For some godforsaken reason I renewed my paid LJ account, so I might as well post something. Does anybody care about what I wore to my cousin's wedding this past weekend? No? Ah, oh well, then this is for my own amusement.

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I'd post a picture of myself, but yeah, no. My makeup was sort of a hot mess, alas. I did get to try a bold red lip, though, which was probably a mistake but whatever :P

So I've come to the conclusion that I'm stuck in a rut. I've grown comfortable with my routine and honestly this routine is going nowhere. I'm working at a great school, but I'm doing a job I don't love (though I love getting a regular paycheck), and I have no real intention of getting into teaching anyway, so yeah... I think I need to move on soon. Maybe after this school year. My boss has been dropping hints that they might not need me next year, which I expected, so this is probably a sign.

Where to from here, I don't know yet. I'll have to work something out.

Anyway, my Spring Break trip to London/Paris/NYC went fabulously. Anyone interested in a recap post? I'm sure I've got pictures around here somewhere.

I keep meaning to update my LJ but I never get around to it, or I start entries and then partway I'm like "Wow, this is fucking boring, who wants to read about this?" and I delete everything to spare you guys. But really, I should update this.

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Anyway, if you haven't been following me on Twitter, big news for this year - I'm going to Paris for Spring Break! It'll be my first time there, ever, and I'm pretty exited about it even though I have no idea what I want to do/see when I get there (other than the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and a day trip to Versailles). If you have any cool Paris recommendations, please send them my way! (I'm also doing London - again - and NYC, but I already have a plan for what I'd like to do there ;D) Thank you!

Whee, exclamation marks!

Just purchased myself another year of paid membership, even though I hardly use LJ anymore (correction: I hardly post, but I do read my flist daily). But I dislike looking at ads and I like having the ability to edit my comments, so one does what one must. Plus I like my icons even though I rarely use them. It's all about options.

My birthday is coming up on Tuesday, EGADS SO OLD. I'll do a roundup post then, probably.

But I do have to thank shemmelle for the gift that keeps on giving: Captain America on Blu-Ray :D SO EXCITED. Thank you, Shem!

Work has been super annoying lately (yesterday I was about ready to slap someone), but the fall break is coming up and I'm trying to channel my Annoyance into Not Giving A Damn (in my brain, I am only annoyed because I care too much - if I cared less, it would bother me less, right? RIGHT? Whatever, let me keep my illusions :P) The only things keeping me going at the moment are my upcoming DC/NYC trip and lots and lots of beautiful television that I've put off forever until this perfect moment where I can marathon them all.

Things I've watched lately:

1. Suits! - I actually haven't see the finale yet (saving it), but wowza, what a fun show. It wasn't what I was expecting at all. I think in my head it was a mix of Psych and White Collar, but it's actually more dramatic/less silly-stupid than those shows (don't get me wrong, I love silly-stupid). All the characters are pretty great, especially the female characters (minus that blonde one - ugh, what is the point of you except to cause relationship drama? get more interesting or go away).

2. Luther - Watched both seasons and totally dug it. I don't know why I waited so long. The Alice Morgan/John Luther relationship is fascinating. They're like friends, but how can a cop be friends with a murderer he is trying to prove guilty? you ask. Well, somehow they are. It is awkward and great.

3. Downton Abbey!! - Hotdamn, it took me a long time to get to this. I made it only to episode 3 the first time I tried to watch it and then lost interest. Then everyone and their mother started to love this show and the contrary part of me was like, Ugh, no thanks, I'll wait. And so I waited, and lo and behold, I'm finished with the first series and the second one is about to start - perfect timing!

4. Haven - I'm catching up on this now (watching ep 2x04). You guys, this show is actually pretty good (if you over look the mostly dumb weekly sci-fi-ish plots). So many great characters that make the show worth watching, I think. Nathan is my favorite, which is not surprising at all. I love my unfeeling (literally) robots who discover the power of love. Or something. Whatever, he is tall and cute and that's all I need.

I still haven't decided what I'll be keeping up with this fall now that the new TV season is starting. I honestly don't know what is on, I'm so out of the loop. I think The New Girl and Homeland are the two main new shows I'm going to try.

Anyone have any suggestions, for both new shows I should try or old shows I should get caught up on now that I am in the mood to watch stuff again?

Officially these are called Salted Caramel and Almond Slice, but you can refer to them as "crack bars" like my work friend L does. All the teachers at work hate/love me when I bring them in, which is exactly the kind of reaction I look for when I bring baked goods into work. Yeah, I'm weird, whatever.

Anyway, I HIGHLY recommend making this, and then trying a small piece, and then giving away the rest because they are so freaking addictive.

( Recipe inside! Also, you're welcome :PCollapse )

If you make these, let me know how you like them ;)

So I've been thinking about juicing recently ("juicing" as in making my own fresh juice from a juicer, not taking steroids), for health & diet reasons. I caught Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead on Netflix Instant earlier this month, and I have to say that I thought it was pretty inspiring/motivating. Don't worry, I'm not embarking on a juice fast/cleanse (if I had the willpower, I'd probably give it a try, though). What I'm hoping to do is to incorporate a heck of a lot more fruits and vegetables into my diet, because most days I eat like maybe 1-2 servings if I'm lucky. No, really - it's bad.

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It's been a while, so I'll ease myself into this by doing a list. Yay, lists. I love lists.

SOME THINGS!

1. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART 2 - midnight showing tonight! I'm pretty excited. At this very moment, I'm trying to marathon the first seven movies. It's been pretty slow-going since I started yesterday, am terribly exhausted, and have the attention span of a gnat. So far I'm on Order of the Phoenix and I've been watching at 1.5x-2x speed since Prisoner of Azkaban just so I can get through them. Shit, these movies are long.

2. Seattle! Had a lovely time meeting tons of Dwiggies at DU:2011 (Spring, Wendy, Andrea, Tine, Maria, Jimmy, Meg, and Shem & Erin), drinking margaritas, eating delicious food (Spring's awesome tacos, Maria's fabulous tomato jam, Tine's speculoos, Beecher's mac & cheese, City Fish's Dungeness crab cocktail), shooting things at a shooting range (YOU GUYS, I SHOT SOME GUNS - the Glock might've been my favorite, even though I'm not terribly accurate, but it made satisfying bangs when I emptied the entire clip at Simon's insistence), spa-ing out, and of course some sightseeing. It was an excellent weekend filled with laughter, chickens, bees, huge ass dogs, and lots of cute kids.

3. Work :O I'm technically on break from my day job since it's summer holidays until the end of July. However, my mom is on vacation out of country, so I'm working 12 hr. shifts everyday until she comes back in like 2 weeks. I'M DYING. And then when she gets back, school starts up again and I have to deal with that all over again. Bleh.

That's about it for now. Man, I am so tired at the moment. I don't know if I'll even be conscious during HP7 tonight. I need a nap.

Hiiiiii! Made it out of London alive. It was amazing. I want to go back.

I didn't get to see Buckingham Palace. My mom is appalled I went all the way there and didn't see it. It's not my fault. I blame the London Marathon for foiling my plans.

I didn't get to shop nearly enough.

I am horribly jetlagged but stubborn enough to force myself to stay awake.

This post is pointless, but hi, I wasn't kidnapped and sold into slavery and I'm sleeping in my own bed now and my sinks have single faucets instead of the double faucets which seem to be standard over there (I'm sorry, Vals and any UKers, but I just want to wash my hands with warm water and not have to choose between fiery hot and ice cold water and this is in no way an unreasonable request :P) and I had an amazing time overseas but I'm glad to be home.

OH AND ALAN RICKMAN WALKED PAST ME AT THE THEATRE AND IT WAS AMAZING. I WAS A FOOT AWAY FROM ALAN RICKMAN. HE WAS SITTING THREE ROWS BEHIND ME. I can't even.

Apparently I have not updated this since January - WHAT IS UP WITH THAT? Bad me, sorry. Erm, things!

1. Spring break starts in about a week. I have three glorious weeks off, and much of that will be spent in NYC and London. I'm really looking forward to it.

2. Despite being ready as fuck for a vacation (sorry work, you're draining the life out of me), I HAVE NOT PLANNED MY LONDON TRIP YET. I fear I may just end up going there without a plan, which would be terrible. Thanks to everyone who replied on my last London Trip Suggestion post! Your input will be invaluable in the OMGPLANTHIS phase starting this weekend.

3. I have too many new shoes. I had to send some back. Who needs this many new shoes? It's bad.

4. March turned out to be the Month of Baking. After maybe like, IDK, at least half of year of not really baking things (I go through phases), I have turned into a Baking Machine. My co-workers now know me as That Girl Who Bakes Things (And Leaves Treats In The Staff Room). It's become a problem, sort of. Well, does baking 3 times a week constitute a problem? I have no perspective now.

5. I just made double chocolate espresso cookies. YOU SEE? Maybe it is madness.

6. Also, I bought a new dSLR. IT IS BEAUTIFUL. I am too scared to use it. I should maybe dedicate a new post all about it. I might name it Eames :D

There, a quick and dirty post for everyone wondering if I was still alive. Yes, I'm alive. Hi.