Dismiss any thoughts you may have had about the Huertas being perfect.
Both of you done? Ok, good.
When I wrote about our home phone debacle last week, I didn't realize that I set a jinx into motion.
Stephen and I mostly agreed that we would just hold on to our cell phones for the time being. We have them already, so why not use them?
Well, had.
Stephen lost his phone. And while "lost" might not be totally accurate (he's pretty sure he left it somewhere where it isn't anymore, and thievery is likely to blame), it is no longer in our possession.
Trust me when I say that this is rare for Stephen and way more common for me. I am the messy one, and I am the one with the poor track record. I've lost watches on floors of department stores, and "misplaced" recipes mid-meal-production.
While the phone may be gone for good, we've learned a few things.
The big one is that the cost to replace the cell phone is minuscule when compared to the forgiveness of each other's faults. Stephen is way more forgiving of me when I "misplace" something, so it is only right that I start to do the same. Remember, I am working on Jennifer, Version 2.0. With a little bit more prayer, I will (through God's grace) keep moving forward.
The other things we've learned? 1) Life does not end when you can no longer text your significant other, and 2) AT&T is a powerful place with powerful people. Do not mess with them.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Can We Call This a Bonus Post?
Due to an unexpected bout of have-to-go-to-the-doctor-ness, I am not going to be able to get to my regularly scheduled blog post.
Fight back your tears.
I'll get a real post up as soon as possible.
In the meantime...um...
Call your mom. I bet she misses you.
UPDATE: Just so everyone knows, I am healthy and everything is fine. I really appreciate the prayers, thoughts and "get wells." In general, you rock.
Fight back your tears.
I'll get a real post up as soon as possible.
In the meantime...um...
Call your mom. I bet she misses you.
UPDATE: Just so everyone knows, I am healthy and everything is fine. I really appreciate the prayers, thoughts and "get wells." In general, you rock.
Monday, July 12, 2010
A Bridal Odyssey
I love dresses. No news here. In fact, I think I may have started another blog with this exact same sentence. Well, not quite.
Wow.
Anyway….This weekend I got to be around one of my favorite type of dresses—wedding gowns!!
I was asked by the wonderful ladies at Elegant Bride in Fresno to be a model for their show this weekend. The show was part of a huge bridal convention titled A Bridal Odyssey in Visalia.
And odyssey it was.
I drove down there in a half-stouper, hoping that someone would magically drop coffee through my moon roof. I had forgotten just how heavy my nuclear-bomb-resistant makeup case is, and trekking through muggy rain (in July!) didn’t start my day off great. I spent a lot of the day hanging around, not reading Jane Eyre, and convincing myself that it wasn’t doing me any favors to eat the complimentary doughnuts for the models.
We models then rehearsed by walking around in various patterns on the stable but shady-looking stage; I think seeing more seams in it than any of the wedding dresses we were going to wear makes anybody a little uneasy. After rehearsing, I spent a good portion of my morning creating the perfect hairdo that said, “I might look loose, but I’m rock solid. You should see how much hairspray is holding me together. You want to try a veil? Just try to get that headpiece out once you stick it in.”
Hair has a lot to say, apparently.
Overall, the show went really well, and you could tell the audience had a good time checking out all the gowns.
I think that when I was the engaged gal, full of excitement and endurance, I was able to make it through those bridal shows with a little bit more energy at the end of the day.*
Instead, I feel like I was run over by a Hummer limo driven by all of the angry grooms forced to the convention during the World Cup finale.
Perhaps it’s because my own wedding is already over and I’m burnt out on bridal stuff. Maybe it was the fact that, at 23 years old, I was the OLDEST model at that show**. Or, maybe I miss anticipating my own special day (with my wonderful now-husband), wearing my own wedding dress (which comes with a story so stupendous it merits its own post).
No matter the reason, I was glad to help out Elegant Bride, and to wear some gorgeous gowns. I don’t know what it was this weekend that made me so exhausted, but I hope I can get whatever it is out of my system so that they will ask me back.
To share in more complementary doughnuts, of course.
*This was my fourth or fifth show with Elegant Bride.
**I had forgotten what giggly high school girls were like. In case you have forgotten, too, it’s loud.
Wow.
Anyway….This weekend I got to be around one of my favorite type of dresses—wedding gowns!!
I was asked by the wonderful ladies at Elegant Bride in Fresno to be a model for their show this weekend. The show was part of a huge bridal convention titled A Bridal Odyssey in Visalia.
And odyssey it was.
I drove down there in a half-stouper, hoping that someone would magically drop coffee through my moon roof. I had forgotten just how heavy my nuclear-bomb-resistant makeup case is, and trekking through muggy rain (in July!) didn’t start my day off great. I spent a lot of the day hanging around, not reading Jane Eyre, and convincing myself that it wasn’t doing me any favors to eat the complimentary doughnuts for the models.
We models then rehearsed by walking around in various patterns on the stable but shady-looking stage; I think seeing more seams in it than any of the wedding dresses we were going to wear makes anybody a little uneasy. After rehearsing, I spent a good portion of my morning creating the perfect hairdo that said, “I might look loose, but I’m rock solid. You should see how much hairspray is holding me together. You want to try a veil? Just try to get that headpiece out once you stick it in.”
Hair has a lot to say, apparently.
Overall, the show went really well, and you could tell the audience had a good time checking out all the gowns.
I think that when I was the engaged gal, full of excitement and endurance, I was able to make it through those bridal shows with a little bit more energy at the end of the day.*
Instead, I feel like I was run over by a Hummer limo driven by all of the angry grooms forced to the convention during the World Cup finale.
Perhaps it’s because my own wedding is already over and I’m burnt out on bridal stuff. Maybe it was the fact that, at 23 years old, I was the OLDEST model at that show**. Or, maybe I miss anticipating my own special day (with my wonderful now-husband), wearing my own wedding dress (which comes with a story so stupendous it merits its own post).
No matter the reason, I was glad to help out Elegant Bride, and to wear some gorgeous gowns. I don’t know what it was this weekend that made me so exhausted, but I hope I can get whatever it is out of my system so that they will ask me back.
To share in more complementary doughnuts, of course.
*This was my fourth or fifth show with Elegant Bride.
**I had forgotten what giggly high school girls were like. In case you have forgotten, too, it’s loud.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Foodie Fashion
Lately I've been talking about fashion on Fridays, but today I am thinking more about food (skipped breakfast=grumpy goose).
Also, on a completely unrelated note, I may have not done a very good job planning what I wanted to discuss today.*
However, someone has come to my rescue--and they didn't even know it.
When I opened up Twitter this morning, the combo I didn't know I needed was staring me in the face.
I follow Alisa Manjarrez (@alisa_m_), a Fresno gal who always has something cool to share. Today, it's food you can wear.
Yes.
While not a new concept, my experience is that the costume creations are always original, and never stay together longer than 17 minutes. Good times all around, I think.
Since I am hoping to do a food week coming up here soon, and hit a lot of different topics, her post produced the perfect storm for me to share it. Plus, it's funky.
Take a look here. I dare any of you to actually wear this stuff.
What? Oh, when you heard "food blog" and thought you would get a recipe? Well, she's submitted recipes through @TasteFresno before, so this might get you through the weekend.
Now, if I can just get someone to buy me breakfast.
*They are totally unrelated. Don't give me that look.
Also, on a completely unrelated note, I may have not done a very good job planning what I wanted to discuss today.*
However, someone has come to my rescue--and they didn't even know it.
When I opened up Twitter this morning, the combo I didn't know I needed was staring me in the face.
I follow Alisa Manjarrez (@alisa_m_), a Fresno gal who always has something cool to share. Today, it's food you can wear.
Yes.
While not a new concept, my experience is that the costume creations are always original, and never stay together longer than 17 minutes. Good times all around, I think.
Since I am hoping to do a food week coming up here soon, and hit a lot of different topics, her post produced the perfect storm for me to share it. Plus, it's funky.
Take a look here. I dare any of you to actually wear this stuff.
What? Oh, when you heard "food blog" and thought you would get a recipe? Well, she's submitted recipes through @TasteFresno before, so this might get you through the weekend.
Now, if I can just get someone to buy me breakfast.
*They are totally unrelated. Don't give me that look.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Adjusting My Gratitude
"Thank you."
It's a phrase that's becoming increasingly rare, both given and received.
I had planned for this post to talk about writing up thank you notes for the wedding gifts and cards that our family and friends had given us. I planned to complain about having to make plans to write up the notes, since making time for something like this seemed so stressful with the million other things I had to do. I planned to express my worry about not getting them out earlier. I planned to go a whole different direction with this post.
But then, I read something that changed my attitude.
I read one of Meredith's notes. Meredith, who is the writer we all aspire to be, wrote about her feelings on thank you notes in a recent Facebook Note (but because I didn't seek writer permission, I am not linking to it). But if you take my word for it, she brings up a pretty interesting point in a very amusing way.
In all, it made me think about gratitude in general, and how as a person I need to express a more grateful attitude. It certainly won't always need to be expressed by my sending a little note to others, but I think I need to make a better effort to express how truly thankful, and truly blessed, I am.
So, I'd like to say this: I apologize for the super lameness in not getting thank you notes out sooner. If you have given us anything, including a gift or card for our wedding, thank you. Please know that we appreciate everything that you have given to us. Really.
I hope to express it better from now on.
It's a phrase that's becoming increasingly rare, both given and received.
I had planned for this post to talk about writing up thank you notes for the wedding gifts and cards that our family and friends had given us. I planned to complain about having to make plans to write up the notes, since making time for something like this seemed so stressful with the million other things I had to do. I planned to express my worry about not getting them out earlier. I planned to go a whole different direction with this post.
But then, I read something that changed my attitude.
I read one of Meredith's notes. Meredith, who is the writer we all aspire to be, wrote about her feelings on thank you notes in a recent Facebook Note (but because I didn't seek writer permission, I am not linking to it). But if you take my word for it, she brings up a pretty interesting point in a very amusing way.
In all, it made me think about gratitude in general, and how as a person I need to express a more grateful attitude. It certainly won't always need to be expressed by my sending a little note to others, but I think I need to make a better effort to express how truly thankful, and truly blessed, I am.
So, I'd like to say this: I apologize for the super lameness in not getting thank you notes out sooner. If you have given us anything, including a gift or card for our wedding, thank you. Please know that we appreciate everything that you have given to us. Really.
I hope to express it better from now on.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
(P)homeless
We are unreachable as a couple.
Not that you can't get a hold of Stephen or me.
I have no fewer than five e-mail addresses, a Twitter account, a Facebook page, a blog, and a text-ready cell.
You are privileged if Stephen answers his cell when you call, but he will get back to you. Eventually.
No, apparently you can't get a hold of us together.*
As a modern (read: cheap) couple, we do not have a home telephone. We figured we didn't need one right now because everyone we regularly communicate with would contact us some other way. Yet, I can't help but feel like we are missing out on the cute, "You've reached the Huerta's!" answering machine messages that those classic couples (read: any newlyweds from the 90's) enjoyed.
We wanted to wait until we got into our own brick-and-morter house before we broke down, spent the extra twenty bucks and got a permanent Team Huerta number.
Stephen, as an unwilling blog participant, broke down our thinking: "The pros of not having a home phone are 1) we're already paying for cells (which we use), 2) no telemarketer spam,** and 3) we save some green. The cons are that we can't open the gate to our apartment complex from our unit without a landline, and that we have no single family number. Now, what are you watching?!"***
Anyway, what do you think? Should we revise our plan and get a landline now, wait until we're in our first house, or are we never going to need one?
*Yes, even though I have created a family e-mail address.
**This is what Stephen calls it, but it has to have some other, official name. Anyone?
***I was watching Smart House. You know you remember Smart House. Don't even pretend you don't.
Not that you can't get a hold of Stephen or me.
I have no fewer than five e-mail addresses, a Twitter account, a Facebook page, a blog, and a text-ready cell.
You are privileged if Stephen answers his cell when you call, but he will get back to you. Eventually.
No, apparently you can't get a hold of us together.*
As a modern (read: cheap) couple, we do not have a home telephone. We figured we didn't need one right now because everyone we regularly communicate with would contact us some other way. Yet, I can't help but feel like we are missing out on the cute, "You've reached the Huerta's!" answering machine messages that those classic couples (read: any newlyweds from the 90's) enjoyed.
We wanted to wait until we got into our own brick-and-morter house before we broke down, spent the extra twenty bucks and got a permanent Team Huerta number.
Stephen, as an unwilling blog participant, broke down our thinking: "The pros of not having a home phone are 1) we're already paying for cells (which we use), 2) no telemarketer spam,** and 3) we save some green. The cons are that we can't open the gate to our apartment complex from our unit without a landline, and that we have no single family number. Now, what are you watching?!"***
Anyway, what do you think? Should we revise our plan and get a landline now, wait until we're in our first house, or are we never going to need one?
*Yes, even though I have created a family e-mail address.
**This is what Stephen calls it, but it has to have some other, official name. Anyone?
***I was watching Smart House. You know you remember Smart House. Don't even pretend you don't.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Versions
Lately, I've tried to behave a little better. I follow all traffic laws. I let Stephen watch what he wants on TV. I am really trying to be an improved Jennifer.
Part of it is driving me nuts.
Why is it driving me nuts? Well, not really for any of the above reasons, but for a different one: typos.
A big part of my current job is finding typos. I look through big, scary, and important grants, making sure our clients don't look like buffoons because they can't spell "funders." I have to find those hidden extra periods, commas and spaces when someone's hand was a bit too heavy. I basically have the last set of eyes before anything goes anywhere.
What's the big deal? Trying to turn this off when I get back into the real world.
Newspapers. Blogs. Restaurant menus. EVERYTHING has typos. I feel like my house is scattered with items where I've used AP Stylebook notations to fix already published works. Sometimes I find myself talking to my computer because I can make no such corrections on the screen (yet...). I can't stop.
So, I ask those of you, who have been in the real world longer than me, how do I switch out of work mode (where I edit everything in sight) and turn back into a normal reader? Because right now, it is keeping me stuck in Jennifer, Version 1.0.
P.S. Trying to edit your own post about editing other people's work has the same amount of pressure as trying to remove your own tonsils.
Part of it is driving me nuts.
Why is it driving me nuts? Well, not really for any of the above reasons, but for a different one: typos.
A big part of my current job is finding typos. I look through big, scary, and important grants, making sure our clients don't look like buffoons because they can't spell "funders." I have to find those hidden extra periods, commas and spaces when someone's hand was a bit too heavy. I basically have the last set of eyes before anything goes anywhere.
What's the big deal? Trying to turn this off when I get back into the real world.
Newspapers. Blogs. Restaurant menus. EVERYTHING has typos. I feel like my house is scattered with items where I've used AP Stylebook notations to fix already published works. Sometimes I find myself talking to my computer because I can make no such corrections on the screen (yet...). I can't stop.
So, I ask those of you, who have been in the real world longer than me, how do I switch out of work mode (where I edit everything in sight) and turn back into a normal reader? Because right now, it is keeping me stuck in Jennifer, Version 1.0.
P.S. Trying to edit your own post about editing other people's work has the same amount of pressure as trying to remove your own tonsils.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Sick, But In Love With Glasses
Today I am feeling a little under the weather. I don't know if partying for America hit us all a little too hard yesterday, but today definitely feels like a day of recovery. Instead of a new post, I will share my current video obsession.
The Girls With Glasses Show looks like the cutest new show to grace Webisode nation, and I seriously get giddy every time I hear their promo with theme song (poor Stephen is also familiar with their theme song, but against his will). A few critics have cited that the show is perfect for smart women, without being all negative. The Girls explain it themselves much better in the "Get Smart" section of their site.
While it's still in development, I can tell by perusing their Website that I will be setting aside as much time as necessary to watch it. I think I most agree with the critic that says "I kind of want to be them." This show is going to be a huge hit with me.
So, if you care to share in the joy, for at least two minutes, take a look at the video below.*
Tell me you don't love this.
*Yes, that is Brooke White, of American Idol fame. She and Summer wrote and perform the song. Awesome!
The Girls With Glasses Show looks like the cutest new show to grace Webisode nation, and I seriously get giddy every time I hear their promo with theme song (poor Stephen is also familiar with their theme song, but against his will). A few critics have cited that the show is perfect for smart women, without being all negative. The Girls explain it themselves much better in the "Get Smart" section of their site.
While it's still in development, I can tell by perusing their Website that I will be setting aside as much time as necessary to watch it. I think I most agree with the critic that says "I kind of want to be them." This show is going to be a huge hit with me.
So, if you care to share in the joy, for at least two minutes, take a look at the video below.*
Tell me you don't love this.
*Yes, that is Brooke White, of American Idol fame. She and Summer wrote and perform the song. Awesome!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Dress, or Repress?
Because I keep my promises, and because I recently received my Shabby Apple order (thanks for all your guidance, readers!)*, I am in the mood to talk dresses.
I seriously love them. Growing up, I was a little bit of a tomboy, and if I hadn't been in Little Hoopsters and received all those white T-shirts, I don't know what I would have worn to school.
But now, I wear dresses whenever I can, especially at events where people give me that concerned face that says, "Hmm, I'm not as dressed up as her--am I missing something?"
Why you ask? Well, you had to know that I would answer you in list form!
Dresses rock because:
a) They are the skirt and beyond: A dress is a skirt plus a top--you get all the benefits of wearing a skirt, yet you have limitless possibilities for tops (sleeveless, blousey, multi-colored, etc.) Did you hear that? LIMITLESS!
b) They are classic: You know all those outfits your grandma claims were her favorite, that she took such good care of, and that lasted for three decades? Yeah, those were all dresses.
c) They're occasional: I don't mean infrequent. I mean that for the big moments in your life, it's a dress that gets the job done. Prom: dress. Wedding: dress. Afternoon tea: dress (and fabulous hat!)
d) They are it: I know that like me, you have struggled--nay, agonized!--about trying to match the darned (but very cute) skirt with something in your closet. And, sometimes, you are just not up for the challenge. Ergo, dress. It comes with a top--attached! The dress eases an aching brain, and for that, I love it.**
And now--that's right--the linkadees to my favorites. The most fabulous dresses on the internet (at least for this week):
The Basics
The LBD
Cute for the office
The Colorful
Blue and loving it
Fifties with flair
Let in the sunshine
The Food-Related
Pistachio ice cream, huh?
I think when you wear this dress, you have to eat cupcakes. With sprinkles.
Just Plain Fun
Safari vs. urban jungle
Cute
Adorable!
Anyone think of any other attributes of dresses that make them extra awesome?
I do not receive any compensation from any of the retailers featured in this post.
*Yes, I know I need to upload some photos soon, and a photo of the dress will be included. It looks pretty much like the ad, except for being life-size.
**I am counting a) and d) as totally different things. I do not want to hear any complaints.
I seriously love them. Growing up, I was a little bit of a tomboy, and if I hadn't been in Little Hoopsters and received all those white T-shirts, I don't know what I would have worn to school.
But now, I wear dresses whenever I can, especially at events where people give me that concerned face that says, "Hmm, I'm not as dressed up as her--am I missing something?"
Why you ask? Well, you had to know that I would answer you in list form!
Dresses rock because:
a) They are the skirt and beyond: A dress is a skirt plus a top--you get all the benefits of wearing a skirt, yet you have limitless possibilities for tops (sleeveless, blousey, multi-colored, etc.) Did you hear that? LIMITLESS!
b) They are classic: You know all those outfits your grandma claims were her favorite, that she took such good care of, and that lasted for three decades? Yeah, those were all dresses.
c) They're occasional: I don't mean infrequent. I mean that for the big moments in your life, it's a dress that gets the job done. Prom: dress. Wedding: dress. Afternoon tea: dress (and fabulous hat!)
d) They are it: I know that like me, you have struggled--nay, agonized!--about trying to match the darned (but very cute) skirt with something in your closet. And, sometimes, you are just not up for the challenge. Ergo, dress. It comes with a top--attached! The dress eases an aching brain, and for that, I love it.**
And now--that's right--the linkadees to my favorites. The most fabulous dresses on the internet (at least for this week):
The Basics
The LBD
Cute for the office
The Colorful
Blue and loving it
Fifties with flair
Let in the sunshine
The Food-Related
Pistachio ice cream, huh?
I think when you wear this dress, you have to eat cupcakes. With sprinkles.
Just Plain Fun
Safari vs. urban jungle
Cute
Adorable!
Anyone think of any other attributes of dresses that make them extra awesome?
I do not receive any compensation from any of the retailers featured in this post.
*Yes, I know I need to upload some photos soon, and a photo of the dress will be included. It looks pretty much like the ad, except for being life-size.
**I am counting a) and d) as totally different things. I do not want to hear any complaints.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Going Fourth (Hungry)
We've reached the point in the week where I share an obligatory post about the next holiday.
We both knew it was coming.
This year, we're celebrating the fourth in stages over a series of days and alongside lots of other events. And lucky you, you get to hear about all of them!
(This is where you feign enthusiasm).
For kicks, though, I thought I would throw you a bone.
I've included a recipe (or two) with each day to give you an idea about the type of food we will eat, or that I wish we will eat.* That way, this blog is a resource for tasty treats instead of my own personal calendar.
Aww, you're welcome.
Here's the breakdown:
Thursday (today): We have dinner plans with some family friends we met up with when we traveled to Chicago a couple years back before Stephen headed to Iraq. (Wow, that's a long sentence. Maybe I'll shorten it later...er, maybe not.) So, we might eat this, or, maybe they will bring this!
Friday: Get name changed with the SSA. (Again, this is where you feign enthusiasm--because I had to). Then, I will finally see some actual human friends that I haven't seen since the wedding (coming up on nine weeks ago).
Lame, Jen. Lame. I plan on having this to recover from my failure.
Saturday: Celebrate Heather's return to the U.S. of A. at her graduation/birthday/no-more-being-in-New-Zealand party. Seriously, just throw the fourth in with it. That way, we can celebrate you being back in America by eating this.
Sunday: Hang out with family and friends, and go to the Grizzlies game (with everyone else in Fresno). And, of course, eat these.
Monday: Recouperate.
What fun things are you up to for Independence Day?
*Because, heck, why not?
We both knew it was coming.
This year, we're celebrating the fourth in stages over a series of days and alongside lots of other events. And lucky you, you get to hear about all of them!
(This is where you feign enthusiasm).
For kicks, though, I thought I would throw you a bone.
I've included a recipe (or two) with each day to give you an idea about the type of food we will eat, or that I wish we will eat.* That way, this blog is a resource for tasty treats instead of my own personal calendar.
Aww, you're welcome.
Here's the breakdown:
Thursday (today): We have dinner plans with some family friends we met up with when we traveled to Chicago a couple years back before Stephen headed to Iraq. (Wow, that's a long sentence. Maybe I'll shorten it later...er, maybe not.) So, we might eat this, or, maybe they will bring this!
Friday: Get name changed with the SSA. (Again, this is where you feign enthusiasm--because I had to). Then, I will finally see some actual human friends that I haven't seen since the wedding (coming up on nine weeks ago).
Lame, Jen. Lame. I plan on having this to recover from my failure.
Saturday: Celebrate Heather's return to the U.S. of A. at her graduation/birthday/no-more-being-in-New-Zealand party. Seriously, just throw the fourth in with it. That way, we can celebrate you being back in America by eating this.
Sunday: Hang out with family and friends, and go to the Grizzlies game (with everyone else in Fresno). And, of course, eat these.
Monday: Recouperate.
What fun things are you up to for Independence Day?
*Because, heck, why not?
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