WTF?!?! STFU!!

When I lived in Johnsburg, and it came to noise in the middle of the night, there wasn't much to worry about. If you did hear a lot of noise, something was wrong. The most you would hear is your neighbors neglected dog  who will just not. stop. barking. All it would take was a simple 'SHUT UP!' out the window for the silence to begin again. Sure, people had parties. They were either in someone's basement, so  it was very unlikely you would hear, or outside in the summer. If your party was outside, and you lived in a neighborhood, you never had to worry about how loud you were, because in our small town, there was no one to disturb.... because everyone was there! If you weren't in a neighborhood, you lived on a farm. Which allowed you to pretty much do whatever the hell you wanted. BIG bonfires, kegs in the backyard, and cornfields to pee in.

For the most part, the 'burbs are quiet.

Moving to Chicago, I knew I was in for a rude awakening. That awakening happened every night for a straight week when my first dorm apartment was right next to EL. Sirens at all hours of the night. Children (aka underclassmen) running down the halls yelling. But eventually you just started getting used to all that. Even my next dorm apartment and my boyfriend's apartment were blocks away from the tracks. Didn't bother me. It makes going back to the burbs weird. The silence almost becomes noise, stinging your ears.

Moving into the apartment we are in now, I was thinking we can handle any excess noise that may be produce outside our building. As we speak I can hear sirens (a police station is two blocks away!) and the Green Line is just one block away. We can handle that.

But what I can not handle is idiot, ignorant neighbors. Lately, I've been seeing way too many of my friends Facebook status's about asshole neighbors blasting music and yelling at 2 A.M. I've been there! I've been one of those people bitching about my neighbors.

Unless you are wealthy, when you live in Chicago, you will either live in an apartment complex, or a house with two or more units. When you live in Chicago, as anywhere else, you have the right to have people over whenever you want. You have the right to play music. When you live in Chicago, you need to understand that there is probably only a couple inches of plaster/wall between you and your neighbor.

You should know, and accept the fact that:

• If you don't use your inside voice, we can hear you. I will judge you.
• When your fighting with your partner/spouse, we can hear you. As I'm sure you can hear us. 
• When your favorite team scores, you yell, they can hear you. When your favorite team loses, they can hear your profanities. 
• When you have your girlfriends over for wine night, your neighbors can hear the 'woo' girl, and they'd like to strangle her. 
• If you're getting freaky, and you push your partner against the wall, we can hear you.

These are things that I have learned to accept that I may hear out of my neighbors, and they may hear from us too. It's about being considerate. Making sure you do these things at normal hours and are just simply AWARE of your neighbors.

You should know, that the following  are completely unacceptable:

• Playing any type of music late at night/early morning. If you can't hear yourself speak and the beverage in your glass is rippling to the beat, its too loud.
• Bringing back 50 of your drunk friends at 4 A.M, 25 of them women with stripper heels. click. click. click. thump. "hahahaha. I'm so clumsy." No, you're drunk.
• Having drug-related fights on a Sunday night, when you live in a building with families. 
• Threatening the guy in the hallway who is pounding on your door because you owe him money and you stole his girl.
• Having your bass so loud, that our bed is vibrating, and I'm forced to re-arrange my furniture, so I can sleep without feeling like I'm in a Motel 25 cent vibrating bed. 

What I don't understand is how oblivious people can be. How stupid. The problem is, the society that we live in today, I don't think some of these 'trouble neighbors' actually think they are doing something wrong. 

Let me explain those different types:

The D.J: (he/she may also be in a band) They work weird hours. They don't live in our world. They get up at 4PM, lay around till 11PM, go to work, and continue the party at 5AM, and go to bed at 11AM. They don't notice anyone who isn't living this lifestyle, and that includes their neighbors. If you confront them, they will most likely be drunk or in the clouds, and have this 'it's not my problem' attitude. The worst part about it is they pull out the 'This Is What I Do' card. They act like we are trying to stomp all over their dream if we ask them to pipe down. Yeah, your music does suck, but be my guest, continue your dream...at normal hours...The 'Everyone Is So Against me 'card, "people are always trying to make me look like the bad guy" (uh, I'm sorry but who is the more productive member of society?). Oh, and if they pull out the 'Race' card, just walk away. You aren't going to win.

The Drunk: they don't realize they are being that loud. You've been there. Give them a break, unless it happens every night (which in that case they made need AA) or its music that is loud. If its the person banging stuff around and talking real loud, they'll pass out soon. Hopefully.

The Oblivious One: they honestly have no idea how thin the walls are. They don't know that your bedroom wall is right up against their speakers. They don't know you can hear their conversations. They don't know...you get the picture. Confront them. Tell them exactly whats up. You might think they are playing dumb when they tell you they had no idea about the noise, but really, they are that dumb.

What do you do if it just won't stop?

• Grow some balls.
• Confront them first, unless its a situation where you think you are in danger.
• Call the cops. Every time it happens. No matter what hours. Our neighbor was having ragers that would start at 7AM and go till 5PM. Technically that's not within 'quiet hours'. But its OBNOXIOUS and disturbing the peace. Call the cops.
• Contact your landlord and/or management. Give them details. Every. little. detail. 

I still can't wrap my head around how people are these days. How someone could be so ignorant and stupid that they know deep down inside that they are being disruptive, but they truly do not care. How do you live like that? Why have I only encountered these types of people in the city? I'm sure there are some in the suburbs, but not so frequent. Is this something the city does to us? 

It's Not The Size That Matters..

Since I've done about every other beauty product I use in my daily 'getting ready' routine, I figured it was only fair we go into make-up. I didn't want to make this a typical 'How I Apply my Make-Up' post, because lets face it, those include a 'no-makeup' photo, aaaaand I wasn't sure if I was ready to expose that to the internet world. Sure, I go outside without make-up on, even to the store now, but over the Internet? That's scary...yet challenging. Let's do this. Judge away. Bring it on.

FYI: This may be a some-what short post. I'm not one of those girls who cakes on make-up to look like a pageant contestant on Toddlers&Tiaras (Yes, I'm guilty of watching that.)

Make-Up is my final step of my getting ready routine. I take care of my facial cleansing needs, and give my skin time to absorb in the toner and moisturizer before putting on make-up,

so its not trying to settle all those layers at once.

   

Here we go...Naked Face >>>    
Clearly, you can tell I'm uncomfortable taking this picture. Ignore the hair in these pictures. Its wild as I didn't tame my bangs yet.

So as you see, my skin complexion is NOT even. I have acne spots and redness.

First Layer: Foundation & Pressed Powder
What I use: MAC Matchmaster Foundation & MAC Pressed Blot Powder.
Why?: I needed a foundation that evened out my skin tone..and that LASTED. One of my biggest complaints about make-up is that it doesn't last all day. I used to use Bare Minerals, because its great for oily skin, but I'd have to reapply at least 10 times a day. So over it. MatchMaster evens out my skin tone, and lasts pretty much all day (I may have to touch up some 'troubled spots'.) Their Blot Powder is great because it just settles in your make-up for a flawless look, also sealing in the make-up for a long-lasting wear. Re-apply it throughout the day to soak up oil deposits.
What happened to my frugal-ness, you ask? Yes, although MAC is expensive, it has benefits (plus, I've been using it for years, and you all know how I feel about change...) MAC has a recycling program that after you've used 6 of ANY of their products (foundation, mascara, lipstick...) keep the containers, turn them in at your MAC counter or store and receive a free lipstick (at MAC stores its a free eyeshadow.) See? Something free in the end..and its being GREEN!) I should get paid for this..that sounded like a great sales speech.

Picture: You can see my skin is more even, a lot less red,  and I feel more comfortable :)

Second Layer: Eyeliner & Mascara

What I use: Maybelline Line Express Eye Liner in Black & Maybelline Great Lash in Blackest Black
Why?  I honestly go to Ulta and pick out the cheapest thing I can find. They all work the same. Trust me. I've tried them all. Those special brushes? No. It's not about the size of the brush, but the way you use it :) Meaning, curl your eyelashes before applying mascara. World of a difference.

Oooooo normal face!

What did we learn today:
You don't need to slather yourself in 12 different beauty products to hide up your 'flaws'. Find a few good products and stick with them. Here is how I always saw it (or at least when I got older...).

Scenario: You meet a guy out, and your Bronzed Up, False Eyelashes batting away, and a solid thick line of eyeliner ..around your whole eyeball. You might look great that night, I'm mean you did catch his eye right? But what happens after lets say the third date (or maybe the first for some of you....) you decide to stay the night. You wake up, that Bronzer is no longer on your face, but on his pillow. One falsie is struggling for dear life to stay plastered to your eyelid, while the other is no where to be found. ...and those raccoon eyes....oooo those eyes. So you have three choices, let him see you like a hot mess, or book it out of there so everyone else can see you looking like a mess on your Walk-Of-Shame or third, go wash your face and have him kick your ass out cause he couldn't recognize you without your mask on, and its not what he was expecting (okay, this sounds like he is a little shallow, but I wouldn't be surprised). From experience, the night I met my man, I had just gotten off work, no time to reapply make-up..and it was raining...that hair..oo it was bad. The good thing? He still liked the way I look, and each time after that too. Now that I'm living with him, it was an easier transition ffrom him to seeing me with make-up all the time, from him to seeing me pretty much all the time without make-up.

Do yourselves a favor ladies...be the natural beauty you are :)

Get Lucky

I used to be really big on magazines. Ever since I was little I would get excited about Highlights Magazine coming in every month (anyone else remember those? You could always find them in the doctors office too!) Then it was some cat magazine (I was destined to be a cat lady...), then I started buying Bop and Tiger Beat magazines at the grocery store because I saw BSB and Hanson on the cover. Then in my younger teen years I was reading Seventeen, CosmoGirl, and TeenVogue. Eventually it all came down to the bible (aka Cosmopolitan). While I was living at home, my parents would still pay for the subscription. But when I moved out, it was all up to me. By my previous posts, I'm sure you can guess that I stopped that subscription because I can't afford to put $17 towards beauty and sex tips anymore (I guess food is more important...). Luckily the idiot tenant before us forgot to change her address, so I still got Cosmopolitan in the mail (and all her retail coupons!) I was sad to find in the mail a few weeks ago, a postcard stating that she requested a change of address. Damn, no more free magazine or free VS panty coupons. *sigh*

I was sent an e-mail once from something called E-Rewards. Now, normally I don't open up this type of e-mail, but they found me through taking a survey on Express's website, and it claimed that if I "built up enough points" I could receive rewards, such as a gift card from Express. Free money = Courtney willing to waste her time and take stupid surveys. Turns out you can also get free year magazine subscriptions too (they really sucked me in) So I started taking all these survey (they don't take very long, maybe 2 minutes) from random companies who go through E-Rewards to find out what their consumers want. You then get a money value for your time. After you've made up to like $12 (that's when the prizes are actually worth it), you can cash in your money for your choice of reward. It does not take that long to build up these points at all! I cashed in my points in December, and I can already cash in another $12 value, but I'm waiting to build up more so I can get better prizes. When I cashed in my points, I chose a year's subscription of Lucky magazine. It's no Cosmopolitan, but it's something to look forward to monthly, and what girl doesn't like looking at fashion?

Of course I was skeptical. I sometimes thought that I would never see a magazine in the mail, and that I wasted all those minutes really caring about these surveys. But Thursday came along...and viola! Lucky magazine in the mailbox. Happy Girl! Can't wait to cash in my points again (I'm thinking either People, to check out hot male celebrities, or Home and Gardens to satisfy the old soul in me.)

Check it out at E-Rewards!

Out of the Box

Before reading further, I don't mean to offend anyone with my descriptions or my opinions.

I can thank my boyfriend for breaking me out of my box. The 'spoiled' box. The 'only child' box. The 'suburban girl' box. He has opened my eyes to a new adventure: re-sale shops.

When I was little, living in the burbs, I remember my mom taking all our clothes that we didn't want or didn't like to a re-sale shop. We would get money back after they sold. Our shop that we went to carried clothes and home decor. It smelled old and I never saw anyone in there. But I also perceived it as this was a place people went who were poor. I mean obviously they had to be in some sort of trouble..they were buying old, used clothes (and lets face it, some of my mom's sweaters she was getting rid of...pure 80's. Shoulder pads and all). These people were needy to me, and our family was not 'needy'.

As I got older, we simply stopped going to the re-sale shop. I'm assuming mostly because I wasn't growing as fast, and clothes lasted longer. But now I had clothes that were 'out of style' or that I didn't like anymore. I  wanted to sell them somewhere, get money back, so I could buy new clothes. I started going to Plato's Closet. At that age, Hollister & Abercrombie brands were the 'it' thing, so they took most of my clothes back. Each Plato's was right next to a mall, so after I got maybe $50 back, I'd go to the mall to buy new clothes. If you've never been in a Plato's, here is my description. They are usually in a strip mall or a run-down building. Walls and counters are some sort of cheery bright color. Metal racks hold all the clothes which are categorized by lengths of the sleeves, bottoms, and dresses/skirts, and labeled with paper signs made with Word Art. Accessories were hung from a supporting pole near the check-out line. Fitting rooms were small, and the doors were micro, allowing shoppers to see your head bobbing around and your ass hanging out as you try on clothes. A fuzzy B96 would play through the speakers. There were rarely just benches you could sit on. It smelled...funky. It was normally teen clothing so maybe it was that 'teen spirit'. Selling your clothes at Plato's is a hassle as a lot of people are there also trying to sell, which means you are always forced to wait. They tell you 15 minutes as they go through your clothes, and you are forced to walk around and 'browse'. If you have ever gone shopping with me, you know that I'm a 'toucher' (noun: a person that while shopping for clothes must feel the texture of each items he/she passes). When I go to Plato's, I do.not.touch. I would get the heebie jeebies just thinking about touching things that have been on other people. You don't know who those people are. You don't know where they kept these clothes. They could have had them in piles on their bedroom floor and weren't washed before they were brought in here (or the 7 times it was worn before that). So I mosey around with a sour look on my face, disgusted at the thought of people who bought from here. Sometimes the cashier would 'forget' to call your name, and after 20 minutes of 'looking' around, you finally go ask if they are done, and say 'Oh yeah, we have been for awhile.' Uh, I'm sorry, but you better be giving me more than $7 for those jeans since you made me suffer in this place.

Yes, you may think I'm a spoiled brat. I'm not saying any different. But this was the mind-set I was in. I knew no better. I wasn't exposed to anyone (or that I was truly aware of) who had to buy from re-sale shops. I'm sure I went to school with a few people whose families shopped their. But my friends never had to do that. Their parents bought them stuff (as did mine, till I got a job).

After graduation, I set a budget for myself. On this budget, I would mostly be living paycheck to paycheck, something I was never used to. When I was in college, if I needed a cute outfit that weekend, I was going to buy that outfit. But now, it's a different story. There had been several times where Nathan and I were going out to dinner or to a bar, and I would stand in front of our closet, and I would pout. I have nothing to wear. Nathan help me, I can't find anything. No, I wore that last weekend. No, this person has seen that shirt before. No that doesn't say 'going out' does it? One time, and I'm sure it was when I was PMSing, I had a breakdown. Sob sob.I haven't been able to buy any new clothes for myself. Sob Sob. I have no money. Sob Sob. I have nothing to wear. I can't remember exactly, but I'm sure this is why the subject was brought up...re-sale shops.

Nathan said that he used to go to Crossroads Trading Company up in Lincoln Park. That his cousin used to go there (I THINK that's the story) and he described it as a higher end re-sale shop. They only bought and sold popular and designer brands. Only popular trends. Only gently used clothing. And when I'm talking designer, they have Louboutin's behind the counter *gasp*. Sure, they have Forever 21 and H&M, but they also have Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, AKIRA, Juicy Couture..many many more. It took some convincing for me to go in their the first time. But I have faith in Nathan, and I knew he wouldn't take me somewhere gross. It's hard getting used to shopping at a re-sale shop. Things aren't as organized (its worse than shopping at a disorganized Forever 21), you see something you like, its not your size, and its not like they have it in the back. On my first time going there, I found a few things I liked (even tried them on! I got over the fear of someone else wearing them!) and I purchased them. For about half the price I would in a regular store. I felt good about my purchase, and I didn't feel 'poor'. I think it helps that I knew some of my co-workers had shopped here and that these Chicago stores and trends really make it seem 'cool' to shop re-sale. Now I go and sell my clothes there, and I 'trade' (I give them my clothes, they give me a value, and I purchase clothes in their store worth that value). If they don't happen to buy some of my clothes, there is a Plato's right down the street (no, I still don't shop there. but I've learned to look like I am browsing).
I went today and sold a lot of winter clothes, and got three new pieces that I'm very excited about.

As I said early, I don't mean to offend anyone. I'm a spoiled suburban girl who had a stereotypical view on what re-sale shops should be. For the poor and the un-trendy. But with the help of my boyfriend and Chicago's view on 'thrifting' , I now view re-sale shops as trendy, clean, and cool. I never thought I would buy someone's used clothing. ever. But here I am, shedding my spoiled, only child, suburban ways..and loving it :)

Pull My Hair

Yesterday I was having a prettay good hair day. So, I got inspired to write. As you know from my previous posts, I'm a girly girl when it comes to beauty supplies. I love them. Can't live without them. But I've learned to live without the expensive salon brands, and I have a new found love for less-expensive drugstore brands like Tresemme (I don't care what they say "used by professionals". No. My hairdresser does not use this and she is a damn professional. By 'professionals' they mean, 'for those who love good hair products but can't afford to buy the fancy stuff'. Yup, that's it.) Picking up from my previous post, Gynecologists and Hairdressers, about shampoo and conditioner, today I'll be walking you through the longest  journey of my ' getting ready routine.' That is, doing my hair. Hopefully you'll learn something.

If you're an actual dedicated, faithful reader to this blog, you already know what comes before doing my hair. If you don't, your slackin'. It goes shower, face, lotion....HAIR!

Step One: De-Tangle That Mess
I am all about doing everything I can to preserve my hair. I go to a professional to highlight/dye it. I want to keep my hair strong. Mostly because I love my long hair (although its so tempting to cut it!!), and the only way it will continue to grow is if I keep it healthy. After I've walked around like Erykah Badu for a bit, the first thing I do is spray Garnier Fructis Daily Care Silky Secret Leave-In for Normal Hair (ha, normal, yea right.) before I comb my hair.
What it says it does: Conditions & detangles for silky softness, root to tip. Its proven to strengthen your hair, make it shinier, and make it 'touchably soft'

What it ACTUALLY does: It detangles for sure! Thank goodness because there is nothing like starting your day by hitting some nasty ass knot and having to yank out a chunk of your hair (otherwise you'd be starting a new hair style, its called 'comb-in-hair') Silky and Shiny? mm, not so much. Touchably Soft? Oh yes. Please touch it. Tip: Every girl can relate here; unless I'm asking you to touch my hair, do not touch it. Which pretty much means unless you are my boyfriend or my hairdresser..do..not..touch.

Step Two: Pump Up The Volume
I'm cursed/blessed with naturally stick straight hair. This is great because I don't have to spend hours with the straightener frying my hair. I just blow dry it..and it lays there....with no volume. I don't want to look like a slick head, so I use mousse (if you have naturally flat, straight, or oily hair...don't use a gel. It just progresses your problems.) Currently I'm using Tresemme 24 Hour Body Foaming Mousse.

What it says it does: plumps hair giving it ultimate body and bounce that will last through the day.
What it ACTUALLY Does: This bad boy WORKS...for about 12 hrs. Honestly, it really does work though. Gives me just the right amount of volume. Think 'I just got dirty in bed' look, not '80's throwback' look. I do happen to notice though, that after awhile, my hair almost gets immune to products. That is why I NEVER use the same product twice in a row. As soon as I'm done with this one, I'll go try out another brand. When I first start using a product, my hair is noticeably more va-voom.

Step Three: Protection!
I see so many women walking around with fried, frizzy, damaged hair (and you wonder why it doesn't grow...) Now I can't sit over here and tell you I have no split ends, no frizzies, no damage...but I can tell you have less because I protect my hair when using hot tools. You say you don't use a straightener? That's fine. Do you use a curling iron? I bet 90% of you use a hair dryer...thats a hot tool! I spray on Tresemee Thermal Creations Heat Tamer before I use any hot tool. Before I blow dry. Spray. Before I straighten my pesky bangs. Spray.
What it says it does: Protects against heat and friction to keep your hair shiny and incredibly soft.
What it ACTUALLY does: I can't say that it is a 100% reliable, but my hair is soft, and not as damaged as those ladies who don't use protection.

Step Four: HOLD
Obviously I blow dry my hair..and straighten my bangs..and then hairspray. Some days I use it. Some days I don't. If my bangs have a mind of their own, they need to be punished. I use Aussie Aussome Volume Hairspray.
What it says it does: locks your volumized look into place.
What it ACTUALLY does: see above.

Protect you hair ladies! Make it strong. Less hair in your brushes and in the drain (cause that's nastayyy.)

Be Safe. Use Protection.

Now although the weather may be flirting with 50 today in Chicago...in January (like seriously, wtf?), it's still a bit gloomy. If you're like me, you are over winter by now. I'm like okay Christmas is done. Winter is over. I'll take some rain. I'll take a warm breeze. I'll take some flowers. And most importantly, I'll take some sun. We all get in that winter blues. I'm tired of wearing baggy sweaters that make me look ten pounds heavier. We're working out (..or at least I am?) but we still don't seem satisfied because our bodies still look like white whales. We start to get that itch for summer...for the tan skin which just makes you look at least 20% more attractive. I mean come on, please, point someone out to me who doesn't look good tan. Now, I don't mean Doritos tan, cause that shit ain't attractive, I mean sun-kissed.

What is my point to this story? Point: It saddens me to know that during this winter lull, some of you are still going to bake yourself in tanning beds.Yes, I know you feel like you look better, and in turn, you have more confidence! But it is NOT. HEALTHY. I don't careeee if its $5 Tuesday at L.A Tan and that's a great deal! Tanning beds cause cancer. Well not actually the 'bed' but the harmful rays that are baked into you at an extreme high and fast level. My scientific terminology may not be correct here, but you get what I mean. Yes, can you still get cancer from sun rays too? Yes, you can. Especially if you burn. But I'm focusing on tanning beds now, because honestly, unless you're going on vacation, I don't foresee you tanning outside anytime soon. (If you are going on vacation, please lather it up! USE PROTECTION!)

If you would like to argue with me about tanning beds, that's fine. Your going to feel like a piece of dirt underneath my shoe when I tell you that the reason I'm so 'practice safe-sun' 'anti-tanning bed', is because my mom had skin cancer. Yes, she was lucky enough to have it removed, but that doesn't mean she is going to continue her bad habits of tanning outside every damn day (without much sunscreen..if any) or use tanning beds. I've learned from this, so I promise not to do the same thing. I'll tell you a story:

I was going to use a tanning bed ...hmm..I think it was last winter around this time. I wasn't in the best place in my life, and all I wanted to do was just look better. It was Tuesday. L.A Tan, 5 minute walk. Got in the elevator. Started sweating. Got sick to my stomach. Got to ground level. Hit the number '17' to go back to my apartment. That, my friends, is guilt. I felt bad as I made a promise to my mom to not use tanning beds, and to protect myself when tanning outside.

Now that I THINK I'm done preaching, here is my advice to you.

I feel you. I feel really pale. But there are safe alternatives! Self-tanning lotions, sprays, gels, gloves..should I go on?

If you want just a tint: try a self-tanning lotion. Keeps your skin moisturized with a little glow to get you through the winter. I use Ulta Daily Moisturizer Body Glow - $6.99. Great deal.

If you want a little more color, for a special event: try a self-tanning (with bronzer) spray. Gives you an instant glow, and builds up with use. I use Ulta Tinted Self-Tanning Continuous Spray - $9.99. I've also used L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Pro Perfect Salon Airbrush Self-tanning Mist - $10.99. This stuff is AMAZING. I've heard gels are also good for this, I haven't tried a gel before. Has anyone else? Do you have some cheap options?

If you want to be Jwoww or Snooki tan: Why you would want to be this on a daily basis is beyond me, but I've wanted to be this tan for one night. That was Halloween 2011. I was Jwoww. So I needed to be really really tan. I was using Sublime for like 2 weeks before Halloween, and used like five coats that night. I ALSO went to Sally Hansen, where they recommended using a tanning 'mitt'. I don't know the name of them, but these bad boys WORK. You just rub them all over your body...and within 2 hrs (well they say 2, I say more like 3 hrs) you are TAN. Proof below.

If that's not tan, I don't know what is.

So however tan you want to be, do it the safe way. Please? I don't want to have to preach again.

My Pony

Well now that we are a solid week into 2013...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Bet you thought I forgot about all this, didn't you? It was the holidays. Things got crazy. This was put on the back-burner. Kind of like one of those relationships where "I like you. I like spending time with you. It's just I really really need some space. My life is like, so crazy right now." In reality you were just looking to have a really good time with out having to worry about that person. Just as I wanted to enjoy my holiday festivities without feeling obligated to blab about it on here. Eventually you end up crawling back to that person, "You know that space that I needed? Well, I did a lot of thinking, and I really think we should get back together.." So here I am begging for you to accept me back into your lives, and I hope that you will. Because we have a whole damn year ahead of us, and I don't feel like preachin' to nooobody. (That may or may not be the case already...)

Soooo, what did we miss?

Christmas: It was great. I got spoiled. Not complaining. Twinnie got engaged (this should make some great blog posts).
Boyfriend's Birthday: I got him what I call 'an experience' gift. Rather than giving a gift, I'd rather make a memory. I bought him a BYOB sailing trip for two on the lake. TIP: Check out Bloomspot.  It's just like Groupon, except I've found more things I've liked on here.
NYE: FUN FUN FUN (and not too hungover the next day!) success.
My Birthday: I hate when people ask what I did on my birthday. Well, lets see. It's National Hangover Day...I slept. I ate. I slept again. Just what I wanted.

and now, I have the flu. woo. hoo.
This blog is about budgeting and things of that nature, but I don't even know how to save money when you have the flu. First, I paid $75 for pills (add an additional $10 for co-pay). Then the doc tells me I can't work for a week. Um, I'm sorry sir, WHAT?  No work? No money. No money? No happy Courtney. TIP: don't get sick. it costs money . and its something you don't want. No returns or exchanges (Hi, I'm sorry I didn't ask for the flu. Can you take this back and bring me a paid vacation instead?)

So for the past week, I've been pretty much just sitting here in my apartment, bored, with a boyfriend who refuses to kiss me (and he had his flu shot!! ugh!). Today is actually my last  day of hibernation. I'm allowed to become a part of civilization tomorrow. So although this post is completely useless, this is my promise to you: more is coming. It's just kind of hard to write about anything when I've been enjoying my time bundled in blankets, drinking o.j, and watching Channing Tatum dance to 'My Pony' (my saddle's waitin' , come and jump on itttt. Damn, I love that song.)

Stay healthy everyone! Bath and Body Works is almost done with their semi-annual sale. Go pick up your self some anti-bacterial. Sanitize everything. Take Vitamin C. Get fresh air. Exercise! Eat right..or try to! Two words: Flue. Shot. Don't be stupid like I was "hahaha I don't need a flu shot." Hahaha..yaaaaaa.