I'm a Reader

Amidst all the major bummerness around here I did manage to add 2 more books to my reading list for 2010

1. Finger Lickin' Fifteen- Janet Evanovich
2. The Lace Reader- Brunonia Barry
3. Julia's Chocolates
4. Knit the Season- Kate Jacobs
5. Garden Spells- Sarah Addison Allen
6. The Sugar Queen- Sarah Addison Allen
7. Full House- Janet Evanovich

I enjoyed Sugar Queen. It was a story that I followed along quite well. It wasn't mind blowing, but I enjoyed the characters and the story itself and how they all intermingled with each other. And now I want a secret closet full of candy and chocolate.

Janet Evanovich didn't let me down. While I'm still waiting for another Stephanie Plum book I discovered the "Full" series. I am not sure about the characters in every book if they are the same or different. But I enjoyed Book 1 and the second is coming along quite well again.

I'm still on the wait list for the Help. I checked at the store to buy it but it was $20! I'm so not spending $$ on that right now. I'll just wait.

Unless someone wants to send it to me?

Debbie Downer

Apologies for the lack of regular posts around these parts. I’m not myself. But hopefully I will be soon. I’ve just been in the dumps. For no reason at all. we had a great (but too quick) weekend celebrating our niece and nephews birthday. (They are 3?! OMFG!) And went to a bridal shower on Sunday. But you know what? I can’t really enjoy much these days. It’s no ones fault. It’s just the way it is. I’m not depressed, I’m not unhappy. I’m just… dumpy? I don’t even know how to describe it. It seems like when not so favorable things happen it is the end of the world for me.

Even though it’s not.

And I received another blow today. That super awesome amazing leather couch that took way too long to decide on and pick that is supposed to be delivered some time at the end of May that we have already been waiting 5 weeks for? Oh that one? Yeah, I call today to check on it and guess what- new couch won’t even come in from the supplier till the END. OF. JUNE! Are you effing kidding me? I was finally so thrilled that we made a commitment to a big piece of furniture and was so looking forward to actually making the brand new basement useable and now this setback. Sure it isn’t the end of the world but it’s just dragged me further down.

I’ll pick up my bootstraps soon. If you see me IRL (That is in real life) don’t take it personal that I’m not my normal bubbly self. I’m good at faking it, but I’m also not so good at hiding it. I wear my emotions like a giant marquee on Broadway.

It’ll pass.

And we will find a damn couch if it kills us.

Fill in the Blank Friday

1. One fashion trend I really regret is I don’t regret any. They are served their purpose. Stirrup pants? HELLO! My ankles are constantly cold now. Neon shirts? I was never missed in a crowd. Acid Wash Jordache jeans? Accidents happen and you’d never know with those babys. LA Gear light up sneakers? Safety feature.

2. The one thing that always completes any outfit is earrings. Even just plain hoops or studs. I always feel naked without them.

3. I would describe my personal style as a mess right now. I can’t figure out who I want to be. I love comfy, but I love trendy. I just haven’t accepted that my body type and trendy don’t work so well together. What I really want to be is vintage. As in 50’s Bettie Page vintage. Conservative twin sets are more my style :)

4. My fashion muse is I don’t have one. I’m a mess. See above.

5. If I could own one designer piece of clothing it would be I’ll go with Britt here. Jeans. Made for me. Make my butt smaller, my legs longer (if that’s possible)and no muffin top. I wear jeans pretty much every day so I’d probably need at least 3 pairs please. (preferably a “skinny” pair that don’t make me look like I have a set of saddlebags hanging from my hipbones.

6. I would love to raid the wardrobe of Everyone. Picking and choosing my favorite piece from every closet.

7. Today I am wearing Grey and white pinstripe pants from Gap, Black Cami, and an empire cinched magenta top from NY&Co. I was having a fat day this morning and empire hides the muffin.

Quilting? Kinda

So I did a bit of sewing on Saturday. I had to catch up with my quilt class. Month 4 kind of got away from me but I managed to get caught up in time to go to Raven’s and pick up my next month’s patterns and fabric.

My first attempt at flying geese. I think I did well once I got the hang of it and visualized. The first block I didn’t iron anything- I was feeling lazy. BIG MISTAKE! I sucked it up and ironed everything on the last 3 blocks and managed to get those done in about the same time as the first one.



I’m still enjoying the quilting but I’m not in love with how precise you need to be. And taking time to measure and cut every single piece and iron every single line that you sew just really irks me. I’d rather cut a couple and sew sew sew. Maybe I should hire someone to come do my ironing and pinning.

I’ve got months 5 and 6 now so I’ll be attempting my first log cabin blocks. I’m told they are pretty easy. We will see about that.

I think I'm just in love with the background fabric I chose for this quilt. Black with little gray stars all over. Something fun, something different!

Tiga Tiga Tiga Woods Ya'll!

I played my very first round of golf yesterday. Ma, Mark, Mr. and myself took off to a short 9 hole course nearby and we attempted to see if I could actually do this. Unfortunately the fabulous sunny weekend that we experienced retreated and we were out there in dismal cloudy skies and teeny droplets of rain and wind. But it was a blast. I got to wear my cute golf shoes (still love them!) and drive the golf cart! I did great for my first time out I think. I was able to hit my irons and drive the ball pretty well. And by pretty well I mean hear the “TINK!” sound when you make contact. Unfortunately I’m still learning my distances and what clubs to use when. I have pretty much no ball control and my short game is absolutely terrifying. Mr. Buckeye is going to take me to a putting green and chipping green so we can get that straightened out.

I did however have 1 really good hole (for me anyway) I actually pared! (well, with a mulligan anyway) First shot I shanked my ball right and landed by a tree. I was terrified that I was going to hit the tree and the ball was going to pounce back and hit me. Mr. assured me it wouldn’t happen, just aim more left and it will be fine. I take my swing, hit the ball, and what do you know, that ball plunked directly into the tree and shot left in warp speed. It was absolutely hilarious. (Ma and Mark ran for cover) So I took a Mulligan (aka a do-over) and took another swing. Miraculously (and totally redeeming myself) the ball landed about 4 ft. from the hole.

IT. WAS. BEAUTIFUL. Sunk my putt and marked my first PAR!

We had a fantastic time, Mr. Buckeye was happily surprised and there was no arguing or threat of divorce. Looks like this might be a good “couple hobby” for us after all.

My first 9 holes ever. I shot a fabulous 53, in the rain. And I’m thrilled.

Fill in the Blank Friday?

Oh yes, let's revisit this shall we?

1. The very best thing about the summer is sunshine. It’s almost daily and I just love sunshine. It makes me happy.

2. My first crush ever was a boy named Aaron in 1st grade. Random story- my first day at college and I ran into my very best friend from 1st grade who I had not seen since 4th grade! One of the first things we talked about… Aaron! We both crushed hard.

3. This may sound really silly but I skipped this question a minute ago and got down to question 5. And all I want right now is meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Too bad I just ate lunch… and a piece of cake… and a mint.

4. I squeeze my toothpaste from the top/middle. Until it starts to get thin- then I squeeze all the bottom back up to the top/middle and restart.

5. My absolute favorite "comfort food" is my mom’s meatloaf. That is one thing that immediately takes me back and makes me happy inside. I still can’t get mine to taste the same, but I’m still trying. And her super awesome spaghetti sauce. Just delicious.

6. A random fact about me is that I’ve had my full name on the big marquee at Times Square. I have a picture of it and everything. I’m pretty much famous!

7. The one piece of technology that truly makes my life better and I couldn't live without is my cell phone- or my laptop. I can’t leave the house without my cell. It’s like leaving one of my arms at home. And the laptop because seriously? I need my internet. I’z addicted!

I'm going pro, yo!

So in the midst of a tornado watch yesterday (seriously? No clue where that came from- it was windy and lovely! Maybe a little too hot but surely not dangerous weather weather!) we spent the evening here:


Because I finally got a new golf bag!


Pink Plaid? Yes Please!


I sold my purple set to my mom a few weeks ago. They were just a wee bit too short for me, being a lady starter set and all, and there was a great golf expo a couple weeks ago where I found a new set. The Mr. got the clubs he has been lusting over. Brand New Taylor Made Burner Irons. We got a great deal on them - And I found an awesome pair of Nike golf shoes and got the vendor to knock of some $$ on those too! I just love them. And woah, I must be a serious golfer now that I have my very own shoes!

(Not going to lie, I had the cutest shoes at the range yesterday. For reals.)


After we got my shoes and his clubs we decided to look for some new clubs for moi. I ended up getting an impromptu lesson from a vendor who determined that I did, in fact, need different clubs. Apparently I’m a 65 year old man… I kid. But I did end up getting a set of Senior Clubs. They are longer than the lady clubs, but still light enough that I can swing easily. He had me hit about 100 cheerios (yes those cheerios… but not the honey nut- I’m told they stick to your clubs) so that he could see my hand eye coordination and see my swing- which is not as ugly as I had thought. He told me I had a good, athletic swing. (::blush:: gawrsh, thanks!) Then he had me hit a golf ball. I topped it like crazy and almost broke the club. Okay maybe not that bad… but it was not good. So he played a trick on my mind- Put a cheerio directly behind the ball. Then hit the cheerio. It worked like a dream. Whodathunkit!

So back to yesterday. I hadn’t hit in about 2.5 weeks so I was worried as to how it would go. The Mr. said I did surprisingly well. I just need to work on closing my clubface so I don’t shank every ball right. In time. It will come. For now, it was just really nice to get out to the range and have some time with Patrick.

Hopefully we can get out to a course soon. There are a couple of short walking courses in our area that we want to go try so I don’t have to play a full 18 on my first time out. I’m hesitant to go play on an actual course with him though for fear it could end my marriage though. Figure I’m probably a 55 handicap right now and he’s pretty much Tiger Woods. Eeerrrr- bad reference. Let’s go with John Daly.

At least he wears cool pants!

Le Vegas

Yet another fabulous trip to the Sin City.

We love the flashing lights, the hot sunny weather, the stripper heels, the ting tinging of the slot machines and have to get our fill every year. We stay in a new hotel every trip- it's weird, but it works for us. And it's a challenge. Stay at every hotel in Vegas? Okay sure! Our resume includes MGM Grand, Bellagio, Wynn, NYNY, and Monte Carlo.

This year: Planet Hollywood.

While it was a nice hotel and we like gambling there and the Miracle Mile shops are great, I don't think I would stay again. Nothing against it at all, but I didn't feel the Vegas love the whole time. We got a great deal, a free bottle of booze, and a great view of the Bellagio. But other than that- the pool was highly dissapointing (pool scene is essential in my professional opinion.) Our stay was fairly mellow and entirely too quick. But we still made a run at the black jack tables and essentially paid for all of our drinks, gambling, and random purchases while we were there. All thanks to Mr. Buckeye's $700 run at the Monte Carlo.

The lovely view from the 26th floor


That hat? Yeah the wind blew it off my head and straight into the pool on day one. The black ribbon had so much overdye in it that it bled up the entire hat. major bummer. But I wore it anyway.


Before we got lost in the Venetian for approx. forever.


Fantastic, high class, sophisticated dinner at Cabo Wabo. um.... right.


Excellent Margaritas!


So long Vegas. Until next year.

But where will we stay?!

We're Back!

These buckeyes were on hiatus last week because we were jet setting off to the west coast for some fun!

Vegas for a few days followed by a drive to LA. 5 days of madness and awesomeness with great friends.

Needless to say we are totally exhasted and still recovering.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming tomorrow!

Buckeye Love

I am, and always will be proud to be a Buckeye!

And yet one more reason why: