I'm a Snob!

A product snob that is.  I didn't realize it until a recent trip to the grocery store, but it is true - I am a product snob!  Now, I know there are perfectly wonderful off-brand products out there and in some instances I am more than willing to try them out, i.e. paper towels, napkins, random food items.  There are other things, however, that I will not budge on and don't really have a good reason why!

For example, I love Dove body wash and I promise you, I have tried the generic version in the past.  The generic version moisturizes and feels the same but it is the SMELL that gets me.  It does not smell like Dove as I know it!  It is close, but not the same.  It throws me off..

Another category is cleaning supplies - these must be brand name and not simply for smell but for performance (can you tell I'm trying really hard to justify my over spending on non-essential brand names? ).  It just seems like off-brand "Windex" never works as well as the real thing.

Same thing goes for laundry stuff - I switch back and forth between Tide and Gain but I cannot buy the cheaper brands due to their smell!  What is wrong with me???  I could have saved thousands of dollars buy now but my nose will not allow it!

Last but not least, toilet paper!!  Maybe I have a sensitive butt (so weird) but soft TP is a must!  I hate wiping with things that feel like Brillo pads!  

Does this make me a bad person??  I promise I am not really a snob - I just like certain products over others!  ;)  Are there any products that you "require"??  Maybe then I won't feel so bad...

XOXO  Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

I am in love...

with Saturday's!!!!  I woke up this morning and was so happy to see that it wasn't dark outside - no alarms, no business suits, no nothing!!!  Although it is a little cloudy today in my part of Texas, it will be in the 70's which is wonderful.  I am sure it will brighten up later in the day.

So, yesterday was my WW weigh-in day and I lost 1.8 pounds.  I am pretty good with that - I had set a goal for two pounds but hey, anything other then gaining should be cause for celebration.  That means I am now 7.2 pounds away from my goal weight...so close!  I can't wait to go shopping for bathing suits!!  I say that now, but usually have a different reaction when I am actually trying them on and looking in the mirror.  We will see!  

I hope everyone has a fabulous Saturday - go do something fun and take advantage of a no-work day!!

XOXO

For the love of piano...

Have you ever told someone that you loved them on accident? I’m not talking you secretly love someone and it just slips out at the wrong time, I am talking about when you honestly don’t love the person.

Example: When I was little, I took piano lessons with Mrs. Chen – I would go every Wednesday whether I wanted to or not. One week I was sick (kind of) so I decided that I would tell my dad that I did not want to go to my lesson. To my dismay, he made ME call the lady and tell her that I would not be there – this is the ultimate challenge for a shy, little kid. Talking on the phone? Hated it! Still half-way hate it. Moving on. So anyway, I picked up the phone and dialed Mrs. Chen’s number secretly hoping that she wouldn’t answer so that I could get away with just leaving a message (while making myself sound extra sick of course). And then….

Mrs. C: “Hello?”

Me: “Hi, Mrs. Chen. This is Ashley. I will not be coming to my piano lesson today because I am sick.”

Mrs. C: “Oh, OK. I will see you next week then.” She probably added something about practicing and not missing lessons like she always did but I have blocked that out of my memory.

Ashley: “OK, I will see you next week. I love you, bye.”

I love you? I LOVE YOU?? I sure as hell didn’t love her…I barely even liked her! Talk about a head on collision with embarrassment. I could have died. I can only think of one thing that would have made me do something like this - at that age you rarely talk to anyone on the phone outside of your mom, dad or other family member and what do you say at the end of the call? I love you. I guess it just came out of me automatically. Oh, the horror! I still feel embarrassed.

Please tell me this has happened to someone other than the seven year old me!

XOXO

Bossanova

Wooooooooooooow.  That is all I have to say.  Today was a rough day at work - I guess that is what you get when you work in Human Resources.  Apparently, when an employee calls and has a problem, it is automatically my fault since I was the one to answer the phone.  I understand that people have bad days and I am willing to admit that I have bad days of my own, but come on people.  I work in HR because I love it - I love to help people and solve problems, but sometimes people drive me to drink.  If I weren't so diligently sticking to my Weight Watchers, I might convince myself to make a martini right about now.  The better solution..laugh it off!  I am blessed to have such a wonderful job and to work with wonderful people and for all of that, I am happy!!

Besides, when I have a drink or ten, it makes me do things like.....

And this.....

And this.

I am just kidding - these are all random occurrences and I mostly posted these pictures because they make me laugh.  What could be funnier than my own embarrassment?

Have a great evening!!

XOXO

Operation!

No. I don’t believe you that it is Monday right now. This past weekend was so fun that it blew right by with no shame and now here it is, Monday morning. My best friend came to town and we had a blast! On Saturday we even went to a MOVIE. This is so unlike me…the mere thought of being confined to a movie theatre seat is usually enough to drive me insane. I am not sure what causes this problem; I think it stems from the idea that I must sit in my seat and attempt to make zero noise. I won’t even mention the fear that comes over me when I realize that I have to walk in front of people to escape to the bathroom. I am a freak. When I was little someone told me that “creeps” would stick needles in the seats and wait for someone to come rip their butts apart unknowingly. I half-way believed this…damn those creeps. Anyway, we saw Benjamin Button and it had me crying within the first ten minutes of the movie. It was a loooooooong movie but definitely worth seeing.

So today is the start of Operation “I could damn well wear a thong bathing suit if I wanted to.” Make no mistake, I would NEVER actually wear one in public or otherwise but wouldn’t it feel great to know that you could if you wanted to?? I did not do that fabulous on Weight Watchers last week so I have given myself a second chance only this time, it will be coupled with extreme workouts at the gym. It is time. Time to get it together and prepare for the summer so I never have to be hesitant about the old bikini. The only time anyone should be scared about a bikini is if it is a “weenie bikini.” I might come back to that in the future but for now, I will leave it to you to figure out. ;)

Cheers to Summer ’09!

XOXO

Caution Tape

Ok...so this post is going to be a little, well....out there.  DISCLAIMER:  If you are too cool to talk about poop, please visit the blog at another time to avoid the embarrassment of us both.  The ideas that make up this post are not typical of me but have caused paranoia in mind.  Read, ponder and then tell me if I'm crazy.

I love my husband and I love his family and friends- the reason I love them so is because we can talk, and therefore laugh, about anything!  Even poop.  The second worst p word.  Twice now during a visit to Dallas our conversation has somehow come to the point where we were talking about "poop stories" - hilariously funny yet heinously embarrassing poop stories.  As I sat and listened I became convinced that everyone in the world has some sort of poop story...EXCEPT ME!  Should this be encouraging or does this mean that my moment is yet to come?  If it is still lurking out there to get me, should I just hurry up and get it over with or should I try to prolong it as much as possible?  I can't go on.  Not with this hanging over my head.  I am now convinced that someday, in the worst possible situation, I will poop in my pants or worse.  Questions?  Comments?  Concerns?  

Ok...now I can honestly vow that I will never mention "poop" again within this blog.  Maybe.