeymoon phase is over and now we're stuck trying to find our groove. It's a delicate relationship currently because we're still on unfamiliar territory. He (yes my iPhone is male) is a sensitive one and I'm always pushing the wrong buttons. I've been told eventually it'll become easier and like second nature. I hope so because I've lusted after this relationship for so long. (Just for you Karin =P)


Work on the bathroom continues (now that Husband is home). The shower is tiled & grouted. Yesterday he started on the floor (and finished but I'm too lazy to take another picture). It will probably be grouted sometime later this week. I love the design and I love the fact that Husband just dreamed it up out of nowhere. He's so awesome. Now if we could just get done with the house...

So now I'm sure you're saying to yourself... That's great Karen but what have you been doing while your husband has been hard at work? Well... I've been busy too... Sorta.

Yesterday I spent most of the day making our book shelf look pretty and organized again. 250+ books/4 hours later doesn't it look pretty? I also discovered that we apparently need more shelves... Which means I also need to sit down with my thoroughly marked up excel spreadsheet and update some info... Oh books how I love thee... (This is our "read" section... which brings me to...)This didn't happen yesterday, maybe last weekend but here's even more books that I have stashed away somewhere else... This is my to-finish-reading-dammit pile. I need to stop buying books for the love of jeebus. Or just read faster...And this morning I did this... *beams with pride* Welcome to the kingdom of Karen. (And yes Li that is the Sims on my computer screen... but I was working while playing darnit!) Isn't it beautiful? (Although I did forget to dust my keyboard/mouse area...) It feels nice to be organized... even if it won't last.

Let me see... what else?
Oh I signed up for the Nielsen Homescan Consumer Panel. That means I scan in my weekly household purchases and transmit the data for free stuff! Yep, I love me some free stuff. I got the scanner in Friday and finally set up the store information today along with scanning in my first purchases. I'm excited.

Honestly, I think that's all. Even if it's not my brain refuses to think anymore. Over and out.

The struggle...

Been feeling a little moody lately so...
My Not-So-Secret secret.
Inspired by Post Secret

The Kashi love...

I love free stuff!

Seriously.

Dear Kashi Connect Member,

Know some people who don’t believe healthy eating can taste great? Well, we’ll help you prove it can.

Soon you’ll receive a sample of tasty Kashi^® Honey Sunshine^® cereal in the mail, made with 20g whole grains, 6g fiber and a sweet honey taste everyone can love.

You’ll also get coupons, and an invitation to a special website where you can learn how to overrule objections to healthy eating and even give your own verdict.

See you in the court of taste appeal.
The Kashi Family

Dear Kashi,

I love you. Just saying.

Signed,

Karen's Tastebuds

Wanna join?

*Insert clever words*

Life first. Blogger later.

Hence why I haven't been blogging.
I've been (what feels like) extraordinarily busy lately.

Since my last post I officially become a year older. I don't feel particularly wiser but the aches and pains tell me that I am indeed getting older.

My parents gave me money so I could finally get off my lazy butt and take some yoga classes. Last Monday I went. The studio I picked offers the first class for free which is nice and the class sizes are very small which is even nicer. That being said... yoga hates me. Or more precisely my body hates yoga. Everyone assumes because I'm thin I'm flexible and will rock at yoga... those myths were quickly dispelled. I'm not giving up though. Mostly because after it was all said and done I left the studio with a big grin on my face and felt absolutely relaxed.

I also hit Kohl's (*love*) yesterday with some additional birthday money. I bought 8 (yes 8, I would have bought more if they had my size) of those tank tops with the built in bras (and no, not the creepy kind meant to enhance your boobs). As well as 2 pairs of "yoga" pants (because the drawstring in the pants I wore last week sort of bruised my tailbone). It was freaking sweet.

For my actual birthday Husband and I went to the zoo. It was something close to a million degrees out so we didn't last long before giving up. It was still fun though. (pictures can be found on flickr... I'm too lazy to import pictures here today)

Yesterday we bought our tickets for So You Think You Can Dance which is coming through T-Town again in October. I'm ridiculously excited and we got most excellent seats.
Yesterday we also finally saw Up. And yes, I cried like a little baby. I have to say though... I really think this is the best Disney/Pixar movie in a long time. Even Husband liked it, which is saying something since he loathes animated movies.

Speaking of which... we saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Now it's no secret that I am not a fan of the movies to begin with. I think they don't even come close to doing justice to the books. That being said... from a strictly entertainment standpoint... I was so bored the entire movie. It's been so long since I read the books that I couldn't nit-pick too much (That was Husbands job this time) so I don't think it was that. I was just surprised at how bored I was given my very low expectations. Anywho...

I've started clipping coupons. I even went to 2 different workshops (This girl is amazing) to get the low-down on how to make couponing worth it. As you can imagine this takes up quite a bit of time. However, it's addictive. Evey time we go out shopping now I get giddy when Husband works out how much we saved. I could spend hours googling coupons. Seriously.

So there you have it. Life has kept me occupied. There's probably no end in sight either, seeing as how I now own the first 9 Sookie Stackhouse books with book 10 on pre-order... Speaking of which I need to eat some breakfast...

Lyrical inspiration...

The following song has been rumbling around in my brain for the past few weeks so I figured I should let it inspire my blogging (since I have had a severe lack of inspiration lately).

If Today Was Your Last Day - Nickelback



My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day?
What if, what if, if today was your last day?

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the price is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you're never living twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?

And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are

So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothing stand in your way
'Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?

And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?

My body and I are not really agreeing currently. Yesterday afternoon I took 2 Tylenol and a zyrtec... all to no avail. Last night I took 3 herbal muscle relaxers (per my chiropractor's instructions) and drank some nighttime tea to help me sleep... I still woke up at 3am. If I'm not congested I'm battling insomnia of the worst kind. My energy reserves are tapped out and my brain feels like mush most of the days.

I know what I should be doing… juicing religiously, exercising, meditating, taking my vitamins… not drinking starbucks, not eating junk food, not sitting at my computer for hours playing the Sims… alas I’m on the path de destructo lately. (Not looking for sympathy, trust me… just trying to get these toxic thoughts out of my head)

I think there is a combination of things at work here. Most of which I don’t feel comfortable dissecting here for the entire world to read. (Not that I think I have much of a readership but you know what I mean) It’s just hard sometimes when you feel stuck… trapped and aren’t sure how to right yourself down the path that will lead to ultimate happiness. I’ve started too many projects and made too many commitments for my own sanity currently. This leads to a Karen who wants to hide in bed all day with trashy chick lit and drink Starbucks.

In other thoughts…

I have absolutely no desire to go to my high school reunion. None. It's not that I hated high school. Quite the opposite... I have fond memories and had some close friends. However, I mostly definitely would not say that they were the best years of my life… quite the opposite in fact. It wasn't until college that I really started to understand myself and embrace the me that had been screaming to be set free for all those years. I dyed my hair funky colors and pierced body parts. I also lost every single friend I had from high school (I am not laying blame here just to be clear). We became different people who couldn't relate anymore, all we could do was reminisce about the old days. And to me... that's not the best way to live life. I don't want to spend any more time in the past then necessary. I want to look forward with the knowledge that what happened in my past made me who I am. Which means that if you are reading this and we went to high school together... don't expect to see me next year. Sorry. Sorta.

Also…

In the event of my unfortunate demise my last wishes are as follows:

• I will be cremated and I want my ashes to scattered in cool locations. Take a road trip with my remains (ala Elizabethtown). I don’t want anyone to feel obligated to visit a certain location on a certain day and mourn me. Think of me fondly when you visit places I loved.
• P.s. Bury me and I will haunt your behind for the rest of eternity.
• You will donate whatever organs are salvageable. I'm pretty sure I'll have no use for them seeing as how I am now dead.
• No funeral. No preachers saying prayers over my body. I was not a religious person and I would like to be honored even in the event of my death. This also means that there will be no viewing my dead (read: CREEPY) body. I’m serious.
• You will throw a party in my memory. You will sit around blaring music, laughing and sharing stories about how awesome I was and how lame your lives will now be without me.
• P.s. Some crying is ok. It’s to be expected. I just expect far more laughing then crying.
• My party will contain a fully-loaded nacho bar and drinks will be catered by Starbucks. Strawberry Cheesecake is also permissible but not cherry, that’s just nasty.
• The music that shall be played with contain at the very least the following songs: Punk Rock Princess - Something Corporate, Rockstar - Nickelback, Longview - Greenday, and If I had a Million Dollars - Barenaked Ladies. If you play sad songs I will haunt your behind.

One final thought:

True FREAKING Blood.

Oh. My. Jebus. (The cool kids know what I’m talking about)

I’m done.

Expect to hear from me again in another month. Or 4… whenever I get off my behind and take back control of my life.