Made in Richmond

bowl of pasta at Edo’s Squid + snuggly comforter and pups = early bedtime and no visit to the gym

(v.1 | v.2 | v.3)

James and Jennifer will be back for a visit in April. I cannot wait.

Ross and I have started making popcorn the old fashioned way. It’s incredibly good and it costs almost nothing.

I’ve discovered that the best thing for my chronic chin blemishes is straight Vitamin E oil. Does your chin look like it’s 14 years old? You should try it, too.

We’re shifting offices around at work. My officemate (who I also went to high school with) is being moved to an office with the another marketing person. I’m not gonna lie. It’s a little bit sad.

When I watch America’s Next Top Model, I thank the Lord that I am no longer an 18-21 year old female.

I just realized that I didn’t do a Zappturday entry last week.

Ross and I are trying sell our two love seats. Anyone want them?

I keep watching this over and over and can’t stop laughing at it.

You’re up…

I was doing some research at work today and I ended up sending an email around to my coworkers asking them what blogs they read. (Yes, it was part of the research. My job is better than yours.)

Someone sent me this link: http://toprankblog.com.

I read it as To Prank Blog and immediately thought “OMG, this is gonna be AWESOME.”

Yeah. That’s actually Top Rank Blog. As in marketing. Which is much more related to what we do than a blog devoted to playing tricks on people.

Ever since Knocked Up came out, I’ve been hearing all kinds of hullabaloo about the birth scene. I had visions of blood and gore and horror.

Ross and I finally watched the movie for the first time tonight. As the birth scene approached, I was fully ready to watch it out of the corner of my eye or through my fingers. And before I knew it, it was over. Sure, there were some up-close-and-personal shots, but, how did you *think* it happened? It’s a *person* coming out of a *person.* There are bound to be some not-cute moments involved.

Ross and I both have nasal issues throughout most of the year. I sniff from about October to March and Ross takes over for spring and summer as he deals with his allergies. Consequently, we are a very congested couple. IT CAN’T ALL BE GLAMOR AND STYLE, KIDS.

Thankfully, my mother-in-law (who is always up on the trends of most things) recommended this to us:

Yes, that would be an Ayr Saline Nasal Rinse Kit. I bet you didn’t know rinsing your nasals was an option, but alas, it is!

This kit is magical. It is mystical. It is a miracle in a wee cardboard box. Let me tell you how it works…

First, fill the spray bottle (think of a miniature sports bottle) with warm water.

Pour in one of the saline packets of wonder.

Shake the bottle to mix it up.

Lean over the sink and open your mouth. For real.
Stick the spout of the bottle in one of your nostrils.

Squeeze the bottle semi-hard.

Feel the saline wonder pass through your sinus and out of your other nostril (and maybe your mouth).

Breathe fully for the first time probably in your entire life.

Send me a note apologizing for the judgment you passed while reading this post and thanking me for being the sage that I am.

I woke up rested.

I got through the day with minimal yawning.

My lack of fatigue yielded excessive productivity at work.

I’M BACK IN ACTION!

Friday: Work and what not. Met up with family at Peking for dinner. Went home. To bed early.

Saturday: Various home improvement things. Fought off another cold all the live-long day.  Miraculous trip to the grocery store. Hot dogs and tater tots for dinner. Watched Ratatouille and ate homemade popcorn. To bed early again.
Sunday: Up to putter. Went to the Virginia Historical Society to see the Lee & Grant exhibit (free on Sundays, guys, go see it). Home for snack. Church. Chicken chili for dinner. Maybe to the gym. Shooting for another early bed time.

Have a great week!

Time for the 2008 Oscar pick ‘em. Here’s what I’m thinking…

1. Actor in a leading role: Daniel Day Lewis – There Will Be Blood

2. Actor in a supporting role: Javier Bardem – No Country For Old Men

3. Actress in a leading role: Julie Christie – Away From Her

4. Actress in a supporting role: Amy Ryan – Gone, Baby, Gone

5. Animated feature: Persepolis

6. Art direction: Sweeney Todd

7. Cinematography: Atonement

8. Costume design: Sweeney Todd

9. Directing: The Cohen Bros. – No Country For Old Men

10. Documentary feature: Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience

11. Documentary short: Sari’s Mother

12. Film editing: There Will Be Blood

13. Foreign language film: Katyn

14. Makeup: Pirates of the Caribbean – At World’s End

15. Music (score): Atonement

16. Music (song): That’s How You Know (from Enchanted)

17. Best picture: No Country For Old Men

18. Short film (animated): My Love

19. Short film (live action): At Night

20. Sound editing: Transformers

21. Sound mixing: Transformers

22. Visual effects: Pirates of the Caribbean – At World’s End

23. Writing (adapted screenplay): Atonement

24. Writing (original screenplay): Juno

And you?

Star Wars, according to a 3 year old.

With the onset of The Great Spending Freeze of 2008, Ross and I are determined to stay on (if not under) budget when it comes to food and groceries. We went to the store this afternoon, determined to stay within our budget of $36. That’s all three meals for the two of us for this entire week.

And we did it. For $34.75.

This might trump that whole graduating from college with honors thing.