I hate. . .

. . .girls that shotgun beers. Now I should clarify- maybe it's not all girls that shotgun beers that I think are stupid, but any female above the age of 22 that is still shotgunning a beer to show what she can do is one that  would fall into this category. I give that specific age because whatever is done in college just... doesn't count... and everyone needs one year of wiggle room after we graduate, as we all border that fine line of what's appropriate and what's not after those years of acceptable irresponsibility.

I have personally never shotgunned a beer. Am I missing out on piece of my journey in life? Possibly. But, I knew I'd make a mess of myself if I ever tried, so I left it to the pros - which always seemed to be the boys. In my opinion, that's always kind of a 'boy' thing to do. I feel like if a girl is shotgunning a beer, she's trying to keep up with the guys around her and/or maybe trying to impress the boy she has a crush on. I'm pretty sure no boy in the history of life decided who his wife would be based on the sole reason of how well she tried to keep up with the men.

Now I know I'm not one to be giving tips on how to impress the fellas, but I do feel like this little tidbit would be beneficial for all the ladies out there: no matter how skinny you are, no matter how cute your Forever 21 dress that you have on is, no matter how much makeup you have on, no matter how young and fun you think you still are, and no matter how hard you try... punching a hole in a beer can and then chugging it as you spill all over yourself and potentially slice your lip open is NEVER a good look.

Blanche's side eye says it all.

Thoughts you probably won't like

I will try to keep most of this blog away from any political conversation (because, let's face it - no one agrees on anything), but as I'm watching the Olympics, the announcer just let America know that President Obama called Michael Phelps to congratulate him on being the most decorated Olympian.

While I am happy for Michael Phelps and proud of his contributions to America, I just think that the President of the United States of America has a little bit more to do than make a phone call like that.

#stoptryingtobethe'cool'president  YES. I SAID IT.

While I will NOT go on record saying I don't support our president -- I truly believe that all presidents should be respected by the country, no matter political party -- I just feel like that other, more important, phone calls could have occupied his time in that moment.

Any good Zeta will tell you. . .

I hate everyone. . .

Almost a true statement.

Joan Rivers has an amazing new book out called I Hate Everyone. . . Starting With Me. I meannn.. the concept is pure brilliance.

If you haven't been lucky enough to come across the book, I'll give you a run down:
Joan Rivers calls out all the idiots in America. . . and/or the world. However, this does include herself - so stop hating.

I'm going to take a page out of Joan's book (pun intended) and start my own I Hate Everyone. . . "segment" of my blog. I'll make it label (This will make this "segment" of my blog easier for you to follow/stalk. You're welcome.), and each time someone or something annoys me - I'll add to it. Better check back for regular updates to make sure you're not on my list!

USA! USA!

If you know me, you know I have a penchant for all things British [sigh]. So my regular love for the Summer Olympics is increased this year since it's taking place in London! I've been glued to the TV for the past few days as much as possible soaking up the summer sports.

My favorite Olympic sport by far has always been women's gymnastics. Forty-eight hours ago, it was heartbreaking to watch Jordyn Wieber not qualify for the all-around! Last night followed up with another disappointment of the men's gymnastic team not medaling. Wahhhh.. poor USA!!

However, tonight was an exciting turn of events with the women's gymnastic team winning GOLD!! Cheers!

These girls are awesome and make me uber jealous that my gymnastics career (and by career I mean dance lessons once a week) ended at the age of 10.

And to think. . . I could have won the gold!

What happened while I was away?

Apparently blogspot went CRAY with lots of changes in the past 7 months that I haven't blogged! Remember at the beginning of 2012 when I promised I'd blog more?

Hey guess what. . . Sometimes I break promises.

While all of my lady friends have fabulous things to blog about like their weddings, children, exciting cities, yadda yadda yadda, this Spinster is still spinning her wheels without a whole lot of that. However, I can promise that my life is just as interesting... just maybe not the kind of interesting that is the Internet's business.

What have I been up to in the past 7 months you ask?
1. Finishing up my second year of the best career ever.
2. Making this city (somewhat of) a home.
3. Greeting one of my best girls when she moved HOME to Florida after a two  year stint in Chi-Town.
4. Speaking of. . . A fantastic trip to Chi-Town!
5. . . . and much, much more that isn't at the tip of my tongue at the moment.

Potential promises to more blogging soon. Maybe.

Lessons

"There is a lesson in almost everything that you do, and getting the lesson is how you move forward. It is how you enrich your spirit." -Oprah Winfrey 

Resolutions

A friend of mine posted this online and I absolutely love it! I'm going to add a few of my own side comments for good measure.

Twenty New Year's Resolutions for Twenty Somethings

1. Before you status update, Tweet, Tumble or Instagram, pause and say to yourself, “is it entirely necessary that I share this morsel of thought with my entire social network?”and if the answer is not, “yes, I absolutely must,” then step away from the Internet.  I wish some people would really take this to heart. Granted, everything I put up on the Internets is definitely not worthy of everyone's viewing and definitely not thought provoking, however, one of my favorite things that one of my girlfriend's says about people who use the Internet to express their emotions: "Write it in your journal, or put it in a card."
2. Know which candidate you’re going to vote for in the upcoming presidential election, and know why.
3. Enough with the 14-day juice cleanses. If you want to lose a little weight quickly, eat less and exercise like crazy. If you want to lose a lot of weight slowly, do whatever Jennifer Hudson did.  I feel like we are all enough to understand that crazy diets do not work, but people in their twenties and older still do them.. I'll never understand why.
4. If you really like the person you’re hooking up with and would like them to be your boyfriend/girlfriend, find a way to tell them, and hope for the best. If you don’t and wouldn’t, stop.  More people should take this route, and I should have done so as well in a few past circumstances. What's the worst that could happen?
5. Find a way to save approximately 300 dollars and spend it on a flight to see a friend or family member who lives far away.  Noted! The experience of traveling to see one of your favorite people definitely outweighs three unnecessary trips to Target.
6. Please stop liking the Kardashians, all of them. It’s not helping anyone, least of all the Kardashians.  More specifically, please stop paying ANY attention to Kim. I've actually fallen a little bit in love with Kourtney and Khloe, but Kim has got to be the worst person in America.
7. Spend less than or equal to the money you earn each month.  Going to promise to at least try to work on this.
8. Wear clothes that fit you, especially to work.  HA!!!!
9. Call someone on the phone at least once a week, and speak to him or her for at least ten minutes.
10. Start preparing now to get over the fact that Facebook is probably going to change again in six months. You’re not going to deactivate your account. You don’t know how.  I also don't know how to unfriend people or restrict them from my profile information. It's getting a big ridiculous... oh, look - there I go complaining about Facebook.
11. Wait 30 seconds before you look up a fact you can’t remember on your phone, and try to remember it using your brain. This is what the olden days were like.
12. Replace one terrible reality show you’re currently watching with one wonderful scripted show currently available on television.  Swap suggestion: Real Housewives of Anywhere for HBO’s Enlightened.  Unfortunately I can't follow this one. The RH franchise has sucked me in and I don't have much room in my life for anything else to watch.
13. Try that food you think you don’t like but have never actually tried, unless it’s brussels sprouts. They really don’t need any more attention.  I'll never understand why people hate on brussels sprouts. They're delicious.
14. Cut one person out of your life who you truly do not like and add one person who you truly do. Note: not on Facebook, on Earth.  I think I'm finally at a point in my life where I truly enjoy everyone in my life. I think... I'll have to get back to you on that because now tomorrow I'm going to get a phone call from that one person I really want to cut but can't seem to find the scissors to do it and I'll remember the fact that there are still people in my life that I truly do not like.
15. If you’re still blacking out regularly, you should stop.  Who said 2012 meant not having fun?
16. Volunteer once over the next 90 days.  You’ll feel really good about it, and probably end up volunteering again over the next 275.
17.  Tell someone who you love that you love them on a more regular basis. To their face, not in a text.
18. Back up your entire online life onto an external hard drive, especially your photos.  This is something that I seriously need to work on.
19. Crap or get off the pot. This applies to whatever thing you’re not doing that you should just sack up and do already.  Wonderfully said.
20.  And in the eternal words of Tom Haverford, “TREAT YO SELF!”  If you have never watched this video, do it now. And seriously, treat yo self.

Do I have to go?

Back to work and reality tomorrow after a very nice, long break! I spent it relaxing, sleeping in, and catching up with some fantastic people. It feels like the two weeks went by extremely slow, which was alright with me!

Along with the reality of being back to work, I'd also like to get a good routine down of working out at least a few times a week (pray for me?), and actually COOKING my dinners at home. This will hopefully save me money and calories! I've already cooked the last two nights at home, which I promise you is an accomplishment for this Spinster.

Last night I had my New Year's Day staple of cabbage, black beans, and cornbread, and tonight just some leftovers with mac & cheese and a hot dog. Maybe it wasn't anything extravagant, but I hate to make dinner so it's a big deal for me!

I've been collecting lots of recipes on Pinterest lately, and making sure they are all realistic for me. When I see just one spice that I don't have, or an item that I wouldn't know where to look for in the grocery store, I move on. I should probably get over my phobia of making anything with more than three ingredients, but... baby steps. I am excited because I received one of those recipe exchange chain emails and this time I finally participated. I passed along a fantastic pizza dip that I had at a Christmas party a few weeks ago -- the best part, it's super simple!! How simple? you may ask...


Pizza Dip
1/2 lb sliced pepperoni
2 8oz pkgs cream cheese
2 cans condensed Cream of Celery Soup
Cut pepperoni into quarters; add cream cheese and celery soup (do not dilute).
Put in Crock-Pot on low and cook for at least 4 hours, stirring often as it begins to boil.

It's done when the cream cheese turns orange from the pepperoni.

New Year, New Shoes!

I've been promising myself forever now that I'll start working out, or at least get back to walking on a regular basis, or do SOME sort of physical activity. The only pair of shoes that I have to work out in right now are beat! I've had them for probably 5 or 6 years and they are some bulky Asics. I decided to treat myself to a new pair of running shoes in order to help with my motivation to get active. I've looked all over because a) I'm picky about what I like, b) I'm really cheap when it comes to this kind of stuff. I don't want to spend more than $50 on running shoes that, let's face it, won't get a ton of use. (At least I'm being honest with myself.) So yesterday, I ventured to Kohl's with my sister and just happened upon this pair that I loved! They were also only $44, what a steal! Here's to hoping I get some good use out of them in 2012!