final four eggstravaganza.

add this to the list of things i thought i would never see: bobby fong, president of butler university, being carried around by a bunch of frat bros:

i saw this live, but you can view it for yourself here..

celebrating at scotty's and then riding in the truck back to campus.

after a night of passing the time waiting for the arrival of the bball team back to indy by drinking summerbeer, tara and i nursed our epic hangovers with some easter egg dyeing.   

hot mess=theme of the day 

the final masterpieces. 

 best decision ever: tara buying the tie-dye egg kit.

 DINOSAUR EGG!

 i think we all know how i feel about glitter.

 

 the diet coke that i stole from dogsitting that should have been the solution to my hangover turned out to be an epic fail. it tasted like cleaning solution. expiration date: june 2008. perfect.

oh, and did i forget to mention?

damn right. sucks to suck, syracuse.

by popular demand...

i stumbled across the recipe while i was cleaning---what a joyous discovery!

for those of you who have not heard of the infamous "pumpkin-gingerbread trifle" it is a concoction that i came up with when asked to bring a dessert to thanksgiving #2 a few years ago when i happened to be in the middle of a personal gastronomic revolution (i.e. my crazed calorie counting phase---every girl has one at some point). i ended up taking a paula deen recipe that i saw on the food network and completely overhauling it to be so riduculously low-cal that even i would eat it.

the funny thing was that the trifle was not well received at thanksgiving, probably because i did not properly market it as a guilt-free dessert option, so i ended up hauling the 90% of it that was left (it is BIG) back to lagrange on an evening that turned into one of the more epic shitshows ive experienced at home. as a result, we ended up diving headfirst into the trifle bowl and drunkenly attacking it. (you can see the photo documentation from my previous post here).

this incident not only secured the infamy of the trifle, but it inspired its ressurection this past thanksgiving when i prepared and served it once again, this time singing its low-cal praises, and everyone could not get enough. people were asking me for the recipe, which i had completely mutilated to come up with my version, but i forgot all about it after the holidays. in any case, it is now avaliable for all to enjoy!

NOTE: although this recipe is crazy low-cal, it is basically the antichrist of my organic/whole foods only philosophy. it has so many fake ingredients that you might actually die from eating it. worth it? potentially.

also, if anyone is interested, here the link for paulas actual recipe.

CRIBS: babysitting edition.

this past saturday marked by far the richest people i have ever babysat for.

i should have known that i would be bsitting at another mcmansion when i looked up this family address in carmel, but i have to say that i was less than prepared for the excessiveness of what i was about to encounter. the little adventure began with me ninjaing my way into the subdivision thanks to the protective gate that i assume is to keep white trash like myself away from the beautiful people and then, when i couldnt find the house, being instructed to drive a little further then "look for the house with the fountain in the front." mmm, k.

the moment i walked in i was greeted by the sky-high ceiling of the great room (and then promptly made an ass of myself by saying, "this is a great room" ) and the downstairs that was furnished in colors that made me think of foods: chocolate, cream, plum, sage, mustard, raspberry. i also found myself wanting to use words that aren't normally part of my vocabulary unless used sarcastically such as "lovely" or "delightful" (i refrained).

as i followed the mother around for a tour, all i could see were brands and dollar signs: the mom's citizens of humanity jeans and kate spade shoes, the kitchen with stainless steel appliances and TWO DISHWASHERS, the keretase hair products in the bathroom, the fact that all of the kids (including the 4 year old) had their own iTouch as well as balconies attached to their bedrooms, the "guest side" of the house, and the marble and plush fabrics that left no indication whatsoever that there were children residing at this residence. during this little tour i started to feel like Pigpen from charlie brown with a cloud of dirtiness following me through this palace and was wishing that i could go back in time and not be wearing boys sweatpants and an oversize hoodie looking like a crazy bag lady.

when the kids and i went outside to play i got to see all of the "toys" in the garage---aka the red porshe, the escalade and the range rover (which left me wondering what car the parents left in...?) as well as the golf cart, the motorized go cart for the kids and the trampoline. the youngest asked me, "shelley, have you ever babysat for someone with a lake in their backyard?" i wanted to say, "well, not a man-made one," but just said a simple no, i hadn't. good self control shelley.

the kids also informed me that last week kendra wilkenson (from girls next door) had moved out of the neighborhood, meaning that prior to last week these children had a celebrity neighbor. this was one of the many times throughout the evening that i found myself wondering where the hell i was. yes, i babysit for some wealthy families, but this was just beyond. i have already made a mental note to dress like a human (while ideally incorporating some pearls) for next saturday when i go back. until then i can rock my sweats at my normal-people bsitting the rest of this week. gotta love the double life.

veins, baby clothes, and spring cleaning. happy st. patty's day everyone.

i just got a phone call from lauren as she was shopping for baby size U of I gear for her soon to be baby cousin which brings me to my revelation for the day: we are OLD.

or so i thought, that is, until i visited the vein clinic to get my spiders checked and out and was reminded (a few too many times) by Dr. Creeperton (actually Finkelton, but potato-potahto) that not only am i very young but i am also very beautiful and while we're on the subject would i like to go on a date with his 23-year-old son? focus creeper, im just here to get my veins tasered (but should that date come with a discount on my bill then, why yes, i would love to meet your son). so after a rapid fire discussion of the procedure which involves lots of needles being injected into my leg (and a buttload of xanax on my part) we shook hands and i set an appointment for friday afternoon. (the nurse said dr. creeper could do it today, but i informed her that i was going out tonight and that the compression panty hose really wouldn't work with my outfit. i love when people think im joking when im dead serious). 

when i got home i decided to attempt to tackle the hot mess that used to be my desk. i don't know why i decided to follow up an unpleasant activity with an unpleasant activity---i know better than that. seeing all my career center papers, resumes covered in red ink, and my parking ticket collection unearthed from beneath orange peels, popcorn kernels, and a stack of self magazines really did a number on my nerves, so i temporarily postponed my organizing to check out Jen Lancaster's blog since i just finished her book and she is FUNNY http://www.jennsylvania.com/. besides, cleaning sucks.

luckily, thanks to the date on the calendar today, i can acceptably drink my anxiety away in celebration of another one of spring's made up holidays. cheers!

this movie haunted me for years. the part with the thumb? still scares the bejesus out of me. (what the hell is a "bejesus"?)

just do it.

views from my running trail in spain. sure beat the blue rubber track at the rec center.

lots of people ask me how i can possibly wake up at the butt crack of dawn every morning and actually will my limbs to move in the form of exercise. the thing that usually does the trick is this quote:

"you either ran (or insert activity of choice) today, or you didn't."

---i forget who said this, but i find it pretty powerful because i'm kind of an all or nothing person. i either did it, or i didn't, and i don't like the sound of the latter. still, when this doesn't work, here are some other things that sometimes do, compiled into a handy list of ten tips:

1) i make it part of my routine. i treat exercise like brushing my teeth, i just do it cause i should, and if i don't i feel kinda gross. but when that isn't enough:

2) i consider myself an athlete, a runner, whatever as part of my persona. because i have given myself this label and others also perceive it, i feel obligated to live up to it. if you start thinking of yourself as someone who works out everyday and people see you that way, you feel like a lazy piece of crap when you routinely blow it off. start telling people that you are a fit person, and i bet my nikes you become one out of self created peer pressure.

3) stress relief. oh. my. god i can take out some rage with some elliptical intervals. science is behind me on this one, but even without the studies i know that moving my body work wonders on my mental health. case in point, using exercise as therapy as well as seasonal affected disorder medication. its like magic.

3 and a half) going along with that, it makes me smarter. im dead serious. if not directly, then indirectly through all the energy i have for the day after working out. i am alert, on top of things, and that annoying girl that always has her hand up in class. ask my profs.

3 and three quarters) not to mention its addictive. endorphins are like crack, but they're free and really good for you. its a win-win.

heres a site with a billion more benefits to exercise like the aforementioned, if you're interested: http://www.busywomensfitness.com/exercise-benefits.html

4) it is shelley time (or whatever your name is time). you deserve it, or if nothing else, you can use it as a procrastinator for other sucky things you don't want to do. you can think about anything, but i find that i get the best thoughts when im running, so it actually benefits my life outside the gym (like giving me material for this blog).

5) ummm cause i want to look good. duh. who doesn't. small clothes are a good motivator, especially when they were expensive, cause if they don't fit, you just threw away money. and self esteem.

6) i watch biggest loser. seeing a bunch of fattys doing plyometrics and kettlebells will make you feel pretty bad about blowing off a freaking powerwalk if nothing else. and if that doesn't work, just imagine yourself ending up like that if you don't workout. or just think about jillian michaels, cause she makes me what to exercise for some bizarre reason (kind of like when i saw her in person and felt compelled to chase her as she rode away on a golf cart with her bodyguards).

she looks really unintimidating here. its deceiving.

7) it decreases the guilt factor on the occasional food (or drinking) binge. or drinking followed by food, as demonstrated below:

8) cause i find treasures. some things ive found while jogging outside: two $10 bills (one outside of sigma chi and one by the auto shop in lagrange), the new jay-z cd (still playable), a silver coin with a four leaf clover on it (aka lucky coin), an aluminum water bottle, a digital camera (which i returned to BUPD like a good citizen), a $20 bill by stone monroe park, a weird alien toy, an orange pen, and a sweet IU cooler that i garbage picked. its like seeing exercise literally paying off.

9) magazines! if you save a magazine you really want to read for just the elliptical or the treadmill, you will definitely get your ass to the gym. when i have a new us weekly with bachelor dish on the cover, not only will i hit the ellip, but i am EXCITED about it.

10) its really really fun. sometimes. sometimes i treat it like a job, just get it done and call it a day, or sometimes i sneak into gyms with krissy or try to keep up with mom on a bike ride (which actually is NOT fun because she will leave you. like, actually LEAVE you behind) or play tennis with dad or anything like that. its social.

jogging + farmers market + cool people =  fun day

if none of these are inspiring enough for ya, 1) you're kind of lazy and 2) i will leave you with one final motivator: http://djearworm.com/ this guy is the mashup master and it is the ultimate workout music (and its free!) you're welcome in advance.

spring break 2010.

while other college seniors were blacking out in panama city, i was competing for couch space with tiger and eating hint of lime tortilla chips by the handful while battling an ear infection so bad it prompted the doctor to say "eww. that is really bad."

between that, the obligatory grandma visits, and babysitting, i declare this break an epic fail.

me and zac at the lyric opera right before i had to LEAVE AT INTERMISSION thanks to the satanic infiltation to my ear. leaving in the middle of a susan graham opera was not on my life's to-do list.

a puppet, a dragon, and shelley and krissy's poetry debut.

wow its been a while. between midterms and a bout of what mom wishes were swine flu so she could call the "i told you so" since i adamantly refused the H1N1 shot, i didnt much energy for writing. now im back.

krissy came to indy on friday bringing a much needed breath of fresh air to end a rough week. there is something so great about people that make you feel like yourself, and krissy is a prime example for me. we started our friday night adventure by rushing over to the art museum for a choreography showcase by joe goode with zac and his friend lance. definitely was not expecting to watch a preteen boy explore his homosexuality via a (really creepy) puppet (with an equally creepy voice) but i had such a goode (get it?!) time really trying not to laugh at the horny puppet while still appreciating the beauty and remarkable talent of the dancers. sometimes trying not to laugh really hard is even more fun than actually laughing really hard. then krissy was laughing because i was laughing, and zac was probably pretending like he didn't know me. so yeah, i had fun. lance, on the other hand, felt awkward. understandable.

you try not laughing.

after one watches a homo-erotic dance performance, the most logical next move is to head over to a gallery to see an art exhibition about farmers markets and local food. this is precisely what we did. my friend kristen from study abroad was a part of an exhibit called "Food Con," and her gallery featured a multimedia showing of photos, video, and designs from all of the markets in the indy area. krissy and i ran into her working on it at the broad ripple farmers market in the fall, so it was pretty cool that she came this weekend and got to see the show completed. even though we went for kristen, i was secretly hoping to fun into the hot guy from the good earth natural food store since he said he would be there. i didn't. shocker.

in front of the giant market collage. we color coordinated nicely with the art, no?

in one room at the exhibit you could write a haiku about food on the wall. krissy's is on the left, mine's on the right. needless to say, don't hold your breath for any published prose from either of us anytime soon.

zac dumped me and kris at my house so he could move on to better people (like that's possible), so we continued our evening with pomegrante margaritas at binkleys. round 2 was a life-changing tirimisu martini that prompted me to question why we can't just consume all foods in martini form if there gonna be that damn good. the world would be a very happy place.

the next day, kris and parted ways---she went to another dance performance while i set off to work the silent auction for the indianapolis symphonic choir's bel canto gala. the event was asian themed (hello wasabi mashed potatoes!) so part of the entertainment for the evening was a real chinese dragon that i quickly befriended.

it was so much fun, considering the fact that i was there working, but i have to say i pretty much passed out the second i got home from the combination of all the excitement of the weekend coupled with my tapering "swine flu." at this point, my voice was literally completely gone, and it was time to head back to lagrange for the last spring break of my entire life. sigh.