Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Meet The Parents.


It happend. I found the dress to meet his parents in. 

Love Letters.


Had a rough day yesterday. Being unemployed without getting ANY assistance from the government or your family besides free food and a place to live...isn't easy. Barely making it with what was left of gas in my dads car, (you know, because mine has a flat and I have NO money to fix it with) to pick up my paycheck from subbing in January...only to realize LEAP YEAR has screwed me and I don't get paid until the 29th. So I'm crying in the parking lot, don't know how I'm going to even make it home with the gas light on. Was able to call around on my cards and see where I had at least $10 to put in the gas tank and went back home all embarrassed at my situation, angry at the world, and fussy. Not having ANY money (even on your emergency credit cards...because all the emergencies already happened) is the scariest thing in the world. Seriously. And really, all I wanted all day was some damn tacos. So instead, my beloved Annie invited me over to make me home made crab wontons and sangria! It was amazing! While I was there getting cheered up, Mr. Boyfriend writes me this "love letter". Which has since been transcribed and put on my mirror for obvious reasons. I just love him so much.

So I was just thinking about you and wanted to send a few FYI's...


1. I thank God everyday for bringing you into my life.


2. I am still absolutely amazed by you.


3. Still not sure how I managed to get my shit together long enough to get you.


4. You are the hottest girl I have been with.


5. YOU ARE GORGEOUS.


6. I pretty much go to the gym not to stay hot for you, since I want to be the bf all your friends are jealous of.


7. Pretty much you're awesome, I love you, and I can't wait for our lives to begin together <3


8. I want to be on you. 


Oh, and I'm not drunk.


And THAT my friends, is why long distance boyfriends can be worth every moment.

xoxo

HL

PS: And also why if yours doesn't treat you right, throw his ass back and do your awesome single girl thing until a good one does come along.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Unemployment Bread


Still unemployed but need to bring something to a dinner party? Would you really enjoy something for breakfast other than $1 store cereal? Then meet unemployment bread! This recipe is from my grandma and our family in Ireland. Its a traditional old Irish recipe my mother and I like to nerdily imagine them making on a skillet over a fire...and it is SO DELICIOUS and SO EASY you will love it!! Bonus: requires few ingredients, most you (or your parents) already have in your cupboards. Win.

Irish Soda Bread
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup to 1 1/3 cup buttermilk or plain yogurt (the only odd ingredient! And its cheap!)

Mix together everything and make a round ball, kneed a few times to get rid of stickiness. Flatten somewhat with a rolling pin and cut into four parts. Sprinkle flour on a frying pan and heat. Place the parts on for 10 minutes each side. (until they're a nice light brown). Remove and cool on wire rack. Good warm or cold!

The ingredients.

The flatten.

The cooking.

Now you're ready to go to your party where everyone thinks you are just little Miss Suzy Homemaker, when really you're just unemployed.

Don't have too many more days of this unemployment gig though, things are happening!

xoxo

HL

Monday, February 27, 2012

She's Going The Distance.

Kurt Halsey


Mr. Boyfriend and I aren't engaged or married yet (even though we have been known to go ring shopping together...but that is all for the future, don't worry), so our story may not have a movie ending just yet. Or even ever! Who knows! BUT we are professionals at long distance and have been for about 6 months now. I feel like it's important that I am here to tell you that it can work and can be pretty amazing, especially if you both know its only for a certain amount of time and if you're both in a good place to be able to take it on.

For instance, I have realized through this relationship (and from Mr. Boyfriend comparing my awesomeness to the crazies he's dated before me) that I've become a pretty well-balanced and confident woman apparently. And Mr. Boyfriend and I have both been through so much before luckily meeting each other, we value each other and what we have and don't want to ruin things. SO if you have both of those going for you, long distance really isn't as horrible as people make it out to be. Just in case you're considering it...or will one day...

The Basics:

-We don't freak out when one of us goes out with our friends, in fact I try on my cute outfits and show him on skype. We encourage normal social behavior and aren't scared we're going to cheat on each other the entire time because we are confident in our hearts for each other. Of course it crosses my mind and I'd ask questions if things were suspicious. But they aren't, so I don't.

-I don't get angry when I don't hear from him for a little bit, but at the same time we talk everyday anyway so its never been an issue. He makes a serious effort (if your man doesn't, then maybe your crazy is warranted and he needs to be reconsidered!!! Seriously!!) and I make a serious effort too. We love talking to each other so its rather easy.

-Technology is your friend! With smart phones you can always be logged onto chat platforms, so basically we're both texting all day for free anyway like any other normal couple. And he calls me from work so we can talk on the phone for hours most days of the week too! PLUS we skype when we're both home at the same time. See? Probably more talking time then with your significant others who DO live in town! And you know what? Talking SO much has built this serious and sweet friendship between us I wouldn't trade for anything.

-Technology is your friend, but it isn't everything. Technology is great for the day to day but I think our extra stuff is what really shows our love for each other. This awesome girlfriend hand made a little journal with writings all about him and my heart as I fell in love with him. Complete with stupid heart stickers. Plus I made him "mix tapes" on a little USB stick and attached a home made booklet all about the music I sent. THEN made him his favorite cookies and sent him a novel I knew he'd love. Valentines Day couldn't have been sweeter! I even stocked up on local post cards and stamps and just keep them in my car to stamp and send every week or so with a little love note. And HE sends me gifts he orders from Amazon, or flowers, or bears...or vibrators. For holidays or just because. They're always thoughtful and keep the love alive. Handwritten letters or even silly drawings are also a hit.

-Keeping busy has been hard since I have been unemployed and broke most of the time, but learning to entertain myself (and enjoy being alone!) happened while I lived in Slovakia and I find it so useful now as I just don't have a boyfriend physically around to spend time with. I am still ok though when he goes out with his friends or is busy and we cant chat and watch movies at the same time together at least, I just do my own thing at home or already had plans with friends anyway! The trick is to not be a psycho waiting around for him all the time. Make time for him, but dont wait around for his call or whatever. If he calls while you're out with your friends you can just step out for a bit and chat, make a talking date for later, and BOOM boyfriend still intact but NOT a psycho!

Ideas for Things To Send:
-cookies or brownies! Or other random favorite foods or drink mixes
-books or magazines you know they'd like
-love dovey handwritten letters or post cards
-a pair of your panties (so going in my next one, hahaha)
-random pictures that made you think of them (thanks for this one Sarah!)
-sexy pictures if you're into that

Ideas For Things To Do:
Unemployed? Don't have any single friends who aren't always on the man hunt? Don't want to hang out with other couples all the time alone either? Enjoy being alone! Fill your time with...
-Baking fun things for yourself, friends, parties, or your man
-Blogging, pinning, reading the news, blogs, twitter, etc. Seriously, I spend hours doing this a day.
-Start a new TV series and don't feel guilty for watching it all day with your dog
-Clean and organize your shit or volunteer to help out your messy parents/friends
-Teach yourself a new useful hobby like painting furniture, building something, sewing, etc.
-Volunteer your time with kids, old people, animals, nature, whatever!
-Exercise. Bonus! It helps release the stress you're carrying from not having sex!
-Drink alone and read in bed. A personal favorite.

I know everyone thinks we're crazy for being SO in love and how we seriously talk about our future after being together such a short time and for pretty much all of it being a part.

But we aren't the first ones to make it work, and we won't be the last.

Don't lose heart in love quite yet.

xoxo

HL

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Favorite Things: Z Gallerie

I've always avoided going into the Z Gallerie by my house. Mostly because I didn't have my own place to furnish and just by the look of it could see it was totally my kind of place and I'd end up leaving frustrated I couldn't get anything.

However.

As we're getting closer and closer to getting a real adult job, being able to pay off debt, and move the heck out of here I allowed myself to venture in and BE AMAZED. 


Wouldn't this be perfect in-closet dresser?! It was on sale for only $100! 


I may have also found my dream couch...
It has a big matching chair and is SO SOFT AND CUDDLY I didn't want to get up!



But then we also found this, which is every mans DREAM.


uh yeah. Mom and I electrically reclined and also didn't want to get out again. When I told Mr. Boyfriend about it he was like, "Can we get it NOW?!" 


I also loved this headboard but in a different color...



And this little bowl for jewelry was only $10! I might have to go back and get me one!

I know this is a bit of an eclectic group of things, but I couldn't just post pictures of the entire store now could I. You just have to venture there and see for yourself...

xoxo

HL

Something Grand.

Crossroads. 

Although it was five years ago, when I was just barely figuring out what to major in college, if I should change my black/blonde/pink hair, if I wanted to just up and move to India....etc. God (or whoever you think it is) told me I was destined to do something grand and be a strong leader. He got me finally excited about something regarding my future, which was teaching art to underprivileged kids (like art therapy). Which led me to get my teaching credential and minor in art. Now that those doors keep closing to me and the very real prospect of me taking an entirely other career and life path into the business field is literally keeping me up at night worried I am veering from my intended plan.

"I'm not helping needy kids!"
"I'm not even working at a non-profit!"
"I'm not dropping everything and moving to India!"

Around and around we go.

But as I write I wonder if maybe this is how I am going to be a strong leader. God never said I was going to be a strong leader in the education or even non-profit world. He just said I was going to be a strong leader, but I needed to get my anxiety under control (ha, how ironic is that). And whose to say this isn't a stepping stone into being able to volunteer, donate funds, eventually work for a non-profit, etc. And whose to say I still can't even do that in my free time? Maybe this is the path God has intended for me all along. I wouldn't be able to get this internship that directs into this management field without my education and work experience. Without developing my personality that is perfect for the role. Without being where I am unemployment-wise.

So I suppose this means its time to stop limiting myself and be excited about this jump into another world. One I didn't ever see myself in, but one that seems to use my skills in an amazing way anyway.

Literally have had to take sleeping pills the last 2 nights because otherwise I'll just toss and turn thinking, analyzing...and being excited too. Friday I was even supposed to go to Melissa's for dinner, which I was thrilled about- but after not sleeping the ENTIRE night a super fun migraine hit me by afternoon and I could barely move. Oh hey lady, I didn't know you got migraines? Oh yeah, THATS BECAUSE I DON'T.

xoxo

HL

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Pretty Things: Paris, Portrait of a City

This gorgeous spread in Huffington of Paris just makes me miss Europe. Enjoy.








xoxo

HL

Friday, February 24, 2012

You Make My Heart Sing.

I told you I've been loving these images with type overwriting them, so I just decided it was time to start making my own.


xoxo

HL

It's All Happening!


It would finally appear that a job may be on the horizon for this poor (and by poor, I mean poor) unemployed teacher! Brother works for a pretty amazing software company start up right by the beach and has been trying to get me a management job there since even though I am a teacher, I do have a pretty great skill set I can use in all kinds of different areas. With some shmoozing from brother, an awesome lunch with me and one of the managers, and then an informal interview with another manager MAY have landed me a paid internship! I am pretty much qualified for a higher end management position, but just don't have the tech expertise to really quite fit. So an internship was pretty much all but professionally offered so I could fill in my tech holes, get my foot in the door there awhile, and then move up. They need help doing things I could do now and I can learn everything else once I'm there! As far as they told me, they're just trying to clear the budget with the CEO's and then hopefully make me an offer! Even if I just get $15/hour for 6 months and am able to pay off my debt and save before moving up (and then out!) I would be happy. Plus once I move up, their management jobs pay really well!

Um, yeah...total career change completely out of left field, I know. The thoughts have been around for awhile...and although I wouldn't be working with children or in education directly anymore, I would really still be doing similar things. The job they're forming me for is a social and presentational role where I am the pretty and awesome face for the customers (big name businesses) and then break down the projects for the geeky tech guys. Plus, my brothers company has great perks, benefits, is right by the beach and a gym, has an awesome community of cool people working there, my boss would prrrrobably turn into my best friend forever, and is small enough so that if someday I want to lessen my hours to do the family thing- I probably could. 

If all you took from that was "So. You're going to really be Joan Holloway then aren't you", then YES. 

I am hoping to find out and maybe even start next week! If nothing else I have an awesome sounding nanny job interview and a final interview for a pretty great summer kids reading program next week too. My happiness level has finally gotten back to normal (if not shooting through the roof) as I am finally getting interviews and leads now. It's amazing how sapped your heart gets from so much ignoring and just downright rejection every day. I feel like besides my year stint in Slovakia, which also SERIOUSLY left something to be desired, I've basically been fighting unemployment, without the luxury of government help, since I graduated. It's exhausting. 

I feel so thankful for even the connections and opportunities I'm getting! This could mean a whole new life for this girl. 

Keep your fingers crossed, sure how we have some good news by next week!

xoxo

HL

Unemployment Rice & Beans

Still unemployed? Hungry? Oh what do you know, me too. I found this easy black bean and rice recipe and my parents already had all of the ingredients for it in their cupboards- score! Luckily none are very expensive anyway even if you're missing something, its rather tasty and filling, and easy to make.

Ingredients

-1 cup uncooked brown or white rice
-1 tbsp olive oil
-1 small onion, chopped
-1/2 one color bell pepper, thinly sliced
-1/2 another color bell papper, thinly sliced
-3 cloves minced garlic
-2 16oz cants of black beans rinsed and drained
-2 tbsp white vinegar
-tabasco and cayenne to taste
-1 tsp dried oregano or fresh oregano
-salt and pepper to taste
-lime wedges

1) Cook yoself up some rice in your rice cooker, microwave, whatever you got. Rice is really cheap and a good thing to always have on hand when you're unemployed. I always go for brown since its healthier and tasted great with this recipe. While thats cooking...




2) Heat olive oil in skillet on medium high. Saute onions and bell peppers for 3-4 minutes until they begin to soften. Then add the garlic and saute a bit more (dont let it burn!). Add the black beans, vinegar, and tabasco or cayenne. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.

3) Stir in rice and oregano. Add salt and pepper to taste.



I would HIGHLY recommend adding some vegetable broth to the beans while they are cooking since it came out rather dry. Also the more tabasco or cayenne the better and a lime squeezed in at the end makes a BIG difference!



"I made my own dinner with free ingredients I found in the cupboards!"

Happy Cooking.

xoxo

HL

Pretty Things: Anchor.

I send Mr. Boyfriend images or words everyday and he sends me songs...like virtual cards. I know, we're so cute you want to throw up. But today's was just dreamy...


Thursday, February 23, 2012

Guy Talk



Sometimes, I wish you could read me and Mr. Boyfriends conversations, you would laugh as we talk about ALL KINDS of random fun things and then will just interject and gush about how much we love each other and then count the ways- its ridiculous. Actually, thank God no one else has to witness our lovey dovey conversations, they would be so annoyed.


But today Mr. Boyfriend finally changed his FB status. I didn't really care that he hadn't until now, I know how he feels about me and that he just doesn't think about it, but lately all these old girl friends from high school keep FB chatting him and then trying to hit on him so I told him to change his status and it would probably cut down on it (among other advice/direction such as, STOP TALKING TO THEM), then he finally remembered to do it today. Upon the change, his room mates in Brazil started asking him about me and he told me he said,


"You're awesome


productive
shit together
anti-crazy
sexy
beautiful
wonderful
not crazy
have a job kinda
not crazy
not wanted to have any criminal records
not crazy
no kids
and finally, not crazy"




I laughed, swooned and then asked for the guy version, what he really said: 


"Dude, she's pretty fucking cool and not cray cray"


and


"She's pretty fucking hot"


and


"She's fucking chill as shit and not always buggin me or needing to talk all day"


Boy talk is so simple, hilarious, and ridiculous. And I love how they're almost an entirely different person with their girl. 


xoxo

HL

Pretty Things: Messes of Men



Oh man, not only is the Messes of Men tumblr named after a favorite Me Without You song, but its just absolutely GORGEOUS and filled with everything that makes my heart sing. I feel just so lucky to have found it and it may just be one of my favorite inspiration sites EVER. These are just some random screenshots, get ready for beauty once you actually get there.

you're welcome.

xoxo

HL

Favorite Things: Bella.

I'm sorry, but my dog is awesome. I don't know how I lived without her for a year in Europe. Especially being semi unemployed, she's been such a sweet little friend to have around. Especially now that I've got her healthy again and am walking with her, we've rekindled our relationship (haha).


Hot Bella? She was snoring during this and had her tongue out too.

 Our air mattress deflated after guests stayed with us. "Oh finally, you bitches made a bed for me"

She is the best.

xoxo

HL





Favorite Things: Yesterday.



Forced myself out of the house to buy some necessary things so my room won't look like such a shit show. Before and After shots to come as I am still working on things. But some inspiring, although not purchased, finds.



Monday, February 20, 2012

Can't Take My Eyes Off of You.


"I remember, trying not the stare the night that I first met you. You had me mesmerized" 
-Brad Paisley 

Oh hey there indie music snob, did you just quote a COUNTRY song?!?!? Why yes, yes I did.  Damn you Mr. Boyfriend who sends me songs that are ALWAYS country songs! But I must say, those country boys know how to write some love songs. Its pretty precious. However, finding myself humming Brad Paisley...or Faith Hill and Tim McGraw throughout the day is...odd to say the least. 

When Mr. Boyfriend and I talk about the night we met each other on his birthday, last June in Bratislava, he pretty much says the exact above quote. He kept trying not to stare at me. And whats funny is he didn't even notice my huge boobs or ass (which are the typical getters) until we hooked up again 3 months later in October and he finally had me naked when the "DAMN! Where has THAT been hiding?!" came out. He said he just couldn't take his eyes off of my face and how when I smiled it lit up an entire room. 

It got me thinking of all the boys we waste our time with. If you are in the midst of your wasting time phase, then have fun! But otherwise, wait for someone who just cant stop looking at you when he first meets you. Who has a hard time finding words to say. Who is captivated not just by your beauty, but by everything you are. Those are the ones worth your time. The ones worth loving. Even if you never marry them or are together forever, at least you know they were captivated and enthralled by you. At least you know you were treasured. 

xoxo

HL

Sunday, February 19, 2012

The Weekend Look


Oh hey there, is that you in public wearing leggings, leopard print flats, and a pink sweater with a DEER and HEART on it? Yep. Either its the Europe coming out, because Mr. Boyfriend is currently so far away, or that I'm sick of my wardrobe that I haven't been able to update in almost a year- but my downtime wardrobe has gotten "awesome" as of recently. 

And on that note, enjoy the long weekend! No matter what weird crap you're wearing.

xoxo

HL

Friday, February 17, 2012

Unemployment Cookies


Oh hey! Are you unemployed too? Or only working a few days a week due to lack of sub jobs? Living at home and don't qualify for unemployment? Well then you should whip up a batch of "Unemployment Cookies" on your next day where you want to die of boredom!

The great thing about this recipe is that everything should pretty much already be in your parents cupboards so you dont have to spend any more money you dont have on ingredients. However, I would HIGHLY recommend splurging a few dollars on some Swans Down Cake Flour if you don't already swear by it. It makes the cookies super light and fluffy and sweeter! You can use it to replace anything that calls for All Purpose, they have the exchange measurement on the box.  

I just got this recipe from All Recipes but substituted the Swans Down cake flour for all purpose.

  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour OR 2 cups Swans Down Cake Flour 
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
  3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

The great thing about Unemployment Cookies is that you can do whatever you want with them since you may or may not be sharing them with anyone who matters. I attempted to do heart shapes, which didn't really turn out, undercooked a pan worth, and burnt an entire other pan worth too! Plus my decorating attempts before getting bored and quitting after 4 were pretty horrible:



But the good news is: NO ONE CARES. You aren't making them for anyone in particular, they are solely Unemployment Cookies to be shared as you desire. 

Tonight I am taking some of the non decorated and non burnt ones to Annies for girls taco and movie night though, girl friends tend to not care about weird looking cookies...as long as they're edible. 

More Unemployment Desserts to come!

xoxo

HL

Favorite Things: Inventori

While up in LA for the president event, I got to stay with my lovely friend Kathleen and her partner Liz in their new Sherman Oaks home, seriously some of my favorite people ever! We went to get lunch and stopped into Tori Spellings new store, Inventori, which was right next door. BASICALLY it was like Tori made a store just for me- Oh my!

Vintage or vintage inspired everything!

For the bathroom...




Outdoor wares...

For the kitchen...


All kids of things!


Liz bought Kathleen a beautiful flower arranging book to further feed her amazing new hobby, and we just had a blast looking through everything else. Felt so inspired! 

As soon as I get a job I am headed back up to hit the weekend flea markets with Kat, LA has some of the best ones!

Be sure and visit when you're in the LA area and eat at the yummy Sweet Butter next door too!

13826 Ventura Ave.

xoxo

HL

The Day I Saw The President.


I suppose I forgot to mention our family friend who does secret security for the president has been trying to get me a job working the Obama campaign. Either traveling with the campaign or based at one of their offices in LA. Step one was volunteering at an event in LA on Wednesday! It was only volunteer, but it was SUCH an amazing experience. The fundraiser was at a soap producers giant ass mansion in Beverly Hills and featured Jack Black and Rashida Jones as speakers, the Foo Fighters playing, and then of course the president speaking! There were only 300-500 people there so it felt very intimate and like we were one big family.

I was a greeter where everyone came in, and since everyone had to go through the same security I got to see all the celebrities and say hello to them! Mila Kunis, Don Cheadle, Herbie Hancock, the bassist from the Foo Fighters, and Wolfgang Puck were the ones I got to greet. Surprisingly I wasn't star struck at all...it was all very relaxed and I felt like I'd been doing this for ages. Maybe I am more LA then I realize. The highlight was definitely when the president spoke, I genuinely believe in everything he stands for, when he speaks and I am with a crowd of like minded people- it was just so encouraging. Plus, his speech was very relaxed and even funny sometimes. I love having a president I feel like I could actually talk to. Unfortunately I had to stand outside from 1:30-8:00 in probably the coldest day in southern California this year (seriously, couldn't have gotten above 45 all day and I was only wearing my cardigan with the rain), so I was pretty exhausted and tired.

I couldn't take pictures at the event, but a cheeky bloke snuck in from an LA based blog and got some good coverage of the event here. I must say, its strange seeing the pictures since I recognize everyone in them and it was such a small group of people there really! Theres a bunch of pictures right where I was working, but I must have been talking to Mila Kunis then because only my boot made it in.

So heres hoping I get an amazing job out of it!

xoxo

HL