new adventures for 2011.

i've started a new blog about my adventures going through all of the coupons in the 2011 entertainment book for richmond, virginia and other money-saving tips. come visit me at: http://livingfrugallyblog.com

xo,
r

again, i apologize.

i am still very sorry for being m.i.a. 

but, 

i can tell you a little bit about what i have been doing.

i accepted a new position at a new consulting company

in richmond, virginia

that i am very excited about! 

a little bit more responsibility

and a little less stressful environment. 

i am very excited! 

but this meant saying goodbye to all of my wonderful coworkers

i hope to keep in touch with them

and would like to publicly thank them

for all that they have taught me in the last four years! 

i also took and passed the praxis 2 for earth science, 

in the hopes that in the next few years 

i may move on towards the teaching field. 

i have extensively been researching evening classes

for teacher licensure programs

and met with education professionals in the area about my future transition.

(becoming a teacher is hard work...!)

hopefully 

i will have a little more "rachel time"

to accomplish my hugely-long to-do list 

finally upload pictures from JANUARY

i have to start that etsy shop

finish a lot of craft projects

get ready for my baby sister's graduation

potentially start marathon training

start organizing curriculum

plan some vacations

(including obx with my family,

beach with the girls,

delfest!!!!

and to chicago in a week and a half

to see my fav les!)

so happy spring,

and here's to new beginnings ( : 

hi!

sorry i have been m.i.a. 

SO much going on.

good stuff! 

just a lot of stuff! 

dogsitting

(no longer sure i could handle 2!)

tests

trying to set up my etsy shop

(clearly not as timely as i would have liked)

exciting surprises from my main man

(wicked!)

visiting friends

learning to fry wontons

running 1/2 marathons

you know,

the usual ( :

i saw this today.

thought it was too cute! 

the following was found posted very low on the refridgerator door: 

dear dogs & cats:

the dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. 

the other dishes are mine and contain my food.

placing a paw print in the middle of my plate does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, 

nor do i find it aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

the stairway was not designed by nascar and is not a racetrack.

racing me to the bottom is not the object.

tripping me doesn't help because i fall faster than you can run.

i cannot buy anything bigger than a king-sized bed. 

i am very sorry about this.

do not think i will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort.

however, dogs & cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep.

it is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other,

stretched out to the fullest extent possible.

i also know that sticking tails straight out 

and having tounges hanging out on the other end to maximize space

is nothing but sarcasm. 

for the last time, there is no secret exit to the bathroom!! 

if, by some miracle, 

i beat you there and manage to the get the door shut, 

it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob

or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door.

i must exit through the same door i entered.

also,

i have been using the bathroom for years. 

canine/feline attendance is not needed.

the proper order for kissing is:

kiss me

THEN go smell the other dog or cat's butt

(or your own)

i cannot stress this enough. 

( : 

xyz

we are spoiled, rotten Generation Y kids 

born between 1978 and sometime in the early 90s

think MTV before “The Hills,” 

Atari 

and baseball with long hair, mustaches and no steroids.

 We’ve experienced Nintendo, 

AOL when it was dial-up 

and all the girls in the chat rooms were models

Windows (or MAC)

Doom on a 3.5″ floppy

boy bands

iPods

 iPhones

 & college degrees that stuck us with a mortgage in student loans.

credits: blast

but trust me on completing a triathlon.

in college i was part of

jmu club triathlon. 

i did it for the motivation

there were always people to work out with

great cycling classes

reserved pool times. 

unfortunately,

i didn't find the other members particularly friendly, 

but maybe i was too busy

with my own friends to notice. 

i was cleaning out some of the folders

on my mac

to free up some space

and found this document - 

triathlon advice

(based off the sunscreen song);

surprisingly fitting

for my

half marathon race

on feb 28! 

here it is:

Ladies and gentlemen of JMU Triathlon Club, if I could offer you only one tip for the future, completing a triathlon would be it. The benefits of this sport have been proven. The rest of my advice is nothing more than my own meandering experience which I will now impart.
Beware of train tracks, especially those on Route 11. But it is acceptable if you do not. Chicks dig scars. Go to meetings. Enjoy road trips. It is the best way to get to know your teammates since they have nowhere to hide and they can not escape. Secure bike racks.

Your sleep and meals two days/nights before the race are the most important. Expect to toss and turn the night before the race. Name your bike. Stay away from high fiber, greasy, caffeinated, or different foods from your normal diet that may cause stomach problems. Unless, of course, you want to spend the race in a port-a-potty.

 Carbo load. Eat bread. Garlic bread. What your body does not need, you will get rid of race morning. Don’t forget to have your run number on when you cross the finish line.

Give positive comments to others during your race. Cheer for people before and after you race. Thank volunteers. Make lots of noise. Remember, the crazier the better. Do not be surprised if you pass buff studs. Do not be surprised if you get passed by a 50 year old.

Enjoy your body. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own. Use it every way you can- try three ways within an hour (swim, bike, run). And remember, you look hot in spandex.

Wear purple and gold. Use body glide. On your feet, in between your toes, inner thighs, behind armpits, between your butt. Anywhere to prevent chaffing. Fundraise.

Expect to be hit with propelling objects like arms and legs during the swim. Expect your legs to become Jello when transitioning from the bike to the run; feeling like you are moving backwards is normal. Expect the unexpected (like a flooded transition area).

 Drink water. Drink Gatorade. Eat Cliff Bars and Cliff Shots. But do not do anything differently race day if you have not done so in training.

Do not attempt to put on a tight jersey or shirt after the swim unless you want to give spectators a good laugh. Have an extra of everything.

Don’t forget to smile, have fun, and realize you are doing something few are ever able to dream of. Stay in sketchy hotels. Enjoy the post race food. Consuming twice the amount of calories you burned can be expected. Keep your old race bibs.

Do not shower for as long as possible. You will want to show everyone your body markings. If showering is a must, then I suggest getting some sun. This will cause your numbers to appear white on your red skin.

 Don’t agonize over times. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself. After all, it’s the experience that counts.

But trust me on completing a triathlon.

>} >.

february playlist
inspired by all sorts of 

love: 

love for a significant other

a woman

a great year (this year's love)

love for those less fortunate 

(esther, world on fire)

love for a sister (caroline)

love for a better life

or a higher power (love in the remains)

love for your favorite [childhood] place 

(shady grove, blue ridge mountains, 29 [inspired by rt 29 in virginia])

or your favorite morning ritual
(two cups of coffee). 

so without further ado,

& in alphabetical order (for lack of a better option)... 

accidentally in love - counting crows

ain't no reason - brett dennen

all you need is love  - the beatles

arms of a woman - amos lee

at last - etta james

better love - steel train

blue ridge mountains - fleet foxes

bulletproof weeks - matt nathanson

caroline - old crow medicine show

cheek to cheek - frank sinatra

cheer up - ten shekel shirt

crazy love - van morrison

do you remember - jack johnson

drifting - bebo norman

esther - sara groves

everybody's gotta learn sometime - beck

falling slowly - glen hansard & marketa irglova (once soundtrack)

for emma - bon iver

free - phish

the heart of life - john mayer

how to save a life - the fray

i and love and you - the avett brothers

i'll be - edwin mccain

if there's love - citizen cope

if you never got sick - the wallflowers

if you see her, say hello - bob dylan

jealous of the moon - nickel creek

jeanne - air

kodachrome - paul simon

light my candle - original broadway cast of rent

little room - norah jones

lonelilly - damien rice 

love in the remains - dave barnes

masterfade - andrew bird

mexico - james taylor

nothin' special - del mccoury band

omaha - counting crows

on your porch - the format

paperweight - joshua radin & schuyler fisk

pink moon - nick drake

please come to boston - joan baez

please read the letter - robert plant & allison krauss

sea song - lisa hannigan

sere nere - tiziano ferro

sex on fire - kings of leon 

shady grove - doc watson

some kinda love - the velvet underground

swallowed in the sea - coldplay

there is you - dailey & vincent

this year's love - david gray

true companion - marc cohn

two cups of coffee - josh kelley

world on fire - sarah mclachlan

29 - justin rosolino

i hope you're inspired, too! ( : 

say hello!

we finished setting up our flickr site today: 

flickr.com/photos/wishbonestwo