Keepin’ It Real: August 2014

So, to tell you exactly where my mind has been this month (or how much sine wine was consumed before writing this oos5 post), I actually wrote 2004 instead of 2014 at first, for the title of this post. This month has been equal parts flying by and equal parts molasses. Maybe I should describe it as flying through molasses?

August summed up:

Kids started school. Son turned eleven. Daughter got braces off. Bought tickets to see Def Leopard in the fall (whoot! Now what to wear?!). Went over budget. Darn popbacks. Darn fabulous markdowns at Anthropologie. And darn you, Free People for your sales. Bought way, way too much during all of these amazing sale promotions, including this dress, this dress and this top. Spanked self. Cannot even look at a single sock in September. Started saving all of the 5’s and 1’s accumulated at the end of each week for kids’ college in addition to the monthly stipend we deposit for each child. Will be curious to see how much it adds up to at the end of a year. Tried a new pub. Liked it. Have been going twice a week to the chiropractor after migraines revealed neck injury from ten years ago has manifested itself into a neck that no longer curves. Reveled in Genevieve’s Renovation on HGTV and then wondered if anyone else was watching. Became addicted to Jersey Belle after swearing off any more reality t.v. (but she might adopt a baby from a woman she met on the street). Wrote letter to TV Land because I can no longer function without my nightly dose of “Everybody Loves Raymond.” Cursed at the television after True Blood’s horrendous series finale. Apparently I watch too much t.v. Went to every Albertson’s in a thirty mile radius (as a date with my husband. I am a good time) and bought all of their discontinued frozen manicotti (check a store near you. This stuff is fabulous for a quick meal. Just throw in a pan with a jar of sauce and bake for an hour. Located near frozen garlic bread if the store still has it. Sorry peeps near me. You’ll just have to come over for dinner). Now need a stand alone freezer for my hoarding tendencies. Apparently stopped using pronouns.

I am obsessed with funny Family Feud moments found on Pinterest. Oh my goodness! You must read this one about Honey Boo Boo’s family.

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I gained ten pounds this summer and have found it ridiculously hard to care. I also took some awful pictures having nothing to do with the weight gain and everything to do with my face.

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On Friday I went to the chiropractor. He was having this young man shadow him… The hottest young man I ever did see. My husband said he could be the poster child for doctors (he was with me). I learned I am still smooth with my moves at the age of thirty seven because when he walked down the hall towards us, I hit my head on the wall behind me loud enough for those piercing blue eyes to find mine as I screamed in pain after the resonating bang of the impact had everyone look up, so startled was I by gleaming white teeth and perfect genes. Then I impressed him by having my chiropractor show him my xrays of the ribs growing from my neck.

I know how to impress a man.

Isn’t that how it is done these days? Forget cleavage. Pssst… You wanna see my neck ribs?

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Then my husband (ahem. Sorry dear) and I went to breakfast but as we were walking up to the restaurant I heard a dog whimpering and barking in a panic in a locked car. It was all ready ninety degrees outside. The windows were rolled up with just room enough for a flat palm to pass through one of them equating to no breeze. So, I waited to see if anyone was going to come out of any shops. Long story short, they didn’t and I called the authorities. I found the couple sitting in a restaurant (after asking every table.) finishing their breakfast completely carefree. I had a few choice words for them, especially when the woman told me it had only been thirty minutes as she lingered over her coffee. I told her, “You are a mean, mean person to be that cruel.” The authorities (a cop car and animal control, because it is illegal in California to leave your dog locked in a car) were waiting for the couple outside surrounding the car along with a crowd of angry people. There had been other people who had seen and heard the dog as they passed by and were waiting to see if they needed to break a window to get it out. I hated that it had to come to that. I left before the confrontation. I felt bad for calling, but I really did not want the dog to die and I want them to know that they cannot do that. I did not stay to see the finale because I know the end result would have been me in tears possibly in handcuffs when I tried to snatch the dog (it was a Murphy dog). I was shaking for hours afterwards from the situation.

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I made a chocolate cake with an unexpected ingredient and I cannot wait to share it. And oatmeal chocolate chip bars!… I do not know why I gained ten pounds this summer.

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I purchased three vials of pepper spray from a traveling salesman and do not exactly know where to keep them. Or how to explain to my husband I bought a vast amount of pepper spray from a traveling salesman.

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Books I am currently reading. And why I am sometimes behind in my comments. And emails. And life.

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I cannot believe it is almost fall. In Southern California it is hard to keep track of the seasons. It is hot, hotter, not as hot, then cool but not cold. As someone who chronicles outfits this can be tricky. But I am started to get excited for the changing weather, however slight or extreme it decides to fall. I have enough boots and jeans. The staples I am looking for, on clearance, will be a leather jacket and black boots. I also want to add in some more pencil skirts because my husband likes them so much. And I am loving this vest in grey and purple.

September Posts I have in the works:

Pee Wee Herman Ruined My Singing Career
Bohemian Girl Means Business
Where’s The Gnome?
Creamy Green Chile Enchilada Casserole
It’s A Golden Age Eyelet Believe

What was your favorite part about August? Was your month molasses or flying by? Did you participate in any Labor Day Sales?

*If you missed July’s Keepin’ It Real, you can find it here.

NOW CLOSED 17th Blog Giveaway: $30 Amazon E-Gift Card

This giveaway is now closed. Further entries will not be counted. Thank you to all who entered! : )

This blog has been up and running for seventeen months and I could not possibly post every day if it were not for you guys who stop to read it. I have made plenty of mistakes, but above all, I am having fun. My tagline for this blog has always been, “stumbling through life while still having fun.” I never knew how true that phrase would become many months ago. Thank you for helping me up. And for being supportive. I really appreciate it beyond words. Most importantly, I love the interaction and the people I have met here.

I have been shopping a lot on Amazon lately. It is my son’s birthday on Monday, so I have found it convenient instead of heading out into the heat. I also recently showed how I wave my hair with my wave iron purchased there on this post.

I buy almost all of my books from Amazon (although if I am in San Diego, I make it a point to stop at the amazing bookstore, Mysterious Galaxy. I love supporting independent bookstores).

What was I saying? Oh, that’s right. Giveaway. Amazon.

Let’s get to it:

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This month I am giving away one $30 e-gift card to Amazon.

To enter for a chance to win the gift card, please leave a comment telling me what food you have been craving in this heat. After reading Rachel’s post on her blog, Promises Like Pie Crust, all I want forever and ever is pizza. If that is too personal, you may leave any comment you wish as long as it is nice.

You may also be or become a registered reader of this blog by subscribing on the right hand side of this page via any method for an extra entry. Please leave a second comment if you do so stating as such. The second comment is your second entry.

Limit two entries per person.

The giveaway runs from August 10, 2014 12:00 a.m. PST to August 16, 2014 9:00 p.m. PST. I will be choosing one winner from the comments entered on this post for the $30 Amazon e-gift card using random.org. I will contact the winner on August 17, 2014 and display the winner’s name on this blog on August 18, 2014.

Thank you everyone for entering! And for stopping by! I really appreciate it!

By commenting on this post, you are entering this giveaway for a chance to win one $30 e-gift card to Amazon and agreeing to the rules outlined in this giveaway.

I will attempt to contact the winner three times with the email address provided. If I have not heard from the winner within fourteen days from the first attempt at contact, the prize will be forfeit and a new winner will be drawn.

Past winners are welcome to enter.

* Negative comments (chosen at the discretion of the owner of this blog) will be deleted and that entry will be forfeit.

*this giveaway is not sponsored by or associated with Amazon.

Overheard In August

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I know many blogs do a recap at the end of the month about their favorite posts or memories from that month. But I get bored rather quickly. I thought about doing the recap thing. It would be a great, incredibly easy extra post. Only, I cannot choose. And I did not want to copycat.

I thought of something I enjoy more. Eavesdropping. It is a terrible, delectable habit. No calories. Just some bloating of your soul. So, I am going to share my favorite overheard moments at the end of every month. Because the best conversations are always the ones we are not a part of. For the first time, I introduce, a new monthly post, “Overheard in…”:

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We were at a local diner eating breakfast. There was a large gruff old man sitting by himself at the next table. His figure spoke of masculinity. The waitress approached him and the following conversation commenced:

“”James*, your meal comes with a drink. Pick out a drink and I’ll bring it to you.”

“No, that’s okay.”

“But James, it’s free. Just pick one out. Do you want some orange juice?”

“No, that’s okay.”

“James.” Exasperated.

Mumbled.

“What’s that James?”

“I guess I’ll take a milk.”

Pause.

“A chocolate milk.”

Aw. The large gentleman ordered a chocolate milk and melted my heart.

*I changed his name for privacy reasons. People should be allowed to order their chocolate milk in peace.

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I was shopping at Nordstrom Rack. There was a five year old little boy, his mother and his two year old little sister in one of the aisles. This is what I heard the little boy say to his mom:

“Mom, imagine if you went to my school.

And imagine that you were my friend.

And imagine you were wearing this dress.

What would that look like?”

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At the hair salon:

A man says to his hair stylist, “I don’t want a haircut that my wife sees and says, ‘Honey, that’s a nice haircut.'”

He paused for dramatic effect here.

“I want you to give me a haircut that makes my wife make out with me.”

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At Costco in the food court (the very best place to eavesdrop and people watch ), there was a family of three. One member of the family being a little girl of two.

There was a bird in the food court and of course the little girl was fascinated with it. She began chasing it around her table. The mother encouraged her. The father did not.

He said, “Be careful! The bird is fast.”

The little girl continued to chase the bird.

The husband turned to his wife and said, “When those birds came at us…That was the worst thing I have ever experienced. In my life.”

They packed up after that. But I noticed the man peering into the bushes where the bird had hidden as he cautiously walked away.

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And that concludes my eavesdropping for the month. Have you heard any good (but still nice) conversations lately?

Fifth Blog Giveaway: Pink Flag Necklace

This giveaway is now closed! Thank you all who entered!

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It is that time again! The time that I get to giveaway something to show how much I appreciate all of you who support me. Who take the time to read this blog. Because I do. Appreciate it beyond words.

I love to give presents. The giveaway each month might be my favorite part of my blog. I think it is so much fun.

Thank you all so much for being on this journey with me. I am still discovering myself along the way. Deciding what my limits are that I will blog about. My children have made a firm, “No Underwear Posts!” rule. Which is sad, because I have so many funny stories about that subject. But oh well. Sometimes, mother does not know best.

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Today, I am doing a giveaway for Anthropologie’s Lace Flag Necklace in the pink color. I purchased it during a fabulous sale. I also purchased one for myself.

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I wear mine with so many things. I always get compliments on it. It is a really cool piece.

To enter simply leave a comment telling me what you will wear the necklace with.

You can earn a second entry by being a follower or becoming a follower (there are many ways to do so on the right hand side of this post). LEAVE A SECOND COMMENT stating you are following.

That is it!

Easy Peasy!

This giveaway begins Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 12:00 am PST. All entries must be received before the giveaway closes on Monday, August 12, 2013 at 11:59 pm PST.

I will be drawing one winner by using Random.org. I will contact the winner on Tuesday, August 13, 2013. I will post the winner’s name on August 14, 2013

This giveaway is a pretty short duration. I did not want it to disrupt my ongoing Thursday “It’s The Little Things.” Please enter before it is over!

Do not forget to comment to enter. The comments are your entries! One comment per person. Except for the extra comment entry for followers.

*Please enter the giveaway with a valid email address. I will attempt to contact the winner three times using the email given. If within fourteen days of the giveaway’s closing, I have not heard from the winner, the prize will be forfeit. A new winner will be drawn.

*This giveaway is sponsored by me and is not affiliated with/by Anthropologie.