30 for 30 - Selections

I'm relatively new to the blogging scene so this my first event - 30 for 30 as seen on Kendi Everyday. Now I have to ask for your patience and forgiveness ahead of time. I have been thinking about items this past month but am really putting this together at the last minute. I will do my best but may have to jump ship before the end of February. As this is my first event ever, I really have no idea what I'm getting myself into.

Well on to 30 for 30....

8 pants

2 button downs

8 shirts

8 sweaters

3 pairs of shoes

Now you will notice that 8 + 2 + 8 + 8 + 3 = 29. This gives me a little wiggle room and the ability to add another item if necessary. Wish me luck!

Cupcake - Gigi's

R and I had been talking about cupcakes this whole week. It's been a long week so I decided to treat myself to one of Gigi's Cupcakes.

I picked one called Tiger Tails.

Yellow cake with a raspberry filling topped with buttercream frosting covered in raspberry infused coconut.

J took this one

Delicious!

Hoodie, Sandals, Necklace - Kohls

My mom and I went out shopping to Kohls yesterday. The original purpose was for these shoes:

Candie's Smokey Platform High Heels

Please note that when I set out to find these shoes, I knew they were pink and sparkly, but I did not know they would be that high! I'm pretty sure I would have fallen in these, but they were sold out so I didn't even get a chance to try. Instead, I got a hoodie, sandals, and a necklace. I spent $28 (and saved $27!).

The hoodie was 60% off and the sandals were 25% off. The necklace was actually bought by Mom. 100% of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. Here is a close-up of the necklace:

The couch makes a good makeshift background.

*Tip: Although you may go shopping for something in particular, keep your mind open for other options.

B Is On Fire!

Zumba has started again! It is the best way to start a week. (And also gets me to exercise!) Since today was a free day, there was a huge turnout.

And we danced to a new song...Fuego! B had her MFD written exam today. I think it was a sign! 

My Sweetie and Steak

My honey cooked steak for us tonight! It was delicious. [UPDATE 1/25/2011] And Sam, from So Good food blog, I cut it up as I went.

I hope the picture looks ok. I used my point-and-shoot instead of my dslr.

And, in pure J style, he stuck his knife in the steak.

:P

Narnia

It's a blah kind of day. And a blah kind of day warrants ice cream....before dinner. (So does waiting for the said dinner to cool down.)

New York Vanilla

And it only figures that on a blah kind of day, the moon is just past full. It's been proven that more crimes are committed and hospitals fill up during full moons.

Sorry for the blurry picture. I was taking this without a tripod in the cold.

On a happy note, Narnia was open today. J and I call this Narnia because the lamppost is in the middle of nowhere. It's in the very back corner of the neighbors' yard right by our driveway. And we have no idea where the switch is to turn it off and on. It's just very magical.

The Christmas Season Comes to an End

Here are a few more treasures I got around the Christmas time.

To dress up my outfit for work today, I wore the necklace from my cousin. It's a cute little bird.

I also set up the picture from B (put in the frame by her M). I think the flowers were in her backyard. Isn't she talented? Especially considering this was taken with a point-and-shoot.

And finally, this wasn't an actual gift but I won it at a Christmas party, is my quad chair. It's fancier than the ones I already own. And by fancy, I mean it has armrests with cupholders. :)

And thus brings an end to the Christmas season. Don't get me wrong it was lovely to see everyone. But 6 work parties, 2 family parties, and 4 friend parties is enough to wear any out of their holiday cheer.

First Day of Class

...not for me, but for my grad students. You can tell everyone is back on campus. The bus was packed full today. So packed, that they stopped picking up and only dropped off. But thankfully not as packed as the Japanese tube...

Normally I am not claustrophobic, but I think this would make anyone claustrophobic!

Federal Holiday = Day Off!

...and a day off means that I have to clean the apartment. I got my Christmas presents in their places and put to good use.

J and I challenged each other to some rounds of Blokus from K. And it's the To Go version so it folds up into a neat handy square.

My aunt and uncle gave me Swiss-Style Muesli. (It's kind of like oatmeal with nuts and fruit.) So I whipped up a batch for breakfast. Yummy!

And R gave me this super cute initial pillow that matches my living room. It found it's proper place on the couch.

Thanks, friends and family, for the wonderful Christmas gifts! It was great getting together with you all, too ^_^

Left! Right!

J and  I went to the Badger versus Illini basketball game. Both of my parents were busy, so we got the tickets (and parking pass!). (Thanks, 'rents!)

Via Wisconsin Photo Gallery

It was a long game. If it wasn't a timeout, it was a foul. However, 2 players fouled out! Left, right, left, right, left, right....sit down you bum! (hehe)

No News Is Good News

I know it's been a few days. It's been busy. (I don't know if you know this, but I have 2 jobs - one full-time and one part-time.) Typically I do some blogging at work during my lunch break. However I had plans for three of the days (catching up with a friend, coworker's birthday, and coworker leaving). The other day this week, I went home sick. (I had earwax impacted in my ear causing pain. I'm okay now.)

I have also been trying to get my math blog off the ground. I am running into difficulty with formatting. This brings me to today. I did find a couple neat things but, as they are surprise gifts, I cannot share them just yet. I will try to do better next week (and hopefully report good news from the math eureka blog).

Don't Break the Ice!

The weather is predicting snow all this week. You could let this get you down or you could.....

Stage a car chase

 Via FAILBlog

Keep your drinks cold

Via the so-chill network

Roll a giant snow ball

Via As Seen in Wisconsin

Whatever floats your boat....or keeps you from breaking the ice! 

The Muppets Take Chicago

J and I went to see Jim Henson's Fantastic World. This was the outside. Unfortunately they didn't allow pictures inside.

Another attraction was the U-505 submarine. We passed the submarine training!

There and back, we passed the airport and saw planes coming in for landing.

Down Parka - Lands' End

Here is my new coat to keep me warm when catching the bus for work. And it's not just any coat, but a down parka good for -20° to 0° Fahrenheit. Not to mention....it's pink!

Lands' End model. Not me!

Where did I get such a glorious coat? Lands' End. It was originally $99.50. At this time of the season, it is now considered an overstock and marked down to $69.99. Then they were having a "winter's end" sale giving me an additional 20% off and free shipping. All in all, I paid $59.07. I can't wait for it to arrive. No more wearing 5 layers....

I have on a long-sleeve shirt, light sweater, heavy sweater, fleece lined hoodie, and coat, plus I was wearing leggings under my pants. Not to mention the scarf, hat, gloves, and mittens. I felt like Randy from A Christmas Story.

Well, Randy no more! I know have my (pink!) down parka :)

*Tip: Retail seasons usually occur earlier than the real season (which is why you can buy swimsuits when there is still snow on the ground). So if you can hold off, wait until January to buy your winter wear while the deals are hot!

Website Spotlight: Trip on a Budget

So this is not just one website that I am highlighting, but several....


 As you may remember, J and I are going to the Museum of Science and Industry this weekend to see Jim Henson's Fantastic World. I was on the lookout for coupons as admission is $15 (plus $5 to see Jim Henson) and parking is $18. I searched for coupons and found the Chicago Guide to Special Values from the Chicago Office of Tourism. You select your desired museum, and voila, coupons. We will be able to save $2 per ticket.


If your drive requires a refueling, you may want to check out GasBuddy.com. Every day people report in on the current gas prices around the United States and Canada. This will help you find the cheapest gallon without driving all over town. (As suggested by R.)



If shopping and dining are more up your alley, try RetailMeNot. They offer printable coupons by location or type. In addition, there are also online coupons for when you're back home. (Again from R.)

Red Gym, Madison WI

And, not a discount, but you can't miss the good down-home American attractions around the country from Roadside America. These aren't your normal buildings and statues, but World's Largest and Smiley Face Water Towers. (From, guess who...R!)



P.S. I think I need to travel more with R!

P.P.S. Did you notice the red theme? hehe :)

Baked Potato Recipe

Well this isn't so much a recipe, as it is a quick meal idea. Now you must know, I don't cook. My meals usually consist of something that can be warmed up in the microwave, ie frozen dinners or bagel dogs. I am trying to get better about making better meals. One meal that I found to be quick and easy was a baked potato. I warm it up in the microwave, add other tasty goodies, and voila!

Last night, I added salami sandwich meat, peas, corn, and shredded cheese. I popped the potato back in the microwave for just a few seconds after adding the cheese to make it melty.

*Tip: Make baked potatoes for picky eaters. They can each make their own meal without too much fuss on your part.

Personalized Decor - Around the House

When I was little, I collected pencils. I lost count at 175. The question was what to do with them now. I wanted to display them without it looking too "kid-ish." I discovered that pencils fit perfectly into J's empty iced tea jars.

I had enough pencils to fill 3 jars and then some. I tried to display the more interesting and unique pencils around the edges. I chose not to include any of my holiday pencils.

The tea costs around $4.00. I liked the size and shape of the jars so I kept a few instead of recycling them. I started collecting pencils because they were a cheap souvenir. I also accumulated pencils from school and as presents.

*Tip: Display a unique collection in jars. It brings a personal touch to your decor. Not to mention, this is cheap and easy. And in my case, allowed me to bring a glimpse of my childhood into my adult life.

Peanuts 2011 Calendar - Barnes & Noble

Happy 2011! You know what that means! A new calendar for the office :) Bonus: it was 50% off!

I love Peanuts. It's my inner child. I also have a love for Wallace & Gromit and the Muppets. Speaking of the Muppets, J and I are going to see Jim Henson's Fantastic World this weekend. I can't wait! Pictures to follow.

*Tip: The time between Christmas and New Years is a great time to shop for a calendar.

Tornado Tube & Fountain in a Bottle - Michaels

All of the Christmas parties are finally done! And I found that a tornado tube and fountain in a bottle were much more popular than I ever anticipated.

C mesmerized

These were awesome because:
a) they required few, cheap materials (2 pop bottles and 1 connector). I found the set of connectors at Michaels for under $10,
b) it was fun for all ages (tested on 3 generations at B's parents' house),
and c) it allowed for creativity.

We put in blue food coloring, glitter, and a couple Monopoly houses. It was very Wizard of Oz. At one time, Polly Pocket also found herself caught inside a tornado. Which then resulted in my godson wanting to play with Polly Pocket all night, but that's another story.