shutterfly fail

I ordered my Christmas cards a week and a half or so ago....I spent TWO HOURS perfecting them and triple checked the spelling....I paid shipping which was almost half the total cost of the cards....and FINALLY they arrived yesterday!!!! I had been checking the mail box religiously twice a day for the past 4 days because I knew they would be arriving soon. So much to my surprise, I was not happy with what I saw when I opened up the cards. The picture was blurry. Not like, a little blurry and kinda sorta out of focus. Not like, 'oh it's sorta blurry but maybe people won't really think much of it?' Not even close. This was like, "what the hell happened?! I paid entirely too much for this shit." So, after a huge freak out, my next idea was to contact Shutterfly about this issue. And just to preface this, I would seriously hate being a company or a customer service rep for a place that I am not happy with. (which reminds me...this is another trait I got from my mom. just telling people what's up and how it is because that's how we roll...especially if you piss us off OR try to rip us off) So here is what I wrote to Shutterfly:

I recently ordered and received 25 photo cards. When they arrived, the picture was beyond blurry and out of focus. While making the cards and before ordering them, I was never notified or warned that this picture would print blurry. I am embarrassed to send these cards out to my family and friends. I am not in the least bit happy with the quality of them at all. Had I known the picture would print this way, I would have uploaded a different picture or tried to make it a better quality before ordering. I have printed several 4x6 pictures from you and have received a warning that they would print poorly given their resolution so I assumed you would do the same with the photo cards. Seeing as how I am not satisified with these at all, you need to fix this and make it right. You have two options: recredit my account and refund my money for the order AND shipping so I can take my business elsewhere. Or you can give me 25 photo cards for free AND pay for 2-day shipping so I can receive these and mail them before Christmas is here. If you can't do either of these options, I guarantee that you will never receive my business again and I will post this on every social networking site so all of my family and friends, and their family and friends, will take their business elsewhere as well. 


Needless to say, today I was very happy to wake up and see I had an email response from Shutterfly customer service. And thankfully, they accepted option #1 that I gave them. So I reuploaded a new version of the picture, ordered them for free and got the free 2-day shipping. And now I will wait and see how these turn out....so help me God that those 25 Christmas cards come back blurry again and I will really lose my mind. (Actually, I think I already have after reading and grading 50 freshmen papers in the past 2 days...apparently high school doesn't teach grammar and writing skills these days anymore.) Anyway, Shutterfly you're officially on my list until I get my non-blurry Christmas cards. And I suggest you make it right because my list isn't a place you wanna be! Ah so thankful the weekend is almost here...

the first gift of Christmas!

Today I felt like the boy from The Polar Express...because....I got the first gift of Christmas!!! And it was totally unexpected! Today at my 8:05AM class (which I showed up 25 minutes late for...gee thanks a heap snow/ice) my professor said he needed to see all of his TA's immediately after class. Of course, instant paranoia sets in with me. "What's he going to say? Is he mad? Did I do something wrong? Am I not getting an assistantship next semester?!!" Anyway, we all stayed after class and sat there questioning what would he was going be on our case about now....until he walked back into the room with two BIG bags of Christmas presents!!!! Our prof (who is probably mid-50s? maybe 60s?) is a single dude so when each of us girls opened up a scarf from American Eagle it made for quite the laugh. Seriously, I wish I could have seen him buying 6 of these scarves. And on top of that he also gave us each a Christmas card with a real genuine note from him. Basically, he said I'm awesome and he can't wait to have me around for the next 2 years in the program AND also to TA and help him with class. So if that's an offer for an assistantship each semester, I'll take it. Merry Christmas to me!


In other news, I helped my friend Hilary today bust down her basement wall and save her sister's dog that she is dog-sitting for the week. Meekah, the dog, really brought this on herself because at some point, she jumped up on the door handle and locked herself in. So instead of there being a key for the door anywhere, we had to go all Animal Cops and ASPCA on the basement. Breaking in through the wall paneling was really the only option. Needless to say, without the help of any guys, google OR pinterest, we combined our strength and tore through the wall. Saved the dog (let her out of the room...it's not like there was a fire and that we had to "save" her from anything.) Patched up the wall. And it looks good as new just like that. 


And lastly, my day ended by having a long dinner with my friend Lea. Is there anything better than sharing a delish dinner with a good friend? Eat in 20 minutes but end up staying there for almost two hours? I love it. There's nothing like some quality time with my girl friends. We get each other's jokes, reminisce about old stories and we can vent for hours, obviously. And never get sick of it. Nothing makes my heart feel more full and happy after such a wonderful day spent with two of my closest friends and then ending the night snuggling with the boy and pup.

Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see. 

-The Polar Express

i got it from my mama

My mom is the bomb. Really, she rocks. I've always known that she is very supportive of all of us, insanely crafty and creative, hilarious, ridiculously organized and always thinks outside of the box (usually for a cheaper alternative for things.) And I know she has passed on some of her best qualities to me as well. Like her helping me become independent, think for myself, and she encourages me to be successful in all I set out to do...not to mention her high metabolism and "skinny genes", green eyes, sense of humor and crafty skills just to name a few. Actually, it's almost scary how much we are alike now that I'm starting to realize it. But I mean, look at how much fun the two of us have together. 

we're funny girls.

Now with the wedding planning, she has taken her crafting and creativeness to a whole new level. I'm talking OFF the charts here people. Beading like a mad woman. Painting jars and making all of the boutonnieres. She's even eating baby food just so we have enough of the small jars. EATING BABY FOOD!! Is that love and dedication or what?!

wedding mania!

Whoa baby, look at all those jars! I love them all and am so excited for how unique and "us" the wedding is going to be! Now enough of the decorations....onto even more beautiful items. Since I have my wedding dress, (duh, that's not what I'm going to post pictures of) I have been searching high and low for the perfect head piece and bracelet. And of course, my mom entirely blew my mind and left me speechless when she hand-crafted all of this...

Etsy sellers, move aside. My mom has got the beadin' fever.

I know, I know. It's all beautiful, isn't it? She really out did herself on this one and I couldn't be more excited and thankful for these items! My mom has always meant so much to me and I can't imagine trying to plan this wedding or do any of it without her by my side. I've actually been looking forward to this "event" for awhile now because I knew how special it would be for the both of us. We've already shared many laughs and tears (thankfully, way more laughs than tears!) and I'm sure over the next 8 months leading up to the Big Day, there will be plenty more of both. It didn't take the wedding for me to realize how awesome my mom is and how supportive she is. But it has made me feel even more lucky to have her in my life and thankful to say she is one of my best friends. So to this, I thank you Mom. For everything you have done, continue to do and will do throughout my life. It wouldn't be the same without you and I can only hope to be the mom to my own kids as you have been to me. Love, Louskilou :)

zero tolerance

I hate to admit that I have little to no tolerance when it comes to drinking. Zero tolerance might sum it up actually. Especially when I'm trying to drink with the guys and apparently my girl friends. And keep up during power hour. And trying to make it to century club. My body is hating me like whoa today. I don't know why I do this to myself. Luckily, this isn't a very often event but when I do drink, it's like my subconscious is telling me to drink enough to make up for the last few dry weeks. I guess that means my body is punishing myself for not enjoying a couple of cold ones more often. That's obviously the only logic to this situation. So naturally, I suppose, that means it's okay to have a beer or two each night. Maybe I'll try that route for a while.....


Thanks to trying to keep up with the guys and not wanting to appear "lame and weak sauce" also led to the night ending something like this. Me passing out in the recliner. Jordan carrying me to bed. Me getting tucked into bed. Jordan continued to drink in the living room with our friends and watch football. Jordan hearing weird noises from the bedroom. Me puking in the bed. On the bed. On the floor. And on my arm. While still passed out. Jordan holding a trash bag below me. Me missing the bag and still hitting the bed and floor. Jordan getting me to the bathroom and shower to wash off my arms and face. Jordan put all the bedding in the wash, remade the bed with a new set of sheets, and tucked me into bed. Again. Thankfully, that was the end of the eventful night and we both slept in past 10.


I have gathered three things from this:
1. Jordan is great at cleaning up puke and dealing with it. Which is awesome news because the thought of cleaning it up, even my own, makes me gag. He'll be on puke patrol for sure when we have kids. 
2. We needed to change the sheets anyway. What better way to remind us to put on the flannel sheets and put away the summer sheets than a little puke. 
3. I actually think I might be getting sick for real. So I'm not blaming all of this on the drinking. It merely is a coincidence. A big coincidence perhaps. But I have been feeling really achey and feverish for the past few days so I rest my case.


I love Lazy Sundays. I get to spend the whole day lounging in sweats with Jordan and Paisley with football on. And since I'm feeling a little under the weather that means some napping will happen too...Jordan already caught me and Paisley taking one nap. So this is how I will be spending the rest of my day....

Paisley is the best little spoon

I hope everyone fully indulges in lazy Sunday. Rest up, kick back and relax. Why work on the to-do list today when it can be done tomorrow!

healthy schmealthy

I despise the grocery store. I loathe grocery shopping. And for one reason: the damn price of everything. In a society where you get ridiculed and judged for being over weight and laughed out of some retail stores, they sure don't make buying healthy food an easy task. 


I have one thing to say about healthy food prices: ahem, screw them.


Thankfully, I still have my trusty genetics to rely on. Although at some point, I'm sure my high metabolism is bound to slow down, but until then, I'd like to stay ahead of it. And I really don't ever want my future kids to look at pictures of myself from high school or college and say, "Wow Mom, you were pretty skinny back then....what happened and is that going to happen to me?!" Yeah, yikes. A day I dread and hope to never experience. They'd get soap in their mouths for sure.......just kidding. Actually all of our lunches would be canceled for the rest of the week due to lack of hustle. 


But seriously. I have an idea: why not make fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats, yogurt, teas, and pasta along with any other healthy alternative half the price it is now? I bet that would encourage people to eat better. I know I'm not the only person who sees the section "Healthy Market" in the stores but reads it as "Too Expensive For You Grad Student" (or whichever alternative fits you better, like maybe "Don't even think about it. You have 4 other mouths to feed at home.") Geez louise, what's a girl gotta do around here to feed herself and her fiance some healthy meals without breaking the bank?!! All I know is that my future home will have a big enough backyard to have a giant garden. Basically like a replica of my parents at our old house. Then I will just reap all the benefits of homegrown goodness and love every minute of it. And shove it in the face of the grocery stores. But until then, I will continue to just suck it up, pay the prices (and still bitch about it) and let my body reap the benefits. I only hope all of these healthy meals pay off in the long run....


Speaking of run, I blame all of this entirely on the class I am a TA for: Health For Living. Everyone I TA with is in Health & Sports Studies, personal trainers, love to run, yada yada yada. Workout freaks I like to call them and I want to be one of them. But not really because I hate running. And I reallllllly hate sweating. Which means I have a really big love/hate relationship with exercising in general. Which brings me back to the whole point of this post about eating healthy. Clearly I gotta eat healthy since I hate sweating which means I gotta pay astronomical prices for the healthy food......ughh it's a vicious circle I'm living in I tell ya. Vicious. healthy schmealthy, can't live with it. Definitely can't live without it. Damn. I'm going to enjoy every last grape I bought now, even the wrinkly ones. 

guilty of pre-wedding wedding planning

It's true. I'll admit it....I am guilty of pre-planning my own wedding. So sue me why don't you.

I know however, that I am not the only girl who has done this. Obviously. Let's be real here people. I mean, can you blame me really? Being 24 and surrounded by friends and friends of friends who all seemed to be getting engaged, married, buying houses and having babies--you know, THE WORKS--of course I started to get anxious and thus it led me to start planning my future wedding. 

Here is what I had to work with while pre-planning:
future groom: Jordan. (you know when you know, right?)
budget: unsure, but hopeful.
ring: again, nothing. but wishful thinking. and making it painfully obvious about what I liked and wanted.
size: small. I wanted everything small. No big poofy dress, small even numbered wedding party, cupcakes and no giant cake, and no more than 200 guests.
decorations: no fresh flowers, period. lots of DIY stuff and candles.

colors: plum purple, sage and khaki
time of year: late summer

Thankfully for me, Jordan was totally ok with me always rattling on and on about "when we get married....for our future wedding...." because turns out he also had the same idea in his own mind. But with both of us still being in school (we'll be professionals some day), I really wasn't expecting anything to happen in the near future. The only thing I could rest easy about was knowing that he agreed, more or less, with my above list. Which only further got my wheels spinning and more obsessed with all things wedding related. I constantly found myself looking at dresses, rings, venues, and even photographer prices. Every recent google search on my computer had something to do with weddings, no joke. At this point, I KNEW Jordan was the one because he was still around! Whewww....So imagine my surprise when I got home from orientation, on my birthday, and he had this beauty waiting for me...

 

I know, it's gorgeous isn't it?

And just like that, we have been in a whirlwind of officially and for real planning this wedding! Now I don't feel guilty (not like I did in the first place) about spending all night going from one wedding blog to the next with a marathon of 'Say Yes To The Dress' playing. Now he only has 8 months left to listen to me as I read different facts and stories from the latest Brides magazine or try to show him my latest idea....all while he enjoys a couple of cold ones and plays Call of Duty. Which I quickly realized I might as well be talking to a brick wall and that's what my mom and girlfriends are for. Thanks J man for just nodding your head and always agreeing with me anyway. Just one of the many things I appreciate about you.

rabbit rabbit

I remember growing up watching Nickelodeon like it was my job and they always had random facts or quotes for each day. Does anyone else remember that? I know some of you 90's kids probably do. Anyway, the one I always remember and think of was "rabbit rabbit." Supposedly, on the 1st of each month, when you wake up and if the first thing you say is "rabbit rabbit" then that is going to bring you good luck for the rest of the month. So guess who has been waking up and saying this to herself (and sometimes outloud) on the 1st of each month....yep, this girl. Maybe that explains why I really am so lucky and I'm always winning things. Shoot, now my secrets out which means any prizes that you win in a month when you said "rabbit rabbit" should automatically be turned over to me. 

With the 1st of December also brings two other very exciting things. First off, it means the start of Ellen Degeneres 12 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS!!! Which by the way, I should totally be attending. Hey yo Ellen, why haven't you returned any of my emails?? I've been emailing you like crazy, submitting stories and pictures left and right. Show me some love why don't you and invite me to your show!! Ok enough of that, I'll keep dreaming about it later. The other exciting thing is today also starts ABC FAMILY 25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!!! One Christmas movie a day for the next 25 days?! Umm YES please!! There is nothing better than snuggling up on the couch with the tree lit in the corner and playing a Christmas movie to get you all jazzed up and in the Christmas spirit! Although, I won't lie...there will be some of their movie choices I won't be watching. Like the clay animation movies. Ehh, I've never been able to stand those. On those nights, since Jordan is obsessed (seriously, in love) with all things Christmas, we'll choose from our own movie selection of holiday favorites! 

Elf....one of the best Christmas movies!

One last thing that the start of December also brings is a whole mix of emotions around the holiday season. Being surrounded by all of my family and friends makes me feel truly blessed and so lucky. It also makes me miss those so much that have left my life, some way too early. It really isn't fair but I know they would all be so proud to see what we have accomplished. I hope this month brings everyone plenty of family time, laughs, smiles and joy. I for one, can't wait for all of the home cookin' and a little friendly competition during our family Christmas games! It's on, booyahh!