Hot Lava Is the New Hangman's Noose...

Have you heard of the app

HANGING WITH FRIENDS?

I CAN'T STOP PLAYING!

It's been explained to me as "hangman, but more fun."

I think that's a horrible way to explain it.

I've always thought of hangman as a decent pastime to play when bored.

...and only when bored.

This game is actually FUN!

ADDICTING, even!

I go out of my way to play this.

What do I love most about this app?

Maybe it's the cute little CARTOON GUYS AND GALS you play as.

Maybe it's the COLORFUL BALLOONS that you hold onto,

and let go of, when guessing an incorrect letter.

Maybe it's the LAVA you fall into if you lose.

Or maybe it's just the fun new REVAMP of an old classic.

Do you also play this game?

Are you looking to play it?

Let me know your USERNAME.

We can play a game together.

I look forward to "HANGING" with you.

Poor, Poor Piggie...

Pigs are my favorite animal.

They have been for as long as I can remember.

Junior high, maybe?  Before?

I don't know...

So when my mom shared this video with me, I instantly became giddy.

Problem solving piggies are the best kind.

Please tell me this made you giddy too.

Girl, You Smell Like A Boy!

That's what I'm telling myself right now.

NO, I don't smell like sweat and gym socks.

...because that's what boys and men smell like, right? (Note the sarcasm.)

I smell like my boyfriend's Lubriderm Men's 3-in-1 Lotion.

It's not too heavy of a scent, but it's definitely a masculine one.

Every once in a while I'll put a little on after I take a shower before bedtime.

Just because it smells so yummy!

The scent's gone by morning, so it doesn't conflict with my girly scented products I apply then.

I know a few girls who love the scent of men's products so much they don't mind wearing them briefly.

Or for long periods of time, for that matter.

What about you?  Are you the same way?

If so, what's your weapon of choice?

Start listing those products, girls!

Wishful Wednesday!

I'm a sucker for simple sterling silver necklaces.  These are my current wishings.  I'm sure you can see why I'm so in love with these.

 

Bird in Cage @ Etsy.

 

Bow Necklace @ Etsy.

Flying Pig @ Etsy. 

 

 

Peacock Feather @ Spotted Moth.

Silver Blue Eyed Owl @ Etsy.

 

Land That I Love @ Mod Cloth.

Lucky Anchor @ Etsy.

Mmmm! Fried Thai Banana...

Have you ever tasted a Thai banana?

They are DELICIOUS.

They taste completely different from the regular supermarket bananas.

And they're the cutest little things.  Minis! 

 

VN's parents have a Thai banana tree in their backyard.

Yesterday his mom taught me how to fry them in tempura batter.

One word: YUM.

Here's a lovely picture of my handiwork.

I'd say I did pretty well for my first try.

 

Personal Goals For 2012...

I'm not one for new year's resolutions, however I do think that the beginning of the new year is a great time to reflect on the one that just past and to set goals for the new one.  I generally tend to keep these goals to myself, but I was thinking that maybe if I share them this year I'll be more likely to actually achieve them...  Assuming you guys would be so kind as to hold me accountable for them.  ;)


1)  GET MORE INVOLVED AT CHURCH AGAIN.
I used to be extremely involved at church.  It's true that I'm a bit of an off-and-on service attender. There's something about hour-long, early morning services that simply doesn't work for me.  (I zone out then then begin to ponder as to whether or not I have something along the lines of adult ADD.) But if I was not attending service regularly, you would find me at my church's college group devotional each week.  I would be involved with events going on at church, with the college group, and with my kiddos.  However, I've drifted lately and now I'm generally only involved one night during the week while I teach the church kids at the Wednesday night program.  I miss it.  I miss the fellowship with the other members, but most of all I miss the close relationship with God.  I'm coming back in 2012.  If I accomplish only one thing this year, my prayer is that this is that one thing.

 

2)  LOSE SOME WEIGHT.
I packed on the pounds this past year for several reasons, but I'm determined to get back to my comfortable weight.  The worst part of putting on extra pounds is that it puts a damper on my self esteem.  I end up feeling gross and hate the way I look in pictures.  I don't want that for the year to come, so I'm aiming to lose 20 pounds.  That will put me back to where I was when I felt comfortable with my weight.

 

3)  GET MY ETSY BUSINESS UP AND RUNNING.
Not just up and running but making sales regularly, too.  After a little while of having people ask me if I ever sold the handmade cards I make, I started toying with the idea of opening a shop on Etsy.  It's worth a shot, right?  I think it's something that I'd really enjoy doing.  And let's face it, anything to help with textbook costs would be just grand.

4)  WRITE POETRY.
Writing has always been a big part of my teenage and adult life.  I write poetry.  I write lyrics.  And I write to express my emotions.  Thoughts of sadness, happiness, grief, anger, and confusion all fill the pages of my poetry journal.  New entries to said journal are badly needed, and having another creative outlet is never a bad thing.

5)  REVISIT MY MUSIC LISTENING DAYS.
In high school listening to music was a huge outlet for me.  In years since, I've lost my nack for finding new indie music.  The unknown bands are always my favorite kind.  Watching them blow up and become famous is great too.  But when they sell out?  Not so great.

So now that I've shared my personal goals for 2012, tell me yours!  Do you have one major goal for the year?  Or do you have multiple goals like I do?

Happy New Year!

Happy 2012, friends!  2011 has been a good year filled with new and fun experiences for me.  I'm looking forward to the next year and to all the things that it may bring.

Also, I'm so grateful for those of you I've met while blogging in 2011.  I hope that in the year to come I'll have more fun posts, crafts to share, and stories to tell.  Wishing you all the best for a lovely and prosperous new year!