TWIMO in Distress

Hey kiddos! Your fearless leader here (okay more like fearful). After a several month hiatus from the game I like to call dating, I'm getting back on the proverbial dating horse and hoping it doesn't kick me off again. As you may or may not know my last adventure in the realm of dating with a so called attorney that claimed his nationality was yes.. get this... Southern ended very maturely (as in me being like, "look buddy, stop being an ass and leading me on. If you're not into this, cool, but tell me so I can move on to the next lame-o, I mean gem we call the male sex) but left me with a giant void in my social life. So naturally when I get depressed about my single facebook status, I take notice of the online dating profiles that I neglect, but still pay a monthly fee for (mainly because I've forgotten to cancel them and they have that damn autopay feature). So I recently decided to update my pictures and verbiage on said profiles and suddenly got tons, okay like 5, hits. Now I find myself going on a date tomorrow night and I'm awash with the terrible emotional turmoil I like to call the first date.

First of all I kinda miss dating, since over the last few months when I go out with friends I always find myself in a conversation saying, "Oh, I went there on a date." It's a great way to explore the city and since I am blessed with being a girl, not having to pay for it. I miss exploring Atlanta. I want a person to do that with. :(

As much as I loved having something to do on my Saturday nights, I also hate how dating brings up every single insecurity I have ever had about myself. Am I too shy, am I reveling to much of my dorkiness or tendency to like things 80  year olds like (note to self: hide the cross stitch), am I too chubby, am I being too judgy of other people, is everyone in this joint looking at me and saying how awkward that date must be, and do my ears stick out too much (damn you David Ayers for telling me I looked like a monkey in 1st grade). Yep, these are the silly things I think about and that sometimes make me cry when anticipating an upcoming date. I think this is also why I can never make it into an actual relationship with these potential dates. It's so much easier to shut down and run away than face the fact that I have a double chin or most likely will never have anything in common with boys. I mean I could really care less if sports EVER existed on this earth.

So here's to another anxiety ridden first date. To the excitement, the dread, and hopefully to it maybe working. I'm going to try very hard this time to take my own advice and push the past aside and seize the day and find the pearl in the slimy bivalve oyster of life.

TWIMO Thrifty Tips: One person's misery is another's joy

Okay more like one bookstore's misery is my joy (and could be yours too). This installment of TWIMO thrifty tips (Hello, by the way. Sorry I spy in July was a bit of a bust. I got depressed by not having many friends in the ATL and had no desire to be creative and write to you and mostly sat on my couch and had nothing to take pictures of. Sorry) will cover some great summer deals and the bankruptcy of a bookstore that will help fill your shelves with great end of summer reads.

1) Obvi, if you're like me and watch the Today show religiously you know the economy sucks right now. Seriously, Economy, could you get your act together and get better? Anyway out of this disaster has come something to us book lovers advantage: Borders is going out of business. Now I was never a huge fan of Borders. As a big box book store I felt it lacked the "bookstore" feel and experience. First of all they served sub par coffee. Secondly they sold weird things in the checkout line like Diet Coke and Reece Cups. I mean is this a convenience store or a bookstore? So as an avid Barnes and Noble patron, I'm not particularly sad about Borders leaving the market, but I am rejoicing at the SALE they are having. On a recent trip (which I had to bring my own Starbucks to) I picked myself up a great little pile of titles to add to my stash which include:

-The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell (all the boys on my dating websites put this as the last book they read, so I guess I should check it out, so that I can look cool in their eyes)
- Emma by Jane Austin
- Mansfield Park by Jane Austin (I'm going to pretend it takes place in my Ohio hood of Mansfield, Ohio)
- Let the World Spin by Colum McCann (I think my friend-sy, E over at Novel Tease read this at one point and I want to look like a cool literary scholar like her)
-Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay (duh, it has my name in the title)
- The fundamentals of Marketing (you know,  for when I get my MBA)
- Typography Essentials by Ina Saltz (you know, for when I become a graphic designer)

Perhaps a future post will include a book review, but don't hold your breath.

2) Since you now have a good book to curl up with you need some coffee to sip while you drift into another world so take advantage of the Starbucks Treat Receipt (happening through September). Here's how it works buy a cheap drink before 2pm (ie iced coffee, or the Sarah special an iced americano with sugar free vanilla and room) and then after 2pm go get a grande iced drink (make it something lavish, like a caramel macchiato) for $2. What a deal. That's like 2 drinks for the price of one ridiculously priced brew.

3) This is just a PSA and reminder that you should continue to use this TWIMO tried and true for all your TWIMO thrifty deals, TJ Maxx. I have been shopping and saving money at the Maxx since I wore a size 6X, which has been awhile and I continue to be amazed by its amazingness. I feel bad for those who are faint of heart and need their goods organized by color and limited to like 5 things on a rack (uh humm most of my friends) who might miss out on the great deals the TJ has to offer. For example, on today's trip to the Maxx, which was preceded by a trip to Target where I bought new Sony earbuds for my ipod for $16 (I can't keep those damn things working), I found the SAME earbuds selling for $8. YES THAT IS 50% off my friends. So naturally I bought them and will be returning those purchased at Target. I can buy like 2 Starbucks with the savings (or 4 with my treat receipts).  FYI: I also got 2 bottles of Philosopy body wash for $20 (one bottle retails for $17). Yep, I'm pretty darn awesome.

So go forth my little TWIMOers and save some dough with these TWIMO thrifty tips, because according to the analysts the economy is up and down like a cheap whore so we may need to make like Sarah and be thrifty for awhile longer.

I Spy in July: Messy

This is my desk at work. Keys to success: Staying hydrated hence, the cup collection I'm accruing. Staying focused, they say you can concentrate better in a well lit space, hence the cute lamp. Staying feed, hence the watermelon and jar of peanut butter. I'm always eating at work. I don't know if this is because I'm always hungry or bored. That is all. 

I Spy in July: Great Design

As you know, I'm a big Starbucks fan. It has ruined a lot of coffee for me, because if it's not strong enough to curl my hair I don't like it. Well the peeps over at Starbucks have been busy working on their packaging designs to go with their new (okay not that new) petite treats offerings. The other day at work I was having one of those moments with AutoCAD where I just had to walk away and decided to head to my zen place, Sbucks across the street and treat myself to an iced americano and the petite salty caramel square (which BTW is delicious, but not sure it's worth the 200 calories the one square inch of it packs). Well my little slice of heaven came packaged in the CUTEST little box. I was so jazzed about the box that I made sure to not get any salty caramel on it and saved it (which I got riduculed about by my coworkers and told I was a hoarder, but whatever).  Little details like this, where people "think outside the box" tots make my day.

I Spy in July: TWIMO's 100th Post

After slaving away at this darn blog for the last year I've reached my 100th post. Time to kick back and relax (or bark at pedestrians as Clair likes to do). 

View from my super sweet pad. Note my newly pedicured toes.
Also Note the Hipster hangout across the street. Hipsters make bad neighbors.  

I Spy in July: Cool Treats

TWIMOer Sabri (yes, you are an official TWIMOer now) once told me his dream would be to have the cake at his wedding made out of Chik-fil-a nuggets. Well my food dream would be to have a swimming pool full of Nutella and this creamy, dreamy treat maybe as close as I will get. Chocolate hazelnut ice cream (aka Nutella) from Morelli's (voted best ice cream in the ATL). My tounge took a dip in this cone of amazingness.

Happy Independance Day!!!

Hope you're all out taking advantage of your day off like I am. Breakfast at Flying Biscuit and a movie (Larry Crowne, I recommend. It was cute). As well as assert my independence to do whatever my little heart desires today I started to think about how lucky I am to be able to do the things I do. Now this falls more along the line of woman's rights, but I don't think woman's rights would have come so far in a country that didn't generally value independence (America is by noooo means perfect and has a long way to come in equality issues). If I lived somewhere else in the world I would not have been able to go to a restaurant with a girlfriend or see a movie where the main female lead is a strong, independent woman who throws her husband out (not ruining the movie, TWIMOer Erin). And I would DEF. not be able to where a tank dress exposing my legs, arms, and occasionally my bra strap. I feel really fortunate that I live in a place where I will not be beat and attacked for the occasional fashion faux pas of a bra strap slip. Okay point made, moving on.

Now to introduce "I Spy by TWIMO" The rest of July's blog posts will be a photo journalistic approach to my how I'm making the world my oyster. My dear first friend Loren and her college friend have a blog where they post a picture a day to keep in touch. Since I want to keep in touch with all of you I thought I'd do the same (plus I figured out how to use my iphone camera). So get ready for a photo filled July (most likely of filled with images of food I eat)!

Now go out there and seize your independence and wear a tank top. Happy 4th!

Disturbing Play Things

***Post Contains Disturbing Imagery

Earlier this week on the radio I heard a story about a man who reported his pregnant Midge Barbie doll stolen claiming it was a rare, valuable doll. This made memories of 1991 flood back into my mind as I remembered playing with a similar preggers Barbie doll at my friend's house (I personally did not have the doll). At the time I thought it was really awesome to detach Barbie's swollen preggers belly and pull out the baby and then put her flat belly piece in. Voila! Preggers fat gone. No working out needed. If only real life were so simple. Now at the age of 26 I find this toy and the images of it very disturbing and an injustice to my peers and I at showing us a portrayal of pregnancy that is obviously false. I mean I thought I just popped my belly piece off and I'd have a cute blond baby with plastic hair and I'd be wide eyed and smiling the whole time (mostly because Ken was not only the father of my baby, but my baby doctor as well). Yep. It's official. My children are not playing with Barbie.

Note the preggers belly piece sitting beside Barbie. Also note the awesome hospital footwear.

FInally I've been inspired

I haven't written lately, mostly because I have not be inspired by life, so I'm using this holiday weekend to be inspired by life. Here are some new cultural discoveries I've made that I think will further enrich your TWIMO lives as well as some recent purchases I've made (which will obvi also enrich your lives.)

1) I hosted a fiesta to kick off the long weekend and discovered Skinny Girl Margaritas. Low Cal and taste like a real Marg. Get a bottle and throw one back. You and your waistline will not be disappointed.


2) I recently came across an amazing new tv show. Wait for it. Wait for it. MY BIG FAT GYPSY WEDDING. This show is absolutely fascinating to me. It's on TLC and is about Irish and English gypsies and was apparently a hit in England. Well it's a hit a Chez Sarah. You have to see the clothes these people wear. It is RIDICULOUS. They arrive at the church in "pimped out mac trucks." Narrators words not mine. Trust me. Your life will not be complete until you watch this show.

Now THAT is a wedding dress. 

3) The newest TWIMOer Jen, my co-worker and I went to explore Marietta (what would be considered a burb of ATL, although I would say it is it's own city). Marietta is a 50 year-old woman's dream. Cute restaurants, antique stores, country decor shops, and stamping shops. Now being a closet 50 year old woman I relished in this environment and picked me up some great new stuff to add to my collection of well... stuff.

Saturday afternoon Bible Study  in the square. Yeah this is normal in the South. 

Pillow Case made from a coffee sack. Backing in Amy Butler fabric. 

I have this weird collection of hands, heads, and shoe forms, so I added this lovely Phrenology head I found at an antique market. It's strange I know. I'm also going to have to look up what phrenology is. 

Ready for the Antique Store

As I unpack my belongings from my big move I'm contemplating getting rid of my VHS collection. I mean I don't think they even make VHS anymore. I just have such a good collection of the classics, which I'm sure I could replace on DVD for like $5 each. Here's my embarassing, yet awesome collection.

Singin' in the Rain
Dirty Dancing
A Walk to Remember
Two Weeks Notice
Moulin Rouge
Pretty Woman
Forest Gump
Charlie's Angels
10 Things I Hate About You
Notting Hill

Now I looked up the market value of my collection on Amazon and let's just say there are 368 copies of the Dirty Dancing VHS for sale going for $.01. I guess essentially it's worthless, except for all those memories of crying over a Walk to Remember my sophomore year of college or drooling over Heath Ledger in 10 Things at middle school sleep overs. Oh the memories... oh the rewinding. Here's to letting go and moving forward (in my technology choices).

TWIMO Thought of the Day

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you didn't actually catch the person falling in the team building game "trust falls"? I often wonder how that would shatter the essence of the game, because obviously EVERYONE always catches you. I think someday I'd like to be the bitch that just let's you fall. Shake up the predictability of life, because it's my oyster.  

Happy Moving, ehhmmm, Memorial Day!

This memorial day as I think about how fortunate I am to not being serving my country (I'd make a terrible soldier) and thankful for others who are serving, I am also moving from my glorified dorm like apartment to my new yuppie, hipster, awesome apartment (tour to come once I get all the boxes moved out). Anyway while I was packing I found a wonderful, nostalgic and if not a bit embarrassing piece of ephemera from my past, a mix tape titled "Sarah, Loren, and Rachel's Mix and dated 11.8.98. Yes, my dear TWIMOers a middle school mix tape. SCORE! I will now enlighten you with the musical stylings of my 7th grade self and my two besties.

1. Zoot Suit Riot
2. Hero - Mariah Carey
3. Born to Hand Jive
4. Ironic
5. I'll be there for you
6. Every day is a winding road
7. Walking on the Sun
8. Spiderwebs (loved us some Gwen)
9. We Go Together (we were big Grease fans okay, mostly because we were so Sandra D)
10. You Lean
11. Look at Me I'm Sandra Dee (see above comment)
12. Hand in My Pocket (that sounds dirty)
13. Barbie Girl (love. So glad Aqua existed just to make this one TERRIBLE song)
14. Just a Girl
15. Summer Nights
16. You're the one that I want

So I'm really sad that all I found was the case of the tape and not the tape ( not that I could play it, who has a cassette player these days? Not me (note: I do still own VHS and player and am damn proud of it. Ten Things I Hate About you is soooo much better when you have to rewind it)! I'd say this mix pretty much sums up that I was a dorky goodie two shoes who wanted to be popular (hence "Ironic" and "Barbie Girl" thrown in amongst the Grease Soundtrack.) I think I will now go make myself another mix tape and lose it for 13 years and see what it says about me when I find it on my next move.

It's Official. Geriatric and canine movies must be avoided.

I just watched Pixar's Up after having it sitting in my apt. for like 6 mos. MOST EXPENSIVE RENTAL EVER. After viewing this heart warming tale of an old man who discovers the meaning of life and his fat boy scout friend and dog I have realized that movies about old people and getting old make me really sad. This is not because I'm scared to get old, but I somehow feel so much empathy for old people that it hurts. I guess this is because I've been around old people all my life. When other kids were playing with friends their age in the burbs I was playing by myself or trying to get my old grandparents to join in. I then later lived in my grandma's independent living home for a summer in college, mostly because I didn't have to pay rent, it was in Columbus where my internship and boyfriend at the time were. At the time I hated it and felt super sketch coming in at night at 2am and having to explain to the guard what I was doing. He must have thought I was a hussy. Now though I cherish that time and realize how much it has impacted my life. I feel such a strong bond with old people and want to help them. Help them so bad it hurts and hence I cry in movies about them. Up, Gray Gardens, Young @ Heart (this was so bad in terms of crying I almost had to turn it off). Anyways. Give me a movie with people killing each other any day, but if it's about dogs or old people's plight forget it. I'm going to be a mushy mess.

I mean how cute is this guy???

Someday when I have TWIMO babies...

Although I think pregnancy would be my personal hell (I MEAN COME ON, SHARING YOUR BODY WITH SOMEONE. I'm an only child, people, I don't share well), my babies will wear these:

We can be a socially responsible, vegan, shoe wearing family. HOW ADORABLE.

TWIMO Travels: Savannah, Beautiful and Delicious....

I recently took a trip to my love, Savannah, GA for my bestie and faithful TWIMO follower Alison's Hen Night (aka Bachelorette Party in British). Now this was my type of party. Spa, eating, and to bed by ten. This trip also made me remember how much I loved living in Savannah and to try and hold onto these memories I made Alison, even though it was her party I made her go to all my favorite memory lane eateries (I'm an only child, people. I have trouble sharing.) So here is an edible trip down the best (introspective and developmental) three years of my life that I spent in what I think is one of the most beautiful cities in America.

Delicious, huge, fresh salad at Screaming Mimi's  

The cheapest lunch in the SAV. $2.50 slice with onion and pineapple. C'est magnifique!

Back in the Day Bakery. Voted Best Cupcakes in America by Ellen. True Story. 

Red Velvet Cupcake. One thing I love about the South. 

Chicken and waffle sliders at Rocks on the River

Fried Chicken, Waffles, Boursin cheese, Arugula, and pepper jelly.

My other man, Leopold. As in Leopold's Ice cream. Coffee chocolate chip. Sorry Ben... and Jerry. 

Burning a Hole

On my recent weekend trip to the SAV (Savannah)(I will be posting about the events of the weekend in a future post, so look out!) I saw these bags via Hobo International in Terra Cotta, a super cute boutique, with super high prices. It's on sale at Nordstrom, but I bet I could pull some TWIMO thrifty skills and find a similar one. You know I'm trying to channel my inner hipster.

TWIMO Returns: TWIMO in the City

In the last episode of TWIMO in the City, the young and beautiful TWIMO leader was taking the South by storm, procuring employment and measuring a Gold's Gym with a man relieving himself in front of her and all. On this episode we will find Miss TWIMO still in a job that she isn't super duper thrilled about except when she hears about how others stay at their jobs for 14 hours a day and work weekends. I mean how would she have time to procure a trophy husband (which we will get to at the end of this post) if she worked that many hours. Now to update you on my happenings since my last post. I will do this through a bullet point list, my favorite.

1) I got an iphone. WHOOO 21st century! All I know how to do on it is check facebook and my email.

2) I started watching Mad Men. Gettin me some red lipstick soon. Can we say tart-lette.

3) I discovered the power of the pod (aka ipod) in combating boredom at work.

4) I'm looking for a new apartment in the ATL. Upgrading from glorified Emory dorm to a big girl bachelorette apt. Something in the middle of everything aka one with a drycleaners and fro yo place under it. Can we say heaven...

5) I've been dating a lot of guys as I like to say the date du jour. That's mostly what I wanted to write about. The VERY INTERESTING men I've met on my adventures in the city.

So, as you may or may not know, I'm a serial online dater. I join and I un-join, I join and I un-join. This has been happening for about 3 years now. I've been on lots of dates, but have never really connected with anyone. Now I don't know if this is ME or if it's THEM. I like to think it's them as my mom always said in regards to the popular girls in high school, "They're the ones they'll date. You're the one they'll marry." I don't know if she got that quite right, as I'm single (although mostly by choice). Anyway, I've met a bevy of eligible bachelors, all with funny stories.

Date #1: Was a chef going back to school for his bachelor's in business (admirable), but his truck didn't go in reverse. He had to get to our date early to ensure that he could get a spot that he didn't need to back out of.

Date #2: Super cute and obsessed with crossing things off his bucket list. I mean is 30 the new mid life crisis, because all these 30 year old boys are def. having one. On our next date he wants to go try fugo (blowfish sushi, highly poisonous) to cross it off his list. I'm not sure starting my own bucket list with something that could potentially kill me is a good idea.

Date #3: Asiabamian (aka Asian from Alabama). This date has lasted the longest, although another 30 year old having a crisis. Has taken me lots of cool places though like the ATL zoo and to a hockey game (hockey is not really big in the South I discovered. Wonder why? Too cold maybe?). Was getting too serious for me though, like almost exclusive. Shudder...

Date #4: Happening tonight. Here's to hoping there are stars in my eyes and I can stop this silliness. Knowing me, this will not be the case.

Well fearless TWIMOers I hope that you are embracing the world and getting lots of free dinners like I am :)

TWIMO Observes: Catalog Living

In an attempt to make my life more exciting at work while I input floor plans into AutoCAD I've started listening to NPR Culture Happy Hour podcasts (let me tell you, I think my ipod touch might save my life) and learned about this new blog, Catalog Living, that makes fun of catalog photographs. Most of them revolve around the interior which makes it even more amusing for me. I mean there are just some things we never pay attention to in ads, but when brought to our attention are just absurd, like putting beer bottles in glasses when setting the table. Weird. Right? I'm glad I could further contribute to your procrastination endeavors.

TWIMO Observes: My Life

Well, I've had some interesting experiences of late and thought you'd all like to hear about them.

1) My new job is kinda boring. As in all I do is watch people do their job and survey spaces. Today I got to go on a field verification as we like to call them at a Gold's Gym. Now first of all I would NEVER step foot in a gym of this sort so I was immediately grossed out. I really wished I was wearing a suit made of Lysol. All I could think about were all the germs crawling around and then my creepy intuition proved right. We had to measure the men's locker room and bathrooms (gross in itself), so we told the manager and he left the door open so that the male clients would know we were in there. Well one guy marches in, sees us and goes to pee at the urinal while we were standing right beside him. I have to say I never expected that to happen while on an interior design job. Looking back both of us girls realized we probably could have reported him for crossing some boundary or another.

2) Depite getting frustrated with the tasks at my new job. I was reminded tonight why I'm an interior designer. I was at a bad local sushi joint using the restroom when someone starts ramming on the door so I yell out that the restroom is occupied. When I finish and open the door there is a woman in a wheelchair, hence the ramming. I offer to hold the door open for her as she wheels in when she looks in and realizes there are no grab bars (which I might add is ILLEGAL) so she can't go to the restroom. My heart broke. I felt like apologizing for the stupid restaurant owner's stupid mistake. Can you imagine not being able to use a restroom? A basic human need, denied? At least I'm making a difference in the world, as I always make sure there are grab bars in the restrooms I design. The power of the designer is within.

3) At the same said sushi restaurant I sat alone watching a date unfold before my eyes. It was pretty awkward (and entertaining) and I realized this is what I must look like on my dates. Awkward. It was very eye opening and I think I will now take a whole new perspective on dating, as in I will not go on them to avoid being awkward and another person's entertainment.

4) I'm a TWIMO Thrifty princess. Tonight I had a date with myself (the best kind) in which I used a scoutmob for sushi ($9.50) and my frequent fro yo shoppers card got me a free yogurt (okay a $.26 yogurt. It was only free up to $5). I'm amazing. Changing the world AND saving money.

What a week. So ready for the weekend.

I'm Employed!!!

Hello beautiful TWIMOers. As you probably know via Facebook, I got a job and while I'm super stoked I hope that I can continue to be your fearless leader as I embark on a new way to make the world my oyster. I will warn that the posts maybe come more sporadic depending on my work and dating schedule (my life is just so hectic. Sometimes I want to be like dudes, I don't want to go out with you, I just want to sit on my couch in sweatpants. Is that too much to ask?). So in a farewell to unemployment (which was actually pretty fun) I will give you my top ten things I will miss about being fun-employed and top 10 things I look forward to in being employed.

10 Things I will miss about being unemployed

1) Sleeping until I feel like waking up.

2) Creating a meaningful relationship with Oprah

3) Inventing new ways to be employed aka my accessories design business, Orange Magnolia, which I have yet to launch and may have to wait until I'm retired

4) Wearing my PJs all day

5) Hanging out in my office aka Starbucks. I have successfully visited every one in a 20 mile radius, so if you need to know a good SB in the ATL area, I'm your girl.

6) Hanging out with my co-worker, Clair the poodle (even if she does sleep all day)

7) Afternoon Naps

8) Spontaneous trips to Las Vegas, Vero Beach, FL, and Columbus, OH

9) My salary aka my parent's money

10) Updating you all on everything you missed while at work, like afternoon television programming and the mom at the mall scene.

10 Things I anticipate as being exciting about working

1) Finally being able to wear all those cute "work" clothes I've acquired over the last 7 years in hopes that I'd have a job or internship someday

2) Meeting new people (being unemployed is lonely)

3) Getting a DVR to continue my relationship with Oprah

4) Going to networking events and not having to say I'm unemployed!

5) Advancing my professional ambitions (I feel like I have to add that one to sound cool and responsible)

6) Hanging out in Mid-town ATL

7) Making my own MONEY even if it does mean I need to reevaluate my spending habits.

8) Checking finding a job off my life list and now concentrate on finding a husband or boyfriend, whichever would be fine I suppose.

9) Seeing if I really want to be an interior designer or if I should concentrate my brain pursuits on the GRE to get into a PhD program

10) Getting a business card that I didn't make, even if I like my card!!

Geeky Girls are fashionable too

During a recent paralysis from waiting for potential employers to get back to me with their decisions I discovered this blog called Academichic where 4 feminist studies PhD candidates blog about the outfits they wear for their academic pursuits. I think that I really enjoyed this blog because of how it was set up with the CV and class notes section. It really spoke to me. So I hope you can get your inner geeky fashionable self on with its help.

The dry spell is over...

Lately your fearless TWIMO leader is overwhelmed with her head spinning at about 400 mph (metaphorically of course. That would just been creepy if it were actually spinning like that), but thank goodness I have TWIMO to help me vent some of my anxieties, so for the next blog post I invite you to sit back, relax, and grab a cup of tea (perhaps with a shot of happiness) as you are transformed into my therapist (don't you wish you got paid $95 an hour to listen to me)....

So as you know I have been unemployed for the last almost 7 months. Well, now that it's 2011 suddenly people are hiring and I don't mean like one lonely firm, but lots of them. One day I had three interviews set up by noon. So as the saying goes, when it rains it pours, which makes Sarah a very wet girl. Anywhoo... out of the various places I've seen there is one I really like and they say that I'm at the top of their list, but they are still interviewing, which makes me nervous, and then I keep getting calls for work that people need immediately! How to I fend things off until I hear? I'm so confused.... And then if I fend them off, what if I don't get the job I want... then I'm back to unemployed. Advice? Love? Anything?

On the other side of my life, the relationship unemployment side (which is partially self inflicted) has also been booming. For instance I have a date tonight. In sticking with my new year's resolution I will try not to be judge-y and complain in my head about various things regarding said date, because obviously this has nothing to do with the said boy awkwardly trying to have a conversation with me, but with my own insecurities. I get it and I'm working on it. So, here's to free dinner and hopefully a nice guy that will be my friend if I don't like him more than that.

Ahhh, I feel better. When can we schedule for next week?

Tom tom toms

I get on these kicks where I really want a certain trendy item that I secretly think is ugly, like uggs or Ray-ban Wayfarers. So my current obsession are Toms. I'm trying to decide if they're too "crunchy granola" for me. What do you think? I mean I'm all about the humanitarian aspect of them, but I just can't decide if they're so ugly they're cute, you know like troll dolls. And obvi I would get this really cute pair:

The world has ended.... at least in Atlanta, but never fear red velvet pancakes are here.

The past three days I have been snowed in because of Atlanta's inability to deal with snow. I'm not trying to give them a raw deal. I get it. Why invest a ton of money in snow equipment when it rarely snows, but city of Atlanta, I dare say I think the world is changing and the South might just be the new Northeast. So the 6 inches of snow and 1/2 of ice that blanketed the city have had it at a stand still for the past three days and let me tell you, I'm going NUTS being stuck in my apartment. Sure, sure, I could have been using my time productively and finishing my graphic design project or applying to jobs (which I did a little of), but with 48 hours of seclusion I probably could have whipped out a lot more. Instead I watched an NCIS marathon and a show on food trucks, which brings me to my post.

On the food truck show they explored the different types of food trucks out there and one stuck out to me. It's a breakfast food truck called Buttermilk!!! Unfortunately for me (and you unless you're a cali girl) it's in LA.


How cute is that?? Anyway their top selling item are red velvet pancakes with maple buttercream frosting. Ever since I saw this I've been jones-ing for some and since I can't get out of my house, I found a recipe online at the Kitchy Kitchen Blog and stared at the pretty picture. So if you all can get out of your abodes please go make these and call me to tell me how they are... yum...

Thanking my lucky stars that I've already filled out the common app

This weekend I've spent an inordinate amount of time with high schoolers trying to get into college and I'm thanking my lucky stars (and my parents) for birthing me in the 80's when kids weren't so ambitious. I mean I've done the research, I've read about the Millennials and I've seen tinges of the professed generational personality in my own first wave peers, but WOW.... did I need to proctor SATs and give college interviews for my thesis...

On Saturday I participated in my Alma Mater's Interview Day, where alumni give applicants to the school informal interviews. I figure I don't have a lot of money to donate at this point in my life, but I have time, so that's how I give back. I mean they taught me some valuable skills at good ol' Wash U, like how to write well, so you all can read this well written blog. HAHA. Okay back to the point. The kids I interviewed (with the exception of one who was like most of the men I've gone on dates with in my recent dating life, AWKWARD) were fairly normal, which is surprising seeing as the guy assigning the interviews kept throwing the artsy kids at me, since I was the token artsy Wash U kid, as usual. Some of the other kids though! Wow! OVERACHIEVERS. Several interviewers were given multiple page resumes (I mean like 4 and 5 pagers). One kid had a perfect SAT score and was ranked first in his class of 300 and held a record in rubix cube solving. Others had done humanitarian work in Burma as sophomores in high school or ventured to Egypt to learn Arabic. When I was a sophomore in high school I was worried about the zit on my forehead and getting kissed as my new year's resolution. Oh, and another kid gave his interviewer not only a paper he'd written during a SUMMER program on the healthcare issue, BUT ALSO the first chapter to his novel. I'm sad to say that I don't know if myself or any other of my WashU friends would have gotten in today... How the times change.

Also, if nothing else my online dating life has come in handy. I used most of eharmony's profile questions as questions for my interviewees, such as what are three adjectives to describe yourself, what is one thing you wish people would notice about you, etc. I'm glad online dating has given me something, since it certainly hasn't resulted in a relationship or anything...

And lastly the best answer to a question I've heard in awhile:

Interviewer: If you could go to dinner with three people, dead or alive, who would they be?
Student: Ghandi, Lady Gaga and..... yes, definitely Jesus.

Amazing. Those darned Millennials will say the darnest things... Moral, followers of God and Gaga as they are...

So here I dedicate this post to all my WashU TWIMOers for paving the way for these overly zealous youth who will carry the torch of our Alma Mater into the future. I'm just sayin' that we better watch out, cause these kids might just surpass us on our way to greatness...

Darcy... I dare say.

Here's a little peek into my new grandma hobby, Cross stitching... It's so theraputic, especially when you're creating a stud like this.



Also much love to TWIMOer Britt and biggest Jane Austen fan EVER who received this as a Christmas gift!

TWIMO Unemployment Plan A, B, C, D.........ZZ

In my attempt to avoid doing my graphic design class homework I have decided to share this little gem with you that you may have missed on the news yesterday, since you were at your JOBS. It's okay, some people just don't have the joy of watching the news 4 times a day. Anyway this homeless man, Ted Williams, was discovered in Ohio (Columbus. WOOT, WOOT! to be exact) because of his radio announcer voice. After being discovered he was on Good Morning America, offered a job by the Cleveland Cavilers basketball team to be an announcer, given a free house, and is going to be reunited with his mother on the TODAY SHOW. Obviously this man is a genius. All I need to do is be discovered on the streets of Ohio for an unexpected talent. Do we think the fact that I can touch my nose with my tongue will work? So if you see me on the streets just remember it is my new job plan and OBVI a way to get TWIMO on the Today show. Oh and I will be making my hair fluffy like Ted's.

2011, hope it's like heaven!

Happy New Year TWIMO-ers! Hope you all had wonderful and safe new year's eves. Mine was fab. I went to Columbus to visit my lovely friends Courtney and Mandy and hang out with their friends. It was delightful and they even got me a cake for my birthday which I wasn't expecting at all! Love love my friends.

My lovely birthday cake from Kro-ghetto

Mandy and my new best friends

So, yes, your fearless TWIMO leader is another year older and hopefully wiser. I'm ready for 2011 so BRING IT! Have you all made your resolutions and eaten your pork and sauerkraut for wealth, health, and happiness (and I don't care if you're not German or from the Midwest and have never heard of this tradition. You must do it because I said so)?

Nom, nom, nom

Here are my resolutions:

1. Be less judge-y of people, particularly the male variety that I go on dates with.

2. Get high school skinny for the two weddings I am attending in June. (obvi I needed the traditional weight loss resolution)

3. Spend less time on facebook and more time on employment search

4. Get kissed (okay, okay this is a fake resolution, but I've found New Year's entries from my journals growing up that include this. I was pretty stoked when it finally happened after resoluting it for so many years)

5. Get TWIMO on the Today show.

Happy New Year all! I hope 2011 is your best year yet!