30-Day Blog Challenge: Day ONE

A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was:

I've got that Friday feeling...so my day is alright so far. The sun was peeking through the apartment this morning SO much that I almost needed my sunglasses to brew some coffee :) Temperatures are expected to be at 80 degrees this weekend! And I'm having a little dinner party tonight which always makes me happy. AND I have a proper lunch break in my future.

So far, so good.

30-Day Blog Challenge

January seems as good a month as any to start a super duper 30 DAY BLOG CHALLENGE. Oh yes, my dears, this is my promise: 30 days of non-stop blogging fun. Here's what you can expect from me, starting tomorrow of course :) Hope this inspires some of you who don't blog because you "have nothing to say"...half the work has already been done for you!

Day 1 – A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was.

Day 2 – A photo of something you ate today.

Day 3 – Your idea of the perfect first date.

Day 4 – Your favorite photograph of your best friend.

Day 5 – A photo of yourself two years ago.

Day 6 – A photo of an animal you’d love to keep as a pet.

Day 7 – Your dream wedding.

Day 8 – A song to match your mood.

Day 9 – A photo of the item you last purchased.

Day 10 – A photo of our favorite place to eat.

Day 11 – What’s in your makeup bag?

Day 12 – A photograph of the town you live in.

Day 13 – Your favorite musician and why?

Day 14 – A TV show you’re currently addicted to.

Day 15 – Something you don’t leave the house without.

Day 16 – Your celebrity crush.

Day 17 – A photo of you and your family.

Day 18 – Something you crave a lot.

Day 19 – Another picture of yourself.

Day 20 – The meaning behind your blog name.

Day 21 – A photo of something that makes you happy.

Day 22 – A letter to someone who has hurt you recently.

Day 23 – 15 facts about you.

Day 24 – A photo of something that means a lot to you.

Day 25 – What’s in your purse?

Day 26 – A photo of somewhere you’ve been to.

Day 27 – A picture of you last year and now and how have you changed since then?

Day 28 – Your favorite movie.

Day 29 – Something you could never get tired of doing.

Day 30 – A photograph of youself today + three good things that have happened in the past 30 days

This is My Winter Song to You

my voice a beacon in the night

my words will be your light

to carry you to me

-sara bareilles, winter song

Domestic Bliss

It was announced last week at work that we'd be given the week of Thanksgiving off. I was thrilled, excited, relieved, and as I sit here during the final hours of Friday before Thanksgiving, I can barely contain myself!
And then it hit me. I am really ridiculously excited to do certain things that most people detest. My to-do list for next week before we head up to Arrowhead for Thanksgiving includes, but is not limited to:

• Hit up the county clerk's office to pick up our marriage certificate
• Hit up the Social Security office, with said marriage certificate in hand, to change my last name (so long Podlas, it's been real)
• Stand in line at the dreadful, bureacracy-ridden Department of Motor Vehicles to get a new driver's license reflecting said new last name
• Make multiple returns to stores at the mall in the crazy Thanksgiving week rush
• Get an oil change
• Clean out my car
• Visit the doctor

Not to fear, I'll be having some fun too. I can't wait to make time for:

• Sorting through over 2,000 wedding photos
• Baking a new recipe I found for pumpkin whole-wheat bread (see post below...haha)
• Having long lunches with a couple friends
• Send some thank-you notes and holiday cards
• Shopping for a few gifts
• Experimenting with what I learn here tonight
• Cleaning the apartment (aka cleaning up life)
• Getting a mani/pedi
• Helping prepare some Thanksgiving goodies for the cabin
• Planning a vacation or two :)

What are your Thanksgiving plans? What are you most looking forward to? Come on, speak up. I know there are more than 2 of you out there!

Doing GOOD While Doing BUSINESS

Leave it to a Degnan to guess correctly :) Well, almost.
Today I launched a new twitter venture to celebrate and highlight the companies in Orange County that are doing GOOD while doing business. I personally recognize the importance of supporting these companies, both as an individual patron and as the recipient of this generosity as it pertains to my work.
Orange County sets a perfect example of the potential that businesses small and ginormous have to make a major difference. From taco shops to surfboard companies to multi-billion dollar commercial real estate empires, businesses here in OC have made it totally trendy to lend a helping hand. I'm okay with that.

Follow me at @doingGOODoc. And if you have a company you'd like to bring attention to, please share...they deserve the attention!

PS - Jamie, your prize will come in the form of homemade bread. Wednesday. Get ready.

tweet tweet

i'm launching a new twitter project/account/alias :) if you can guess what it's about, i'll give you a prize! (you have a pretty good chance considering there are, um, 4 people who read my blog!)

A Monday Letter

Dear Todd,

It’s Monday. And I can’t help but remember the Monday morning feelings I felt exactly one year ago today, waking up next to my fiancé who had proposed just the day before. It was a day of overwhelming love, gratitude, excitement, family and giddiness for what was to come. I couldn’t believe what was happening just before my eyes.

This morning, our alarms went off simultaneously and I had a lucid flashback to that Monday morning after November 15, 2009. That same excitement, love and gratitude rushed over me as I turned to you this morning and kissed your scruffy face. It’s been a year of adventure, of ups and downs, of learning and growing and loving. It’s been a year of finding out who we are – as husband and wife, as roommates, as soulmates.

So, thank you. Thank you…
…for making me laugh uncontrollably with your imitations of an Italian ambulance speeding through the cobblestone streets of Rome
…for perfecting the art of the crockpot and grilled vegetables, and for cooking your own steak so I don’t have to
…for being my warmest blanket
…for encouraging me to step outside of my comfort zone and go camping in sub-zero temperatures (okay, it was 37 degrees)
…for pushing me to talk about things when I want to shut down. Or cry. Or both.
…for bringing flowers home “just because”
…for picking up your life and moving it 50 miles south
…for making the mundane seem fun (I love it when you sing songs as we unpack the groceries)
…for your calming demeanor that makes life seem like a piece of cake sometimes
…for being the very best pasta-maker on this earth. Your homemade linguine comes out way better than mine.
…for loving my family and friends and treating them like they’re yours
…for wiping the tears when they wont stop; for lending your t-shirt as a tissue :)
…for wearing your hideous sandals in spite of the mockery; I love a man who stays true to himself
…for welcoming me in to the most loving, fun and supportive family that I’m so excited to call my own
…for signing us up for this crazy adventure called marriage one year ago today!

I love you more every day.

Love,
The other half of Double T