Friday, March 16, 2012

Bueller? Bueller?

So sorry for the radio silence! I had a job interview scheduled on Wednesday (exciting I know!) and Tuesday afternoon someone from HR called to ask if I would be interested in interviewing for a second position. Although that left me with little time to do some background research and prepare a short presentation, of course I said yes. The more the merrier right? At least when it comes to possible employment opportunities, or as we call it around casa sunny side "one of these days we might actually not be broke right?"

Anyways, when I arrived at my interview bright and early Wednesday morning, before 9am and sans coffee because we were running late and drop-off at doggy daycare took longer than I had anticipated, the receptionist said "Oh, I had you down for 8:15am not 8:45." Turns out they had rearranged my schedule to have me interview for a third (!!) position all in one day but forgot to communicate that bit of info to me.

To make a loonnng story very short, it was a whirlwind of a day and I so tired when I got home sometime around 7:00pm or so. Too tired to even make dinner. M had to order food and go pick it up all by himself. The pup and I pretty much spent yesterday recuperating (i.e. bumming around in gym shorts (me) and sleeping with our paws curled around each other (Deets) and just generally being lazy).

I promise to get back to my normal schedule of randomly posting snippets of the random thoughts that float through my head and maybe even those silly "fashion blogger" pictures I took last week. They're coming... brace yourselves.

Before I go I just have to take a moment and be a proud mama. Dean's doggy daycare gave us a picture of him playing with friends on his first day and a report card! Guys, he aced doggy daycare. Seriously, he aced it so hard.


When M and went to pick Dean up one of the staff members
told me they all had a huge crush on my baby!  :)



Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Like nails on a chalk board

I'd been sitting here at the computer for past hour or so catching up on emails, planning a presentation for tomorrow and browsing a few blogs when suddenly I started hearing this strange high-pitched whistling sound. I thought at first perhaps it was coming from outside since the garbage truck just went down the street or perhaps it was one of the work crews for the seemingly endless home improvement projects going on in our neighborhood.

I went to the window to investigate but couldn't see anything that would be making such an awful, shudder-inducing keen of death. I headed for the kitchen to check the coffee pot and then down to the basement to confirm that the dryer wasn't about to explode. Dodged that bullet. I swear our washer and dryer will be the death of me one day. But that's a story for another time.

(It's a fun one too and involves nearly flooding the basement the first week we moved in. Remind me to share with you sometime.)

But where was the "I want to rip my hair out" shrill noise coming from? I went to listen by the front door and that's when I zeroed in on it.

The cat. Yes, the cat was SNORING. And it is quite possibly the most high-pitched god-awful sound I've ever heard. Wonder if we should take him to the vet? Surely this isn't normal kitty behavior. Then again, Baxter isn't a normal kitty. Did I mention when I picked him up to cuddle this morning while drinking my coffee he managed to get kitty litter on my bare leg?!

Home boy is gross. And weird. But oddly enough, still cute.
Huh? I was snoring? Nah, cats don't do that.

Look at this handsome face. How could I ever do wrong? 
Now pet me. 

Wait. Might you have a treat with you?

No? Well, why did you wake me from my very important nap then hmm?

Humans.
Definitely weird.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Bits from the weekend

Happy Monday dears! M had a doctor's appointment this afternoon and since the office is close to our apartment he came home afterwards rather than going back to work. Which means we had time to sneak a little ice cream run into our evening schedule... yum. I'm always up for more time with my boy. Oh and I also purchased more hand lotion for M to keep at work (this to be exact. He likes it because it doesn't have a "girly" smell.) but that's not quite as exciting as ice cream now is it?

I wanted to share a few snaps with you from the weekend. On Saturday we set off on a adventure and went hiking. Needless to say we all had a blast enjoying all the fresh air and lovely weather. I think that spending more time outdoors has been one of our favorite discoveries about our new lifestyle in Wisconsin. In Philadelphia, and before that when I lived in D.C., we would certainly go outside for walks and sidewalk brunches, etc, etc but here in Madison I find myself randomly just hitting the trail for impromptu strolls- greyhound chaperoned of course. Its so tempting to be outdoors all the time here, even when the weather is less than agreeable. I think my mind and body both appreciate the exercise.

Saturday we drove to Gibraltar Rock in the nearby hamlet of Lodi which is about an hour away. Mother nature cooperated and we had the most lovely time.

After our cross-country move in November Dean is a great road tripper.

I find the Wisconsin countryside so lovely. It has such a stark beauty.

Drive from Madison to Lodi

Lake Wisconsin in the background

Hiking!

View from the top of Gibraltar Rock



Love bug

Windy self-portrait

I'll be back tomorrow with a silly (and somewhat sad) attempt at a "fashion blog" outfit post. Promise you won't laugh at my impending awkwardness, okay?

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Letter to Ingrid Michaelson

Dearest Ingrid,

It's as if you can read my mind and know all my silly, fluffy little thoughts regarding M and our charming life together. I cannot help to be convinced that you wrote your song You and I after taking a sneak peak at our lives and (perhaps being slightly jealous?) thought "I must write a witty little ditty about this couple and their silly-hipster, slightly twee but not overly sugar-coated little lives". Especially the part about what champion spooners we are. Glad you made sure to include that important bit of info. Cause really, we're tops.

After all, not every girl is lucky enough to have an M who makes up songs about his pets and dances around the apartment with the cat. Or who notices when I'm having a crummy sort of day and voluntarily skips his Friday night hockey game to be my personal head rest and snuggle pillow whilst I watch The Help and eating popcorn. And chocolate. I'm one lucky, lucky lady.

So if you ever have writers block Ingrid and need some more inspiration, you're always welcome at casa sunny side. We might even through on our hipster glasses and go hiking this Saturday with a charming silly greyhound in tow. And we'll probably stop for brunch along the way too. If that's not song worthy material, I don't know what is.

Love,
Lindsay



Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Polka dot dreams


Oh Wisconsin, you tease you.

How can you do this to me Wisconsin? How can you play a girl like that? I mean, here today you give me sunshine and gentle breezes. We have naked greyhound walks and afternoon jogs without the need for ear warmers.

And yet. And yet each and every native Wisconsinite (er, Wisconsinian?) I talk to tells me “Don’t get your hopes up quite yet. And don’t put away those down coats.”

Darn. But a girl can dream can’t she? I certainly am. And there might be a navy blue polka dot bikini in that dream. 

Sunday, March 4, 2012

happy meals, shamrock shakes and mcdonald's need for corporate responsibility?

I haven't yet mentioned on the blog that I'm very passionate about anti-poverty and anti-hunger work in the U.S. and especially keen on work promoting healthy, affordable eating habits for children. In one of my "past lives" I was a fellow with an organization committed to bringing the vicious cycle of inter-generational poverty and hunger in America to an end. It was an extremely educational year of my life and perhaps sometime I'll talk a bit more about that experience. I was fortunate to be a part of this wonderful organization and work with some truly inspirational individuals.

I say of all that to provide you with a bit of context for the infographic I'm about to post below. Oh and if you're at all interested in food justice issues, the quality of food we're feeding our kids in America or a related topic, I would encourage you to check out Fed Up with School Lunch both the blog and the book.

And just in case after reading the infographic below you think I absolutely hate McDonalds, I don't. In fact, I had a shamrock shake at McDonalds last weekend and enjoyed it very much. But I'm an adult who understands the concept of eating junk food in moderation. I made a conscious choice to stop for that milkshake. Stepping away from the soapbox...


mcdonalds
Add caption
Wow... that's waaay more political than I ever thought I'd be here but, if you can't already tell, I'm pretty passionate about these things. Especially when children are affected. Anyway, I'll just shut my mouth now and show you the post that got me so riled up in the first place.
Source: http://frugaldad.com

Friday, March 2, 2012

Oh yes they did

We all knew it was coming one day. Well today's the day. Without further ado ladies and gentlemen I present to you the Downton Abbey rap. Thank goodness Jezebel posted this video or my life might never have been complete.


My favorite line "And we sip earl grey when the day is done". Peace out homies.

Oh and speaking of homies! Check out AT's the Homies Awards. Some of my favorite blogs have been nominated this year including Making it Lovely, Little Green Notebook, Yellow Brick Home, A Cup of Jo, The Nesting Game , The Pioneer Woman, 101 Cookbooks, rockstar diaries, dear baby,  Nat the Fat Rat and about a million others. And yes, I read a lot of blogs :)

Thursday, March 1, 2012

This week's like list

My current wish/to-do/how awesome is that list:

1) THIS sandwich. It's like Deb can read my mind. 

2) Farmhouse tables. If I had the money I'd purchase the table from Vermont Farm Tables shown below. But since we're broke post-college kids, M and I think we can make one. Okay, so I think we can make one and M will get conscripted into helping. Keep your eyes peeled for as soon as spring officially hits and we can varnish/stain wood outdoors, this baby is gonna happen. Definitely pairing it with modern chairs a la this post from AT.

Image source
3) Babies in printed pants/leg-warmers. So cute and very practical. 

4) The Hunger Games. So excited for this movie! AND it was filmed in North Carolina- represent!

5) This Swedish wedding. The bride and groom chose to have the wedding outdoors overlooking a lake and the photos absolutely took my breath away. Stunning. 

Cuteness

Did you say "walkies"? Or, how to rouse a sleeping hound.