17 July 2009
♥ on my radar right now:
♥ New blog layout. I love it! Always nice to freshen things up...
♥ Babysitting. I have probably spent more time in other people's houses lately (between housesitting and babysitting) than in my own. As much as I love little people, I have to say that--at least for the next several years--this is excellent birth control.
♥ Vintage everything. I think my bedroom next year is going to be absolutely Emma in every way. I love Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, and the beauty and class they represent. Along with having their lovely faces staring at me each morning when I wake up, I'm thrilled to say that I now have a healthy dose of (non-tacky, I promise) vintage and antique furniture!
♥ Mash-ups. I had no idea how entertaining it could be to listen to bands like Super Mash Bros.! Download their album free here and see what I mean.
♥ Volunteering. The only downside is that I can't take all the cute homeless dogs with me when I leave. Putting in hours at the animal shelter is rewarding to say the least, and it's nice to do something besides navel-gaze all the time. I like the idea that I'm part of something bigger than myself.
♥ Duathlon-ing. The big race is tomorrow. Wish me luck!
7/17/2009
♥ new apartment, here we come!
I'm so excited to move into my new apartment I can hardly stand it; in fact, it's pretty much all I talk/think about these days. We have pretty much all our communal furniture (though that's brought up some fairly concerning issues regarding a third roommate who has contributed very little--ok, absolutely nothing--so far): kitchen table with four chairs, courtesy of a garage sale; two barstools to be used at our kitchen nook (!!!); beautiful coffee table that I can't believe my mother is letting us have (it will definitely be our nicest piece of furniture); sofa from my uncle who recently moved into a teeny tiny loft in FoCo (it will most certainly need to be recovered; it's hideous)... I think that about covers it!
Not to mention my plans for my bedroom, which will be COMPLETE WITH A WALK-IN CLOSET AND PRIVATE BATHROOM. That's right, I'm yelling! Because I'm just that excited! The only thing I still feel I desperately need at this point is a cute little bench to go at the foot of my bed. I'm not sure why this seems so important, but I feel like it's going to tie everything together.
We move in on the 8th, and by move in I mean start painting. Everything should actually be moved in and ready to go by the 15th, which means my first night on my very own as a real live grown up will be August 16th. Pictures will obviously be up then! Gah, can't wait!
7/17/2009
02 July 2009
♥ forced family fun to the rescue!
I can't say I was too thrilled about the idea of being stuck in the kids' room for the week (I'm a legal adult, for god's sakes!), but it turns out a few days of familial bonding in gorgeous Keystone was just what I needed. Aside from the sleepless nights--certain family members, whom I will not name here, are extremely prolific snorers--I must say I quite enjoyed this little vacation! Between jogging on the beautiful trails, mountain biking, rafting (including my uncle Jack's insistence, throughout the trip, that "things are about to heat up right around this bend, I can feel it!"), swimming, shopping to my little heart's content (outlets in Silverthorne, anyone?) and, as is Walker/Stroh family tradition, consuming copious amounts of carb-filled food, I'm happy to say I'm feeling quite content at the moment. Of course, there's nothing like those heart attack-destined distant cousins, whom I will also refrain from naming, to put me into an absolute exercise frenzy, and for once I've returned from vacation and still manage to fit into the majority of my clothes. After all, I did ride a bike 150 miles last weekend, and I've basically done nothing but exercise (ok, and eat) all week...
Quick aside: as usual, this annual family extravaganzapalooza has reminded me that I do, in fact, come by my ghetto booty quite honestly. The legendary "Stroh Butt," as it is referred to in my family, runs deep in my veins, and I am reminded once again that I must embrace it rather than attempt to exercise it away. Plus, it does look pretty fine in my brand new Calvin Klein jeans!
7/02/2009
26 June 2009
♥ still, i'd rather hear about farrah.
This morning, when I opened my iTunes, I was met with an announcement from Genius--the creepy new feature that makes recommendations for new music based on what I already listen to--that although my current choice could not be matched to anything particularly relevant, I might enjoy today's top selling albums. Guess what was at the top of the list?
- Off the Wall / Michael Jackson
- Bad / Michael Jackson
- Dangerous / Michael Jackson
Now, I appreciate the Jam Genius of Michael Jackson as much as anybody else, but I have to take issue with this. I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that the sudden spike in King of Pop sales is a direct result of his death yesterday, and call me a cynic, but I find this somewhat disturbing. Because four years ago, the same people who spent $9.99 to buy his hits this morning were ready to crucify him. I say this because anybody who came to his defense in 2005, when he was accused of sexual assault on a child, probably already owned all those albums.
He was acquitted, of course, but in the land of super-rich megastars, that doesn't mean much, because unless I'm mistaken, jumping on an SUV for an impromtu show outside the courthouse is not a traditional part of the American legal system. Tabloids, along with everybody else, threw him under the bus in 2005, but who's mentioning it now?
Don't get me wrong; who am I to say whether Michael Jackson molested anybody? But here's what I do know: it's impossible not to dance when "Thriller" comes on the radio, I can't help smiling when I hear anything by The Jackson 5, and today, the top 3 albums on iTunes are all his. I guess he left a hell of a legacy after all.
6/26/2009
♥ i love not working!
This week, I had three days off. Three! Here's what I did:
- saw The Proposal (cute if formulaic and predictable, plus Ryan Reynolds is hot) and Year One (not particularly original, but Michael Cera is always refreshingly funny);
- went to a hockey game, which was fun even if we lost miserably;
- baked some delicious cupcakes from scratch with the best boyfriend ever;
- got caught in the rain several times;
- sat on Miss Boyd's couch with three of my favorite people in the world;
- finished Julie & Julia, which I absolutely loved;
- and, last but not least, but some miles on my extremely beautiful new running shoes.
Have I ever mentioned that I would very much like to meet a rich benefactor so I never have to work again?
6/26/2009
25 June 2009
♥ the nice thing about living in the country
is that on a clear night, a night like tonight, you can see the stars. All of them. You can see the Big Dipper (or is it the Little Dipper? I can never get them straight), Orion's Belt, and probably lots of other constellations, if you've had any kind of astronomy-related education between sixth grade Outdoor Lab and the present. (I, obviously, have not.) Tonight, I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders as I drove home, and when I stepped out of the car, I was struck by the overwhelming bigness of the universe. I, Emma, almost twenty and with little sense of purpose or direction, am so tiny in comparison to those little pinpricks in the sky which are actually giant structures millions of miles away--can you even imagine; a million miles?--and it hit me, tonight, that in the end, when all is said and done and I've spent my last breaths, life will go on. A thousand years from now, people will still be doing what they can to get by, they will still be seeking justice in this mixed-up world of ours, they will still be searching for answers. And someone will step outside and see those beautiful stars twinkling in that perfect velvet sky, and they will think, Maybe there is something out there for me after all, waiting to be found. At least, that's how I feel.
6/25/2009
16 June 2009
♥ on my radar right now:
♥ John Travolta. He has played some of the sexiest, most desirable characters of all time: Danny Zucco (Grease), Chili Palmer (Get Shorty and Be Cool)... Enough said there, but there's more! See The Taking of Pelham 123; I promise you won't regret it.
♥ Decorating my new apartment. Okay, I haven't exactly moved in yet. But I never realized how much fun it could be to beautify a plain kitchen/bathroom/living room! Hint: Hobby Lobby always, always, always has some kind of fabulous sale going on (posters, frames, etc.).
♥ Training for a duathlon. I plan on being in amazing shape by July 28, when the Mile Hi Duathlon takes place at Cherry Creek Reservoir. Run 5K, bike 30K, run another 5K. Who wants to train with me?
♥ Scrapbooking. I'll admit it: I'm a big nerd. But there's something about all those cute little stickers, fun paper, and going through old photos that makes me weak in the knees. When we're all old and Alzheimer-y, everyone will thank me for documenting our adolescence.
♥ Housesitting. It's just a few days here and there, but you'd be surprised how quickly that $20/day adds up! It doesn't sound like much, but consider what I have to do for it: feed dogs, check; live at house that is bigger/nicer than my own, check; watch movies on gigantic TV, check. Not a bad deal.
♥ Gel nails. Somewhat obscure, but I'd be lying if I said they weren't on my radar. These aren't your average acrylics; they last nearly twice as long, are healthier for your nails, and look GORGEOUS. I am in love.
6/16/2009
10 June 2009
♥ it feels like forever ago; and also just yesterday
It's been two years today since what I consider to be the most traumatizing trans-Atlantic flight in the history of the world--I would have preferred crashing into the ocean to what happened that day. In two years, I have:
- graduated high school,
- successfully completed a year of college,
- met the boy of my dreams,
- made amazing new friends,
- stayed in touch with amazing old friends,
- become closer to my family,
- and, with a few struggles along the way, realized what I want to do with my life.
It's been 730 days, and not one has gone by in which I didn't feel the sting of what happened, of the friendship lost, of that betrayal. But in the 17,520 hours that have passed since that horrible day, I have grown: I am stronger now than I ever thought I'd have to be. It's true what they say; time heals all wounds. I will never forget what happened, and a part of me will certainly always feel a little wary, because who knows when someone you love will turn your world upside down? But I've realized that true friends, though few and far between, are worth keeping for a lifetime.
Those "friends" that I couldn't trust have slowly been weeded out over the last two years as their true colors were revealed, some immediately after it happened, and some more recently. (You know who you are.) As cheesy as it may seem, I want my friends (who are practically family at this point) to know how grateful I am, because I doubt I would have survived the past two years without you.
The one thing I haven't been able to find, after all this time, is forgiveness. Perhaps in the days, weeks, years that are to come, I will be able to forgive him for what happened; but today is not that day. I feel certain that I will have to feel mercy and forgiveness in order to truly put the past behind me, but at nineteen years old, I hope I still have plenty of time to grow.
6/10/2009
29 May 2009
♥ nothing like a little retail therapy!
Have I ever mentioned that I love 5 for $25 panties at Victoria's Secret? I also really enjoy that they have taken to classifying their undies as "cheeky," "cheekier," and "cheekiest." Guess which ones are my favorites?
5/29/2009
24 May 2009
♥ summer's looking a little brighter now...
After spending the weekend in beautiful Grand Lake, I have resolved to spend more time outside this summer. Let the hiking begin!
5/24/2009
22 May 2009
♥ employed at last!
I start my new career at Sports Authority on Tuesday. Would everyone please keep their fingers crossed that I am never required to answer any questions about baseball?
5/22/2009
20 May 2009
♥ on my radar right now
♥ The Space Jam soundtrack. Who doesn't love a movie starring the cast of Looney Toons and Michael Jordan? In my opinion, there is no better movie, and its greatness can be attributed in large part to its excellent soundtrack of pump-me-up songs. If you only download one song, make it "Basketball Jones." (Cheech and Chong will make you pee your pants.)
♥ Get Shorty. Ok, it was popular a decade ago, but Elmore Leonard's crime novel is such a page-turner I feel like I would be lying if I didn't tell you I was incapable of putting it down. Chili Palmer is probably the best good/bad guy I've ever read about.
♥ The Kroenke-McMahon smackdown. For those who haven't been keeping up, a quick recap: Kroenke, who owns the Pepsi Center as well as our Nuggets, gave the Pepsi Center to Vince McMahon (chairman of the WWE, though please note for the record that I wasn't keeping track of events involving the WWE prior to this debacle) for the live taping of Monday Night Smackdown. But then the Nugs made the playoffs, and Kroenke needed the Pepsi Center for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers. The solution? McMahon denounces our capital city in favor of Los Angeles (ouch!). I'm hoping for a cage match...
♥ Law & Order: SVU. We all know I love me some crime dramas, and this is by far the best-acted I've seen. I can't decide if I am more obsessed with Olivia Benson, Elliot Stabler, or the fact that Ice-T was given a role on a serious show. But be warned: once the theme song has ended and you hear that first gong, you are obligated to watch the episode in its entirety; it's impossible to pry yourself away.
♥ Bargain hunting. I'm on a pretty tight budget these days what with my unemployment and all (please note that I have now applied for literally fifteen jobs), but that doesn't mean my love fo designer duds has dimmed. I recently bought a bea-you-tee-ful Kathy purse at Marshall's for a mere $40, and--get this--a super cute Ed Hardy t-shirt at Costco (no, I'm not joking) for $20! I also have a pair of earrings that you'd swear I got for $200 at Juicy Couture, but you'd be wrong: $8.50 at Claire's. I am becoming such a pro at this!
♥ Tea. Doesn't stain your teeth or give you nasty morning breath like coffee does (though I'll never give up coffee...), is full of healthy antioxidants, and packs a pretty powerful dose of caffeine! I'm not a big fan of green tea, and for those who agree with me, don't fear: this by no means limits your options. I love red teas; my favorite is the Pure Honey Bush (find it at Wystone's at Belmar in Lakewood).
5/20/2009
13 May 2009
♥ ok, so i've pretty much worn out all my summer activities
Three days in, and I'm already bored out of my mind. I have applied for literally a dozen jobs, and everyone has either not called me back/blown me off post-interview/told me they were only hiring non-students who could stay through the fall/ignored me completely. As much as I enjoy sleeping as late as I want, I miss my cozy internship at the UMC! I am no longer waiting for an opportunity to present itself. I will seize the day. I will become gainfully employed!
5/13/2009
11 May 2009
♥ call me a nerd,
but the Star Trek movie was basically super awesome. I now understand why, in college, my dad apparently referred to the characters as "his friends." I can definitely see myself watching Star Trek, season by season...
5/11/2009
08 May 2009
♥ ...and let summer begin!
I didn't really realized until I started unpacking how much stuff I've accumulated... And, to be honest, the majority of it is just plain old crap. So this summer, I'm making it a goal to literally clean out my closet. I've already thrown away a giant garbage bag of junk, and I have a huge pile of clothes to donate. There's something about purging all that excess riffraff that makes me feel brand new... Perfect timing for what I'm predicting will be my best summer yet!
5/08/2009
