friday favorites: the one where we won

Today is a day worth celebrating. 

All days are worth celebrating, of course, but today is a Friday and it's my half-birthday. Emphasis on my half-birthday part! 

Oh, no one celebrates half-birthdays? Okay, moving on. 

Favorite Song

Cassy O' by George Ezra

We like to go around the house singing and/or (mostly) yelling, "CASSY-OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooo." Try it, it's fun. 

Favorite Food

via

Never in my life did I think I would be typing these two words together as my favorite food: cauliflower rice. Yum! Seriously! Stop making that face at me! Sauté it up with a little oil, add in some onions and done. Unless you want to get really fancy and add in an egg. Well, not done because you still have to eat all of it, preferably in one sitting. I take that back. Save some for lunch tomorrow. It is so yummy, especially when you're on Whole30 and can't eat rice...

Favorite Show To Watch For A Second Time

Ugh, so this favorite point is actually unfair because my real favorite(s) (notice the plural) are Parks and Recreation (we've watched the series through too many times to count), The Office, 30 Rock, Scrubs...etc., etc. BUT currently my favorite show to watch for a second time is Dexter! I forgot just how much Dexter Morgan Weiss felt/feels like part of the family.

Favorite Pilates Move

Leg Pull Front

This is the sister move to the Leg Pull Back we all (WE ALL, right? right?) practiced several months ago. This is a great way to step up your planking. By taking off one foot you're causing instability that's going to help you figure out how to use your abdominals and shoulders to stabilize your torso and pelvis. Don't rock or lean side to side. That's cheating, and the Pilates gods will find you. 

Pro-tip: find the oppositional pull from the crown of your head to your heels before lifting off on foot.  Balance is all about opposition. Also, you might want to get your hips a liiiiiiittle more in line with your spine than I did. The Pilates planking gods are definitely coming after me today.

Favorite Moment Of The Week

When Freddie and I won the PowerBall Wednesday night!!!

Except not. January Fool's. 

Happy Friday!

Linking up with Karli and Amanda!

things you never told me about having a dog

As I'm sure you all recall, we got a dog. 

In less than a 24-hour period we went from not even entertaining the idea of having a dog, to actually factually having a dog.

 My camera roll would suggest that I kind of like this dog, too, which seems crazy for someone who kind of never liked dogs. And while I'm so glad that A) you're all rejoicing for our new-ish fur addition (not my IKEA white fur rug! The dog! Sheesh!) and B) you're all non-creepily following along with all the Lupe Instas, I have to admit I'm kind of pissed the heck off. 

Emily, why are you pissed the heck off?

Oh, I'm so glad you asked! Let me tell you...

You! Yes, you! You never told me a lot of things that would start happening because of this dog. 

He sheds.

I sat here for about three to five minutes trying to think of a better way to describe what Lupe does with his hair other than just a simple he sheds. That does not give you an accurate representation of the Hairy Bomb that goes off every ten minutes in our home. Anywhere or anyone Lupe sits or sits on is subject to fall victim to this terrible tragedy. When the Lu-ster gets up from sitting or laying, he leaves behind enough hair to create an entire other Lupe. He is cloning himself! I just figured it out! Duh!

But seriously, the majority of the time Freddie looks more like Lupe than Lupe looks like Lupe. I look more like two Lupes the majority of the time. It is...ridiculous. I sweep up all the fifth and sixth and seventh Lupes, and then about 12 hours later eighth, ninth, and tenth Lupes are hanging out on the floor. 

Stop shedding! This is not a hair party. I used to actually like my hardwood floors. Now I judge them against our carpeted bedroom that hides the hair travesty so well. 

He gets sick.

Now, give me a little bit of credit. I knew animals got sick. But. But! But! You didn't tell me how much it would effect ME when HE got sick. Holy Emotional Roller Coaster Get Me Off Of This Right Now Emily, I couldn't/can't handle it. Can't Even. Right before we road tripped to Georgia for Christmas, Lupe started having these terrible, horrible, no good, scary episodes. He would start gasping for breath, shaking uncontrollably, whining, and his eyes would water like crazy. This would last for about ten minutes before he would be fine. Completely fine---fine and even playing like, Ain't no thang, Em! Almost died, but NBD.

Right before we were taking him to the vet for observation, he had the worst of the worst little episode. I sat on the floor with him until it passed. Erm, let me rephrase that. I sat on the floor with him, crying, and ever so not-gently saying, Please keep breathing! Lupe! Breeeeeeath.

By the way, vet found nothing wrong with him so I'm guessing my tears falling on his fur were what healed him, obvi. 

He loves you all the dang time...and it's too much!

Stop liking me! I'm not that great of a person, I promise! 

Dogs are either really good or really bad for their owners' egos. Lupe thinks Freddie and I hung the moon, and honestly, I kind of start believing it, too. 

Why yes, I did just fill up your bowl with food like a boss. Thanks for noticing, dog!

You know, opening his crate door kind of feels like I'm opening the pearly white gates to Heaven.

Lupe, never change. You're my favorite. 

from the deep, dark archives

**Originally posted on January 11, 2012. A.K.A. many moons ago. 

I am a lot of things. Left-handed, loud (rarely), sarcastic (rarely), and Ann just told me I was high maintenance. So take that with a grain of salt. One thing I am not: daring. Or, to show off my newfound GRE vocabulary, audacious. I don't like putting myself out there or being different or doing new things or meeting new people or blahblah you get the picture. Because of this lack of audacity, I have a wardrobe that consists mostly of gray clothing. As my sister puts it, I wear b-o-r-i-n-g clothes. 

Sorry that I think the color gray is fantastic and goes well with my coloring! What does that say about my coloring? My dad does say my eyes are "mossy stone"... I also am terrified of accessorizing because well earrings are the opposite of boring so I couldn't possibly wear those. So there, now you know just how boring my boring gray boring wardrobe is. 

That all changed today. Today I became fearless! Daring! I walked right up to Mr. Audacious and linked arms with him and walked away with my head held high. Did I mention I was wearing my newly purchased fur vest when I walked away? 

MLE say whaaaat? Yep, you nay-sayers (it's faux fur so let's all take a chill pill) can kiss my fur because I bought one and I am sportin' it harder than Billy Ray Cyrus sported/continues to sport a mullet. Or Michael Jackson sported a single sequined glove. Or Joseph sported his coat of many colors.

Enough with the analogies. Just know that I am wearing it right now with my jammies. Because everyone knows it is tres important to break in fur. 

rawr. Also, high five on the taking pics of myself. That is so 2003 and MySpace-y.

p.s.--New York tomorrow which means Book of Mormon soon which means cold weather soon which means I should probably wear my new meow vest soon. 

Also, as I began writing this post I asked my dad and sister what adjectives they would use to describe me. This is how that went down:

Dad: Funny. Brilliant. Smart. Wonderful daughter.

Ann: High maintenance. Annoying. Oh, (hearing Dad) uh...amazing. 

Ann, too late you can never borrow my not boring awesome furry vest. Dad, you are more than welcome to it anytime. 

friday favorites: the roll up, but not the fruit roll-up one

Favorite Song

Listen up. Rodeo is coming up in March and since this will be our first rodeo (har har) we have to be ready. Sidebar: I literally have zero idea what I am talking about or describing when I use the term "rodeo." I've been told it is the bomb, the best, the pinnacle of the year, but that still tells me nothing about what rodeo is.

However, in preparation I'm listening to a lot of Zac Brown Band because apparently he comes to perform at this mysterious, wondrous, month-long rodeo.

Favorite Food

I just realized how unappetizing a giant slab of meatloaf looks. My b. 

This week's 007 Date Night was all about From Russia With Love. However, in this household it was known as From Russia With Loaf. Eh? Eh? Get it?! So funny. We used vodka sauce for the meatloaf, and even ate regular potatoes because...vodka is made from potatoes. And because Freddie said so. I've only mentioned my love for sweet potatoes one or fifty times on this here blog, so regular potatoes were a big ol' sacrifice for me. I know, I know. I got through it just fine. Thanks for asking.

We (I) also said, MA! THE MEATLOAF! about fifty times on Tuesday night, and we (I) thought it was hysterical.

Favorite 2016 Moment

We're eight days in the year and so much has already happened. I mean, come on! We even already made meatloaf! What else do you have for me, other 358 days?! Personally I feel like it's already almost 2017. Kidding, but my top moment of these past eight days was definitely getting this text from Katie Bo-Batie on January 3. Three days in, suckers! Like I said, 2017 is already going to have to do a lot to top these past eight days. Let the wedding hashtag brainstorming commence! <<most important part of getting married. It is 2016, after all.

Favorite Pilates Move

The Roll Up

Instead of an MLE gif, you get the Big Man himself, Joseph Pilates, demonstrating this move. 

This move works your deepest layer of abdominal muscles (your transverses abdominis), and when done correctly, is far more of an abdominal workout than any number of crunches and sit-ups you could do. PSA: stop doing crunches and sit-ups and do this bad boy.

Pro-tips: Don't push down with the back of your ribs to get up. Instead think of almost levitating and pulling up with the front of your body. There's weakness in speed. Try doing this in a slow 8 count. 

One...two...three...

Favorite Thing To Talk About Non-Stop

We, like 90% of the rest of the country, hopped on the Making a Murderer train, and it is going 95 MPH so there's no way in heck we are getting off any time soon. Listen, I've watched a lot of Dexter so I'm pretty much a blood splatter expert, people. That's all I'll say for now---you can come into your own conclusions, but. But! But! Watch this show if you haven't and then let's start a big butt long email chain talking about this case. Yah? Yah (<<<inside joke from the show, duh. Go watch it.).

Four...five...six...

Why haven't you started Making a Murderer yet?
And I haven't counted to eight yet! Are you still rolling up?!  

Happy Friday!

Linking up with Karli and Amanda. 

currently: the organized, but not really edition

Insert paragraph ::here:: about being in shock that it's a new year. 

Happy First Hump Day of 2016!

My computer autocorrected ^^First to Friday so can I get an amen for where's the weekend?!

resolving //
I am terrible at making resolutions. If I never make them then I never feel guilty if I don't accomplish them. On that note, I actually think my way of doing things isn't so terrible, it's genius. Just kidding just kidding, kids, goals are good, stay in school and all that. In 2016 I resolve to pass this Pilates test-out in April and become a Pilates beast. Also, can I please be strong enough to do push-ups without my knees down. Please?

I also just spent a few minutes writing down my friends' birthdays in a calendar that is a BIRTHDAY ONLY calendar. This means in 2016 I resolve that every single one of my friends will get a birthday card from me. Handmade. With love. And on time. Okay, I should stop adding on before this gets to be an unachievable resolution...

reading //
Remember when I was kinda, sorta weirdly obsessed with everything space related? I had about fifteen astronaut autobiographies on my Amazon wish list, and that Santa. He somehow snuck on my wish list and brought several of those books right to my lap on Christmas morning. Time to let my 100% strange as hell obsession fester even more. Thanks, Santa. You're a real gem of a dude.

organizing // 
Freddie and I recently bought shelves for our patio closet. This is a big deal because when living in small quarters you have to utilize every inch of space available via closets. Our patio closet is about seven feet high so there were a lot of feet not being properly utilized. So shelves! Exciting! The patio closet looks so organized that I kind of think Freddie and I should have our own HGTV show. Except for the producers to look at our organized patio closet they would have to walk through our apartment which is now hosting all the crap that used to be in the closet so.... This is mostly because Freddie thinks my craft box can live in our storage room down the road. How. Insulting. And rude! How can I complete my 2016 resolution of sending everyone handmade birthday cards if my craft box isn't at my beck and call?!

According to the picture above it would seem I also need to organize my craft box....

loving //
Freddie. Even though he wants to put my craft box in our storage room.

craving //
One of my co-workers informed me that Freddie and I have only had the mediocre Tex Mex food here in Houston. WHAT. Such a travesty. She then told me stories about these handmade tortillas at a place here in Houston that sound so heavenly I have thought of nothing else since Monday (except for the five seconds I thought about Talenti gelato last night when it was on sale on Kroger) (but every other second has been dedicated to sweet tortilla thoughts).

Linking up with Anne and Jenna!