Episode Fourteen : Seeking Advice from My Bestie

Do you ever have those moments when you need to talk to someone, but no one ever seems to be around?  Or there are those opposite moments when your phone is blowing up so much with email/fb/twitter/text notifications that you cant even hear what the person on the other side of the phone is saying? 

Well, both of those moments are bouncing around in my mind right now.  I always pride myself on being there when a friend needs me.  There are few people who I don’t screen when they call me.  Granted, if they call me at an obnoxious time of the night, Ill likely be asleep and wont answer their drunk dial, but for the most part, IM THERE FOR THEM. 

I’m happy to say that my Bestie is too.  This morning I called her in need of a pep talk (she’s my go-to girl for a pep-talk and for venting sessions, hence, Bestie), and she tiredly answered the phone (HELLO, why are you asleep, its 11am!!  Its only 8am here, I only answered it because I saw it was  you on the caller ID!!).   She quickly pepped up to give me encouragement.  I gave her the quick details : You see, the guy I interviewed with yesterday called and left a voicemail.  Being me, I screened the call.  I was nervous.  He sounded positive on the voicemail, so this had to be good news.  We had yet to discuss compensation, and I am a horrible negotiator.  I wanted to job so badly that I would have accepted anything, but companies always tend to ASK me first what salary I want.  Arg, that’s so hard.  I don’t want to lowball myself, but at the same time, I wont was to oversell myself, taking me out of consideration.  There is no right answer to this question.  Help, what do I say!?   So, Bestie calmed me down and gave me excellent advice (sorry, she’s MY Bestie, so I’m not sharing her words of wisdom). 

Turns out, I didn’t even need to take her advice because he MADE THE OFFER FIRST!!  Yup, that’s right, I GOT THE JOB!!  I am STOKED.  I called the Bestie back first to thank her for the advice, then to give her the good news.  She shared her excitement with me (from 3000 miles away, it was like we were in the same room squealing like teenagers.  Love her). 

OK, this was us dancing at my wedding, but we WOULD
be dancing and drinking champagne if we werent
3000 miles away from eachother.

So, after talking to Bestie, then the Husband (THRILLED, even canceling his golf game tonight to take me out to celebrate), I posted it on Facebook.  Wow, I’m getting an exurbanite amount of love, quickly. My phone does a cute little double-beep when I get a facebook comments, and it was playing a little quartet of tunes.  So much that I couldn’t even keep up.  While I was on the phone with various fans, I had a handful of voicemails by the time I hung up.  First, my old Roommate who’s now in Australia (Yup, Australia is now celebrating my new job), My Dad (Its about time that degree paid off – Just kidding, he didn’t say that), my Aunt/Mentor (What about Grad School, might they pay for it??) and so on with a bunch of excited people sharing my happiness.  Yay me!

So here is where I am overwhelmed with communication (ok, I love it).  But now I’m thinking, for the last three months, while playing housewife (By choice!  After being laid off from a job I hated, I refused to apply for a job I wouldn’t LOVE {cap, bold, italicize and underlined}), I have been constantly available to those most important to me (even from 3000 miles away) whenever they need me.  It’s a good feeling.  But now I have to go back to work, and Boobie wont have my undivided attention.  Now I feel horrible.. 

Ok, never mind.  Forget I said any of that.  At every single job in the past, I’ve text/email/called the Bestie and we’ve shared our Poo Stories on the clock.  I suppose this wont ever change.  It wouldn’t be a dream job if it did.  

Ugh, she had perfect hair.  I hate her.  

Disclaimer : I know this post appeared to be an ode to my bestie, but she’s already had another post dedicated to her in the last month.  So until she fulfils her obligations of writing a guest post for me, she will not receive anymore head-blowing-up (whatdoyoucallit?).  Although, she’s not the kinda person to get a big head.   If you want to know more about her, clik the linky link above.

PS, I love my Bestie.

Episode Eleven : Sangria in the Sun..

I just had a fabulous day in GORGEOUS Boston.  It hit 65 degrees today, which is the warmest it’s been since last September.  Regardless of (another) Red Sox loss, everyone was smiling and basking in this bright warmness radiating from the sky.  What more can one ask for, Spring is finally here! 

To celebrate the sunny day, the Husband and I went downtown to shop, eat and enjoy all that is around us.  Although we often go downtown to wander, this time we stumbled upon a few new places that in the past, we only scurried past en-route to our destination due to the freezing weather.  After an abundance of shopping (incl. five books from a closing Boarders for under $20, sunglasses and lots of spring clothes), we finally settled in at a café with tables outside for a nice refreshing drink in the sun.  While he got a pint of something (boys), I selected a white-wine Peach Sangria.  It was strong and tasty, exactly what I needed.  The only other white-wine Sangria I’ve had was full of oranges and other citrus fruits, which usually, my stomach can’t handle.  The peach blend was perfect without being too sour.  Now, I love my red blends of vino, but when mixing them with fruit or drinking in the sun, white wine sangria is the way to go for a refreshing afternoon drink.  So much that, I found a delicioso recipe to share with you.

INGREDIENTS

   1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves plus 8 to 10 sprigs

   3/4 cup sugar

   1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

   2 cans peach nectar (23 fluid ounces total)

   1 (750-ml) bottle chilled dry white wine (I prefer Sauvignon Blanc)

   1 large peach diced

   Large Strawberries (optional for sweeter taste)

PREPARATION

Put basil leaves, sugar, and lemon juice into a small saucepan and bruise leaves by mashing with a wooden spoon. Add 1 can nectar and bring just to a simmer, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes, then pour through a medium-mesh sieve into a heatproof pitcher, discarding basil leaves. Stir in wine, peach, remaining can nectar, and basil sprigs. Chill, covered, at least 1 hour and up to 24. Serve over ice.

I truly believe this is the perfect drink for sitting outside and enjoying the afternoon with your girlfriends (while discussing last nights Reality show and admiring everyone’s cute spring sandals).  I hope you all agree. 

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I may be a bit slow jump on this trend wagon, but I L.O.V.E. my Keurig!  We got it for Christmas and use it probably 6+ times a day.  What’s shocking me the most, I’m a Seattle who loves my coffee, but since we’ve had the Keurig, I’ve been cheating on my Starbucks beans just drinking Tea-from the bag-yup, No K-Cup.  I just add a bit of my vanilla creamer and an Earl Gray Tea Bag and push the extra large size button and voila!  No heating water in the awkward red kettle. 

Hello, my name is Shelley, and I am a Bananagrams-aholic.  Yeah, we’ve all SEEN the weird banana shaped bag in the stores, but to play it is ADICTING.  Its like Scrabble, but have I mentioned, I CANT SPELL?!  This is So much better!  I actually play it on Facebook in la solo cafe because none of my other friends are bananas enough to challenge me.  Ready!  Set!  SPILT!!

I love the smell of my dogs Shampoo.  Weird, eh?  I spend an extra bit of time massaging his scalp so the smell soaks in.  This way, when I kiss the top of his head, I smell the clean aroma, rather than the feet odor that he collects from the Husbands office. 

Completely not new, but I am so in love, I have to mention it.  Five or so years ago, I fell in love with the most beautiful lavender/grayish duvet with wispy bamboo stocks printed on it and HAD TO HAVE THEM.  It was mandatory, so much to the fact that I had to find a husband just so I could register for the duvet at Macys.  When we didn’t get it as a gift, I dipped into our savings and bought it-as a gift to myself (along with the Coach shoes).  Granted, the Husband doesn’t like it, but every day when I step into my bedroom, I’m in heaven.  Did I mention, it’s the same one Carrie had on Sex and the City.  Of course, this isn’t the sole reason I wanted it-but I made sure not to divulge this info to the husband until after it was nicely spread under us.

I am LOVE LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOVING that I get to hug my best friends SO SOON.  Living across the country from them is the worst thing ever.  I cant wait to dance dance dance and giggle without the phone getting in the way. 

I love that a guy I had a phone interview with THREE weeks ago finally called and left a message to have me come in and meet with him.  I also LOVE that I would be AMAZING at this job. 

I love that the neighbor guy whos always been a prick in the past just knocked on my door to tell me that I left the lights on in the car.  Oops.  Although, I dont really love this enough.  He still swept the snow onto my car after I shoveled it a month ago.  Jerk.  

And finally, I'm LOVING that I dont have to keep a secret for much longer.  Phew, this is tough!