Summer is So Darn Close

Summer is by far my most favorite season.  I know that it's not officially summer until June 21 each.  But each year, on June 1 I call it summer in my book, even if sometimes it doesn't feel that way.  And each year I notice new things about my favorite season.  Most of the time these new things make me love it even more.

For instance, it's officially after 9:00 on the East Coast, and the sun went down completely about 20 minutes ago.  But for the last week or so at this time, I've heard the birds still tweeting like crazy.  Usually I'm not the biggest fan of their songs because they tend to wake me up in the summer.  But these little tweets don't seem so bad.  I don't think I ever noticed they were so late to stop singing in the summer.

Another, which has a little to do with the birds, is just how late the sun goes down.  I know the days are longer in the summer, which is one reason to adore it.  But the sun here has been going down a tiny bit before 9:00 pm and it's definitely up when I leave the house at 6:00 am.  That's a very, very long day!  So much time to have fun doing all sorts of summer things.

Another is the weather.  Now whenever I was little, and June would hit, it would be immediately warm enough to wear shorts all day.  Why is it still a little cool in the mornings? I've been noticing this more and more.  This time last year, I was at the beach and I was wearing jeans all week and not getting into the water because it was much too chilly.  Come on warm weather!  I've been waiting for you since last September...

Anyway, all of this is to say the usual.  If you don't like what's happening in Maryland, wait a few minutes and it will change.  And as for summer, I'm willing to wait because it's too good to wish away!

Dear Weather Gods,

Dear Weather Gods,

I'm usually all for the "let's give everyone a few snow days" talk that happens around the possibility of a huge winter storm.  I'm all about hunkering down in bed with Netflix, tea and a great book and blocking out the world for a few days while the mess stays outside.  But you see snow gods, I'm headed to New York tomorrow.  And this is a pretty exciting trip.  I'm finally getting to see Broadway Backwards which is a benefit for Broadway Cares.  It's a big deal and it's full of fabulous people that I can't wait to hear sing.  

So if you and your friends, the ice gods and the noreaster gods decide to drop the predicted 12 inches of snow on the East Coast, you could totally ruin my ability to get back home in a timely manner.  That's where we have a problem.  So if it's all the same to you, could you please just decide to start your spring-summer vacation a few days early, and hold the snow until next winter?  I'd gladly take a blizzard then.  Really, I don't mind.  Just let me enjoy my concert in peace.  

Your friend,

Kristen the Warm Weather and Sunshine Lover

Snowmageddon 2016

I am ordinarily a warm weather kind of girl.  I love summer and spring.  I love capris and flip-flops.  I get unnecessarily grumpy each and every cold day of winter. However, I'm uncharacteristically in love with snow.  I think it's the greatest!  Ok, let's clarify this, I think it's the greatest...in moderation.  

If I lived in Alaska where it snows pretty much every day for 9 months out of the year, I'd be an angry, angry person.  However, living in Maryland, where we get at least one minor to major storm each year has its perks.  For instance, you get to see the entire state - and in this case, the entire Eastern seaboard - freak out before a single flake has even fallen.  Schools have closed, activities have been cancelled, heck, even Garth Brooks decided to cancel his shows because it may start snowing some time around dinner tomorrow.  

But there's also an upside.  The upside being, we now have the perfect excuse to "work from home."  I know millions of people don't have this option, and I thank them for all their hard work and service.  But I can.  And I will use the heck out of this excuse when the opportunity presents itself. Like tomorrow, for example.  Before you call me a ninny for slacking on work, I'd like the record to show that everyone in my entire office made the decision to do so, before I did.  I had planned to come in - grumpy, but I was coming in.  But when the 6 people you sit in a room with decide to not come in, what's the point of sitting there all by yourself?

Last but not least, there's the chance to spend an entire weekend indoors because you just can't go out in the nasty weather.  Who doesn't love an excuse to sit at home and read, or scrapbook or just lay on the couch?  I'm telling you, this whole snow thing has its advantages!  

Now, after tomorrow into Saturday, the snow can head north for all I care, and we can head into early spring.  I'm good with that.  Because spring brings warm and that's what I love more than the white stuff.  But for now I'm going to enjoy my one little snowstorm I ask for each year.  Happy snow day!

Currently...

Watching: Bones, Rosewood and San Francisco be destroyed by the Seahawks (seeing as they beat us on Sunday, I'm secretly quite pleased with this game!) Also, the Nationwide, Peyton Manning commercial - LOVE IT!

Wondering: Why in the world some people can't just be normal.  I'm not saying I want everyone to be absolutely the same (so the opposite actually!), but it would be nice for some people in particular to just do their job quietly and kindly.  It would be fabulous for the rest of us, if those people didn't flip out for no reason whatsoever or for those people to actually understand business in general, seeing as they're making twice what I'm making.  I'd really like to just do my job, and not have to do theirs as well. (Yes it was one of those days and it's super frustrating!)

Resisting: I'm trying desperately not to fall asleep until after I finish this post I've been avoiding since about 7:45 when I sat down in front of this laptop.  This is why this post is fairly boring - it has to be said : )

Annoyed With: The ridiculous Maryland autumn weather patterns.  It was quite chilly earlier this week.  I had the heat on and I was bundled up in a jacket each morning.  Today? Today it was 82 degrees.  Seriously dudes!?  I'm ok with the 80s but if you're going to get cold again next week, I'd rather you just get on with it.  It'd be much easier to decide what to wear to work each morning.

Quite Happy With: My Austin album, which is done within a week of me coming home, I might add. That's gotta be a new record for me in regards to scrapbooking.  And seeing as the new album for 2016's attempt at Project Life arrived this week, I'm feeling pretty good about the prospects of actually finishing this time around. 

Holy Crazy Storm Batman!

In Maryland, we've had some crazy storms over the years.  There have been hurricanes, and thunderstorms and even an earthquake once.  But tonight's thunderstorm was possibly the craziest I've ever seen.  There was rain, and wind; lightning and thunder.  You know, the usual par for the course.  The pictures below are the aftermath.  But what the pictures have a hard time showing, is the insane shade of yellow that's spread all over the sky right now (no filter necessary!).  It's creepy!  I feel like I'm in Oz.  Currently the yellow is turning to pink. And it's also spooky as the day is long!  Should I be worried it's the end of days or just summer in Maryland?  I'm just not sure...

Yellow streaming in the skylight 

Hello, Austin...

I've been in a Texas state of mind for the last year or so.  I see lots of Texas license plates that I'm convinced are the universe's way of taunting me.  I read a lot about Austin.  I even follow about 6 Austin feeds on Twitter so I'm always in the loop.  While I'd still love to live in England, that's becoming more and more unlikely as the time moves on - seriously, aren't there any companies willing to hire a Yankee like me? So I'm looking for other options .

Anyway, this morning in one of my many Twitter checks, I learned something about Austin. In Austin this morning, schools delayed for cold.  This morning in Austin, I learned, that it was in the high 30s -- the HIGH 30s.  This morning in MD, it was in the LOW teens - 14 according to my dashboard to be exact.

So yeah, any city that delays most schools and businesses for almost 40 degree weather, is high up on my list of places I really need to move! The wonderfully 90 degree weather in Summer, also joins that list.  Oh and those lovely food trucks are calling my name too.

Can you tell, I'm super sick of this winter?!  Bring it on summer, I'm SO ready for you!

January in 5 Words

I love Twitter for all it's insanity.  Every day I go online, open up Twitter, and proceed to peruse the ridiculous things that have trended in the last few hours.  Usually it's things that are in the headlines, like Marshawn Lynch or Snowpocalypse.  But other times it's crazy ideas that people have created that have caught on like wildfire.  Some in the last week have been RedneckaBook and MakeaMovieSmarter.  Some people are just way too creative for their own good!

That brings me to today's trending topic.  I loved it especially since I was able to think of something clever to go with it (in my humble opinion, that is : ).  So here it is: My January in 5 Words

Holy Cow, It's Cold Outside!!!

This January, we've seen snow, sleet, freezing rain, wind and single digit wind chills.  I have only one question: When will summer be here?!

End of Summer Bummer

Don't get me wrong, I'm a BIG fan of long weekends.  But it would be so much better if this weekend marked the beginning of summer as opposed to the end of summer - most especially this summer.  I think today may have been the hottest day we've had all season. What the heck?  It finally gets warm then September starts.

I like Fall and all but really, can't we just have a little more summer?

Hump Day Hum-drum

~ Since about noon yesterday, it's been raining consistently here in Maryland, which as you can imagine makes the work day fly on by.  It's quite hard to concentrate or even get anything done when the entire office just wants to be curled up in bed with a good book and some warm tea (though that's probably just me, I'm assuming everyone else would choose coffee).  I have high hopes that since today is the very last day in April for the April Showers to occur, that when I eventually get up tomorrow, it will be spring finally and the sun will be shining in the sky.  But seeing as it's supposed to rain through tomorrow, I'm not all that optimistic.

~ Like I've said before, Etsy shop opening is not nearly as "easy" as everyone makes it out to be.  It's highly stressful and a bit complicated.  However, when I previewed the only item I have listed (so far) it looked like a real, live Etsy shop which probably thrilled me a little more than it should have.  One can only imagine how I'll act when/if I make a sale...

~ Planning a trip is quite involved and becomes quite complicated when all you want to do is look up restaurants and food trucks.  Though, I've come to terms with it.  I just love food : )

~ Not a single person has donated to my AOK in May yet which is a little sad.  I'm hoping to get lots of people involved without bugging them too much, but I was also hoping for a bit more excitement than I'm seeing.  But I'm sure it has something to do with issue number one above.

The Weather Gods are Restless...

I realize I live in the state of Maryland, where if you don't love the weather, you can just wait a few minutes, and you can be sure it will change.  However, I don't remember it being this schizophrenic, EVER.  Yesterday, I went out most of the day with a light sweater, and no coat.  It was sunny and about 65.  Today, most counties in Maryland are under a winter weather advisory as they're calling for 3-6".  Currently, the largest flakes I've ever seen are falling outside the window and will be falling through most of the day tomorrow.  I'd like the record to reflect that it's March 16 and spring will officially begin in 5 days.  What the heck, weather gods?!

Monday Fun-Day

Contrary to my earlier feelings about snow in general (I hate it and it needs to die), for the last week or so, I've been quite excited about the prospect of one last snow day to end the season right.  There was a bit of time there last week, when we were expecting quite a bit of the white stuff, but that fizzled quite quickly.  Today, on the other hand was another story. Based on the news reports, we were going to get hammered by up to 14 inches of snow, ice, freezing rain and wintry mix, starting yesterday afternoon and heading into this evening.  

Now, by noon, I had pretty much had my heart set on having today off.  However, I did go get gas just so I didn't jinx myself.  Though, since I insisted on staying up an watching the interminable Oscars telecast last night, I was pretty much resigned to the fact there was going to be no snow day for me.  But somehow I got the miracle I was hoping for and was able to spend a warm and cozy day inside crafting and baking.  It wasn't quite the all out assault they were calling for (about 4 inches as opposed to 14), so I'm pretty sure I'll be at work tomorrow, but it did the trick for today.  Thank goodness!  Though I do have a teeny tiny message to whoever's up there controlling when the white stuff falls.

To the weather gods: While I love the snow day fun, I'm not such a fan of the whole 5 degrees outside thing, so while I hate to be picky, if you could just warm up a bit now, I'd be a much happier camper, thanks.  Also, it's March now and spring will officially be arriving in less than 3 weeks, so now that we've all had our fun with lots of snow days, it's time for tulips, and sunshine and birds singing and all other wonderful hints of spring. I don't want to tell you how to do your job but, you need to be getting on that!

Currently

I read an article today about a Project Lifer who does one of these each month (usually on the same day each month, but I'm most definitely not that organized) to show at a glance what she fell in love with or enjoyed each year.  Seeing as there's only 2 more days in February and I haven't done one yet this month, I'll give it a shot.

Enjoying: Crafting.  I've so many ideas lately that I just can't emboss or stamp fast enough. By this time next month, my stock will be well and truly full.

Thinking: About Etsy.  My goal was, before my birthday, to have a shop open.  The more I think about it, the more excited I get but I also start to ponder all the crazy things that go along with it - at least go along with it in my head anyway.  Shouldn't all the things I make, go together in some sort of theme?  I mean quilters, usually just sell quilts.  But I like to do lots of different things so should I stop being a scattered-scrapper and only focus on one thing?

Wearing: Warm and Cozy fleece pjs

Drinking: English Breakfast Tea by Cuppa Tea.  Yum!

Weather: Flipping Freezing!!! It was supposed to snow quite a bit yesterday so I had my heart set on a snow day today, but the lots of snow that was forecasted only turned into lots of wind and dropped the temperature dramatically. Brrr!

Wondering: If the next snow storm that's predicted for Sunday into Monday will get me a snow day so I can stay home and craft.

Wanting: A rainbow of Stayz On Stamp-Pads.  I'm getting tired of my boring black one.

Listening: An interview with Simon Pegg.  He's talking about the terribly hilarious prank he pulled on the cast of Star Trek.  Hearing what all sides thought of the prank never gets old!

Needing: To stop sneezing.  Before I got home, I didn't have a cold but ever since I stepped in the door, I've been sneezing or nearly sneezing which is even worse.  Annoying!

Things on a Tuesday

~ I somehow managed to put dinner on the table with relatively no stress and managed to nail all 3 components (thanks to some additional chef-y help).  The corn muffins were the best I've ever made even though I had no sugar and was forced to open about a billion Splenda packets.  And both new pans worked perfectly.  Gotta love non-stick!

~ I'm having some serious restless leg issues at this moment and am squirming like worm. I hate when this happens!

~ In the midst of my new craft room upheaval madness, this article hits a little too close to home.  I'm pretty sure at least 3/4 of these fit me to a tee!

~ Speaking of crafty upheaval, I discovered about 40 different shades of embroidery floss amongst my supplies this evening.  For someone who doesn't really know how to embroider, that's a lot of floss. Also, I have no recollection of buying that much so I'm not sure where it came from exactly...

~ When I woke up this morning there was a new 1 inch of snow covering the old 6 inches but when I left work this afternoon it was 55 degrees outside.  And yet, there is a possibility of a few more flurries this evening.

~ Even after a long weekend and a snow day last week, I'm hoping and wishing for another snow day on Friday.  Mostly, so I can watch the Women's Hockey Gold Medal game.  Is that wrong?

Snow Day!

Isn't it pretty?  I happen to hate snow usually, but based on all the news reports that were guaranteeing the blizzard to end all blizzards, I was very much counting on a snow day.  Had it not snowed, I would have been quite grumpy, but thankfully it did.  Of course, there was lots of eating, lots of warm beverages, lots of Facebooking and the one thing I hadn't thought about (for some unknown reason) lots of shoveling. Aside from the shoveling, it was a perfect snow day! Now only one more day of work, then a 3 day weekend.  Woohoo!

Snows a' Coming...Yet Again

Things that make me sad about the impending Snow Storm:

It's even colder than the usual cold which increases the number of blankets and layers I'll need to stay warm.
I'll have to use my PTO to get the day off rather than get a free day off like when I was teaching.  Seeing as though I'm still making up time from the last snow day, this is irksome to say the least.
Shoveling will be necessary and required.
My car will once again change colors from Sizzling Crimson Mica to a fairly ugly shade of gray due to salt from the roads.  And will most likely stay that color for weeks based on the darn car wash not being in service because of the temperature.


Things that make me happy about the impending Snow Storm:

A day off, is a day off no matter how you shake it. This means lots of warm drinks and fun foods, a chance to play with the new laminator  and watch all sorts of Olympics coverage.


Snow sucks but now that I think about it, bring it on!  Warm and cozy, beats boring and busy any day!

Brr!

This article is entirely too accurate.  At one time or another I've done all of these things. People don't understand how I can be cold in July but I can.  I've always been this way and the sad part is I'm starting to get used to it.  After this winter where we've seen temperatures plummet to 9 degrees (with wind chills feeling a bit chillier), I'm actually starting to appreciate the 40 degree days.  You know it's a sad state of affairs when you walk outside and feel 38 and think "wow, it's quite warm out this morning."  But just when I think, maybe I've gotten over my freezing-ness, I sit next to a closed window at dinner (as I did this evening) and deal with gossebumps from appetizer to dessert.  Yep, I know I'm strange, but at least, it would seem, there are other consistently shivering, constantly bundling, and always whining people like me out there too.  

Snow Day Slug

As I said yesterday, I'm secretly a fan of snow days even though I'm forced to use my own time.  Quite honestly, when I finally pulled myself out of bed at 7:30, I could definitely have made it in to work.  The storm didn't drop as much snow as I thought it would.  But my heart was already set on a snow day, so I was going to enjoy it; British television, fast food, cookies, warm clothes and all.  A fabulous way to spend a Wednesday.  Now it's off to work in the morning - ugh!

Snowmageddon 2

Ok, so it's not nearly as crazy as the freak storm from a few years ago that completely shut down the state of Maryland by blanketing it in feet of snow.  But it seems that most parts of the state are treating it that way.  Before a single flake fell this morning (starting around 8ish am) all school districts had closed - some as early as 8pm last evening.  By mid-day most agencies, and shopping areas had also closed.  That's a little intense for a storm that has only dropped a few inches of snow so far in the last 12 hours.  

However, you can't really complain when it just looks so pretty!  I know, now that I'm not teaching and have no guarantee of a day off when the snow comes, I'm supposed to be grumpy at the very mention of flakes.  But I can't be.  I secretly love snow days and pray for a big storm at least once a year.  It sucks having to use my own time to take the day off but it's offset by staying inside where it's nice and warm and doing absolutely anything I want - like drinking tea curled up in bed with a good book or catching up with crafting.  Usually, I'm a good girl and set the alarm just in case it's gotten better over night.  But with projected temps around 9 degrees over the next 24 hours, that alarm was long since turned off and the "I'm taking the day" email has already been sent.  Of course, I can hope that maybe, just maybe my office will follow suit and close with the rest of them but I'm really not holding my breath.

For now, I'll just deal and enjoy a nice and cozy, warm and fuzzy day of my own.  Long live the snow day!

Baby It's Cold Outside

I don't think I'm spoiling anything, when I say, Oh my goodness, is it cold outside!  This so called polar vortex (I'm still not sure where that name came from) is turning us all into polar bears.  I've avoided going outside until absolutely needed, worn so many layers I looked like a marshmallow and declared, I'm going into hibernation until Spring.  This is ridiculous!  Aside from not being able to feel my toes, there are some funny stories coming out of this mess, as long as you look past the many different photos of car temperature gauges that are popping up all over social media.

One of my favorites was the story of Michael Bay's mini-meltdown at some conference caused by his tele-prompter not working.  One clever journalist dubbed it "Strictly speaking, he's having a bi-polar meltdown", which made me laugh quite a bit more than I suppose it should have.

Another is the photo that's been making the rounds all day of a light house on Lake Michigan, completely encrusted by snow and ice. Apparently, after quite a few hours of hard-hitting investigative journalism, it was found that the particular picture that everyone had been sharing wasn't even from this 2014 arctic blast.  It was from last year's arctic blast and therefore shouldn't be used to illustrate how cold it is during this vortex.  

The dueling political parties seem to be having a go at the weather's expense as well.  One joke I saw on Facebook today: "It's so cold Governor O'Malley is sticking his hands in his own pockets for a change."

Then of course, there was my personal favorite.  Apparently, during bouts of cold weather like this, it becomes a thing to take various hot beverages outside to see if they'll freeze.  It would seem that some of these experiments were less successful than others, because a handful of people all over the states, have been taken to the hospital with minor burns caused by throwing their warm beverages in the air to freeze.  Really?

Hopefully laughing will warm us up a bit so we can all survive this long cold snap we're having.  And of course, if that doesn't work, summer is officially 5 months and 14 days away, thank goodness!

Falling Behind

Tonight is that dreaded night where everyone in America (except Arizona for some reason...) turns their clock back an hour.  In theory this falling back, is much easier than springing forward since we gain a whole hour of sleep, but in reality it's just not.  This evening it was already dark as night at 6:30.  Isn't that enough?  Why do we now need to make it dark as night at 5:30?  Not sure about you but my brain tells me to go to bed when it starts getting dark, and it doesn't shut up even though it's darker earlier.

Only 7 months 'til Summer sunlight late into the evening is back again...