Santa Suzz

Usually I post about anecdotes involving local farm hands or videos of me that I hope to one day win me $10,000 on America's Funniest Home Videos. But today's is a bit more braggadocios. So click away if you were looking for humility.

I am done with my Christmas shopping. I know. Like for real done. And it's only November 28.

Okay, so I am waiting for a few things to come in the mail, but that doesn't count, they are en route.

I love Christmas shopping. I wish it would never end. I don't really stick to a strict budget on shopping, I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't go into debt over it, but I think it's the one time of year to just buy buy buy.

Once I am done shopping, I always start to dream about the idea of being a personal Christmas shopper for other people. Spending other people's money on gifts would be amazing. Do you need me?

Since I'm freed up from shopping, I can focus on Christmas decorating, cards, and Christmas movies. Oh yeah and cute wrapping. And focusing on advent of course :)

And this lady is my favorite Christmas ad of the year, she cracks me up:

Target Lady

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, I sure did.

Well I've been busy this past month, mostly working on this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5tp5wweSHk

Our friend Ashley always wanted a surprised choreographed dance at her wedding, so we really did it. Kind of feels like a bucket list item to choreograph and pull off a real flash mob.

What was not part of the plan: my wicked fall. RIGHT before hitting the music, we were like, should we wear our shoes or not? We debated, and then said, ditch the shoes, it will be easier. I was the only one wearing tights (the wedding was outside and it got down to 30 degrees- yikes!), and I walked through the damp grass to get to the dance floor, made a sharp turn, ie creating a horrific fall. It really did not hurt at all, but I'll be honest, I am sore today. I laughed harder than I have in a long time as we re-watched the fall about 50 times last night. We had another videographer in the back of the room, and we are in the process of editing the master copy.

We thought hey, at least now, we might get on America's Funniest Home Videos. Fingers crossed.

punkin paradise

Well it all started here: at Gray's farm and pumpkin patch with some pals. We picked our medium sized pumpkins and then I bought about a 1,000 gourds and mini punks.

I love me some owls...


No we don't have 8 people at our house, but I couldn't resist.



It's hard to decorate for Halloween without being super cheesey... Happy Fall Lal Lal Lal Lal! 2 weeks ago it was 97 degrees, and this morning it was 40. Yikes.

Back on the farm

Well it was free range day for the chickens and they were next to my car as I walked outside today. I wanted to thank them for the brown eggs they lay for us each week. But I also wanted to ask them to keep the crowing to a minimum before 6 AM. Eh, I guess the free range life comes with its costs.

TGFMKAM

Total bonus points for anyone that can figure out the title. I'll give away... oh wait I don't have giveaways on this blog. I don't think major kitchen appliance makers really go for blogs that 15 people read, every once in a while. I digress.

Not long ago, some of my great friends sent me a killer package to my new pad in NC. It had great music, some colorful notes from a wee one, snacks and some homemade soft pretzels. Now soft pretzels are an all time favorite snack. My friend Heather passed on the recipe she used:

http://annies-eats.com/2010/09/02/soft-pretzels/

I had a chance to make them last week and they were AMAZING fresh outta the oven- mmm mmm. You should try them.

Maybe I'll go pop some in and enjoy some dramatic project runway. Yes sir. TGFSP.

the things i love (well like)

My new camera bag I got on etsy (http://www.etsy.com/transaction/33227820) and I know it sort of looks like a diaper bag, but I don't care. It's really sturdy, yet cushy, it's super functional and the inside protects the camera and lens very well. I would highly recommend it and she does every bag custom, so you get to pick the fabric and the colors.

Next up: my camera strap! Okay, so it's hard to take a picture of your camera strap, so give me a break. Once again from etsy, different shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/denisehytonen?ref=seller_info). This was also custom made, and yes, I did make my strap and bag matchy matchy. The strap is comfy and has a cute lil pocket to put your lens cap in. And it's long enough to go across your body, so you don't just look like a tourist.

Side note: having an SLR camera around high school kids is kind of like having a puppy without all the maintenance and pee on the carpet. Kids love to have their picture taken and are obsessed with looking at them on facebook, and they also always want new technology, so if I have it with me, there is always something to talk about: yes and yes.


Random, un-camera related stuff: a fun chart that I got off some blog (e mail me if you want it, I have it in a pdf) that is "Really Good Stuff I Already Have", it's like a reverse shopping list. It has categories to list what you own, so you don't let food go bad or forgotten about. I laminated a copy with my handy dandy laminator and just use dry erase markers. Right below it are the cutest mini file folders that are MAGNETIC! They were so adorable at Office Depot that I had to get them, thinking about how to use them came later. I have put coupons in them, and for now they are just making the side of our fridge cuter than cute.

Can I get an AMEN?!

So last night we had our All County Club for Young Life. It was super fun- we had a great turn out, like 230 kids. I had the privilege to share with them a bit about Jesus meeting the disciples and how we can have really weird first impressions of people.

We had a new leader in the back of the room taking pictures during club for our facebook page. She snapped this one in what must have been a very passionate moment of mine. Or I was probably just referencing an embarrassing story from college.

It must have been so compelling, those high school boys talking in the picture were probably just digesting a morsel of wisdom I had just dealt out. Or they were talking about what they were going to order at Cookout after club.

Just call me Beth Moore.

Redneck Nightmare

I wish I knew how to re-order pics, but I can't on here. But above is our new living room. I know, it's not going to be featured on a blog (other than this lame one) or put in a magazine, but if you saw it before, it was like an episode of Hoarders, and the end result is at least orderly and doesn't have 28 dead cats hidden under the layers of trash. Okay, we never had dead cats. Yet.

Yes, the post title was also a t-shirt worn by our neighbor, John Boy (JB) today. We couldn't complain though, because he drove us in his big ol truck up 10 miles to a FURNITURE BLOW OUT BONANZA sale. There is something humbling about walking into an old Wal Mart to buy a cheap sectional, but we need extra seating in our giant, wood-paneled room, so we found the best piece of furniture in that place and hopped in the truck and bolted home (minus the stop at a car repair shop, for unknown reasons). As I was sitting in the back seat with the wind blowing in my hair, creating more frizz than I was comfortable with, listening to Kenny Chesney blaring on the radio, I thought where the heck am I? But I am in my new home, getting more and more comfortable with the country differences. It's fun.

Office pic: cute desk from ikea that my staff associate Peter labored long and hard over. Thanks :)

The pic above is of our dear JB. This was minus his cowboy hat and the snake skin boots are not in the picture. He was in our kitchen, being tutored by Janelle (middle school science teacher) because he is failing biology and he suddenly became Janelle's new project.

more pics

Our new kitchen table! Abby got it from an antique store and it's great to have a place to sit and eat! Woohoo!
Desk with some fun green shadow boxes above. Let's just say, I need to take a class on how to properly hang things. But hey, at least they are up.
Craft project: same fabric from the closet curtains I used to make an earring holder. Super easy: using a canvas, I just hot glued fabric to the back and then glue strips of white ribbon across it.

FINALLY some pics

View of the closet: queen duvet cover sewn into closet curtains (the doors were not so great, so I took them off)
Big girl bed. First time not sleeping in a twin bed. AMAZING.

tales from the farm

I mentioned our neighbor John Boy (JB) in my last post. He is very sweet and we feel like he looks out for us, but the nature of a farm boy is a bit of a loner. We can't really go outside without meeting him in the yard, asking us about something. Ugh, that's when the Yankee in my kicks in (I like using that as an excuse down here, it works). Friday night, I was returning from the first high school football game here and as I pulled around to our carport, there were 3 boys standing there, which freaked me out a little bit. It was JB & Co, meaning his brother and some other kin. I got out of the car and they told me to go change because they wanted to take me late night 4-wheeling. As appealing as dying in the woods with strangers in the backwoods of NC is, I had to turn them down. The next day he had the 4-wheeler parked in the backyard all ready to go, but I was running errands. One day, JB, one day.

I feel like with moving, you end up shopping/running errands every day for the first 2 weeks. Don't get me wrong, I love me some shopping, but it just gets old. I had my first small town experience while shopping yesterday at Walmart. While checking out some cute little ottomans, and trying to figure out if they were comfortable enough to buy for the killer deal of $17, a man behind me said, "Are you sure you need any more furniture?!" I slowly turn around to see a man I sort of recognize. He was definitely talking to me, so I smile, and try to place him. I realize I met him in some sort of service kind of profession, but we've had so many people at out our house delivering things, I couldn't figure it out. He smiles and said, "How's that bed of yours doing?" Bingo bango. It was the man who came and delivered my bed. But he was also the man who after setting up the bed, ran his hand across the pillow top and said, "It's a mighty big bed for just one young woman." Then I picture him doing the wink and giddy up noise like Uncle Eddy from Christmas Vacation, but that part's not true. He was simply being a nice man in a small town, but all of a sudden all my memories from crime shows kick in and thought of a slightly creepy man remembering delivering my bed meant he probably remembered where I lived. I put the ottoman down, complimented his memory and said goodbye. He said he hoped to see me around, which I think is a totally normal thing to say down here, but in light of his earlier comments, I hope never comes true. And the bummer is, I still am up in the air about the ottoman.

my keys sounds different

And I'm back. Sorry about the blog vacay. Here's a short recap: After taking high school kids to camp, I packed up my life, stored it in a basement, and staffed a YL camp down in Virginia for 5 weeks. My assignment there was incredible: met some great new friends, have a dream of visiting one of them in London this year (fingers crossed), was able to see God do some amazing things, and laughed a ton at some funny high school drama. Then about 12 hours after returning from camp, I moved said basement boxes into a few vehicles and began my journey down south. I just summed up a major life transition without very much emotion, but my heart has felt the range of excitement to major stress (the moment I realized I hadn't packed my treasured beach cruiser bike) to an overwhelming sense of gratitude to parents, friends, roommates, strangers, etc. There is nothing more humbling than being helped and served, at least to me, and I have experienced that out the wazoo this week, and words (and certainly not blogs) can express my heart towards my dear friends. So thank you.

I'm in Salisbury, North Carolina. I did it, I'm here. I brought an over-the-top amount of personal belongings, I think my roommate might sign me up for Hoarders, but ya know what.... I'm finding places for them. I just may never be able to downgrade into anything smaller than a 3 bedroom house (with an office). As I pulled away from Annapolis, it was very odd to have only one key on my key ring, and that was my plastic Honda key. I felt homeless and officeless, but only for the 7 hour drive down. As soon as I got my new house and office keys, it was weird, because they make a totally different jangle. It's like when you change your ring tone on your phone, but forget, and you're sitting in a restaurant thinking, who's the idiot who's not answering their freaking phone, and then you realize it's on your lap and it's the new Droid ring you don't recognize...that's like my new keys.

I feel like my blog could be called "Suzz's Pet Peeves" instead of Suzz News, because I know I complain/make fun of culture on here, and I'm sorry if I am offending people, but why stop now? Have you ever noticed that people blog/facebook/e mail/call/tweet a lot in life transitions, especially moving? It's like we all want to hold onto something stable, so declaring status' to the world makes us feel more normal. I know by posting tonight, I am in that club, but I always laugh when people really brag a lot about the new place they live in, and how cool the scenery is, how much better the coffee is, yada yada yada, when really they are scared of the change. Well don't worry, I won't be too braggadocios. Can I tell you a few funny things about my new stompin grounds?

• Southern people are by far nicer. It's true. I think I'm actually nicer now that I am down here. But they are also slow. Like you can't just wave to a neighbor, you have to stand out in the 185% humidity and talk about all their "kin" that live on the land. All that came from a nice lady named Beth, who I had to ask her name a few times because she kept saying "Baaaaaaeeeth".
• I always tell people I like older houses, because they have so much character. Here's the truth: I like older houses that have been completely redone and have modern updates. We are living in an older house that just has awkward parts to it. No cabinet can hold anything higher than about 7 inches. It's as if no one housed cereal boxes in the 50s.
  
• We seriously, seriously, live in the country. But it's right off the highway, so it's deceiving. While meeting local "kin" on the land, we met a neighbor I affectionately call John Boy. He asked my roommate to lunch already (she turned him down), then we found out he's 16. We feel like he'll watch out for us. He is the quintessential country boy. He drives a truck, tractor, wears tight jeans, is always doing chores, and is kind to the ladies on the street. He walked over the other day and asked if we eat eggs (took me a few times to clarify what he was asking about), we said sure, and then he offered us 15 dozen. We didn't think we could eat that many, but he insisted on giving us 2 dozen. When he put them in the fridge for us, he told us to never buy eggs or watermellon again, to just get them out of the backyard when we need them. Because of course, we have a chicken coop in the backyard. Talk about eating local. During my short lived (and much needed) nap today, I was woken up by the rooster out back. This is real life. I did have the awesome thought of, hey maybe this is how the Pioneer Woman got her start, and it made me excited to blog.
  

This is way to long to not include pictures, I am sorry, but the good news is, I splurged and bought a nice camera, so now I just have to learn how to use it, and share them with you all. I will try to brag more later, but for now, I should probably hit the hay before the rooster crows.

going postal

It's ten thousand degrees out, which can only mean one thing: 'tis the season to move. Whoever invented moved heavy objects ONLY in the summer months should be shot...

Speaking of being shot...I visited the post office today. It was one of my many errands that I was so feverishly crossing off my list with a big fat sharpie marker. Can I vent for a sec? Thanks. Every time I walk in that place, the line is without a doubt 45 people long. I have mastered the use of the self-automated machine, but today, I needed some over-the-counter assistance, unfortunately. It's always the same 3 people working this counter. Tall Guy that just moves packages behind the scenes and unlocks some magic door, Ronnie the former hippy with a pony tail that is about 4'11 tall and a Big Black Lady that you either need to win over immediately or step aside.

The only reason I come to the post office is to send off fun packages or buy some cute stamps. Nothing else, and no one else should have any other agenda there. But they do. And they are all standing in front of me. One girl was applying for a housing loan, another guy was sending liquid, perishable and flammable stuff to an unknown person in Brazil- no joke. And last and certainly least, an older guy who had to be retired with this being his only outing all day, just chatting it up as loud as he can with everyone in the place. He's swearing and talking about his mom, it was just weird. He had Ronnie, and that's good, because if he would have gotten BBL, he would have been donzo.

My other errands were more fun and included a new white watch (my friend Mattie was my inspiration- thanks :) ) and some Target goodies. But I will declare, for the first time in my life I am sick of shopping and sick of stuff, because anything I buy means I have to box it up, put in the basement and carry across state lines come August.

I am off to a month long assignment at a camp tomorrow- but heck we're not living in tents, I shall write from there!

"Your place to buy and sell all things handmade"

As I was taking a survey on Etsy, for a chance to win an ipad, i might add, this page came up. If I would have known they were selling these, I would have put half a dozen potty trained, obedient toddlers in my cart. What? They are handmade, for sure.

awkward technology

Ahh the ease and convenience of modern technology. But ahhhhh crap, how it brings some awkward situations. Kate Spade actually has an entire cute little book devoted to the proper etiquette of such things as e mails, texting and social network sites.

I could have used a lil Kate Spade today.

One of my BFFs, who shall remain a mystery, is currently working on a re-election campaign. Her job provides her with hours of travel, working 7 days a week, and charming the pants off little conservative old men she meets on the trail. She's great at her job, but sometimes it's a drag.

I digress, I need to cut to the awkward part.

She and I have gotten into the habit of video chatting (over gmail chat) anytime we are both sitting down at the computer. Usually, it's just a quick show of something fun we just bought, a cute new necklace or a perm job that is losing its umph (her's, not me: she got it at walmart. enough said). Today was one of those days. I LOVED her new gray dress from Target and just as soon as I complimented her on that, she held up a campaign flier with "The Candidate" s picture on it.

"Oh wow, I totally pictured him, you know, like YOUNGER and CUTE!" I said.

Her eyes widened and her fingers type as fast as she can: (real gchat conversation, names changed)

Her: SHUT UP
me: is he right there?Her: he's in the other room

but could hear you

me: oh my gosh

Her: i'll video you later

me: sorry

Her: "i always thought of him as younger and cute"

preceded by "That's him?!?"

me: i have never felt so awkward over video

you are lying

he did NOT hear me

Her: i wouldn't be laughing

i think he did

me: no way

Her: okay have to run

bye

I am hoping my dear friend isn't fired. Oh Kate Spade, how I needed you today.

Moral lesson: never video chat at work, or let your friend comment on your boss's age and looks without head phones on. Yikes.

Summa Summa Summa-time

Today marks the first day of Summer- woohoo! Honestly, I thought that was like a week ago, so I have mistakenly been acting like it's summer already. My bad.

Being an adult, in the summer, sans children can be a little odd. There's nothing like hot weather that makes you want to be a little one running around without a care in the world, or at least live vicariously through them. Usually in the summer, I like to make a fun, colorful list of lots of magical plans for the precious 3 months, but since I am moving this August and spending 6 weeks at camps, I think my goals include keeping my head above water, being an organized packer and hoping my legs become less translucent than they already are. Lofty goals, I know.

I'm going to go back in time and relive some of my favorite childhood summer activities:

• 11am-6pm @ Highland's Pool, 6 days a week. Riding my bike there and having just enough money to buy either nachos or a minute maid popsicle at rest period.
• Coming home from said pool and crashing on the floor of our family room, still in a wet suit, watching Hey Dude or Wild and Crazy Kids.
  
• Eating most of our family meals out on our screened in porch, something always grilled.
  
• Playing softball a few times a week, and since I wasn't really good or wasn't too passionate about the sport, it was just a time for me to hang out with my friends.
  
• Finding some movie to be obsessed with (My Girl, Now & Then....) and trying to recreate them with my friends.
  
• Setting up multiple "road side stands": lemonade, flowers, tomatoes (from my Grandma's garden) and friendship bracelets. We were always trying to make a buck.
• Taking naps in our hammock on the porch, often disturbed by at least one older brother flipping me out of it.

Ahhh... more than anything, to just lay around, watch re-runs of Saved by the Bell, stay up past your "bed time", play flash light tag, and catch fireflies, just to let them die in an old butter container the next morning. The bliss of summer.

What are your goals this summer or favorite memories from years past?

Less Offensive Post #2

In an attempt to offend less moms, photographers and bloggers in this post, I will center on something we can all enjoy: finding the thing you need at the price you want, Bingo, bango.

Now there are some SERIOUS coupons blogs out there, and I will never ever ever be one of those, mostly because my calling is people centered rather than saving 35 cents on 4 boxes of Fiber One bars, but I do love me some good deals. I like to shop and beat the retail system by finding the loop holes of deals! I like to think of shopping as my lead hobby- it's multitasking at its finest (sort of).

May I share a quote? "Much of the joy we get from our purchases lies in the experience of seeking them out, getting them home, and opening them up," from the latest Real Simple magazine (pg. 70), from economist Tyler Cowen.

Couldn't be more true for me. I love the hunt, I love the search and I LOVE LOVE LOVE coming home and fitting them into my other toys. It's bad.

Speaking of magazines, I saw a pair of sunglasses that are TDF (aka To Die For). I want them. Real bad. But they are $250. Yikes. Enter the Great Sunglasses Debate. Do you:

1. But a cute, cheap, trendy pair, because you know will either get sick of them, sit on them, or lose them in a tidal wave/underneath your car seat/your hair?
2. OR do you save up, invest in a really classic pair that you can have for a long time, and you will be forced to take great care of, because you gave up buying groceries for a month to purchase them?

I am going to kill the suspense and just say it: I'm a #1 kind of girl. Maybe one day, when I grow up, I will invest in one, but for now, too risky.

This is the pair I REALLY wanted (but in tortoise color):
(Norma Kamali)

Compare them to the real pair I bought from Forever 21, and by pair, I mean 2 pairs, because let's be honest they were $5.80.

Finding killer deals on any cute things recently? Sometimes I want that to be my calling.

i'm kinda scared of blogs...

You know when you're about to fall asleep, and you have your last few conscience thoughts pop across your brain? Those are my best times for ideas, followed closely by long showers and driving in the car alone on Sundays. Last night, I vaguely remember thinking about what my blog was going to be about, but like most things at that time of night, it's gone with the wind (aka the fan I have blowing on my face so I can sleep at night).

Can I give you my quick history with blogs? Thanks...

• In college, when blogs were really only starting to blossom, we had a rule in our house of girls, that you couldn't date someone with a blog. A college-aged-guy with a blog in 2004 was just weird. It meant he thought a little bit too highly of his thoughts. We also had a rule about not dating a guy who had sailboats embroidered on his belt- that rule still stands. Even in Annapolis.
• I was just never into blogs before a year or so ago. I thought they were pretty self-absorbed (they probably still are to some degree). But then I founds lots and lots of cute cooking ones, crafty ones, etsy ones, really meaningful ones, and ones of dear friends that live in different states that I love to read and catch up on their fun, little, quickly, daily lives!
• I discovered Google Reader and was hooked. Anything google makes, I follow. It revolutionized my blog reading and now I look forward to them like e mails. Well you know, good e mails.
  
• I still like to make fun of blogs. Especially (but not limited to): ones all about their kids and how CRAZY it is to raise them (like people haven't been doing that for thousands of years without pacifiers, bumbo seats and DVR, to mention a few), about kids pooping, about how CRAZY it is to plan a wedding, how CRAZY it is to be a stay at home wife, etc etc. You're picking up what I'm laying down. Bloggers can be CRAZY. I like normal bloggers. I also like to laugh at photography blogs of people that aren't very good, but think since anyone can own a nice camera for $800, that will make them good. Oooh...now you think I'm mean. But c'mon, we've all seen them.
• Why blog? Well you gotta give the fans what they want... just kidding. I am in a transitional time of my life, and I want to record some of that, even if it's just for me and the 2 other people that have promised to read this. That's fine. And I really hope this will help maintain contact with some dear friends, in a fun, here's what the corner of my world looks like, kind of way.
  

I used to journal more, and I loved writing down thoughts that only I would see, and I still FULLY believe in that. I see a lot with high school kids that every single emotion they feel turns into a facebook status which is scary. Instead of being mad at your mom for not letting you spend the night somewhere and running upstairs, slamming your bedroom door, and then an hour later forgetting about it and snuggling up next to her to watch a movie, kids will post "I EFFING HATE MY LAME PARENTS" and then like 76 of their closest acquaintances will weigh in with highly technical advice, like "Yeah, I h8 every1 over the age of 34 too" or "I gave up on my parents years ago" or "Screw them, sneak out with me?" There's nothing like a mob to keep you mad. It goes beyond that, to the point, where I think there is a generation rising that will really struggle managing their emotions without texting someone to weigh in. Yikes.

All that to say, this is not my proverbial sleeve to lay all my heart break and emotions onto... thank goodness! It's like a longer version of a healthy facebook status or google buzz/reader without me annoying people that don't want to see it pop up next to their inbox! With my background in journalism, I will always say, I know a little about a lot, my knowledge is shallow of most things. That can be a fun strength, but obviously has its weaknesses. That translates into me having very few of my own ideas and creative genius. I like to borrows those from people with deep knowledge- those who know a lot about a little. Most everything I write here will be borrowed, but I will try to give credit where it's due.

So enjoy the occasional post. And yes, I will remember you when I end up featured on the Today Show for my amazing blogging skills (sike!).