Gimped Out*

Remember the time when being "gimped out" was the coolest thing in the world? Having a string of gimp bracelets on your arm was a symbol of status... second only to the snap bracelets. I those are due for a comeback soon... don't you? (*SNAP SNAP*)


Anyway. The 12-year-old version of myself knew that wearing those uncomfortable plastic bracelets was the epitome of cool and I longed to be gimped out. I practiced making those things until I could pretty much do it in my sleep (brushes off shoulder like it's no big deal) and wore so many they practically ran up to my elbow. I really should have just gone to the next level and made a gimp shirt... wouldn't that be fun? A woven plastic shirt? (shudders)

As I got older the appeal of the gimp dimmed and the rows of bracelets on my wrists gradually decreased until you could see my forearms, then wrists, and then they were gone.

Now that I am an old woman of 24, the term "gimped out" has taken on a whoooole new meaning... I did something to my back and have become "gimped out" all over again. *sigh*

(My hands are just a wee bit less wrinkly... but only by a little.)

At Peeah's party on Saturday I enjoyed a spirited game of "Pass the Baby". My lovely cousin is raising the cutest little boy alive who is just turning six months. When I was living with her in May I finally got the chance to really get to know her and her son and I just love them to bits. As happy as I was to be reunited with the Hubster, I was quite sad to leave her home. So, needless to say I was thrilled that she and her little boy were able to come for Peeah's baby shower.

Picture this: 20+ women gather for a baby shower prepared "ooh" and "aah" over adorable baby items and Peeah's baby belly only to find a real live (and freaking cute) baby in the room. It wasn't long before "Pass the Baby" began as several family members wanted a turn getting to know this little guy. He was happy and bouncy and just so fun to have there.

As the evening was ending and Mom and I were cleaning up I noticed my back was a little sore. Nothing really major, it just felt a little tight. No biggie. We piled all our things in the car and drove home. At some point during this ride home my back broke. (not literally, but you know. When something isn't working right, it's broke. haha) I got into the house and I was okay. I collapsed into a chair and I was sore. By the time I hobbled up into bed the pain was so sharp it took my breath away.

...I was officially gimped out, and had no fun bracelets to show for it either.

My mom immediately switched into "Mummy Mode" and began throwing heating pads, pain relievers and so forth at me to help make me more comfortable. I soon figured out that my sore back only hurt when I moved certain ways, so I lay still and quickly fell asleep.

The next morning (Sunday) I woke up and realized the pain had largely subsided. My back was still tight and hurt when I bent over / twisted, but wasn't nearly as bad as the night before. I made it to church and back on the bus to head home with the Hubster. We decided to go spend Sunday evening with his family, and as they were picking us up I went into whirlwind mode to tidy my apartment. I think I must have strained it again with my super cleaning skills / bending over 100000 to pick things up because I am not smart because by Sunday evening it was really sore again. *sigh*

Finally I caved and decided to take it easy... I spent yesterday in my comfy clothes curled up (that's code for sitting straight) with my heating pad on my back. I also found some stretches that seemed to help a bit, and by last night things were looking up. I'm still afraid to do very much today as I REALLY don't want this whole gimp thing to drag out. The Hubs is not a fan (he doesn't like to see me in pain) and neither am I (I don't like to BE in pain. haha). So today my heating pad is joining me as I write (thank goodness it's freaking cold out--July, we need to have some words...) and the pain is much less again today. I'm trying hard not to overdo it, although I really want to clean my bath tub... I'm just scared about the bending over part. *sigh*

But here's the thing--for the life of me I can't figure out what happened. I am assuming something must have happened while I was bonding with the bébé, but I don't remember anything. In any case, it was worth it. It was a great party and I'll be posting Tuxedo Strawberry photos soon!

Wanna come clean my house? I'll make you a bracelet. :)

Shop Girl*

Shop Girl Shares Craftastrophe & Kristina P*

I have decided to make Mondays a little bit more exciting.

I like sharing. Mostly, I like when the Hubster buys yummy things and tries to hide them from me lovingly shares them with me. Buuut I also like sharing exciting things I find with you, so I've decided that every Monday will be Shop Girl Shares* Day! I have SO many glorious blogs that I read and so many fun sites I've found that it would really be very selfish for me not to share. Aren't I nice?

SO... because today is the first of many sharing days I decided to share two fabulous things with you--Kristina P & Craftastrophe.

I discovered Kristina P's blog (Pulsipher Predilections) a few months ago and secretly stalked read her blog before coming out of the closet as her biggest fan (in an only sort of creepy sort of way). I almost don't even want to tell you anything about how awesome her blog is because I don't want to spoil the surprise. She is witty, hilarious and simply fabulous. Go now, my children. Read and LOVE.

Yesterday the Hubster and I had a lovely BBQ with his parents and sister, Kay. After dinner Kay introduced us to a hilarious new website called Craftastrophe that is dedicated to exposing the fact that handmade crafts aren't always "pretty". (Yes, that image above is a knitted HAMBURGER dress. hahaha) The site is full of wondrous goodies for your viewing pleasure, but please, PLEASE start with THIS entry... it will either make you pee your pants laughing or puke. The Hubs laughed so hard he nearly stopped breathing... I had to walk away. haha!

So, enjoy my lovelies... until next Monday, same bat time, same bat channel.

Shop Girl*

Planning Peeah's Party*

Hi lovelies. :)

I haven't forgotten about you, I promise. It's just been a reeeally busy couple of days. I am currently writing to you from my parent's kitchen table in B-Town as I'm up visiting for the weekend. I've been planning a baby shower for my sister (Peeah) for the past couple of months and today is the big day! We have nearly 30 people coming so it should be quite the party. I'll make sure to take lots of pictures so you can pretend you're partying with Peeah and Pipes (her baby is apparently quite the mover in her belly). The Hubster is back home guarding our house / eating all the peanut butter cookies I made last week. haha

I love planning parties... event planning was actually my back up plan if teacher's college didn't pan out. I don't regret choosing TC for a second, but I still love organizing things like this. I've always secretly wanted to be a wedding planner (and a hair stylist) and may still give in to that urge one day. In the meantime, I do this.

Momma and I did an obscene amount of shopping yesterday as we got everything we needed for the shower. I am absolutely positive that there is going to be WAY too much food and we'll have to roll everyone out after eating way too much, but really, I wouldn't have it any other way. haha!

I'm trying a new venture in the kitchen today--chocolate dipped strawberries. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, leave it to me to not be satisfied with regular dipped strawberries, I want to try making tuxedo strawberries, and a couple of other designs I saw. I'm reeeeeally excited to try it and if it turns out I'll post picture and instructions on how to do it yourself! Be excited.

Well dearies, I'm need to get back to work. There are prizes to organize, strawberries to make and houses to clean.

For all you Americans out there, have a freaking amazing Independence Day! WOO!

Shop Girl*

Rainy Day*

You know those days when you wake up and just know you're going to be productive? (aka: realize that you cannot put things off any longer or you might lose your mind? haha) Today was that day. I did all those little things that have been bothering me for a while but have been too lazy to do.

*I finally hauled the rest of our crap out to our storage locker so I can now access my piano. :)
*I did laundry and washed my sheets... is there anything in the world better than fresh sheets? I think not.
*I cleaned out my fridge / cupboards.
*I vacuumed... like really vacuumed. I attacked all the baseboards and all those hard to reach places where dust seems to hide out.
*I dusted every piece of furniture in my living room. (I haaate dusting.)
*We mailed back a couple of packages that have been sitting on my dining room table for a few days.
*We picked up some groceries.

...AND I went for run. I took the week off last week as I wasn't feeling up to it and I did an obscene amount of walking, but it felt good to be back at it today and I am proud to announce that I am on my way back to my skinny self. Since I started running again I've lost 2lbs. It's a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. I'll take it. :) I added a cool tracking system to my sidebar so you can see how far I'm running each week.

After a nice little dinner I plopped down on the couch with the Hubs and we watched Paul Blart: Mall Cop. The Hubster had had enough of the cheesiness halfway through and slipped off to the kitchen to do the dishes (♥) while I finished the movie. It was reeeeeeally cheesy, but kinda cute. I love Kevin James, so I kinda liked it. The Hubs? Not so much. haha

Now I need your help... the Hubs now has to take a lunch every day for work, and I am all out of creative ideas of what to make. Occasionally I make a dinner with leftovers that he can take (when I actually cook... haha), but on other days he is getting sick of sandwiches. Any sggestions for good lunch ideas?

And now, off to bed. :)

Shop Girl*