clothes and questions

its been great getting back into a gym routine, despite all that extra laundry and the increasing desire to spend excessive amounts of moolah on the most amazing workout clothes ever.

today stef and i took a stroll down to lulu. after two rounds in the dressing room and an hour later, we both left with 100 plus dollars in damage. i meannnnn sometimes you just can't pass up the most comfortable hoodie you have ever felt and when the store is filled with them...well, its trouble. needless to say, i'll be living in my new one.

in other gym-related topics - i have some questions for the ladies.

1) do you shower at the gym? like bring all your shit with you - do your hair - makeup - get dressed? i suppose i understand it if you were working out in the morning before work or even had to be somewhere and didnt have time to go home. but when you are just going home? wouldn't you rather throw on some sweats and deal with sweat disposal there? ya know, in the comfort of your own shower with all your stuff? i feel like i am absolutely in the minority at my gym, which completely baffles me.

2) do you walk around the locker room sans clothes? i mean sure, a girl has gotta change her shirt, perhaps her bra. so a boob is sure to be seen once and a while. but what i don't get is those women who shower (see above) or just change and then walk around/ have conversations/ hang out without even a towel around them. i mean i get it, we're all girls. we all have the same parts. but i dont want to see grandma's or have grandma try to carry on a convo with me about the smell in the bathroom while her saggy boobs are flaying all over the place. granted, i do my best to not look and keep to myself...but sometimes its like a car accident. and of course, there are those with perfect little bodies too who like to walk around the place completely naked and to those girls...stop showing off. i dont want to see you either. and really, is it that hard to put on some undies? left leg, right leg...

girls, am i crazy?

warmth in the winter

we stepped off the plane and felt the warmth. it was finally true. we had made it to the west coast safe and sound and there wasn't a bit of snow on the ground. instead, it was time to tuck winter coats away (perhaps a bit too well considering i left it there) and bust out the tevas and tshirts for a few days...in january. what a blessing.

we made lots of new friends, gave them all new nicknames and listened to a lot of country music. oh and lots of ti (to balance things out) with the windows down singing at the top of our lungs cruising around san diego. the food was delicious. the beers were always cold. we played in the ocean. laid in the sun. whale-watched and cheered for the millions of dolphins. relaxed. were mesmerized by some beautiful line dancing. and promised to go back again next winter. ahhhh we do love our traditions...

and now for those pictures i'm sure you've been dying to see :)

streets perfectly lined with palm trees. its like this everywhere. also pictured, our amazing host zac! thanks for everything buddy :)

the view from "the hill"

want a random angie fact? i have a digustingly strange obsession with pelicans. i even have a beanie baby pelican. who even has beanie babies? ehhh i just love those birds... 

the temperature of the pacific could have rivaled lake michigan and it was raining most of the day. (yeah like the only week of the year it rains) but we didnt care! flip flops - sand - water - the views! we had such a wholesome day playing on that beach and playing tag in the park. it was seriously perfect. 

furthest spot west in the states. once we were past this my phone quickly told me we were in international territory. 

scott breakdancer in action. don't worry, we laid a beat to "oooooh baby youuuuu, you got what i neeeeeeed" for him.  later, we shared a swordfish dinner.  

end of our 3.5 hour whale-watching booze cruise. not bad, huh?

the group with all our new friends from the boat ride! thanks for taking this, random jogger...

the most amazing line dancing i have ever seen. it was gorgeous! but no drinks on the dance floor. so guess where i was? yeah, not dancing...

this was our appetizer. thanks for the hash house rec d! that food was serious. i mean fried chicken on top of a waffle stuffed with bacon? and $1 PBR cans. watch out.  i'm talking to you, stomach.

this moment sums up some of the best hours of my year thus far. my soul misses the sunshine in these frozen months. 

always a sucker for a sunset, esp when its over sunset garage. ahhhh i love that little ocean beach town.

the traveling trifecta significantly partied out on our last night in SD. 

great trip. can't wait to go back.
(oh and of course - if you want more pics, there are always more :)

dear oatmeal,

i'd like to thank you for always being there for me. you're dependable, filling and heart-healthy. its hard to think of a day when you haven't been in my life. we've spent so many good times together...

just the other day, i needed a quick breakfast and there you were all dolled up with dates and walnuts waiting in my pantry. and each afternoon when my inevitable sweet tooth kicks in, you're always there to curb the urge to attack the vending machine with one of your delicious granola bars.

but best of all was tonight. dinner was served, shower was taken and it was time to get cozy with my laptop - but not before i had a little treat. hershey kisses? nah, i'll eat 15. pretzels? nah, something a little sweeter. ahhhhhhh leftover oatmeal chocolate chip cookies?! yes please.

once again, oatmeal you save the day.
--

why am i praising oatmeal this morning? well aside from legitimately loving it, its for a good cause. have you heard? quaker is reaching out to help raise money and awareness about the national hunger charity, share our strength. their mission is to end childhood hunger in america in any way they can. so of course i agreed to pitch in, but that's where you come in!

here's the deal:

1) hop on facebook and become a fan of quaker. (i know, i know, i hate these fan pages too...but its for the kids!)

2) print out a pic of the official quaker man

3) snap a photo of you and the main man and post it on their facebook page.

4) leave a comment here with a link to your photo on the FB page

here's the catch - ya gotta do it in the next 24 hours. so take a break from you morning blog routine, go pick up that smiley-faced old man off the printer and snap a pic. the kids will thank you.

you also might thank me. i get to give away quaker coupons to two of you lucky commenters. AND best of all, if you guys comment on my post more than the others this month, i win a $5,000 donation to the hungry charity of my choice. pretty cool.

go oats!

back.

hello friends. i'm back. i'm also exhausted and in a distant world far from reality. i hope to regain homeostasis in the next day or two. sleep, healthy food and some good workouts should put me back on track.

[more on the fabulous weekend soon. promise.]

see ya snow!

that's right. i'm high-tailing it outta this winterous tundra and heading west! tomorrow at this time i will be anxiously awaiting my flight to san diego and my next 4 days playing in the sunshine. i have no idea what our plans are aside from going to the zoo one day and whale-watching another. ahhhhh the pictures i will take...

its funny to think that last year, i had never even been to cali and now i am on my third west coast adventure. granted this will be my first time to the southern side of things, which i'm told is a whole different experience. regardless, i could not be more excited about escaping the cold and seeing a new part of the country.

cali has been wooing me from the west for as long as i can remember. i'm glad i'm finally getting to see the sites and feel the warmth.

so you take care while i'm basking in the sun and neglecting all responsibilities. and please, if you have suggestions on places to go/see/eat/drink - pass them my way!

have great weeks friends. i'll miss you, but probably not that much ;)

crown 1

as i've mentioned now countless times, i hate / fear / loathe the dentist. but with all this work that has to be done, its become something i just do. i may complain a bit about it, but i know i have to go. somehow i've learned to calm down not be in a panicky fit all day or even when i arrive. perhaps this is what adulthood feels like - accepting responsibilities? maybe?

however, with an appointment on tonight's horizon i'm not quite as hopeful. for tonight - the crowning process begins. dun dun dunnnnn.

i knew these were coming. i just didn't know what that meant.

well, last time i asked. BIG mistake cause now i'm sitting here going over those details in my head getting a bit sick to my stomach.

what are those details? oh i'm glad you asked.

first they have to take an impression of my tooth with this disgusting pink goo that causes you to over-salivate, almost choking on your own spit. then they make a temporary fake tooth for you. in the meantime, they saw your tooth down to a little nub. A NUB. ughhhh don't even imagine those sounds and vibrations. my ipod will be turned up and the gas will be on full blast! then they cement that fake, temp tooth over the nub ("like a little hat," she said). in two weeks when your "real" $1000 porcelain tooth arrives. they rip off the fake one and re-cement the new one. mmmm.

seriously, i will pay you to come hold my hand.

all things cute

after a weekend of being nothing but productive, i don't have any wild stories to share or hilarious pictures to post. instead i bring you a collection of day-dreamish pictures i'm titling all things cute. apparently to me that means - balloons, beds and pretty pictures. oh and lists. you cannot forget lists!

sign me up for this sunshine, but ummmm lets make the bed a lil bigger.  even if its in an adorable cottage on some shore by the sea. hmmm maybe that's a bit too picky.  yeah, i'll just take the cottage and that warm breeze.  mmm.

all sorts of fun fabric paintings here. check them out. they are pretty girly.  boys, you may want to skip that link, or perhaps this entire post ;)

think the party is over or is it a surprise for when she wakes up? either way, i bet she smiles when she opens her eyes...

i think i'd feel like a princess with something like this over my bed.  aaaand i think i'd be okay with that...

there's some fun paintings here.  and i love eggs.

and yet, another bed. but look at that headboard!  loves.

yay more balloons and warm weather.  think i can will the warmth will all this talk of it?

cause i love my lists.  this is a fun little site that makes your average list into a card cataloged little image.  neccessay?  prob not - but quite adorable if i do say so myself. 

found anything cute lately? do share.

put on a happy face

bumming at work? need a pick me up? hop on over to happy worker and let them help you cope. they have all sorts of time-wasting, bordom-fighting resources. just look at all the fun you can have with this mask!

sometimes life looks better in black & white

its no secret how i feel about winter. the cold hurts my bones, its hard leave my warm bed in the mornings, it gets dark far too early and you always have to cart around so much shit.

but i have to admit, sometimes it can be pretty...




[a la the tribune's winter archives]

always time for food

wow, life is moving at a rapid speed. how is it already the middle of january!? they really should have added a few more hours to each day this year. that would have really helped my cause. currently i am neck deep in work, consistently staying up till 3am each night trying to fit it all in. alas, there's no time - never enough time... (yes, insert that famous jessie spano skit here)

despite the insanity, i am finally back in a healthy lifestyle routine (sans that whole sleeping business). workouts have been fun and not something i dread at all. i've gone to some new classes that sufficiently kick my ass, reminding me how out of shape i am. oh and all that cooking i've been doing hasn't slowed down a bit!

saturday night i had a pretty tasty broccoli cheese soup - well a version of it anyways. i'm learning i'm really not one for following directions.

sunday i got crafty late night and made a batch of mini frittatas. i've been eating them all week for breakfast and they are perfect. egg whites, green and red peppers, onion, ground turkey, asparagus, tomatoes, mushrooms and of course, cheese - feta. hmmm that sounds like a lot, but really it was super simple. cut all the stuff up, fry up your meat and onions and throw it all with 6 egg whites. pour into a cupcake tray, bake for 20ish and waaaaalahhh a week's worth of breakfast.

monday night was the second round of those burgers i told you about last time. i made them last week and they were literally the best turkey burger my little mouth, okay big mouth (twss), had ever tasted. soooo i made them again. a little spicier this week, but still delightful. plopped one on a bed of spinach, sprinkled it with some romano and dinner was served with two leftover patties in the fridge.

tonight i tried out a recipe i've had torn out of a magazine for months - twice baked sweet potatoes. also, pretty easy, but a bit time consuming cause of the potato-baking. i left it in the oven for about an hour, let it cool, scooped out the insides, mixed it with 1/2 cup of ricotta, a little brown sugar, sauted onions, a handful of parmesan, salt and pepper. mashed it all together, filled the potatoes back up with that goodness and baked them again for another 30 mins. let me tell you - it was not even fair to have food in the house that tasted so ridiculously good. please, do try.

hmmmm what creation will be next? perhaps i should look into something that forces me to go to bed before the sun rises...

travel log

some girls shop, some girls cook, some girls lay on their couch, eat nachos and watch bad reality tv. this girl travels.

not to say i don't do all of those other things as well, but the traveling bit is one of those things i proudly boast. granted, its not all that glamourous. i generally fly southwest and just bounce about the midwest, only occasionally going west of the mississippi. but it soothes that travel itch and gives me something to look forward to. i have friends spread all about the states, why not see more of america's scenery while i can? not to mention all those european escapes that i plan to someday visit...

so where did 2008 take me? lets see...

• jan: home for 36 hours for a crazy saturday night in downtown cleveland with some of my favorite hometown ladies. well needed girl time when i was going through some yucky boy time.

• feb: snowy, snowy death road trip to michigan for the 2008 Bonspeil - the annual curling tournament. yes, you heard me correctly.

• march: no where! lots of birthday-celebrating, SPD love and an easter egg hunt.

• april: my first trip to san fran - where the love affair began...

• may: boston for a refreshing taste of spring and cancun to celebrate a friend's 30th birthday! OOO-OOO!

• june: a weekend in wisconsin at a cozy cabin with friends, a lake, a hot tub and lots of beer.

• july: long 4th of july weekend of relaxation in long boat key, a 24 hour trip to indy for an awesome bachlorette party and one of the best days of my summer: bus trip to milwaukee for the cubs game. perfect weather, awesome friends, day-drinking on a work day and ending your night at country night. perfection.

• aug: road trip to south bend with my lovely date for ash and jon's gorgeous wedding and home for a weekend of friends, fam and cedar point.

sept: no where and i think i was very grateful for that. the summer kicks my butt!

oct: back to san fran - wine tasting, site-seeing and friends. hurrah. then a couple weeks later, a well- overdue trip to vegas with my bff, emily. that vegas itch is one that just never goes away. i'd go back tomorrow!

nov: road trip with dave and lis back to cleveland for thanksgiving. ahhhh that first xmas ale of the season was tasty!

dec: home once again for the holidays. while it was great having time off and spending time with those i love...in the future, please remember to choose go home for thanksgiving OR christmas. not both.

so what's on tap for 2009 "miss i spend my whole savings account on travel"?

• jan: san diego! we've had this trip planned since oct and its going to be so amazing to escape the cold in just a couple weeks. details to come, of course. like i could really keep my warm weather excitement from you.

• march: cinci visit. this is long, long, long overdue. i have tons o friends there, one of which who recently had a baby. very excited to see all these college peeps and have my partner in crime, emily, with me.

• april: back to vegas! birthdays to be celebrated and clearly, there's no better place for such an occasion.

• may: is all about ohio. first, baby sister's college graduation. next, let wedding season begin at home with my cousin lindsay's big day back in good ol cleveland.

• june: i don't like to make it a habit of leaving this awesome city in the midst of the heat wave, but my 5 year college reunion is definitely going to be an exception. i've been looking forward to this since i graduated. who knew time would go by this fast?

• nov: rachel and ryan's wedding in cbus!

i'm loving that gap in plans for the second half of the year. i'm gonna try my damnedest to keep it that way as much as i can. while i love bouncing around...it can get exhausting and i need to take advantage of our massive porch as much as possible this summer before we move into some new digs with hopefully much, much better landlords.

where are you going this year?!
a lot of you better say CHICAGO for the meetup!
(i owe you five bucks if you read all of that...)

the ultimate fake number

technology has made the age old trick of fake-numbering a thing of the past. how can you really give some dude you meet at 3am on the dance floor of a dive bar a phony number when you know he's gonna instantly call you back "so you have his too"? you can't. those days are over girls. you get caught every time. maybe its time to stop giving your number to strange boys in bars anyways? but if not, here's a great little decoy: Vumber.

it acts as "your regular phone number's secret identity." a "Vumber" is a virtual phone number that is directed to your actual phone. you can choose which ever area code your little heart desires and link it to a landline, your cell or even work. when someone calls your Vumber, it rings on the designated phone line (never revealing your *actual* digits) and you can choose how to handle that inevitable call.

you can:
a) answer it (yeah right)
b) send them to Vumber voicemail (Vumbermail)
c) give them a busy signal
d) tell them the number is out of service or…
e) play them a custom message you create.

sneaky.

its free for the first 30 days and i suppose there are other reasons for using it other than warding off boys you should have enough balls to blow off in the first place. but eh, that doesn't make for good stories now does it?

little

most people change throughout the years - outgrow their baby faces and extra pudge around the middle - well, i am not one of these people. in 26 years, i have never changed. same massive hair, same chubby cheeks, same squinty smile.

with that, i present you another edition of baby angie:

my absolute favorite place as a toddler. guess i've always been a porch-lovin girl.

born into the buckeye tradition

my first baby sister, amy! i was so excited that day. there's a picture somewhere of me and my dog looking out the window waiting in anticipation. wish i could find that one...

perhaps the cutest pic of me and my momma to date. of course i'm eating...

baby sister carrie comes home! so much for three boys mom.

cousins at the bar. how different this picture would look today...

this absolutely kills me. 

don't be too jealous of my hat or where we went for vacation that summer.

i'll stop there, but don't worry...i'm sure there's plenty more to come.

next top chef: me!

okay not even close, but i have been impressing myself in the kitchen these past few days. in fact, i've even been finding spending time cooking and creating meal ideas can be relaxing and something i truly look forward to.

sure in the past i would get bursts of inspiration here and there and whip up something rather tasty. but for the most part i've been more likely to throw together a salad or heat up a lean cuisine and call it a night. yes, hunger and busyness generally trump spending any sort of quality time in the kitchen.

so i'm not sure what has changed. i haven't magically found more free time or consciously decided to be more betty crocker-like? hmmm maybe all that food network i've been watching at the gym is starting to enter the front of my mind - but hell, there's no doubt it is another creative outlet.

so i'm sure you're dying to know what i've been making.

1) butternut squash & vanilla risotto
my version was adapted from this one. it was my first risotto attempt and damn was it a success! creamy, rich, flavorful, filling. YUM. anddddd it made a shit ton. so i ate it for days as i do love leftovers. i used frozen squash (so it was more of a puree) and god only knows where you can find actual vanilla beans...so yeah, i just used a little normal vanilla. probably one of the best things i have ever made.

2) chilled cucumber avocado soup
i read about this somewhere recently, but of course couldn't find the recipe when i went to make it last night. so i sorta winged it. i used: 2 avocados, 3 cucumbers, lime juice, onion, a little cumin, 2/3 cup of yogurt - tossed it all in a blender (in stages, started with the cucs) and salted and dilled to taste. it turned out smooth and refreshing.

what was not so smooth was me spilling my entire bowl of greenness on my tan swede couch. yeahhhhhh that's gonna have to be professionally cleaned...

3) stuffed peppers
as i was chopping up my veggies the other night i was careful to save one massive green pepper. i had plans for that bad boy. tonight i stuffed him with grilled mushrooms and onions, brown rice, tomatoes, ground turkey and cheese. post gym hunger pains thought i could dominate the entire thing - but alas, my eyes were bigger than my stomach. once again, yay for leftovers!

and what's on the horizon for your newest little chef?

• cacciatore burgers a la rachael ray. these looked pretty awesome while i was running tonight. and i just so happen to have some extra ground turkey to make this little dream come true for my palette.

• stir fry - angie style. nothing special...just light, fresh and easy. ooooh and there will be edamame! (and extra for my lunchtime salads)

•  a new chili recipe that needs to be tested out. (i knew i tore things out of magazines for a reason!) but i'll save this gem as good ol' aaron is gonna cook up his own batch tomorrow.

• various stuffed and sauced chicken breasts along some wheat pasta. (these details are still a mystery to me. but i have lots of ideas and lots of frozen chickie.)

• a polenta creation. perhaps with a roasted red pepper sauce or a wild mushroom and tomato ragout. we'll see what my taste buds are hungry for.

• another veggie themed risotto. ooooh the possibilities...

wish me luck as i expand my horizons and perhaps grow up, in the kitchen anyways. oh and btw, those pics, totally not mine. while delicious, these delights did not photograph well. i truly admire food stylists.
--

on a completely separate note: i am no longer claiming the state of ohio.

so true.

[via marc johns, of course]

NYE in pics

another year, another successful house party.
(pictures are the best i can do for a friday that feels waaay too much like a monday...)


good good times.
here's the rest if you are curious.