tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53704145529622925872024-03-12T21:50:22.698-04:00iamStephanie bloggingStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.comBlogger310125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-18620988957355454942016-11-10T11:35:00.001-05:002016-11-10T11:35:15.061-05:00Just getting all the garbage off my chest.<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="cukrb" data-offset-key="umkb-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; white-space: pre-wrap; widows: 2;">
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<span data-offset-key="umkb-0-0"><i>Don't read any further. This post is like all the rest. I've been spiraling for three days and just needed a space get it all out in one train of though- a space to exhale. </i></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="umkb-0-0">As much as I am pro-woman, I did not vote for Hillary Clinton because she is a woman. That had very, very, very little to do with it. Nothing, really. I voted for her because I think she is smart, extremely driven, well-qualified and respected across the globe. I have been disappointed, however, in her ties to corporations, her poor decision to jeopardize our safety through that darn external email server, and what seems to me to be her obvious "face of the party"- all of her marketing felt desperate to me. It felt insincere and contrived. She was not the candidate I would have hand-picked.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="miv2-0-0">But I believe in equality, I believe in taking care of the people around you and doing the right thing for the safety, respect, and well being of EVERYONE on this globe. We've done a lot of bad things to other countries, to people in our own country, to our environment and to "minorities" who are rapidly becoming majorities. Although not a perfect candidate, Hillary has demonstrated for decades that she tries to help. Tries to make the difference for those who are disenfranchised and she did it by playing the game. She's shaken hands with the right people to make the agreements she felt necessary for an ultimate goal of providing resources to those who need them. The game is the problem, but it seems to me that she played it for the better.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="cf29c-0-0">I can understand the conservative desire for stricter financial decisions and for the fear that many people have had about the safety of our military, but what I do NOT understand is how those same people, who have daughters, wives, sisters, nieces...who have autistic children or disabled friends...who work with someone whose genitals have no impact on their work ethic...who live in communities where people work hard and have demonstrated that they are kind, generous, responsible people...can justify a balanced budget over the hateful and violent and outright WRONG things that are being done to those people they consider "loved ones" and friends. Turning a blind eye to what their desire for money has done.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="dlktl-0-0">I don't want our country to be in debt. I don't want our military to be at any greater risk. I want people to take legal and thoughtful steps when realizing their own dreams to live and work in America. But no matter how reasonable those ideals are- this president elect has brought out the worst side of the <b>meanest</b> people in this country. It's not fair. I'm so upset. I feel terrible that I didn't canvas for her. I feel like I should be punished for not pushing harder on the members of my family who likely supported him. Right now, I am embarrassed to be from Ohio and to be standing under the America flag. I can only assume that once the sting and shock wears off, I will regain some of my patriotism and optimism for what our future can be. </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="cmtmr-0-0">I don't want to live in a country of "free-loaders". I work hard, I pay my taxes and I've absolutely seen people take advantage of some of the systems we have in place and I don't like that not everyone makes the moral choice, but GOOD GOD, how can any of us hang our hats on the <b>meanness</b> that is taking place? How can we justify this push toward abandoning those most vulnerable and those most in need of support? This president elect may have a democratic past. He may have overseen large numbers of people in his work. He might have some good ideas for our national budget and for protecting our military. Unfortunately, that's not what his campaign was built on. It was built on empowering the <b>meanest</b>, most shocking people in our culture who, despite decades of proven value, want to hurt others- be in through the hateful words, the violence, and even the non-verbal communication, like BUILDING A FUCKING WALL. To be clear, I'm NOT talking about "all conservatives" in a blanket statement. I'm talking about the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Cblockquote%20class=%22instagram-media%22%20data-instgrm-captioned%20data-instgrm-version=%227%22%20style=%22%20background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BMmwYrqjd3V/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">This is Trump&#39;s America #trump</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Rapists And Racists For Trump (@rapistsandracistsfortrump) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-11-09T22:06:55+00:00">Nov 9, 2016 at 2:06pm PST</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>" target="_blank">man who forced himself on a woman in the gas station parking lot and asked her "are you afraid now, you liberal cunt?"</a> I'm talking about the people who are putting up <a href="http://www.statesman.com/news/local/texas-state-university-police-looking-into-trump-vigilante-fliers/jhWSmmhNxxuTXZaQJiYhNI/" target="_blank">Texas Vigilante signs proclaiming violence</a> and I'm talking about the KU KLUX KLAN, who formally endorsed this candidate. And yes, that racism and hate existed before today. There will always be people who think that those who are different are bad. But I'm so concerned that this could become the norm because OUR PRESIDENT has lighted the way. Fight hate with hate? How much violence will our communities see? How many people will die? Maybe this is God's way of creating population control? Kill half of the people, and make the rest of them scared to procreate?</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="cmtmr-0-0">I hate that I am white, 30 year old woman from Ohio. No matter who you ask on any side of any issue, my demographics are "part of the problem". There is <b>nothing</b> I can say to <b>anyone</b> that won't be tinged with biases that say "SHE IS THE PROBLEM". I'm shocked that so many people in my state and country disregarded the idea that someone, anyone, would physically or verbally violate me and treat me as "less". That the people who I love would treat my LGBTQ friends as "less"- even if they "work hard", "go to church", "pay their bills" and "served in the military"- all the things they want, right? Because of</span> money. That's it. That's all this boils down to. Where is our compassion? Where is our human decency? </div>
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I'm just so upset that the worst of those among us, who live by hate and hurt, have been handed the baton. I'm going to have to do better in 2020.</div>
Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-69896090612605675202016-02-25T17:52:00.001-05:002016-02-25T17:58:38.191-05:00Do I love writing?It’s a question I keep asking myself because I can’t seem to
get motivated for personal, extra-curricular writing, no matter how many times
a day I try to get started. My new(ish) job requires that I write daily, and
the topic isn’t one that I’m naturally enthusiastic about. Writing has started
to feel more like a grind, where it used to feel like a message to the outside
world and a chance to free the little squiggling ideas in my head. Based on the
atmosphere of my blog (tumbleweeds and dry, desert winds) anyone with any sense think that the clear answer is no. Lately, I only write to please someone else. It
can be so frustrating, because that means edits, rewrites, and in this scenario
it often feels like I’m aiming at a moving target.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hate missing the mark.</div>
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<br /></div>
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As a result I’ve been paying more attention to what it means
to write with intention. I’m reading more content, both for work and about the
topics I’m interested in, which pointed me toward a webinar where the presenter talked about his natural love for writing. His excitement started my mind racing. “Do I love writing? Do I even LIKE it?” Being that the
daily grind has been just that, I suddenly worried I don’t have that basic, intrinsic
drive.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started thinking about the writing process, specifically
MY writing process. How it doesn’t matter if someone else reads it because it’s
about finding the perfect word and the feeling I get when I’ve completed my thoughts. It’s so satisfying! It makes me so proud! It’s tangible proof of my
existence, and the things I care about. Reviewing a great piece I’ve created makes
me happy. I’m pretty sure it’s the same feeling a parent has for their little
baby that they just want to stare at, breathe in, and smooch all over. (I
checked with my parent friends- they are in 100% agreement that writing is exactly
like bearing a child and then raising it.)</div>
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<br /></div>
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But thank god for that webinar. (A rarer sentence has never
been uttered.) It sparked me to move, and not just blindly forward toward a
deadline and a selling point. It reminded me that letting those little weirdo
ideas play, and then capturing them cleverly is one of the greatest joys I know.
I decided I’m going to be more patient with myself, to mull over my ideas and
nudge them forward. I’m going to write about what I know, and today what I know
is that the answer is yes.</div>
Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-8265359437560431342015-10-14T15:05:00.000-04:002015-10-14T15:05:00.072-04:00The lies I'll tell my sisters kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I just decided that I'm going to tell my sisters' kids lots of lies. For my own entertainment. Upon discussing with them their views on letting colicky babies suck on whiskey soaked rags (obviously a old-timey idea that I'm not actually proposing they do) they said I can't babysit for their little ones.<br />
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Because I'm defiant, but also creative, I thought "I'll show them!" and came up with the following, potentially disturbing lies to tell their kids. You are welcome to borrow these ideas to scare your neighborhood kids this Halloween, if you like:<br />
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<div class="Tn" id=":1l0.ma">
<div class="TlvAYc">
<span class="Lq"><span class="nu4ufe" id=":1l0.ti"><span class="sV" title="10/13/15, 2:43 PM"></span></span></span><span class="pNTFbe"></span></div>
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<div class="tk pj" id=":1l6.mw">
<div class="TlvAYc">
<div class="KL">
<div class="PD IF">
<div class="JL" id=":1l6.co">
<div class="Mu SP" id=":1l8.ma">
<div class="tL8wMe xAWnQc" dir="ltr" id=":1l8.co" style="text-align: left;">
(your mom was born with an extra baby arm that she had to have removed...don't ask her to see the scar, she's self conscious)</div>
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<span class="Lq"><span class="nu4ufe" id=":1l9.ti"><span class="sV" title="10/13/15, 2:44 PM"></span></span></span><span class="pNTFbe"></span></div>
</div>
<div class="tk pj" id=":1lf.mw">
<div class="TlvAYc">
<div class="KL">
<div class="PD IF">
<div class="JL" id=":1lf.co">
<div class="Mu SP" id=":1lh.ma">
<div class="tL8wMe xAWnQc" dir="ltr" id=":1lh.co" style="text-align: left;">
(your mom stays up all night staring at you, trying to read your mind. It works)</div>
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<span class="Lq"><span class="nu4ufe" id=":1lk.ti"><span class="sV" title="10/13/15, 2:44 PM"></span></span></span><span class="pNTFbe"></span></div>
</div>
<div class="tk pj" id=":1lq.mw">
<div class="TlvAYc">
<div class="KL">
<div class="PD IF">
<div class="JL" id=":1lq.co">
<div class="Mu SP" id=":1ls.ma">
<div class="tL8wMe xAWnQc" dir="ltr" id=":1ls.co" style="text-align: left;">
(your mom can see extra colors, including the color of heaven)</div>
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<span class="Lq"><span class="nu4ufe" id=":1lt.ti"><span class="sV" title="10/13/15, 2:45 PM"></span></span></span><span class="pNTFbe"></span></div>
</div>
<div class="tk pj" id=":1m1.mw">
<div class="Tn" id=":1mc.ma">
<div class="KL">
<div class="PD IF">
<div class="JL" id=":1m1.co">
<div class="Mu SP" id=":1m3.ma">
<div class="tL8wMe xAWnQc" dir="ltr" id=":1m3.co" style="text-align: left;">
(one time your mom got a tattoo of a chinchilla on her butt but got it covered up with your dad's name)</div>
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<div class="Mu SP" id=":1m5.ma">
<div class="tL8wMe xAWnQc" dir="ltr" id=":1m5.co" style="text-align: left;">
(when we were little, your mom used to tie up her baby dolls and make them eat dog food)</div>
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<div class="tk pj" id=":1mi.mw">
<div class="KL">
<div class="KL">
<div class="PD IF">
<div class="JL" id=":1mi.co">
<div class="Mu SP" id=":1mk.ma">
<div class="tL8wMe xAWnQc" dir="ltr" id=":1mk.co" style="text-align: left;">
(your mom isn't your real mom, she's an alien that adopted you. When you're nine, you're going to move to outer space)</div>
<div class="tL8wMe xAWnQc" dir="ltr" id=":1mk.co" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="tL8wMe xAWnQc" dir="ltr" id=":1mk.co" style="text-align: left;">
They decided my impromptu and creepy lies are probably the reason why my cousin Elizabeth was afraid of me for a few years.</div>
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<div class="Mu SP" id=":1mk.ma">
<br />I hope you'll all come visit me in the loony bin...</div>
<div class="Mu SP" id=":1mk.ma">
<br /></div>
<div class="Mu SP" id=":1mk.ma">
<br /></div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-46840075345713522042015-10-13T13:44:00.001-04:002015-10-13T15:42:49.611-04:00Touchdowns and TiarasFor the third year in a row, my adrenaline runs high every Thursday, Sunday and Monday, my hopes for victory teetering dangerously, threatening to give me wrinkles and making me lose sleep.<br />
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Sound familiar? Are you, too, the owner of your very own fantasy football team?<br />
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I keep coming back for more, always telling myself I'll leave, I'll really do it this time! ...but never leaving. This year, my abusive relationship with the NFL is in a honeymoon stage (haha, jokes about domestic violence... #NFL... : / ).<br />
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I'm in third place in my league, an all-girls league with some of my best pals. We've nailed this "fantasy football" thing by having custom t-shirts made, putting real money on the table and vowing to slash each others tires at the start of a new week. You'd definitely be impressed with our trophy. (Note that the winner gets a tiara and the loser gets a do-rag).<br />
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Last year my team sunk to the bottom of the barrel, so I didn't have high hopes for any success this season. I'm pounding on wood over here (as you do) because my rank is high, my points are good and for once I don't feel like the laughing stock of the league.<br />
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It's such a blast to be part of the group each year and I'm always impressed with our Commissioner, who often finds herself pregnant or breastfeeding during the draft and throughout the season. How she manages to keep on top of the league and the rest of us organized, I have no idea. We often discuss and take pride in the fact that we are a bunch of girls who get excited about fantasy football, and don't need any BOY to help us make our league a success. How many all-female fantasy leagues do you think are out there? I'd really love to know. Hey CBS Sunday Morning! Do some research on this for me, would ya? My friends and I would happily be interviewed for the segment.<br />
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Wish me luck the remainder of the season...<br />
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<br />Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-170471659929562992015-10-09T12:55:00.001-04:002015-10-09T13:25:13.681-04:00The Only Time I Was Ever "on Fleek"<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Km-F3xYVJ2o/VhfyT8XyHBI/AAAAAAAAGxA/uHvMQrs8fMg/s1600/backfleek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Km-F3xYVJ2o/VhfyT8XyHBI/AAAAAAAAGxA/uHvMQrs8fMg/s200/backfleek.jpg" width="100" /></a>Most everyone can probably guess that I am not a fashion forward person. I am not an "early adopter" of runway styles, I hate to spend the money on new clothes and honestly, my mom buys most of what I wear, even at age 29. She enjoys it far more than I do, and between my birthday and Christmas, I manage to sustain a reasonable wardrobe. Today, I got dressed in a flurry, came to work, have been quietly minding my own business, but upon checking "my sites" at lunch, I made a surprising discovery.<br />
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<b>Today</b>, I am on fleek. It's indisputable.<br />
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Home page of <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/" target="_blank">Stitch Fix</a> <b>today</b>:<br />
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Home Page of <a href="http://jseverydayfashion.com/" target="_blank">J's Everyday Fashion</a> <b>today</b>:<br />
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My outfit <b>today</b>:<br />
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In a rarely employed technique, I executed a bathroom outfit selfie at work, because I couldn't miss this opportunity to let everyone know that for the first and probably only time in my life, my fashion skills and ability to dress myself in the morning are not only acceptable, but are, in fact, stylish. </div>
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Happy Friday to you all, but the happiest Friday award goes to me, your local fashionista.<br />
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Have you any big plans this weekend? I'm going to see my favorite, <a href="http://gracepotter.com/" target="_blank">Grace Potter</a>, in concert tonight, and tomorrow I'm looking forward to a quiet day on my own, since Mike will be at the OSU game.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-22742298018221086202015-08-11T12:11:00.001-04:002015-08-11T12:11:14.504-04:00This Lady Pit Hair ThingMore than a year ago, an acquaintance posted a challenge to her female friends: don't shave your pits and send a picture of the damage.<br />
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My hair grows slowly, so I let it grow for a month and then shared the photo.<br /><br />She, along with a bunch of other <a href="https://instagram.com/ladypithair/" target="_blank">people </a>on the <a href="http://time.com/3613740/dyeing-armpit-hair/" target="_blank">internet</a>, are making a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amanda-mcgowan/underarm-hair-shaving_b_1967656.html" target="_blank">point </a>that body hair isn't some gross and terrifying thing. They're all correct, but I'm mostly anti-body hair because it's a pain in the neck to remove. Or the Pit, rather.<br />
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There are a whole number of reasons to stand with this "movement". I know, there are LOTS of things that are WAY more important, but I'm feeling a little loopy today and want to talk about this Lady Pit Hair Thing.<br />
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1. Deodorant Blobs- Grosser than pit hair. Unsightly and glows in black lights. Not that I'm spending tons of time under a black light, but there's almost nothing worse than seeing those blobs when a friend pulls her hair into a ponytail or does her signature "raise the roof" dance move. (Blobs aside, she should really stop doing that move).<br />
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2. Sweat- when my pits are bare, they sweat more. I think it's got something to do with my body trying to figure out why they are hairless and to protect my skin with oil, since there's no protective hair-layer.<br />
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3. Razor Burn- Those bumps are gross, painful and never-ending. Just...NO.<br />
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4. The Man- This is the big point for internet people. Why is body hair gross on women, but acceptable on men? Why must we remove a natural part of our body for the sake of social standards? Why do those standards even exist?<br />
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I don't make a habit of taking pit-selfies, but this is what I shared with my friend last year. It's my pit. With hair on it. I also have unusual pits. They're not really pitted, they're sort of...convex. My mom always asks me if I have bruises on my armpits, but it's just shadows from their outward poking manner.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-37070393563221450602015-08-10T12:33:00.002-04:002015-08-10T12:33:14.539-04:00Not about Ping Pong<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-joffruNtKDY/VcjSGAlFZKI/AAAAAAAAGqk/oaW0mon0ffc/s1600/pingpong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-joffruNtKDY/VcjSGAlFZKI/AAAAAAAAGqk/oaW0mon0ffc/s640/pingpong.jpg" width="640" /></a>Part of me hates blogging, and part of me really enjoys it.<br />
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Throughout high school and into college I journaled often, and I love reading back on those entries to remember my personal evolution. Reading about those otherwise forgotten daily activities puts a smile on my face, like a conversation with someone I don't keep in touch with, or the details of a basketball game with friends. It's interesting to see my handwriting from those times. On days when I was suffering a personal injustice at the hand of a parent, my writing is big, scrawling and filled with energy. When the entry simply documents the activities of my day, the writing is neat, and entries are short. You can physically see the change in my style- the way I wrote a Y or an A. I think those differences are indicative of exercising my personal choices and outward expression of how I wanted to be perceived.<br />
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It's that daily representation that I really like about blogging. I suppose I can just go back to journaling, but to be honest, it's so much easier to type up my thoughts, especially when I spend so much time in front of my computer. It's much easier to build into my day, rather than pulling out the journal I have right now at the end of the day when I'm tired and all I want to do is rest. The journal I have right now is bright green, with gold gilded paged. I think it's from CVS, and I've had it for years without filling up all the pages. It's good to know that my level of angst doesn't warrant daily entries, but I've lost so many memories by letting it gather dust.<br />
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This particular blog post has no particular purpose, except to bring me back to the space. A few exciting things are happening, and Mike suggested that I spend a little time blogging over the next few weeks to put my head in a good space for writing, and writing well.<br />
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<br />Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-81754300415545737242015-06-11T12:09:00.001-04:002015-06-11T12:09:17.428-04:00Month of MusicIt's been quick month of marriage and very busy. After dinner at <a href="http://www.tuccisdublin.com/" target="_blank">Tucci's</a>, <a href="https://instagram.com/iamstephanie5/" target="_blank">dessert at Jeni's</a> and trip to the movies, I realized that I've been really ingrained in the music scene recently.<br />
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<b>The movie last night was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lioWzrpCtGQ" target="_blank">Love & Mercy</a>, with Elizabeth Banks, who I love:</b><br />
An excellent and artistic biopic about Brian Wilson, Beach Boys, with great tributes to his music and musical process, as well as some of the medical and psychological trouble Brian suffered.<br />
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<b>Mike saw The Who on May 15:</b><br />
He said it was good- I have no idea, but I think it's cool that he went.<br />
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<b>On May 22nd we saw G. Love & Special Sauce (one of my faves):</b><br />
This show took me back a few years and left me feeling happily chilled out with great appreciation for G's unique style of jazz + hip hop.<br />
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<b>On May 30th we saw the Rolling Stones:</b><br />
A wedding gift from friends, this concert was probably a once in a lifetime for me, and they really brought the moves and music.<br />
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<b>Last weekend I went to <a href="http://www.bunburyfestival.com/" target="_blank">Bunbury music festival</a> with my girlfriends and saw Matt & Kim, the Black Keys, 21 pilots, and SNOOOOOOP, among others:</b><br />
My first music festival was a great success of silliness, dancing and the immense privilege of seeing Mr. Snoop Doggy Dog with friends who know how to drop it like itz hot.<br />
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It's the summer music season, with festivals around every corner, taps are flowing, and flower power in every 18 - 26 year old girls hair. I'm hoping to get to a few more shows in the coming warm months.<br />
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<b>Anyone I should definitely check out? Anyone you're excited to see?</b><br />
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-79359782713270245452015-05-18T10:56:00.003-04:002015-05-18T10:59:41.024-04:00Tell me About Yoga<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
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A photo posted by native cold pressed (@nativecoldpressed) on <time datetime="2015-05-12T13:03:13+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">May 12, 2015 at 6:03am PDT</time></div>
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Yesterday I went with friends Kristie and Kate to the best yoga class I've taken, maybe ever. I'm sore today, in all the best ways, and came away from the class feeling refreshed, relaxed and stretched. The class was at <a href="http://thekitchencolumbus.com/" target="_blank">The Kitchen</a>, a lovely restaurant in German Village. The instructors were kind and light- some yoga instructors can be so serious, and judgmental- have you noticed that?
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But wait, it was at a restaurant? Yes. They've come up with this genius idea for yoga and brunch, all built into one. After a super simple online registration, we arrived at the restaurant early Sunday to see that all the tables had been removed. We yoga'd for an hour, drank freshly pressed juice from <a href="http://www.nativecoldpressed.com/" target="_blank">Native</a>, and then they served us brunch. To eat, we sat on the floor, in true yoga fashion.</div>
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Pretty genius, right? I'm looking forward to going again soon.</div>
Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-28566259997228663472015-05-13T22:23:00.000-04:002015-05-13T22:23:09.410-04:00Coming Back from Cloud 9<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Aha!<br />
It's been the best week- starting with several days off of work to "wedding prep", followed by the most marvelous day of my LIFE (dramatic, yes, even for me, but so true!) and then a lovely, relaxing and perfect honeymoon.<br />
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Can you tell I'm on Cloud 9 today?<br />
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Now I'm thinking about getting back to work tomorrow: How to tackle the emails, how to keep this positive vibe I've got going and what parts of my exciting week I'll share with co workers.<br />
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To avoid post-honeymoon blues, we planned ahead:<br />
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1. I did check email this week. I didn't really read any of them, but I went through and deleted things that could be tossed. My work email is connected to my phone, and seeing that inbox number grow and grow was more stressful than taking a few moments to skim through.<br />
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2. We came home by the end of our typical work day tonight, giving us time to unload the car, straighten up the house, and get on schedule for the rest of the week.<br />
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3. We didn't open any gifts before we left. We've opened many tonight, but decided to open a few a night for the next few days. It gives me something to look forward to at the end of the day and sort of prolongs that post-wedding glow.<br />
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4. Taking off Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday is genius. Now all we have to do is spend tomorrow catching up from the week off and then it's Friday already! Time for more weekend and more fun times. We can give ourselves a little time to ease back into the regular work week.<br />
<br />Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-45432777141914643772015-05-01T12:35:00.002-04:002015-05-01T12:35:15.254-04:00Happy Friday, you hotties!It's FRIDAY, and I'm starting a new JOB and our wedding is officially THIS MONTH.<br />
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What an exciting day!<br />
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Whatcha doin' this weekend? I'm spending some quality time with my washer and dryer tonight (so much laundry!), then having some good QT with friends over the next few days.<br />
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Tomorrow I'm giving blood.<br />
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The first time I gave blood, I was 17 and the Red Cross in a drive at our high school. All the color drained from my face, I was nauseous and lightheaded, and I swore I'd never do it again. The lightheaded feeling lasted, truly, for three days. For three days I felt like I'd never be normal again. I'd lost a pint of blood and I was sure I'd never recover.<br />
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When the next blood drive came around, my physics teacher urged me to try again. When I say "urge", what I mean was "berate me publicly so I was shamed into trying again." She had a point though. "You are YOUNG, and you are HEALTHY and there are so many people who need you to do this. You'll be OK," she said. "Try again, and if it's really that bad this time, you don't ever have to do it again."<br />
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And she was right. I was young and healthy (still am, thank goodness!) and my little pint of blood could make a difference for someone. So I gave in and I gave blood.<br />
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I've been going back every few months since then, and am a proud card carrying member of the Red Cross. That light headed feeling still happens, but I've learned some ways to combat it and it's always nice to chat with the people around you who are also donating.<br />
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It feels good to give, doesn't it?<br />
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<br />Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-42009024364288626612015-04-30T11:48:00.001-04:002015-04-30T11:48:15.143-04:00Macey at the White HouseI mean, seriously, how cute is this girl?<br />
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I wonder what she'll be like in ten years, or twenty years? Hopefully she'll be just as passionate about something equally important- maybe in 30 years, she'll be the president!<br />
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Obviously, I took this clip from YouTube, posted by the Today Show, borrowed from Ellen.<br />
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So stinkin' adorable.
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Last week, my friend Maureen and I went to see a play through<a href="http://www.capa.com/venues/ohio-theatre" target="_blank"> CAPA called The Final Table.</a> Essentially five deceased presidents living in limbo must play poker to secure their fate. I thought it was a smart and unique plot (the production was a "world premier" according to the director) but some of the quirks and jokes were lost on Mo and I. We're a bit too young to remember all the details of LBJ's policy making. I left the play thinking I should do some research on past presidents- maybe a few biographies on audio book.<br />
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At 5, Macey knows so much more about presidents than I've ever contemplated knowing. Here she is doing some <a href="https://youtu.be/HkFz2cGN9GI" target="_blank">trivia with Kevin Spacey</a>- for the record, my guess for number of rooms in the White House was the same as his. Does anyone know why we both had the same number in mind? Is that published somewhere?<br />
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Whose presidential biography should I listen to first?Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-23629104722659349542015-04-28T14:30:00.000-04:002015-04-28T14:30:29.606-04:00Vows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mike and I are getting married in a few days. Ten, so I'm told. We haven't yet picked vows, and that's on our TO DO list for this evening.<br />
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Wedding vows need to be timeless and true and profound, right? Yes. I say yes to that one- cheesy inside jokes are not what I hope to hear at a wedding ceremony. That said, there are so many things I want to say to Mike that aren't quite so eloquent.<br />
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1. Thank you for continuing to call me when we started dating and I ignored your calls and acted like a too-cool-for-school meanie.<br />
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2. I promise I'll try not to put my cold body parts on you when you're trying to sleep<br />
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3. I'll try to remember that you don't like to be poked in the ribs, no matter how much fun it is for me to see you jump.<br />
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4. Thank you for letting me watch all of the murdery shows I'm into these days. I hope someday to return the favor. But not quite yet, I'm still REALLY into the murdery shows.<br />
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5. Thank you for not commenting on my appearance when we both know I don't look that good.<br />
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6. Thank you for spending time with my family. I think you like them- if not, you're doing a great job of hiding it.<br />
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7. I promise to love your family, even when I'm annoyed or sleepy or hungry.<br />
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8. I promise to give you space when you're feeling introverted and to remember not to take it personally.<br />
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9. I vow to not spend all of our money on dumb stuff.<br />
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10. Thank you for not getting too upset when I sometimes spend SOME of our money on dumb stuff.<br />
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11. I promise I'll avoid mom-jeans (sweatpants are all that fit me right now!)<br />
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12. I'll try to stay in shape because I know fitness and health are important, but also, being not gross is important to our marriage.<br />
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13. I promise to cook for you as often as I can because I know it makes you feel cared for.<br />
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14. I promise that you won't have to do my laundry, if you'll promise I don't have to do yours.<br />
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15. I promise to put my face on your face in a sign of friendship and love.<br />
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16. I promise to hear you when you need to talk, and see you when you don't have the words to say what's on your mind.<br />
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17. Thank you for letting me be a grump and for letting me be silly<br />
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18. Thank you for sometimes pouring me a glass of wine when I'm on the way home.<br />
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19. I promise to let you do Dad Jokes, no matter how much I want to lie on the floor and cry about it.<br />
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20. Thank you for saving money so we can retire, even though I don't believe in retirement.<br />
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21. Thank you for being a goof and for having good oral hygiene. You are a good example to our future children.<br />
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22. I hope my kids are like their dad (which is you, obvs)<br />
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23. I vow that I will always TRY TRY TRY to be a tidier person.<br />
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24. I will respect your decisions, and support you in seeing them through.<br />
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25. I promise to bug you about getting a dog every day.<br />
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26. I vow to be your P.I.C. for all of the adventures you want to have.<br />
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And more. All the things.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-18725907005836260392015-04-28T14:03:00.004-04:002015-04-28T14:03:58.133-04:00Geneva on the LakeWhen I started thinking about my bachelorette party, I knew I didn't want to go "out", or go overboard on wiener decorations. Originally my idea was to get a cabin with friends, build a little camp fire and spend the night playing cards and laughing together.<div>
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That idea was starting to take shape when my friend <a href="http://itsalittlebitofrain.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Audra</a> suggested taking a look at Geneva on the Lake. Brilliant! Geneva was on my list for a destination wedding, but ultimately we decided that wouldn't be the right fit for us. I had visited the<a href="http://www.thelodgeatgeneva.com/" target="_blank"> Lodge at Geneva on the Lake</a> for my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary and knew it was beautiful place. I was pleasantly surprised that the cost was so reasonable- I'm definitely taking Mike back there sometime soon.</div>
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After packing the car to the brim, my sisters, cousin and I drove from Cleveland to Geneva on Friday night. We unpacked and stopped for a drink in the hotel bar, where they had a band playing <a href="https://youtu.be/9f16Fw_K45s" target="_blank">Billy Ocean</a>...obviously the right way to start the weekend.</div>
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Saturday morning, we grabbed breakfast at the restaurant and rode bikes by the lake. We were so lucky to have such a beautiful day, and I couldn't have imagined a more ideal morning to start a great weekend with friends. </div>
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Friends began arriving a little before one, and after a small photo shoot, our shuttle arrived to deliver us to a few wineries in the area.<br />
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First we visited Debonne and sat outside at one of the wobbliest picnic tables I've seen.</div>
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Then we went to South River Vineyard. This place is an absolutely beautiful old church converted into a relaxing an spacious winery.</div>
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Our shuttle ride next was a complete dance party, and I felt nervous for our driver!</div>
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Out last stop was Ferrante, where my sister played a flute, Audra lost her sunglasses (RIP), and I had a great conversation about military enlistment...</div>
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<br />The sunset that night during dinner was, again, beautiful. It was hard to believe that we were in Ohio, enjoying the views, the wine and company of some of my most favorite and hilarious friends.</div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-9230864960522220682015-04-22T22:57:00.000-04:002015-04-22T22:57:57.499-04:00Lonely Weirdo Adult Sport<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well hello ladies and gents!<br />
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What do you do to get your exercise? Lots of people around the internet share info about new workout plans, with before and after pictures, but there are a lot of organic ways to stay active and have fun.<br />
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One of the things I do to stay active is play volleyball.<br />
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Does anyone else think of adult co-ed volleyball as a douchebag sport? If yes, I'm pretty sure we can be best friends. Until I met Mike, I was horrified by grown adults who played volleyball (and after I met him, also, but then he convinced me to try it.) It seems like the kind of thing people with empty lives would do to hide their sadness.<br />
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So here I am, playing adult volleyball on a team, every week, with people I didn't know before we were randomly matched on the team. I signed up to be the "cool girlfriend" and two-plus years later, I'm brainwashed into doing it every week.<br />
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Really sellin' it, right?<br />
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Here's what's nice- we play on Monday, which means something to pump up my adrenaline after the first day back at the office. We're not very good, so I get my jog on by chasing the stray balls across the court. We've made friends with the people on our team and honestly, it's become one of my favorite parts of the week.<br />
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Recently we've been playing really well. We've had some very competitive matches and have even won a few solid games! I love the way volleyball gives me some exercise without me realizing I'm exercising.<br />
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Are there any sports or classes you like that you recommend?Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-19328393309509890172015-04-15T14:40:00.000-04:002015-04-15T14:40:28.461-04:00GroupMe is for winners!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've got a great group of strong-ass, independent woman friends, but for as resourceful and independent as we are, we're pretty codependent when it comes to entertaining each other.<br />
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We often share work stories (hilarious and frustrating) or life updates (how's the baby, that appointment you had, that game you saw?) by text message- which means my phone is blowing up all day long, and I can never catch up on all the hilarity.<br />
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A few weeks ago, after a particularly epic (and I mean that in the way you talk about the Odyssey) story about some hilarious coworker interactions we realized we needed a solution. We can't sit and stare at our phones all day to keep up, after all!<br />
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We started using GROUPME. It's an app that lets you message with whatever group of people you want. You can use it from your phone, but also on your desktop, making daytime antics far easier on us all! It was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GroupMe" target="_blank">founded </a>several years ago, so we're probably behind the times, but it's been a great way to share pictures, stories and grievances all day long with my girls.<br />
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I recommend it to anyone who has a big group to stay in touch with, and doesn't want to be tied to their phone.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-39962313315318507872015-04-14T16:20:00.000-04:002015-04-14T16:20:03.841-04:00The VoicesI mentioned that my most recent bridal shower had a <a href="http://iamstephanieblogging.blogspot.com/2015/04/another-great-shower-theme.html" target="_blank">cute theme</a>. One guest drew the time 9:00 p.m. She was clever and made up a date night package, complete with popcorn, wine, a snuggly blanket and a movie...<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1567437/" target="_blank">The Voices</a>, with Ryan Reynolds and Anna Kendrick.<br />
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Full disclosure? This "GUEST" is my cousin. She picked up the movie for me because someone very special wrote the dang thing. Her brother. Also my cousin. Pretty cool, huh? Yeah, that's a little name droppery, and it doesn't mean that much because it's not like we stay up late and talk about boys on the phone til 2 a.m., but I'm pretty impressed and proud to have a person in my family who is following their Hollywood dreams with success!<br />
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I haven't watched it yet, but it was released a few months ago, and I've been dying to see it since.<br />
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So, OK:<br />
1. Ryan Reynolds and Anna Kendrick? What's not to love?<br />
2. My cousin wrote it, so duh, that's pretty cool.<br />
3. It's a comedy with some murderous tendencies- <a href="http://iamstephanieblogging.blogspot.com/2015/03/true-crime-247.html" target="_blank">RIGHT UP MY ALLEY</a>. I'm all about murdery, bizarre entertainment.<br />
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If you're a little weird like me, and want to see it, you can a) borrow my copy b) rent it at Redbox, c) get it from Amazon or d) keep your eyes peeled on Netflix.</div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-67611318484325918412015-04-14T15:24:00.000-04:002015-04-14T15:24:04.779-04:00Another Great Shower Theme<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sunday was my fourth and <b>final </b>bridal shower. For someone who hoped for zero showers, four turned out to be quite a handful! (PS, I'm so grateful, but it's so lavish especially for me, a grown-ass woman, with a job and her own paycheck, mmhmm)<br />
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My Aunt planned a brunch, complete with mimosas and my favorite, quiche! For an extra touch, she used my great-grandma Gertrude's china for serving and GGG's tea set for coffee. It was definitely a special cross-generational celebration!<br />
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In a cute bridal shower twist, she assigned each guest a time of the day, and they were asked to bring a gift that could be used during that time.<br />
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For example, my sister had 8 a.m. and got us a really sweet "hometown" gift basket with coffee, homemade bread and preserves, all from her town in Cleveland- perfect for breakfast! My cousin had 10 p.m. and picked up the new sheets we had registered for- ideal for climbing into a cozy new bed.<br />
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The theme suggestion came from a bridal shower I went to about 6 years ago for my friend Kate. Have you done this theme before? It was nice because everyone thought outside of the box to find unique and useful gifts for our new marital home.<br />
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The first shower we had was a <a href="http://iamstephanieblogging.blogspot.com/2015/02/touchdown.html" target="_blank">Super Bowl themed party</a>. What are some other themes out there for the party planners?<br />
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<br />Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-739282188781316562015-04-10T15:56:00.003-04:002015-04-10T15:56:32.728-04:00TGIF, Right??<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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On Monday, I woke up thinking it was Friday. Not a good way to start the week. My mood reflected it, but as the week went on, I whipped my attitude into shape. Nonetheless, I'm grateful to see the REAL Friday is here! Mike and I have no plans tonight, with the intention of eating left overs and vegging out before a very busy weekend.<br />
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Last night I skipped the gym, in favor of a bike ride. Most of my bike rides are spur of the moment, but Columbus has some <a href="http://www.centralohiogreenways.com/index.php/trails" target="_blank">excellent paths</a>, and is generally a pretty cycle-friendly city.<br />
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Ever heard of <a href="http://www.prestigediningclub.com/columbus/" target="_blank">Prestige Dining Club</a>? Mike won a membership through his company, so now we're sampling new places around town we haven't tried before.<br />
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Tomorrow two of my co-workers and I are headed to a coffee date. Yum! We had been talking about getting together for some QT outside of work, and when we saw <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/first-look-the-roosevelt-coffee-house" target="_blank">this article</a>, we definitely wanted to try <a href="http://www.rooseveltcoffee.org/" target="_blank">Roosevelt Coffeehouse</a>!<br />
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I'm outta here! Have a good one.<br />
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<br />Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-10401723335710142902015-04-09T17:25:00.001-04:002015-04-14T15:25:00.505-04:00Just Awesome!<div>
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My friend Heather gave me this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Calendar-Awesome-2014-Daily/dp/1452115621" target="_blank">Calendar of Awesome</a> by <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/neil_pasricha_the_3_a_s_of_awesome?language=en" target="_blank">Neil Pasricha</a> <span style="font-family: inherit;">to kick off 2015. She's clever and knew that I would get a kick out of it!</span><br />
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Each day you get a little moment to reflect on a thing that is Awesome. Some of my favorites so far have been "when there's a baby in the office...awesome!", "the smell of an old hardware store...awesome!" and "the feeling in your stomach after a big #2....awesome!"</div>
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It's a fun reminder of the little victories and joys :) </div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-18327992947745205302015-04-08T21:57:00.001-04:002015-04-09T14:22:30.171-04:00Same suit, different day<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
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A photo posted by Matilda Kahl (@lilltrill) on <time datetime="2015-04-08T03:50:45+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Apr 7, 2015 at 8:50pm PDT</time></div>
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Driving home from work today, I heard an interview with Matilda Kahl about an article she wrote for Harper's Bazaar. Matilda, an art director, decided to wear the same outfit to work every day, and she's been doing it for over three years.<br />
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Read her essay <a href="http://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a10441/why-i-wear-the-same-thing-to-work-everday/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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She says it's improved her life by freeing up space in her mind and in her day to focus on other, more critical activities. She points out that men have this idea down pat- dark suit, white shirt, tie. Choosing an outfit that stands out takes up so much more time and effort than I'd like. It would be nice to have a go-to "uniform" to slip into each day.<br />
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I never wore a school uniform. Whenever the topic of uniforms came up in my high school, friends would shudder at the idea of wearing the SAME thing EVERY day, and never being able to stand out. As someone who has never had an easy time in the morning, a uniform has always seemed like a pretty swell idea.<br />
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I'm truly considering take this plunge.<br />
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Would you try it?<br />
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-83388512722635311112015-04-08T17:14:00.001-04:002015-04-08T17:15:55.113-04:00These breads look delicious, but this isn't about that.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My latest trick is to break up my goals into smaller, more manageable sections. I do it at work, and at home (just ONE load of laundry, that's ALL you have to do!). After posting <a href="http://iamstephanieblogging.blogspot.com/2014/12/10-things-on-my-winter-bucket-list.html" target="_blank">my</a> <a href="http://iamstephanieblogging.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-month-in.html" target="_blank">Winter</a> <a href="http://iamstephanieblogging.blogspot.com/2015/02/winter-bucket-list-check-in.html" target="_blank">Bucket</a> <a href="http://iamstephanieblogging.blogspot.com/2015/03/winter-bucket-list-final-thoughts.html" target="_blank">List</a>, I realized that I accomplished more and felt empowered by tackling a smaller list to improve my life, rather that trying to hold onto a goal for an entire year. Does that make a commentary on my attention span? Another topic, another day, I guess.<br />
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Here are some things I'd like to accomplish this spring:<br />
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<b>1. Meet my budget for my upcoming work event-</b> big work, but somebody has to do it! </blockquote>
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<b>2. Get Married-</b> Shouldn't be a problem, but it's a big piece of my agenda this spring! </blockquote>
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<b>3. Bike somewhere once a week</b>- I think I'll start today and do this when I get home. </blockquote>
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<b>4. Drink a gallon of water every day.</b> </blockquote>
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<b>5. Upgrade my cell phone</b>- I'm due!</blockquote>
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<b>6. Have three one-on-one dates with three friends- </b>this has been on my mind for a few weeks. There are some people I just don't get to bond with as often, and I'd like to change that. </blockquote>
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<b>7. Get a non-wedding mani-pedi</b>- summer is on the way. </blockquote>
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<b>8. Organize all of our wedding gifts so our house looks normal again</b>- We have so many gifts and decorations and general wedding items all over our house. I'm excited to sort them and put them in the proper home. </blockquote>
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<b>9. Read three books-</b> Knowledge is power! </blockquote>
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<b>10. Send all wedding thank you notes- </b>So far I've been good about sending out notes to gift-givers in a timely manner, and I don't want to stretch this project into July.</blockquote>
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A few are wedding centered (see #2...), but I'm hoping to check these off my list by <b>June 15</b>. </div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-23904286465928800492015-04-06T23:53:00.001-04:002015-04-06T23:53:22.984-04:003 Tips for Tasty Tofu<div style="text-align: center;">
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Tofu is a polarizing food. In our house, we like to add it to dishes where we might typically add meat, like tacos or pasta. Mike and I avoid eating a lot of meat, so tofu is one way to help give our meals a little more density.<br />
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That said, ill-prepared tofu is super gross. Here are my top three tips for making tofu a tasty addition to your meals.<br />
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<b>1. Be patient-</b> to make evenly crisped tofu, pour a bit of olive oil into a skillet. Drop the (cubed) tofu into the oil and wait. Turn each piece with a fork so that all six sides of the cube are cooked. This can take a little time, but it's always worth it. The tofu ends up looking like croutons!<br />
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<b>2. Use flavor-</b> Plain tofu doesn't taste like anything. It IS pretty unappealing, but tofu is versatile and takes on the flavor of the things it's cooked with. We love to put a bit of hot sauce in the pan, but also use lemon juice, soy sauce, or whatever might blend in the meal. You don't need much!<br />
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<b>3. Always serve "dry"-</b> I like to pan fry tofu, but my mom sometimes makes baked tofu that everyone likes. When preparing the tofu, use a paper towel to remove excess moisture, and choose a cooking method that will dehydrate the tofu- crispy, "dry" tofu is much more appetizing than "raw" tofu, which can be a bit slippery or slimy looking.<br />
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<b>Bonus</b>: Unopened tofu keeps well in the refrigerator. I love to buy the Extra Firm style and use it in meals on those nights when the cupboards are a little bare between grocery trips. It's a very handy little meal-saver.<br />
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<br />Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-17658583061822898792015-04-05T23:10:00.001-04:002015-04-05T23:10:22.412-04:00A Lovely WeekendA few quick shots from our weekend in (very) small-town Ohio:<br />
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<br />Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5370414552962292587.post-73518086040753762872015-04-04T23:50:00.001-04:002015-04-08T17:18:14.154-04:00Five Minute Fairy Tales<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://iamstephanieblogging.blogspot.com/2015/04/21-days.html" target="_blank">I promised a story.</a> Seeing that it's pretty much past bedtime and my eyes are almost closed, I think we'll call this a bedtime story. <br />
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One bright and unseasonably warm Fall day, a force of the prettiest, smartest and coolest girls in America visited this patio to celebrate the birthday of The Girl. It was there that a handsome, but sweaty Prince sauntered toward the girls, with hopes of sweeping them off of their feet. The Prince, mistaking their kindness for romantic intentions, was emboldened to ask The Girl for a way to be in contact. She obliged with half-hearted expectations.<br />
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Despite her initial skepticism, The Girl slowly learned that she enjoyed the company of the Prince. He was charming and patient, with a sense of humor that mirrored her own. Over time she discovered that his heart was pure, his mind was sound, and his intentions were good. As a bonus, his body was well exercised and muscley. She had mistaken the Prince for a frog, but had come to know him for his true valor and strength.<br />
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On a rainy night at the start of a new year, the Prince invited The Girl to join him once again on the patio where their story began. The night was dark, the rain fell, and the Prince gallantly opened a car door, offering an arm and an umbrella to The Girl.<br />
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It was on this patio that the Prince knelt before The Girl and, with wet eyes (from the rain, of course) asked The Girl to be his bride. The Girl was confident that the Prince was her One True Love. She answered that she would be honored to spend her days by his side.<br />
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They shared their happy news with all the land, and lived Happily Ever After.<br />
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The end.</blockquote>
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Sweet dreams!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943101543085771217noreply@blogger.com0