Day 75-Write on

So I have been toying with the idea of quitting this project because I have not been keeping up with it very well and have not been doing cool things. I really don't want to give it up though.
Anyways, today. I started yet ANOTHER blog.  The new blog is geared towards professional development, my experiences in growing my  career, and some advice I have learned. I will share the address once I get more blogs written on it.

Day 74-Give it a Whirl

Ouch. On Saturday I played this game called Whirley Ball. We had to drive down to Ann Arbor to play because they don't have it up here. The game basically is bumper cars and lacross rolled into one. There are two teams of different colored cars and you get plastic scoops. The object is to put the ball in the hole which is about the diameter of a large pizza. It was really fun but I cannot remember the last time I was this sore. I have whiplash really bad and my back is killing me.

Day 73-Professional Development

On Friday I attended the Young Non Profit Professional Network's national conference that was held in GR. I absolutely loved it and feel really excited as I move forward with my career. One of the presentations I went to was about joining a board. That is something I have been thinking about pursuing although I am not sure if I am ready for it quite yet. Regardless, I got some ideas on what they look for and what I should look for.

Day 72-Audit

On Thursday, I had a new experience although it wasn't of my doing. My program was audited. It went really well, and I was able to feel confidant in what I have done with the program so far. Of course, it has been a team effort so I am going to try to make sure to thank everyone for their support.

Day 71-Gifted

On Wednesday a friend and I went out to dinner and then took a trip to the World Market. I couldn't find anything I needed but was able to buy a  present for a coworker.  That was the first time I have gifted to a coworker besides throwing in money for a gift card. It felt good to leave a surprise on her desk the next morning.

Day 70-Alligator Waltze

Yesterday was my first day of line dancing. We learned one dance called the alligator waltze. I am by far the youngest in my class, so I stick out like a sore thumb, but everyone is super nice. I definitely worked up a sweat while dancing and as Adelle put it after looking at me up and down, "line dancing's not for sissies"

Day 69-Hungry and Confused

Today I went to a pizza buffet that had a very weird business model. I have never been to a restaurant like it. To begin, you walk in the door and the cashier rings up that you want a buffet and if you want water or pop. Not so weird. But then you place your things at your table and go to this back counter where you expect to fill up your pop with the many glasses they have stacked next to the pop machine. Here you are wrong, as the cashier runs to the back and fills up your cup for you. Then you don't take one of the many stacked plates next to the buffet because the cashier/pop filler is also your waitress and brings your plate to your seat. Now you have two plates because you didn't know this last part before she put the plate at your table.
Then you find out you don't actually go up to the buffet, but you look at the menu and tell the now waitress what kind of pizza looks good to you (barbecue chicken? creme brule pizza?) She does this for every member of the table and disappears. All of a sudden another waitress comes out and offers you a slice of garlic chicken pizza. You finally realize how this place works.
When the pizzas you thought sounded good come out (only takes about 7 minutes) they offer you some slices then circulate the pizza around to the rest of the restaurant and finally place any extras at the buffet.
You feel like you are all in this together because everyone's pizza gets circulated so you don't want to be the one ordering an anchovy pizza and hearing all the other diners say eww grosss who ordered that! Bring out the garlic chicken! Overall you leave, full, satisfied, and a little confused.

Day 68-Colorful

More wedding stuff! Today I made some special crayons for my little guests at the wedding. To make recycled crayons all you need to do is use any old crayons you have, peel off the paper, break up the pieces and put them in some sort of mold such as a cupcake pan. Heat the oven for 350 and put them in for about 10 minutes. Let them cool and pop them out. I use leaf and pumpkin molds for mine.

Day 67-Center of attention

On Saturday I visited my parents and was able to create my centerpieces for my wedding. Here is a sneak peak on one of them!

Day 66-Stand Up Character

On Friday night I was able to plan a girls night out with my good friend. We watched 12 stand up comedians in a competiton for Laugh Fest. The only thing really new about this for me was that I had never seen any of the comedians before. It was a good time, although the person who I voted for did not win .

Day 65-Presenting to my peers

On Thursday I was asked to lead a roundtable discussion for my colleagues. This made me a little nervous as I am one of the newer program directors, and know I still have alot to learn. I ended up facilitating 2 sessions on documenting successes and challenges. I think it went fairly well and a couple people thanked me afterwards which I thought was nice.

Day 64- Tuning In

As it has been made clear to me, I need to update the blog. On Wednesday I went to Crystal Mountain and as Mike was going to Vegas, I did not think it was safe saying we were both going to be away from the house on a public blog.

On Wednesday on my trip up to Crystal Mountain, I got really tired of listening to the FM stations so for the first time I tuned into AM radio. The only channel that came in was Rush Limbaugh (sp) I have always heard of him but didn't really know much about him. Now I know he is a conservative. Very Conservative. Not that that is a good or bad thing, just what I learned.

Day 63-Cheesy

Yesterday I made cheesy potatoes for the first time for a potluck.
Here is my recipe.
2 lb bag of frozen shredded hashbrowns
16 ounces of sour cream
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
1 can of cream of chicken soup
A little salt

Put in crockpot on low for about 4 hours

62-We the People

I didn't pay too much attention on how the government works until I realized my job was in jeopardy. Trying to figure out how it all works is actually really difficult for me. I would be slaughtered in a political debate, that is for sure.  But yesterday I attempted to learn a thing or two about how the government operates.

Day 61- Speaking up

Today I placed a complaint into my city. The downside of working downtown is that parking stinks and I have to park in a lot a few block from work. Last week as my co worker and I were walking from our cars, we noticed syringes in the landscaping surrounding the lot. I had heard my coworkers say that it used to be a problem, and apparently it is again. I have never wrote to my city but I figured this was as good of time as any. Hopefully they will be gone soon before someone gets seriously hurt.

Day 60-Picture it

Today was so cold but so much fun! Today we had our engagement photos done. We went to downtown Holland where our wonderful photographer scouted out cool spots for us to pose. Before arriving I told Mike I didn't want any kissy photos, but when our photographer suggested it, who was I to say no? We discussed this on our way back when Mike tells me he kept his eyes open for these shots and noticed that mine were closed. Noticed mine were closed? That's an awkward photo.

Day 59-Out on the town

Yesterday I went to one of the Laugh Fest events and saw 3 stand-up finalists from NBC's Last Comic Standing. Laugh Fest benefits the work of Gilda's club, which provides free support to cancer patients and their friends and families. This was just one event of hundreds being put on this week. This morning there was a pet and owner look alike contest. Hmm I wonder what kind of pet I would look like?

Day 58- Something smells

Ahhh! My engagment pictures are two days away and I can feel ANOTHER cold coming on. This time I am prepared with a bag of onions. I halved an onion, put it on a plate, and set it on my night stand to help cure my cold. Luckily, I generally like the smell of onions so it hasn't bothered me yet. I know this is an old wive's tale but it is worth a shot! Anything is!

Day 57- Slide on through

Today I tried another mini home repair and soaped up my kitchen's drawers. I read that if drawers don't pull out easily or are sticking, to rub some soap against the tracking. So I did. I'm not sure if they slide open easier now, or if it was just my adrenaline from hoping that it worked, but I did notice a difference.

Day 56- Honored

I had no control over day 56, but it was a wonderful event. I was asked to be a matron of honor in my best friend's wedding. It is great because she is the maid of honor in my wedding so we can plan and plot together :) I have already started working on my speech. I am close with both her and her fiance so that will make it easier.

Day 55- Roy G Biv

Yesterday I color coded my closet. Kind of fun.

Day 54-Hear me out

So a few weeks ago I was watching the Grammys (I think it was the Grammys) and they were announcing the nominees for best new artist and I was sure the biebs was going to win, but to my surprise it was a weird singer or band named Florence and the Machine. I don't usually wander far from my mainstream music tastes, but I decided to give Florence and the Machine a listen today and I love it!

Day 53- Pull the trigger

Well I finally did it, besides the vendors, I made my first wedding purchase. I have been holding off because I know once I started I knew it was going to be a DIY free for all. So what was it? What was this epic moment? 6 large round white balloons.

Day 52- Kind of hairy

It wasn't a one day of something new but a week-long effort. Last week I did my hair and makeup for the entire week.  This is not all that exceptional but I don't think I have ever done it since high school. Come Thursday morning I was a little over-it and woke up late so almost stopped, but I wanted to make it the whole week so I made myself.

I don't usually do hair and makeup because I much rather sleep, however I can definitely feel an improvement in my mood when I look better. Stacy and Clinton were right after all.

I don't know if I will continue to do this, but it is one habit I hope I form.

Day 51-Buddy the Bull

So I have always avoided mascots because, quite frankly, they can be creepy. Today for work I was asked, however, to be a special guest reader in one of our after school programs for a Bull Mascot. I happily obliged because I miss being around students and that environment. Athough I was a little nervous about being around the mascot and also that the mascot would be mad I chose a book called The Little Matador.
Luckily, when I got there the mascot was no where to be found, instead I found a skinny 19 year old (just guessing on the age) named Douglas.  Douglas and I were introduced before he got into costume, and I ran my book by him.  Thankfully Douglas wasn't a method actor who took his job as a bull too seriously as he did not care that much I was reading a book about bull fighting.

Day 50- Wahoo Fish Tacos

When I was about 10 we took a trip to California. One of the things we found very funny was a REST AUR ANT with the name Wahoo fish taco or maybe it was yahoo fish tacos? at any rate I have never had a fish taco because the idea struck me as weird, but in the spirit of this blog I decided to just try it anyways so I ate fish tacos.
It turned into 2 meals because I decided I like the baddered piece of cod on its own much better. So I ended up eating them separately.

Day 49- Live United

Whoops forgot to blog last night. Yesterday I attended the Live United Awards. The MC of the evening was a local judge who was hillarious! She kept doing Lady Gaga jokes as Lady gaga was in town for the evening doing a concert. The awards were great and I wish we could have given them to all of our nominees.