"Go on, get outside, get the stink blown off ya!"

That quote is from one of my favorite quotable-quotes movie, Hope Floats. It's so hokey yet so true.

and it's exactly what I did today.

This past weekend, for some reason, I was just not feeling myself. I was in no mood for anything. not even going online. I actually blew off THE INTERNET, YOU GUYS. Like, I was completely inhabited by some other being.

So today, out of the blue, one of my favoritest co-workers/friend texted me asking if I wanted to go out to lunch for some sushi. Such a simple request but in my mind I had already resigned this day to being reserved for some major movie-watching, etsy browsing, and staying in my grungy sweatpants. Also, a lunch date means having to put on pants AND shoes. But I said "screw it," because sushi > having to wear pants.

After falsely thinking the fairly new-ish sushi & tapas bar, Soul Gastrolounge, was open for lunch, we drove uptown (the actual beating heart of Charlotte) and ended up noshing at Cosmos Café.

HOLY YUMMY SUSHI GOODNESS, BATMAN.

I ordered the shrimp tempura roll and I believe my eyes rolled to the back of my head in delight.

Anyways, throughout my delicious sushi, I enjoyed much needed conversation covering just about everything. After the yumminess, we walked around uptown and decided to explore the epically beautiful and all-around AWESOME children's library, ImaginOn. I was blown away at how interactive and how much of a multi-media experience this is for kids. and it's all free. However, we didn't stay too long (because twentysomethings with no children present = weird) and ended our gloriously indulgent day at our favorite bakery with a chocolate croissant and latté.

This was exactly the kind of afternoon my mind, spirit, and belly needed. When I was driving home, I realized how much of a difference the simple act of getting out of the house makes.

And this all brings me to extend the biggest of biggest "THANK YOU!" to everyone regarding the comments on my last post. The response and suggestions I received really illustrated the core of the blogging and twentysomething community. We rally for one another.

I'm attacking the volunteer front full-force. I've applied to my local library to become a storybook reader to children (thanks to a suggestion by Katelin) and I also applied to volunteer at my local branch of firstbook, which is an organization I really really really want to get involved with. (Although I'm still waiting to hear back from both). If neither of those opportunities become available, I plan to volunteer at a local nonprofit helping young girls. Also, I'm going to work on trying out some extra-cirriculurs, i.e., photography, cooking classes, joining an actual gym, etc.

Point is? I'm moving forward, I have a goal in mind, and it's only full steam ahead.

an unintentional blogging break

I never intended for two weeks to pass without posting. I mean I couldn't even post a picture of something cute and fuzzy or an inspirational quote, for godness sake.

Me = major blogger fail. Obviously, me and NaBloPoMo could never be friends.

Reason? I've been down in the dumps and slightly a bit of a crabby patty over this whole job search thing and the fact that I feel like I'm getting NOWHERE in life. I mean it's not like I'm being reckless as in doing drugs or going out every night and getting drunk. In fact, I'm the complete opposite of that kind of lifestyle. As of right now, my days consist of browsing all of the job sites, emailing company recruiters, reading/commenting on blogs, making unneccessary trips to Target, going to the library, going out to eat with some co-workers (every now and then), and working part-time at my soul-sucking retail job.

I'm not doing anything substantial with my days. So I've decided that since I have this free time, I'm going to start volunteering somewhere and/or doing trying something new. I've nestled into somewhat of a "comfort zone," where I'm not challenging myself, mentally or physically and that has got to stop.

I really don't know what to do or where to go first. I want to become a better painter, take more photographs, try an authentic Indian dish, learn to cook, possibly do some freelance PR work. I want to do, see, taste, and explore.

Basically I just want to add some texture to my life.

Any suggestions on what I should try?

why you should be watching Parks and Recreation

It's not really surprising here that I like TV and watch my fair share of it. I've shared my love for the now-cancelled show Life, my adoration for Glee and now, I'm telling you why I love watching Parks and Recreation... and why you should be too.

If you've never watched this show before, it comes on NBC right before The Office and is filmed mockumentary-style just like The Office.

Here are my top five reasons why you should watch:

1. It stars Amy Poehler. This is the woman who brought impressive impersonations such as the overly-eager yet hesitant adolescent Kaitlin (my favorite), niece to her long-suffering Uncle Rick:


I DIE.

or as the no-holds-barred yet very looney Nancy Grace:


Amy Poehler stars as Leslie Knope, the eternal hope-having, glass half-full, "can-do" attitude-type having parks and recreation official who is determined to get a pit (that's located near her friend Ann's house) filled and turned into a park.


2. It's FUNNY. Really, it is.


3. Aziz Ansari. I had never heard of or seen any of his work before, but if his performance as Tom is an indication of his typical work, than I've been missing out. Tom and Leslie's relationship is my favorite on the show. Tom LOVES to mock Leslie and she naively takes his jabs as compliments. This dude is HI-LARIOUS. Also? He played Ed on Scrubs (another show I liked) for a few episodes.


4. Rashida Jones Seriously, Rashida Jones is my girl crush/best-friend-in-my-head and I will watch pretty much whatever she's in. She plays Ann, a nurse who has to live with the sight and huge inconvenience of having a giant pit as her front yard. Rashida totally nails the deadpan humor and is funny in a non-obnoxious way. She's the "straight" woman to Leslie's


5. Entertainment weekly says "you really should be watching this show's second season." Entertainment Weekly aka my favorite magazine noted this in their Must List ( which is one of my favorite sections of the magazine) a few weeks back. And basically I watch, read, record, download whatever Entertainment Weekly tells me because they are always on point.

Anyone else a fan of Parks and Rec?

what I know for certain when I certainly don't know

“There was never a night or a problem that could defeat a sunrise or hope.” ~Bern Williams

As we all know by now, I've been having a little difficulty finding a "real job." This challenge has caused me to really evaluate certain things in my life and I've found myself so confused and, therefore, lacking confidence in situations when I need to have it the most (such as job interviews).

Nowadays, I find myself asking myself, "do I even like public relations?" or "why didn't I join that extra group in college, it would've looked so good on my resumé" or "maybe my future doesn't include living in North Carolina or even back in New Jersey. I may have to move to a new state on my own," and so on. Since these kinds of thoughts have been popping up in my brain more and more frequently, I've come up with a way to balance out the uncertainty by assuring myself of all the things that I do know and that will never change.

I know:

...that my parents and family will always be there for me when no one else can or will.

...that the beginning of every day is a second chance.

...that a day spent with my (favorite) five-year-old cousin will bring many, many laughs and cause my minor case of baby fever to be squashed for a bit.

...my mother's homemade chicken soup will soothe my soul til the very last slurp.

...that shopping laughter is the best medicine.

...that I am stronger than I give myself credit for.

...that the answer can be found if I just stop running my mouth.

...that I was put on this Earth to be a mother. I'm not certain of all the other details but I know it will happen, eventually.

...that it's always better to give than receive.

...that love can be found anywhere.


[image via]

life and stuff

ugh just...ugghhhhhh is the only way I can articulate the muckity-muck of emotions that have overtaken my brain in the past two weeks.

First, this job search of mine is in the deep trenches of for-the-love-of-God-somebody-hire-me! phase. And I know that this subject is such a tired subject on my blog but it's MY LIFE and is totally consuming my brain at all times. And because things are the way they are, the thought of moving to a new state/city (probably back to jersey) with a more desirable job market is sounding more and more appealing. Problem is? the mere of thought of myself moving hours away from my parents to live alone or with a roommate sends me into raging fits of HYSTERICS. I am extremely close with my parents (although my dad and I have had a few "rocky" years in the past) and genuinely enjoy their company.

(okay and also the fact that I don't have any bills. and the free meals. and laundry. uh, you get the picture.)

I've never lived by myself (but, of course, I've thought about it) and when I lived two hours away from my home at my college in NJ, sometimes I would get homesick. WHEN I LIVED TWO HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. I blame this all on my OCS (only child syndrome).

Next, there's been some family drama. Recently, we found out that my half-sister (we have the same father; she's 14 years older than me and from my dad's first marriage) is preggers. There's drama because she has two daughters (ages 11 and 7) by her ex-husband and is four months pregnant by some dude that NOBODY has met. We don't even know his name for goodness sake. She's 38 years old, struggling to make ends meet on her own with her girls and is now going to have to provide for another child. I'm not happy about the situation for a list of other reasons (mainly because I think it's unfair to her kids) but, of course, I'm hoping she has healthy pregnancy and baby. Also, we're not the closest of sisters so this has also added another layer of tension.

Lastly, remember that time I was an exercising superstar? Well, things have.....changed. I haven't gone for a run/jog or stepped inside a gym since July. Why? because I haven't had the motivation, simply enough. Yes, I've been going to yoga (occassionally) but, for me, it's just not the same as hitting the treadmill or elliptical. My brain is too manic and erratic for the zen-ness that's required in yoga. plus, I've made an awesome workout playlist on my itunes and it needs to get some playtime.

The reasoning behind my lack of motivation comes from unhappiness and frustration with my job search and current job. I may have graduated and earned a degree, but I feel like a failure. I've been putting so much energy into finding a "grownup" job so that when I get a rejection email (or just don't hear from the company at all), I fall into that pitiful woe-is-me song&dance. And, I'm so very unhappy that I'm still working at my soul-sucking retail job. (all I can say is thank God for some of my coworkers because the place is just bad news.)

I know this all sounds so very whiny but that's where my head has been. I am working on accepting the fact that I may not land a "grownup" job until next year and that I should enjoy the freedom of my current schedule because I'll probably end up looking back on this time and kicking myself squarely in the behind because I was complaining so much.

mini musings v.9

Yeah it's been over a week since I last posted and all I can say is that it's because I've been quite emotional over a couple things (which will be explained in a post later this week).

So here's a snippet of the random goings on:

-- I am digging Noisettes. I don't think you're supposed to add a "the" before their band name (maybe?). A co-worker turned me onto their music and I cannot get enough. Listening to them makes me feel all hipster-like and such.

performing "Never Forget You"

-- I have a newly formed love affair with Green Machine by Naked Juice. This stuff is AMAZING. It provides a little bit of an energy boost without making me feel sluggish after a couple of hours.

-- Sushi 101 is my new favorite restaurant. They have the best, freshest and most affordable sushi I have come across (so far) in this city. And their tempura? holy deliciousness. This place is so laid back yet has such a chic decor and vibe. I ate at the university city location yesterday and had to force myself from ordering seconds (and thirds) in order to save room for dessert at amelie's bakery.

-- I really want to see Chris Rock's documentary, Good Hair. Although based on some of the previews and clips I've seen, I'm a little afraid that Chris may have unintentionally turned the issue of black women's hair into a big joke.

-- So far, I am wholly underwhelmed by this season of Grey's Anatomy.

-- Jim&Pam's wedding was EVERYTHING it should've been and more. The mental picture-taking, the office co-workers dancing down the aisle (michael's facial expressions killed me) to the looks of love Jim and Pam gave each other throughout the whole thing just made my heart burst.

-- I want a new bicycle. preferably, a yellow one with a basket.

-- Tori Spelling says she weighs 107 pounds. She was "forced" to make this admission after Star Magazine printed that she weighed 95 pounds and was rushed to the hospital. Um, can someone explain to me the vast difference between 95lbs and 107lbs on someone who's like 5'5 or 5'6? and isn't that, oh I don't know, COMPLETELY UNHEALTHY??!!!

Fall Food Favorites

Happy October! and since we are now in the thick of the fall season, I wanted to share my favorite foods that I look forward to during this time of year.

Starbucks' Soy Pumpkin Spice Latte:

We're talking fall deliciousness in a cup. I used to get it with skim milk, but for some reason this year, I only want it with soy. It tastes so much richer that way. However, thanks to the effing .60 extra charge for soy milk, my wallet is the complete opposite of richer.

Chicken pot pie:
This is my absolute favorite (fall) meal. And I mean, THIS RECIPE HAS TOTALLY CHANGED MY LIFE. (yes, dramatic is my middle name). I never (and still don't) liked traditional pot pie in a pie crust (the pie crust is too gooey for my liking) but this version is amazingly delicious and so hearty.

Muffins:
Obviously muffins are not something that are exclusively fall but I typically find myself eating more of them during this time instead of in the spring or summer. Particularly, this recipe for chocolate chip and peanut butter muffins that I found thanks to lacey. My mouth waters just thinking about them, they're so good. And I bet that if the peanut butter was switched to pumpkin, they would probably taste even better and more fall-like.

Grilled cheese and tomato soup:

via
Does it get anymore comforting than that combination?

Pumpkin pie:
For me, pumpkin pie is the centerpiece of the fall food season and I could easily finish a whole one by myself.

Bread with apple butter:
My love for bread (or preferably, freshly-baked bread) with apple butter is due to my southern grandma. Every year at this time, whenever we visit, she always pulls out the apple butter and it is used on just about anything. She can get quite creative with her many uses for it but I prefer it the simple way- spread on some warm bread.


Some things I'm looking forward to trying this season are pumpkin beer or pumpkin ale (it sounds odd but has the possibility to be surprisingly good, I think) and Maris' recipe for a honeyed apple and cheddar panini. The panini seems like it would make a perfect lunch to enjoy on a crisp, fall day.


What type of foods do you enjoy or look forward to during the fall?