My BFF

For Christmas Break...
I know, I rarely let my friends be cuter than me. I made an exception in this instance. I also tend not to wear make-up, put on responsible clothes or brush my hair when I am on vacation. As evidenced below....
Ugh, she is such a camera hog. That crazy dog. She is also really strong. And kinda heavy (shhh... she is a bit sensitive about that.) Both of these things prove problematic given that she likes to sit on my lap.
At the moment, her favorite hobbies include playing with plastic bottles, sniffing trash cans, following me through the house, laying on her new doggie bed and whipping Shamu through the air. Warning: get to close and you will be hit with a slobbery splash zone.
Yes, our dog has a stuffed shamu. This should be of no surprise to anyone. Now if I could get her to pay rent, she could totally move in with me. I will not mentioned that my dad said she is a total Greene girl. Which came with a "good luck getting one of them to pay rent!" Thanks Dad.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

We take Greene Christmas very seriously. Not only is it "Greene" Christmas, it is "green" Christmas. Complete with a recycling bin in the living room. And it has been that way even before it was the trendy thing to do. In the past, we would reuse the paper, but my mom just "can't find durable quality paper like they used to make." So, now it is off to the recycling bin. Note: ribbon and boxes are reused. And there was definitely a crunch for boxes this year. Thank you Emily for the gift I received that was oh so nicely packaged in a tampon box. Yes, it's true. She did. Personal hygiene packing aside, here is how the Greene gifting system works.

Clearly, gifts must be wrapped is a presentable fashion. The packaging is half of the present.


They also must be wrapped using the family member's designated paper. Gift tags are an unnecessary nuisance. This system eliminates the need for them all together. Unless of course you use the random Chinese take out box to wrap something. Then you need to use a gift tag. (I am willing to bet that my mom never saw that there...)

Here Emily is demonstrating the art of rolling the ribbon (to be used again next year). And she is displaying her paper for 2009. Side note: pelting ribbon rolls at others is a fun holiday pastime.

This system has worked beautifully for years. And my mom can coordinate all of the paper to be aesthetically pleasing as the gifts that lay under the tree. We truly have it down to a science or an art. I'm not sure which actually applies in that setting. Well, we almost have it down. You see, this year, my dad was so proud of the gifts that he wrapped. At least, he was so proud until he realized that he wrapped them all in the same paper. The yellow paper with holly to be exact. The paper designated for all of my mother's gift. Major Greene Christmas faux paux. So, he found himself with a bit of a dilemma. Does he rewrap all of the gifts he just wrapped and waste paper. Or... ::gasp:: does he use a nearly forbidden tacky name tag?

Well, since he is my dad, he did neither. Here was his solution:

He decided to cut a tiny square of paper to label each present. So now, this one clearly (sorta) belongs to Sarah.

Not quite the Martha Stewart Christmas my mom had envisioned. But it got a great laugh. In a Charlie Brown Christmas kind of way.

Now if only there was some way to reduce the noise level that the combination of competitive natures and super mario brothers creates. We are thankful that there is no homeowner's association to upset. And the police have only been out to the house twice.... I think my mom placed the anonymous complaint.

Thing-a-mabobs

On Saturday, I got a very exciting letter in the mail from the State Attorney's Office. How often can you say that? I mean, usually my interactions with the SAO are less than exciting....

But Saturday, I got gold. It appears that a case of interest to me is scheduled for plea in Janaury. That's right....the State of Florida v. The GIRL that broke into our house!

Yes, they caught at least one of the criminals who busted up our front door and walked out with the goods. And it appears that involved in the heist was a girl named Ariel. A girl with 38 some odd counts against her. (Yes, I am internet savvy. I looked it up.)

So, as I am telling this great and exciting news to the Monday Night Dinner crowd (all blog readers/writers, btw), Eva busts out with...

"Stop. No. Her name is Ariel. Like, Little Mermaid- Ariel?"

And then continues with, "I can just see it. She walks into your house, flips her hair and busts out with...

'Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?
Wouldn't you think I'm the girl, The girl who takes everything?"

I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty
I've got who's-its and what's-its galore
You want thing-a-mabobs?
I've got twenty
But who cares?
No big deal.
I want more...."

Oh, how I just love that Eva. She gets it. That's right Eva. I mean really, who steals? Who steals?

Jumping

There are days when I am polished, sophisticated and the epitome of professionalism. I impress myself with how put together I am.

And then there are days when I am not.



Nothing like a little reminder from a friend to keep me grounded. To, well, keep my head/ego out of the clouds. But not out of the cloud bounce.

Tis the season...

Last week the party of the year (at least in my little circle) took place. As always, it was epic. The fashion and style was top notch. The Lady Gaga songs brought the dancing. The food was unreal. And the cameras were clicking. As evidenced by the sampling to follow. Cari, Jessica and Karen really outdid their selves. I mean where else would you see faces like that. (Note to my mom- Angie is wearing a lovely bib necklace. Very 2009/10. Very on my Christmas wish list. You have 5 days.)
I didn't post this picture to blackmail Jessica. I'm not usually that cruel. No, it is posted to highlight in the far left corner the spinach artichoke dip that I am responsible for making each year. Angie passed on the recipe to me. It is a must make. Have I ever lead you astray?
See. Everyone just looks so darn happy. But this night took a turn for the worst when first Karen realized that her phone was missing. Oh, then Cari's phone was missing. Wait, what... and Angie's. And Jessica's. Something was amiss. (Quite literally.) Suddenly the few remaining party goers were tearing Cari's house apart on a mad search for missing phones. It seemed the more we looked, the more we found missing. Such as Jessica's wallet. Yes, it was no longer in her purse.

Well, Cari suddenly remembered that she left her phone with her boyfriend. So, he stopped back by the house to return it. For a brief moment, we thought that maybe our greatest fear (the one no one was willing to speak out loud) had not occurred. But when nothing else turned up, we slowly accepted the reality that there was a thief among us. A thief among friends. Such an unsettling thought.

As we sat in Cari's living room, exhausted, we reflected over the events of the evening. Our accusations kept landing on one person. The one who was a friend's guest. Well, to make it worse a friend's new boyfriend. A guy who successful creeped out nearly everyone at some point in the evening. So how do you tell a friend that you think her boyfriend is bad news? Or...what if he really didn't do it? While that is not likely, we all have a terrible taste for him in our mouths and have no ability to trust him.

So what do you do? How do you tell a friend that you think her boyfriend is a super sketchy slime ball? Without concrete evidence, that makes for one sticky situation.

But..... Cari's house sure looked great!

This is Katie.

I am jealous of her. This is why...

The views expressed in this video...

May or may not be my own. I am going to throw out a general sensor for the nature of the video. It is not for young eyes or old consverative ones. But I HAD to rep the Tallahassee video shoot. Enjoy the local scenes and FSU and FAMU students. (Hmm, not really sure how well that represents us...)

Yesterday

You all know what happened. It resulted in this.
And this.

And this.

So, Julia and I decided that we needed these.
Cupcakes make everything better.

Dear Gator Nation,

While I pride myself on my love of civility and all that it represents. I do on occasion, well, lose it. And on behalf of everyone, everywhere, I have a couple of things to say.

Yes, we are all well over TSPN and the Tebow love fest. We are all completely weirded out by the Urban/Timmy can't bare to be apart relationship. But, we know that these things shall pass. TT will head on to be an at best average quarterback in the NFL, Urban will take the job at Notre Dame (no matter what he says)and like Spurrier, we will soon forget that they ever happened.

What we cannot bear, oh lovers of all things orange, is the way you act. Kicking people when they are down is just a waste of your energy. Yes, my Alma Mater has had arguably the worst season in decades. So, when you, Mr. Random Gator College Kid, say to me in the middle of nowhere SC..."See you in two weeks" (and by "say", I mean mutter under your breath in a threatening yet, cowardly way) I almost feel sorry for you. Is it not enough for you to enjoy your winning season and just leave the rest of us alone? And that goes for all of personal acquaintances who claim the U of F. There really is no need for you not to talk to me for 5 years and then post snide remarks on my facebook wall. You may find yourself defriended if you keep that up.

While I have your attention, I know that you are now accustom to a bit of razzing for your love of the jorts. And you now wear them in a self mocking way. Fine. Whatever. But, you really should know that wearing game day attire out on the town the night before and well after the game is simply not cool. It is not necessary to demonstrate to the world that your wardrobe is limited to an orange and blue polo, khaki shorts and a visor. You look silly. For the love, put on restaurant/bar/club appropriate attire. Class it up a bit. You can do it.

Also, I do not need to hear how God made the sky blue and the sun orange. That does not make God a gator. If so, God must be really busy cheering for Auburn, Illinois, Virginia, Syracuse, UT-El Paso and Clemson (when they mix in the blue). And I really don't see that happening.

So, when those few brave Seminoles head into the Swamp on Saturday, please act like someone who has had a great run. Not with the insensitivity that you love to show so much. All. Year. Long.

Thank you,
A Tired Nole

W...T...Feathers

Angie and I had such big plans for our midweek day off. We dreamed of a nice long run in the morning (but not crazy early) and then we were going to spend the day crafting. Yes. Crafting. Sometimes cool women in their late 20s craft. Deal.

Here is what we were going to make:

You can click for instructions.

It is awesome. We can all agree on that. And Angie and I both have a thing for peacock feathers. Ever since we simultaneously drooled over the feathered place mats that Z Gallerie had last winter. So after our lovely run, we headed out on our adventure to Michael's. To hunt and gather. Well, that lasted all of 10 minutes. Because.... BAM.... there it was! The very wreath that we wanted to make with our own two (well, four) hands.

Cue Angie with the "you have got to be kidding me" face.

So, what did we do? Well, after ranting for a good 15 minutes in the store, we bought the wreath. In all of it's premade glory and then headed to the mall. So much for a day of crafting!

Thank you, Tripp.

You are good and what you do is good.

I cried on the inside.

It would have been on the outside, had we not been in a public place. I am not really big on crying in public. It just isn't my style. So, here is what had me so verklempt....

I know it just looks like a box of earrings to you. And yes, technically, it is just a box of earrings. But to me it was so so so much more than that. As many of you may recall, my jewelry box was taken when our house got broken into. And I was left with only one pair of earrings- the ones that I was wearing that day. And while I do love my gold hoops, they just don't go with every look. (and there was that one day when I forgot one... leaving me looking like a pirate.)

So, last week when I was out with a friend and she said, "I know how much jewelry means to you (well, and me), so........" And cue a sweeping gesture into her purse to reveal the cutest little white box filled with those sparkly gems. Gasp. Heart melt. I was done. No words. (shocking for me... I know.) She didn't have to go to the store and find new earrings for me.... I am sure that she would have rather bought new earrings for herself. But she did. And it meant even more than I thought it could.

Beyond that gift alone, I was reminded of how good my friends are. They are smart, witty, beautiful, caring, compassionate, supportive and thoughtful people. I really have good friends. Do I even deserve that? If even an ounce of their greatness rubs off on me....

Julia, this is your thank you. In the one form that I know you will love.

Because you should know...

I love pumpkin. I really do. So when I stumbled across this recipe (thanks Rossie!), I knew that I had to make them. So, I stalked my local Publix for ALL of their cans of pumpkin. (I do not take this little pumpkin shortage of 2009 lightly.) To all local readers: Club Pub on Ocala is your best bet.

And since everyone has been asking.... here is the recipe. Go. Bake. Be happy.

Pumpkin Cupcakes

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 package instant butterscotch pudding mix
2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1 T. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. ground allspice or nutmeg or cloves*
1 cup butter, room temp.
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
4 eggs, room temperature
1 t. vanilla extract
1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin purée

*I am not a very scientific baker... I just dump in whatever fall spices I have on hand. Go ahead. Judge me. I dare you.

For cream cheese frosting

4 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla
1 t. cinnamon

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. Grease 24 muffin cups, or line with paper muffin liners. Whisk together the flour, pudding mix, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground ginger and company (see note regarding spices) in a bowl; set aside.

Beat the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add the room-temperature eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to blend into the butter mixture before adding the next. Beat in the vanilla extract and pumpkin purée with the last egg. Stir in the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin cups.

Bake in the preheated oven until golden and the tops and spring back when lightly pressed, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

For icing, combine all ingredients and spread frosting on top of the cupcakes. Makes 24 cupcakes. (Makes more icing that needed. Darn, I just had to eat it by the spoonful.)

I'm enjoying. You should too.

But who am I to tell you what to do?

Kourtney Kardashian and I had a similar week....

We both were recovering from home break-ins. Yes, you read that correctly. While the Greene Girls were out of the house, someone (and company) decided it would be fun to bust through our front door. And I mean bust. Because when Emily and I got home that night, we found pieces of our door frame scattered a good 10 feet. Initial thought, ugh... I am going to have to vacuum tonight. Ok. I lied. My initial thought was "They took the TV!" Yes, Emily's graduation present was gone. It was sad. Sarah's Wii was gone. That was sad. My jewelry box was gone. That was sad. The Country Rock Band Game that was left in the Wii was gone. That was tragic. (Wait...I mean... when we sang along to that Country Rock Band game... Now, that was tragic.) And, yes, I had to vacuum that night.

It is amazing how quickly, in such an unexpected instance, our little mantra became, "It is just stuff." "It is just stuff." "It is just stuff." I wish that I could say that I am not caught up with things of this world. But that just wouldn't be true. There are moments when I really miss our TV. It just seems so wrong now to watch a football game on that ol' 25" Sanyo that I got as a freshman in college. And I have to think to myself, it is just stuff. I occasionally think about the the things in my jewelry box (many that I haven't looked at or thought of in years) and now, suddenly, I miss them. It is just stuff. When I think of the time and effort that was spent replacing our front door. (Not that I was physcially involved in that process). But, It is just stuff. And when on Friday night, I was looking for our tickets to the football game and I realized that ::gasp:: those were stolen also. It is just stuff.

Set your mind on things above, not on eartly things.

Colossians 3:2

And the Triangle Tour of Stadiums is complete!

Everyone knows that real fans travel. I am a real fan. Thus, I travel. And it doesn't hurt that I get to see this little face on my visits to the Raleigh-Durham area.

That is my friend Kate. When she wasn't busy talking on my pink phone or using my lip gloss, I taught her how to take self pics like a college girl. I'm sure that her mother will be spending the next 18 years undoing the damage that I did in a weekend. Speaking of her mom, she is my sweet friend Nicole who I have known since college. For years (long before Kate), I have been visiting Nicole and her husband for the FSU game in that area. We have been to games versus NC State, Duke and Wake Forest... and this was the year that I FINALLY got to go to the UNC game. So, here are a couple of sights from Kenan Memorial Stadium.

Yes, Chuck Amato was there. With Christian Ponder.

Bobby Bowden also made an appearance. (Side note: Coach Bowden and I were in line next to each other in airport security. And, yes, TSA makes him take his shoes off.)

We won. If you missed it, catch the replay tomorrow. And with that win, a little piece of their field was scooped up for sod cemetery.

So, what was that final score? Well, those tarheels didn't leave it up. Literally, final seconds tick. Score down. Sore losers.

Why I haven't been blogging much....

Well, here is the thing. I have had lots of thoughts recently. Thoughts that were only partially blog worthy. You see, I haven't been able to put together all of the things the have been floating in my head this week. I firmly believe that this is all the direct result of a hair mishap that occurred on Saturday. As is the case with most of my hair mishaps, I typically shoulder a lot of the blame. And 9 times of 10 it is bang related. I have a really bad habit of KNOWING that I do not want my bangs cut. Yet, whenever they ask me in the salon, I say... Sure! Why not? Well friends, this was that 1 time that it was not bang related. It was all about the color. Results: shiny and super ridiculously blonde hair. I honestly think that I am dumber as a consequence.

Get your laughs out now. Ha. ha. funny. And yes, I have had the light off in my office all week. Don't judge.

But as much as I really don't like it. It is JUST hair. It really is so insignificant that I am pretty embarrassed over how much I have obsessed about it. And I am really embarrassed when I think about how it compares to the type of week that others around me have had. Yesterday, my dear friend Karyn was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer. The news has hit her family and our community hard. And it whipped my petty little head into place with a much broader perspective. Karyn's diagnoses is huge and sudden and overwhelming. And really has sucked the wind out those who know her. But here is the even bigger piece, the God that loves us is SO much bigger than too blonde hair... and even SO much bigger than shocking a diagnosis.

Ever want a shift in perspective? Watch this....

Ding Ding Ding!

Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have a Stuff Christians Like Winner! Those of us who work with college students voted and we all agree. Check it out: http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/10/631-the-campus-babysitter/#

The World's Largest Wet T-shirt Contest...

Before:

During*:

After:
I was too sad to pull out my camera. And wise enough not to capture that sopping, sun scorched mess in digital form.

Dear Committee/Person/ Decision Maker(s) who declare the ____-out games, Please. I beg of you. No more. As much as I love a good theme party, the "black out" games of years past resulted in the same epic fail that we experienced yesterday at the 1st ever FSU Diddy Style "White Out". (And as Lea Marshall said in the welcome at church this morning- "we really need some white out after that game!") I do love my Seminoles. I always will. But yesterday was brutal. Noon kickoff in Tallahassee meant be in the hot hot hot stadium, only to be cooled off by the afternoon showers. So there we were hot, wet and sad. It was sloppy. The only redeeming factor was hearing the air get sucked out of the Gator nation later that evening when Tim Tebow took that hit. I really hope that Tim is alright. Because I would like to thank him for taking one for the team and making that the lead story on the TSPN (Tebow Sports Network). By 9pm, everyone forgot about FSU/USF.

Well, almost everyone.

Is it bad that when, as I was driving to church, I passed a gathering of Bulls fans waiting outside of the towing lot trying to retrive their vehicles and I giggled a little?

*photo credit: Jason Sowell

We have a plan...

Let me introduce you to my friend Dane. He is the brother that I never had and I am the sister that he always wanted. Dane is the Campus Minister at Wingate. And he has given me the gift of a life long invitation to the Wingate University Campus Ministries Beach Reatreat.
Dane and I have a plan. And it is a good one. We are going to win the Lottery. And the earnings will allow me to be the Assistant Campus Minister at Wingate. Job duties to include keeping Dnae organized and endless coffee trips.
And at this year's beach retreat, we put this plan into action. Keep your fingers crossed! C'mon South Carolina Lottery- don't fail us now!

MB part 1 of 67

When you let a spunky college girl sneaks away with your camera at myrtle beach, you come home and find pics like this....

And about 50 others of sleeping college guys.... I felt the need to immediately delete a bunch of them. I didn't want anyone to think that they were mine! Yikes.

It only took him 4 years...

to get over the fear of being a member of our crazy family. Even if you weren't reading this post, you probably heard my mother shrieking or smelled the aroma of the celebratory meal that Lea will be making. Yes, friends, the rumors are true. There is finally going to be a Greene Guy!

Last night, in the pouring rain, Jeffrey proposed to Sarah. She tried to call Emily and me...but we were at the football game. And who answers their phone at a game? In the rain?

And having been privy to fact that last night was the night, our plan was to rush home and be sitting on the couch, watching tv, wearing bridesmaid dresses when she return. Unfortunately, I recently donated my extensive collection of bridesmaid dresses. So, instead, we were there waiting with wet hair in sweatpants. Oh. so. glamorous.

For the record, her ring does not look like this:

Or like this:

It is actually very stunning and absolutely perfect for Sarah. Whew! All of those nightmares that I had where Jeffrey proposed with a hideous ring were for naught!

Fun Friday

Really makes me miss summer camp. Oh the memories. Not that I ever pulled this off...

The Aftermath

At 8am this morning, I pulled into the faculty lot at the stadium, as I do every Tuesday morning. It was quiet. It was calm. It was almost as if the night before never happened. Wait. Really? It is possible that it never happened? And then, low and behold, I saw this...

A small bit of the aftermath. And the reality of the night before back to set in. This place, only 7 hrs before, was full of activity. Well, and if you want to know the end of that story. Feel free to visit espn.com on your own time. Although, the sampling of messages below will be a heavy indicator.

(via gchat at 8:07am)
Travis: I was completely sober last night, yet I still feel like I was repeatedly hit with a shovel.

(also via gchat)
Meghan: Dear Miami fans, Could I please have my soul back? Love, Meghan
Julia: Miami fans, You are thugs. Hate, Julia

(from my favorite minister in NC via txt)
Dane: "You ok this morning? I hope all the starbucks in Miami burn down and they suffer really bad caffiene headaches." Oh, someone who knows me so well!

Motivation

Ignore that I failed to turn the flash off and focus on the fact that the Noles are ready to turn those hurricanes into a mere tropical depression...

Why?

So I have this friend. Some of you may read her blog. She is simply lovely. And as two lovely people, we enjoy the occasional social outing. Although I am beginning to think that someone, somewhere is trying to put a ban on our fun. Because these are becoming familiar sights for us:

Now picture two lovely blondes standing outside "pulling hard" and.... entrance FAIL. That door is SO locked and the lights are SO off and the cupcakes inside are SO off limits to us. (Note: quite a few people failed to inform/remind us that Lucy & Leo is closed on Monday. Which is an absolute shame. As everyone knows, there is no day more than Monday for one to need a cupcake.)

Now for Exhibit B. After deciding to grab lunch at Paradigm and spending all morning beyond giddy about it and then heading out on venture downtown, we walked up to this:

And saw this sign:

Yet another failed attempt at bliss. So to whoever is hating on us. We promise, we will be less cool, less fun and less practically perfect in every way if you just let us in! OR...we will remain all of the above AND invite you along for the fun! Deal?

All about ME!

I will not neglect my blog.
I will not neglect my blog.
I will not neglect my blog.
I will not neglect my blog.


Well, now that I got that out of the way and I have regained my readership. I am pleased to announce that my award for the best marketing campaign of 2009 goes to...... Lexus!

And here is why... Every single month, I get this little gem from them...
That's right. It is a magazine after my own selfish little heart. Complete with all the things that I love. Yes, that would be food, travel, clothes, sports, and clothes. (Mentioned twice for the obvious reason.)

And the inside cover is just so me.... I really do think that they should have called the RX, The Meghan. After all, who cares about anyone in Gainesville.

Done. Sold. Deal. The MDX is dead to me. I want the RX.

(Shh....don't tell my MDX!)