Strong O-Pen-ions

So, it dawned on me yesterday that I'm a little bit of a nerd. You guys might have already picked up on that, but I was completely unaware! I noticed that as soon as I got in the office I started to anticipate the delivery of my office supply order from the day before. Why? These guys....

That's right. The Pilot G-2 gel pen! Previously we had always ordered the Uni-ball Signo RTs, but I really got fed up with the scratchiness of the ink (never comes out right and leaves blank spot on your words) and the fine point of them. I just can't write well with them.

These work much better, the gel is much more thick and you get a nice thick line. Perfection!

The only thing better would be these..

Oh baby! The Paper-mate Profile Ball-point! I'm not sure it gets much better. The great thing about this pen is the ball-point. Gel is always needing time to dry and increases the smear factor. Me no likey.

I realize that to some of you, a post about pens may seem absurd. But to the rest of you...it's genius!

I know you have a favorite pen too....what's it like? Gel pen, ball-point, fine-tipped sharpie pens (also a favorite!), fine point? You tell me. Are you loyal to a certain pen brand or even ink color?

A Christmas Comic

Hey folks,

I was surfing around the 'ole webby debbie the other day and stumbled upon a new site. If you didn't know it already (and you probably don't because it's kind of my secret obsession) I love comics. Well, I love them as long as they are well-written, witty, and poke fun at life. I think that's supposed to be the definition of a comic, but it's amazing how many fall so short.

Anyways, some of my favorite places to go to for a laugh are Hyperbole and a Half, Toothpaste for Dinner, Verbal Vomit, and now, The Oatmeal. I can get lost for hours and hours on these sites. Check out this Christmas comic from The Oatmeal and have a happy Christmas laugh!

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/christmas



Vegetarian Fajitas

Last night I woke up around 3am and couldn't get back to sleep. My mind started reeling and settled on the one thing I hate to think about- all the idiot things I've ever said. I don't know if everybody does this, or it's just a gauge of my insecurity at times, but every now and again I get distracted by my past. I go through all the moments I said things I wish I could take back, or all the things I spoke in ignorance or times I made a complete fool of myself.

Honestly, who cares about that stupid joke I made 5 years ago. I'm absolutely sure I'm the only one still dwelling on it! Ah, but my condition can't be helped. And to make matters worse I start to fear that certain things I say with confidence now, may be haunting me in my bed in another 10 years. That's a scary thought friends.

Thankfully, if there's anything I'm sure I won't regret sharing, it's this recipe. I feel quite confident of it and I know you will be too when you give it a try.

One of my favorite things as a carnivore was fajitas. The sound of a sizzling skillet headed my way gave me goosebumps! Here I've adapted the recipe to suit me as a vegetarian, and I think I may love them even more. Mostly because I don't come away feeling stuffed, but satisfied instead! I'm happiest to say, it's a Hannah original!


Vegetarian Fajitas
serves 6

1 tbsp oil
2 garlic gloves, minced
1 large red onion cut into wedges
2 green bell peppers cut into strips
1 red bell pepper cut into strips
1 yellow (or orange) bell pepper cut into strips
1 carton of mushrooms (sliced)
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 of a vegetable bouillon cube
3 tbsp water
1/2 tsp cornstarch
1 cab black beans, rinsed and drained
6 whole wheat tortillas (medium size)

For topping: green onions, cheddar cheese, sour cream, lettuce, tomato, etc!

1. Heat skillet over med-high heat. Add garlic and red onions, stir for 2-3 minutes.

2. Add the peppers, mushrooms, spices, bouillon, and water.  Let simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes (until almost cooked through).

3. Add cornstarch and stir until a thin sauce is created. Once things are cooked through, drain the black beans and throw them in the pan to heat through.

4. While fajitas are cooking, place a grease shield over top of it and place tortillas on top. This is my go-to method for steaming my tortillas so they are nice and flexible for rolling up my burrito!

5. Fill the shell with fajita stir-fry, and any toppings you like!

6. Sit back and enjoy a healthy, satisfying, south-of-the-border meal...

YUM!

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

Do you ever dwell on the things you regret?



Thanksgiving- A Reflection

                                                                       Source: designbykelli.com via Kelli on Pinterest

Good morning and happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you are all huddled up around a table with family this beautiful day and will have many beautiful memories to share come Monday.

We arrived here safely in Pennsylvania and are freezing are buns off! I don't know how you northerners live in these temperatures half of the year! You have got thick blood! We enjoyed breakfast around the table trading stories and John and I just went on a golf cart drive around the Christmas tree farm. I can't wait to share pictures with you all.

These days our culture tends to focus more on the turkey and stuffing and less on the actual meaning of the holiday. So I'm drawn here today to share how thankful I am for the life I've been given, the family I was born to, and for each and every one of you that enrich my life in such a real way. I know that we're only "friends," but I feel like I have gotten to know so many of you and I'm thankful for all of your thoughts and points of view, your input, and your encouragement through this last year. It's the community here that keeps me coming back each day and I'm so thankful for the day I first hit "post" and started on a wonderful journey with all of you.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! I wish all the best to you and yours.

Love,

Hannah

10 Ways to Keep the Peace This Thanksgiving

                                                                        Source: treasurefield.tumblr.com via Beth on Pinterest

Here we are. On the eve of one of our favorite days of the year. A day full of travel from far and wide, delicious foods tempting our gluttony, and the inevitable volcano that erupts when locked in tight quarters with people you're supposed to love. And you do love them, you just can't live with them, right?

Well, you're in luck today! Because I'm here to share my 10 Ways to Keep the Peace. I hope they bring a smile to your face...and maybe even help you get through the holidays a bit smoother...

Tip #1- Embrace the art of avoidance. Sure, a trained professional would tell you that the quickest way to healing is to "get it all out in the open." These people clearly have not met your family...

Tip #2- Do not, I repeat, DO NOT discuss politics unless you are sure everyone sides with you.

Tip #3-  Keep some candy in your pockets. When those brats you call nephews start to terrorize you in your Lazy Boy candy will be the cure.

Tip#4-  Pass out little bites of turkey every hour or so. The triptopan will act as a sedative. A sedate family is a happy family.

Tip #5- Keep some jokes up your sleeve. When someone at the table lets loose a Freudian slip and the table has gone silent a quick joke will bring everyone back to speed (and effectively activate tip #1).

                                                                                            Source: ks-waiting.blogspot.com via Beth on Pinterest

Tip #6- Keep an open mind. So your brother brought the flavor of the week home to bum some turkey from your table? Instead of giving him a piece of your mind, take some time and get to know her.

Tip #7- Reminisce. When things get awkward, harkening back to the old days will bring everyone back to what matters and remind them that under it all, you're still family.

Tip #8- Alcohol.

Tip #9- Games. You can't get angry when you're having fun.

Tip #10-  In all seriousness...cherish the time you have. You never know if someone could be missing from the table next year. Your time together is valuable. So soak it all up and enjoy the good times and the crazy ones!

Question of the Day:

How do you handle the stress the holidays inevitably bring?

Dear Anthony,

I thought we had something good going. We have, over the last two years, enjoyed a mutually respectful relationship founded on a passion for food, old rock bands, love of travel, and the joy of sneaking in sexual innuendo wherever warranted. I'll admit, my feelings were a little more than platonic. I know we said we'd keep things "just friends" but for some reason your blatant womanizing attitude attracted even me. For a while there I thought you felt the same way... until a recent San Francisco episode where I realized I was very VERY wrong.

Tony, I don't know what to say. I'm at a loss of words. I mean, I know you and I know you have a propensity toward all things butchered and bloody, and you love a good vegan joke...but this episode...I dunno. I thought you really meant it. Has our whole relationship been a lie? Have you just been using me to boost your viewer count?

How could I have been so blind? I knew deep down that we were too different. I'm 24, your 50. I'm 5'5" and you're like, 7'8". We're also both married, Tony. We should have known better.

Now that I know how you really feel, and finally see how you really feel about me, I'm going to call things off. Maybe it's time we go our separate ways. You to your slab of butchered armadillo, and me to my "granola crunching" as you might say. 

It's been one heck of a ride. And maybe we'll run into each other years down the road. I'll walk toward you and you'll roll toward me in your wheel-chair. Then, maybe the timing will be right. Maybe then we'll be in the right place to make this work.

I wish you all the best, Tony. Really I do.

All my love,

Hannah

I Wish That I Knew What I Know Now

Last night, on my drive home I was doing some big thinking. I started to recall all the moments in my childhood, teenage years, and young adulthood where things when horribly wrong. I wanted to see how these mishaps made me a better person. Surely I didn't go through them without learning something valuable! By the time I got home I had a list of ten things that I've learned so far in life, either through the Lord softening my heart over time, or through trial and error, and oh how I wish I could return and tell the younger me each one of them!

First some pictures of a younger me...

15 years old. Freshman in high school. Complete idiot.

17 years old. Starting to learn more about the world.

19 years old. Self-obsessed. Turning point in becoming the me I am now...

24 years old finally figuring out how to walk through each day without making a mess of it.

10 Things I Wish I Knew Then
 
1. Proving your point to someone isn't worth ruining a friendship. If your argument will build a wall instead of a bridge, shut up and rethink how you want to explain yourself.

2. You never know what people are going through behind closed doors, so don't judge them too harshly.

3. Don't judge at all.

4. Be the first to say sorry. It will save you a world of trouble and is the key ingredient to a happy marriage. Along with the next point...

5. Forgiveness is a choice. We rarely feel it, but we have to decide to extend it to others, sometimes over and over and over and over and over again every single day until it does feel right.

6. Life is too short to hold on to friends that suck the life out of you.

7. Sex has little to do with the physical and everything to do with the spiritual.

8. We spend too much time getting angry over the things that don't matter and too little time being filled with a righteous anger for the things that really do matter- all the injustice in the world.

9. Confession wins 100% of the time. If you have wronged someone and they don't know it, or if you lied to someone point blank and just can't let go of the guilt, a humble confession and honest pleading for forgiveness will get you 1,000,000 times further in life and with people than living the lie.

10. Falling in love with the risk of heartache is better than the heartache of not doing so.

And one more for good measure:

11. When all else fails, ask your parents, they are right about almost everything...

Question of the Day:

What life lessons have you learned as you've gotten older?

Seriously, These Girls...

                                                                              Source: stumbleupon.com via Hannah on Pinterest

When it comes to clothing, I dress pretty modestly. It is true that I have tons of goodies, but only one man has the key to my candy shop, we'll say. When I'm in public I err on the side of caution, nothing is hanging out of or squeezed into my clothing. I don't feel frumpy and I don't feel unfeminine. On the contrary I think modesty in public makes me feel even sexier in private with my husband, and it brings him honor when I don't let it all hang out for others in public. I also dress modestly because I wouldn't like it if some tramp walked past my husband, and I don't want to be that tramp for someone else.

But you know, no matter how much effort you put in to respecting other women, their husbands, and their marriages there's always some chick out there ready to jump in where you fell short. You know what I'm talking about...here comes Flossie with her thong hanging out of her hot pants with nothing more than a couple pasties up top. (Well, not literally, but it might as well be...)

                                                                

                                              A semi-example. This is actually modest compared to some...Source: google.com via Cate on Pinterest

Seriously...these girls. I take personal offense.

But I thank my lucky stars that I snagged a good one because while I'm walking past these women with an all out death stare, my husband trots happily along, diverting his eyes to my own so as not to be enchanted Ms. "I think I'm Playmate of the Year."

Seriously...these girls...

But in my dreams at night, that's not always how the story goes. Every now and then I have a dream where John and I are walking down the street or through a store and some floosey comes walking by and John turns his head and starts a conversation with them. They, of course, are flattered and before you know it it's "Hannah who?" The nerve!

I wake up angry every time. Then I realize it's just a dream, roll over and give my guy a big 'ole hug for being so good to me in real life!

Question of the Day:

Do you have bad dreams like this?

Or if this happens in real life do you need to get a gang together to beat on your husband a bit? 'Cause I'm in!

Real Men Do Dishes

                                                                           NOT IN OUR HOUSE!  Source: None via Leah on Pinterest

It is a well-known fact that when it comes to dishes, I rarely have to lift a finger. My husband comes from a long line of dishwashers and it has come to my attention that most other men do not. Apparently, we really push the boundaries of gender roles in our house. ;-)

Last night I was sitting at the dinner table finishing up a glass of Reisling when John walked over to grab a few more dishes off the table and said "you can just keep sitting there, I'll finish things up." Of course, I translated this as "you can keep sitting there if you want to be a lazy bum who doesn't pitch in and help around here." So I responded in suit- "FINE! Sorry for enjoying a drink!"

"Whoa," he said, "I was totally serious. You can just keep sitting there and I'll take care of everything for you.You really thought I was being sarcastic? Malone men do dishes! You just keep sitting there...you cooked dinner!"

Man, am I spoiled or what? 

For the last year of marriage (and years before as we were dating) John has always washed my dishes for me. I still can't believe that he doesn't harbor some kind of secret hatred for me because of it. So every single time he takes care of it I sincerely worry that he thinks I'm lazy...and then every single time I'm blown away by the fact that he genuinely loves to serve me in that way.

And it is always funny to watch the reactions of people that come over for dinner. How many houses do you visit where the man of the house gets up after the meal and starts clearing the table?

Ok, I promise I'm not trying to brag here, really I'm trying to shower John with a big thank you for being so sweet to me, and to poll the audience with the following questions:

Questions of the Day:

How do you divide up chores in your house?

Who does the dishes?

Will you be sharing this post with your husband??? ;-)

Hiatus

                                                                                                   Source: veezzle.com via Holly on Pinterest

Dear ladies and gents,

I was going to try so hard to blog this week...to set aside time where it can't be found to post a few good bits of food and perhaps a travelogue or two. But, despite my greatest efforts to plan ahead and work hard I haven't been able to do any of it. John just got home last night and now it's time for a major pack-up before our move this Friday.

When it came down to it, having the time to pack-up without any added stress made more sense. So I'm going on a bit of a hiatus this week and will report back with a weekend update about our journey to the new townhouse on Monday.

I miss you all, and am so sorry I've been neglecting you lately. I hope you are all well and can't wait to catch up with you next week!


xoxo.

Weekend Update| October 3, 2011

So John has been out of town this past week, leaving me to a weekend all by my lonesome. I made sure to fill up my schedule though, and had lots of fun with family and friends despite the fact that my husband was exploring the beauty of the Grand Canyon without yours truly. 

Saturday morning and afternoon I went wedding dress shopping with both of my bride-to-be friends. Kayla got some good ideas and Becky actually found "the one!" Saturday night I spent sitting on my butt on the couch.

Sunday I went to church with my dad and we had an awesome time. It is days like yesterday that I know we made a great choice on our church home. The sermon was hard-hitting, honest, uplifting, and came with a challenge. It was one of the best Sundays I've had in a while. After, my dad and I went to the farmer's market and had a picnic. Also one of the best days I've had with my dad, too!

This week, I'm severely lacking on pictures. But I did want to close out with...

 "10 Things I Do or Don't Do When My Husband is Gone."

1. I don't shower...like, at all. (see above picture...) I mean, why bother when there's no one around to smell you?

2. I eat meals of random things. Why yes, popcorn, carrots, gouda cheese, and almond milk go together perfectly!

3. I narrate my cooking with various accents as if I was being recorded for a Food Network special.

4. I watch 50% more T.V. when I'm home alone.

5. I don't clean. I mean, the kitchen stays neat, but everything else was a disaster area.

6. I don't sleep as well when he's gone.

7. I imagine horrible things happening to me while I'm alone...like horror movie stuff, folks!

8. I wear the same outfit for the entire weekend because I can...

9. I get to have more time with friends than I normally would.

10. I miss him terribly.

Question of the Day:

How do you handle your spouse being away?

Can I Get an Amen?

                                                                                         Source: stumbleupon.com via Hannah on Pinterest

Question of the Day:

Which ones did you relate to most?

Mine were #4, #8, and #17.



We Are All Connected

Good morning, everyone. I saw this video over on Four Leaf Clover yesterday and really loved it. And even though I'm not a huge "I am connected with this tree" kind of person, I wholeheartedly believe that what we do, and the choices we make will have either a positive or negative effect on others, and our environment. Check it out, it's less than a minute long...

I thought this video and the idea that we are all connected also had special meaning today because I really feel like that applies to the blogging world as well. Everything I read, every post that encourages or inspires influences what I write here on the blog. So many of you put out a lot of creative, positive, and hopeful energies out into the web, and as I take them all in they morph into their own new thing here in my little blog space. Cool, huh?

Yesterday, the lovely lady writing at My Beautiful Life connected to me in a very sweet way- by awarding me and some others the Versatile Blogger Award. Thanks you so much, I'm honored! I connected with My Beautiful Life months and months ago...we connected over a mutual passion for watching Rick Steves' videos and a love for travel. She's really a lovely blogger and truely a versatile blogger!

To receive the award one must share 7 things about them...easy enough, right?...

1. My middle name is Neva. Which is my grandma's name. My mother's name is Aven, that's Neva spelled backwards. So I kind of got a two for one with my middle name.

2. I wear the same black running shorts and pink wicking tee every single Saturday because it is comfortable.  When PMSing, I frequently cry about this fact because I feel like I've lost all my young spunk and sexiness.

3. I have too many moles and freckles to count. We did count 61 just on my back! But I love them. They make make my body completely different than anyone elses, and I love how they look on my back and shoulders. I only have 2 ugly ones, and I wish I could get them removed.

Via

4) I add chocolate chips to my chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.

5) I hate brushing my teeth. But I do it anyways, twice a day. But if there was one thing I could not do and get away with it...that would be it.

6) I worked in a dry cleaners for close to six years and it was the best job I ever had. If it didn't pay so little I would still be doing it. It's my dream job.

7) This morning I'm drinking a smoothie that looks like this...

...but it tastes like the berries in Captain Crunch Berries cereal.

In addition to my facts, I am supposed to pass it on to 15 other bloggers. Since I like to break the rules and I want the award to be even more special, I want to pass it on to 5....

1. Four Leaf Clover- for posting so many cool things (like that video) and sharing your heart for animals and the environment. You are so cool.

2. Vanisha's Life in Fiji- for posting beautiful pictures of Fiji and having a heart thiiiiiiiiiiiiiis big for kids and education!

3. Amy Around the Corner- for posting about anything under the sun, being real and genuine, and accomplishing your goals.

4. Alkeemi- for posting awesome pictures and posts about Indian culture and design. I LOVE IT!

5. Half & Half- for making me laugh out loud (literally) every time I read your blog.





Finding a Reason to Run

I wish I looked like this when I ran....

                                                                                                     Source: foreverfit.tumblr.com via Hannah on Pinterest

But instead I usually look like this....

                                                                                                               Source: buzzfeed.com via Hannah on Pinterest

As you know, John and I have been "training" for a 5k. I feel like, lately, I've gotten into a rut. I know that if I work at it I will enjoy it, because I have before! Three years ago I took three months to train for a 10k and I felt amazing. There's nothing like being able to run for 20 minutes straight without breaking a sweat, and even though I miss that feeling it's not enough to get my butt out the door.

For some reason I can't find my motivating factor. I've tried...

"Running to stay fit." - Even though my body has definitely seen better days I seem to be content with it's smushy state.

"Running so I can have a rockin' bod." - Even though my body has definitely seen better days I seem to be content with it's smushy state.

"Running so I can eat whatever I want." - I'll eat whatever I want running or no running.

"Running so I'll have more energy." - Yeah, but I don't have the energy to start running!

"Running because it is fun." - Lies.

"Running because people who run are really cool." - Don't worry, I already have that covered. ; )

"Running because you're fleeing from law enforcement." - I've definitely considered committing crimes in an effort to jump start my training.

See? I'm at a loss here! I have exactly 5 weeks left to prepare for my 5k and I'm way behind! I'm trying my hardest to have the fact that I have to run 3.1 miles in 5 weeks be my motivating factor, but there's only one problem there...I'm the master procrastinator. I never worked on a homework assignment early...always the night before. I thrive on pressure! The only problem is, I know that it is impossible to train for a 5k the night before.  Oh Lord, do I need help!

Question(s) of the Day: 

How do you stay motivated to run/work out?

Any tips for training for a race?

What keeps your workouts fresh and fun?

Photo on Pointe

Photo Credit: John Malone

If I'm shooting straight with you, I don't really feel like blogging today. I need a day off, a day more disconnected. And that's exactly what I plan on having! But I didn't want to leave you completely hanging, instead I came to share a beautiful photo my husband took yesterday.

John has been trying to learn more about the art of digital photography and, in an effort to improve his shots, has started doing the weekly photograph challenge over at the Digital Photography School. This week's challenge is "shoes" so I dusted off my old pointe shoes and let him work his magic. I thought this one turned out lovely, and looks almost like a water color painting with all the yellow and blue hues in it.

What do you think of this picture?



P.S. It's amazing the difference 20 pounds makes when supporting your entire body on your toes. My ballerina days are clearly over... 

Friday Replay- Iran: Women in Community

Good morning! First of all, thank you for all of you sweet responses to yesterdays hair post. You all helped out a lot and help me to decide to grow my hair back out. I'm gonna go for the look that Leslie posted (see comments). So cute! Thanks for your help!

___________________________________________________________________

Today I'm starting something called Friday Replay where I get a chance to replay some of the posts that I wrote  back when the only people reading were my mother and husband. So many of them mean a lot to me, and show my heart a bit more, so much so that I want to share them with the many readers I'm blessed to have now! First up, "Iran: Women in Community."

This past weekend I had the privilege of celebrating the near arrival of my dear friend’s first child! Her baby shower was beautiful and the people there, even more so. My friend is Iranian. She moved to the states 2 years ago with her husband who is working on his PhD at our university. We met at an International Thanksgiving dinner 2 years ago, and we got together often so she could practice her English.

I have many Iranian friends, so I was not prepared for the wonderful surprise that awaited me at this shower. It was unlike the other times I had hung out with large groups of Persians before. This time it was all women, and it was wonderful! I was able to observe so many wonderful differences between their female culture and my own; differences that ought to be celebrated, and perhaps adopted.

I know that the gender issues in Muslim cultures can be a hot topic for Americans with so many of us holding to feminist ideologies. Many of us have a tendency to struggle with a Muslim woman's position in their society, in their family, and the implications of modest dress and head coverings. Many of these misunderstandings and assumptions are born out of fear and the unknown. It wasn't until yesterday that I realized I had made any assumptions about my dear friends, and wasn't until yesterday that I was finally able to see this aspect of their culture for what it is...a celebration of all things female!

While many Iranians are quite lax, there are some who hold to a more modest code of Islam. As the party progressed and more and more guests arrived I couldn't keep from chuckling. These gorgeous women would walk in covered head to foot and when the door closed the "veil" was lifted to reveal awesome party clothes, the cutest shoes, and gorgeous jewelry. I wanted to punch myself for all the times I had assumed they hated dawning what I saw as oppressive clothing, understanding now that underneath it all, they looked like absolute divas. 

Soon the food was served and morale was high. Ladies laughing, shouting, cheering, joking. There was a female comradery present that I have never felt when surrounded by a group of my own American girlfriends. It was an understanding that all the women there were strong and beautiful, successful mothers, daughters and wives. A sense of pride in unity of culture and tradition and a celebration of those things Persian. It was a safe place, a place where one could be understood, defended, and set free.

I'm sure many of my friends would be the first to tell you that like all women, they struggle with their appearance, their body type, their insecurities and their fears. Most aspects of being a women are just universal, but they seemed to have something right that I was just missing.

Tea was served, cake was cut, and Persian music was blaring. The ladies took turns dancing in the middle of the room, each cheering on their peer, whistling, chirping, laughing. It was a wonderful time to celebrate the beauty of each one. A wonderful time to see my very lovely and very pregnant friend dancing and enjoying this exciting moment in her life. I was happy to witness it all (and even happier to capture all these moments on camera)!

I left the party wanting more. More freedom with my friends. More enjoyment in who we are. More celebration in all that it means to be a woman- the success, the fertility, the beauty, the tradition, the love and the family. And most of all....more dancing.  

Question of the Day:

What are your "girl time" traditions? How do you celebrate what it means to be a woman. 

If your a man, what do you love about the woman in your life? 

 

 

 

 

Ladies, I Need Your Advice...

Good morning lovely  blog friends! I need help. It's nothing major, quite trivial really, but it's a dilemma none the less. I don't know what to do with my hair. If you're a woman, you understand. Sometimes you just feel like throwing your hands in the air and shaving it all off so you don't have to deal with it anymore. (No worries, I won't actually do that.)

Currently my hair is in a short angled bob...the same haircut everyone else has. I've had this hairstyle off and on for about four years and I feel like I need to stick with a change. Here's some looks I've had over the years they range from very short to long (well, the longest I've ever had anyways.)

PIXIE CUTS

SHORT/MEDIUM LENGTH

LONG HAIR

QUESTION: 

Which do you think looks prettiest on me? 

Should I grow it out again? 

Keep it the current length but a different style (need ideas!) or...

go really short (even though my husband would die if I cut it like that again...)?

Virginia Trip, Part One: The Epic Journey

Happy Tuesday, everyone! We're back from Virginia and had a wonderful time. I can't wait to show you all the awesome pictures I got in D.C. I really enjoyed trekking around our nation's capital and taking in all the history we have there.

But first, a story. And man, is it a brutal one. We're laughing about it now, but let me tell you, our journey started out rough. I got off work at 5:00pm on Thursday and headed across town to drop off my car and meet John so we could get on the road. We were driving my sister-in-law's car up there and then flying home. Her car is a piece of spit and broke down before John ever left. So I met him at AutoZone to get a new battery installed.  ($80.00)

The start of our journey to Virginia...a stop at the mechanic.

I followed John out of the parking lot, battery now fixed, and realized that the brake lights were permanently on. We decided the car was unfit to drive across five states unless that was fixed (and weren't sure if it would be, even then.) At 6:00, after lots of frustration and disappointment, we dropped it off at our mechanic hoping that he could fix it on Friday morning so we could drive it up the that day.

It turns out he was able to fix it before he left work Thursday night! 30 minutes later and another $80 later, we were on the road and feelin' fine!

Look at us....so happy...so naive....

Llama cloud.

Yay! We're actually driving north!

About an hour into our drive (8:30pm) we stopped at a Cracker Barrel for some feel-good food. We deserved it after an afternoon of high stress. While we were waiting for our food John went to the car to check the fluids. The car has a minor oil leak and he wanted to make sure the levels were good. The oil well was completely dry and we had only driven about 50 miles since we left Orlando with the tank full. He poured in 3 quarts of oil and came back in to eat. 

We talked about it and knew there was only one thing we could do, there was no turning back now, we'd have to make it work...

9:15 PM....11 quarts of oil.

We would have to buy up as much oil as we could and stop every 50 miles in our 900 mile journey to refill the tank. That's what we did. We bought that Mobil station out of every single quart they had and stopped every 50 miles to refill the tank. 

Our journey was supposed to cost about $180- $200 total (for gas and such). But instead it ended up costing $500. Not the price his sister or my in-laws were expecting. The trip was supposed to take about 13 hours and it ended up taking 17, not what we were expecting. The car was supposed to only need a couple quarts of oil to get there, but instead took 24...not what the car was expecting.

But at 7:30 in the morning, when we stopped and saw the Virginia state line, it was all worth it. We had just a couple hours left and a few more oil stops until we were settled and could sleep a bit and enjoy time with family. I tell you, that Virginia sign never looked so good! It was an epic journey, a ridiculous journey, and one we'll look back on and laugh about forever...

A Severe Case of Headdesk

Headdesk:  1. Unification of ones forehead with a computer desk as a means to vent frustration, often forceful. (Thank you, Urban Dictionary.)

I feel like Jim these days. To be honest, my love affair with blogging has momentarily turned to a stale staring contest and my passions have been lured by other things - like reading or attempts to exercise.

I was talking to John about it last night, wondering where I'd gone wrong. "Well," he said, "you haven't been cooking much and your plants are dead." I took this as a huge insult and went on a rant about how I've only killed half my plants and I cook food, just not really creative and yummy foods like I used to.

Even though I am in no way a professional I do consider myself a writer. As such, I think I'm entitled to some difficult days of writer's block. It doesn't come without a serious case of headdesk though. I love writing, and have a lot to say. Most people would say I have a little too much to say, so what happens when I've got nothing?

The only cure for headdesk is to wait it out. Take a little break and come back to the project refreshed and ready to take it on, full force. So that's what I'm doing. The pressure to write here every day is off for a while and I'll post when inspiration finally hits.

Does this ever happen to you?  How do you get past the block?



P.S. My apologies to all the lovely blogs I follow. I know I've neglected you lately. I wish I had the time, energy, and inspiration to surf the web for all your lovely thoughts and ideas. I care, I really do. But I want our interaction to be genuine. So don't give up on me. I'll be back soon...I'm absolutely sure.

The Other Me



All rights reserved by Randy P. Martin


When I was younger there were two of me. There was the Hannah that everyone knew, and the Hannah that no one understood. The two always fought. The one that no one understood would get feisty and try and peak its head out into my daily life, shrinking back to the inside when it realized people wanted none of it.

Now there is only one.

Sometimes I can't figure out if the two merged into one, or if the one that no one understood died. I don't know whether to celebrate or mourn.  My memory of the "other" me is so hazy. The lines are so gray and covered with the suspicion that it was all so naive. All I can do is hope for celebration. Hope that that young idealist finally found a voice and a companion in the me everyone knows.