Sunday, January 29, 2012

Pinterest .... Socially Acceptable Addiction

My name is Christi and I'm a frustrated pinaholic. I love the idea of Pinterest and have pinned my share (or more if you ask Mike) of stuff. However, it has the tendency to make me feel just the slightest bit (or more) inadequate.

I feel like if I was a better person, I'd make my own cleaning products, mod-podge, marshmallows, and cook dinner every night from scratch, while whipping up a wreath for every season/holiday and making my own cards and gifts (specifically body scrubs and bath salts).

But I live in the real world where I have a demanding job. I have to admit:  I'm not a better person and my front door is currently wreath-less, often my dinners are catered by Subway or even better, the Chicken House, and I have a whole bottle of mod-podge (bought at Hobby Lobby, thank you very much) in my craft room (aka my back porch) just waiting for me to get crafty.  (What a run on sentence! Mrs. Proctor would be horrified!)

Speaking of making my own, I totally feel the craft itch right now, and I have a 25% off coupon at Michaels that is calling my name! But in the spirit of being totally transparent - I should go running, I should pre-chop all my fruits and veggies for the upcoming week, and I really should work on organizing my upstairs office..... I'll probably go to Michaels and buy something to put on my front door!

Mike literally just walked by my computer and asked if I were pinning, and said to me that he thinks this is an addiction that women should not have.  Which begs the question, what addition should women have?

Happy Pinning!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

I'm a Star...

I'm a star.... or a quick soundbite for a desperate reporter! Last week, I was walking the bridges with my BFF, Ellen - a star herself (who totally talked to Jim Bob Duggar over the weekend!)  We made a loop of the Acosta bridge and were headed toward the Main Street bridge when a woman stopped us and wanted to know if she could ask us something. I thought she was lost or needed directions...

It was much worse. She was a reporter for Action News (Channel 30). She asked us about a recent study that said Jacksonville had the lowest unemployment rate for those aged 18-34. I had read the article earlier and so I knew the study wasn't totally accurate. I told her I had read the article and she was all over it. Now keep in mind, I was sporting a neon green Under Armour top,  black capri leggings, and neon green Nikes (courtsey of above BFF).  As a side note, I have the best BFF ever for a multitude of reasons, but the cherry on the top is we wear the SAME SHOE size. It's like we were meant to be BFF! I was not television ready, but said I'd do it! Ellen, wisely said she was not going on camera!

I had to spell my name and answered six questions, which later got reduced to two 10 second sound bites. As soon as I did it, I thought I might throw up. Why in the work had I agreed do this?

Anyway after I headed home, I told Mike, and we watched it. I then threatened him with everything I could think of if he shared it on social media of any kind.  I did not even call my parents. Then I prayed NO ONE ELSE would watch the news.

No such luck! During the broadcast, a lady I work with texted me. She must have told everyone since I walked in the next morning and they were immediately was teasing me about it. People I ride with in the elevator said, "I saw a woman who looked just like you on the news last night." I just smiled and said, "Really?" Of course I had to admit it to the people I knew! (I was just very vague about it to everyone else... neither confirming nor denying!)

It died down... or so I thought. My mother called today, a full week after the event. My high school English teacher, Mrs. Proctor, saw me and told Mama. Now I'm in trouble for not telling them. Mama said they would have watched it if I had called them. I had to remind her that's why I hadn't told ANYBODY!

Anyway - that was probably my one and only brush with fame and I was wearing neon green Under Armour, and had bad bridge-walking, sweaty hair. I'm pretty sure America's Next Top Model will not be calling. But I did have to wait a week to write this post so that the clip would no longer be online!


Monday, January 16, 2012

This and That

It's been a "blah" sort of few weeks after the holidays. I think this happens every year, but it was especially obvious this year. We had a wonderful Christmas in Missouri with the Mahans, then came home to spend some time with Beth, Terry, and the star of the show, Tristen! We spend NYE at my mom and dad's with the entire Conner side of the fam, and I was off work for two weeks!  Then reality set in: I got sick, went back to work, had an empty house, and had to face un-decorating for Christmas.  It just feels a like a let down. But finally around mid-month, I start to bounce back.

I started the Couch to 5K plan. I've been doing a run/walk thing for a while, but I'd like to run an entire 5K. This plan promises to get me there in nine weeks. I bought the app that goes with it, so that a nice lady can interrupt my play list to say really encouraging things, like: "Whew.. alright let's take a walk break" and "Ready to run?" I generally want to say NO, but I do it anyway.

I've also been cooking more, which hopefully supports my efforts to lose weight and be more healthy. My stuffed peppers turned out really well. The chicken and rice was okay, but the ham needed some work.

I find it hard to cook a lot during the week, when I don't get home until so late, after working a really long day. Otherwise, it's 8:30 or later by the time we eat, which really seems too late, but a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

We had our first weigh in with Weight Watchers, which went really well. Like J-Hud (I like to call Jennifer Hudson J-Hud - it makes me think we could be close) said, "I got this." I've also downloaded her new book and will be reading it this week!

I've also been playing with my new toy!

Mike gave me an iPhone 4S and I LOVE it. I'm never bored, ever. I also have a new cover from Three Hip Chicks, which I love (both the cover and the website!):


You might notice a theme between the cover and the blog. As I mentioned, I may or may not be obsessed with a little black, white, hot pink, and damask. Mike said it wasn't very protective, but I said it was beautiful and monogrammed, which trumps practicality and I promised to be very careful!

I've also been very obsessed with Pinterest! I've managed to make various relatives just as obsessed, and I tend to feel better about my own addictions when I know others are in the same boat.


Thursday, January 12, 2012

Yay! I have a beautiful new blog. I knew these technical skills were well beyond my abilities, so I enlisted The Cutest Blog on the Block. Jenn did an amazing job! I may or may not be slightly obsessed with black, white, hot pink, damask and monograms. This ties it all in together and it's very "me"!  My hubs would definitely say I am obsessed. I prefer to think of it as channeled thinking!

Speaking of my journey to better spiritual and physical health, I think I NEED this adorable planner from Tiny Tulips.  (I hope my hubs is reading!)

Monday, January 2, 2012

Fresh Start 2012


I always feel like the beginning of a new year is time for fresh starts, so I decided to start a blog and put my goals out on the internet for the world to see. Hopefully this will help my accountability and not add to my shame! (However it's probably only of interest to a few small groups with the last names Mahan, Conner, and Williams.)

My goals are to become more healthy this year, both spiritually and physically. For part 2, I enlisted Weight Watchers, and for part 1, I'll start a new reading plan with You Version. I'd like to read through the New Testament and really dig into it.

Today is the last day before I go back to work and the insanity. I feel like I should be super-productive today and remove and re-pack all Christmas, deep clean the house, start a new journal, and cook all meals for the upcoming week in advance. However, in the spirit of being honest and transparent, I'll probably just snuggle with my nephew Tristen (see the adorableness above) and maybe get a mani-pedi!

My sister, brother-in-law, and sweet, precious Tristen have stayed with us over Christmas and it's been so fun! They are leaving for home (Italy) tomorrow, and I will miss them! Thank goodness for Skype and Facebook!

Happy New Year to everyone!