DUDE, WHERE'S MY KEYS

Sometimes it is the smallest things that can make your life so much better. For me, all it took was finally purchasing a key hook. I lose my keys quite often, always throwing them here and there...and never in the same place twice. Barely twenty four hours later, and I am already happier! However, I will now need to work out more since I'll be running up and down the stairs less in search of my keys. All in all, I'd say it's a small price to pay.

SMORES

I have yet to meet someone who doesn't like smores. Maybe some people opt for just marshmallows instead of the whole shebang, but standing around a fire consuming excessive amounts of sugar...could life get any better??

Well, it has. Last night, I went to a restaurant whose dessert list included a "smores option". This is what they brought to our table.

There was definitely some table envy going on from the couple across the room. But I understood because I had that same envy a few months ago. I was walking by and saw several tables enjoying this unique dessert, wishing so bad to be one of them!

I apologize for the bad photos, but only had my cell phone with me to snap a few shots. Did I mention my phone is really old, desperately needs to be replaced, but I am too lazy?

Anyways, the great part about these smores is they are not just the plain old things. They are fancy smores. Brilliant if you ask me. There were three different types of marshmallows, which we decided were ginger, butterscotch, and coffee. Plus they had dark chocolate and their own home-made graham crackers covered in cinnamon. Mmm. I already want to go back!

All in all it was a great night. I only wish I had gotten a better picture of Seth and I. But that is almost impossible. This is what I have to work with...

For you Friends fans out there...see any resemblance to Chandler? Well, I ended up with a Chandler for sure!

MID-YEAR RESOLUTION

So I realize this sort of thing isn't quite as popular. I mean April certainly isn't the first of January, much less the middle of the year. But isn't halfway through January April about the time that you have failed your new year resolutions miserably? It is for me. I confess. I only had three legitimate goals this year. Figuring out my life was way too ambitious to be considered legitimate. So based off my others...

1. Blog more - YAY!! success for at least one!
2. Work out more - Ran twice (in 4 months)...it might have been "more", sadly yes, but not even close to what I was aiming for.
3. Spend more time getting ready - Left the house more than once sans mascara. Seriously, how in the world do I keep forgetting that? I need a makeup 101 class.

One outta three. Not complete failure! Phew.

But I'd like to make some new goals. Goals...resolutions...whatever you want to label them...

Maybe it all started by losing some precious pictures I snapped of my adorable nephew. Well, more like photos I got after an hour of tirelessly chasing him around trying to get him to smile. Snapped implies effortless, and it was nothing of the sort. I worked hard for those shots, which somehow accidentally got deleted. Guess it's one of those things you don't realize how much you appreciate until you lose it. Well, I have decided I love photo memories. So much that I want to...

Photograph more. Document more.

So that when I am old and grey, eccentric and crazy, I can look back on my life and remember every insignificant thing.

And yes, I do realize I am starting off my goal with a photoless blog. Don't judge.

NOTORIOUSLY BAD

So I am notoriously bad for uploading photos to my computer. For some reason, I just can't bring myself to do it. So while I am being horribly lazy. Let me redirect your interest to one of my favorite blogs (who write all the time with lots and lots of pictures). I have decided that I am too obsessed because we both cleaned out our closets on the same weekend. Kinda creepy. The only difference is she blogged about it on Monday and I have yet to...also probably the reason for our slightly different stat levels. Hah. Anyways, here are the Petersiks'.

P.S. And as a simple kind of gal, I am amazed at the amount of clothes she has. It makes me feel like a hoarder!

NOT JUST AT HOME

A diva is someone that makes any space homey. Not just her actual home. My home away from home just happens to be a boring grey cube. My fix...well, just take a look.

1. Add life. As in...a work plant! You can even name it if you like. Mine's a love fern...can you guess why??

2. Store office supplies you use a lot in cute containers. This little glass teacup does just the trick.

3. Buy a couple of your own office supplies to add more color and fun to your desk.

Voila. My diva-fied desk!!

LAUNDRY DAY

Today is pretty much a laundry day over here at Casa Diva. You know, when you are down to your last pair of socks...or whatever. You end up wearing tie dye or mesh shirts or whatever happens to be in the far abyss of your closet. Well, that is me today, but only in the kitchen. That's right..kitchen.

Let me explain.

I enter my kitchen. Starving....stomach growling starving! So I open the pantry. Then shut. Open fridge. Then shut. Open freezer. Slam shut. Open freezer again...BRUSSEL SPROUTS! Yep. That's it. It was my first time to try these infamous veggies...and they honestly weren't so bad. Maybe with enough lemon juice, oil, and salt anything can taste good. That or considering your other option is...ok, so there aren't any other options. They have to taste good! But to balance out, I've got cookies in the fridge almost ready to stick in the oven. Mmm...I can't wait. (I also finished off the flour, sugar, and butter making my cookies. Yeah, it's THAT bad. I am hoping no nuclear explosion happens today. I'd be the first one dead.)

So this might not the most well rounded meal, but it's my laundry day meal. It isn't supposed to make sense. And don't worry, I plan to go grocery shopping soon! (Well, at least before my cookie supply runs out)

SPRING IS HERE

So you think I would have come to the realization that spring is here by how many times I have sneezed in the last few days, but considering I am allergic to work (the place, not the job) I didn't put it together. Not until this afternoon...

I was on my way home from work and to be honest, I am little embarrassed. Normally, I am pretty self-aware. You know, I wait until I get home to pick my nose or flex my bulging arm muscles. However, today was not one of those days. I decided to go shoe shopping today, in hopes of finding something else to wear besides my clunky, uncomfortable shoes I wore today. Pain apparently has a way of motivating.

So I stop by good ol' DSW to see what they have. (Quite a disappointment, but not what this post is about) As I walk out to my car empty handed, I notice a leggy little creature right by my door handle. If there is one thing I don't handle well, that would be bugs...more specifically, spiders. And little Charlotte was just hanging out on my door. (Hopefully naming this spider does not endear you to it, because spiders are NOT endearing!) So obviously I am not getting in my car with a spider in my way. But I don't have anything to kill it with so I start attacking it with my keys. Not the smartest thing to do to you car...I seem to learn things the hard way. So after mauling my car door to no avail, I start sticking my leg up in the air trying to squish it with my shoe...now this happens to be pretty high...ahem, not something you can be too discreet about. Although, to be honest I have no idea how ridiculous I looked at this point, because I was completely focused on the kill.

However, despite my intensity, both methods were unsuccessful. This winter has made me a little rusty apparently. So after the spider runs to hide, I have no choice but to get into my car...very slowly and with a scared look on my face. Now as I am about to pull out, I turn the other direction and notice a man beside me in his car...with a VERY amused look on his face. Oops! It looks like I was 'crazy lady' entertainment for someone today. Oh well, I am too excited it's spring!! (well, minus the spiders)

TEA SNOBS

So if you know me at all, you know I have a 'slight' obsession with tea. I have been worried lately, because I drink the stuff so much that my snobbish tendencies are due to set in any day. Thankfully, a trip to Teavana today reassured me I still have far to go. I went to get this cool new gadget to brew loose leaf tea. Now, I am not one for gadgets, but I just had tea at a friend's house and discovered this and had to go out the next day to purchase one myself. Considering how much I drink tea, I just couldn't resist this Perfect Tea Maker.

Now, as excited as I am about the tea maker, I was a little overwhelmed by all their tea choices...and their prices. A little ridiculous compared with my Kroger runs I usually make. They have like 4 different types of chai! I am way too indecisive for a place like that. They also have a "perfect teaspoon" so that you can accurately add your tea. (Seriously??) Apparently it is more of a science than I make it. Brew times and temperatures are way more important than I thought...plus those are different for each blend. I really hope someone would stop me before I ever get that extreme!

PICTORIAL DYSLEXIA

Yep. I am diagnosing myself. I suffer from a case of pictorial dyslexia. Let me explain...

It started this morning. No, that is a lie. This story you are about to hear has happened before. Therefore, this morning's incident must be classified as more than just an accident. Anyways, it all started this morning when I came downstairs and set foot in the kitchen. I turned on the burner to start heating up my kettle for my morning cup of tea. As that was heating up, I thought to myself, 'Mmm. I should cook some eggs this morning.' You see, that is what prevents my stomach from rumbling in church. Not only did scrambled eggs sound delicious, but this would prevent me from future embarrassment when my stomach happened to rumble right when an 'Amen' was in order. Yeah, true story. So after my kettle whistled away, I set up my skillet to cook on the same burner. I grabbed things out of the pantry, cracked the eggs, and stirred away. At this point, I thought I'd be super talented and fix my cup of tea at the same time I scrambled the eggs. But after a few minutes all my attention is focused on the eggs. They are still really runny. And I do NOT like runny eggs. I continue to push them around waiting for them to cook but they are only partially done. Finally, I notice that the burner is simply not on. I had turned the burner off right after removing the kettle, but thought I had turned it right back on. Unfortunately, I turned on the wrong burner...burning the oven covers and some oven mitts in the process. Now, take a careful look at the picture I posted. I should be able to read the diagram to see what burner is being used, but for some reason I always pick the wrong one. It's a curse. Instead of putting the knobs vertical, could they not have put them side by side so it matched? Right should mean right instead of top means right...confusing, right? Well, maybe not to the average person, but if you have pictorial dyslexia, you bet!

Needless to say, I did not feel very diva-esque leaving my house this morning! Martha would be so disappointed!

JUST DO IT

So maybe I am stealing Nike's catch phrase, but I'm not going to lie, it's pretty catchy. And very appropriate for today. When I first started this blog, there were certain domestic things I hated. I would avoid at all possible. Mainly...mending. Ugh, even the word makes me shudder. How can that be fun?! I even tried creating a mending kit to inspire me. But today, only a couple days after discovering a hem coming undone, that shirt is already fixed and ready to wear again. It took about 5 minutes. No big deal.

I like to think (or hope) that this is an actual broader implication that I am not letting myself create excuses for things that need to be done or even things I want to do. For example, I am now planning a trip to New York in February. I am almost embarrassed at how long I have wanted to go to city and never have. Try...over 10 years! Yeah, pretty ridiculous. Now, I have been tempted to postpone it again. I mean New York, February. Probably not the most enjoyable time to walk around the city. But at this rate, if I keep putting it off...I will never make it there. Or the other million things I want or need to do. Sometimes I think it's easy to wait for the most ideal circumstances. But let's face it, in this unpredictable, snowstorm kind of world, beggars can't be choosers. I have a free flight and I'm gonna go somewhere I've always wanted to go! NYC here I come!!

DIVAS' GOTTA WORK

Part of being a domestic diva, well, one without a sugar daddy, means that a majority of my time is spent at work. Therefore, I am going to give you a little peek into my life. Better sit down, it is that thrilling. And when I say sit down, it's for fear you might fall asleep standing....

Anyways, the good news is there is something about being the confines of a cubicle or office that inspires me to write. The Sojourns of Simple Office Staff. You see, I have a title and everything.

So today, I finally drew a comparison between "the rat race" that is so often referred to in the business world and my daily office life. My new office has cubicles and walls twisted in ways that create a little maze every time I get up or return from my desk. I feel like a mouse or rat being tested to see if I can find my way to where I need to go. Now I realize this is not the meaning that was originally intended with that phrase. See I am not trying to make my way up the corporate ladder, but simply trying to return to my seat with bumping into any walls or smacking into another person. Both of which are very real possibilities. My job is laced with danger, uncertainty, and suprises. Thrilling, right?!

I'M IN LOVE

I just couldn't help falling in love with my new kettle. I mean, come on, it's a cute apple green and gives me tea. What more could a girl ask for?

NOT A COOKING BLOG

Figured I should preface with that considering my first few sentences...

I have been learning a lot about hair lately. All of which has been unintentional. I know I typically write about my cooking adventures, but I must talk out (or in this case, write out) my thoughts about non-shampooing. I'll explain in a minute what exactly that means.

Motivation #1:
A few days ago, I learned about the 6.4 billion dollars we, as Americans, spend on hair care products. I learned about all the intensive studies and NASA technology that Pantene uses to create its products, not to mention tons of chemicals. (Ahem, cancer) And for me personally, by the time I finish a bottle, my hair always has build up from the ingredients in the shampoo. I end up walking around with my hair greased to my scalp and with a frizzy bush at the end. I, for one, do not enjoy having to pick out a new shampoo every time I run out.

Motivation #2:
Then, today, I stumbled across an article which was quite the opposite to that type of product and the American lifestyle. This article is what started my curiosity. You see, I always like a challenge. But the more I thought about it...the more I actually started considering trying it. Non-shampooing that is..

Ok, ok. Here's a definition. It is not quite as gross as it sounds.

Non-shampooing:
The act of washing one's hair with a baking soda mix and apple cider vinegar rinse instead of the traditional shampoos one can purchase.

But...

Objection #1:
When I read that it was a guy who did this study. One that liked punk rock...an instant red flag went up. Ew. Guys standards are way different than us girls. But after some searching I found out lots of different people have tried this, not just one guy.

Objection #2:
My hair will most likely get worse before it gets better. I just don't know if I could handle the transition phase of this whole switch. I feel like I would need to hiberate for a month or so as not to scare people. I might not just be a freak for trying this, but look like one too!

Decisions, decisions...

ALL BUSINESS

Phew. I barely made it this month with my one blog post. I have been so busy workin' hard for the money that I have found myself neglecting this thing. Plus, I'd be lying if I said I have been extremely domestic as of late. I have cooked a few desserts for a party, but have no pictures...aka proof. So unfortunately this is going to be a rather colorless post.

The next best thing, however, (well, at least in my ocd mind) is a list. I don't always get into New Years and those ambitious resolutions, but for some reason this year I feel inspired. Maybe my inspiration comes from having such an imbalanced, crazy year that I am ready for some goals and change of pace. This is what I got so far...

1. Blog more. Yeah, yeah. Once a month has been a pretty pathetic goal to get excited about keeping.
2. The classic - work out. Not sure how that is going to work in the winter, (I will admit I am kind of a wimp in the cold) but since I am trading back to a desk job...it's a necessity!
3. This probably sounds funny...but spend more time getting ready in the mornings. I have the opposite problem as most girls. I squeeze my 'getting ready time' to 10 minutes max. This results in me walking out the door with wet hair and messed up makeup...quite a bit. It ain't pretty.
4. Oh yeah, and figure out my life.

Yep. Should be pretty simple...especially that last one.

HOMEMADE FOR THE HOMELESS

I finally did it. I finally made black bean brownies. Months of curiosity satisfied. Not quite what I was expecting, but definitely worth the try. I mean I don't know what anyone expects when you replace the flour with black beans. If they say to use coffee...probably a good idea to cover the bean taste. A note for next time. However, all in all, as long as you compare them more to a chocolate souffle than brownies, they turned out pretty good!

Anyways, these brownies were a project for helping others. My friend and I decided to make food for the homeless. And not just picking up fast food but making food that was good for them. So..thus the black bean brownies emerged. Thankfully we had the guidance of her husband for further instruction. After adding a sandwich and a water to our brown paper sacks we headed off to the streets of Memphis.

The grateful recipients:

#1 Meet Tommy. Not one for many words, but he headed off to a shady spot to enjoy his homemade goodies

#2 Meet Michael. He is our cycling friend. Caught him just in time before getting on the interstate. I have never met a more grateful man.

#3 Meet Carl Brown. A sweet man with some sort of head injury. He is a faithful bystander in front of the White Station Starbucks so we knew just who we were looking for.

I'd say our first day was a success! It was fun to be able to feed 3 guys who didn't have a lunch that day. I don't know if we brightened their day, but they sure did mine!

I GIVE IN

Something about trying to eat healthy makes pizza, white rice, and cookies look so much better than they have ever looked before. I have turned into a shaking, greedy little junk food hoard. Maybe I will do better with some moderation. Seriously have a lot of respect for those health food people out there. Too many bad habits that are too hard to shake. Now I've tasted chocolate...and I'm never going back....

MIDAS AND SALSA

Once upon a time...well in the books I read, there was a king who had the golden touch. Midas was his name. Literally, everything he touched turned to gold. This appeared to be the greatest talent...until his stomach started growling. Yep..that's going to be a problem. Because as he reached for his food...that too turned to gold. And he couldn't eat.

This is the best comparison to how I feel today. There are these beautiful ingredients in my kitchen. Bright green, juicy limes, perfectly shaped tomatoes, and crisp sprigs of cilantro. All appetizing until I touch them. Unfortunately, the things I touch don't turn into gold. If that were the case at least I could sell them and make some money. (Granted, I would have someone else handle my money) Instead, I just end up with salsa that tastes remarkably close to a cleaning product. I am starting to think it may be these tomatoes I got. Deceptively beautiful. Let's hope...otherwise my domestic career has just come to a crashing halt.

Ok, sorry, I just couldn't resist with today's photo! It just made me laugh...

PLACES

So I read this today, and while I am in this weird place in life...it was a good reminder that no season of life is pointless or useless even when it appears that way:

"Just where you stand in the conflict,
There is your place.
Just where you think you are useless,
Hide not your face.
God placed you there for a purpose,
Whate'er that be;
Think He has chosen you for it;
Work loyally.
Gird on your armor! Be faithful
At toil or rest!
Whate'er it be, never doubting
God's way is the best.
Out in the fight or on picket,
Stand firm and true;
This is the work which your Master
Gives you to do."

OK

I can blog. Maybe it's a mini meltdown. Maybe it's all the old work information I heard today...but I am back. Don't know how long my inspiration will last, but I have got to get this off my chest...

MY FUTURE JOB

Those words hang like a dark ominous cloud over my life. Coming back to Memphis, I knew that it was going to be a transitional time in my life. But as my hours each week at my...yes, part-time jobs...get smaller and smaller. And my paychecks are hardly worth cashing. And the word "benefits" only refers to days off. I am starting to breathe a little more rapidly or just not at all. I don't just hate the economy...I even hate the WORD "economy". I know, I know...it is bad. I get that. But still...I DO NOT want to live in my parent's house until I am 30 which at this rate is my brightest possibility. What am I going to do?!

BLOGGING

I can't blog. I try...and try...and try. And nothin'. Apparently I only enjoy blogging at work.