CONFESSIONS OF A FAT GIRL

Quote of the Day -- the Country Music Man Knows

Happy New Year!

There and Back Again: A Blogger's Tale

So let's tackle the elephant in the room.

Well, the metaphorical elephant. Tackling an actual elephant would be really hard.

Also, the only animal in the room with me right now is my friend's Husky/German Shephard mix. And while he's a BEAST of an animal, he is nowhere near as large as an elephant. 

But enough about elephants. 

The year is just about over and as I said, I don't really have any complaints. And many are probably wondering how I did with my "33 in 2012" goals. 

If you've checked in at all with the page, you've been able to see what I did and did not do as I went and obviously, I was not able to accomplish all of them. Some of those things will carry over because I am definitely doing "34 in 2013" but some will just languish as I've lost interest in things. (And I take no responsibility for my Facebook page not reaching 300 likes - that's YOUR fault, readers. Don't think I'm above shaming you. I'll do it.)

(Now go like my Facebook page. Year's not over yet.)

I feel a little badly as I did intend to accomplish all of them when I first set out. I put some off because they were easy things (like going to LACMA) and I figured I'd just do it on a random, lazy Saturday. But my lazy Saturdays were very few and far between this year and things just fell by the wayside. 

Regardless, overall, I feel really proud of it. It was a bold thing for me to do and in a lot of the activities, I forced myself to finally do things I'd always talked about doing and never did (like shooting a gun, fencing, crafts, etc.). I've been slowly adding things to next year's list and I"m already keyed up to get started on it. I feel like next year I will be even MORE successful, knowing a little better about how to manage my time with it and knowing some fabulous other things that will happen in the new year.

It would be rather tedious to go over each list item, but of all the things I accomplished this year, I did want to recap some highlights, if you'll indulge me!

Read at least one book a month...

I'm about to finish my 24th book of the year. And WOW, I forgot how much I love reading! I'm setting this goal for 2013, too. It really kept me engaged in books and I became even MORE obsessed with Goodreads. In fact, it carried over into work where I got to work with them on a campaign -- such nice folks over there. 

Watch Gone With the Wind...

Next year, expect an even bigger list of movies I wanna see. I loved it. My friends were so amazing making a fun day out of watching GWTW, drinking sweet tea and eating southern food. And the movie is AMAZING. I LOVED it.

Go to high tea. Wear hats...

Done and done. I loved it so much. It was as charming and as fun as I'd imagined. Can I do this every year if not more often? Would that be pretentious? 

Go to Seattle/Go to San Francisco/Go to Vegas...

I even went to New York! Twice. (Ok, it was for work, but still!) I was very well traveled this year. I had a blast. I would go back to any of these cities in a heartbeat. In fact, I'm itching for another Vegas trip ASAP. 

Attend a taping of ELLEN...

Not only did I attend, but I attended twice. The second time being for TWELVE DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS and it was STUPENDOUS. I can't believe we won those tickets. Ellens is just one of my heroes so it was like living a dream. It was glorious.

* * * *

A smashing success, 2012. Well done. And finally, I must thank all of my friends and readers who lent their support, but especially: Lauren, Danielle, Lin, Rory, Matty, Jen E., Jen K., Brandy, Missy, Meghan, Becca, Courtney, Britaney, Laura, Becky, Roxanne, Chris, my co-workers, Blogalicious, the SoCal Lady Bloggers and last, but certainly not least, Amazon Prime Instant Video. ;) 

THANK YOU! 

Let's Get Behind This

I think I must say "there's an app for that" a few times a week these days. 

Here's one I liked. NEXERCISE. First of all, and perhaps most importantly after we've all just bankrupted ourselves for the holidays, it's FREE. That's awesome. And it's aim is to help you lose weight by making the journey fun and motivating. It's app blackmail at its finest -- it motivates you to exercise more consistently by using your smartphone to deliver an engaging game, automated tracking, a social support network, and real rewards.  

They also have some testimonials on their website that are pretty hard to ignore -- people with high blood pressure getting off their meds, diabetics with amazing bloodwork results, and people losing pounds, dress sizes, and pants sizes. 

Coolest part -- and this is something I haven't seen yet in any exercise-related app I've checked out -- as I mentioned, users can earn gift cards at leading retailers like Amazon, Sephora, JC Penney, Barnes & Noble... That's just really cool to me. It's similar to Viggle, who rewards TV viewing with points that you can trade in for gifts... But these are far more attainable (I will probably NEVER get to the 30,000 points Viggle requires for even a tiny prize). 

Hell, you get bonus points just for logging in daily. And it's FREE, people. Free to download. (Did I mention it's free?)

And then lastly, another cool feature: Linking to friends. Thanks to EVERYTHING being routed through social media, you can hold yourself up to what your friends are doing. OR, if you want to bare our soul, to what strangers are doing. 

It's a really fantastic idea and I don't know why no one thought of it sooner and also, why more people aren't using it! 

 

2012: The Year Ends, The Year in Quotes

You know what? I'm not gonna make a huge deal about this right now-- maybe more on it later, but basically, 2012 was a good year, guys. I was looking back on my hipstery reflections of years past and they were kind of depressing. I'm not saying they were untrue, but they were - as a whole - depressing. So it's REALLY gratifying to look back on this year and feel pretty awesome about it. 

Thanks for not kicking me in the junk, 2012. Hats off to you.

And as I like to do, I present this year in quotes as compiled from this year's "Quote of the Day" collection and beyond.  (Note: After completing and looking back over it, I realized a lot of these are about gay marriage rights and anti-bullying themes. I'm not apologizing for it. Just pointing out the obvious.)

* * * *

"I want to be clear and here are the values that I stand for. I stand for honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated, and helping those in need. To me those are traditional values. That's what I stand for." -Ellen DeGeneres

"I was quite surprised by that. It is not OK to pee in the pool." – British Prime Minister David Cameron, on the admission by U.S. swimmers Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps that they peed in the Olympics aquatics center pool 

"When someone yells 'STOP,' I don't know if it's in the name of love, it's hammer time, or if I should collaborate and listen." -via Danielle

"They're having a dick measuring contest and both sides are afraid to pull down their pants." -My brother on the NHL lockout (and that shit is still going on, by the way)

"We accept the love we think we deserve." -The Perks of Being a Wallflower

"I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be." -The Perks of Being a Wallflower

“Why do you hate the fact that other people want a chance to live their lives and be happy, even though they may believe in something different than you, or act different than you? How does gay marriage, in any way, shape or form, affect your life?” -Chris Kluwe, Minnesota Vikings punter to Emmett C. Burns Jr., a Maryland state delegate

"I can assure you that gay people getting married will have zero effect on your life. They won't come into your house and steal your children. They won't magically turn you into a lustful cockmonster" -Chris Kluwe, Minnesota Vikings punter to Emmett C. Burns Jr., a Maryland state delegate

"Continue to harness your own originality and what makes you unique. Because I know when you're a teenager, and even sometimes when you're an adult, what sets you apart can feel like a burden, and it's not. A lot of the time it's what makes you great." -Emma Stone

"I’ve always felt that it shouldn’t even be a question.  It’s a matter of basic civil rights and I don’t understand how anyone can see it differently. I would love to ask some of these homophobic politicians and 'religious' people to start talking about their sex lives.  Let’s talk about what kinds of 'deviant' things go on there. They really need to get over themselves." -Lynda Carter on gay marriage

"My mother warned me about getting into cars with strange men.” -Anne Hathaway as Catwoman

“I’m like a sexual snowflake. Each night with me is a unique experience.” -Schmidt, Fox's "New Girl"

"I'm worried about Schmidt, he's a Jew in the desert. I don't want him to wander." -Winston, Fox's "New Girl"

“I’ve had phone anal.” / “You’ve had phanal?!” -For a Good Time Call

 

 

"There's a new reality show on NBC called 'The Olympics.' The judges need to bicker more and berate the contestants." -Steve Martin

"Fuck it NFL.. Fine me and use the money to pay the regular refs." -TJ Lang, Green Bay Packers

"Two years ago I was told I might never walk again. Just WALKED off plane in Indy to play in The Superbowl. Take that shit, Cancer." -Mark Herzlich, New York Giants

""I can never wrap my head around why the world and the President that Republicans desrcibe bares so little resemblance to the world and the President that I experience, and now I know why: there is a President Obama that only republicans can see!" -Jon Stewart

"At a certain point I've just concluded that for me, personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married." -President Barack Obama

"I went to a number of women's groups and said, 'Can you help us find folks?' And they brought us whole binders full of women." -Mitt Romney

"I have a job to do. ... If you think right now I give a damn about presidential politics, then you don't know me." -New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

"This all dates back to when we were growing up together in Kenya." -President Obama on Donald Trump's absurd feaud with him

"Van Nuys took one look at Panorama City and was like 'Ugh, get your own name. We don't want to have anything to do with you.'" -Mindy Kaling

"Wake the F*** Up." -Samuel L. Jackson to under-enthused Democrats pre-November

""I drink while I work out. I call it Bacardio." -Someecards

"Oppan Gangnam style." - PSY

"My phone tends to reject technology. It is a wart on the ass of humanity." / "That's the best review I've ever heard of a phone." / "Thank you. I don't know why Android isn't using it." -Me and a friend

"When They called my name, I had this feeling I could hear half of America going, 'Oh no. Come on ... Her, again?' But whatever." -Meryl Streep at The Oscars

"Sometimes, I wish LIFE had a control+F feature." -A co-worker

"I would never want to do youth again. And I am happiest now ... what is the point of regretting? You can spend a lot of time regretting. It's better to try to learn from what wasn't so good, and moving forward. If I am good in my skin now, part of it is because I have made a huge point in learning from my mistakes." -Jane Fonda

"What do you make your girlfriend for breakfast -- burnt scrambled eggs? We will make her a quiche. A MOTHERFUCKING quiche." -Gay Men in WE WILL MARRY YOUR GIRLFRIENDS (hands down my favorite viral video of the year, by the way) 

See also, if you wish:

2011 Quotes, 2009 Quotes, 2008 Quotes

In Memoriam

 

As 2012 comes to an end, let us remember the couples we lost:

Memoriam from AJ Feuerman on Vimeo.

 

In Which the Blog Does me a Favor

You may or may not remember this post.

I'd just come from my grandparents' hosue, where I'd tried "Sparkling Ice." I loved it but I couldn't find it in any store near me. I put up that blog on it and let it be. 

I mean, that post was in 2010 so it's long since been absorbed by the mystical internet ether, right?

Wrong.

Not so long ago, someone at Sparkling Ice must've been doing a damn thorough internet research job and found said post. They reached out to me and ever-so-generously, sent over a box of DELICIOUS Sparkling Ice for me to try. It's totally the most colorful thing ever. I love this photo:

The goods straight from their website:

Sparkling ICE is an excellent source of B-Vitamins, Vitamin D and antioxidants... also contains caffeine-free Green Tea Extract, which is known to have powerful levels of antioxidants... Sparkling ICE – Light & Refreshing, Zero Calories, Gluten Free, Caffeine Free, Sweetened with Splenda.

And it's delicious so I'm sold. My favorite is the orange mango. Closely followed by black raspberry.

For Hanukkah, my aunt is getting me a box of them at Costco. So she rules.

Thanks SO much, Sparkling Ice! I'm a fan of your drinks and your smarty-pants internet researching. 

 

My Foray into Graphic Design

So more often than not, I've mailed out holiday cards but once or twice, I've just designed an e-card. Which is what I did this year.

And it turned out really well. So well that I also made one for my blog to send out to relevant contacts. This one is far more professional looking and even aesthetically themed to my blog:

But since I love and trust all of you, I insit on also showing you my personal one. It amuses me.

And that is all.

You're welcome.